America’s Most Interesting Automotive Museum Is Selling Some Really Interesting Cars That Could Change Your Life

I think I’ve made it pretty clear that one of my favorite automotive museums of all time is the Lane Motor Museum. Over a decade or so, I’ve been lucky enough to drive a shocking number of cars in the Lane’s collection, and I’ll admit that I have a strange attachment to a lot of those cars. That may be why when several Lane Museum cars end up at auction, it feels, somehow, significant. There’s currently five soon-to-be-ex-Lane cars up for auction via Mecum, and I know some of these cars personally, and I’m quite curious to see where they end up.

It’s quite a diverse spectrum of cars in this lot, ranging from no-joke race cars to Czech rear-engined ambulances to a little SUV-like machine that makes under six horsepower. In short, it’s just what you’d expect from the Lane.

Here’s the lineup of cars you could own from the museum:

Each of those are fantastic cars, and would be a jewel in anyone’s collection. A nice, weird, unexpected jewel, too. Let’s take a look at these cars!

1978 Willam Fourgonnette

This 1978 Willam Fourgonnette is fascinating little microcar, built by the French arm of the Italian LAWIL company, and is interesting in that it’s a more utility-focused take on the usual basic-transportation microcar concept. The body stampings are about as complex as your average dumpster and almost as sleek. You can see the seams where the two sides sandwich the middle part of the body, trimmed in black rubber, and the whole thing has such an air of a friendly construction worker from a kid’s book.

Plus, a one-cylinder, 5.6 horsepower engine from a Lambretta scooter! I always wanted to drive this thing. I have zero idea what sort of prices something like this may command. Rare and unusual, sure, but what is the market demand for sub-6 hp boxy utility vehicles in the collector market?

1980 Tatra T613 Ambulance

This 1980 Tatra T613 Ambulance is a really special machine, especially when you remember that the Lane has the largest collection of rear-engined Tatras in America. That may be why I’m so surprised to see this one being sold – it may very well be the only one of its kind on the continent? I’m not 100% sure, but I think it’s a pretty safe bet.

I remember using the considerable bulk of this ambulance as a way to hide the tiny Sinclair C5 that I was driving for that video, letting me emerge from behind it as a sort of surprise. I remember being really impressed with this Ambulance, because it’s such a strange and imposing beast.

It’s a rear-engined, air-cooled V8 ambulance built on an executive car platform, and it’s both awkward and brilliant all at once. This seems like it would be a holy grail for anyone interesting in collecting ambulances or emergency vehicles, right?

I also never realized this, but the trunk setup is kind of unusual compared to other Tatra 613s; those big panels on either side of the battery must be housing some kind of special ambulance equipment, because on a regular 613 – if such a thing can be said to exist – those areas are open:

Weird, right? Anyway, if you buy that ambulance, tell me what’s under those panels, please.

1948 Simca-Gordini Type S Replica Race Car

Okay, I’ll admit, I don’t know too much about this particular car. I think I remember seeing it at the museum, and it always looked pretty fun. I’m not sure when this replica was built, but the original was a Formula One car made between 1947 and 1953. I’m not exactly sure what one does with a one-seat open wheel replica of a late ’40s F1 car other than racing it in historic events, but I suspect using this as a commuter car would make every trip to work a hell of a lot more exciting.

1959 Lloyd LT 600 Van

This car I remember quite well, as I’ve always admired it in the museum! There’s the other Torchinskys admiring it too, from a number of years ago. Unfortunately, I think this is another Lloyd 600 LT Van! Maybe it’s not unfortunate; I think I just never realized the Lane had more than one of these? Here’s the one up for auction:

These were clever and cheap little German economy cars, but they didn’t always enjoy the best reputation. Early ones had bodies made from plywood and fake leather, which perhaps led to this German saying of the era: “He who doesn’t fear death drives a Lloyd.” I don’t think they mean that in a cool, badass way, either.

This is another car that I would think would be a charming thing to own, but I have no idea how much money one could expect to get for one. What is the market for old Lloyds like?

1965 Fiat 850 TC Abarth Race Car

I’ve always loved these little rear-engined Fiat-Abarth race cars, with their engine lids propped open to aid in cooling and act as a wing of sorts. They’re so determined and tiny and cute and fierce, I feel like if you need to get the idea of the concept of “plucky” you could just spend 15 minutes with one of these tiny beasts.

Just look at these little guys (okay, these are the 1000cc ones instead of the 850cc but you get the idea) buzzing around the track and try not to smile. You can’t. You’re gonna smile, so quit pretending like you won’t. I suspect these go for a decent amount of money, but if you’re going to buy a race car, it’s hard to think of one you could have more fun with than one of these, right?

This is a small collection, but a fascinating one. I’ll be curious to see where these cars end up, and for how much they go for! The whole Czech ambulance world is watching, after all!