Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum Auction

As you may have heard, microcars went for major money at the Weiner Museum sale conducted by RM Auctions last weekend, with the top car bringing $322,000 and 12 lots in the six-figure range. This is an entirely different and fascinating world of cars, check them out.


Tiny Cars Bring in Big Bucks at Weiner Museum Sale | Mac's Motor City Garage.com

 

Insane money for... historically (in)significant cars? Makes recent Fiat Jolly or VW Microbus sales figures look like bargains, eh? Gary

 

Recession? What Recession?

 

That's some big money.
I think it is unfortunate that this collection is now
no longer together.

 

The story is that he sold off this collection to start another!

 

I saw this collection a couple of years ago,,I was amazed by all the cars I had never heard of. HRP

 

^^^ This. It was an amazing collection of these cars all in one place and should not have been broken up.

 

That was a great museum. Too bad it's gone

 

I know, right? I have theories but don't we all.

 

So the latest fad for the "my dick is bigger than yours" auction crowd is little tiny cars - how ironic

 

Well lets hope the cars all went to someone who will take car of them and not leave them to be found in rough shape

 

Check out the gasser . . .

 

Can any of you microcar experts shed light on this?

 

I read the auction was expected to bring in 6 million dollars, and they exceeded that by 50%. For the prices people were paying for these cars I'd be surprised if they didn't take pretty good care of them.

 

Made for people in Europe where they usually have small alley ways to the backyard. The front suspension lifts and tucks under so they can be moved into the yard.

 

28 cars were bought by a Russian collector at around a million $$ total.

 

Thanks! Whole bunch of creative engineering going on in these cars.

 

anyone know what this red car is???? the boat looking gasser car look like it has renault wheels on it.

 

That's a 1955 Champion, I believe. The cars, their lot numbers, and their selling prices are listed in the story. LINK:

Tiny Cars Bring in Big Bucks at Weiner Museum Sale | Mac's Motor City Garage.com



.

 

Ever been to the Lane Museum in Nashville, TN?
They have a bunch of pretty small cars too.





Even have a woodie wagon............

 

Am I the only one who sees a sort of mini-Porsche thing going on here?


.

 

^Nope. If you lost the lid and fixed the swing axles, it might be a fun mini-engined lakes / sports racer, too! Gary

 

I NEED to learn more about this - that's the coolest little woodie ever!!!



Steve

 

I got a woody just lookin at that woody.

 

Me too.

The Lane Museum's owner, Jeff Lane, often takes his cars to events -- and is really great to talk to because he is not only extremely knowledgeable, he's very generous about sharing his knowledge.

 

Steve, it's one of Martin's (the aircraft guy) micro-minis. If I'm not mistaken, it's one of his later prototypes (about '49?) which, like the rest, failed to find a financial backer for mass production. If you Google him, I think you can read about his forrays into autos and SEE pix of all of them, starting back in the later 1920s.

Great thread! THANKS, Bill, for the current info. This auction was a long time developing, so it's great to hear how it turned out.

TOO DAMN BAD a way could not have been found to keep such a unique collection together, really.

 

I was at the Lane museum last spring. This woodie is the only one that was built, as are many of the cars at the Lane. Many of their cars run and are driven. The price of the Peel at the Weiner erases one of those from my list of needs.

 

The historical significance of there cars is minimal in the U.S. When they were made they did matter in the countries where they were manufactured, and they mattered to the many who couldn't afford a more expensive car or one with higher operating costs.

 

Right, Al. Though SMALL cars had been tried in the early years, many of these cars were built during the post-WWII "micro-car" resurgence. CHEAP transportation was needed in any of the coutries laid to virtual waste by the ravages of the war. That makes them historical significant -- and just fun for those who don't care about history.

 

??? It has been there on display for many years already. How long must someone keep them? I don't understand everyone being dazed and confused that someone decided to sell their cars. He formed a collection and sold them once before, perhaps he will do it again. Its the chase and finding the cars he enjoys, not so much holding onto them forever for us to gawk at.