Remember that crazy 700-car hoard coming up for auction this summer that we posted about a few months back? The full inventory has just been released, and I am posting it here for your reading pleasure.
While it is clearly still a work in progress (many of the cars still don’t have model years, for example), there is something for just about everyone here.
Mr. Hackenberger clearly had a thing for Studebakers, because they comprise a significant portion of the collection (100+ cars and trucks). Some are quite rare or unusual, like the truck pictured below.
This is 1962 Studebaker Cabover truck with a rare 3-cylinder diesel engine (yes, you read that right). The interior is said to be original, and is described as “having wear.” Anyone know anything about this unusual engine?
1958 Packard Wagon
I counted 14 Packards in the inventory, with many from the post Studebaker-Packard merger era. There are an astonishing six 1958 Packards, including at least one 1958 Hawk coupe (588 produced), and a 1958 wagon (159 produced). Granted, all Packards after 1956 were actually facelifted Studebakers, and will therefore never be held with the same regard as “true” Packards, and probably explains their appeal to Mr. Hackenberger.
1951 Frazer Manhattan Convertible
There is also an extraordinarily rare 1951 Frazer Manhattan 4-door convertible, of which only 131 were produced. I’ve never seen one in person, and chances are you haven’t either, which is shame, because they are real stunners. The sheetmetal on this example looks fantastic, but sadly all the trim pieces are missing – hopefully they are elsewhere on the property and can be reunited with the body. If there is a car in this auction that is deserving of full restoration, it is this one.
While Mr. Hackenberger clearly has a taste for the unusual, he also seems to have all the cliché collectibles covered as well: A two-seater Thunderbird, a retractable hardtop Ford Skyliner, an Amphicar, a Bricklin, a DeLorean, a Mustang, a Jaguar E-Type, a bevy of Beetles, and of course a ’57 Chevy.
There is also some more modern iron that was previously unmentioned, like a 1987 Nissan 300ZX, a 1986 Chrysler LeBaron, a 1988 Cadillac Allante, and a 1990 Chrysler/Maserati TC.
Any potential buyer needs to go in with their eyes open. For starters, lets call this what it is: a hoard, not a collection. No collector would accumulate this many cars only to neglect them and let them sit around rot. Even the best examples will require, at minimum, all new fluids, belts, hoses, tires, battery, etc. just from decades of sitting idle. Most will require much more than that before becoming drivable, much less showable.
I plan on attending the preview on July 14, where no doubt I’ll get enough material for a lifetime of future Curbside Classic posts. Feel free to peruse the list and send me any photo requests.
I suspect the diesel is a Detroit 3-53.
I agree with you on the little Detroit.
My dad had a ’62 that had been set up as a tractor, with a 4-53 Detroit. It couldn’t get out of its own way but it was guaranteed that you were the only kid on the block that had one, so some cool points for that, I suppose.
Holy Smokes! Imagine what else you could have done with this space. But then that’s has been a pretty good use for it.
I suspect the only good parts will be the bodies. The engines? Rusted solid with sludge for oil. Gas tanks full of evaporated varnish. Transmissions – need to be rebuilt. Brakes? Total redo IF you can find the parts. Rear ends? Maybe those will be okay. Assorted electrical gear? Toast with all the dust I see. Interiors? I betcha mice have run rampant. All lines carrying fuel and brake fluid – rotted. Wiring? I wouldn’t trust 60 year old wiring, would you? If the humidity was high, the bodies might even have cancer. Vacuum lines? Not a prayer. Brittle plastic everywhere.
A few excerpts (which largely confirm my expectations – I didn’t read the auction list before I wrote it):
You are bidding on a RARE 1962 Studebaker Truck. E-15-148. Model 8E15-155. The truck is original. It is a Cab on Chassis. The truck is green in color. Paint is faded. Has been sitting. It has a manual transmission and the rare 3 cylinder diesel engine. It has rear dual wheels. Side MIrrors. The truck has original interior and is vinyl bench seat and has wear. Black mat on the floor. MW, ML. NO Radio. There are 8,512 miles on the odometer. This is a VERY RARE Studebaker Truck. Very few known to exist. This is part of the ron Hackenberger Collection Auction. This would be a good addition to your collection. AS IS and ALL SALES ARE FINAL. NO EXCEPTIONS.
You are bidding on a 1978 Ford Pinto Wagon. 8R12Z100752. Title. The car is white in color. It has a roof rack, port holes, and is hatchback. There is some rust in the body, some dings. The car is complete. AT transmission on the console. The interior is Green plaid and is original and has wear and needs cleaning and some repair. The car has an AM and 8 track. AC, TAch, and added gauges. Fold down backseat. MW and ML. There are 45,946 miles on the odometer. Does not run at this time. Totally Retro. This is part of the ron Hackenberger Collection Auction. This would be a good addition to your collection. AS IS and ALL SALES ARE FINAL. NO EXCEPTIONS
You are bidding on a 1965 Dodge Dart 270 2dr HT. 2357135463. Title. The car is original and for restore. It is red in color. It has original paint that is faded. There is rust in the quarter, rockers, and wheel wells. 6 cylinder motor and does not run at this time. The interior is Red cloth/vinyl and split back bench seat. AT on the coluymn transmission. MW and ML. AM radio. There is wear to the interior. The odometer shows 17,510. This is part of the ron Hackenberger Collection Auction. This would be a good addition to your collection. AS IS and ALL SALES ARE FINAL. NO EXCEPTIONS.
You are bidding on a 1964 Dodge Dart 4dr Sedan. Title. 78 351696687. The car is original and white in color. There are rust specks on the body. There is some dings and wear to paint. The car motor and trans is complete. Can’t open hood. The interior is original and headliner is gone. It is a blue cloth/vinyl bench seat. Blue carpet. There is wear to the interior. ML, MW, Radio is gone. There are 64,631 miles on the odometer. This is part of the ron Hackenberger Collection Auction. This would be a good addition to your collection. AS IS and ALL SALES ARE FINAL. NO EXCEPTIONS.
Ugh
The listings definitely read like they were written by someone who doesn’t know a lot about car. Among the salient facts for the 62 Studebaker truck was manual windows and locks. Really?
Or maybe because they have to gather and type up the info for -700- vehicles that the owner seemingly doesn’t even completely remember? Yvette “the lil Nordstrom’s gal” has worked with vehicles (and later auto auctions) her whole life. She did the Lambrecht auction also. She’s a great woman. The spreadsheet even says it’s a very early rough draft. You should help them out!
I would totally help them out. You know where to reach me. Like I said, I live about 30 miles away. Give me a clipboard and a laptop, and I will happily help. I all I ask in return is to blog about it.
I am in no way affiliated with Yvette or her auction company. You should take a look at helping them though.
Rough inventory- Guys- It says that- go to the website
http://www.vanderbrinkauctions.com there are many other auctions and catalogs.
Sure seems like it as who, in their right mind, would go to an auction to bid on a 1978 Pinto wagon. I wouldn’t and I am a Ford guy through and through. My mother had a 74 wagon and it was a total DOG!
Here is the Studebaker’s 3 cyl diesel info:
https://www.barringtondieselclub.co.za/detroit/3-71-detroit-diesel.html
And a video:
According to the specs it weighs 1525 lbs and makes 113 HP. Sounds pretty understressed…
That’s the bigger and heavier 3-71. The Studebakers used the smaller 3-53 and 4-53. We covered both of them here. https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/cc-cohort/cohort-sighting-1957-or-1958-studebaker-transtar-1-ton-pickup-hard-to-the-core/
Ah, okay. Thanks!
An astonishing number of cars. Sadly, most are probably worth little except as scrap metal, even if then. I would like to see that Packardbaker wagon restored, that would be neat. Bet that would cost a fortune to do!
I have the Renault R 10!
“These cars just need washed off!”
The videos are amateurish and transparently upbeat. It’s a shame… another example of a guy whose true passion is in acquisition. I know the type, because I’ve got a minor case of it myself. They look over a Power Hawk in the yard that Mr. Hackenberger “drove back from Oregon”… in 1984… as if that should be a selling point! Lots of exclamations about what great shape the cars are in while the owner walks on top of two of them to gaze around and try to remember what he’s looking at. One only hopes that the unprofessional web presence translates to no reserve and low prices… but i have my suspicions..
Note to Self :
.
_DO_NOT_ attend this auction ! .
.
Too much cool old rusty junk .
.
-Nate
Some brief internet research found that the 1962 truck models came with the Detroit 4-53 diesel. Later, the 3-53 was also offered. Many were optioned with a four speed manual and a single speed rear end for city stop and go tasks. Studebaker gave a 100,000 mile engine guarantee. The 4-53 version could be ordered with a 5 speed with a 2 speed rear set up for longer hauls. Sadly, light and medium duty truck users were not ready to embrace the advantages (and inconveniences) of diesel power. Truck Trend Network claims only 702 Studebaker trucks came equipped with the diesel option between 62 and 63, and were slow sellers at that.
We covered both diesel models here: https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/cc-cohort/cohort-sighting-1957-or-1958-studebaker-transtar-1-ton-pickup-hard-to-the-core/
Much more at http://www.ronhackenberger.com
Re. Studebaker diesel: the 4-71 was available on the heavy duty models, and there was an Israeli conversion to Mercedes Benz diesel, done by the factory (Kaiser Ilyn) and MB’s Israel.
While I admire someone who would save these from the crusher it is a shame that he let them deteriorate to this state.
I had an experience of trying to deal with an old codger like this in my VW van days in the early 1990s. Before the vans had all the parts being reproduced like they do nowadays. I needed some minor parts and a friend said I should check out this guys yard out of town. Stopped by and he had a hoard of old vans and beetles. I tried to get some parts but in the end I couldn’t even get a door handle out of the guy as he might need it “someday”….
Well, at least Mr. Hackenberger seems ready to sell. The question is, is he ready enough to auction with no reserve, or would he be of a mind to “sell to the recycler rather than take less than I want”.
That Goggo TS would be perfect for my dream project of making a mini 1955 Chrysler C-300.
One good thing: the indoor cars appear to be sitting on concrete rather than earth.
Yup, points to Mr. Hackenberger for most of them being inside.
If you look at VanDerBrink’s results they seem to be able to get a good price for the seller, although this seems to be the oddest selection they’ve ever auctioned. It’s going to test the market’s ability to absorb odd cars for sure. Wish I could be there with a trailer 🙂
I think that guy must have most of the remaining late 50’s and early 60’s Studebaker trucks in existence.
With more than six hundred lots compressed into two days of auctioneering, precious little time will be spent on each lot. Some bargains are sure to be had under those catch-as-catch-can conditions.
I’ll be there for all 3 days as it’s only 45 minutes from my apartment. Not really looking to buy anything but one never knows, especially regarding Studebakers and Checkers 🙂 .
The inventory that I posted clearly stated this was ROUGH INVENTORY AND WAS JUST FOR WORKING PURPOSES- IT WAS NOT THE COMPLETE INVENTORY YET!!!! THIS WAS JUST A MERE LISTING. WHILE IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET A COMPLETE INVENTORY IN THE DARK, PACKED SIDE BY SIDE, AND UNABLE TO GET IN THE CARS, NOW THEY ARE BEING MOVED AND WILL BE CATALOGED. This PRELIM listing will be replaced by sale order and catalog. I guess this list will go away for now till completely done. I thought it would be good to just see a samplilng of the rough pre-inventory listing.
Yvette, you did an outstanding job with the Lambrecht auction. It was cool to see an upper-Midwest gal all over the TV leading up to and during the event. You “did us proud”. Good luck with all the work on this one!
Folks all registration forms, over 1300 pictures, Flyers, and more at http://www.vanderbrinkauctions.com and go to that auction.
thanks
Yvette
Haven’t looked at the inventory, but is that green coupe in the background of the DeLorean photo a Sunbeam Rapier? And in the same photo in front of the R10, I spy a Borgward Isabella TS coupe? Some cool stuff there. And that Manhattan convertible–wow. That one indeed is a real rarity, and the body looks straight. Definitely should be restored to its past glory.
Wow – what a collection. Sadly it seems that a lot of it will be only be good for parting out for spares…