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RARE AUTOS TO BE PART OF GILMORE CAR MUSEUM AUCTION
Hickory Corners, MI
If you’re a bargain hunter, enjoy estate sales, or simply are a car buff you’ll want to make your way to Hickory Corners, MI on Friday, June 2nd for what could easily be considered one of the largest “barn sales” in the state. The Gilmore Car Museum, located northeast of Kalamazoo and well-known for its world-class collection of over 250 vehicles displayed in historic barns, is holding a “No Reserve Auction” there on Friday, June 2nd.
Don’t worry—the non-profit Museum isn’t selling off the entire collection or closing! It opened for its 40th season on May 1st and its staff has been busy with “spring cleaning.”
“We’re cleaning out the Barns,” explains Museum Executive Director Michael Spezia, “and selling surplus collectible automobiles, antiques, grounds keeping equipment, and consigned items.”
Many of items have been in the Gilmore Car Museum collection for years but have never been put on display, while other pieces are no longer exhibited. The list of items to be auctioned features nearly 65 vehicles including a restored 1909 Hupmobile, a low mileage 1951 Cadillac, a 1965 Excalibur that was built for actor Tony Curtis, and an unrestored 1955 Buick Roadmaster convertible that had been stored since 1971.
Even if you’re not particularly interested in collector vehicles, you certainly won’t be disappointed with this auction’s eclectic assortment of antique treasures. A rare 1920s carousel band organ, an 1880s cobbler’s bench, a vintage soda fountain, and a 1960s Penny Pony—like the ones you used to ride at the local market—are all up for grabs to the highest bidder.
And that’s actually what “No Reserve” means in auction parlance: that there is no minimum price and everything offered will sell to the highest bidder! While this auction will certainly offer many very unique items for sale, it's also unique in its attraction to bidders. The Museum is not charging admission to the auction and, more importantly, they are not charging a fee to become a bidder or adding any bidder’s premiums to the final bids. A practice typical of auctions is where the buyer is charged an additional eight to ten percent, or more, of the final bid to purchase the item.
Jay Follis, Marketing Director for the Gilmore Car Museum says, “It’s nearly unheard of today, an auction of this caliber waving admission charges, bidder fees or premiums,” and calls the strategy “bidder friendly.”
Museum Director Spezia hopes it pays off. “This auction is truly intended to be a fund raiser for the Museum.” In the past few years, the car museum has experienced explosive growth and most recently added three new exhibit buildings and a 1940s diner. “We’ve simply run out of room, for both storage and exhibit,” explains Spezia, “and the auction will raise funds for the expanding collection and open up some much needed space.”
The Gilmore Car Museum, located midway between Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, and Battle Creek on M-43 and Hickory Road, will open its doors at 9:00 am on Friday, June 2nd to give prospective bidders a preview of the sale, with the auction beginning at 2:00 pm. To learn more about the auction or to obtain a list of items to be offered visit: www.GilmoreCarMuseum.org or call the Museum at 269-671-5089.
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