The 2016 Raleigh Classic

June, 2016 -- The Raleigh Classic, which opened its doors in 1996, is one of the oldest classic car auctions around. You won’t see TV networks or celebrity guests at these auctions, but you will see a multitude of well sorted out vintage rides that are high on originality, low on mileage, and in some cases totally unique. Don’t be surprised to find the last Oldsmobile to leave the assembly line, or a late ‘70s Lincoln or Cadillac with a few hundred miles, or even a muscle car, with its original 8-track tape player.

At this year’s spring event, held at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds, 300 vehicles crossed the auction block. A rare 1966 Nova SS, with the L-79 power options and less than 10,000 miles, was the top seller of the weekend, bringing in $124,200, including buyer’s commission. Here are the top 5 sales, including sales commission:

• 1966 Chevy Nova SS L79 -- $124,200
• 1969 Pontiac GTO -- $121,500
• 1963 Corvette Split Window Coupe -- $113,400
• 1953 Cadillac Convertible -- $108,000
• 1966 Corvette Convertible -- $108,000

Here are photos of some of the top sellers, as well as other special cars that crossed the auction block at the 2016 Raleigh Classic:

1966 Nova SS

Advertised as “rarer than hens’ teeth,” this Nova SS had a numbers matching Corvette 327 motor, rated at 350 HP with ultra-low mileage. It had been rotisserie-restored, was a multi-award winner, and is listed in the L-79 Registry.

1969 GTO

You don’t see many original GTOs in black, but the originality of this 1969 “Goat” didn’t stop there. This Pontiac muscle car had a factory 8-track tape player, with an original manufacturer’s demo tape. This highly optioned GTO even had a spacing saving spare tire in the trunk.

1970 Chevelle

In 1970, Chevelle big blocks were all 454s, right? Well, as is often the case, there can be exceptions to the rule. At the beginning of the 1970 model year, Chevy still had a few of the venerable 396 power plants on the shelf. So, if you bought one of the first 1970 Chevelles to roll of the assembly line and you wanted the top engine available at that time, you received a 396 car. And, if it was a convertible like the one offered for sale at the 2016 Raleigh Classic, you had a car that would become a blue chip collectible. The current owner of this rare Chevelle certainly thought so, because he didn’t let it go, despite the high bid of $92,500.

Other Eye-catching Cars