Selling price:
$24, 500
Average selling
price: $20,000
FORD
Ford’s full-size cars have never really
been able to get out from under the
shadow cast by the ’55-’ 57 T-Bird, but
they’re fun to own and operate. This
’ 57 Fairlane 500 was a striking car
that drew many admirers during the
presale inspection and a winning bid
on the block that seemed very reasonable when you consider what ’ 57
Chevrolets are changing hands for
these days. The Fairlane’s hood was
closed, but the auction description
said the car had a 390 and a three-speed automatic, which should make
it a spirited driver. The underside of
the car showed signs of use—a little
dirty but not excessively so. The interior appeared to be well preserved
and original, though there was some
fading evident.
Year: 1964
Model: Falcon
Condition: Refurbished/#3-
Reserve: Undisclosed
Top price bid:
$15,000/not sold
Average selling
price: $13,000
FORD
We would’ve expected a $15,000 offer
on this car to take it home, but the
seller apparently had different ideas.
The exterior boasted a fresh coat of
metallic green paint and a new tan
top, but some of the trim was a little
worn and aged. The interior was presentable and appeared stock, except
for an aftermarket tach and gauges.
Under the hood was a 260 with an
automatic transmission, and though
the engine compartment was closed
up, the description noted that the car
came with the original valve covers
and air cleaner, so we’re assuming
that aftermarket pieces were in place.
This was a very presentable driver
with a bright future as a collectible,
but the owner might have to wait it
out a little if he intends to get too
much more than $15k.
Year: 1969
Model: Skylark
Condition: Refurbished/#3-
Reserve: Undisclosed
BUICK
Top Price bid:
$9,200/not sold
Average selling
price: $19, 500
We could find plenty of things to
nitpick on this car, but the bottom
line is, we wouldn’t have let it go for
$9, 200 either. There is no shortage
of people wanting GM intermediate
convertibles, and in a better market
you would find many suitors for
this one. The convertible top was
nice, but the car’s paint was orange
peeled. The interior looked original
(though the seller claimed it had
been redone) and was in need of
attention. The trim was worn looking, and the underside looked crusty
and original. It did apparently have
a rebuilt engine and transmission,
and the seller said that the A/C
worked as did the power top. No
shortage of potential here, and we
suspect the seller will get his price
eventually.
Year: 1932
Model: Standard Coach
Condition: Refurbished/#3
Reserve: Undisclosed
CHEVROLET
Selling price:
$19,750
Average selling
price: $17,000
Late ’20s and early ’30s Chevrolets
are tough to find, but if you’re on the
hunt, 1932 was a good year: It was
the first for a synchromesh transmis-sion and the six-cylinder received
some needed upgrades. The seller of
this Chevrolet was claiming 19, 537
original miles as well as original
interior, and an original top stretched
over the original wood frame. The
tires were new, and the bumpers had
been replaced; the paint, too, had
been updated. The underside of the
car was somewhat rusty, but not rotten. Some of the trim was pitted, and
the paint was decent. If the interior
was original, it was in amazingly
nice condition. In fact, the entire car
looked like it was about 15 years old.
We should all look this good at 77.
Well bought.
Year: 1976
Model: Mark IV Givenchy edition
Condition: Original/#3-
Reserve: Undisclosed
Selling price:
$5,700
Average selling
price: $9,000
LINCOLN
Year: 1983
Model: El Camino
Condition: Original/#3+
Reserve: Undisclosed
CHEVROLET
Top price bid:
$5,500/not sold
Average selling
price: $6,000
Year: 1956
Model: Bel Air
Condition: Refurbished/#3
Reserve: Undisclosed
CHEVROLET
Top price bid:
$22,000/not sold
Average selling
price: $40,000
Year: 1995
Model: Trans Am
Condition: Original/#3+
Reserve: Undisclosed
PONTIAC
Selling price:
$5,000
Average selling
price: $5,000
The Mark IV was a bold design and
the parts these cars are made up of
are nearly indestructible. It truly is the
automotive equivalent of a polyester
leisure suit, a rolling embodiment
of the style and mindset of the day.
The various designer editions have
become popular with collectors today,
and buyers are paying a premium
for them over the standard Marks.
The Givenchy editions were blue with
white accents and black and white
pinstripes. This particular car was
reported to have traveled just 24,000
luxurious miles. It was a solid car
riding on a nice set of Michelin tires.
You can’t beat it as a collectible driver
for the price. The new owner might
want to investigate the source of
the oil or transmission fluid that was
coating the floor pans, though.
It seems like we see plenty of these
1978–’ 87 El Caminos for sale, often
at high prices with few interested
buyers. This example was as clean as
you’re likely to find, plus it boasted
the Conquista package and a fuel-stingy V- 6. The paint appeared to be
original and was very nice, as was
the blue cloth interior. Perhaps someone would be willing to pay $6,000
or more for a two-wheel-drive V- 6
vehicle with all of the passenger carrying uselessness of a conventional
pickup and the weight carrying/tow-ing incapacity of a passenger car, but
they apparently weren’t at this auction. Eventually, these El Caminos will
see a day when enthusiasts appreciate well-kept examples like this one
as collectibles. But right now, they
seem to be regarded as old, curious
used cars.
Now here was an enterprising seller.
Not only did he have this good-looking ’ 56 Chevrolet up for grabs at the
Carlisle auction, but he was simultaneously running an online auction
for it as well. The top online bid was
$16, 450, well short of the Buy it Now
price of $26,950 that was listed in
the auction. Bidders at Carlisle came
close to hitting the mark with a
$22,000 top offer. This was a nice car,
with paint and interior a buyer would
be proud of. Replace or replate the
front bumper and it would be a regular show winner. The seller’s asking
price didn’t seem unreasonable for
what would appear to be a turnkey
car, and if he can wait it out, the right
buyer will probably come along, if he
or she hasn’t already.
There were a number of late-model
cars for sale at Carlisle, which is fine,
but we can’t help but wonder if this
is the best place to market a mid-
’90s Firebird. The woman selling this
one was doing a bang-up job in the
marketing department, though, stuffing a homemade flier in the hand of
anyone showing an interest, happily
answering questions and when she
wasn’t doing any of the above, she
kept busy cleaning what was already
a spotless car. The car was a decent
used Trans Am that had served as her
personal car, and will make someone a fun driver. Her presentation
impressed us more than anything.
Next year she should try her hand at
moving something a little more collectible or give a seminar on how to
clean a car up before the auction.
