1940s Chevy Dealer re-opens to Auction off 500 Time Capsule Cars

[teedubya]

http://www.messynessychic.com/2013/0...-capsule-cars/

Car collectors dream about finding a forgotten “new” classic car, discovered in a barn or warehouse somewhere, covered in dust. This is that dream, only 500 times better….



A small-town Midwestern dealership in Pierce, Nebraska sold Chevrolets to local families and first-time buyers for 50 years until it’s husband and wife team finally closed their doors seventeen years ago. Since then, a staggering inventory of 500 surviving cars, new & used, have been stored away, undriven for decades. Some 50 cars “brand new” Chevrolets from the 1950s and 60s have less than 10 miles on the odometer.



Ray and Mildred Lambrecht are now in their 90s and have made what is described by their daughter Jeannie, as a “a difficult and painful” decision, to liquidate the dealership’s massive inventory of ‘survivor vehicles’. On September 28th and 29th, 2013, VanDerBrink Auctions will have the honor of selling this incredible, once in a lifetime collection of American automotive history.

[Consistent1]

They must have been loaded to keep and store 500 cars that long. Crazy story.

[teedubya]

It will be interesting to see how much $$$ these cars go for in Sept... in Pierce, Nebraska.

[DaFace]

That's pretty damn awesome, and I'm not even a huge car guy.

There's a lot more detail on the story in the link for those who are interested to read more.

[cdcox]

The comfort, features, handling, performance and overall driving experience of recent models just about obliterates any desire on my part to own a classic.

Originally Posted by cdcox

The comfort, features, handling, performance and overall driving experience of recent models just about obliterates any desire on my part to own a classic.

They don't have to be your daily driver, Seedy.

[cdcox]

Originally Posted by Phobia

They don't have to be your daily driver, Seedy.

I don't breakout a TRS-80 to re-live an earlier computing experience.
If I had a polyester lime green leisure suit hanging in my closet, I wouldn't wear it on special days.
I don't have a shag carpeting room in my house.

Someone might love an old house, but if the owner has their preference it will likely have modern appliances, finishes, and furnishings.

I'm not saying some of the old rides aren't cool. But I could get my fix by just looking during a car show. Ownership is a different level of commitment that I have not desire to partake in.

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by cdcox

I don't breakout a TRS-80 to re-live an earlier computing experience.
.

That's a horrible analogy. You can drive an old car just like a new one. But, that old computer is completely useless.

I'd take any of these cars over any new car today.

[seamonster]

Originally Posted by BCD

That's a horrible analogy. You can drive an old car just like a new one. But, that old computer is completely useless.

I'd take any of these cars over any new car today.

There's a lot of old electrical engineers and software developers that buy up K-Pro's and ancient ass computers. Very difficult to find stone age computers and they're collectible now.

[beach tribe]

Originally Posted by cdcox

I don't breakout a TRS-80 to re-live an earlier computing experience.
If I had a polyester lime green leisure suit hanging in my closet, I wouldn't wear it on special days.
I don't have a shag carpeting room in my house.

Someone might love an old house, but if the owner has their preference it will likely have modern appliances, finishes, and furnishings.

I'm not saying some of the old rides aren't cool. But I could get my fix by just looking during a car show. Ownership is a different level of commitment that I have not desire to partake in.

Damn.
I cannot even comprehend this line of thinking.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by cdcox

The comfort, features, handling, performance and overall driving experience of recent models just about obliterates any desire on my part to own a classic.

That's actually kind of funny coming from a guy who bought a bare-bones F150 and drove it for 27 years.

[cdcox]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

That's actually kind of funny coming from a guy who bought a bare-bones F150 and drove it for 27 years.

Only 18 years.

I had a '70 Monte Carlo and a '76 Cutlass both of which I drove well after most of their peers and hit the junk yard. I guess I've burnt myself out on driving out of date cars.

I love my 2012 Mazda3 every day I drive it. It's nothing special in terms of luxury or performance, but is such a pleasure to drive compared to everything else i've ever driven.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by cdcox

Only 18 years.

I had a '70 Monte Carlo and a '76 Cutlass both of which I drove well after most of their peers and hit the junk yard. I guess I've burnt myself out on driving out of date cars.

I love my 2012 Mazda3 every day I drive it. It's nothing special in terms of luxury or performance, but is such a pleasure to drive compared to everything else i've ever driven.

I have a 2011 Sonata; great little car. It has the 275 HP turbo and the sport package so it will run like a MFer and turn on rails. All the nav and leather and crap, so it's comfy as well.

That said, all three days this week I brought the '67 Camaro in. Why? It's just an entirely different feeling. No radio, just the exhaust note through the flowmasters. It dances on the road a little and there's harmonic where the exhaust sits in the hangers when you idle, but who cares? You have 400+ HP of road-torching fury at your disposal and even if you don't use it (and I rarely have), it's still just fun to run around town in that thing with the windows down and the sun shining on it.

It's no different than motorcycle days. Sure, the car's easier, safer and cleaner, but some days I just want to be on the bike because it's an entirely different feeling being on the road.

They're not the same creature at all.

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

I have a 2011 Sonata; great little car. It has the 275 HP turbo and the sport package so it will run like a MFer and turn on rails. All the nav and leather and crap, so it's comfy as well.

That said, all three days this week I brought the '67 Camaro in. Why? It's just an entirely different feeling. No radio, just the exhaust note through the flowmasters. It dances on the road a little and there's harmonic where the exhaust sits in the hangers when you idle, but who cares? You have 400+ HP of road-torching fury at your disposal and even if you don't use it (and I rarely have), it's still just fun to run around town in that thing with the windows down and the sun shining on it.

It's no different than motorcycle days. Sure, the car's easier, safer and cleaner, but some days I just want to be on the bike because it's an entirely different feeling being on the road.

They're not the same creature at all.

if you have to herd it down the road have someone change the caster to newer specs.


Your car will drive so much better. Pm for details if you want. I fix them quite often for hot rod guys with this complaint, you just can't go by the original specs but it will drive like a dream and not wear the tires either
Posted via Mobile Device

[displacedinMN]

Originally Posted by cdcox

Only 18 years.

I had a '70 Monte Carlo and a '76 Cutlass both of which I drove well after most of their peers and hit the junk yard. I guess I've burnt myself out on driving out of date cars.

I love my 2012 Mazda3 every day I drive it. It's nothing special in terms of luxury or performance, but is such a pleasure to drive compared to everything else i've ever driven.

I still have a 76 cutlass. After the death of my father, I decided that I did not have the time or money to restore it. It is going on the equipment auction.
Wish I could keep it. Just does not make sense.

When I was a kid-there was an auto auction in my town. This guy had collected over 100 old cars-loved them.
The auction took at least a day. Had them lined up on main street.

that Nebraska auction will take days!!!! There is a lot of money out there for that kind of thing.