Always wanted to get by his place - it's about two hours south and west of Dallas in the middle of no where. It's where I'll be on Saturday at the auction of his stuff in Hamilton, Tx. It's been advertised on CL for only about a week or so. Knew him from the swap meets - always had the NOS and would maybe bring a car. Had a NOS one year only headlight ring for my Stude truck - I only needed one so I finally gave in to his price - that was maybe 35 yrs ago - it still hasn't made it on the truck yet ! He was a real Studebaker fanatic - put a Stude motor in his late 70's Dodge pick up - a 4x4 at that. He advertised a lot on CL of his Stude stuff.....always said I would get by....sadly I didn't.
John Brooks......he had a brother also but they were both old when I first started swap meeting in the seventies
Stillrunners Sorry to see this. The night my dad died I was working later than normal. Though I normally stopped by their house on my way home that evening of the week, I didn't that evening thinking he and my mom were likely already asleep. Got home and the phone rang, it was my mom. You can imagine the rest of the story.
Yeah, john brooks. the whole world knows who he is. Ah, is he the guy on the Dos Equis beer commercials?
Texas Webb.....his brother also had a Studebaker sign at his place off I-20 on the way into Weatherford.....was told a family member had a Stude dealership at one time.....I'm loaded with trailer in tow....not sure how they will do the auction....hope it's parts first and then cars/trucks....I can't do both at the same time....will do parts fer sure...... Lawrence
it was the worst auction - not really an auction - I and most of the guys had ever been to....it was the kind where you put your bid down on paper and someone can come behind you and bump it - a car or lot has a closer time - say 12:10 pm......crazy stuff...pics later...
stillrunners,curious how you made out Saturday.I came back from Weatherford last Tue.Never had time to stop on other trips.
My understanding was it as going to an estate sale. If it did not go well it would be an auction handled and advertised by a company. Weather was not to good yesterday. I did not make the drive down. Here is my 64 Avanti R2 at the Weatherford location a couple of weeks ago.
Got the pictures loaded up - it was adverized as an "auction" many times over on Craigslist with pictures of cars and an over head picture of the property showing maybe close to a 100 or so vehicles - some were non-Studes and most likely had been removed as most everything there was Stude/Packard or Kaiser. Those there understood it to be an action and not the write your bid down deal - most all said they wouldn't have come for this type of "auction." No signs out frount so you had to be on that GPS.....and the first look of the tall gr*** we would be wading through...
Upon check in - it was a daughter and a family friend running the show - a son who was pretty cool and both of his brothers showed up - spoke to Larry the bro who put the Stude in the Dodge - lots of folks remembered that. I was after truck stuff and one I was after had already been sold - along with some others presented in the add - which stated NO early birds. So it would be the R1 Cruiser which I already have one of that I would be after.... The orange hawk coupe would bring the most for the coupes at I think $1400 - it was nice with a full dash of gauges like the speedster.
there were a few after the R1 Lark - of note was one of the two flippers that were there....I beat his bid or up'd it until the ending time when the "family friend" that was helping out bid me - he was doing more of that later on.... the rare Packard wagon went for it's weight - think about $200....sadly - just not for me....think it was a good person that got it....the scarpers were not there
The little Champ pick up went to another flipper - who knew the other flipper - for about $750.....he out bid one guy at the last minute - that really was just wanting to get into the hobby....a pic of the of some that had been sold already...I was making friends and had talked with the guy that was really wanting the Champ seemed like a good guy....sorry he missed out...there were a lot of Champ pick up's but this one was a runner with a little 6 cyl....
the only hardtop besides the speedster - was well bought - to a nice older guy that had bid against me on the R1 - which we both wanted for the engine...besides the back window missing - it was solid an sold for $450 - well bought I'd say....whoops that's a another coupe there.....
hardtop.....let me see if the early 48 convert will post....its had solid floors for what we looked at no seats....trunk was solid - hell it had two transmissions in it....(I turned the little six over) should have bid....didn't sell - top bid was $300....I already have three mopar driver convets waiting along with that 1930 Cabriolet....just bit my lip.....
not sure how to say it was a **** day - I started out of Dallas by 6am....to get there for the advertised 9am auction...it was a lite rain as I pulled out and got around the corner - damn forgot my ramps....you know sometimes they aren't always with the trailer if they are well used....they were close by the gate where I put them....it rained off and on all the way down so it was a wet day....on with the cars...lots of coupes - the 62/64 GT Hawks were being sold off....kinda behind the our backs - none were on the bid lists....but sold was written on them through out the day.....here's some Kaiser's that sold well....
maybe a few more....most were bought well $450 to $650....think the gauge package coupe went for about $950....the hoods were a concern - hard to find good hoods was the talk about....
hoped to see some 2 door Larks - there was maybe two - both sold.....and the trucks I was after....most all had sold on the windshield....the big Chevy maybe had a W motor in it....what was in it was gone....lots of wagons - again the nice complete ones had "sold" on the windshield.....as for the NOS parts - the family said they would be sold at a later date and perhaps on Ebay.....just my luck....had cash....and trailer...oh well....and the Rockney?....it was sold also.....
Oh....and the family story is true - the father owned a Studebaker dealership from about 1939 thru into the WWII - when and where he taught mechanics during that war....then ran the dealership after and into the early fifty's when again he became a teacher to the GI's.....and he stayed a auto mechinices teacher