Raleigh Classic Car Auction results June 22-23, 2012

Raleigh Classic Auction

Charles Farley reporting

Preliminary reports show about 360 cars crossed the block during the Auctions America Raleigh Classic Car Auction, held June 22-23 at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds. The annual event has been advertised on the front page of OCW for several years running with supervision from Bob Lafater of Zebulon, N.C., who stated first-day auction sell-through ran 67 percent. Lafater said he was expecting $4.2 million in sales and remained optimistic that post-auction sales will put the final tally close to that figure.

All vehicles that sold during the Raleigh Classic Auction were priced beneath the six-figure mark, but many No. 1 and No. 2 condition prewar classic cars went home well bought. Also, a passel of postwar "starter" collector cars went to first-time buyers in the $10,000 range.

We also noticed that most of the Corvettes offered — and there were many — went unsold, as sellers often refused to lift their reserve price.

At this sale, we noticed 1957 Chevrolet convertibles and 1957 Ford Retractables werere still commanding good prices, and Cadillac convertibles of any stripe seemed to be selling like hotcakes.

Notable prewar cars sales included:

1934 Hudson Convertible 2dr $70,000

1925 Cadillac Doctor's Coupe $20,000

1933 Buick Model 57 $49,000

1938 Oldsmobile 2dr Coupe $16,000

1940 Buick Limited 4 door $32,500

*Above prices do not reflect buyer's premium

Postwar best buys (buyer’s premium not included):

1950 Chrysler Royal 4dr $10,250

1949 Chrysler Windsor 4dr $11,250

1959 Lincoln Premiere 4dr $11,000

1948 Mercury Club Coupe $13,750