Auctions America will expand its 2012 calendar with the addition of the Terry Bennett Collection, a two-day, single-vendor sale in Rollinsford, New Hampshire, September 21-22, 2012. Best described as a ‘treasure chest of collectibles’, the Bennett Collection comprises an amazingly diverse series of motor cars, motorcycles, boats, bicycles, architectural pieces and other vintage memorabilia, all amassed by Dr. Terry Bennett over the past 20 years. A lifelong enthusiast and collector, Dr. Bennett purchased his first motor car – a 1928 Chevrolet – when he was just eight years old. The Chevrolet represented a significant purchase for Bennett, kick starting an intense […]
Auctions America will expand its 2012 calendar with the addition of the Terry Bennett Collection, a two-day, single-vendor sale in Rollinsford, New Hampshire, September 21-22, 2012.
Best described as a ‘treasure chest of collectibles’, the Bennett Collection comprises an amazingly diverse series of motor cars, motorcycles, boats, bicycles, architectural pieces and other vintage memorabilia, all amassed by Dr. Terry Bennett over the past 20 years.
A lifelong enthusiast and collector, Dr. Bennett purchased his first motor car – a 1928 Chevrolet – when he was just eight years old. The Chevrolet represented a significant purchase for Bennett, kick starting an intense interest in all things collectible. Graduating from the Harvard School of Medicine in 1964, Bennett went onto enjoy a highly successful career in medicine, which afforded him the means to pursue his immense passion for the collecting hobby. Driven by a wonderful sense of adventure and the ‘thrill of the chase’, the collection on offer – one of a series Bennett has built over the years – represents endless hours of scouring printed classifieds, antique stores, car dealerships and salvage yards across the United States and as far away as Europe in search of rare, unusual and fortuitous finds.
Next month Bennett, 74, will bid a fond farewell to his countless treasures, stored in a series of multi-story barns on his New Hampshire property, in an effort to downsize his immense collection. Auctions America’s two-day sale of the collection will feature more than 1100 lots ‘without reserve’, providing an incredible range of ownership opportunities for avid collectors.
“Dr. Terry Bennett has an incredible energy and drive for the collecting hobby and a great passion for history and design,” says Donnie Gould, president, Auctions America by RM. “We’re honored to have been selected to present his vast collection as we further build on our reputation as the specialists for private and estate collections. In terms of its diversity, the Bennett Collection is unmatched, a true treasure chest of collectibles. It certainly gives a new meaning to the term ‘barn find’.”
For the motoring enthusiast, the collection is highlighted by a diverse series of more than 140 motor cars, spanning a broad range of marques and eras from the early 1920s to late model examples. Among highlights are a unique, one-off, hand-built Honoré Wagner BMW Post War Race Car, a 1925 Lancia Roadster, a 1929 Franklin Seven Passenger Sedan and a 1930 Cadillac. The collection also encompasses a diverse series of Nissan Skylines, Volkswagens, Mercedes-Benz and Austin Minis to name but a few. Also on offer, and illustrating Bennett’s penchant for all things automotive, are a Halibrand American Red Ball Indy Race Car and a 2002 GEM Electric Car.
Those with an affinity for classic two-wheelers will appreciate the collection’s diverse series of vintage motorcycles, which, like the automobile offering, spans a broad range of marques from Ducati to BSA, Indian, Suzuki and Yamaha. Beyond the motorized bikes, the collection also comprises a large selection of pedal bicycles, including a H.C. Higgins Bicycle, a Firestone Super Cruiser and a Western Flyer. Other unique finds include a Columbia Tandem Bike, a Custom Harley Davidson Themed Bicycle and a Wooden Wheel Racing Bike. The collection also includes a small group of boats, kayaks, model airplanes, collectible antique and modern surfboards and even an Aerosport Scamp biplane, which has been a part of the collection since the early 2000s.
The offering also reflects Bennett’s strong interest in architecture and design via the inclusion of various noteworthy architectural pieces. Highlights include dozens of ornate stained glass windows and doors, numerous metal and solid wooden doors, and a wide selection of hand carved architectural wooden pieces.
The collection is rounded out by a diverse assortment of other collectibles including: – Automotive parts and ephemera, including assorted wheels and various emblems, mascots and badges;
– Motorcycle parts and ephemera;
– Boat ephemera and outboard motors;
– Antiques and collectibles; and,
– numerous pedal cars and antique toys.
The Terry Bennett Collection auction will be held onsite at the Bennett property in Rollinsford, New Hampshire, Friday Sept. 21 and Saturday, Sept. 22 with a full-day auction preview on Thursday, Sept. 20. Further information and a frequently updated list of auction offerings are available online at www.auctionsamerica.com.
