Collector cars and auctions.

[JB]

I love old, classic cars and usually watch the auctions, though I get bored with 50s and 70s muscle cars and restored Fords, Chebbys and Mopars.

One of my favorites from that era is the Continental MK2. It was made by Lincoln but not called or badged a Lincoln. It was high priced (in 1956, $10 grand was a LOT of money. You could buy a Ferrari for that), hand made and, in my eye, gorgeous. For a few years back then Continental was a separate brand from Lincoln.

I had some business with Elvis when I lived in Memphis. I drooled over his Mk2 and he took me for a ride. He said it wasn't big enough and he offered to sell it to me. It was way out of my league.

It annoys me that the auctioneers insist on calling it a Lincoln. But what puzzles me is that they go so cheap. A pristine '56 chebby goes for many more bucks than a pristine '56 MK2.

Any of you gearheads got ideas why?

 

[rbh]

Re: Collector cars and auctions.

I would think that it is not eye candy enough for the hot rod folks, while being a gorgeous car for its time, I tend to believe the buyers are looking to fill that gap in their lives with something that they where in love with in their youth.

To add, my folks wanted to give me (to get it out of thier yard) a late 50's Nash Rambler Ambasador???
I think it was called, it was my grandfathers since new and they had hung onto it since he passed.
If it was a Chevy Bel Air, I would have been all over it, but it was'nt, so I did'nt take it.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Collector cars and auctions.

Probably no different than back-in-the-day. The MK2 was not popular then being that it was out of the working mans price range, as you mentioned. The '55 - '57 chebby was wildly popular then as it is now...... Everyone over a couple generations can relate to a '55 -'57 chebby, most probably never heard of a MK2.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Collector cars and auctions.

I'm with you on the MK2, JB. The AC was trunk mounted like a lot of early AC cars and they had ducts from the trunk into the headliner. The conditioned air was blown through round vents above the side windows, kind of like larger airliner vents. Cool in more ways than one.

Reminds me of a story. Back in the late sixties, a friends father had a black on black MK2, his pride and joy. A gorgeous, beautiful car. A bunch of us were in the garage and the father was showing off his baby. One on the guys leaned on a front fender and smudged the shine. When the kid pulled his hand off and cleared the car, the father smacked the back of the kids hand with a rubber mallet and calmly said "You don't touch my car". Couldn't do that today.

 

[greenbush future]

Re: Collector cars and auctions.

We need a picture to really enjoy the car you describe.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Collector cars and auctions.

I had to goggle it......

 

[JB]

Re: Collector cars and auctions.

To add, my folks wanted to give me (to get it out of their yard) a late 50's Nash Rambler Ambassador???
I think it was called, it was my grandfathers since new and they had hung onto it since he passed.
If it was a Chevy Bel Air, I would have been all over it, but it wasn't, so I didn't take it.

Rambler and Ambassador were different Nash models, rbh. My buddy had an Ambassador that looked like an inverted bathtub. The seats converted to a bed. It was very fast and a chick magnet. The Rambler was a compact model and very popular with my generation.

 

[82rude]

Re: Collector cars and auctions.

everybody has their own idea of what is beautiful.to me its a little stoggey .now give me a duesenburg and id be in 7th heaven and would drive all the collectors banannas by driving the blasted thing like it was meant to be.

 

[82rude]

Re: Collector cars and auctions.

i had a 67 ambassador with the 343 high comp engine (280 or290hp) JB.loved it.brings back memories.youtube has some cool amc commercials on it and other models ,even jack benny is in a couple .

 

[rbh]

Re: Collector cars and auctions.

Rambler and Ambassador were different Nash models, rbh. My buddy had an Ambassador that looked like an inverted bathtub. The seats converted to a bed. It was very fast and a chick magnet. The Rambler was a compact model and very popular with my generation.

It must have been the Ambassador, because of the seat folded into a bed, all I really remember is the white and silver interior and the orange and white paint (orange hood, roof, trunk ETC and white in the front and rear fenders and doors.
One of the nicest shades of orange I believe I ever seen once it was washed and pollished.

And what alot of chrome to pollish!, still feel the burn.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Collector cars and auctions.

I'm not a true "gear head," but I'm a big fan of automotive design. I think what makes a car popular (or not) in it's day is a driver of the nostalgia it generates in the future - for example: Mustang was a huge hit in the late 60's because of the value it delivered it's drivers. So, it's still a good seller today (for the most part) because of the nostalgic attachment people have to it, but there's quite a few of 'em on the road in decent shape.

BUT ... the simple law of "supply and demand" also comes into play. The '57 Nomad Wagon is a low supply vehicle but a high nostalgia vehicle. The result is high price tags.

You can find some cars that break that mold, but not that often.

See a Kaiser Darrin at an auction along side a 'Cuda Hemi Convertible in comparable condition and oddly (IMHO) the Darrin won't hold a match to the price you'll fetch on the 'Cuda. Even the Packard Hawk would have a hard time competing with a Chevy Nomad. I'm often surprised at how low priced the '71 Buick Riviera boat tails go for ... that's just a brilliant lookin' car.

BTW ... there's an old maxim in our family: "never buy a Nash."

 

[82rude]

Re: Collector cars and auctions.

Rambler (automobile) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[idonthaveaname]

Re: Collector cars and auctions.

Did you mean a Continental Mark II?

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Collector cars and auctions.

Chacun a son gout...

 

[JB]

Re: Collector cars and auctions.

I did lust for the car 55-60 years back. I am no collector and I wouldn't have one for a driver today. I love 21st century technology too much.

It makes sense that even collectors and investors (not the same thing) prefer cars that evoke nostalgic thoughts. I guess I am nostalgic about very different things than most.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Collector cars and auctions.

...I guess I am nostalgic about very different things than most.

I'm right with ya' JB. I'd take another Pinto in a heartbeat ...

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Collector cars and auctions.

Vega anyone? I didn't know they were shipped this way.....

 

[southkogs]

Re: Collector cars and auctions.

Vega anyone?...

Awkwardly ... we owned one of those too Had the Gremlin too. I think the only 70's "comedy" car we didn't have was the Pacer. Vega was actually a pretty good car. The Gremlin on the other hand ...

 

[idonthaveaname]

Re: Collector cars and auctions.

Heck...I have owned a Continental, a Lincoln, a Gremlin, a Vega, and a Nash. Fortunately never a Gremlin although a girlfriend had one.

 

[idonthaveaname]

Re: Collector cars and auctions.

Of all the cars I miss the most...I miss the Gremlin.