For classic car lovers, there was no better place to be than the J.C. (Jack) Anderson Charity Auto Auction on Sunday.
Olds was awash with old autos over the weekend, 48 hours of festivities celebrating Olds College’s centennial culminating in an auction that will give a big boost to the institution as it enters its second century.
Over $1 million was raised Sunday by the auctioning off of over 100 vehicles from 85-year-old Jack Anderson’s personal collection.
The Calgary-area businessman and rancher donated 103 vintage cars and trucks from his collection in celebration of the college’s centennial.
It was a collection that attracted Bob Callfas all the way from Sherwood Park.
A member of the Edmonton Antique Car Club, he said he did not know such a rich collection existed in the province.
As he toured the vehicles on display at the Olds Agricultural Society grounds, he was especially interested in a 1954 Kaiser Manhattan and a real oldie, the 1918 Maxwell Touring Car.
Pledging not to overspend, he was asked if his best-case scenario would see him and his dad going home with both autos.
“That’s maybe a worst-case scenario,” he laughed, “because we don’t need any more.”
An oversupply was not a problem for Karalee Craig and Hayden Brenneis, though. The Sundre couple got their personal classics collection started with a winning bid of $5,100 on a baby blue 1961 Studebaker Champ pick-up. Brenneis said it is “100 per cent” tempting being at such an auction, where for hours the beautiful rides are paraded through.
Craig said they had been looking for a classic truck to start their collection for a while and the price was right on Sunday.
“(Classic autos) are different looking. They have really nice smooth lines, they really catch the eye. You’re keeping something of this age alive so you can look back in time pretty much,” she said.
It was a 1956 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster that drew the highest bids, going for $66,000 in the end. Other standout vehicles were a 1936 Hupmobile and a 1956 Jaguar XK140 Coupe.
Paul Byrne, one of the auction’s organizers, said the event went spectacularly thanks to huge volunteer efforts in preparing the vehicles for sale. All of the vehicles were outfitted with new batteries and some were given paint jobs.
There were 936 bidders at the auction, and the Cow Palace where the sale was held was packed many rows deep on all sides with bidders and onlookers.
The money raised from the auction will go towards the Olds College Centennial Entrepreneurial Legacy Fund.
The donation of the automobiles was the largest individual gift in Olds College’s history, besting Anderson’s own mark of $1 million cash donated in 2007.
mfish@www.reddeeradvocate.com