Late Chemist’s Cure for Classic Car Enthusiasts

Lloyds Auctioneers and Valuers

A collection of some of the rarest vintage and classic cars collected over the course of nearly 60 years by two twin brother pharmacists, is now being dispensed via auction and is going under the hammer this Saturday.

Known as the man that had petrol in his veins, the late Peter Learmont was a pharmacist from Cooma, NSW and spent almost 60 of his 92 years putting together this collection of classic cars, alongside his twin brother who also had a career as a pharmacist and also an avid car enthusiast.

For many years, Peter’s nostalgic car collection remained inside the Learmont Pavilion at Sapphire Coast Historic Vehicle Club, but since his passing in 2023, the family has decided to sell the iconic collection with aim to pass the collection onto the next generation of custodians.

One of the vintage cars within the collection, a 1929 Chevrolet roadster, even featured in the Phar Lap movie filmed at Adaminaby Racecourse in the early 1980s.

“We are honoured to be able to auction these cars with such a special story on how they were curated, and each vehicle with a unique story of their own,” said Mr. Lee Hames, Chief Operations Officer for Lloyds Auctions.

The story of the collection begins when twin brothers Peter and Don travelled to Canada in the mid-1950s. This was the post-war era, and new cars of any type were in very short supply in Australia. They returned with three 1957 Chev Bel Airs which received an extra coat of paint to handle the harsh Australian conditions and these three cars have remained within the family until today, now going under the hammer for the next custodians to look after.

Peter never stopped his love of collecting cars and each of them had a story to go with it, including transporting his four newborns home from hospital in the Chevvy Bel Air to reversing to the top of Mount Kosciuszko in 1929 in the same Roadster that featured in the Phar Lap movie.

It was from here the obsession with vintage and classic cars grew, and as did the collection over 60 years.

The family wishes for these cars to go to the next custodians who will look after them, drive them and cherish them for many years to come just as their father did.

The collection features 24 historically important vehicles dating from 1915-1976 and makes including Holden, Datsun, Ford, Chevrolet, Buick, Chrysler, Studebaker, Lincoln and more.

“Whether you’re after a vintage car or an iconic classic there is something for all passionate investors within this auction,” continued Mr. Hames.

This collection of classics will be going under the hammer alongside over 100 other classics in our LIVE Classic, Muscle and Barn Finds auction closing Saturday 29th June from 12pm.

You can view the entire auction here.

/Public Release.