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Huge Stash of European Sports Cars!

A seller on craigslist in Los Angeles is downsizing an impressive collection of luxury and sports cars. This photo above gives a snapshot of what he has in his storage area, which he’s admitting is running low on space. Not everything is for sale and several cars have already been sold; notably, he has owned that Porsche  356 Convertible D for over 40 years and it’s not up for grabs. To see what is, find the listing here on craigslist with prices listed for individual vehicles.

Some of the more desirable cars have found new owners, including the 1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Speciale and 1960 Mercedes Benz 190b Kombi. But there’s plenty of other worthwhile project here, including this 1064 Fiat 500 race car, which features numerous OEM upgrades and valuable Abarth parts, like the three gauge cluster and deck-lid props. The seller notes it has some bodywork issues and that the engine is out and apart. Price: $9,500

Not everything is one four wheels, with this gorgeous 1958 Velocette Venom Clubman motorcycle. The seller described it as “…Iconic 500cc thumper,” sporting a sweet cafe racer look with all the proper equipment:  clip-ons, dual gauges, rear sets, fishtail exhaust, and more. One of the other bikes that has already sold was a sweet 1962 Laverda 200 twin, and the seller even had a wicked Vincent-engined tube frame drag racer.

Not everything in the collection is of European origin, as this handsome 1956 Nash Rambler Custom sedan goes to show. The seller notes it is a rare color combination of yellow and black two-tone with an apple green interior, and features an inline-six paired to an automatic transmission. He’s asking $13,500 for this one, but there’s also a 1934 Rolls Royce Phantom II Limousine De Ville for $130,000 if that’s more your speed. Which of these classics would you take home?

Comments

  1. Avatar geomechs Member

    You mean there’s cars for sale? All I saw were the bikes. And I’m miffed that they’re all sold. That Velocette Clubman would look great at my place, or better still, taking me through the Marias Pass…

    Like 1
  2. Avatar Mark Mitchell Member

    This is my eclectic collection – thanks for featuring it here on Barnfinds! I’m in the same boat as many collectors, namely I’m out of storage space and time to devote to multiple projects. It really does feel good to thin the herd once in a while. I have sold a few of these but still have some great cars available.

    Yes, it is difficult to let go of these, but they’re all going to good homes, and I’ve been able to make several new friends along the way.

    I know that posting an ad like this on CL has a number of disadvantages, but it allowed me to post a number of vehicles in the same ad, and I have already had potential buyers contact me from all over the US, Europe, Asia, and even the Middle East.

    I’m really hoping to find a great home for the very special prewar Rolls Royce Phantom II. It has superb documented history including ownership by a famous actress and a Duke. The car was kept for a dozen years with the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensbury at Drumlanrig Castle in Scotland (google it to see pics). I even have vintage newsreel footage of the car delivering the Duke and his daughter (Lady Elizabeth Montagu-Douglas-Scott) to her wedding (to the Duke of Northumberland) at Westminster Abbey with the Royal Family just steps away. I am happy to forward the history, set of photos, and video to anyone that has interest.

    Let me know if there are questions on any of the cars – I may even consider trades as I now have a bit more space after selling a few. I’m in the Santa Barbara area.

    Like 19
    • Avatar TVC15

      As long as it had nothing to do with the Duke of York !

      Like 1
  3. Avatar Tom Bell

    Nice to see polite and courteous language in a Craigslist add. Such an improvement over “don’t ask me if I still have it” or “no time wasters”, etc.

    Oh, also, a beautiful collection! As a Brit bike collector myself, I’m drooling over that Velocette.

    Like 3
    • Avatar Mark Mitchell Member

      Thanks Tom, The Velo is indeed a beautiful machine. It sold yesterday morning to a Brit living in Southern California. He loves the bike, and claims that he will hang on to it for the rest of his life!

      I also sold the Vincent drag bike to a man that found the original 1600cc race motor in a massive Vincent barn find. This motor (bored and stroked from a factory 1000cc V-twin Rapide) had been separated from the bike back in 1969, and was knocking around the US until he saw my Craigslist ad. The bike and special motor have now been reunited, which is pretty cool-

      Mark

      Like 14
      • Avatar Miguel

        That Fiat 600 Jolly looks like the one Jerry Sienfeld used on his show with Loius C.K., but it isn’t, is it?

        Like 1
      • Avatar Robert White

        The vintage bike gods must have been behind the reunion. And it’s way cool that that happened, I agree. Good to see a collector that does more than hoard parts and artifacts of yesteryear’s historiography. You are a credit to all collectors.

        Cheers, eh.

        Bob

        Like 4
  4. Avatar Mark Mitchell Member

    Miguel- The coral pink Jolly is a Renault 4CV “Resort Special”. Only 50 of these were produced, and only about 10 or 11 have survived. This one is almost entirely original including the canvas top and wicker. A rustfree California car that only had two owners before me. It has about 20k miles on it.

    I also have a Fiat 600 Jolly (hidden behind the Renault in the photo) which is the one that everyone knows and loves, including Jerry. Mine was a taxi on Catalina Island and it needs a full restoration.

    The third beach car in my collection is a Fiat 850 Shellette by Michelotti (a collaboration between Michelotti and yacht designer Phillip Schell). These are a later version of the Jolly with totally different styling with wicker seats and dash! Owners of these included Jackie Onassis, the Dutch Royal family, Philippe Starck, etc. Only 80 were built and approximately 10 or known to survive. This car was found sitting in a field in Texas. Its weathered from outside storage, but a solid car that’s worth restoring due to its extreme rarity.

    Like 1
  5. Avatar Mark Mitchell Member

    Robert White- Thanks so much for the compliments!

    I have very eclectic taste in classic cars and bikes, and never understand why so many collectors have “tunnel vision” (only focusing on Porsches or Corvettes for example). There are so many other wonderful experiences to be had by trying things outside of your comfort zone.

    I am hanging on to a few of my bikes including a Vincent Rapide, Guzzi V7 Sport, Laverda 750SF, Ducati 250 Mark 3, Bultaco Metralla, and an early Husqvarna 360 Viking originally owned and raced by the legendary JN Roberts. The 1919 Harley Model J sidecar rig in the photo has been sold and is now in a museum. It had belonged to Bud Ekins for many years and won the FIVA preservation award at the Quail (original paint – never restored).

    One of our barn finds was featured in Tom Cotter’s book “Harley in the Barn” beginning on page 69. Worth checking! I also sold that huge red/white/blue BMC bus to Wayne Carini and I appear briefly with him on Chasing Classic Cars. I owned two of these behemoths at the time…

    Like 3
    • Avatar Robert White

      Credit where credit is due is my rule of thumb. I have encountered far too many classic bike & car parts hoarders in my day but, when I encounter a collector that has all the right attributes for collecting, I am more than happy to assign accolades to him/her.

      I will most assuredly check out the ‘Harley in the Barn’ article as I am a fan of old Harleys in barns. Keep up the great work you are doing, Mark. Methinks you make the vintage gods smile when you work vintage.

      Cheers!

      Bob

      Like 2
    • Avatar Joseph

      How can I get in touch with you? What do you have left that is for sale/trade?

      Like 0
  6. Avatar Sakowski

    Very cool the bike and engine got back together!!

    Like 1

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