CLASSIC CAR AUCTION A REAL GAS

They checked fenders and wheel wells, scrutinized undercarriages and stared under hoods. A few even kicked tires Saturday as they browsed among some 300 antique and classic cars at the Show Me Center.

Some were selling. Some were buying. Some were just looking during the Smith Auction Company's Classic and Collector Car Auction, which continues today.

Collectors came from all over for the auction.

"Don Davis flew in on a Learjet from Dallas-Fort Worth," said Sherm Smith, owner of the auction company and Smith's Classic Cars in Dexter.

Davis didn't walk away empty-handed after Saturday's bidding session. The Texas collector paid $26,500 for a two-tone 1955 Ford Crown Victoria.

Bidding on the Ford started at $10,000 and within about three minutes, the car, which had only 5,800 original miles and the original tires, was sold.

"That's a beautiful car," Smith said.

Not all of the cars went that quickly. Several brought up for bidding went back on the sale floor because bids didn't meet the owners' reserve prices -- the minimum price required to sell the vehicle.

Bidding on a very rare 1948 Frazier Manhattan started at $7,500 and ended at $10,500 Saturday.

"It's going to take on the other side of $12,000" to purchase the Frazier, said auctioneer Gene Radcliffe. "It's the only one you're ever going to find."

A classic Cadillac, complete with tailfins, bullet lights and a flattop, went for $5,000. "You either love this car or you hate it," Smith told bidders. "It's got the biggest fins ever."

Marvin and Norma Bailey of Shoals, Ind., bought a '65 Mustang fastback Saturday morning and were hanging around in the afternoon to see what else they might find.

"We're waiting for the T-Birds and the '58 Chevy convertible," Marvin Bailey said.

The couple have a collection of about 65 classic cars and also operate a used car business, Norma Bailey said.

"The collection's kind of on the side," she said. "The used cars are business."

John Fuller of Cape Girardeau has a car he wants to sell and was checking out the bidding to see what kind of prices cars were bringing.

Fuller said Saturday afternoon that he might wind up buying something. "My son's getting ready to turn 15 and there's a couple of vehicles that might be good for him."

And was there anything that might tempt him into a purchase for himself?

"It would have to be one of the older '50s Chevrolet convertibles," he said.

Classic T-Birds, Cadillacs and Chevy Bel Airs crowded the display area, recalling an era when cruising was cool and gasoline was cheap. Several historic vehicles were also available, as were trucks, sports cars and other vehicles.

Smith said he was happy with Saturday's bidding.

"We're selling probably about 60 percent of our cars," he said. "We're doing really good."

Smith said he expected about 200 cars to be bid Saturday and another 125 today.

He said Saturday that he expected a 1957 Chevrolet convertible to bring the highest price in this weekend's auction.

"I've already got a $40,000 offer on it," he said.