Massive Car Collection Emerges After 40 Years - Mecum Auction - Chattanooga TX Oct 14

[Crusty Trucker]

Massive Car Collection Emerges After 40 Years in a Firehouse, Includes Rare Gems

 

 

Seeing a classic car emerge out of a barn is quite spectacular, even if the said vehicle is rather mundane and in poor shape. But things become even better when we're talking about a full-blown collection of cars that are in outstanding condition. Like this hoard of American classics that spent about 40 years in a firehouse.

 

 9 photos

 

But while it's classified as a barn find, this collection consists of beautifully preserved classics that have been kept safe from extreme temperatures and moisture. As a result, most of the cars are in fantastic condition with only a thin layer of dust preventing them from being Concours-ready classics.

How many cars are we talking about and how long have they been stored in this firehouse? Well, the stash includes almost 70 automobiles that spent about 40 years in this brick building. And many of them are quite desirable, while some are even rare and expensive. I'm talking about legendary models from the 1950s, like the Chevrolet Bel Air and the Ford Thunderbird.

No fewer than 13 Thunderbirds have been parked here, all produced from 1955 to 1963. And all but one are first-generation models (1955-1957), arguably the most desirable version of the iconic nameplate.

The collection also includes seven Chevrolet Bel Airs of the Tri-Five variety. And all of them are either two-door coupes or convertibles. But there's also a 1956 Nomad, which is rarer than any other Bel Air ever made, as well as a 1957 210 Hardtop.

The owner is also a big fan of the Oldsmobile 88, owning no fewer than six of them. And three of them are early 1949 and 1950 versions, which come from an era when the 88 dominated the NASCAR series and sold like hotcakes thanks to the iconic Rocket V8 engine.

Next up we have no fewer than five Lincoln Continentals. While two of them are from the 1970s, the collection also includes three highly desirable 1956 MkII coupes plus a rare 1948 convertible with a V12 under the hood.

There's also a selection of Ford models from the 1950s, including Fairlanes and Crown Victorias, a 1957 Chrysler 300C, and a 1962 Chevrolet Corvette in Roman Red.

All these cars are scheduled to cross the block at Mecum's Chattanooga 2022 auction event, scheduled to take place on October 14-15. And all 68 vehicles stored here will go under the hammer at no reserve. Yup, this collection will raise millions of dollars. Which car would you bid on and why? Let me know in the comments.
 

 

 

[John_S_in_Penna]

A good car story is always interesting.  However, the

general press should try to get their stories right before

they put them in print for all to see:

 

"...some are even rare and expensive. I'm talking about legendary

models from the 1950s, like the Chevrolet Bel Air and the Ford

Thunderbird."

 

"a rare 1948 [Lincoln continental] convertible..."

 

If 1957 Chevrolet Bel Airs and 1948 Lincoln Continental convertibles

are rare, the author must not write about cars very often. 

 

Edited October 9, 2022 by John_S_in_Penna (see edit history)

[60FlatTop]

Somewhere in my collection of dated literature I have a paperback book with the title "How to Find and Write a Feature Article". It told how a reporter could generate "a bag of groceries" when there wasn't any news.

 

In recent years I have thought about that book frequently. Maybe I will look for it.

[trimacar]

Stored since 1980 in a clean, dry building with excellent lighting?

 

Not a barn find.  That descriptor needs to disappear……

[58L-Y8]

The only rare car I see in this auction is the 1957 Chrysler 300C convertible, one of 484 built.  All the other cars are the standard auction fare which anyone looking for one of those highly popular cars can still pick their color choice, powertrain and options and wait until one comes along that fits the bill.   The idea the 1946-'48 Lincoln Continentals are rare is absurd; now the body style 76 Lincoln convertibles, those are rare now.

[Joe Cocuzza]

1 hour ago, trimacar said:

Stored since 1980 in a clean, dry building with excellent lighting?

 

Not a barn find.  That descriptor needs to disappear……

But then again !!!!!!!!!!!!

[trimacar]

That was a GREAT find, glad it went to someone who appreciates it…we love our 31 Pierce phaeton…

[John_S_in_Penna]

2 hours ago, 60FlatTop said:

...how a reporter could generate "a bag of groceries" when there wasn't any news.

1 hour ago, trimacar said:

Not a barn find.  That descriptor needs to disappear……

Bernie and David are right.  I'm seeing the connection.

Make news thrilling when it is not:

 

To us collectors, knowing the truth:  Large collection comes up for sale.  Nice cars, pretty ordinary.

To a sensationalistic reporter:  Long hidden cache finally sees the light of day!  

          A secret stash of rare and legendary cars has been hidden in a barn for 40 years!

 

Edited October 8, 2022 by John_S_in_Penna (see edit history)

[DrumBob]

The average reader will eat this stuff up. Beautiful cars, but not really rare. 

[Walt G]

Rare is now a totally  overused word in most stories by non automotive authors. It joins other over used words like iconic, "very" - in front of any other word ( very lucky, very stupid............)

[60FlatTop]

With the advent of self publishing it has become rare to find a properly edited article. The number of very stupid authors tends to diminish when one takes into account the moderately ignorant ones by true definition.

 

A page full of comments and no one seems to care about the cars mentioned. I guess we know how exciting that find was.

[TAKerry]

I suppose any car that is over 40 years old can be considered rare. I was at the aaca show on friday with my 77 trans am. I counted 3 total of the same vintage. Umpteen as many model a's, quite a few more pre war packards, and more model Ts. But is it more valuable, no. I think the problem is that rare is being substituted for valuable. Rare does not equal valuable.

[SC38dls]

13 minutes ago, TAKerry said:

….I think the problem is that rare is being substituted for valuable. Rare does not equal valuable.

My 38 Studebaker is a perfect example of this statement. 
True and correct Kerry! 
dave s 

[Pilgrim65]

Interesting to me as corvette fan 

but have to agree 

very is very often used when very often an alternative to  very, would very often describe better 

Edited October 9, 2022 by Pilgrim65 (see edit history)

[Ed Luddy]

It seems as though there is an unlimited amount of collections coming up for auction every week. With always the same type of "rare cars"

[edinmass]

Definition of a rare car:

 

A car no one wanted when new.

[60FlatTop]

39 minutes ago, edinmass said:

Definition of a rare car:

 

A car no one wanted when new.

MOPAR with a radio delete plate comes to mind first.

 

I have seen the crowds and fingers pointing.

[CHuDWah]

2 hours ago, edinmass said:

Definition of a rare car:

 

A car no one wanted when new.

 

1 hour ago, 60FlatTop said:

MOPAR with a radio delete plate comes to mind first.

 

I have seen the crowds and fingers pointing.

 

Depends...

Rare when new and no one wanted it - rare now and everyone wants it (well, at least MoPar muscle car guys), even with radio delete.  Rarity doesn't necessarily equal value but rarity plus desirability usually does.

[60FlatTop]

Interesting picture for reference. When I wrote my comment I was remembering an actual group of people crowding around a medium green 1970ish Dart four door sedan, maybe older. The story went that the Dodge dealer sales manager check the wrong box for the engine option and it came with a high performance engine. Sat on the lot unwanted for a long time until they sold it to someone who didn't know the difference.

 

Quite a few cars had more power than those Superbirds but they didn't have that neat rack for drying out your laundry.

[60FlatTop]

4 hours ago, Pilgrim65 said:

very is very often used when very often an alternative to  very, would very often describe better 

It varies.

[CHuDWah]

1 hour ago, 60FlatTop said:

Interesting picture for reference. When I wrote my comment I was remembering an actual group of people crowding around a medium green 1970ish Dart four door sedan, maybe older. The story went that the Dodge dealer sales manager check the wrong box for the engine option and it came with a high performance engine. Sat on the lot unwanted for a long time until they sold it to someone who didn't know the difference.

 

Quite a few cars had more power than those Superbirds but they didn't have that neat rack for drying out your laundry.

 

Just grabbed a pic from Mr Google of an example that was rare and unwanted then but rare and highly desirable now, and therefore expensive despite the weird styling and crappy color.

 

The Dodge dealer should have targeted street racers for the Dart - heck of a sleeper!

 

Well, with a hemi, 440-6 barrel, or even 440-4 barrel, a Superbird would go fast enough to quickly dry that laundry. 🤣

[DLynskey]

The auction is in Chattanooga Tennessee (TN), not Texas (TX) as is in the title of this post.

 

Don

[8E45E]

On 10/9/2022 at 2:56 PM, 60FlatTop said:

Interesting picture for reference. When I wrote my comment I was remembering an actual group of people crowding around a medium green 1970ish Dart four door sedan, maybe older. The story went that the Dodge dealer sales manager check the wrong box for the engine option and it came with a high performance engine.

There is a '68 Valiant four door sedan here that was special ordered with a 273 & 4-speed transmission.  The original owner ordered it that way to tow a trailer.  While 1967-76 A-body Mopars are far from rare, there were 7 1968 Valiant four doors assembled in Windor with that engine/transmission combination.

 

And yes, one can order a top-line Ford Super Duty King Ranch with a rubber floor mat.

 

Craig

[drhach]

I can't remember the last time I saw a 57 Belair during my daily commute to work. Certainly they're readily available, but you don't see them often unless you go out of your way to do it.