Bruce Weiner's Microcar Museum (Mega-Modem Burner!)

[Mike Wood]

I wonder how many remember the first big sell-off of Bruce Weiner's micro-car collection at Christies, London back in March 1997?

Like many enthusiasts,  I packed into the saleroom with a wish-list,  bidding paddle,  and sweaty palms ready to "bag" a little car or two,  only to come away empty handed and bowled over by some mind-blowing prices!

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b001.JPG

I spotted the RM Auction announcement for the forthcoming sale of the contents of Bruce Weiner's Microcar Museum in the December issue of Octane... and jumped straight online to view the catalogue.   Wow!! WOW!! and yet more wow!!

The sale takes place at the Museum in Madison, Georgia, on Friday & Saturday 15th-16th February, and much as I would love to be there, my dad's "big" birthday means I'll be watching the sale on the internet from Blighty.

I didn't want to miss the last opportunity to see all the cars in the collection together,  and managed to jump on a plane and into a rental car to get to Madison for the final opening days of the Microcar Museum on 25th & 26th January.

I'll let my photos do the talking,  but what a collection!  Bruce is a great guy,  very passionate,  and a real character,  and having flown all the way from Liverpool,  I was honoured to get a guided tour "behind the scenes" and chat to Bruce for quite a while.

I hope the sale brings some great results,  but it is a shame to see such a collection dis-banded and scattered.  But knowing Bruce,  he'll be on the microcar hunt again before too long..!

Enjoy!

As signs go,  you can't miss this!

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Who doesn't want a shed like this in their garden!

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One hot tangerine..! Smokin'  

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'Shmitties!!  Bruce has had over ninety of 'em!  

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When I grow up, I want to be a Messershmitt!

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b029.JPG

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Peels!

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b034.JPG

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Other rarities...

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Trabant Camping... "TRAMPING!"

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b046.JPG

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Rolux, baby!

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Goggo-trucks!!

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b064.JPG

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Black Heinkel Trojan - what a stunner!

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b068.JPG

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Das Fuzz!!

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b071.JPG

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Rare pick (-me-) up!

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Some very pretty Isettas...

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Blue-blooded Brit from Brighton!

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Resto-project, anyone..?

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And a few other old cars stuck 'round the back! The Porsche 914 was mmmm...!

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Bruce's museum to his past - the Dubble Bubble gum shrine!

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Old fashioned iPod...

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Well, I did warn you!!

Good luck if you're planning to bid!

Mike Wood

(Southport)

 

NOTE: This post was modified to remove the direct link to these images.

[Mike Wood]

Oops!!  Pictures came through bigger than the cars   

[Jim Janecek]

if you ATTACH the pics to your post (see "additional options" to the left of where you type stuff) you will see a smaller version of each image which, when clicked, will be full-size.

Posting full-size images linked from another source is not a good idea here, as you can see

[Jonathan Poll]

if you ATTACH the pics to your post (see "additional options" to the left of where you type stuff) you will see a smaller version of each image which, when clicked, will be full-size.

Posting full-size images linked from another source is not a good idea here, as you can see

Jim, problem is you can only add 4 per post...

[Jim Janecek]

Jim, problem is you can only add 4 per post...

why is that a problem?  reply to the post and add 4 more.
I can change the setting to allow for more, but there are people here with slow internet connections.

these linked images should have been resized.  Attaching images automatically re-sizes them for people.
Here is the first image "attached" to my reply and resized.
If you want to see one "full size" all you have to do is click on it.  Otherwise it remains viewable but manageable.

(post edited to remove 3 additional attachments...)

[Bob Purton]

Personally I thought it was too many images to post on a thread anyway. A link to a hosting site would have been more appropriate. Just a thought.

[richard]

praps i might reconsider thought of meeting up in the area mike  - crikey you might bring your holiday snaps 

[Barry]

I have put the photos on the Microcar Photo Record Mike.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/junsgekk8f2oa0i/j3sN3rDMzl

Full Record

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ao7dnotn45wfm9o/eDRKSQP4FD

[super-se7en (Malc Dudley)]

I was at the 97 auction in London where the ordinary people never got a look in. A trident went for £25000+ and a mark B bond for £7000+. This was in 1997 when microcars were still fetching 100s not thousands. The only thing i bought was a catalogue at £25. Still it was a good day out. As there is such a lot do you think this will lower the prices?

[Jim Janecek]

I have modified Mike's original post so the image links are still there, but they will not auto-load.
When a post is so massive that it causes JEAN'S COMPUTER TO CRASH,   then it crosses the line into being abusive and disruptive to the Forum.

Update: Just counted all the images: OVER 100 FULL-SIZE IMAGES posted!
 

[Jean]

Thanks Jim, my screen does not freeze any more Jean

I really didn't think it was abusive or disruptive, I just thought my computer was too old !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By the way Edwin, Andrew and I were behind the scenes at the initial Auction trying to get some of the cars moving for a TV appearance with little success and after the event RUMCARS was inundated  with requests for work shop manuals, wiring diagrams and spares from the new owners or those who were restoring them for their new owners.  I await the results of this new auction with great interest.

[Mike Wood]

Sorry guys, didn't intend to blow the valves on your computers! 

Thanks to I O for creating the Dropbox thingy, much easier to see the pics without needing a 60" monitor.

MW

 

[Bob Purton]

Thats better, Thanks Jim. I can now scroll down that thread in a flash, it look several  minutes before!

[Big Al]

For the Christies Auction I was invited to attend as a VIP as they wanted a dealer or two present in case the cars did not sell well. The auction house were not greatly convinced about the sale I think. In the event they were besieged and the most miserable guys in the room were the owners of the super cars as no one wanted to buy them and they mostly flopped.
So I enjoyed the proceedings standing next to several wealthy ladypeeps who twigged I knew what was going on and ended up asking how many of each hammer knocked cars I owned or knew of. I could see them making a mental note of this potential worth figure. I walked in a normal scruff and left a wealthy man without doing a thing, allegedly! However it was good for some background bizz as there were many a frustrated under-bidder who were more than interested in a cheaper solution to ownership than the auction cars. For the price of a home made badge and a tube ticket I did really rather well out of the sale over the next year.
I await my free invite to Atlanta............