The Keenan Auction Company is holding an eclectic auction of a car guy’s assets. He is the late Neil B. Martin of the Goldenrod Garage in Freeport, Maine, and his collection includes vintage race cars, car carriers, wreckers, a motor home, automobilia, and of special interest to us—1950s collector cars, most of them in decent condition. Some are four-door sedans, traditionally not popular but these are some of the more solid examples you’ll come across. The lots start closing on Monday, May 10, and until then you can bid here on Proxibid.
Let’s take the lots in the order of presentation. It’s a pity some of the photos aren’t better:
1964 Ford Galaxie Sunliner convertible. Looks like a good driver, finished in Wimbledon White, with a black bucket-seat interior. 352 V-8 with Cruisematic. Power steering and brakes.
1954 Lincoln Capri two-door hardtop. This is the one I’d bid on—a beautiful car. The bidding is at only $2,500, but not likely to stay there. It’s in Regent Black and Premier Yellow, a former museum car with a 317-cubic-inch V-8, automatic, power everything. It’s a former museum car with just 73,000 miles.
1941 Lincoln Zephyr limousine. How often do you see one of these with a division window? The car was chauffeur-driven in the Boston area. A bid of just $1,300 will get you on the boards. An honest appraisal says it has a rock-solid body and a marginally serviceable interior. The original factory flathead V-12 is in the engine bay.
1950 Packard 2362 Four-Door Sedan. Here’s another model I will always admire, one of the last dignified Packards. This one has just 48,000 miles, and its original straight-eight and Ultramatic. Trim code 68, paint scheme B. The high bid for this tidy car is only $800 right now.
1952 Ford Ranch Wagon. The Meadowbrook Green and Sungate Ivory paint is faded, but the rare Ranch Wagon is not rusty and retains its factory flathead V8 and Fordomatic transmission.
There’s also a 1957 Chevy 210 with a six that needs a $4,000 bid, a boxtop 1963 Ford Galaxie with a console automatic, a 1952 Packard Deluxe Standard 8, a 1948 Studebaker Land Cruiser and a 1965 Thunderbird Landau, all looking quite respectable. Check them out, and hope the prices stay low.
Shame to hear the proprietor of Goldenrod Garage has passed. I’ve seen some pretty great cars from there (a totally stock appearing ’58 Savoy with a 440 six pack comes to mind). If I could only bid on one, I’d go with the ’64 Ford, but there’s some great rides here.
The 1952 Ranch Wagon sure looks rusty to me. Driver’s side headlight appears rusted through.
I’d take the ’57 Chevy 210. My MIL had
a Bel Air in the ’60s and I think she’d get
a real kick out of riding in her favorite
car again until the dementia catches up
with her. She told a story once of how my FIL yelled at her for putting the first
scratch on it. And then, a week later, he
totaled it when a guy T-boned him on an
icy road during one of those god awful
Illinois winters. Loved seeing his posts
and all those great classic cars. They
made great subjects for some of my
paintings.
There is alot of contents in that place. The memorabilia alone is worth the trip!
Sure would love to have that building. Nice contents it would appear.
Hung out with Neil when we were kids in Waltham Ma. His older brother had a great custom 56 Ford. Sorry to hear of his passing!
i TOTALLY agree on the Packard; the Studebaker is nice as well. What’s not to like? The straight eight and Twin Ultramatic? The Packard is IT!
Previewed this one yesterday. If your serious about any of this stuff you might want to take the time for an in person inspection.
I had been wondering why Golden Rod Garage was not advertising in Hemmings any more. Poor guy passed away.
What happened to the cars in his showroom building???
The majority of vehicles there were on consignment.
Checked the address for Goldenrod on Google streetview and there is a man in the garage. Would be weird if it was Mr. Martin.
https://www.google.com/maps/@43.9050078,-70.0926144,3a,18.4y,123.79h,88.1t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s_6omvnCD_QLrgja3kSm-wA!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3D_6omvnCD_QLrgja3kSm-wA%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D161.42172%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en
Look at how deep the front bumper is on the Studebaker in the first photograph. I could imagine it being used as an anchor for an ocean liner.
Neil was a super nice guy. He had no problem letting 12 year old me check out every single car he had. Very sad to hear that he has died 30+ years later.