This year GAA Classic Cars (GAACC) has added an additional spring auction to its lineup of events. March 30 through April 1, 2023, will feature the Jerry Smith No Reserve Collection. The auction will consist of 400 collector vehicles and over 1,000 pieces of memorabilia.
March 30 and 31 will offer the majority of the memorabilia from the late Jerry Smith, at no reserve, followed by 125 vehicles from other consignors each day. On Saturday, April 1, a no reserve, 150 vehicle collection from Memory Lane Classic Car Museum in Hiawassee, Georgia will cross the block. All auctions will take place at the GAACC facility in Greensboro, North Carolina.
The memorabilia consists of gas pumps, neon signs, porcelain signs, pedal cars, NASCAR items, antique tools and toys. Feature pieces include a large Dog N Suds neon sign, an Evan’s gambling wheel, and a couple Tydol large double sided porcelains.
Jerry Smith’s vehicles from Memory Lane Classic Car Museum are a mix of American muscle and hot rods with a large selection from the 40s, 50s and 60s. Remember to take note of a few feature vehicles: the Alpine White 1970 Plymouth Superbird, the 1964 Lincoln Continental convertible with a 5.0L Coyote Engine producing 420hp and the flawless black 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible with an LS3 engine.
Jerry Smith was a longtime customer and good friend of the GAACC team. Jerry was a self-made successful business man, charitable giver and community supporter. In his youth a track car racer and until his passing last June, a passionate collector of hot rods, classic cars and memorabilia. He will be greatly missed.
This additional spring auction is not the only exciting news for 2023. GAACC recently announced the return of general admission for each auction. February’s auction marked the first auction since the pandemic where the public could purchase general admission tickets at the gate. Going forward the daily general admission price per person is $40 and parking is always free.
The pictured Superbird brings back memories. Dad and I were in the local Chrysler/Plymouth dealership one day in 1970. A Hemi orange Superbird was on the showroom floor. Of course it looked like an orange rocket ship, with the pointed nose, and the giant wing. As we looked inside I can still hear Dad saying “who in the world would pay 4,200.00 for this thing”?
Wish I had a do over on that.
Interestingly, in 1978 or ’79 I worked on this same car, by then the original owner had sold it, after driving it as a daily driver several years, even in our Indiana winters! It came to me with rusted lower quarters behind the wheels, and with a round hole the size of someone’s tailpipe in it’s nose. After repairs and paint, I replaced the two huge Plymouth decals on the quarters. Even then, they were reportedly nearly the last ones left in the Chrysler parts system.
Final related story: I was stationed in Frankfurt Germany in 1971 and ’72 as a Military Policeman in the US Army . When I arrived over there a Frankfurt dealership had a Plumb Crazy Purple Dodge Daytona in their showroom. It was still there when I left for home in October ’72. Wonder where that car is now???
Thanks for the memories………