Sam: Here's the cars from the 2022 New England Auto Auction at the Owl's Head Transportation Museum in Maine, as promised. Be prepared, as this is our longest entry to date. I guess to compensate for the lack of pictures of the Wheels and Wings show, I decided to photograph most of the 200+ cars in the auction. Since there's so many cars, I'm going to keep the descriptions pretty sparse. Check out this link for info on all the cars in the auction, as well as what they sold for: https://auction.owlshead.org/. Enjoy!
These were the first of the auction cars I saw, which were being stored inside the museum. I believe they kept the nicest and most valuable cars inside, but they did move a few out to the tent outside while I was there.
Here's a couple of small classic compacts. The museum actually has an Isetta as part of their collection, although theirs is red and white. The second photo gives you a good idea of how much automotive technology has progressed in the last century. What better pairing than two cars that are 117 years apart in age?
A couple more of the pristine, restored auction cars inside the museum.
I bet you can already guess I was all over this one since it's an Impala. This was a fully-loaded Impala SS convertible with a 427. I believe it sold for somewhere around 46K. We actually got to take a brief ride in this car as it was being moved to the outdoor tent, and I have to say that the ride, albeit short, was the highlight of my day.
Here's a couple performance A-bodies: a GTO and a 442. The GTO looked like it had a bit of the usual GM window channel rot in the back that had been repaired, as the trim wasn't sitting flat. Regardless, it was still a great car.
While GM A-bodies aren't large cars, this TR4A still looked tiny next to them. It was in very nice shape, although I didn't spend too much time looking at it.
And for a little bit of variety, we have ourselves a nice muscle-hotrod combo. The Hudson had been rodded out in the 2000s, with a lot of modifications being made to the car.
Here's a lonely little MG VA waiting its turn to join the other auction cars outside.
Moving outside, we have an original 210 Deluxe.
This is a rare Dodge Sierra wagon. You don't see too many of these cars. It sold for just over 12K.
This rambler was worn cosmetically, but the auction detail said it had recently received a mechanical overhaul. The seller was looking for a new owner who would finish the restoration by repainting the car.
And yes, LeBarons are starting to become classics. This one in the auction went for $2,310. Ok, maybe they've got a bit to go before they're actually worth something, but depending on how the car market goes, they may be a good investment for the future.
All the land yachts, lined in a row.
Crosleys are cool, little cars, in my opinion. While Crosley was primarily a consumer electronics manufacturer, they did dabble in the auto industry for a decade or two. This was one of three Crosleys in the auction. As a side-note, I've worked on a number of Crosley radios, so it was cool to see a car by the same manufacturer.
A closeup of the Caprice in "Land Yacht Row". This car actually went for $5,175, so even these old boxes are starting to appreciate.
Sadly, some people still don't like four-doors, as the '69 Nova went for $1,760. The good news is some enthusiast now has a cheap, reliable project car.
You've just crossed over into... the Twilight Zone the big tent with all the auction cars in it.
A fairly-common, but well-loved model of classic.
Look at those fins! This baby went for 44K!
Here's the other two Crosleys in the auction. Unsurprisingly, both of them had radios.
Front to Back: Two Modded '60s Chevy C-10s (Gray and Red) and a 1993 Ford F150 SVT Lightning (Red, Background)
This car was a real beauty. Not many Packards around these days, and even less of them in this condition.
In case you couldn't tell the difference, we've color-coded the description for you.
I don't know exactly what "Vette-rod" was referring to, but that's what they put on the windshield tag. Maybe they LS swapped it?
Too bad David wasn't at this auction because he probably would have bought this car. This was one of at least three other green Saab 900 convertibles I saw while up in Maine, but the other two weren't in the auction or for sale.
David: Yeah, I probably would have bid on it.
Left to Right: 1978 Fiat 124 Spider, 1990 Mazda MX-5 (NA) Miata, 1999 Chevy Tahoe, and 1995 Buick Roadmaster Estate
Classy T-Bird. One of a couple in the auction.
Right to Left: 1948 Studebaker Champion, 1959 Ford Fairlane w/223 (photographed at 2021 Wheels & Wings), 1938 Studebaker Commander, and 1937 Cadillac Series 70 Fleetwood
Of course, I had to take more than just one photo of an Impala, especially since this one's a sport sedan like mine. Additionally, this car has a bypassed heater core (just like mine!). I think the black was a repaint because I could see a bit of blue on the cowl. One of the auction volunteers was nearby when I was checking out the car, and he let me look under the hood. I believe it had a 283, as well as power steering and brakes. A nice car, in my opinion.
Left to right: 1979 Ford F100 Ranger Lariat (Black), 1969 Ford Bedliner Bronco Half Cab (Red), and a 1972 Citroën 2CV (Black and Red)
No, it's not the same car from before. There were two of them in the auction.
David: I would've bid on this too!
Right to Left: 1967 MGB (Green), 1952 Chevy Deluxe (Black), 1962 Buick Invicta 'vert (White), and 1989 Dodge Dakota Sport 'vert pickup (Red)
Another pristine Packard. I'd say this was in better shape than the other '41 under the tent, but that might be because it was restored more recently.
Left to Right: '65 Chevy C2 'Vette (Red), '50s Ford Woodie (Brown) , and VW Beetle (Black)
One of the newer, "classic" cars in the auction. I'd hesitate to call this one a classic just yet.
Does this look familiar? That's because it's the same car I documented during my first Maine trip of 2022. This car can also be seen in the First Rockland Maine Trip '22 Collection. I think the reserve was north of a million, so as a result the car didn't sell.
I thought this was a real Yenko until I read the auction info on it. It's a pretty good-looking clone.
Left to right: 1967 Corvette 427 (Red), 1957 C1 Vette Fuel Injection (Gold), and a 1965 Ford Mustang GT "HiPo" 289 'Vert (Orange)
Front to Back: 1936 Auburn 852 Supercharged Phaeton (Maroon) with a 1921 Stutz Model K Behind it (White w/ black top)
And as it happens, we've come to the end of the auto auction, as well as my third and final Maine trip of 2022. Stay tuned for more cars, as David and I still manage to sneak some spotting in before classes start.