One of my favorite road trips every July is to preview Michener-Allen’s Collector Car Auction lineup.
This event always has a full spectrum of vehicles ranging from extremely high-end to entry level cars and trucks.
I’m an average, entry-level car guy so I like to focus on the kind of vehicles guys with minimal budgets can buy—here are five I saw in the lineup.
Jerry Sutherland
The first car I saw was a Canadian version of a 1966 Plymouth Valiant Signet two-door hardtop.

This is a car that wore its years in a realistic manner because it didn’t hide its sins. The paint was original and there was clearly some quarter panel work in its biography, but this Slant Six Valiant is a car you could drive and learn how to make better at the same time.
The second one I liked was a 1975 Pontiac Catalina two-door hardtop.

This car might be the buy of the auction because 70s iron is starting to pick up momentum in the car hobby. I can understand why—this Poncho wears the 70s look like a badge of honor. It looks like one of those cars that just needs detailing and a few tweaks because somebody definitely looked after this Poncho over the last 49 years.
The third vehicle I liked was a 1976 GMC Gruman DRW RV hauler.

This was a custom build and the guy who did the work really mapped it out with this truck. It’s a function over form build right down to the 5.9 Cummins and the airfoil. It was lowered so it’s going to get decent mileage plus it has a sleeping unit.It’s one of those things you couldn’t build for the money it will get. It might not be an exact entry level price–but it will be a value-friendly one.
The fourth one I liked was a 1956 Ford Fairlane two-door hardtop.

I liked this car for many reasons. The two-door hardtop thing worked for me because you’ll see more ’56 Crown Victorias than Fairlane two-door hardtops at shows. It was also a four-wheeled museum for 50s custom touches like Continental kits, curb feelers and air dams.
The fifth car was a 1966 Valiant 200 station wagon.

This was the American version of the Valiant and it had a surprise under the hood in the form of a built 340. The wheels give it away, but this is basically the ultimate sleeper. I liked it because it’s cool, rare and fast.
They weren’t entry-level cars, but I have to talk about the 2005 Platt and Payne Edition Mustang GT. This is a punch-you-in-the-face car to the tenth power car—the parachute is a big clue.

There’s a 2010 Challenger RT with 733 documented KM on it that looks like it just came off the dealer’s floor.

It even has plastic on the seats.
The final one is a Ferrari SF90 that’s definitely not an entry level car.

It’s going to settle in the seven-figure range. That’s the price spectrum I talked about earlier.
I’m going to take another look at the ’66 Valiant—that’s my price spectrum.
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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