Posted on 06/28/2013 9:20:04 AM PDT by Impala64ssa
Lambrecht Chevrolet of Pierce, Neb., was like many Midwestern, small-town dealers — owned and operated by a family, with minimal overhead and little need for advertising since most customers were neighbors. Ray and Mildred Lambrecht ran the dealership with just one employee for 50 years before closing up, and later this year the Lambrechts will sell off a trove of 500-odd vehicles they've held onto over the decades — including roughly 50 with less than 10 miles on their odometers. It's less a car sale than a time capsule auction.
While many of the cars in the Lambrecht collection were customer trade-ins that were left outside to rot, the Lambrechts would occasionally take something they couldn't sell and just put it in storage. City folk might find it unthinkable to leave so many vehicles lying around for so many years, but there's always more space in rural Nebraska, and the annual costs fall to zero quickly. I wouldn't call it hoarding, but I know many people who gather old metal like this do form an attachment to their kingdom of rust; every ride has a story, even when there's weeds growing around it. Jeannie Lambrecht Stillwell, the Lambrecht's daughter, says the decision to sell wasn't an easy one for her parents, and that the cars "comprise a lifetime of hard work, tears, and joy."
(Excerpt) Read more at autos.yahoo.com ...
If only I had the space and the $$$!
I know of a 69 Impala with less than 100 actual miles on it. Its even got the original tires (shrink wrapped and hanging on the wall for show days.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=rRFiSUH4gdQ
5 minute mark, 25th anniversary Corvette with 4 miles...
I love states like Nebraska,Kansas and Missouri (among others).So many decent,respectable,down-to-earth people there.People so very unlike the worthless trash you find in states like...*my* home state.
Auctioneers are missing a great opportunity for some publicity..they should have called producers of Overhaulin'..let Chip Foose pick out one car..and have at it..
Ray and Mildred Lambrecht must have been loaded. 500 cars @2,500 USD 1968 = $1.2 million 1968 USD. Adjusting for inflation $8.4 million. Who can park 8.4 million bucks?
What to do...? What to do?
Cameo PU or the Impala?
Engine specs would make the decision for me. if the Impala has a 327 or more...I’d love to grab it!
Cameo with a flathead straight-6? that makes it more difficult.
Yes, they will. Belts, tires, gaskets, and more.
Every break system, transmission and engine bearing is dried out and ruined. Having said that; I WANT ONE NOW!
From what I read, very few of them were inside. Most were left outside to rot into the ground and are probably little more than junk.
>> “These cars will need some major mechanical work from sitting around all those decades.” <<
.
Do you believe in metal-eating bacteria?
Nothing wears when nothing moves, but they will need tires and paint anyway.
They say they don’t make cars like they used to. Thank God.....
And not just the cars. There’s plenty of never used OEM parts that’s worth tons of money. Restorers are willing to pay big bucks for that stuff.
My Dad made the mistake of buying a Vega. That underpowered a** bucket was such a POS, I had a 68 Charger at the time that was a gas hog, but still cheaper to drive.
I thought the Chevy straight-sixes of that era were overhead-valve...
http://www.autoweek.com/article/20130624/CARNEWS01/130629911
"We took a quick glance at the lot listing, and while there are far, far too many vehicles to list here, a few jumped out at us:
-- 1958 Chevrolet Cameo pickup, one mile on the odometer
-- 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air sedan, one mile
-- 1965 Chevrolet Bel Air station wagon, five miles
-- 1975 Chevrolet Caprice, seven miles
-- 1978 Chevrolet Malibu, 11 miles
-- 1969 Chevrolet Cheyenne pickup, 4 miles"
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