Enthusiast Collector Vehicle Auction keeps to hybrid model

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Collector vehicles sell everyday through online auction sites such as eBay and Bring a Trailer. They also sell at live auction events such as those hosted by Mecum and Barrett-Jackson. But Jeff Hill of the Enthusiast Collector Car Auction — billed as Canada’s longest running collector car auction, operating since 1975 — has taken a different approach to how he sells special interest vehicles.

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“It’s what I call a hybrid model,” Hill explains. “There’s live viewing of the vehicles, with online bidding only. That means there’s no fast-talking auctioneer, and there are no cars physically crossing the auction block. COVID regulations forced us to try that, and it worked really well in 2020, 2021 and 2022.”

All vehicles consigned to the Enthusiast Collector Vehicle Auction, which runs May 26 and 27, will be displayed at the New Horizon Mall. Potential buyers are welcome to view and inspect the cars, trucks and motorcycles in person on the Friday evening and all day Saturday. Online bidding commences May 24 and continues until 5 p.m. local time on May 27.

“Last year, vehicles sold all across North America, and into Europe, too,” Hill says, and adds, “that’s significant, and with the hybrid model it allows us to focus on marketing the car rather than producing the live auction. Plus, the auction has a farther reach.”

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Hill is excited about the vehicles consigned for 2023, especially a series of Corvettes that include some rather special years. “We have two 1963 split window Corvettes, both from the same consignor,” Hill says. “One is a barn find project car, and the other is a driver. Both are rare cars, and they are both 60 years old this year.”

The driver car, as Hill refers to it, has a non-matching numbers 350 cubic-inch engine in place of the original 327 and the body has recently been painted. According to the auction description, there is still some patina to the car, yet “It drives well and looks incredible.” The garage find 1963 ‘Vette also has a non-matching numbers 350 cubic-inch engine, and the car has a tired and dusty appearance. As described, “The car is very solid and needs essentially cosmetic refurbishment to be on the road but is worth a full resto.”

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Following the two split window ’63 Corvettes is a 1964 Corvette convertible in red with a white top and interior. This one is described as a running and driving car. Next is a 1965 Corvette, completely updated with polished Colliers frame, LS3 crate engine and Tremec standard-shift 5-speed transmission and C4 suspension and brakes. It’s finished in Starlight Silver paint and lambskin leather interior. “It’s a monumental resto-mod,” Hill says of this ’65 Corvette, “and was an expensive car to build.”

Selling with no reserve is a 1966 Corvette, recently restored with an era correct, but non-matching numbers 327 cubic-inch engine. The powerplant was rebuilt in the U.S. by Phoenix Engine and is paired with a Muncie 4-speed gearbox. All suspension and brake components have been renewed, and the car is finished in Moss Green paint.

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Continuing with the Corvette theme of this year’s auction, also available is a 1968 Corvette ‘big block’ car. An older restoration, this ’68 left the factory equipped with a 427 cubic-inch engine, but has been updated with a newer 427. Two more Corvettes are consigned, including a 40^th anniversary 1993 Ruby Red Metallic model – one of only 6,749 ‘Vettes built to celebrate the car’s 40 year history. The optional Z25 package on the 1993 ‘Vette featured special badging to commemorate the 40^th anniversary. Only the Z25 cars were painted Ruby Red Metallic.

Bringing the list of available Corvettes into the modern era, a 2020 C8 — significant as the first year for the mid-engine model — has been consigned by its original owner and is described as having been “Gently used,” with slightly more than 6,000 kilometres added to the odometer.

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“It’s kind of the year of the Corvette,” Hill says, and adds, “but there are some other really special cars that have been consigned, including a 1969 Camaro RS/SS, a beautiful 1956 Mercury Meteor Rideau convertible and a 1949 Ford Woody Wagon. There are also a number of trucks, a 1988 Rolls-Royce Corniche II convertible and a 1991 Dodge Shelby Daytona.”

Hill enjoys being involved in the collector vehicle market and says there’s still time to consign a car to the auction. “You never know what the next call might bring,” and concludes, “There’s so much stuff around, it’s always incredible to hear what people have to offer for sale.”

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IF YOU GO

The 49^th annual Okotoks Collector Car Auction runs May 26 and 27, with live viewing of consigned vehicles at New Horizon Mall (just north of Calgary) on Friday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Online bidding starts May 24., and runs until May 27 at 5 p.m. No cost to register for online bidding, but there is a $20 general admission fee ($10 for youth, 12 and under free) to preview the vehicles. Visit www.okotokscollectorcarauction.com for more details.

Greg Williams is a member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). Have a column tip? Contact him at 403-287-1067 or [email protected]