Many folks are feeling the pressure of being “cooped-up” right now. Imagine what it must be like to be squirreled-away for several decades! That is exactly what many of these cars have had done to them, but now they are getting a new lease on life thanks to VanDerBrink Auctions.

The cars belong to the amazing Bob Regehr Collection. Bob bought and put away cars from all over his home state of Kansas. The ultimate collector, Bob would keep an eye on cars as they worked their way through his little town and his Texaco gas station, buying them up when the timing (and price) were right. He began buying cars at the ripe age of 14 and continued throughout his adult life, amassing over 240 cars in his lifetime.

Bob has been collecting cars since he was 14. Many of the cars were purchased when they were simply, “old cars”. He purchased this ’53 Buick Skylark convertible from his neighbor, who was the original owner!

But how does one afford to create such a stash of cars? The biggest factor is to buy right, which Bob obviously did quite well. The other is the fact that Bob and his wife, Judy invented the inflatable playground now known as the “Moon-Walk”. They formed the Bob Regehr Enterprises company and developed the amusement device for sale and rent.

As sales increased, Bob no longer needed to concern himself with pumping gas and would focus on the cars that were traversing his small town of Hutchinson, Kansas. He would follow the cars’ path through various owners, sometimes since new, and many times, folks knew he purchased “old cars” and if the price was right, he would take the cars off their hands.

There are approximately 140 classic cars that had been stored away, each one hand-picked due to its rarity, options, or overall condition. The collection is quite varied, featuring cars from the 20s to the 60s, but there are also several cars that show Bob’s fondness for certain makes and models. There are over twenty 1932 Fords in the collection, including roadsters, phaetons, and two unrestored B-400s. There is also a huge stash of NOS and excellent condition parts throughout the collection. All in all, Bob has acquired a species of every ’32 Ford ever manufactured.

Beyond the impressive Deuce collection, there are other Fords, such as T-birds, Model As, and various other Ford examples from the 30s, 40s, and 50s. On the Bowtie side of the barn, Bob has assembled a litany of C1, C2, and C3 Corvettes, along with several ’57 Chevys in various trim levels, including a convertible. There is also a ’53 Buick Skylark convertible that Bob bought from his neighbor, who was the car’s original owner!

There are also various muscle cars within the hoard, such as a mildly-modified, but unrestored ’72 GTO that was once a dealership drag car, an unrestored ’68 SS Camaro convertible, a ’69 Indy pace car convertible, and a 10-second ’71 ‘Cuda.

Bob sold a few cars over the years, but he passed away on September 18, 2019. Currently, about 140 cars comprise the collection. The cars are set to be auctioned off at NO Reserve, on October 24th, 2020 in Hutchinson, Kansas at the Kansas State Fairgrounds by VanDerBrink Auctions LLC. You can check out their website for more information about this amazing find, and how to sign up to get your chance to own treasures from this amazing, life-long collection.