CLASSIC CAR AUCTION TO ATTRACT THOUSANDS

Don Davis will jet into Cape Girardeau from the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, area this weekend.

Don Newcombe of Clearwater, Fla., will be in town.

Ron Sells won't have to travel as far, but the Dexter antique car buff will be here.

The attraction for these men, and hundreds of other serious antique and classic car enthusiasts, is the Smith Auction Company's Classic and Collector Car Auction to be held at the Show Me Center Saturday and Sunday.

"Davis will bring his buying crew from Texas," said Sherm Smith this week. "He's especially interested in small T-Birds."

The "small T-Birds" are the two-passenger, V-8, power pack, sports Thunderbirds, manufactured by Ford Motor Co. from 1955-57.

"We'll have up to a dozen of the small 'Birds in the auction," said Smith, who displayed two of the sports cars here Tuesday, a white 1955 model and a red 1957 model.

Newcombe, who owns Golden Classics Antique and Collectibles at Clearwater, is familiar with Smith's auctions.

"He bought 18 cars here last year," said Smith.

Sells will be buying and selling at the weekend auction.

"I'll have a half-dozen cars here, including a 1962 Chevy convertible," said Sells. "And I'll buy a few."

Buyers, who will be here from throughout the nation, will find plenty of rarities at the auction.

"We'll have a couple of 1964 Mustang convertibles," said Smith. "This is one of the hottest collectible cars right now."

Smith will have about 400 vehicles consigned for the two-day auction.

"We have a big inventory of nice cars," said Smith. "This is one of the top antique car auctions in the nation, and we're expecting some major players to be here."

Last year's auction attracted more than 5,000 people. Seventy-one percent of the more than 300 cars sold.

"That's an exceptional percentage," said Smith. "At our first action two years ago, we sold 41 percent of 160 cars at Dexter. Antique auction companies will normally sell from 30 to 60 percent of consigned cars."

Among cars here this year will be a pair of sleek 1950s Chevrolet convertibles -- a '57 and a '58 -- each valued around the $50,000 mark. Also in the lineup will be a '59 Chevy Corvette sports car.

The Corvette and small T-Birds range in value from $35,000 to $50,000.

A number of cars for this weekend's auction will be offered with "no reserve."

No reserve means the cars will be sold regardless of what bidders offer, said Smith. Many collectors place a "reserve" on their vehicles, meaning that they are demand a minimum price.

When the auctioneer first raps his gavel to kick off the auction at 10 a.m. Saturday, the Show Me Center will be wall-to-wall with cars and shoulder-to-shoulder with people.

Gene Radcliffe, known throughout the country for his classic car auctioneering, will be the auctioneer.

"We'll have rare cars, antique cars, muscle cars, some street rods and a variety of collector vehicles," said Smith. "You'll see vehicles sell from $1,000 to $60,000."