New Zealand's largest auction of collector cars, motorcycles and automobilia will feature a $150,000 1928 Cadillac with a vast history of owners in Hawke's Bay. Photo / Supplied
New Zealand's largest auction of collector cars, motorcycles and automobilia will feature a $150,000 1928 Cadillac that recently made an emotional homecoming to Hawke's Bay.
A total of 83 lots, with a total value of more than $3.5 million, will go under the hammer at Webb's Auction House in Aucklandon Sunday.
Auctioneer and head of collectors' cars, motorcycles and single-owner collections Caolán McAleer said originally a seven-seater, the Cadillac (341A) had an estimated auction value of between $140,000 and $160,000.
The Cadillac was originally shipped to Wellington in 1928, before being transported to its first Kiwi owners - the A'Deane family, of Ashcott Homestead, Takapau, Hawke's Bay.
Fast-forward a quarter of a decade, the Cadillac was left parked outside Stewart Greer's Garage in Waipukurau for more than a year.
An offer of £20 was made by a local farmer who wanted to use the front axle for a trailer, but not wanting to see the car destroyed, Pat Peacock sold it to a Bill Inglis for £10.
After more owners across Taupō, Christchurch, Ohope and Auckland, the car resided in a private museum for 12 years from 1989.
The current vendor bought the car in 2001, and the car returned to the road in 2004 – 45 years after being laid up.
The vendor, who wished to remain anonymous, said travelling from Dunedin to Napier for the Art Deco Festival felt like a homecoming.
"It was a real thrill for us and to see the old car parked in front of its first home," they said.
McAleer said despite Covid-19 changing the way many Kiwis look at money, people still think classic vehicles are a good place to invest their money.
Growing from a 17-lot sale in July last year, the auction offering has quadrupled, with a selection of prestige marques including Rolls Royce, Porsche, Bentley, Mercedes, Jaguar and Aston Martin.
Also included in the auction will be the Len Pearce Collection of Indian motorcycles, including a Model 401 - one of only 280 in the world and the only one in New Zealand.
Other bikes, including AJS, Matchless and Triumph, will also represented.
• The auction at Pavilion 2, ASB Showgrounds, Greenlane, Auckland, will begin at 2pm on December 13.