Classic car brings $30,000

August 31, 2008 11:14 pm

— AUBURN — In life, timing is everything and when it comes to selling cars at the Kruse International auction, you want your car to be put on the block early in the day.
The 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air station wagon — donated to Eric Metz to raise funds for an endowment in his name with the Riley Children’s Foundation by Mike Raisor — sold at approximately 6:15 p.m. Sunday. That was about three hours later than expected.
“This is a special car,” the auctioneer related when the Bel Air was driven onto the platform. A year ago, he explained, Metz was diagnosed with cancer and treated successfully at Riley Children’s Hospital. The auctioneer explained Metz had started an endowment and all the proceeds of the sale would go to the hospital.
“The money will be greatly appreciated by everyone who goes there,” Metz said of the sale of the car to applause from the gathering.
“Bid generously,” the auctioneer encouraged. Bidding opened at $20,000 and the car was sold minutes later for $29,750.
Raisor said the car was worth $35,000 but said the nearly $30,000 selling price was fair.
Metz said he was pleased with the $30,000 that will be added to the $200,000 already raised for the Eric Metz “Win This Battle” endowment that will benefit Riley Children’s Hospital for many years to come.
“It’s $30,000 more than we had when we started,” he said.
His father, Ron, said the delay in selling the car might have impacted the final price but said it is an outstanding gift from Raisor to the endowment.
“This was $30,000 raised through the generosity of Mike Raisor,” he said. “This is money we didn’t have.”
Ron Metz made the trip to Auburn for four consecutive days to promote the sale of the car and to answer questions about the endowment.
“There is some anxiety,” he said before the sale took place. “I’m trying to figure what is going to happen. A lot will depend on who is around when the bidding starts.”
Before the sale Raisor said that there has been a professional relationship with Ron Metz for many years.
“When Eric contracted the cancer, Ron let me know about it,” he explained. “We offered our thoughts and prayers and when Eric came out of it very well, he explained the idea for the foundation and asked if I could help. I decided this was a good car to bring up here and help the Metz family.”
Raisor said he has been impressed with Eric Metz’s passion to help other people and his demeanor.
“The sale of the car is important to help a lot of young people at Riley,” he said.
Eric Metz, who begins classes at Indiana University next week, said he didn’t know what to expect before the sale of the car.
“There is an exciting atmosphere here,” he said.
During the sale on Sunday a 1933 Duesenberg SJ Boattail Special sold for $1.5 million and a 1929 Dusenberg had a bid price of $950,000 but it was unclear if the current owner would accept the price.
A 1937 Alfa Romero, reportedly owned by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, fetched a bid of $900,000 while a 1931 Chrysler Imperial didn’t sell despite attracting a bid of $300,000.

Photos

FOR A GOOD CAUSE: The car donated by Mike Raisor to raise money for the Eric Metz endowment at Riley Children’s Foundation on the right, is auctioned off at the Kruse Auction Park in Auburn Sunday. KT photo by Erik Markov

WATCHING AND WAITING: Eric Metz watches as the car donated by Mike Raisor to raise money for his endowment is auctioned off. KT photo by Erik Markov