Tag Archives: super

Three Decades of American Wagons

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Three Decades of American Wagons

Offered by Mecum | Las Vegas, Nevada | November 16-18, 2017

1948 Buick Super Estate Wagon

Photo – Mecum

The Buick Super was first introduced in 1940 and it only lasted a little over a year before the war broke out, though an upgraded 1942 model was brought to market. This model was built through 1948, which makes this car from the final year of manufacture for that series. The Super was Buick’s mid-level model for ’48 and four body styles were offered, with the Wagon you see here being the rarest.

The Model 59 was actually the “Estate Wagon” and it featured this beautiful woodwork from Ionia. It’s powered by a 5.2-liter V-8 making 115 horsepower. It’s a wonderful car sporting a 20+ year old restoration and a prime example of functional post-war Americana: a V-8 woody wagon. Only 2,018 of these were built. Click here for more info.

Update: Not sold, high bid of $26,000.

Update: Sold, Mecum Kissimmee 2018, $29,700.

1953 Chrysler New Yorker Town & Country

Photo – Mecum

The first two generations of the Chrysler Town & Country were woodies. The last year for those was 1950 and for the 1951 model year, the name was applied to Chrysler’s station wagons (and would continue on their wagons through 1988 before becoming a minivan in 1990).

Chrysler’s 1953 model offerings included the six-cylinder Windsor and the eight-cylinder New Yorker. This car is powered by the New Yorker’s 5.4-liter V-8 making 180 horsepower. Only 1,399 of these were built in 1953 and they cost $4,077 when new. Read more about this one here.

Update: Sold $48,000

1969 Dodge Coronet 500 Wagon

Photo – Mecum

This style of station wagon was really the last hurrah for the classic, huge American Family Truckster. In another decade or so minivans would be the vehicle of choice for families and behemoths like this were relegated to the scrap heap. Luckily, someone saved this big boxy family hauler.

Dodge’s 1969 four-door model lineup included the Coronet and the Polara/Monaco. Four-door Coronets were available in base Deluxe trim, mid-level 440 trim, or as a top-trim 500. This nine-passenger Coronet 500 Wagon was the best Coronet family carrier you could buy. It’s powered by a 6.3-liter V-8 making 300 horsepower. Only 991 of these were even sold in 1969, making this extremely rare today. The original base price was $3,392. You can read more about it here and see more from Mecum in Vegas here.

Update: Not sold, high bid of $13,000.

Update: Sold, Mecum Kissimmee 2018, $19,800.

1948 Buick Super Estate Wagon

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1948 Buick Super Estate Wagon

Offered by Mecum | Las Vegas, Nevada | November 16-18, 2017

 Photo – Mecum

The Buick Super was first introduced in 1940 and it only lasted a little over a year before the war broke out, though an upgraded 1942 model was brought to market. This model was built through 1948, which makes this car from the final year of manufacture for that series. The Super was Buick’s mid-level model for ’48 and four body styles were offered, with the Wagon you see here being the rarest.

The Model 59 was actually the “Estate Wagon” and it featured this beautiful woodwork from Ionia. It’s powered by a 5.2-liter V-8 making 115 horsepower. It’s a wonderful car sporting a 20+ year old restoration and a prime example of functional post-war Americana: a V-8 woody wagon. Only 2,018 of these were built. Click here for more info.

Update: Not sold, high bid of $26,000.

Update: Sold, Mecum Kissimmee 2018, $29,700.

Draz-bodied 356A

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1959 Porsche 356A 1600 Super Convertible D by Drauz

Offered by RM Auctions | Fort Worth, Texas | April 27, 2013

1959 Porsche 356A 1600 Super Convertible D by Drauz

The Porsche 356 is an extremely important car as it was Porsche’s first production car. It was in production from 1948 through 1965 – an eternity in sports car terms. The 356A was the second iteration of the model and it bowed in 1955, with production lasting through 1959.

The Convertible D was produced in 1958 and 1959 only, with the “D” standing for Drauz – that’s Drauz Karrosseriewerke, a German coachbuilder that had been around since 1900. The trim level was very similar to the much-loved Speedster, with the exception that the D had roll-up windows, a taller windshield and a nicer interior.

The car was sold new to Cincinnati, where it had spent much of its life until being acquired by Don Davis (presumably sometime after 2006). It was restored in 1988 and 2003. This car has the 1600 Super motor in it – a 1.6-liter flat-four making 75 horsepower. This particular car has covered over 200,000 miles in its life. Incredible.

Only 1,330 Convertible Ds were built by Porsche and bodied by Drauz. They are highly sought after. This one is expected to bring between $125,000-$150,000. Click here for more info and here for the rest of the cars coming from the Don Davis collection.

Update: Sold $137,500.