Mid-February weather west of the Cascade Mountains in Washington State is usually damp and mild. This year was no exception. A light drizzle rain and overcast sky did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of the collector car buffs attending the Silver Auctions winter event in conjunction with the Corvette Swap Meet at the fairgrounds in Puyallup, Washington.

Mitch Silver started the Auction Company back in 1979 when he put together his personal interest in car collecting and his profession as a college speech instructor. Over the years I have watched his operation grow from a small beginning to become a major player in the old car hobby. They now produce thirty auctions a year in ten western states and Canada. The auctions vary in size from small to huge. Their annual Hot August Nights extravaganza in Reno, Nevada is widely recognized as the nation’s premier collector car event.

During the past twenty-five years I have purchased and also have sold numerous cars through the Silver Auctions. My experience with them has been very good. I know them to be a firm with integrity. What they say you can take to the bank. I can think of more than one situation, in which a person not knowledgeable about old cars could easily have been taken advantage of, but the Silver Auctions people played it “straight arrow” and everyone was treated fairly.

Following are some highlights of the February 12 -13th Silver Auction in Puyallup, Washington. The smaller regional auctions such as this usually bring out some rare rolling stock and result in some incredible buys for the buyers and some surprising sales for the sellers. This auction was no exception. 41% of the cars offered were hammered down as sold. 124 cars crossed the auction block. Let’s take a look at some of the results.

It is not unusual to see some of the best buys of the auction take place very early before the crowd has gotten into the swing of things, or very late, when the buyers have thinned out. Car number one at this auction was a black 1983 Jaguar SJ6 4-door. Condition 2.0, it sold at $4,000. Not a bad buy when you consider that the Old Cars Price Guide lists the same car in condition 2.0 at $15,400. Even I would have been interested in bidding on this car if I had any idea that it was going to sell at such a low price.

Usually at the very start of the auction most qualified buyers are still wandering around looking at the array of possibilities, or hanging on to their money with some specific car in mind. This car had a reserve of $5,000, which the seller dropped to make the sale. Keep in mind that at an auction the seller is psychologically seeing the car as sold and gone. So, it is not uncommon for them to accept a bid that is much lower than what they might have hoped for.

Here is a little red coupe that most any car collector would love to own. It is a 1963 Mercury Meteor S-33. The seller brought it to the auction with a $5,000 reserve, but turned it loose to sell when the bidding stalled. It sold at $4,400. With a condition rating of 1.7 it was a beauty. The Old Cars Price Guide rates this car in condition # 2.0 at $8,400. What a buy! In the old car hobby you cannot plan on these lucky opportunities. You must buy when the opportunity arises. You need the patience of Job to wait for the right car to show up, but then you must pounce like a hungry leopard or you will see opportunity pass you by.

Next, here are a couple of baby-bird Thunderbirds that were brought to the auction by a well know restorer. This yellow 1955 T-bird came with both tops. Rated at 1.9 condition, it would have taken very little to put this car into top show condition. I observed some chips in the paint on the steering wheel. Other than that, I think that I would have rated it higher. The bidding stalled at $31,000 and it was a no-sale with a reserve price more like $39,000. Understandable when you consider that the Old Cars Price Guide rates a # 2.0 condition with both tops at $46,300.

The rose colored 57 Thunderbird was even more impressive. With a 1.5 condition rating it was bid up to $34,000. That was about 5,000 short of its reserve price of $40,000 and a no-sale. It is understandable that the owner chose not to part with it when you consider that the Old Cars Price Guide rates a condition 2.0 57 T-bird with both tops at $46,600.

Here is a Shay Replica of a 1929 Ford. It is the ideal car if you should want Model A “Wind-in-your-hair” nostalgia combined with modern mechanical running gear. Buyers bid this one up to $10,000 but the owner had a $15,500 reserve. I see similar low miles 1929 Shay Replicas at www.cars-on-line.com being sold in the $12,000 to $13,000 range. Perhaps the seller here had unreasonable expectations as to the worth of his car.

WDM