Collector car auction offers variety for all price ranges

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (KABC) -- A last bit of buffing to make a car shine -- and find a new home. The activity isn't at a car dealership, but at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica.

"We have 300 collector cars on offer. Many of them have never been in an auction before. About a third of them are going to be offered with no reserve," said Ian Kelleher of Auctions America.

After two years in Burbank, the automotive auction house's California sale has found a new home. And most all of the cars here will find new homes.

The auction features the old and basic, like a 1913 Pope, to nearly new and exotic, like a 2011 Aston Martin. From very small, like a vintage Fiat, to huge, like a grand, classic Rolls-Royce. From a day at the beach with a restored VW camper, to a day on the lake in an Amphicar, a German-built car that's also a boat. From an antique fire truck, to a Lincoln used by the Secret Service during the Kennedy Administration. And, from a Ford Galaxie - very mid-century America - to mid-century Soviet Union, represented by a Czech-built car called the Tatra.

If variety is the sign of a good classic car auction, then this one is a full buffet of shiny cars.

And while headliners like the Mercedes-Benz 540K will likely bring bids into the seven-figure range, there are cars for much smaller budgets.

"If you have $10,000, there's likely something here for you," said Kelleher. "Ultimately, there is something for everyone, and the price point is a very approachable number for first-time collectors."

And here's something to think about. Classic cars of all price ranges can be good monetary investments. Lots of examples abound of cars that have more than doubled in value since the early 2000s.

But while financial gain might seem like a good reason to buy a collectible car, experts say that shouldn't be the primary reason.

"First and foremost, buy what you love, and also buy what makes sense for you. When you come into the hobby looking to make money, you're coming in with the wrong mission," Kelleher said.

For a bit of extra Hollywood showmanship, the cars entering the stage will do so via a mockup of an airplane fuselage. Just a little hook to get the bidders and spectators excited.

The excitement goes through late Saturday. But many of these cars will then be providing excitement on the road.

For more information, visit http://www.auctionsamerica.com/events/overview.cfm?SaleCode=CA15.