Author Topic: Bruce Weiner's Microcar Museum (Mega-Modem Burner!)  (Read 12497 times)

Mike Wood

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Bruce Weiner's Microcar Museum (Mega-Modem Burner!)
« on: February 09, 2013, 05:12:15 pm »
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!

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b002.JPG

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

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b003.JPG

One hot tangerine..! Smokin'  ;D

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b004.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b005.JPG
http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b006.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b007.JPg

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

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b008.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b009.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b010.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b011.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b012.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b013.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b014.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b015.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b016.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b017.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b018.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b019.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b020.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b022.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b023.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b024.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b025.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b026.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b027.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b028.JPG

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

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

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b030.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b031.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b031a.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b032.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b033.JPG

Peels!

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

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b035.JPG

Other rarities...

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b036.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b037.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b038.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b039.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b040.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b041.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b042.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b043.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b044.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b045.JPG

Trabant Camping... "TRAMPING!"

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

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b047.JPG

Rolux, baby!

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b048.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b049.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b050.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b051.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b052.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b053.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b054.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b055.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b056.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b057.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b058.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b059.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b060.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b061.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b062.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b063.JPG

Goggo-trucks!!

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

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b065.JPG

Black Heinkel Trojan - what a stunner!

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

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b069.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b070.JPG

Das Fuzz!!

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

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b072.JPG

Rare pick (-me-) up!

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b073.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b074.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b075.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b076.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b077.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b078.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b079.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b080a.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b080b.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b081.JPG

Some very pretty Isettas...

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b082.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b083.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b084.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b085.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b086.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b087.JPG

Blue-blooded Brit from Brighton!

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b088.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b089.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b090.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b091.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b092.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b093.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b094.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b095.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b096.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b097.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b098.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b099.JPG

Resto-project, anyone..?

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b100.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b101.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b102.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b103.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b104.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b105.JPG

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

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b106.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b107.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b108.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b108.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b109.JPG

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

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b110.JPG

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b111.JPG

Old fashioned iPod...

http://www.rarewatchparts.com/MMM/b112.JPG

Well, I did warn you!!

Good luck if you're planning to bid!

Mike Wood

(Southport)

 8)


NOTE: This post was modified to remove the direct link to these images.
« Last Edit: February 10, 2013, 05:54:40 pm by Jim Janecek »

Mike Wood

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Re: Bruce Weiner's Microcar Museum (Mega-Modem Burner!)
« Reply #1 on: February 09, 2013, 05:14:10 pm »
Oops!!  Pictures came through bigger than the cars   ???


Jim Janecek

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Re: Bruce Weiner's Microcar Museum (Mega-Modem Burner!)
« Reply #2 on: February 09, 2013, 05:54:12 pm »
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

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Re: Bruce Weiner's Microcar Museum (Mega-Modem Burner!)
« Reply #3 on: February 09, 2013, 07:17:58 pm »
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...
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Jim Janecek

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Re: Bruce Weiner's Microcar Museum (Mega-Modem Burner!)
« Reply #4 on: February 09, 2013, 07:36:41 pm »
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...)
« Last Edit: February 10, 2013, 06:51:49 pm by Jim Janecek »

Bob Purton

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Re: Bruce Weiner's Microcar Museum (Mega-Modem Burner!)
« Reply #5 on: February 09, 2013, 09:41:59 pm »
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.
« Last Edit: February 09, 2013, 09:44:40 pm by Bob Purton »

richard

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Re: Bruce Weiner's Microcar Museum (Mega-Modem Burner!)
« Reply #6 on: February 10, 2013, 09:31:11 am »
praps i might reconsider thought of meeting up in the area mike  - crikey you might bring your holiday snaps  :o
outside of a dog a book is mans best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read .Groucho Marx 1895-1977

Barry

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Re: Bruce Weiner's Microcar Museum (Mega-Modem Burner!)
« Reply #7 on: February 10, 2013, 10:35:53 am »

super-se7en (Malc Dudley)

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Re: Bruce Weiner's Microcar Museum (Mega-Modem Burner!)
« Reply #8 on: February 10, 2013, 11:14:47 am »
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

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Re: Bruce Weiner's Microcar Museum (Mega-Modem Burner!)
« Reply #9 on: February 10, 2013, 05:58:46 pm »
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!
 >:(
« Last Edit: February 10, 2013, 06:55:47 pm by Jim Janecek »

Jean

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Re: Bruce Weiner's Microcar Museum (Mega-Modem Burner!)
« Reply #10 on: February 10, 2013, 06:54:18 pm »

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.
« Last Edit: February 10, 2013, 07:05:58 pm by Jean »
Jean
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Mike Wood

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Re: Bruce Weiner's Microcar Museum (Mega-Modem Burner!)
« Reply #11 on: February 10, 2013, 09:37:59 pm »
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

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Bob Purton

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Re: Bruce Weiner's Microcar Museum (Mega-Modem Burner!)
« Reply #12 on: February 10, 2013, 10:42:11 pm »
Thats better, Thanks Jim. I can now scroll down that thread in a flash, it look several  minutes before!

Big Al

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Re: Bruce Weiner's Microcar Museum (Mega-Modem Burner!)
« Reply #13 on: February 11, 2013, 09:01:00 am »
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............
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