SOLD SOLD SOLD. You May Want To Sit Down On This One.

Okay, first put your coffee varnish down. And swallow it, cause you are gonna spray that Java all over your computer screen when you read these sale prices. Are you ready, I can wait… mmmmm, milk, milk, milk…… Okay, now. WHAT IN THE HELL JUST HAPPENED! WHERE ARE THESE PRICES COMING FROM? I feel like the old lady tipping the “young man ” a quarter.

The Chris Craft back lit shimmering sign sold for $9,000 ish. I dont recall the actual end number, it was a shock to the system. Maybe $9,500

This John Deere sign, SOLD $15,000

A 7 inch pump topper. SOLD, $17,000 YES. Not a typo.

1920’s FORD sign. 100K

Lets put it this way, $20,000 was a starting bid on some of the stuff. Now. the auction went on and on, and stuff was selling, at insane prices. My clogged artery heart was sinking fast for Greg. I was ready, Greg was ready, his entire family was ready. But dear god.

Started out at $4,000 in a second. them 5, 7, 9, THOUSAND!

I tried to egg on Greg, so did the seller. Greg did chime in. But it was like a steam roller. 10K 11K 14K and sold for 15,000… To someone from Montana. I am keeping that name private for his privacy. Up to him if he wants to share. He did say he owned the model boat in the sign.

So there ya have it. I did exchange emails with Greg, and we are going to do a story on the sign, the dealership etc. Greg is happy its gone to a home that clearly loves it. And looks like I am headed up to Ohio at some point to paint a sign. HA. I LOVE adventures like this! STAY TUNED, I am going to be now selling old broken varnish coffee mugs for $10,000! Not cleaned. Still has coffee in it. mmmmmmmmmilk!

19 replies
  1. Matt
    Matt says:

    At one point there were around 900 people in the mix. I will add, that it was clear, there were some dealers in there. These signs are the best of the best. A Shell Oil sign that was flawless went for around 40K A huge COUGEr sign 100K It was still in the crate. So these were hard core sign people. If you think about it, which I havent until now. They are hangable art. Boats are like buying into a process. So, buying a boat as cheap as you can is just part of the …. Hold on, I have a story idea. STAY TUNED

  2. Jeff Funk
    Jeff Funk says:

    Crazy. By comparison, I recently purchased a ’62 Resorter with rare Cal Connell Crusader for $2k. A much better value…at least for me. And my marriage remains intact, not so sure had I purchased a sign for that much.

  3. Jim Staib
    Jim Staib says:

    Greg I thought you were going to bid! Kept waiting for a last minute snipe.
    My thought is that one guy collected all the signs and then sold off his collection to keep buying. Seemed to be a small group of buyers. At least everything had a money back guarantee on being original. No unknown ebay stuff.

  4. Mark in Ohio ( today in Florida)
    Mark in Ohio ( today in Florida) says:

    WTF! Beats anything I have ever seen. I’m glad I bought all my signs 20-30 years ago. You could still get
    good prices then. It seems to me that some people have more money than sense. Although signs are easier to store than old boats, cars, tractors, motorcycles, or outboards. No wonder the repop market is on the rise. Just plain crazy.

  5. Murdock
    Murdock says:

    Seems more people want a slice of history and are willing (and more than able) to pay for originality when desired.
    Most of this crowd is pretty “original”, so I guess we’re all worth more than we thought.
    Passion knows no boundaries and anything is collectible. Just ask the auctioneer what’s going to be popular at the next auction……and start a trend.
    Think Fastback, Elenore and Gone in Sixty Seconds.
    Next?

  6. Greg Wallace on Indian Lake
    Greg Wallace on Indian Lake says:

    Well , Jim, going into this I was determined to do what it took to get this artifact back home. The only problem was that we clearly did not anticipate what “IT” was. My sons and I were all gathered around the laptop and nervous as a pregnant nun. We were initially shocked at the prices this stuff was bringing. Keep in mind we were resolved to commit serious coin to this sucker. During the 2 plus hours we had to wait for the sign to come up we gradually rationalized raising our “tap out” threshold to the point where it went from foolish, to nuts to really embarrassing to just plain “batshit crazy”. In our minds anyway. Phase two during the wait involved speculating as to what else we could do with the funds that would be “equal to or better than”. In the end we were blown out of the water before my shaky fingers could type a very large number and hit enter. Matt and I were on the same page on “pre-auction” value and I was willing to go significantly higher. Man was I naive to the currency of vintage advertising. Despite our disappointment I am happy the sign went to a boat guy. Apparently he owns the same model boat featured on the sign, a 25 custom runabout . I hope we can connect at some point so I can share background if he is interested. Again, thanks to all for your kind words, support and encouragement. Maybe not the ideal outcome for the Wallace family but a great story none-the less.

  7. Kelly Wittenauer
    Kelly Wittenauer says:

    As a former professional picture framer & collector of “just cool stuff”, I’m already struggling to find wall space to hang all the stuff we have. Thank goodness we aren’t looking to buy signs, ’cause those prices are insane! Sorry, Greg – was really hoping that one would come home to you.

  8. Who cares right?
    Who cares right? says:

    What a sad commentary on our country. Record homeless people, one bedroom apartments renting for $2500 (not in New York City, but cities across the USA) an out of control environment, Electric cars only for the rich, and a government full of worthless morons on both sides…

    And now stupid signs fetching asinine amounts of cash.

    Yea yea, I know, it is their money so they have the right to waste it as they see fit.

    Just fools though. Straight up fools.

  9. Floydrturbo
    Floydrturbo says:

    Probably not as crazy as those who bought Hunter Biden’s “art” for hundreds of thousands but we all know that was a money laundering or access to the “big guy” scheme. Mecum Kissimmee sold a winged Daytona Charger for $1.3 M. Most of the rest of the winged cars went for $275-$575,000 depending on options and color. Low Mileage, 4 speed, and Hemi being key for high $$$.

  10. thomas d
    thomas d says:

    my dad had a Texaco station up until the mid ’70’. when he sold out, we still had four new porcelain Texaco signs still in the shipping crates we never put up. always wondered if they were still in the old building. Matt, with your art talent, you could make Greg a copy.

  11. Steve Anderson from Michigan
    Steve Anderson from Michigan says:

    Wow, I just got caught up with the last three days of WB. All I can say is Wow.

    Greg, hopefully you can make a new friend with this guy. If this is his budget, I would love to see what else he has in his collection. There’s a story idea!

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