Bargain hunters, Trash and Treasure ‘tragics’, collectors and motoring enthusiasts from around Australia will be beating a path to ‘Bushy Park’ near Brisbane on Sunday (April 20) for Australia’s ultimate ‘garage sale’ at Billy’s Service Station.
Billy’s, the private treasure-trove of American and Australian automotive memorabilia assembled by Queensland enthusiast Greg Kowplos over the past 30 years, is being cleared to facilitate his move to the Gold Coast.
Conducted by classic vehicle specialists Shannons, the auction of 131 lots of neon and other garage signs, petrol pumps, model cars, model trains and other automobilia represents the most significant private collection of these items to come onto the Australian market for many years.
All items are being sold with no reserve price.
Highlights of the sale, which will commence at 11.00am at 441 Priestdale Road, Rochedale, include:
A huge American Lionel Brand ‘O’ Gauge model train set with numerous locomotives and carriages, countless items of rolling stock, buildings, figurines, etc set in a 7 metre x 4.9 metre city environment that Shannons estimate will sell for $15-25,000. All trains have rail sounds, crew talk, control tower announcements and lights.
An 8m x 1.5m Holden Racing Team sign, personally autographed by both Craig Lowndes and Mark Skaife (estimate $1,500-$2,000)
A Dick Johnson Racing Ford V8 Supercar front mudguard signed by Dick Johnson (est. $300-$500)
Numerous early American petrol pumps including a superb 1924 Fry Red Crown’ manual pump that was nicknamed the ‘Mae West’ in its day because of its voluptuous, curved shape (est. $6,500-$9,000) and a 1937 Wayne Model 60 pump restored as a Gilmore Red Lion that looks more like a jukebox (est. $6,000-$8,000).
Amongst the custom-made neon signs, outstanding examples are the Poly Gas image of a flying parrot (est. $2,000-$2,500), the Flying Red Horse, or Pegasus (est. $2,500-$3,500) and several Billy’s Service Station signs (est. $800-$1,200).
A collection of framed American service station prints and classic American scenes (each set $200-$300)
NASCAR and Daytona flags, signs and memorabilia
www.shannons.com.au
