Car lovers gear up for Bonhams automobile auction in Tupelo

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI)- Friday was the first day of the Tupelo Automobile Museum’s car auction.

Bonhams focused on auctioning off their automobilia– things like car parts and old signs.

However, many of the buyers in the audience were there hoping to get a glimpse of the rare automobiles that will be auctioned off Saturday.

People came to Tupelo from all over the country for the car auction.

“I’ve been looking forward to this for about 6 months, ever since I heard about it,” said J. C. Cox from Water Valley, Mississippi.

Attendees say the first day of the auction was very successful.

“I was shocked at the price of the automobilia. Some of the old beat up signs, I mean, they went for ten times or more,” said Randy Teague from Kentucky.

“Things are going for like three times what I expected them to go for, and I hope they’re not that high tomorrow,” said Cox.

Francois Brun-Wibaux is a French car enthusiast who traveled all the way from his home in Florida in the hopes of adding this 1905 Delauney Belleville to his collection.

“This car is fascinating in a sense that it is the best of the best. Whatever they made back in the turn of the century, this is the best,” said Brun-Wibaux.

Brun-Wibaux’s collection consists of 35 cars, but he said the 1905 Delauney Belleville may not be driven as much as the others because of its age.

“We drive most of them. I would say 95 percent of the get driven and two of them don’t,” said Brun-Wibaux.

Randy Teague said he has a 22 vehicle collection, including a 1980’s Delorean that he bought for his son.

“When he found out you could actually buy them, he was really excited, so we went and bought one,” said Teague.

For this auction, Teague has his eye on a few other vehicles, especially this 1974 Volkswagon SP2 that he said is extremely rare and will be hard to outbid someone on.

“If you find a Volkswagon collector, they’re willing to pay about anything for it. Whereas, I just think it’s a cool car. I’d like to have it,” said Teague.

With the first day of the auction over and done, car lovers are looking forward to the next day of bidding.

“All of these cars will go to a wonderful home, that I can assure you of,” said Brun-Wibaux.