A sprawling collection of roughly 300 classic cars, trucks, projects and automotive signs assembled over three generations of the Born family will go under the hammer in Eaton, Colorado, on September 19, with some lots reportedly starting at just 50 cents.
VanDerBrink Auctions will conduct the sale of the Born Family Collection, which belonged to the late Doug Born, his father and his grandfather. The family is said to have spent decades travelling to auctions across the United States in search of old iron, and the result is a stash that leans heavily toward early Fords.
Among the headline lots is a 1912 Model T Touring, alongside several Model As, a custom 1932 Ford Roadster and numerous coupes, sedans, pickups and projects from the 1930s and 1940s. Some of the vehicles have been restored. Others are described as very much not, with 1933 and 1935 coupe projects, a 1934 three-window coupe project, a 1934 school bus project, multiple 1936 and 1937 Fords, COE trucks, panels and enough F-Series pickups to keep a restoration shop busy for years.
The collection is not exclusively Ford-centric. Chevrolet enthusiasts can choose from a 1931 sedan, a 1955 NAPCO pickup, a 1964 Bel Air two-door, several early Chevy trucks and panels, and numerous projects. The catalogue also includes a 1957 Pontiac Super Chief wagon, a 1961 Oldsmobile 98 two-door hardtop, a 1958 Dodge wagon, a 1974 Pontiac Firebird Esprit, Henry Js, International trucks and panels, and even a Plymouth Ramcharger.
Local outlet KDVR reported that bidding on some of the vehicles starts at just 50 cents. That makes for an eye-catching headline, though nobody should expect to drive away a 1930s Ford for pocket change. A buyer's premium of 8 per cent applies to onsite bidders, rising to 10 per cent for those participating online.
The auction begins at 9am on September 19, with an in-person preview scheduled for the previous day. Online bidding will also be available, although VanDerBrink is encouraging serious buyers to attend in person because of potentially unreliable mobile phone service at the site.
Eaton sits roughly 90 minutes north of Denver and just east of Fort Collins, placing the sale within easy reach of Colorado's Front Range. For collectors, the event offers a rare chance to acquire vehicles from a single family hoard built up over decades, ranging from fully restored machines to long-term projects that will require significant work.
The sheer variety of the collection reflects the way the Born family bought over the years: not according to a single marque or era, but wherever old vehicles could be found. That approach has produced a catalogue that mixes the genuinely desirable with the deeply obscure, and it is likely to draw interest from restorers, dealers and enthusiasts alike.
Automotive memorabilia and signs will also form part of the sale, broadening its appeal beyond those looking for a complete car. With roughly 300 lots on offer, the auction is expected to run through the day, and the low starting bids on some vehicles may attract newcomers as well as seasoned bidders.
For anyone considering a bid, the practical details matter as much as the romance of a barn-find Ford. Condition varies widely across the collection, transport will need to be arranged, and the buyer's premium will add to the final cost. VanDerBrink's advice to attend in person underlines that this is a sale best assessed on the ground rather than through a phone screen.