Unsold collector cars at auctions ....

Crazy Horse

Well-known Member
I follow Mecum auctions on the web and usually check out the results. Mecum auctions are open to the seller putting on a reserve price obviously, they always tag them as "The Bid Goes On" when viewing results. I think even Barrett Jackson occasionally allows some select sellers to put a reserve bit on some vehicles in their "no-reserve" auctions. So the link below shows a '56 Pontiac convertible that yesterday reached $50,000 USD on a bid but didn't sell. I wonder what the seller would have to pay Mecum for his decision to keep the reserve on and take the car home?
Untitled URL Link
 
That?s a beautiful cool car. Just not $50,000+ cool to me. Wonder what the reserve was that owner posted on it?
 
Yes, a guy does wonder that. I'm not too familiar what things are worth but sometimes (not necessarily this Pontiac) I wonder why the seller doesn't take the money and run rather than head home with the unsold car. Sometimes I see what looks like the very same cars show up at the next auction or one later on in the year. One thing I do know for sure is that that stuff is certainly out of my league.
 
Nice car but not a $50K car.

Among other things, though it appears to have a quite rare OEM AC outlet in the center of the dash, the AC is not OEM.

Dean
 
Some people takes cars to auction to actually show them off to the world. I love to look at the cars but have no interest in buying one. I drove those cars when they were new. We treated them as throw away items!
 
A no sale on a tractor is negotiated at the time the tractor is consigned. It normally is around 5 % but say if I was to consigned three tractors or so it might be a bit less. I am guessing they do about the same thing on cars.
 
Dean not doubting your statement. Just wondering how you know. Was it not available on that model or what. Appears to have larger radiator and looks factor under the hood. Meacum is usually pretty good on the descriptions.
 
No sale at Mecum,you are out your entry fees. If you sell at reserve,you owe 10% and your entry fees,at no reserve you pay 7% and entry fees.
 
JM ..... seems you are correct about questioning Dean's statement. Below is a link to a discussion forum about auto air conditioning. Pontiacs are mentioned often, if you scroll down far enough in that forum you will see that someone has posted pages from a GM factory manual regarding air conditioning in a '54 Pontiac. And that one picture with the components included is definitely a '54 (so earlier than the Pontiac in my original post from Mecum).
Read through this forum link completely .....
 
I'd say the air conditioning outlets in the dash may be correct for the car. The compressor, condenser, radiator are definitely not correct for the car, nor would they have been from the factory. I personally don't care for continental kits or fender skirts, so that would be a minus to me. I'd say the A/C system is a combination of factory fittings and modern components. Pontiac did not use Sanden compressors back then. That is a good driver quality car and probably worth the money because the top goes down and they don't make them anymore. It could be properly sorted for $10,000, then they'd have a $100,000 car. The money is still out there. You have to have a "no excuses" car and this ain't one of them.
 
Did not want to start an argument , but I know my grandmother had one that we only drove on Sundays to church and the air worked somewhat. Called my sister and she like me is also sure it was a 1954 year model. Tennessee so probably never was over 80 deg outside but it cooled the car.
 
Yes, AC was available in 56 (and before), and the center dash outlet looks OEM, but neither the compressor nor the radiator are OEM.

I'm guessing that there is a reason that the other two OEM AV outlets are not shown.

Looks to be add-on AC with a center OEM outlet.

Note: The ad claims only factory center dash AC "panel".

Dean
 
Bingo.

GM divisions used Delco Harrison AC compressors at the time.

The A6 (I believe, 6) compressor was a compressor of axial design with 6 cylinders that looked a bit like an oversized generator. It was probably the best automotive AC compressor ever made by anyone but it was expensive and heavy.

Dean
 
Upon closer inspection, It appears to be factory AC with non OEM compressor, radiator and condenser.

Dean
 
Hello Dean,

Took my driver's test on one, red instead of blue.Did a valve job on it @ 90.000+ miles. The six cylinder compressor had opposing pistons, actuated by a wably plate. Three pistons intake and three pistons higb pressure out. Gas both ways,

Guido.
 
prolly high mountain area. 3300 + ft. elevations in West Virginia are like that.
 
Have a special liking for the 50's Pontiacs, 2nd car was a 56 convertible, it was one of the less dressier models all white with a black interior and top. Traded it for a blue and white 59 Catalina. Other than gas mileage, the 59 was the best road car I have ever owned. Even at 30 some cents a gallon it was a little rough on Navy pay in the late 60's.

Am sure most of us have had cars that we wished we still had. I once sold a 57 Chevy convertible for $50.00 and remember a neighbor that sold a 53 Corvette for $100.00. In the late 60's early 70's 50's cars were selling cheap. You could buy a running 55-56 Chevy for $50 to $100.
 
Bob ..... yeah, those were the days as they say. My dad had a '59 Pontiac, Laurentian model (up here in Canada) .... two door sedan (or two
door post as the rodders call them now). Those eavestrough rain gutter rear fins were pretty cool, ours was a bit of a medium mauve/purple
color, maybe you remember that color? Six cylinder three on the tree, pretty cool unit. Was that the first year for Pontiac's trademark
truly split grille?
 

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