went to the fall auburn auction saturday - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

t walgamuth · #1 09-04-2006, 12:26 AM

it was a good time. not very hot this time. usually it is brutally hot up there with high humidity and high 80s temp. several times it looked like it was really going to have a cloudburst.

the high points:
a full wood strip bodied thirties lagonda with a v12 aluminum engine and brass plates covering the 12" deep frame. a boat tail body and fenders all in wood with exposed brass flush fasteners, and a rumble seat with a wooden cover that slid over and down behind. offered by hyman of st louis for $479k. it resembled a peterborough wood strip canoe with shiny varnished finish. it seemed like a bargain at the price, if that is possible.

several mid fifties or early sixties mb 300 four door convertibles. one in a lovely light mint green pastel.

three cars tempted me. 1. a devin bodied special with a bmw 2002 engine and five speed. this was a tiny little car with an old devin body from the sixties that was never used and finally built up recently with a seventy something bmw four. very nice little vintage racer. 2. a beck spyder built up to be a james dean clone with 130 on the side and "lil bastard" on the back deck. this would make an autocross car that would i think rival the lotus seven clones. 3. a 37 ford two door sedan made up to look like a sixties street rod with gray primer paint and red steelies with wide whites. the drive train was stock. the interior redone in incorrect cloth, but it ran like a top with an unrestored engine compartment. those flatheads have a unique sound that i still remember from my boyhood.

but i came home empty handed and full headed.

my friend and tenant, a man who designs things for a living (games) went with me. he is from england and about my age, i think. he is fascinated by the huge caddys from the sixties. i suppose because they are such a departure from the smaller cars of england.

i doubt that i will ever be brave enough to buy a car at auction.... or on ebay, but the auburn show as entertainment is hard to beat.

$20 to get in. every car guy should do it at least once if you aren't too far away.

tom w

WANT '71 280SEL · #2 09-04-2006, 12:27 PM

Though my house is only 30 minutes south of Auburn, IN I still have never been there for the actual auction. You do have to be careful at an auction like that because the auctioneers will jack you with fake bids. It is notoriously bad at Auburn, particularly because there are so many spectators that the auctioneers can use as "bidders." I have been up there for other events even during this weekend and there are some really cool cars up there.

Thanks
David

t walgamuth · #3 09-04-2006, 01:59 PM

no danger of me buying by accident. i never buy a paddle.

tom w

WANT '71 280SEL · #4 09-04-2006, 07:39 PM

It's not that a person buys on accident, it's for when the auctioneer has one guy bidding and no one to bid against him or even if there are other. The ring guy will just walk around yelping meaning he has a bid. The auctioneer goes up more money, etc. until they get a higher price. I go to several dealer auctions and its funny though most people don't notice it.

Thanks
David

t walgamuth · #5 09-04-2006, 10:09 PM

of course. it is commonly referred to as "chandelier bidding" in sports car market magazine.

another common thing is shill bidders. running up the bid on a car with a high reserve for show. hoping to stimulate a sale later in the parking lot.

a good reason not to ever buy at auction.

though if you know enough about the type of car you want and have excellent self control you can get bargains there.

i will never forget the time about 15 years ago i saw a powder blue 53 buick riviera come out of the auburn sale barn and about 100 feet from the door the right front spindle broke and the entire wheel and brake assembly fell off.....clunk! i had to wonder how the buyer felt!

tom w