A CLASSIC car nut’s collection of 24 motors including a Ford Model A and dashing red 1953 Sedan have been sold at auction.
Collector Peter Learmont’s family decided to sell the collection, parked in the Learmont Pavilion at Sapphire Coast Historic Vehicle Club in Australia, after his death last year.
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Collector Peter Learmont got a passion for motors while flicking through a magazine while at a barber shop.
Aussie Peter was born a twin with his brother Don and their similarities went further than just looking alike.
They both forged careers as pharmacists and a love of classic vehicles.
Both loved looking through The Saturday Evening Post and they would often find themselves sitting and waiting at their local barber and eyeing the cars featured within the paper.
Then one day an idea popped up in Peter’s head.
He told his brother he was going to the United States with Don replying that he was going too.
They began saving their money by chopping wood after school and they told their parents they were going to America for these cars.
Following a trip by ship, a plane transfer, and some hitchhiking – as well as a number of years working as pharmacists in Canada, the two 25-year-old returned in 1957 Chevrolet Bel Airs.
Each had been given an extra coat of paint to survive the harsh Australian sun when they drove off the factory floor in Oshawa, Canada, to the port in Brooklyn harbour where they would be shipped home to their citrus farm.
Peter never lost the bug for collecting cars and each of his motors came with a story attached to it.
In a 2019 video, Peter showed off his collection with a running commentary, including what he thought was “the most beautiful MG” and pointed out the dickie “rumble” seats of his roadsters.
Stories included taking his four newborns home from the hospital in the Bel Air, to reversing to the top of Mount Kosciuszko in a 1929 chocolate Roadster, which later featured in the Phar Lap movie.
There were tales about delivering pharmaceutical scripts in a Ford Model A, complete with bright orange spokes and hand painted rear advertisement, to a Model T Ford restored by Kalaru-resident Roger Leslaighter – who found the steering wheel in a tree, and a car seat on a porch.
Peter’s car collection remained inside the Learmont Pavillion at Sapphire Coast Historic Vehicle Club, on the NSW Far South Coast, for many years.
But since his death in 2023, the family has decided to part ways with the 24-car collection.
Peter’s son, Andrew, said the family didn’t hold the same motoring passion as his “absolute car nut” dad, still said that saying goodbye to the motors came with some very strong and heartfelt emotions.
Andrew told The Senior: “It’s better the vehicles go to someone who will look after them and drive them, run them and take them in rallies, and do them the justice they deserve.
“If they came to me, it might just sit in a garage and nothing ever happens to it.
“But we are keeping the one that started it all, the 57 Chev, and if one or two don’t sell at auction, we’ll keep those.
“It’s tough, but there’s probably better homes for them.”
Lloyds auctioned off the cars on June 29 this year.
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