Classics for sale on Nebraska Farms   Story and photos by Jim Volgarino   Pierce, Nebraska was the scene last month of an incredible auction consisting of probably the largest collection of original survivor cars that have been all in one place in the past 50 years. This was the Lambrecht Auto Auction.   Tiny Pierce had never seen anything quite like the spectacle that drew 20,000+ buyers and gawkers to the 80 acre plot where the 500 vehicles were sold off to the highest bidders. But that wasn't the only action happening!  Traveling from nearby Norfolk, Nebraska to Pierce was a show all of its own. Hundreds more vehicles, some easily as rare and collectible as those that fell under the auctioneer's gavel. From fully restored muscle to street rods, the entire 14 mile distance between the two towns was lined with enough iron to make any true car lover just quiver with joy. Here are just a few...   To see the rest, check out this Road To Lambrecht photo gallery.       Check out the Lambrecht Auction Page to see every...

Lambrecht's Chevy Auction Wows'm all in Nebraska "Every state, including Alaska and 20 countries represented"   Story and photos by Jim Volgarino   It may have been the most common sentence stated during the entire Lambrecht Chevrolet auction.   “This is just crazy!”   Following a first day session where the group of MSO vehicles brought prices that were making people gulp pretty hard, there was still an expectation that the remaining inventory, much of it rated #5 which meant it was close to being just good for parts, might still get some solid prices. That remainder didn’t disappoint.   The auction company has a complete listing of the final sales prices on all the units, but some of the best examples may have been these:   1967 GMC pickup, no box, ¾ ton, decent sheet metal, engine frozen, interior trashed--$4500   1949 Chevy 3600 pickup, the heavy duty version with long box, etc., windows broken, interior eaten by mice--$5500   1960 Chevy Apache pickup, ½ ton, nothing special--$6300   1958 Ford Ranch Wagon, rated #5, yes, there were Fords available--$9000   1980 Chevy Monza, 9.4 miles, but who...

Lambrecht's Chevy Auction ready to start in Nebraska   Story and photos by Jim Volgarino The locals in Pierce, NE are simply amazed. For years the land just outside town near the golf course had held a collection of junk, hidden in the trees and underbrush until one day some heavy equipment arrived to begin clearing the area and carefully lifting rusted relics of vehicles from the grip of the undergrowth.   But today the tiny town of 1700 was swarmed by the masses of car enthusiasts, some estimating the crowds at easily 20,000, with traffic backed up for miles and news media recording the entire scene. It was indeed a Woodstock of sorts, but for car people, and the town folk embraced it. Let's call it, "Carstock".   “I’ve lived here all my life,” said a Pierce father who was corralling two young sons who kept saying, “Dad, why are all these people here?” “I’ve never, ever seen anything like this.”   Looking out over the crowd this first day of the much anticipated auction, you can just barely make out the shapes of the 500+ vehicles that are...

Lambrecht's Chevy Auction ready to start in Nebraska Story and photos by Jim Volgarino   As expected, the Lambrecht Chevy auction started off BIG! The countryside of rural Nebraska has never seen anything like the onslaught of car people intent on doing just one thing, get the first up close and personal view (and touch) of this legendary barn find of all barn finds.     The venue, set on 80 acres cleared expressly to stage this event, has it all. History Channel has set up a complete set and satellite uplinks to televise a “live” show called “Wheels of Fortune” with Brian Unger who is hosting the show along with Tanner Faust and Rutledge Wood from Top Gear. The production company attempted to cordon off large parts of the site for production setup with little success. The crowds simply would not have it so they had to work around the converging horde.     Vehicles were backed up on highways leading into tiny Pierce, Nebraska where there was a huge selection of classic iron displayed along the roads. You had to wonder where all these vehicles suddenly came from....

Only 1-5 Miles - "Never Sold" Chevy's in a Field in Nebraska Story and photos by Jim Volgarino In March 2013 one of the most unusual auctions of survivor cars was announced to the car collector community and it almost immediately became a worldwide phenomenon. In tiny Pierce, Nebraska exists a cache of 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s era Chevrolets (and assorted other models), many of which were never sold by the dealer. On September 27 the public will be allowed, for the very first time, to view and touch these 500+ vehicles. It has come about through the efforts of several people, but primarily Yvette VanDerBrink, an unlikely mom, rural Minnesota native and car enthusiast, who has managed to put together one of the most unusual auctions we car people might ever experience...   Auction Cars Featured So Far: 1958 Chevy Apache Pickup - Only 5 Miles  1978 Corvette Pace Car - Only 4 miles 1963 Chevy Impala 2Dr - only 11 miles      Yvette VanDerBrink is bone tired.   Or at least she should be bone tired as she stands on the edge of an 80-acre plot of land...

2013 Barrett Jackson Scottsdale Muscle Cars and Mopars Story and photos by Chris Voyles This years Barrett Jackson Scottsdale auction was a awesome one! Last year was a great auction but I think there was a little more excitement this year with some super unique vehicles crossing the block. Who could have predicted the Batmobile would go for 4.3 million?! There were a lot of great vehicles that had the proceeds go to charities and nothing is better than to see the price climbing on those cars with the bidders out doing each other, at some point solely out of kindness. I'm sure most of you have watched coverage of the Barrett Jackson Auctions on Speed Channel at some point but nothing beats being there in person and soaking in the true beauty of what we all love: Custom cars, muscle cars and for me Mopars! Whatever's your favorite, there's something for everyone at Barrett Jackson. Here's a few of my favorites. Let me know what you think... Chris #1 The pro touring 1970 Dodge Charger with a modern Hemi transplanted into it. While my favorite Charger of all time the 68,...

In 1964 Ford launched an icon: Mustang. Riding two years of blistering sales, marketing dollars funded a project to put rising stars Sonny and Cher behind the wheel of brand new, nearly consecutive serial number, 1966 Mustang Convertibles. To match the sporty but mainstream Mustangs to the flamboyant rockers, George Barris and Barris TV and Movie Cars were hired to customize the pony car. A great Train of Thought, or so it would seem... Ford, their red-hot Mustang, George and a few Barris Kustom tricks should have been a Good Combination. Here at MyRideisMe.com, United We Stand in saying, these cars failed! Sold as a pair, they fetched over $150,000 (including fees, maybe a win?) at the 2010 Barrett Jackson Auction with George Barris himself on the block to add his, "I Got You Babe" to the auctioneers urging that when it comes to these two collectible cars, Its the Little Things that make'm bring big bucks. Watch the full 6 minute auction if you'd like: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Qip5x7crHI[/youtube] It's hard to decided which of the "custom" treatments I liked least. I guess we'll start with the empty ice cube trays...

As much as we love our home-built cars that we’ve poured blood, sweat, and sometimes tears into – most of us recognize we don’t have the skill or talent to produce cars along the caliber that greats such as Boyd Coddington, Ed Roth, Harry Bradley, and the Alexander Brothers do. Which is why its such good news that coming this September we all have a chance to own one of these “Icons of Speed and Style”. Yep, that’s right. Nearly 80 cars, all from a single-owner collection, will be up for grabs in a no-reserve auction billed “Icons of Speed and Style” held September 26, 2009 at The Peterson Museum in Los Angeles, California by RM Auctions. Whether its speed, style, or history you’re into, this well-rounded collection offers it all. Legendary cars such as the famous Dodge “Little Red Wagon” wheel-standing drag truck, the dominating Ray Allen LS6 Chevelle Convertible, legendary “Big John” Mazmanian’s Corvette gasser, the original “Road Agent” show car by Ed “Big Daddy” Roth as well as famous customs from the Ayala Brothers, Sonny Mazza, the Alexander Brothers, George Barris, Daryl Starbird and Boyd Coddington...

How rare is your chance to lay hands on a car a rare and historic as the CSX2601 Shelby Daytona Coupe? I had a chance thanks to the folks at Mecum Auctions, but the great people of Maricopa county thought it better for me to be in jury duty. Here's Mecum's press release and info about the car. They also provided a fantastic gallery of pictures. I'll be watching to see how high into the "8 Figures" this car rises. 1 of 6, fully restored, arguably the most famous/historic of the six, this American Legend has it all! Phoenix kicked of the national tour in style over at Bob Bondurant's Racing school of High Performance Driving. After carefully pulling the car out of the shipping truck, Bondurant relived the 1965 FIA clinching victory in Reims, France by taking a hot lap with the near priceless car. Special thanks to David NewhardtPhotography and Mecum Auction for these pictures. [gallery =20] MECUM AUCTION PROUDLY PRESENTS AMERICAN RACING'S CROWN JEWEL 1965 Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe Beat Ferrari to Capture First U.S. Victory in World Manufacturer's Championship MARENGO, Ill. - High performance collector...

Submitted by Jason Wenig from The Creative Workshop, a restoration and full service coach builder out in Florida. An interesting turn of events transpired this past weekend. As you are probably aware, last week was the "big auction week" out in Scottsdale, AZ (culminating on Saturday night), where all of the major car auction companies display and sell a dizzying array of vehicles. On top of the grandeur of these events, in many ways, it can be said that this past week sets the tone for values and trends for the coming year. As a car builder, I walk a thin line. I personally am not a big fan of the auctions - I don't sell cars - I build them, but it is hard not to at least be interested, and in many instances, it is important for me to understand where people's money is going - what types of cars, what eras, etc are being sold… if not just for business, then certainly for my own love of cars! Which brings me to my story: My Client, (Arizona's own, car collector) Barry Smith, decided to get the...

Have you ever gone through your closet to find some clothes that make you say, DAMN!  I never wore that, did I?  I think the same is true for cars, especially custom cars that were built in the 80's. At some point, did the designers take a step back and go, "Really?  Is that cool?"  I wonder cause this is an example of just about everything that's wrong with 80's custom paint. The only redeeming quality about this car is the LT5 tucked under the hood.  As a 1988 Camaro, this is a combo that never was and that's probably why with this car, like every other car offered by GM, they read a long a boring disclaimer stating that basically that as far as GM is concerned, these cars don't exist. So if you can, look past the glowing neon yellow wheels and matching neon yellow seating surface and dig that sliding seal fading to upside down shoe graphics done in, you guessed it, neon yellow and *gulp* purple.  Adios 80's! What do you think?  Please leave a comment below! Look for many more and much less nauseating...

It's no wonder RM Auction is celebrating their 10th year in Arizona with "Automobiles of Arizona" at the Biltmore in Phoenix, Arizona. Accepting my invitation to their Media breakfast I arrived slightly more bright-eyed and bushy-tailed then the next writer and photographer because this was my first time to look behind the scenes. Tucked in a small ballroom with other friends from the Phoenix Automotive Press Association (PAPA) I got to meet the kind folks running RM and hear what Rob Myers founder and former president ( Ian Kelleher was recently promoted to President) had to say about the state of the Collector Car Market. "At least if it's in my garage, I can't get Ponzi'd out of it!." Mr. RM took the podium with a smooth stride and turned to show a friendly smile. Here's a man that enjoys what he does. Reflecting back to 1976, Myers remembered his first trip to Barret Jackson. Back then, he says, "It was a hobby." He remembered buying a Mustang for about $1000 and driving it back to the RM home base back in Canada. Now, Meyers estimated that nearly a...