Greg O’s Garage; Henry Austin Clark Jr’s 1955 Automobile Auction PART 3
Part 3 of a three-part series of the automobiles Henry Austin Clark, Jr. auctioned off after the closing of the Carnival of Cars in New York City in 1955.
On July 15th, 1954, Henry Austin Clark opened the 'Carnival of Cars' in Times Square, NYC, as a satellite museum to his Southampton Long Island Automobile Museum. Unfortunately, the Carnival of Cars only lasted a short 7 months of operation and closed in 1955. At closing, H.A. Clark decided to slim down his collection and had an auction of some of the very popular cars within the collection. A list of 53 cars were identified for auction and made their way to the selling block.
This original list has been graciously provided by Walt Gosden, Clark's friend and employee.
Postcards are from the Walt McCarthy collection.
Many of the actual cars on the list were featured in Clark's postcard collection that were available to visitors for purchase at both locations in the city and Southampton. In this three-part post, I have tried to unite the list descriptions with the cars from the museum's postcard collection. Some are the actual auction car on the postcard, but many are near identical which I included as well.
If anyone knows the whereabouts of any of the actual cars on the list today, please feel free to add them in the comments or email to [email protected].
Click for previous PART 1 & PART 2
Greg O.
Page 6
In part 3, we are looking at some of the later model cars on the list. Unfortunately, many of these cars do not have a postcard.
#29 Peerless Roadster 48hp 6cyl
"Restored and beautiful...Originally a touring, then a pickup truck in Brooklyn..."
Amazing that cars back then could be anything from a pickup to roadster, to touring with just a quick swap of the body!
The exact auction car can be seen on the postcard.
#30 1914 Isotta-Fraschini Gunboat Raceabout Type KM
"The enormous Isotta, one of 3 known examples...The ideal car for the manwho wants bigger and better than anyone. 4cyl 120hp."
Not the auction car on the postcard
#31 1914 Pierce-Arrow 48hp 7pass Touring
"This is the famous Pierce with the swan like head lamps rising from the fenders. Restored, completed 2 Glidden Tours...Now I know we are nuts."
'Swan like head lights. Check! This is the auction car.
#36 1915 Ford Touring Brass Radiator
"One of the cleanest T's ever. This car was given by Henry Ford Sr. to faithful employee who kept it until his death...Has brass rimmed side and headlights."
I believe the postcard to be their "exact duplicate of another we have with an even less believable story"
Less believable that a Henry Ford gift?
Page 7
#44 1923 Pierce-Arrow Coupe
"The dual valve Pierce in its most beautiful form...Does not have fender headlamps, but does have genuine gold plated interior hardware, black and maroon exterior..."
Auction car on the postcard
Page 8
A shame the last page does not contain postcard images. I would have loved to have seen one for the Locomobile!
Maybe Art can do a follow-up post on the final sale prices of the auction cars. Up for a challenge Art?
Comments
Incredible selection of classics auctioned off…Probably still a part of someone’s cherished collection…