Holiday ‘perfect’ time for auction
There are many car shows in Arizona and classic auto auctions that cater to car collectors and excite car fans. The Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event in January is the most famous example, offering well-heeled buyers the most prestigious cars and plenty of eye candy for rubber-necking spectators.
Although “poor man’s” auctions are smaller, the iron on the block often is impressive.
Silver Auctions of Spokane, Wash., once again will visit Arizona with its Silver Thanksgiving Weekend Auction on the Fort McDowell Reservation. Silver has established a solid reputation for auctioning collector cars in the Arizona market, which is why it added a fall auction to its calendar.
“This ... is the perfect time of year for us to continue our auction services to our customers in the greater Phoenix area,” said Dave Silver, general manager of Silver Auctions. “The number of cars and col-
lectors in the region creates an ideal combination to bring everyone together to enjoy the car hobby and consider new investments.”
About 200 vehicles are expected to cross the auction block over two days. Also, automotive memorabilia will be auctioned.
Ron and Robin Bielenberg, car collectors from Washington state, will put their 1942 Buick sedan on the block. They purchased the Buick, which had been fully restored by a previous owner, at Silver Auction’s Christmas auction in 2011 .
The Buick is a rare “blackout” edition with burgundy paint and graycloth interior.
Many American cars manufactured in 1942 were dubbed blackout models because chromium needed for the war effort was in short supply. The solution for automakers was to paint bumpers and additional body trim gray.
Under the hood is a “straight-eight” engine, which is mated to a threespeed manual transmission with a “three on the tree” shifter.
Few cars from the ’40s would still have its original owner’s manual — along with a hand-written list of parts replaced and maintenance notes kept by the previous owner — but the Bielenbergs’ Buick does.
As an added bonus, the Buick’s trunk is loaded with replacement parts in the event of a breakdown.
“This 1942 was one of the last cars produced before World War II, when Buick began processing vehicles for the government to purchase from 1942 to 1947,” Robin said.
Canadian winter visitor Bill Cherwayko is a car collector who would like to see his 1957 Lincoln Pre- miere go to the highest bidder if the price is right.
“It’s a beautiful sled which was recently restored to its initial custom styling,” he said.
Cherwayko’s tail-finned two-door hardtop — which sports fender skirts — is powered by a 351-cubicinch Ford V-8 that puts out 350 horses and is hooked to a Ford C6 automatic transmission. A dual exhaust system provides the rumble.