The most common thing I hear about in the car hobby is the cost.
I get it—everything from paint to labor to parts cars cost more–but is a 300K Shelby Mustang or COPO Camaro a realistic goal for a rookie entry into the old car hobby?
The answer is found at some recent collector car auctions.
Jerry Sutherland
The first thing to remember is this. Many big car auctions feature lower-end vehicles in the first day of the auction—if the auction is a multi-day affair.
Other auction companies like Michener-Allen Auctioneering have one day for their annual auction, and they typically sprinkle entry-level vehicles throughout their day.
They had a 1956 Ford Fairlane four-door sedan at their July 2024 annual auction, and it was a perfect example of an affordable step into the old car hobby.
This car looked pretty good on the surface, it had a V-8 and an automatic transmission, so it was a higher-end model in its day. Dump the trashy aftermarket wheel covers and find some period-correct Ford wheels and you have a very cool package for entry into the hobby. It sold for 4300 CAD.
Michener-Allen also had a 1969 Olds Delta 88 4-door sedan at the July auction.
This was a car that clearly had a great owner in its past. It was a fully loaded, mint car with every option, it was always kept indoors, and it had a brand-new front end. This was a classic road trip machine to the 10th power, and it sold for 8200 bucks CAD.
Mecum Auctions held a recent auction in Vegas, and they had a few entry level cars in their Thursday lineup. Bear in mind, Mecum will sell 7-figure cars at most of their auctions, but they still offer the low-budget cars.
One of them was a 1965 Rambler 330 wagon.
This people-hauler had the bulletproof AMC inline-6 and a 3-speed automatic. It was clearly a driver quality car, so the paint wasn’t perfect, and the interior showed its 60 years of wear. Everything about this car was basic, including the simple fix of a seat cover for the worn upholstery. It sold for a mere 6050 USD.
Mecum had a 1954 Ford Customline coupe at the Vegas auction.
This was a barebones stripper two-door sedan with a straight-six and a 3-speed manual transmission. This ‘54 Ford didn’t look like it needed anything, so you could turn the key on this car and hit your local car show for 4400 dollars USD.
The last Mecum Thursday car was a 1940 Buick Super Sedan.
The yellow paint looked great on this car and the interior was fair. It had a straight-8 under the hood with a three-speed manual. Cars like this take a little practice to drive–I would fit it with aftermarket signal lights but that’s about it. This piece of early 1940s history sold for 8800 USD.
None of these cars had deal-breaker selling prices, and every one of them would turn the biggest nerd into a cool hepcat overnight. That’s the thing about old iron—it makes the most boring guy interesting.
These old classics aren’t a Shelby Mustang or COPO Camaro, but I’ve been to many shows where people walk by cars like that and talk to guys with cars like the five cars listed above. The hardcore car guys get excited about the Shelbys and COPOs, but the average non car people are drawn to the less glamorous cars.
That’s because their dad, mom, grandpa, uncle, brother or neighbor had one—and these cars were sold at auctions like this for half the price of a 12-year-old SUV. Your affordable auction car is a rock star.
That’s how and why you enter the car hobby on a budget.
Jerry Sutherland
By: Jerry Sutherland
Jerry Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer with a primary focus on the collector car hobby. His work has been published in many outlets and publications, including the National Post, Calgary Herald, Edmonton Journal, Ottawa Citizen, Montreal Gazette, Saskatoon StarPhoenix, Regina Leader-Post, Vancouver Sun and The Truth About Cars. He is also a regular contributor to Auto Roundup Publications.
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