VW Type 2 makes almost $100K at Mecum auction

The 'Verde Classics Museum Collection Auction' consisted of 75 cars and almost 500 lots of related road art and automobilia from the personal collection - and former museum - of Fran and Ron Green. All lots were being offered at No Reserve, with admissions donated to US charities, The Wounded Warriors Project and Home for Our Troops.

Restored American convertibles and hardtops from the 1950s and 60s dominated the lots on offer, but there were a few 'foreigners,' including an immaculately restored Volkswagen Type 2, which turned out to be the second-best seller across the auction.

Like virtually all the lots from the Verde Museum, the Type 2, a 1967 Volkswagen 13 window microbus, was immaculately restored and was also reported to be one of the most popular vehicles during it's time in the museum. Being a '67 model, this particular Type 2 represented the last of the 'split window' models before the switch to the 'bay window' style later that year.

The resto of this particular Bus took six years, apparently, but the back-to-stock result was hard to fault. Engine bay, interior, glass paint and just about everything else on the Type 2 was immaculate. Features included a 1600cc flat four, manual trans, chrome trim and hubcaps, and white painted wheels.

The desirability of early 'splittie' Type 2s like this saw bidding reach US$90,000 in double quick time. From there, bids leapt in US$1,000 increments until the hammer fell at $US100,000 (AU$97,390 approx.).

Top seller from this auction was a 1961 Chrysler 300G convertible. One of only 338 produced in 1961, the condition and concours-winning pedigree of the 300G convertible saw is reach a final sale price of US$130,000 (AU$1126,600 approx.).

Total sales for the special one-day auction event reached US$3,784,520 (AU$3,7905,385 approx.). For complete auction results, go to www.Mecum.com

Images: courtesy Mecum Auctions.