Auction Hunters: Season 3, Episode 4: “Auction Hunter Shuffle.”
Haff-Ton team drove to Burbank, California, hub of motion pictures. Storage units a mixed bag; from expensive media equipment to old clothes.
Fact: Walt Disney originally wanted Disneyland to be built next to his Burbank studios.
CJ attended auction. Duo dropped a locker on him not once but twice. CJ sought payback.
Air Compressor Unit
Air compressor, 50’s vending machine, old tool box, mystery furniture, and coolers. Duo won the locker for $500.
Allen found a plastic Kewpie doll.
Fact: A pair of porcelain Kewpie dolls sold at auction in 1991 for over $1,300.
Haff examined a vending machine. Still had its original finish.
Fact: The first machines to carry and dispense gumballs appeared in NYC in 1907.
Ton found a trunk. Inside, more trunks. Allen opened one tru
nk and found an accordion. He tested it to see if it was in good condition. Instrument played well. I can’t say the same for Allen.
Allen took a closer look at the mystery furniture. Vintage shuffleboard table made by Rock-Ola; finished with maple wood inlays.
Fact: The Rock-Ola company also manufactured firearms for the U.S. during WWII.
Allen and Ton took the table to Will, a shuffleboard maker. Rock-Ola manufactured this kind of table between 1948-1950. It was rare to find one with original parts.
Mint condition, estimated value between $25,000-$30,000.
Bad news? Table had nicks and scratches. Will would pay $8,500, IF the wood was even. Will pushed a puck down the table to see if it would slide straight or veer.
He carefully p-u-s-h-e-d.
Puck slid down a straight line.
Sold!
Mechanic Unit
Shopping cart, mid-century tire, truck parts, racing gear, towing equipment, and racks. Haff-Ton team won the locker for $700.
Ton unpacked two moving dollies. Allen found off-road racing lights.
Ton dug through the mess and uncovered an old dashboard from the 1960s. About the right size for a Karmann Ghia.
Fact: The Volkswagen Karmann Ghia was featured in the 1960s TV series GET Smart.
Allen discovered a belly tank racer. What is a belly tank racer you ask? Dunno.
Haff-Ton took the vehicle to Del and Bobby, vintage race car collectors. Belly tank racer made from the body of a WWII fighter’s fuel tank. What?
Fact: After WWII, Lockheed sold P-38 fuel tanks as war surplus for $5.
Ford Flathead motor used as engine.
Fact: The 1932 Ford Flathead was the first V8 engine to be mass produced.
In its day, this was cutting-edge technology. Vehicle needed a lot of work, though.
Allen offered to sell the belly tank for $8,000; under the condition Haff would drive vehicle after its overhaul.
Del and Bobby – No way! Would take 18 months to overhaul. No way would they allow a novice behind the wheel. Dell and Bobby countered. Allen would be allowed to drive a belly tank that they had in shop.
Allen agreed, but the price was now $8,100. Allen did not take kindly to be tagged as a novice. Sold!
Allen got into the belly tank. Wow, it was tight, even for his small frame.
Fact: Belly tank racers can reach speeds as high as 198 mph.
Time to ride out into the sunset.
Auction Total:
Paid $1,200
Sold: $17,870
Profit: $16,670
Please post your thoughtful comments in the box below.