Author: Jason / Date: November 1, 2022 / Tags: classic cars
(RareCarMarket.com) – Many people enjoy the idea of collecting cars, with some enthusiasts even making a life out of it. Such was the case with one Wisconsin man, who eventually opened his warehouse full of classic cars and toys to the public as a museum. Unfortunately, the man fell ill and arranged for his entire collection to go to auction.
Elmer Duellman founded Elmer’s Auto and Toy Museum back in the 1990s after he realized how much the public enjoyed seeing some of his cars that took part in an event for a local history society. In addition to the more than 100 vehicles in his warehouse, Duellman also had dozens of motorcycles and one of the most impressive collections of antique pedal cars in the US.
Some toy models Duellman had procured over the years were exceptionally rare, including a 1927 American National Lincoln worth $10,000. Altogether, Duellman amassed a collection of 800 toy cars spanning the entire 20th century.
Among his group of real cars was a 1958 Chevrolet DelRay that held special sentimental value to him. Duellman met his wife of 56 years, Bernadette, while driving the beauty. He sold the car at one point but eventually tracked it down years later. It had gone through seven different owners, but he managed to buy it back just in time for their 25th wedding anniversary. Another Chevy among the pack was a 1959 Impala the family had dubbed “Mom’s car,” as his wife loved driving the white convertible.
The family sold the entire collection for $8.5 million at auction in mid-September. Among the cars sold were Mr. and Mrs. Duellman’s two favorites.
However, the family decided to hold onto one vehicle out of the massive collection, a 1932 Ford pickup. The truck was previously used to transport Duellman’s casket following his death in 2019 at the age of 79.
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