Muscle Car barn find... 110 of them

[AJ Huff]

110 muscle car collection up for auction this summer.

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2019/04/25/iowa-man-reveals-his-110-strong-muscle-car-hoard-ahead-auction-vanderbrink-auctions-red-oak-classic/3576962002/?fbclid=IwAR28gElKi__wMn4vmD2w01G5ptncyqv2nJshgRCPlmN92Z5NC9VPSDPjptA

-AJ

[Lannis]

110 muscle car collection up for auction this summer.

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2019/04/25/iowa-man-reveals-his-110-strong-muscle-car-hoard-ahead-auction-vanderbrink-auctions-red-oak-classic/3576962002/?fbclid=IwAR28gElKi__wMn4vmD2w01G5ptncyqv2nJshgRCPlmN92Z5NC9VPSDPjptA

-AJ

He's keeping a few, so if he sells 100 cars at an average of $5,000 each (dirty, not run in years, Hemis will go for $40,000, old Chevies for $2,000), that's $500,000 worth.   Be interesting to see how it goes ....

Lannis

[Cam3512]

Holy hell.  Lets average each car at $20K, which is realistic, running or not.  That's $2.2 MILL.  Those Mopars and GTO's bring BIG bucks.  Wish he would've covered them up.  I think you're way low Lannis.  Hemi's will bring MUCH more.

[Lannis]

Holy hell.  Lets average each car at $20K, which is realistic, running or not.  That's $2.2 MILL.  Those Mopars and GTO's bring BIG bucks.  Wish he would've covered them up.  I think you're way low Lannis.  Hemi's will bring MUCH more.

Could be.   I'm just going by the sample photos that were taken, not by the hyperbolic breathless story itself.   I suspect there's a mix of complete and incomplete cars, hence my "low" estimate.

But let's keep our eyes on it and see!   Maybe they'll publish the results.

Lannis

[Ncdan]

I must agree with Cam. I just went to an old car show in MB and the prices of some of these 60’s cars, especially mopar, is unreal!!

[rschrum]

Not far from me. I will go out of curiosity.

[Cam3512]

Over/Under is $2 mill total.   I'll take the over for a beer at the next rally!

[blackcat]

If some of the cars can be brought back without being repainted, they are worth some big bucks.  But if we are comparing a $40K car at auction with a frame off restoration compared to one of these cars, then half or less is likely. Highly option vehicles with original paper work will bring more money and of course any convertible brings lots of cash.  It will be fun to watch as I’m sure the bidding will be enthusiastic.

[Lannis]

Over/Under is $2 mill total.   I'll take the over for a beer at the next rally!

And I'll take the under for a tonic water and lime juice.  Lots of convertibles and optioned cars, but lots of plain Jane sedans too...

Lannis

[canuck750]

Wow!!

My pick would be the Mercury Turnpike Cruiser parked outside, coral (pink) and white two tone. When I was in high school a buddy's dad had one, I will never forget the radio antennas that protruded from chromed pods above the top of the windshield, and they were powered extending horizontal! The tail lights were later used on the Thunderbird and 67 ~ 68 Mustang Shelby.

[s1120]

There is some big time cream in there.. Lots of buck up mopars, GTO's, convertibles...  They look pretty solid from pics..  and odds are if he has THAT many they have been in that barn for a vary long time out of the weather, and not putting on miles. ...  There is some big coin there, and auction buzz added to it, and i bet even keeping a few he really likes, he will be north of 2 mil. Even hosed, plain 4 doors these days are going for big money.. 

[Rough Edge racing]

 The old heaps to great to look at and listen to the rumbling smelly exhaust...But they are, in my opinion, not that great to drive..
 A good friend in NJ starting buying up Vettes and muscle cars back in the 70's when they were very inexpensive...He bought hundreds, even wrecks and with blown engines...He left then untouched in a old warehouse he also got for a good price....About 10 years ago he sold the cars and building for silly money and retired like a king....I asked what would have happened if his building burned....." investments are always risky" he said...

[kirb]

I've crossed paths with more than my share of 'collectors' (hoarders) in a few of my hobbies... pinball, vintage guitars, motorcycles, cars, etc...

I applaud the ones who buy, restore, and put them out for others to see or own. The ones who buy, shove away, and never let anyone at them are not doing anyone any favors...until they die or are near death. Seeing a garage full of classics (of anything) with the owner 'going to get at them eventually' often just cause more damage than if they would just set them free to a loving owner. The family just ends up having to deal with someone else's hoarding obsession after the fact.

These cars look like they have survived enough to be saved.

[LowRyter]

Probably time to unload them before the Boomer class gets too old or too dead to buy them:  nothing like a 4 barrel engine (make it dual quads) with a 4.11 rear end, wimpy shocks, bias tires, drum brakes and the quality that says "planned obsolescence".

Gotta love technology.   

[oldbike54]

 Aren't muscle car prices already declining ? A friend works the Leake auctions 2 or 3 times a year , he says to never trust the auction results , many times the bids are grossly inflated by ringers to create false values . Then the car is moved to the next auction , where claims are made that "hey folks, this highly desirable car sold 6 months ago for X number of dollars , so it must really be worth X+ dollars" .

 We sold a few old Brit bikes at the Mid-America auction in Dallas some years back when the prices were peaking . We actually witnessed this happening , where an old motorbike was bid up to some crazy price , then magically went right back into the enclosed trailer it came in , only to return the following year on offer from the same guy who sold it the year before .

 Dusty

[canuck750]

There was Laverda SF2 at Mecum in Las Vegas this January, it did not sell, high bid was just over $10K if I recall correctly.

Overall I thought the Mecum Vegas auction did not do a good job of identifying the Italian bikes unless they were the ultra pricey Ducati 750Ss, MV Augusta or Laverda SFC.

It was not the best restoration, a few cosmetic things stuck out, but still a nice looking bike, no idea on mechanical , in any event it reappeared at Mecum in Phoenix recently and it didn't break $6K.

Was it just hyped up at Vegas or is the market that down for vintage Italian bikes?

[s1120]

Aren't muscle car prices already declining ? A friend works the Leake auctions 2 or 3 times a year , he says to never trust the auction results , many times the bids are grossly inflated by ringers to create false values . Then the car is moved to the next auction , where claims are made that "hey folks, this highly desirable car sold 6 months ago for X number of dollars , so it must really be worth X+ dollars" .

 We sold a few old Brit bikes at the Mid-America auction in Dallas some years back when the prices were peaking . We actually witnessed this happening , where an old motorbike was bid up to some crazy price , then magically went right back into the enclosed trailer it came in , only to return the following year on offer from the same guy who sold it the year before .

 Dusty

From what I have been seeing real world, the top end cars are coming down... but the bottom end ones going way up. roached projects going for big money. And really even the driver class is way higher then most can afford.

[Lannis]

From what I have been seeing real world, the top end cars are coming down... but the bottom end ones going way up. roached projects going for big money. And really even the driver class is way higher then most can afford.

Well, come September we'll see the real world in action ... we'll actually have someone there and see what's happening!

Lannis

[Ncdan]

From what I have been seeing real world, the top end cars are coming down... but the bottom end ones going way up. roached projects going for big money. And really even the driver class is way higher then most can afford.

Most of those cars are simply a pattern and must be restored, which can get into the 10s of thousands. Any possible drivers will likely take several hundred to thousands to get on the road. I streeted rodded a 40 Plymouth coupe several years back. I bought the car for 500 bucks and 20k later a had a fine hot rod. A few years later I could only get 9k for it. Hard lesson to learn, buy a street rod that’s 90% done where the fool ran out of money and the car bankrupted him:(

[Cam3512]

Big block Roadrunners, Chargers, Challengers, Camaros....

Big money.  And there's gotta be a couple hemis in the mix.

Regardless of how long they've been sitting, at least it's inside.

[s1120]

Most of those cars are simply a pattern and must be restored, which can get into the 10s of thousands. Any possible drivers will likely take several hundred to thousands to get on the road. I streeted rodded a 40 Plymouth coupe several years back. I bought the car for 500 bucks and 20k later a had a fine hot rod. A few years later I could only get 9k for it. Hard lesson to learn, buy a street rod that’s 90% done where the fool ran out of money and the car bankrupted him:(

Oh ya  I know the drill..  I have a 70 mustang in 1000 pieces all over the house, and a 72 LTD convertible roach/driver [now people call them rat rods. :) ] thats waiting for my time both taking up space in my garage!! 

[larrys]

Gonna be a no reserve auction. That'll make it interesting.
Larry

[GearheadGrrrl]

Out of this 100+ cars there's only a handful that are anything exceptional... Most of them are just "garden variety" 2 door coupes with bucket seats, even the Road Runners are mostly the pretty common 383 engined versions, and a lot of the cars only have small V8s. Throw in the condition of these cars, probably driven in the rust belt in Iowa and then hidden away to rust in peace, and these may be some difficult restorations.

Reminds me of my neighbors '55 or so "short door" TR3 that'd hid in a shed from the early70s until recently- I was a little miffed that his estate didn't even offer it to me, 'til they pulled it out in the light and I saw what a rust bucket it was!

[Lannis]

Out of this 100+ cars there's only a handful that are anything exceptional... Most of them are just "garden variety" 2 door coupes with bucket seats, even the Road Runners are mostly the pretty common 383 engined versions, and a lot of the cars only have small V8s. Throw in the condition of these cars, probably driven in the rust belt in Iowa and then hidden away to rust in peace, and these may be some difficult restorations.

Reminds me of my neighbors '55 or so "short door" TR3 that'd hid in a shed from the early70s until recently- I was a little miffed that his estate didn't even offer it to me, 'til they pulled it out in the light and I saw what a rust bucket it was!

Don't forget, Cam's buying drinks at the end of this, so be sure to cash in .... !!   Under $2M for 100 cars, or under $20K per car if they sell a few more or fewer than 100.

Bet's off if they cherry pick and only sell 50 or fewer cars, though ...

Lannis

[Two Checks]

Completely rusted out, no floors or trunk floor, no interior, no engine drop top E body MoPars are going for astronomical prices these days.
One that runs? Cash in your 401k.

[Lannis]

Completely rusted out, no floors or trunk floor, no interior, no engine drop top E body MoPars are going for astronomical prices these days.
One that runs? Cash in your 401k.

Depends on whether you're buying or selling.   

If you're buying, "They're not making any more of these, I heard that one went for $50 million last week, worth a fortune, I'll need your firstborn as a deposit ...

If you're selling, "Not worth as much as people say, cost too much to restore, just an old used car really, might be able to go as high as $6000 but I'm losing money at that ...."

I've been on both sides, offered a Plymouth Satellite Sebring for sale to a dealer who lowballed and pooh-poohed it, then sent my brother in two days later "looking for one" and heard that the dealer knew where one was but they're worth a fortune and said he'd get it for my brother for 5 times (literally 5) what he offered me for it ....

Lannis

[GearheadGrrrl]

I could care less if they never build 383 Road Runners, etc. again... A $25k VW Golf GTI is just as fast in a straight line, will run way in the corners, stops instead of smoking it's brakes, and gets 25+ MPG while doing it. Best to recycle all those bloated "muscle cars" into GTIs and bikes so we'll have more to enjoy!

[Lannis]

I could care less if they never build 383 Road Runners, etc. again... A $25k VW Golf GTI is just as fast in a straight line, will run way in the corners, stops instead of smoking it's brakes, and gets 25+ MPG while doing it. Best to recycle all those bloated "muscle cars" into GTIs and bikes so we'll have more to enjoy!

Can't afford to drive those things these days anyhow, not to mention that people don't take them anywhere but Cruise Night once they've dropped 100 large into a restoration!

I had a '69 GTO convertible with a 4 speed Hurst, tach in the hood, 4:11 gears, 400 ci 4bbl, air conditioning, and a "reverb" AM radio.   It probably was about as fast from 0-100 as my son's WRX, and FELT fast, but then it was topped out and don't you dare go 'round a turn or try to stop fast at 100!  Drove it for a year or so and then the 8 MPG thing and $1.39 (in 1982) fuel did me in and I sold for the same thing I bought it for ($1200).

It and its brothers of that era were just for one thing - emulating NASCAR racers and going quick in a straight line (well, 2 things then), and they're wanted today for memories, bench-racing, tale-telling, street-cred, noise-making, and the talk-and-trousers crowd.   Not a thing wrong with any of that, it's all good fun, but I don't think anyone's going to claim that they'll hang with a modern performance car, anywhere ... !

Lannis

[canuck750]

After looking into this auction and hoard for late 60's muscle cars my nostalgia nerve was twinged and I clicked on the local Kijiji web site for a Mustang Shelby, just because I lusted over one 40 years ago and would have given almost anything to own one. My first car in 1975 was a ten year old 1965 Mustang 2+2 with a 289, 4 speed and posi rear and it was painted red with the white Shelby stripe package. After a two year restoration I was offered a straight across trade for a clapped out 1968 GT500 KR sport roof, turned it down. Mustang is long gone.

Anyways in the for sale adds I find a 1970 Shelby Sport Roof GT350, probably the least desirable Shelby, its repainted black with gold stripes, a driver, not restored (which probably means rusted), but presentable, asking $85K CDN ($63K USD). It would be cool to have, a very expensive toy to take out a couple times a year.... for that kind of money I can get a one to two year old BMW M5, Mercedes E63 AMG, Audio RS7 etc. just can't ever imagine shelling out that kind of cash for a 50 year old car.

[LowRyter]

Can-  I really don't get the deal of owning a "genuine" Shelby, Hemi, L88, etc., etc., that's been restored to the nines.

It ain't original.  So whether the numbers match or not, it's still a replica to what it was.  Yeah, I see the big deal with an original "survivor" that's been maintained original condition, with hopefully, original paint. 

Rather than an "genuine" Shelby Mustang, why not a restomod that looks like a Shelby and drives the way you want it?   Whether like a modern car or a '60s car with lousy brakes, weak cooling system and hard to tune engines?  Maybe like the Mustang you had?

They're only original once.  I can't see with the number of restored cars out there, that anyone wants another "genuine" car with correct drum brakes, chalk marks, throttle springs with all new new sheet metal covered with a perfect clear coat paint job.

Make mine a restomod built for me.  Or better yet, go to the used car lot and pick up a late model Mustang, Camaro or 'vette that puts those muscle cars to shame for $20k.  And then drive the hell out of it.