There’s an auction happening this Saturday near my hometown in New York’s Hudson River Valley, and the listing says everything must go to the highest bidder. That’s nice and simple, none of that sealed bids nonsense; just show up and wave your paddle. You might take home one of these two rusty VW Buses, and who knows if that collapsed roof once housed those eight mythical windows? Find the full auction details here on craigslist (and go here if the ad disappears).
You can see even more pictures here on the auctioneer’s website, and we’ve included some of our favorites in the gallery below. What do you see in this picture that you would take home if given the chance? Clearly, the owner was a farmer and had classic farm apparatus’ mixed in with some of your more conventional classics, with lots of air-cooled VWs, a Ford Thunderbird, Chrysler Imperial and Cadillac sedan, among others.
There’s more than one Beetle in the mix, including this presentable later-model example in blue. Also of note is no fewer than four VW Buses, a second white Beetle convertible and while we’re talking rear-mounted engines, a sun-baked Chevy Corvair. These cars should all sell fairly cheaply, and while I don’t see any obvious evidence of corrosion, inspecting the floors of any cars stored in upstate New York is a must. If nothing else, no reserve classics like these look like very solid parts cars if they’re rotten underneath.
This is the 1965 Chrysler Imperial referenced in the craigslist ad, and it looks surprisingly solid with the dust washed off of it. The listing from the auctioneer’s site notes this is a private residence and pre-inspections are apparently not offered, as bidders can’t enter the property until doors open on Saturday. That’s understandable, but tough for bidders to make a quick decision; if I were choosing between this Imperial and the Cadillac sedan, I’d choose the Imperial. What about you?
In addition to this Ford Thunderbird, there’s also a 1966 Mercedes-Benz 200, with a manual transmission, excellent interior and claimed no rust; a 1959 Cadillac sedan; 1965 Lincoln Continental; a W123-era Mercedes-Benz; a variety of VW Buses; and farm equipment of unknown origins. If nothing else, this looks like a fun auction to attend with lots of chances for a low-buck purchase of a worthwhile project. What would you bid on?
That would be fun to attend, if I were closer. Probably a good thing though, I might spend money that I really shouldn’t!
Unfortunately the auction site doesn’t have much more information than the Craigslist ad does. It would be nice to have at least a list of the vehicles being auctioned
I swear these days there are more ‘barn finds’ than there are barns, nice to see a real one for a change. The split Bus is about a 64-65 or so. Entire roof is gone, who knows about the bottom. This will likely be snapped up cheap, shipped out west for a fake sunroof graft and sold to some rube for over 100k on Mecum or Barrett Jackson. For example: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=694683&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
NYS cars, probably beat to hell , who knows what the undersides look like .. the Imperial most likely has the 440, or 413 if for nothing else buy it for the engine
Hmmm….2 rather rusty VW ‘busses’.
Preventing most of that rust a few decades ago would have paid big dividends now since these bring big money even if not restored perfectly. Restored perfectly they can bring $100K+ at auction, depending on the model.
The resto shop where I had a vintage car painted recently was also doing a bus. It had mostly small dents on almost every panel, but not much if any rust.
The bill will be significantly over $25K to do an excellent body & paint job. There’s a lot of surface area on those busses, and getting damaged flat panels perfectly straight without Bondo takes time—and big skills. Not cheap.
At least they weren’t buried.
Ironically, this is one town away, too bad I’m at Hershey for the swap meet.
Nice to know they are New York cars. Cars in this state are beat to hell, but they survive…
A ‘65 or ‘66 deluxe is the rust bucket. The added metal trim along the color divider was a feature. This metal trim held a rubber molding so incidental contact would not touch painted surfaces. Door handles were solid fixed on 2 points, versus earlier levered on one side. Deluxes had a clock in the dash as well for these years.
I’ll take both Thunderbirds and the Imperial!!