The 38th Annual Auburn Fall 2008 auction will be held in Auburn, Indiana August 28th – September 2nd. This year’s event include the sale of one of the original Batmobiles from Tim Burton’s Batman Returns.
From Kruse.com:
The World’s Largest Collector Car Auction
Kruse International is one of the world’s leading auction firms and the largest collector car auction company, selling more vintage cars than all other firms combined. It auctions more than 13,000 cars in more than 30 events and dozens of real estate properties each year. In addition to collector cars, the company has auctioned distinctive real estate, vintage aircraft, collectible tractors, mobile homes, collectibles, rare oil paintings, factories, islands, zoos, railroads and three entire towns.Together, the Kruse family has broken more than 250 world record prices in the collector car industry. Dean Kruse cried his 5,000th auction at the annual Houston sale in August 1987 and became the youngest man ever to attain that goal. His auction total is now well over 6,000 auctions.
The Kruses were the first to sell a car for a documented $1 million in cash — a 1934 Duesenberg SJ La Grande long wheelbase dual-cowl phaeton. The Duesenberg was sold to Tom Monaghan, founder of Domino’s Pizza and then owner of the Detroit Tigers. Another widely publicized sale was the sale of 30 muscle cars for $1 million to baseball great Reggie Jackson.
The Kruse family is noted for conducting the $41 million sellout of the famous William F. Harrah automotive collection. The sale of this 1,000-car collection was dispersed over three auction sessions. The Kruse family is also renowned for selling Homer Fitterling’s 40-year collection for more than $13 million to car collector Ed Weaver, owner of Diamond Carpet Mills in Dalton, Georgia. In October 1990, the Kruses sold the collections of Gene Ponder and the late Sam Vaughan for $10.6 million. They then proceeded to sell out the Ed Weaver car collection in 1995 that featured 22 Duesenbergs and nearly 200 other great collector cars – all at No Reserve! More recently, the Kruse’s have sold the multi-million dollar collections of Andy Granatelli, Roy Warshauwsky, Herbie Livingston, Mark Martin and many others.
Kruse International conducted the world’s first annual consignment collector car auction in 1971 with its Auburn, Indiana auction. The Auburn extravaganza, held each Labor Day weekend, is the world’s largest event of its kind and annually draws 5,000 collectible vehicles for sale. More than 150,000 people annually attend the auction and the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Festival. It is the fourth largest spectator event in Indiana, behind only by the Indianapolis 500, the Brickyard 400 and the Indiana State Fair.
Russell Kruse, Dean’s father, established the family real estate/auction business in 1952 when he teamed with his father-in-law, Lester Boger. Boger had been clerking and contracting auctions since 1929. Dean Kruse joined the family business part-time in 1956 and full-time in 1959.
Though there were a number of vehicles related to film and television last year (see Auburn 2007 article), the only really notable car I found in this year’s online catalog is one of the Batmobiles from Batman Returns:
Lot: 3031
Year: 1992
Make/Model: Movie Car BatmobileAUTHENTIC MOVIE BATMAN RETURNS “BATMOBILE”! SELLING SUNDAY AT THE KRUSE AUBURN FALL AUCTION! One of the authentic movie BATMAN RETURNS BATMOBILES that was actually used in the box office blockbuster movie, BATMAN RETURNS will be one of the major feature attractions offered for sale at the 38th annual Kruse International Auction to be held Labor Day weekend, August 28,29,30,31,September 1 & 2 at the 480 acre Kruse Auction Park in Auburn, Indiana. The Batman Returns Movie Batmobile is one of the world’s most famous and unique automobiles and is absolutely one of the rarest collectibles imaginable. This outstanding vehicle is not a replica or movie promotional vehicle, but rather the actual # 3 of 5 Batmobiles actually used in the BATMAN RETURNS MOVIE. Other less valuable non-movie promotional Batmobiles have sold for as much as $550,000.00! This authentic movie masterpiece is expected to bring a record price. The Warner Bros. & DC Comics sales approval agreement clearly authenticates that this is the number “3” “Movie” Batmobile. All interested Batmobile bidders should notify Kruse International 1- 800 968-4444 ASAP. This is your chance of a lifetime to become the owner of this awesome piece of movie history.
A Batmobile made a brief appearance on eBay in May (LINK).
These are the other two movie vehicles I found in the current Auburn 2008 catalog:
Lot: 3033
Year: 1996
Make/Model: International “Mission Impossible” Brinks Truck
1996 International “Mission Impossible” Brinks truck used in the movie starring Tom Cruise.
Lot: 3046
Year: 1972
Make/Model: Cadillac Eldorado Convertible
SELLING AT NO RESERVE! 1972 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible. The actual Cadillac driven by Billy Bob Thorton in ‘The Bad News Bears’ given a 4 star by the imcd.com because of its importance in the movie, it was used alot by its main character. The car recieved special effects aging to give it that beater look the rust and dirt and fading is mostly the work of Hollywood artists. Some other notable items would be the duct tape and wired shut passenger door (it really does close with the latch)and broken windshield and the ash tray full of cigar butts from Mr. Thornton’s character. Runs and drives fine and can be driven to any show or promotional exhibition. Received a brand new top and motor in the summer of 2007 and works perfectly. In addition to Bad News Bears this car was also used in the film Rob Zombie movie ‘Devils Rejects.’ In this movie the car was blue and for its scene, riddled with bullets. When you lift the hood you can still see reminents of blue paint and the backside of the bullet holes which have been filled. ‘Devils Rejects’ has an enormous cult following at this point and is even more famous than Bad News Bears. With peoples fascination for Hollywood, this car makes for a great conversation, its a hands on ‘behind the scenes’ show piece. Come with certificate of authenticity for both Movies. Also included with the sale are all the movie posters that go with the car as well as a Billy Bob thorton signed baseball with certificate of authenticity and a signed picture of him from the movie itself !! Lastly, an unbelievable find !! Original script from Bad News Bears was found under the carpet when the top was being put on and will go with the car as well. An extremely well know movie car that holds a place in history with more than one famous movie … YOU NEVER SEE THAT !!!!!!
Jason De Bord