BITS & PIECES . . .
. . . takes a light-hearted look at a sometimes crazy world of motoring and other forms of transport, nationally, internationally, and here in North East Victoria and the Southern Riverina
Words/photos: Bill Buys
BILL Buys, one of Australia's longest-serving motoring writers, has been at his craft for more than six decades. Although motoring has always been in his DNA, he was also night crime reporter, foreign page editor an later chief reporter of the Rand Daily Mail. He has been shot at twice, attacked by a rhinoceros, and had several chilling experiences in aircraft. His experience includes stints in traffic law enforcement, motor racing and rallying, and writing for a variety of local and international publications. He has covered countless events, ranging from world motor shows and Formula 1 Grands prix, to Targa tarmac and round-the-houses meetings. A motoring tragic, he has owned more than 90 cars. Somewhat of a nostalgic, he has a special interest in classic cars.
THERE was a lot of attraction – and value – at Zebulon, North Carolina, when Raleigh Classic Car Auctions conducted its September Special event featuring 38 premium quality, low-distance and desirable domestic lots from three private estates.
Another buyer magnet was that all the vehicles were offered entirely without reserve.
A pristine 1941 Buick Super convertible ended up with the highest bid for cars at US$51,360 (AU$78,750).
Its odometer showed only 32,258 miles (51,612km), verified by an April 2012-issued Ohio title noting 31,945 ‘actual miles’ (51,112km).
Post WWII, Buick was GM’s popular car, offering full-size luxury for the masses.
In 1941, Buick refreshed the bodywork with a more elegant look, and the range included an Estate Wagon, a fastback model for its Century and special trims and two-door business coupes.
Convertibles became a massive success for Buick in 1941, second in sales only to Ford’s open-top models.
For the first time, Buick’s power convertible top was standard equipment in both a four-door convertible sedan and two-door convertible coupe.
Under its bonnet was its Fireball straight-eight overhead valve engine that featured high-compression pistons and what was termed Compound Carburetion, in effect a pair of dual-barrel carburettors.
That gave the Fireball an impressive 125 horsepower (91kW) output, a massive climb from the 107 horsepower in the previous year’s engine.
Transmission was a three-speed manual.
Most of the time only one carburettor was in operation, but under hard acceleration or at high speeds, the second one provided extra power.
The interior was finished in red leather, the soft-top was power-operated and other features of the era were a heater and demister, Sonamatic AM radio, and an electric clock in the glovebox.
There were many more plum classics on auction, among them a lovely 1934 Ford Model 40 deluxe sedan ($33,170), a 1956 Cadillac Eldorado Seville ($24,000), a 1993 Chrysler New Yorker Fifth Avenue with very low mileage ($7500) and a 1960 Ford Thunderbird convertible, which made $40,400. All prices in US dollars.
While the Buick Super fetched the highest price for cars, a one-owner and very low mileage luxury motor home went for $128,400 (AU$197,000).
It was a 2001 Blue Bird Wanderlodge LXi Millennium Edition, a high-end custom-built luxury motorhome with two slide-out rooms for additional living space.
It featured an air ride suspension, tan leather interior, solid wood cabinetry and polished aluminium wheels.
Additional amenities included custom flooring options, rooftop air conditioning, a Sony AM/FM stereo system and polished accents throughout the living space.
The cost for this luxury in 2001? $1.2 million, or $1.84m Australian.