In June, Silver Collector Car Auctions held an auction in the parking garage of the Bellevue (Washington) Hilton Hotel.  This auction was notable in that the two “MoPar” (Chrysler) cars which sold, and brought the most response from the crowd, were two fat-fendered relics from the immediate post-WWII period.

Collector car dealer David Goldenberg, brought a very fine 1949 Dodge Wayfarer two door sedan, up from West Linn, Oregon that sold for $9,800 to another collector car dealer. The latter is considering taking it to Hot August Nights, in Reno NV next month, where Mitch Silver conducts a four day and three evening auction extravaganza.

The other car of note was like a book-end to the Wayfarer. It was a 1949 Plymouth two door sedan, an estate car of just 113,000 miles since new, originally from Arizona.  It was brought to this auction by attorney and collector car aficionado, Graham Fitch.

Resplendent in paint that looked fresh, it sold for $13,000.

At this same auction, a 1969 Dodge Charger, powered by a 383 cubic-inch V8 and sporting just 56,663 original miles, bid to $30,500 against a reserve of $35,450; so it remained in the hands of the man who brought it. However, a 1972 Plymouth Satellite, retrofitted with a 383 cubic inch engine (originally MSRP sticker showed it came with a 318), sold for $9,000.

While this is far from a scientific study, it might suggest that muscle cars, which for years took all the air out of the room whenever they crossed the block at auction, might finally be subplanted by some other interesting examples of Chrysler history. At least, we could hope so. - Terry Parkhurst