Reported By: Gary Sinderson
Written By: Marc Stempka
CENTRE HALL, Pa. -- It's a rare find: A mint-condition 1969 Shelby Mustang and it's going up for auction in Centre County.
Ron Gilligan Auctioneering is hosting an estate auction on Friday for the late Larry Brown in Centre Hall and the Mustang is just one of several cars, motorcycles, law equipment and other items that are up for bid.
Gilligan said Brown was the only owner of the 1969 Shelby Mustang GT-500 428 Cobra and that is has only 8,531 miles. Gilligan said shortly after Brown's death, there were phone calls to his office about a potential auction at Brown's estate.
Gilligan said he didn't know about the vehicle and its value until after he was contacted to handle the auction. It was found in an old barn on Brown's property.
"I knew something was going on down in this area, we had about a half a dozen phone calls from people after his death, wondering when the auction was going to be," Gilligan said. "And I never knew Mr. Brown never knew what he had. I said to my parents there must be something unusual there for that many people to be calling our office."
The vehicle was put away and preserved by Brown. Several other vehicles also will be up for auction, from the 1960s through 2010s, plus motorcycles, lawn equipment and other items.
"These are pictures of the car back in the early '70s when it was still covered in dust when he parked it in the early '70s and we found it and it was still covered in dust," Gilligan said.
Gilligan said he's been fielding calls from just about everywhere, inquiring about the Shelby.
"We've had called from anywhere from the Netherlands to people coming from California to Arizona, people coming in from Montana, South Dakota, Idaho, flying their own planes in to State College airport," Gilligan said.
Gilligan said in his family's years in the auction business, they've never seen an item that has drawn so much attention. Some have speculated the vehicle will be sold for close to $200,000.
The auction is set for 12:30 p.m. at 107 W. Ridge St. in Centre Hall. To check out the items, including the Shelby, click here.
