Vintage Car & Aircraft Auction

13th March 2014

Vintage Car & Aircraft Auction

An upcoming auction in Wanaka of classic cars, motorcycles and aircraft has already attracted international attention. The auction is being run by Webb’s Auction House of Auckland and will be held at the Warbirds and Wheels visitor attraction at Wanaka Airport at 1pm on March 30.

The auction will feature up to 50 cars, motorcycles and aircraft along with associated memorabilia. A marquee will be erected at the end of the Warbirds and Wheels building to house some of the additional vehicles which will be on display in the days leading up to the auction.

“I knew there were plenty of beautiful cars and bikes in the South Island but I have still been blown away by how good these really are,” says Webb’s CEO, Neil Campbell. He has been impressed by the high quality of the vehicles which have been put up.

“We are expecting buyers from around the country and overseas to be bidding, either in person on the day, or via the internet and phones,” said Neil.

Webb’s has already been out to its extensive New Zealand and world-wide database of collectors and has had solid interest, including a couple of firm bids on items.

The cars up for sale include a 1924 3-litre Bentley (est $350,000 – $450,000), a 1935 Alvis Sports 20 (est. $220,000 – $280,000), a 1937 Packard Victoria ($270,000 - $320,000), a 1954 MG TF1250 ($35,000 - $54,000) , a 1941 Willy’s jeep ($18,000 – $22,000), a low-mileage 1948 Ford V8 pickup ($35,000 - $45,000) and a rare 1924 Rickenbacker Model C Roadster ($60,000 - $80,000).

The Rickenbacker was bought new by a North Canterbury man and it has stayed in the province ever since. The Rickenbacker Motor Company was established in 1921 by Eddie Rickenbacker who was America’s leading fighter ace during WWI. He used his WWI 94th Fighter Squadron emblem depicting a top hat inside a ring as the emblem for his cars.

For motorsport fans a 1965 Formula 2 race car, driven by New Zealand motorsport legend Denny Hulme, is going under the hammer.

There is also an impressive line-up of motorcycles for sale including a rare 1937 OK Supreme ($60,000 - $70,000), a 1949 BSA Goldstar ($16,000 - $18,000), a 1950 Indian Roadmaster (40,000 - $65,000) a 1938 Harley Davidson Knucklehead EL ( $40,000 – $50,000) and a 1942 Harley-Davidson ($18,000 – $22,000).

Neil is also excited about having four aircraft included in the auction. “We have a Harvard T-6, a Yak-52, a Tiger Moth and a CT-4A Trainer. There’s already been interest in the Harvard and we already have a bid on the Tiger Moth which is one best examples in this country.”

The catalogue is available here or for more information visit www.webbs.co.nz

Visitors to the auction will get the bonus of being able to check out the beautifully restored classic cars and Warbirds on display at the Warbirds and Wheels visitor attraction. The attraction also boasts a retro-themed café.

“We are proud of the fact that we have one of the very best car collections in the country when it comes to quality. People come from far and wide to see our Duesenberg along with the Packards and Lincolns which headline our line up” said Warbirds and Wheels Marketing Manager Ed Taylor who hopes the auction may become a much bigger annual car event.

“We thought there was a natural fit working in with New Zealand’s Premier Auction House, Webb’s. In the future we would like to think we might grow this event to make it a ‘must-do’ car event in Australasia,” said Ed.

Entry on the day will be $10 which will give visitors a catalogue plus entry to the Warbirds and Wheels visitor attraction. Proceeds from the day are going to the Warbirds Over Wanaka Community Trust.

ENDS

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