EXCLUSIVE: Michael Williams Collection

Update – After selling many of the cars in her son’s collection, Yvonne has a couple let. Now that she has more time to deal with inquiries, she has sent us more information about the 1966 Thunderbird and the 1973 Cadillac Coupe DeVille. You can find the Thunderbird here on Facebook and the other cars are available Exclusively here on Barn Finds! Be sure to take a closer look at the cars and contact her via the form below for additional photos or to make an offer!

Reader Obbie W recently contacted us to see if we could help him find good homes for a collection of cars. He’s been charged with helping a Ms. Yvonne Bowsky liquidate her son’s estate, which includes 13 cars plus a car trailer. Ms. Bowsky’s son Michael D. Williams collected the cars over the years, but sadly he recently passed away, leaving her to find new homes for all of his cars. It would seem his interests were primarily in late ’60 and early ’70s American Luxury cruisers, including a sweet ’66 T-Bird, two early ’70s Cadillac Coupe Devilles, several Buicks and a couple of Pontiacs. All of the cars have been moved to a storage facility, but the lease is ending soon, so they need to get all of these cars sold and moved ASAP! If you see something you are interested in, be sure to message Obbie with an offer.

It would appear that the cars were stored in an old warehouse in New Jersey. They were kept under car covers and most appear to be in good shape. According to Obbie, several of the cars already run and are ready to go. And all the necessary paperwork has already been done to allow Ms. Bowsky to sign over the titles, all the vehicles come with clean titles. If you have any questions about a specific car, please ask in the comments section or send Obbie a message! Be sure to scroll down to see each of the vehicles.

SOLD – 1986 Dodge Ram Royal SE – This truck looks to be in decent shape, but Obbie describes the condition as fair. There is no word on whether the 360 cui V8 engine is running, but these trucks are durable and easy to work on.

1966 Ford Thunderbird – This T-Bird is a 2 door Town Landau and is in nice shape. It is said to run and is equipped with the 390 cui V8. The odometer is showing 77k miles, but it’s an older restoration, so it’s hard to say if that’s accurate. With a little work, I think this could be a nice driver.

SOLD – 1970 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight – Wow, look at that interior! That is a lot of blue floral print. It looks to be in good shape though and is starting to grow on me! The 425 cui V8 should offer plenty of power to move this big 4 door.

SOLD – 1973 Buick Centurion Convertible – Talk about a massive convertible! You certainly won’t feel cramped cruising around in this drop top. It’s powered by a 250 horsepower 455 cui V8, which should be more than enough engine to get you around town. It has a few custom bits, but all it would take to get it back to original would be to find factory wheels, install a factory steering wheel and remove the speakers from the trunk.

1973 Cadillac Coupe Deville – This green giant is said to be in serviceable condition (in other words it needs work), but it looks to be complete. Being a ’73 means it’s equipped with the 220 horsepower 472 cui V8. If it were a few years newer, it would have the 500 cui V8. I can’t imagine needing so much engine, but these Cadillacs are quite heavy.

1972 Cadillac Coupe Deville – This ’72 is also powered by the 472 cui V8, but sadly it’s in pretty rough shape. They body looks to be in decent shape, but the interior is rough and there’s no word on the condition of the engine. It looks like there are some spare parts in it, but I can’t tell if they go to this car or to something else. Maybe the wheels in the passenger seat belong to one of the other cars?

SOLD – 1962 Buick Invicta Convertible – This Buick is, well, it’s rough. It does have it’s 401 cui V8, but it’s been covered with a tarp and is in unknown condition. This convertible will either be completely restored or used as a parts donor.

1975 Buick Electra 225 – And we have another big blue sedan! This Electra sadly isn’t sporting a wild blue interior like the Olds, but it’s still a massive luxury land yacht. There’s no word on the condition of the 455 cui V8, but it’s said to be in poor condition and will need to be restored. I’m not sure there is a lot of interest in restoring this era of Buick Electras, but someone might want to take it on or possibly use it as a parts car.

SOLD – 1976 Pontiac Bonneville Brougham – This Pontiac looks to be one of the nicer cars in this estate. It’s equipped with the 400 cui V8 and is said to be in good shape overall. The interior certainly looks nice, although there is one tear in the driver’s seat. With a good cleaning and a little work, this could be a nice driver.

1973 Buick Electra 225 – There certainly isn’t a shortage of big luxury cars in this group! The warehouse they were stored in must have been fairly large to house so many big 4 doors. This Buick is packing the 455 cui V8, but Obbie doesn’t say whether it runs. He does say that it’s been repainted and needs some work. The seats definitely will need some attention and what is happening with the carpets?

SOLD – 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4X4 – This Jeep is the newest car of the bunch. It is packing the 4.0 liter inline 6 and has 187k miles. Considering the mileage, it looks to be in decent shape and is said to be in sound condition.

SOLD – 2007 Parker Performance OC7718  There’s not much to say about this tandem-axle trailer, other than that it’s a trailer with a winch. If you decide to buy one of the cars, you might want to get the trailer as well, so you can tow the car home!

1977 Pontiac Grand Prix SJ – Personally, I think I saved the best for last with this one! While the Grand Prix wasn’t much of a performance car by ’77, the SJ option certainly made things more interesting. And based off of the trophy in the back seat (which the SJ won for originality), I’m going to guess this car is in nice overall condition and that Michael was quite proud of it!

I want to thank Obbie and Ms. Bowsky for listing William’s car collection with us! I had a chance to speak with both of them and had a wonderful conversation about the cars and Michael. It sounds like he was a true car nut, he even turned his mother into a bit of a car person, that did his best to keep his cars as original as possible. I hope we can find good homes for all of them and quickly at that! And if you happen to have a collection of old cars that need new homes, please consider listing them with us.

Contact The Seller

Comments

  1. Avatar AMXSTEVE

    Josh, it says “You have already submitted that form” but i did not. I want to inquire

    Like 0
    • Avatar Josh Staff

      Try refreshing the page. If that doesn’t work, just email me at mail@barnfinds.com and I will forward your inquiry on!
      Josh

      Like 0
  2. Avatar Tom Hall

    75 Electra 225 – what a floater! And to think it wasn’t the biggest car on the market – close, but not the biggest.
    I can’t come close to remembering all the “times” I had in one of the same vintage. You could pack many people and “stuff” in one of them.

    Like 6
  3. Avatar jeff

    I had the same 77 GP but with red cloth seats and a 301 – 2bbl … great car and His GrandPrix seems in super shape :)

    Like 1
  4. Avatar Doug Towsley

    Not my style of cars at all,,, definately not my style, But I can appreciate that the guy liked what he did. I cant help but think these are time capsules, and I keep picturing a Good fellahs remake or period 70s movies where perhaps these cars would be needed to recreate the scene. They certainly are rare today. I would think in certain circles they would trigger a lot of memories. Just makes sure Jimmy Hoffa is not hid in one of these cars. Or…. That warehouse in a steel drum in a corner.

    Like 2
    • Avatar ACZ

      He’s at the bottom of Lake Michigan.

      Like 1
      • Avatar JYA!

        Probably not any more.

        Like 0
      • Avatar Jubjub

        My late aunt insisted he was paved over with a parking lot in Farmington Hills, Mi.

        Like 0
    • Avatar Craig M Bryda

      Jimmys remains are in the end zone of the field the N. Y. Giants & the N.Y. Jets play their home games in the Jersey Meadowlands.

      Like 0
  5. Avatar Miguel

    These are exactly the kinds of cars I love. I would drive any one of them.

    Like 4
  6. Avatar Mlaw

    Looks like a harbor with all those boats.lol

    Like 3
    • Avatar Miguel

      The bigger the better.

      Like 3
  7. Avatar fordfan

    Some look like a bio hazard with all the mold on the seats ,carpet and steering wheel

    Like 3
  8. Avatar Ant

    Olds 98 is sweet! Grand Prix too.

    Like 1
  9. Avatar ACZ

    Centurian rag top is worth having. Just depends what the bottom looks like.

    Like 1
  10. Avatar junkman Member

    I don’t think that’s a picture of a 62 Invicta, wrong tail lights, The blue ’70 98 is a trip down memory lane, I seem to remember something about an icy side street and thinking it would be cool to light the tires for just a second and proceeding to slide into a Caprice and someone’s front porch. Oh to be young and stupid and live to tell.

    Like 1
  11. Avatar Pete in PA

    The blue Ninety-Eight is also a fond memory for me. I worked in a salvage yard in the late 70s/early 80s and we had a barge like that in the yard. IIRC it was also blue inside and out. I never thought much of the outside appearance but one day I happened to take a look at the back seat space. Wow! What opulence! I sat back there for a few minutes marveling at the brocade upholstery and carpeting. It was really something. I think there were trays on the front seat seatbacks, too. At any rate I remember some really luxurious accommodations. I like these kinds of barges myself but my stable is full, full, full. I wouldn’t mind taking a closer look at that Olds to refresh my memory, though.

    Like 2
    • Avatar Mike

      The 70 Oldsmobile 98 Luxury Sedan (4dr) had a compartment on the back of the front seat, with a lighted vanity mirror and 2 tissue holders in the center, outboard towards the doors there were chrome assistance handles that were spring loaded and sat against the chrome retainers. Huge back seat space!

      Like 1
  12. Avatar Norm Wrensch

    1970 Olds would of been a 455 not a 425, unless someone put an earlier engine in it.

    Like 0
  13. Avatar Walter Joy

    The Rams are tough trucks. Easy to work on…..eh….probably the carb’d ones. My TBI is a little temperamental

    Like 0
  14. Avatar RoselandPete

    If I just had some spare space.

    Like 0
  15. Avatar Fred W.

    These were the demolition derby cars of my youth, no value to anyone at the time (except maybe the droptops). He probably purchased the four doors for a song. Not sure they were worth the trouble to preserve, we felt sorry for fellow college students driving one. But they sure are hard to come by now.

    Like 3
  16. Avatar BHB

    interesting barges, but since most are newer than ’72 they lose interest in calif because they have to be smogged forever.

    Like 1
  17. Avatar nessy

    Well, you just solved a mystery to me. I have been after that blue 70 98 for some time now. It was on and off Craigslist for the last 2 years. I sent email after email without a reply. Now, I understand what the deal is. I will contact the lady and see what can be done. The cars are not far from me. This collection reminds me of the Earl Martin collection, also in New Jersey. He was some kind of Boxing and Music promoter I was told and had about 40 big luxury Cadillacs, Oldsmobiles, Buicks and Lincolns from the 1960s and 1970s parked behind his big mansion for years. There was a rumor that he worked with Mike Tyson at one time. After he passed, I guess a few years ago, the cars were all towed out and brought to a storage yard where they were sold off over a period of several months. Most of the cars had very low miles but had been sitting. I saw several of them up for sale months later online after they were cleaned up and they looked really great.

    Like 3
  18. Avatar nessy

    Well, as I expected again, no reply from these people. Some of these cars were posted on Craigslist for over a year but they just never reply back. I guess they want to keep the stuff.

    Like 2
    • Avatar Saul Member

      Are you trying to reach them with email only? The Auto Appraisal Group is shown in one of the photos on Facebook. I would suggest a call, or four, or ten, to the phone number listed as well as attempting to reach them using FB messenger. On the other hand, and I speak from experience, once listed on the FB marketplace you’ll get no end to the interest and may even have to screen your calls.

      Like 2
  19. Avatar Fran

    Seeing that electria 225 or as we referee to our gold buick….elejunktra! Ever sine we bought it new, it was junk! Speaking of junk, the pictures!

    Like 0
  20. Avatar Daniel

    Are these cars still available? I can’t find contact information.

    Like 0
  21. Avatar George

    Well, at 5000# the ’73 Caddy did need the oomph from the big cube motor. Lots of torque. They will cruise comfortably and easily at 90 mph. Believe me, you won’t realize it. Luckily I did before encountering a cop since the speed limit was 55… I had wondered why traffic seemed to be going so slow. Mileage was 8 city, 11 highway.

    Like 1
  22. Avatar Rustytech Member

    I had a 73 Centurian, looked just like this one. It was one of my favorite cars. Too bad this ones already sold, I might have made a run at it.

    Like 0

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