When I bought my ’05 Dodge Ram, it cost me $56 to fill the tank all the way up to the filler neck. This morning, it cost me $95.01 (I squeezed the handle a little too long). Seriously, that’s a lot of money for a tank of gas. So what gives, right? It’s that dang economy, that’s what.

Jobs are scarce. Interest rates are high. Rental property is through the roof while housing is in the crapper. All the while, private sector jobs are vanishing as government and union salaries increase. But before you board up your windows, trade in all your soft currency for silver bullion and surround yourself with food storage and live ammunition, things aren’t all bad.

Yesterday’s Auburn Auction out of Auburn, Indiana recorded an impressive $13.2million in sales at its 4th annual event. Packed to the gills with attendees, the venue featured a catalog auction Saturday and a Main Event auction Sunday where a parade of cool – and highly notable – machines rolled across the auction block including a 1955 Hudson Italia GT Coupe (selling for $352,000), a ’30 Cadillac V16 Fleetwood Convertible Coupe (fetching $363,000) and the “First Funny Car,” a factory-sponsored ’64 Dodge Polara S/FX raced by the “Dodge Chargers” that brought in $302,500.

A barn-find 1948 Delahaye 135M Cabriolet by Chapron, which was discovered in a Washington barn after 35 years earlier this year sold for a remarkable $247,500. The auction also welcomed many pieces from the Fred Kohl Estate Collection including a 1937 Ford ‘Z-Rod’ Coupe, which sold for $198,000.

“This was in every respect our most successful event ever in Auburn”, said Rod Egan, Principal & Chief Auctioneer. “Record sales, record attendance and a global audience of bidders, both on-site and over the telephone. Auburn is our home town and our aim is to put it right back on the map at the epicenter of the collector car world. As ever, we extend sincere thanks to all of our friends and customers for their ongoing enthusiasm and support.”