PUBLIC ESTATE AUCTION - The Estate of the late Royce G Kershaw Jr, Montgomery, Alabama.
Inspection - Saturday, February 17th, Tuesday, Feb. 20th and Weds. Feb. 21st from 10am-3pm
NOTE... The office area containing art, camera's, bric a brac and furniture will not be open for inspection due to the condition of the office spaces and concerns for safety. Those items are available for viewing online only.
2205 West Fairview Avenue, Montgomery AL 36108
Amazing collection of vehicles from Royce Kershaw Senior, deceased(1969) and Royce Kershaw, Jr, deceased (2023).
Selling for the Heirs..
Tentative Auction ending date: Wednesday, February 21th starting at 7:00pm central time with a soft ending.
Mr Kershaw & his father were avid collectors and had a significant collection of more than 50 vehicles including some rare vehicles, train related assets, shop equipment and collectibles. An amazing 1913 Baldwin 2-6-0 Mogul Steam locomotive & Tender, a Rare restored 1923 Edwards gasoline, self powered passenger rail car and other train related items are being sold in a separate online auction by Pearce. Be sure to check out the story and connection to Hank Williams Sr's father Lon Williams!
The first auction will include Collector Cars, project vehicles, engines, parts, boats, trailers, equipment, late model vehicles, automotive equipment, shop equipment, tools, Antique items including Clock Face Gas Pump, A complete early 1900's Soda Fountain, old signs, collectibles and more.
Auction #2 will end in March and features Vintage Train Related assets.
This Estate was featured in a video broadcast by Richard Rawlings of "Gas Monkey Garage" a couple of years ago. Richard met with Royce and as you will see in the video, attempted to purchase the entire collection. In the end, Richard and Mr Kershaw struck a deal for him to purchase a couple of the vehicles in his collection. I personally talked to Richard by phone and he graciously agreed to allow Pearce & Associates to share the link to his YouTube video. Thank you Richard for assisting Pearce & Associates with getting the word out to help promote our auction. We would also like to recognize our good friend Yvette Vanderbrink Auctions in Minnesota who referred this important project to Pearce & Associates to handle. Yvette and I are personal friends and we both specialize in selling collector cars and private collections. Chip
Here are just a few items that will be sold in this important auction.
Rare (1) Owner 1971 Pantera purchased new by Royce Kershaw Jr. This car is in original condition with less than 12,000 actual miles. It features its factory original 351 Cleveland engine. 1971 is the first year production for this highly desirable collector car. The Pantera was manufactured by De Tomaso and is a sleek powerful Italian American collaboration. This is likely one of the lowest milage, original, one owner Pantera's in existence.
Incredible 1913 Baldwin 2-6-0 Mogul Steam Locomotive & Tender. You will find this an other Train related items listed on a second auction on our website. THE HANK WILLIAMS CONNECTION... On December 3rd, 1952, Hank Williams Senior recorded the last song he wrote at KWKH studio called "The Old Log Train". This folk song is a biological account of his late father Lon Williams as a train engineer in the 1920's & 1030's in Chapman, Alabama. Hank performed the song at a private gathering over Christmas in 1952, a week before his death. Lon Williams worked for the W.T. Smith Lumber Company as a train conductor on a Baldwin 2-6-0 Mogul Steam Locomotive hauling logs to the lumber yards. W.T. Smith owned 2 class 7 Baldwin locomotives. #8 was scrapped in 1948. #7 was saved. This incredible barn find was owned by Royce Kershaw Jr and is being sold without reserve along with it's tender. Other incredible early to mid century train cars are also being sold.
1 Owner, 1955 Ford T-Bird bought new by Royce Kershaw's late father. This was the first T Bird delivered anywhere in the Atlanta area market! The first T Bird in the State of Alabama.
THE GLENN PRAY - KERSHAW "Cruise-Aire". A rare, one of a kind vehicle with provenance. The only one every built! Mr Kershaw's father hired famed legendary builder "Glenn Pray" to help design and build this amazing vehicle. Kershaw purchased a brand new 1967 Oldsmobile Tornado with a 425 cubic inch engine in 1966. That vehicle is also being sold in this auction. Well, Kershaw purchased a second new 66 Tornado and sent it to Glenn Pray to use in the build of this executive cruiser! Pray designed the Kruise-Aire to be built from 2 fiberglass halves that joined together at the belt line like a walnut shell. It would sit on a 120" wheelbase, just an inch more than the Toronado's and use the Toronado's rear suspension as well as a number of off the shelf parts including a corvette front bumper, Pontiac headlight doors, Camaro taillights, GM pickup windshield and a 1934 Auburn grill screens. The vehicle has only 1 front door which is a drivers door since it was designed to be driven by a chauffeur. The main entry doors are on the passenger curb side. The interior was built by Dean Howard's aircraft interior shop in San Antonio. Designer Glenn Pray charged an initial price of $10,000 for the vehicles initial designs. All in all, Kershaw ended up spending $65,000 to build the Kruise-Aire. Mr Kershaw had exentsive plans to go into a limited production with the vehicle but passed away about a year after this prototype was finished. It was left to his son, Royce Kershaw, Jr.
The Kershaw "Kruise-Aire" was featured in a Hemmings article "Car Culture" by Daniel Strohl in 2014.
Amazing 1959 Cadillac Limousine owned by the State of Alabama and was used by (5) former Alabama Governors
(1) of only 690 Fleetwood Seventy Five Limousine's produced in 1959. This was the biggest fin of any year of the big fin era for Cadillac! This incredible car was purchased new in 1959 by the State of Alabama for use by the State's Governor. It received Alabama Plate #1. Big Jim Folsom was the first Governor to use the car, followed by Governors John Patterson, George Wallace, Lurleen Wallace and finally Albert Brewer who succeeded Mrs Wallace after her death in 1968. The car was then put up for auction by the State of Alabama. Upon learning of its potential sale, George Wallace's brother Gerald Wallace contacted the States finance director and told him that since the car was used by both George and Lurleen Wallace and their affection for the car, that the State of Alabama should have been gifted to George Wallace. But it was too late. The auction had already been posted and was scheduled to be sold. The finance director and his assistant decided to pool their own private funds and purchased the car at the auction for $2200. When they presented it to George Wallace and told him the story that his brother Gerald had told them, he said that he had not idea where Gerald got that notion and that he had no interest what so ever in the car. After receiving the car, he decided to sell the car to Royce Kershaw Sr who kept it stored away in this warehouse until his death. His son, Royce Kershaw Jr maintained the car until his death in 2023. The Kershaw family has owned this rare Limousine for more than 50 years. According to the family, it still retains its original paint, interior and drivetrain, a 390 Cubic inch V8 with a single 4 barrel carburetor that produces 345 bhp. Transmission is a 4 speed automatic and the car has independent front suspension and 4 wheel disc brakes. Step inside the car and you will find original tobacco stains from the many cigars that were smoked by its prominent passengers! A rare piece of Alabama history.
Another One Off, Custom built 1962 Recreational Vehicle. Designed and built by Mr Kershsaw's father with the intention of mass producing one of America's first Recreational Vehicles. The "Executive Cruiser" was built using a widened Ford facia and a hand built, all aluminum Art Deco coach (body). This prototype is the only one in existence because it never was put into production. Kershaw advertised it as being for the "all sportsman, family adventures, vacations and for group tours. His advertised top speed was 101 MPH with a cruising speed at 90 MPH. A true piece of art!
A beautifully restored 1914 Cadillac
1945 G-16 Train engine, (2) 12 passenger cars and 1000' (M/L) RR Track. This wonderful, rare train was an amusement park ride and was purchased, owned and used by Royce Kershaw Sr. at his personal residence.
1966 Olds Toronado. One of the nicest, original unmolested Toronado's in the country! 1 Owner purchased by Royce Kershaw Sr in 1966. 425 cubic inch engine, all original. The first Toronado in the State of Alabama.
(2) restored 1949 Dodge Trucks. The white truck is a recreation of an original RR track repair truck.
One owner, 1969 Lincoln Continental MK III
A real, all steel 1932 Ford 3 window coupe. Mr Kershaw sent this body to Brookville Roadsters in Brookville Ohio where it underwent extensive body restoration and repairs. All street fenders and running boards. New suspension, new Ford crate motor and transmission, runs and drives. Needs interior and paint.
1955 Ford Custom Rod Project - Brand new Coyote Fuel Injected engine, complete modern suspension. The car has new floors but needs finishing. Doors, hood, trunk lid and other parts are included.
RARE 1948 Lincoln Continental 2 door Coupe - previously owned and collected by Kershaw Sr
RARE 1913 Baldwin, gasoline engine, self propelled, standard gauge, passenger rail car. This is a very very rare example that was completely restored.
RARE 1941 Lincoln Town Car (12)
Check back as we will be preparing the site for the auction. A complete bidding catalog of items with descriptions, videos and photos as well as open house/inspection dates/times will be posted in mid January, 2024. We are also preparing a professional video presentation that will be uploaded. This will be an amazing auction featuring hard to find items. Don't miss it!
Some of the vehicles being sold in this auction include:
2021 Axopar 23' Center Console Boat with 200 Mercruiser
2021 Ford F-150 4x4
2011 BMW x35i
2005 Honda Element
2002 Harley Davidson Road King
Can Am Defender ATV
Rolex Watch
Amusement Park Train and 2 passenger cars - Circa 1946
1962 Kershaw "Executive Cruiser" RV
1966 Kruise Aire mobile office
1966 Oldsmobile Toronado
1959 Cadillac Limousine
1971 Pantera
1955 Ford T Bird
1932 Ford 3 window coupe street rod
1957 Ford Resto-Mod project
1959 Ford T Bird
1940 Lincoln Continental Coupe
1948 Lincoln Continental Coupe
1962 Lincoln Continental Convertible
1969 Lincoln Continental MKIII
1973 Lincoln Continential
1985 Lincoln Town Car
1941 Lincoln Town Car 12
1957 Mercury Turnpike
1946 Kaiser Horizon Blue
1963 Ford Galaxy 500
1977 Mercedes 450SL
1949 Dodge Kershaw RR Truck
1949 Dodge Cab & Chassis
1928 Ford Model A coupe
1926 Maxwell
1909 Ford Model T
1925 EMF
1914 Cadillac
1913 Cadillac
1926 Cadillac
Project Cars & Parts
Open & Closed Car Trailers
Vintage Soda Fountain Mirrored Wall unit and countertop, Soda Fountain equipment
Shell Oil Gas Pump
Carnival Scales
Penny Farthing Bicycle
Vintage collectibles
Engines & Parts
Shop Equipment - (2) Automotive Lifts, Welders, Lathes, Band Saw, Plasma Cutter, Table Saws, Drill Presses, Milling Machine, Roll Forms, Paint Booth, Iron Worker, Bending Machine, Wood Shaper, Radial Arm Saws,
Chip Pearce Collector Car Auctions is a division of Pearce & Associates that specializes in helping to appraise and sell vintage automobile collections for private owners and estate executors nationwide. We also work with and partner with other auction companies to offer our expertise in the collector car industry. Pearce has sold, appraised, collected and restored thousands of vintage automobiles, motorcycles and boats over his 44 year career. If you have similar assets that you need help with, give us a call today. Nationwide at 1-888-783-4056 or email Chip@AUCTIONByPearce.com
