1940s Chevy Dealer re-opens to Auction off 500 Time Capsule Cars

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Drache

1971 Dodge Dart Swinger
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Car collectors dream about finding a forgotten “new” classic car, discovered in a barn or warehouse somewhere, covered in dust. This is that dream, only 500 times better….

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A small-town Midwestern dealership in Pierce, Nebraska sold Chevrolets to local families and first-time buyers for 50 years until it’s husband and wife team finally closed their doors seventeen years ago. Since then, a staggering inventory of 500 surviving cars, new & used, have been stored away, undriven for decades. Some 50 cars “brand new” Chevrolets from the 1950s and 60s have less than 10 miles on the odometer.

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Ray and Mildred Lambrecht are now in their 90s and have made what is described by their daughter Jeannie, as a “a difficult and painful” decision, to liquidate the dealership’s massive inventory of ‘survivor vehicles’. On September 28th and 29th, 2013, VanDerBrink Auctions will have the honor of selling this incredible, once in a lifetime collection of American automotive history.

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Up for sale? A seemingly endless list of 1950′s, 60′s Impalas, TRi-Fives, Chevelles, including a 1956 Chevrolet Cameo Pickup and a 1963 Impala with less than 10 miles on the clock.

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Lambrecht Chevrolet Company opened in 1946, at a time when cars sold for around $600 to $800. It was owned and operated by Ray and Mildred Lambrecht with just one employee, a mechanic. “My parents worked six days a week for 50 years, never taking one single day of vacation or one sick day,” remembers their daughter Jeannie. “They worked hard and operated their business with honesty, integrity, and kindness, frequently lending a helping hand to others who were in need …This was a small ‘mom and pop’ operation, and it stayed that way throughout the decades in business.”

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While all the new, unsold stock were stored away in the warehouses, many of the dealership’s trade-ins were parked on the family farm outside of town which gradually grew into a massive collection. “There is a lot of history in that collection,” explains Jeannie, who says her love of Chevrolets is in her DNA . “Dad can look at any of those vehicles today and tell you the story behind it. He remembers each used car and the former owner, like the 1928 Durant owned by Mom’s uncle Louie.”

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“Unlike today, one special day in September of each year was the first opportunity for anyone to view the new car models for that year. New cars would be delivered in advance and then hidden away so that nobody could see them before Announcement Day. Early that morning, Dad would move one shiny new Chevrolet into the showroom. There would be balloons and banners, coffee and donuts, souvenirs, and lots of built-up excitement. Everyone in town would come to see the new car and truck models.”

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“When attending gatherings of friends and family, Dad would often turn to me and loudly ask the question, ‘What is the finest car made?’ I would shout, ‘Chevrolet!!!!’, and it would bring down the house. I didn’t really know what was so funny, but I was happy to play my part.”

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Find details of the auction on the VanDerBrink website. See a quick video tour of the cars going up for auction at the end of summer…

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRFiSUH4gdQ"]Lambrecht Chevrolet Auct - YouTube[/ame]

http://www.messynessychic.com/2013/...e-opens-to-auction-off-500-time-capsule-cars/
 
I am at awe for words here. Except why couldn't it be a Dodge or Plymouth dealer. Wonder if some of those trade-ins are mopar. Like a 58 fury or a 62 max wedge.
 
Well, you, me and most other people can forget about any of those "leftovers". They will go for far more than the vast majority of us can ever afford.

The age of the real "barn find" for a reasonable price is over, thanks to the efforts of organizations like Barret-Jackson and the like.

...yeah, I know there are exceptions to every rule, and I'd hate to see this thread turn into a list of "Oh yeah, well I found this for cheap" posts, understand that these cars will, most likely" be sold a "reasonable prices".

Just the same I'm drooling over many of them.
 
Here is the inventory list. Very few Mopars on the list. It is amazing that there are so many NEW 63/64 Chevrolet pickups on the list. I would love to attend this auction just for the experience since I doubt there will be anything I could afford.

[ame]http://www.vanderbrinkauctions.com/auction_images/135/documents/Inventory.pdf[/ame]
 
My preferences:
Any MoPar (of course)
Any brand pre-1975 pick up.
Any Stud, Durant, or other American discontinued brands,
and any 1965 or earlier GM or Ford.
 
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