RM Auctions, a company that restores, appraises and holds auctions for collectible cars, generated more than $9.1 million in auction sales the weekend of Feb. 15 - 16 after Bruce Weiner decided to slim down his lifestyle.
“To me, it’s all about the thrill of the chase,” Weiner said in a press release. “My collection has brought me incredible joy over the years, but simply finding and restoring these cars is not enough for me. In order to fully appreciate them, I need to share them."
Weiner's Microcar Museum is world-renowned for being the largest and finest collection of rare microcars (the precursor to today's Smartcars, popular in Europe and Asia at a time when raw materials were scarce), ArtDaily reports. His painstakingly-curated collection of microcars took more than 15 years to accumulate and included 200 vehicles, plus 284 other collectibles, all of which were sold. The collectibles included period neon signs, kiddie rides, literature, vending machines and candy dispensers, all from the 1950s, when microcars were the rage.
“We were tremendously pleased to contribute to the record-breaking results that shine a light on this 'small' but historically important segment of automotive history,” Alain Squindo, vice president of RM Auctions said. “It was certainly one of the most exciting auction events RM has ever hosted. From start to finish, the atmosphere was electric with the audience smiling and laughing ear-to-ear."
Bidders from places as diverse as Japan, Brazil and Australia congregated in Madison, Georgia last weekend. The most expensive car, a 1958 F.F.R. Tg 500 "Tiger," sold for $322,000, more than twice the expected amount. At least a dozen cars sold for over $100,000 in a colorful, robust auction.
"My family and I had the best time of our lives," Weiner told ArtDaily after the sale. "Kudos to the RM team. Their presentation, creativity and enthusiasm was second to none. My only disappointment of the weekend is that the show had to come to an end."
