The man who famously donated a vintage car collection valued at an estimated $2.5 million to Olds College will not attend the auction bearing his name on Sunday.
Charllotte Adkens-Weiler, Olds College auction project manager, said Jack Anderson, 85, would likely be tempted to place a bid if he thought the price wasn’t right on a prized vehicle.
In February 2012, the Calgary-area businessman and rancher donated his collection of 103 vintage cars and trucks in celebration of the college’s centennial.
A convoy of 60 trucks carrying the vintage cars and trucks revved along Hwy 2 from Airdrie to Olds Agricultural Society Cow Palace in Olds on Friday.
Among the old vehicles in the eclectic collection are a 1918 Maxwell, a 1936 Hupmobile, a 2002 Thunderbird and a 1956 Jaguar XK140. Anderson collected the vehicles over more than 50 years.
Eighty-two volunteers drove, loaded and unloaded the vehicles throughout the day.
“It looked like organized chaos but everything went smoothly,” said Adkens-Weiler.
The donation is the largest individual gift in Olds College’s history. Anderson was also the previous record holder when he gave $1 million in cash to the college in 2007. The college celebrates its 100th anniversary this year.
Since the donation was announced in November 2012, volunteers have detailed and restored the vintage vehicles to ensure they can run. All the vehicles have been outfitted with new batteries and some were given paint jobs.
The charity auction will get underway on Sunday at 10 a.m. but the college has events planned on Saturday leading up to the auction. Starting at 10 a.m., a public viewing of the auction items, a show and shine and much more are on tap.
Adkens-Weiler said the college would be hard-pressed to estimate how much money the auction will bring.
The proceeds from the auction will go towards the Olds College Centennial Entrepreneurial Legacy Fund.
For more J.C. (Jack) Anderson Charity Auto Auction and event information, go to www.oldscollege.ca and click on centennial events.
crhyno@www.reddeeradvocate.com