The Lee Roy Hartung Collection Auction = Chicago

[Carolynab79]

http://www.wgntv.com/news/morningnews/aroundtown/

Hi Gentlemen, I've seen some of your questions and comments here and joined so I could possibly shed some light. I visited this "museum" several times and he does have quite a conglomeration of stuff. My Dad was an avid Model A restorer and afficionado and I took him there several times along with his two brothers whenever they came to visit. I do live nearby the museum and 1 poster did have it correct that it is just a huge pole barn with no insulation or floor. He would never part with anything by the piece. My Dad asked everytime he went if he would sell a car part, wrench, tool etc, but would never budge. He did tell the Jay Leno story several times and my impression was that he wasn't a fan. Just from my impression and what Mr. Hartung would say while we visited, it sounded to me like he would never sell the "collection" in one lot. As for parking it will be interesting to see what they do for that. The link above is a clip from WGN TV that had showcased the collection/auction and the items they showed did not appear to be in the polebarn where these items were originally. So it looked like they may have moved some of the stuff to another location? There is no campground nearby. There truly is a little of everything. No one mentioned anywhere either that he did have an extensive police badge collection as well. That's actually how I first met him when he would take the collection to local police departments when they would have open houses (I worked at a local PD and saw the collection firsthand). I hope some of this answered some looming questions, and I wish my Dad was still alive to see the auction and be a part of it....he would have loved it.

[Helen Ehrenhofer]

Wow - this guy's been collecting a loooooong time. My husband Ken Ehrenhofer and John Krenger are going to this - I don't think I will ever comment again about how much stuff my husband has in his 6000 sq. ft. barn again - he will never have this much stuff.

If I have time - I might go - but I'm working on the Model A News magazine this week. If Ken goes without me - I'll have to send my camera with him - just in case he can sneak in some photos - not sure if they allow photos this week - but it's worth a try. I hear that a lot of Model Aers are coming here this week - if you are - be sure and contact Ken for info about where to stay, eat, etc.

[Slantwindshield]

$100 entry fee, NO free looking day of auction. $20 for look before sale day. And I thought 15% buyers fee was bad. Howard

[Ken Ehrenhofer]

If anybody is coming to the auction please feel free to call me and stop by the Forty Horse Farm up in Woodstock. maybe int he evening we can have a meeting at my place and kick some tires.
I will be at the viewing on Tuesday and will have some maps if you want to visit,
Ken

[Ken Ehrenhofer]

The $100 is for two people and it includes both viewing and bidding so it is not to bad??? maybe,
Ken

[lazlobassett]

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I was going to go then I saw the fees, 15% buyers premium AND 9.25% sales tax atop of that ?!?! Thats just CRAZY! I will protest by my absence (I'm sure that will hurt them ha-ha )

Cheers!

[kelley's restoration]

they will get my $20
i payed to see it when it was a museum.....now i wii be able to see it better
tk

[WTSHNN]

Wow.Wow.Wow.

I had set aside 2 hours to see the auction preview yesterday. 5.5 hours later I was walking out of the place and still didn't get to see everything I wanted to.

RM/Auctions America did a lot of work on the property to get it to the point where they are able to start auctioning stuff off. I spoke to one rep who has been on site for the past 8 weeks and another guy who has been there since June.

I took about 360 pictures and posted them to Photobucket. http://s236.photobucket.com/albums/f...ion/?start=all

The old museum has been emptied out and all of the stuff that at one point was buried and hidden and unknown, is out on tables, to touch and play with.



A lot of vehicles were outside.





20,XXX engine number with a winfield head.





Parts everywhere





Cars inside, about 40 of them.




Just all around interesting stuff.


1st issue.





I registered to bid at 6pm last night and was bidder number 238, so there will be a lot of people there. They have 1,700 lots that will be auctioned off. They were still auction people running around putting lot numbers on items all day. A lot list was available around noon and runs about 20 pages front and back.

Overall it was an impressive amount of stuff that will be hard pressed to find such a collection in the future. I'll be at the auction these next three days, more as an observer than a bidder, I'm sure things will go for crazy prices. Will be interesting to see how it all goes. The one item I had wanted and the main reason I've been so excited about this auction is not up for bid, it was kept by the heir as it had been a present she had bought for Mr. Hartung and she wanted to keep it. Can't fault her for that.

Oh, and I'm sure people were wondering but the one guy with the auction company we were talking to told us the auction company is estimating $8 million total sales. The property is for sale at $4 million. Not bad for a junk collector who lived in a trailer.

-Tim

[Steve Wastler]

Ok with all this cool stuff, there was one thing you wanted, and you keep us hanging.... If they are keeping it, you most likely will not get it, how bout telling us what you wanted??

I wish I was there, was to an auction 30 years ago that had the weight of his collection in parts, all ford from beginning thru '31, unbelievable in the same regards as this one.

Thanks for the pics

[WTSHNN]

Originally Posted by Steve Wastler

Ok with all this cool stuff, there was one thing you wanted, and you keep us hanging.... If they are keeping it, you most likely will not get it, how bout telling us what you wanted??

The City of Chicago started issuing license plates in 1903 or so, before IL did, after IL started doing License Plates the city started requiring vehicles to register and pay a tax, a small medallion was provided which was to be affixed to the dashboard of the vehicle.

A 1918 from my collection. Only about an inch and a half long.

I have about 40 of them but Hartung had an almost complete run of City of Chicago vehicle tax tags, including many types that I have never seen anywhere else.

Here are some of them in License plate frames at the Hartung auction.



He had the only 1931 City of Chicago Truck Tax tag that I have ever seen and I would like it very much for my '31 Truck. I have a '27, '28 and a couple '30s but no '31.



Here is a '30 out of my collection.

So I'll have to wait hope to find one at some point.
-Tim

[brum1]

Thanks for taking the time to post pictures-very interesting for those of us who can not attend

[heck91426]

Thanks for posting pics for those that cannot attend ! Please give us some updates ! Truely amazing. Love it or hate it, hopefully this auction will result in more old cars back on the road, being enjoyed and cared for.

[WTSHNN]

Originally Posted by heck91426

Thanks for posting pics for those that cannot attend ! Please give us some updates !

I will try to update as much as possible. Sadly, I won't be able to stay late Saturday, which is when all the cars are being put up for bid, so I may not be able to update that info but I'm sure it will be information available elsewhere.

-Tim

[Modelakid31]

looks like there will be some good scores! if anyone buys anything please post pictures!

[hop up]

A few I took, I recommend you stay home

[hop up]

Yeeep

[hop up]

More with some rain in the forecast so you might want to stay home .................................................. .................................................. ................... Good Luck to all!!

[buyitsmart]

You want us to stay home so you can have it all to yourself!!

I'm gonna be sick if the cars go cheap!!

[RonC]

does anyone know if this auction will be taped and broadcast later?

[jkcrosson]

Originally Posted by buyitsmart

I'm gonna be sick if the cars go cheap!!

I don't think that's going to happen with the hype of this auction. Of course is everyone assumes everything will sell high and stays home, there could be some bargains.