Auctions America revitalizes former Kruse sale

Despite a few close calls and false starts, Auburn, Ind., remains a town where two large operators hold collector-car auctions at the unofficial end of summer. Worldwide Auctioneers continued at its regular space (though with a much larger sale), and the new kid down the street, Auctions America by RM, took over where Kruse had faltered.

Auctions America held a successful rookie effort at the former Kruse Auction Park in Auburn. After purchasing the site just 60 days before the Labor Day weekend event, Auctions America faced tall challenges. But in the end, more than 1,000 cars were offered in its four-day sale, while Worldwide had 400 cars cross the block.

Donnie Gould, president of Auctions America, said his goal is to “build Auburn back to be the classic-car capital of the world once again,” although that requires a bit of elbow grease. More than 6,000 gallons of paint were used in revamping the look of the venue to reflect the Auctions America playbook. All 100 acres of asphalt was patched and resurfaced, the restrooms were upgraded, and improvements were made to the park entrance.

The mood was definitely upbeat among the local visitors who paid $10 to attend for one day. Auctions America estimated the crowd at 25,000. As in past years, Auburn featured a corral for selling cars in the traditional, nonauction manner; there were parts and automobilia dealers in the swap-meet area, as well as food vendors, mostly from the Midwestern fair and event circuit.

The big-dollar sale of the weekend went to Auctions America, with a 1934 Duesenberg JN Convertible Sedan selling for $962,500. Most of the cars sold for well less than $50,000 and some for less than $2,000. With renewed confidence and a new operator, the tradition of Labor Day sales in Auburn appears ready to continue.

By Dave Kinney