New England Auto Auction – 46th Annual New England Auto Auction
August 23 + 24 2024
auction.owlshead.org (207)594-4418
Owls Head Transportation Museum, 117 Museum Street, Owls Head, ME

OWLS HEAD, MAINE — Art, design and automotive legacies are all represented within an original, historically significant, one-of-a-kind artifact of Harley Earl’s General Motors styling department. A full-size airbrush rendering of Buick’s 1955 GM Motorama concept car, Wildcat III, measuring more than 16 feet in length, will be sold at the Owls Head Transportation Museum’s auction on August 24. This artwork represents the brilliance, creativity and style of the Harley Earl-led design team as well as a primary source historical record of the creative design process. Full-size “Package Drawings” of concept cars are virtually nonexistent, most being destroyed by the companies themselves. A true “garage find,” this one-of-a-kind, significant example of automotive heritage has never been offered for public sale before and is being offered for sale with no reserve.

For the past 50 years, this relic has been a prized position of the same family. Most concepts cars and their materials have a short life. It was general practice of manufacturers to dispose of the drawings, renderings and even the cars themselves. The current caretaker explains that his grandfather and father worked for Buick and Delco, respectively, in the early 1960s. Believed to be found during a cleaning out process of unwanted items, this drawing was brought home and hung in the garage of the Flint, Mich., house where it remained in relative obscurity to the automotive world for decades — until now, the time has come to reintroduce this important artifact.

The Wildcat concept series by Buick were important projects for General Motors and Harley Earl in the 1950s. Buick Wildcat III was unveiled for the 1955 GM Motorama that toured the United States to New York, Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Boston. It is believed that this drawing was created in 1954 as part of the design process and used in promotional display. General Motors photographs show this drawing next to clay models of Wildcat III. The General Motors book Styling: The Look Of Things produced by Motors for the 1955 Motorama, prominently features Buick Wildcat III and this drawing numerous times. Wildcat III, and specifically this drawing, are representative of General Motors best styling and creative efforts of the mid-1950s. It is estimated that more than two million people viewed Wildcat III during these Motorama tours. Currently, representatives of General Motors archives are aware of this artwork and have confirmed its authenticity.

While somewhat faded on the edges, the brilliant colors of the airbrushed details are as vibrant as ever. Intended to be a “package drawing,” this rendering shows various automotive components of the vehicle in a cutaway form within the outline of the general design. Wildcat III was a long, sleek two-seat convertible with an extremely low-slung appearance, painted a vibrant red with red-leather interior.

Fogg & Dalton Art Restorations recently custom built a mylar wrapped, wood framed cradle with foam board backing to properly mat and protect this artwork and help prepare it for however its next caretaker would choose to display it.

Simply stated, this is one of the most significant artifacts of the Golden Era of automotive concept car design to be found. It brings to life the brilliance of Harley Earl’s General Motors design team and invokes the excitement and emotion felt by visitors at the General Motors Motorama, simply by standing in its presence.

Also on offer will be a 1911 Ford Model T brass touring car featuring a blue exterior color, black interior color, no reserve ($50/75,000). This touring car was the recipient of the prestigious Carl Benz Award for overall restoration, condition and originality at the Geneva d’Elegance in August 2021. The Carl Benz Statue trophy and framed description of the award are included. It is also an AACA Senior National and Senior Grand National First Prize winner. The Ford Model T is an automobile that was produced by the Ford Motor Company from 1908 to 1927. It is generally regarded as the first mass-affordable automobile, which made car travel available to middle-class Americans. This car is one of the best examples of a 1911 Ford Model T brass touring car known to exist and comes from the MS Classic Cars Collection.

The Owls Head Transportation Museum is at 117 Museum Street. For information, 207-594-4418 or www.owlshead.org.

Don’t miss the Excitement!
Don’t miss this high-octane, record-breaking car auction that delivers hundreds of rare vehicles to collectors and spectators from around the world. Friday, August 23: automobilia, collectibles plus a large selection of vehicles Saturday, August 24: more rare and sought-after vehicles cross the block
Auctioneer: John Bottero, ME License #AUC1237
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