1950s classics we can only drool over

THE 1960 Cadillac “Thundertaker” limousine is the perfect final ride for any metal lover.

A 1960 Cadillac "Thundertaker".

MONTGOMERY, Texas, population 621, is a historic town.

Look, you have to go through the town to get to La Torretta Lake Resort for next weekend’s Worldwide Auctioneers Houston Classic Auction/Concourse/Cocktail Reception/ Bar-be-que /Cowboys & Cars Charity Strolling Dinner and After-Glow Party. So why not stop by?

Montgomery has history in 10-gallon hat loads. This was where Chuck Stewart designed the Texas flag and Ling-Chieh “Louis” Kung, the nephew of Madame Chiang Kai-shek, built a secret underground bunker for 700 employees to protect them against a communist nuclear missile attack.

And there are two great restaurants. World Burgers’ mission is to make the best-tasting burgers from around the world, while for dinner, it’s Cozy Grape, where Nine Stones Barossa Shiraz 2008 is just $30 a bottle.

Once you get to La Torretta (where a suite with giant breakfast costs just $550 a night), head for the Aqua Park. There’s Lay-Z River Rapids, the Breeze Buster pool, the Splash Scape pool with an in-water playground and the Pollywogs pool.

But we’re going there for the metal, not the magic. Rod Egan and John Kruse of Worldwide never put on just any old auction. There’s a heartbreaking Riley Nine Brooklands for $350,000, the last of the true Astons, a 1957 Aston Martin DB2/4 for $300,000 and Corvettes, Cadillacs, DeLoreans, Porsches and Ferraris. But how many auctions do you go to that have hot hearses, Guinness World Record bikes, 8.3 litre V-10, 410kw 1936 Auburn Boattail Speedsters and Woodies?

Imagine you are a real metal head and you’ve carked it. Your choice for heading off to your final resting place is a Ford Fairlane black hearse or the 1960 Cadillac “Thundertaker” limousine. The latter is the result of a four-year, 10,000-hour build. Power comes from a fuel-injected ZZ 454 cubic-inch GM crate engine with enough grunt to make it worth dropping off the twig. A mere $250,000 should buy this speedway to heaven.

Then there’s the world’s tallest bike — the 5.7L 250 kW 350 cubic inch V8 engined, 5m tall, 10m long Fabio Reggiani-designed motorcycle.

Round my way, all the hipsters look like they want to live in the 1950s. I lived in the 50s and let me tell you, it was pretty crook. But if you want to go back, Rod and John can take you there. For under $100,000 you get a 1955 Ford Country Squire “Woodie” Wagon, a 1955 Lyman boat with a 1955 Johnson Seahorse outboard motor and a 1955 JC Higgins streamlined bicycle.

The Woodie, based on the Fairlane, is in torch red, complete with fender skirts and roof rack and its just jumping to pull the Lyman 4.5m restored wooden boat powered by an original, unrestored Johnson Seahorse outboard. Topping all this off is a 1955 JC Higgins bicycle with a siren, Indian Head lightning-dart tyres, leather seat, saddle bags and speedo. Best of all, it’s only done 15km so it’s probably still under warranty.

[e-mail]