Comments From Others Regarding Auctions:

Richard,I certainly feel as you about auctions.. I got into old cars thru a very dear friend, Floyd Duvall.. Floyd had them all at one time or the other.. While I met him later in his life he had 2 Duseys, 2 Cords, 2 Auburn Speedsters (never at the same time) and a Ruxton along with a treasure trove of others.. I learned about the cars and that they all have a personality.. I am in this hobby for the cars. I usually park mine and sit away from it and allow people to enjoy it… One year Floyd and I were on a Motorioway 500 as usual and we stopped in Stewart Iowa for the night. There we met a old mechanic who asked if we had ever seen a Elcar. None of us had but Floyd knew about them.. So we went over to this mechanic’s friends garage and he opened up the door. While most of the others saw the car as an old dusty model a looking car Floyd and I saw that it was indeed something special… The man told us it was for sale. Well the next morning I called the owner who just got back in town and we went back over there and talked price. He just wanted what he paid for it and a little for what he had put into it. The deal was done… Much later in my investigation I found just how rare it was.. It was one of Bill Harrah’s cars and it turned out to be the only one in existent having that model, style and year. there are only about 30 Elcars known to exist!!! They made 30,000 total. Anyway what was special was that I discovered it with my good friend who passed away at 92 a few years ago. I still have the 29 Elcar, model 8-82, Landau Roadster with a Lycolming GS 8 cyl. dual throat Schebler full brass carb. and intake manifold. Also I have a 29 President 8 sedan, 29 W-K sedan, 33 Nash Advanced 8 Sedan, (2) Graham’s, 37 Packard 6 Opera Coupe, 47 and 52 Dodge power wagon’s, 61 Jag mark 9 and a 78 Glenn Pray Auburn Speedster. My main interest is the late 20′s and early 30′s. Some time maybe our AACA club could visit your collection… John Brewer Davenport Iowa.

Hello Rick,What can I say? Your article really hits the mark. As a younger member or the hobby and vice-president of my local AACA chapter, I cannot believe that a hobby is dying for younger and new membership is cutting itself off at the knees. I got into this hobby six years ago by purchasing a rare but not so collectible basket case and began a six year restoration. Along the way I purchased three more cars, one of which one is about to finish it’s restoration. My wife and I do as much of the work ourselves and we pride ourselves in being able to lay down a flat finish as well as stitch tight straight seams. Like you, what we enjoy most is the fact we havedone our small part to preserve a piece of history. I hope to visit your facility someday; especially since our interest in cars is moving back in time from our current interest in late ’30s and ’40s cars to the depression era cars that you specialize in.Thank you for all the effort you put into your website….it keeps us dreaming!Andrew ManriquezFort Collins, CO

I have to agree with you, I live near Scottsdale and attend the Barratt-Jackson each year just as a spectator. I have loved classic cars since 1967 when I bought my first car, a 1940 Packard. I have owned a few classics and enjoy them as a hobby, but now the prices have gone sky high and the hobbyist is out of the picture. It’s similar to real estate, the investors have come in & driven up the prices, they speculate for a quick buck. I see it every year at the auctions. these rich guys are not car buffs, just speculators. What a shame they have made this hobby unaffordable for most of the rest of us Charles Harvey

RICK,JUST READ YOUR “TRUTH”. TIMES SURE HAVE CHANGED IN THE HOBBY HAVEN’T THEY!!I AM A COLLECTOR OF CONVERTIBLES, AND HAVE CROSSED YOUR PATH MANY TIMES, BUT DON’T THINK WE’VE EVER MET. MIKE AND ROB AT RM CAN TELL YOU ABOUT ME.YOU HAVE SEVERAL CARS WHICH I MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN ADDING TO MY COLLECTION. IF YOU’D LIKE TO DISCUSS THAT FURTHER, OR JUST SWAP STORIES, PLEASE CALL.Stephen Plaster

Sir:I am in the wholesale, dealer only, automobile auction industry. I have been the general manager of one of the largest auctions in the U. S. We are always amazed at the add on fee schedule we see in the retail antique side of the industry. We charge a flat buyer and a flat seller fee. None of the other fees you spoke of. I own two Packard’s and a Lincoln. I did not purchase either of them from an antique auction. Keep up the good work! R D Royall Jackson, Mississippi

Yes, I couldn’t agree more. We have an auction in Fort Myers Florida every March. This auction started as a Kruse auction that I hosted,however Mr.Kruse would not pay the sellers in a timely manner and the last straw was he failed to pay the sales tax for over 6 months. I have been doing the auction ever since. This year will be the 11th. Year. Our commission is $150.00 entry fee with 5% buyers and sellers commission. Numbers are on a first come basic with no funny stuff. Last year we had 368 cars with a sell through rate of 62%. My auctioneer has always been Brent Earlywine. We have same day pay and same day title. This is an auction we have fun at!!!!! Doug Foeller

Greetings Richard This is Bob Rostecki, Randy Rostecki’s brother. Out of curiosity I checked out your website and was very impressed by the quality of the presentation and pictures. I also read your reference to auction in “Truth about Auctions” and heartily agree with your observations and comments, having realized this years ago’ You are about the only person that has  publicly denounced them and I applaud your courage and honesty. Greed has really invaded our hobby. I have only bought and sold with other hobbyists, so have never attended an auction. Your ads in Old Cars have offered encouragement to people that are looking for a nice car at a fair price. Since my brother has found “LOVE” with his long time lady friend Evelyn, he and I don’t travel together much anymore. As a result, I seldom get to the LaCrosse area, otherwise I would visit your collection. I’m still driving the 1929 Chrysler Imperial roadster, finishing up the restoration on a 1930 Chrysler Imperial dual cowl phaeton, working part time on a 1931 Chrysler Imperial Berline for 12 years. Last year I bought a 1941 Buick 90 four door sedan with24,000 original miles as a CCCA tour car to give the 29 Chrysler roadster a semi retirement after 30,000 miles since restoration in 1995. I am looking for a clock for our 1931 Chrysler Imperial CG. It is a one year clock, and hard to find. I doubt if you have one, but please keep your eyeballs peeled. I have an excellant radiator cap for a 1928 -1929 Studebaker President, and a solid platable radiator cap for a 1932-33 Rockne. If you are interested in these caps, please let me know. If you can find a 1931 Chrysler CG clock, I will trade you these two caps and cash difference. I will be at Iola In July with the 1941 Buick in the Blue Ribbon Display if you care to visit, or leave a note so we can meet. Take care, talk later. Sincerely, Bob Rostecki

Dear Sir, I totality agree with you ,It`s not very often you find honest and careing people like yourselve, I`ve looked at your fine automoble`s, something to be proud of when you put all your hard work, money, and love into these classic`s .these auto auction`s that you mentioned ,are feed on total Greed ,this is what`s a mater with our world and always`s has been, greedy men, thinking of nothing but the dollar sign`s, and they don`t care how they get it, underhanded or not, it don`t matter, just get the BIG BUCK`S, and don`t you step in my way if you know if you know what I nean. these men will have to answer to God one day, and woe to them,God Hate`s Greed , they will prosper for only a while,God has a way of dealing with them , better than we ever thought of .I admire you for putting you thought`s on your web site . you know ,these classic`s are beautiful to look at and fun to have if you have enough money , but they are only materal object`s , can be taken from you in an instant ,I`m &0 year`s old now , I used to be a mechanic for many year`s , I used to take old car`s to the metal salvage yard, this one day I took a nice lincolnto the smasher`s, I watched and in Five minutes that beautiful car was about 8 in`s high ,I never forgot it, It changed my value`s about material thing`s, lay up your treasure`s in heven, where moth nor rust does corrupt ,nor theif`s will steal from you. these Greedy people will be delt withsome day, and do I fell sorry for them.God bless you In your business ,keep it honest and abovethe board, give a tenth to the Lord and you will prosper, sincerely ,C. Baker ,El Mirage , Arizona

I have read your letter and I do understand the Barrett-Jackson type of marketing. I agree with you. I still watch the BJ Auctions, but only for entertainment. You have a beautiful collection and some day I hope to get over there to see it. I live in Stoughton, Wisconsin, am 63 years old and value your comments entirely. Kent Schroeder

dear mr. blomquist, i have the same feelings that you described about auto auctions, i will never attend another auction, or bid on a car in an auction. because of the gouging that seems to be rampant throughout the auction industry. ken mitchell

Dear Mr. Blomquist,

I have just come across your site and impressive collection of automobiles. I am moved to write to you to tell you that I agree completely with your auction summation and it is nice to see those opinions expressed by someone who is clearly an important figure in the field.

One day perhaps I will be out your way and be in touch

Cordially

Geoffrey Leeds

I agree with you 100 percent. The fun is is the hunt and then the results. When you have the riduculous Barret – Jackson type the fun is gone. I do not even watch when on TV. Problem is others do and then they havethe idea that their common type vehicles are worth the same. Oh well enough of my complaining. thanks anyway Jim