Raleigh Classic Summer 2020
The show must go on! So, the Raleigh Classic Summer auction, which was delayed from earlier in the year, was held September 21 – 22 at the Capital Auto Auction in Youngsville, NC. Holding public sales can be quite challenging in these current times, but obviously, the enthusiasm of classic car fans is alive and well. As we return to a greater sense of normalcy, it’s certainly reassuring that events such as these are still being held.
Living up to its reputation, the Raleigh Classic’s docket was filled with high quality, original vehicles, many with low mileage. The sell-through rate, helped by very active phone and internet bidding, was 80%+ for the 250 vehicles that crossed the auction block. Here is a recap of this summer’s sale.
Star Cars and Top Sales
Headlining the Summer 2020 Raleigh Classic were a trio of 1939 Packards, which had been restored to showroom condition. Two of the three Packards sold, but the V-12 Rumble Seat Coupe’s final bid of $180,000 did not reach the reserve price. One of the unique features of this car was the hood ornament, which doubles as its radio antenna.
Bragging rights for the highest priced car sold at the auction went to a 2015 Ferrari 458 Italia at $208,000. Another standout was a 1967 Lincoln 4-door convertible, which started a bidding war that finally ended when the hammer fell at $118,000. For muscle car enthusiasts, there were two real gems: a 1968 Camaro Z28 RS, which didn’t sell, received a high bid of $137,500, and a 1970 Chevelle SS454 LS6, which sold for $87,500.
Top sales were:
- 2015 Ferrari 458 Italia – $206K
- 1939 Packard 12 convertible (Black) – $161K
- 1967 Lincoln 4-door convertible – $118K
- 1963 Corvette Stingray – $103K
- 1970 Chevelle SS454 LS6 – $87,500
- 1968 Hemi Road Runner – $80K
- 1939 Packard 8 (Beige) – $64K
Low Mileage Gems
A low mileage vehicle is one of the best indicators that the automobile will more than likely be in good condition. Perhaps the original dealer has kept the car in their inventory, or maybe the owner has placed it in long term storage, or it could be that he (or she) just rarely takes it out of the garage. Whatever the reason, Raleigh Classic has a reputation for finding several of these “lightly used” vehicles. Here are some of the time capsules from this year’s auction.
More Eyecatching Cars
The parade of classics that crossed the auction block included some rare cars, such as a 1957 Olds with J2 power, a 1958 Chevy 4-door Nomad, a 1957 Studebaker Golden Hawk, and two 1939 Plymouth Convertibles. See more below.
Auction Walkthru
Note: All prices given are hammer prices, and do not include buyer’s commission.