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NEWS
US auction a treasure trove of old Chevs
Chevy dealer hoarded used cars and even some new models over a period of decadesAn auction of over 500 cars from a Chevy dealer in Nebraska has made news everywhere in the USA since it was announced.
The event – conducted across this weekend by VanDerBrink Auctions – is an Alladin's Cave of anything wearing a bow tie. Much of the stock comprises trade-ins that were never on-sold as a used car. It's speculated that the owner of the dealership wanted to restrict the trade of used cars in the small town of Pierce, Nebraska, so that he could sell more new Chevrolets. Most of these trade-ins have been left to rot in the open, but remain mostly restorable. One lot, however, is a 1969 Chevelle SS coupe that has taken a heavy hit to the roof on the driver's side, unfortunately.
Naturally the trade-ins are from brands other than just Chevrolet. It's a rich mix too, with a KE20 Toyota Corolla wagon going to auction the same day as a Type 3 VW wagon. We counted at least five Fords, including an F-Series truck, a 1970 Fairlane (pictured) resembling the later ZF/ZG models sold here, a '69 Mustang, a Pinto hatch and a big old Galaxie. Other American brands are represented too, with Studebakers, Buicks and Pontiacs in the lotting – but few Chrysler Corporation brands. There were a couple of Plymouth Furys catalogued at the time of writing, but the catalogue appeared to be a work in progress at the time, with more cars being added constantly.
The first day's lotting comprises any number of Chevs from the late 1940s (the dealer, Lambrecht Chevrolet opened in 1946) through to the 1980s at least. If you're a lover of sedans and wagons you'll be rapt in all the Belairs, Biscaynes, Caprices and Impalas available, but it's the sheer number of pick-ups that is truly staggering.
There are four or five Corvairs from the 'Unsafe at Any Speed' period of the early 1960s, but only one post-'65 model spotted. Other oddball Chevs going to auction include the Monza, Chevette and Citation. But there's only one Corvette, and no Camaros at all.
The back story to this auction is that the dealership – Lambrecht Chevrolet – opened in Pierce in 1946 and almost immediately began acquiring vehicles offered as trade-ins on new Chevs. Ray Lambrecht and his wife Mildred apparently just hoarded the trade-ins, which were accommodated on their 80-acre farm. The new-car stock, which dates back to the 1960s, based on one picture seen, was always kept under cover at the dealership. Some cars still have the plastic protection on their seats and all of them display just delivery mileage on the odometer.
An FAQ sheet compiled by VanDerBrink offers the explanation that Ray "figured if you didn't buy the old inventory – then no one will – and tucked them away so that people would buy the new inventory or latest greatest Model from Chevrolet."
At the auction there's also a considerable collection of marketing merchandise and new/old stock going under the hammer. You can find out more from the auctioneer's website.
Pictures (courtesy VanDerBrink Auctions):
1961 Belair sedan
1959 Viking truck
1949 Deluxe
1969 Impala
1973-81 C20
1965 Impala
1956 Belair four-door hardtop
1977 Biscayne
1979 Impala wagon
1965 Impala hardtop
1963 Corvair Monza coupe
1960 Corvair Monza sedan
1965 Corvair 95 Greenbriar van
1977 Vega wagon
1981 Citation
1959 Belair sedan
1928 Durrant
1978 Corvette Indy Pace Car
Corvette pedal car
1956 Belair sedan
1957 Model 150 two-door sedan
1950 Suburban
1966 Chevelle four-door hardtop
1977 Vega hatchback
1967 Caprice four-door hardtop
1964 Belair wagon
1957 Belair four-door hardtop
1969 Chevelle SS coupe
1963 Corvair Monza coupe
1954 Suburban
1970 Ford Fairlane
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