Some families pass down jewelry, watches, or antique furniture. The Born family of Colorado accumulated something considerably harder to store: hundreds of vintage cars and pickup trucks.
After three generations of collecting, a portion of the family’s extensive automotive collection is heading to auction. The event, organized by VanDerBrink Auctions, will feature approximately 300 vehicles, signs, and pieces of automotive memorabilia, with some lots reportedly carrying starting bids as low as 50 cents.
The auction is scheduled for September 19 in Eaton, Colorado, a community approximately 90 minutes north of Denver and just east of Fort Collins. An in-person vehicle preview is planned for the previous day, while online bidding will also be available.
A Lifetime Spent Searching for Vintage Cars
The collection belonged to the late Doug Born, his father, and his grandfather. According to the auction information, the family spent decades traveling to auctions across the country in search of vintage automobiles.
That long-running passion resulted in a collection that is less a carefully curated showroom and more a snapshot of American automotive history. Restored vehicles sit alongside unfinished projects, work trucks, delivery vehicles, and cars that appear to have been waiting for their second chance for decades.
For buyers, that variety is part of the appeal. The auction offers everything from early Ford icons to unusual station wagons and hard-to-find commercial vehicles.
Early Fords Dominate the Auction
Ford enthusiasts will find plenty to explore. Among the highlights is a 1912 Ford Model T Touring, joined by several Model A examples and a customized 1932 Ford Roadster.
The collection also includes a substantial number of Ford coupes, sedans, pickups, and project vehicles from the 1930s and 1940s. Some are restored, while others are better suited to buyers looking for a long-term restoration project.
Notable Ford-related lots reportedly include:
- 1912 Ford Model T Touring
- Several Ford Model A examples
- Customized 1932 Ford Roadster
- 1933 and 1935 Ford coupe projects
- 1934 Ford three-window coupe project
- 1934 school bus project
- Multiple 1936 and 1937 Fords
- COE, or Cab Over Engine, trucks
- Ford panel trucks and delivery vehicles
- Numerous F-Series pickups
For a restoration shop, the collection could represent years of work. For a collector, it may offer the opportunity to find a vehicle that would be difficult to locate through a conventional classic-car dealer.
Chevrolet, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, and Dodge Add Variety
Although early Fords make up much of the auction, the Born family collection is far from a one-brand affair.
Chevrolet enthusiasts can choose from a broad selection, including a 1931 Chevrolet sedan, a 1955 Chevrolet NAPCO pickup, and a 1964 Chevrolet Bel Air two-door. Several early Chevrolet pickups, panel trucks, delivery vehicles, and project cars are also included.
The 1955 NAPCO is particularly interesting. Chevrolet’s NAPCO four-wheel-drive system helped transform conventional pickups into more capable work vehicles, making examples from this era appealing to collectors interested in both vintage styling and early four-wheel-drive technology.
The collection’s other makes include:
- 1957 Pontiac Super Chief station wagon
- 1961 Oldsmobile 98 two-door hardtop
- 1958 Dodge station wagon
- 1974 Pontiac Firebird Esprit
- Henry J models
- International trucks and panel trucks
- Plymouth Ramcharger
That mix gives the auction a distinctly American character, spanning prewar cars, postwar family vehicles, classic pickups, and more unusual automotive survivors.
Could Some Cars Really Sell for 50 Cents?
Local media outlet KDVR reports that starting prices for some vehicles are as low as 50 cents. That figure is likely to attract attention, but it is important to distinguish between a starting bid and a final sale price.
A low opening bid does not necessarily mean a vehicle will sell for pocket change. Final prices will depend on the vehicle’s condition, completeness, desirability, bidding activity, and whether multiple buyers compete for the same lot.
Still, the possibility of acquiring a vintage vehicle from a major collection at an exceptionally low opening price is part of what makes this auction noteworthy. For buyers willing to take on a project, the event could offer opportunities that are rarely found in the traditional collector-car market.
Auction Date, Location, and Preview Details
The Born family collection auction is scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. on September 19 in Eaton, Colorado.
Auction details:
- Auctioneer: VanDerBrink Auctions
- Location: Eaton, Colorado
- Collection size: Approximately 300 vehicles, signs, and automotive memorabilia
- Auction date: September 19
- Start time: 9:00 a.m.
- Vehicle preview: September 18
- Bidding: In-person and online
- Reported starting bids: As low as 50 cents for some lots
Potential bidders should review the official auction listing for the complete catalog, vehicle descriptions, preview arrangements, bidding terms, and any updates before attending or placing a bid.
A Rare Opportunity for Collectors and Restorers
Large collections of vintage cars occasionally come to market, but few offer the same combination of scale, variety, and unfinished potential as the Born family collection.
The auction includes recognizable classics such as the Model T, Model A, and Bel Air, but it also features the less glamorous vehicles that often make a collection truly memorable: school buses, panel trucks, COE trucks, work pickups, and project cars that have survived largely because someone believed they were worth saving.
Whether the goal is to restore a prewar Ford, find an unusual Chevrolet truck, or simply explore a remarkable piece of Colorado automotive history, the Born family auction promises plenty of reasons to look closely.
For collectors, the most intriguing question may not be which car is the most valuable, but which forgotten vehicle is waiting to become someone’s next great project.
Source: VanDerBrink Auctions
