Big bucks for Kombis at US auctions

Mecum Auctions
On February 23, Mecum Auctions held a special auction of lots from the former Verde Classics Museum in Florida. The auction consisted of 75 cars and almost 500 lots of related road art and automobilia, with everything offered at No Reserve.

Restored American cars from the 1950s and 60s dominated the lots on offer, but the immaculately restored Volkswagen Type 2, a 1967 13 window microbus, almost stole the show when it sold for $US100,000 (AU$97,390 approx.), the second-best seller across the auction.

Being a '67 model, this particular Type 2 was also notable in that it represented the last of the split window style before the switch to the 'bay window' look later that year.

Gooding & Co
On March 8th, at Gooding & Company's Amelia Island auction, a 1965 Type 2 also achieved a big dollar result.
A rarer, and more desirable, 21 window-equipped model, the Gooding & Co. Type 2 had been restored in 2012, and finished in what was claimed to be an original colour combination of cream over terracotta.

Against a pre-auction estimate of US$60,000 - 80,000, the '65 Type 2 soon sailed past that estimate to hammer for US$99,000 (AU$96,000 approx.).

Barrett-Jackson
Topping both these was the US$110,000 (AU$107,000 approx.) paid for 1967 21-window Type 2 at Barrett-Jackson's Scottsdale auction in January. Fitted with a desirable twin carb Gene Berg 2.0-litre engine, Freeway Flyer transmission, disc brakes and Porsche-style wheels, what made this particular Type 2 really stand out was its custom paint job inspired by 'The Mystery Machine' from the Scooby Doo cartoon show.

The "Scooby" VW also had a custom interior fitout that included Xbox console, 1,000w JVC sound system (with dual amps), GPS, icebox and full instrumentation.

With interest in good quality, restored VW Type 2s continuing to rise, prices like those realised at these recent auctions are expected to become the norm in the future.

Images: courtesy Mecum Auctions, Barrett-Jackson and Gooding & Co.