Auction of High Chaparral Museum's Private Collection, 19-21 October 2018

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Helsingborgs Auktionsverk has been entrusted to sell Big Bengt’s museum in Småland. On 19-21 October some 1,200 items will go under the hammer at High Chaparral. The items are numerous, diverse and huge in physical volume. The collection consists of everything from vintage cars, motorcycles, mopeds, steamrollers, traction engines, stationary engines, nautical and technical vintage items, toys, enamel signs, sculptures, furniture and paintings – collected over the decades by the amusement park’s founder “Big Bengt” Erlandsson (1922-2016).

The reason for the auction is that High Chaparral has big plans for a new interactive museum, which is scheduled to open in 2020.

Cars

The collection of cars, motorbikes and mopeds is from the 1910s to the 1990s and their condition ranges from newly renovated to pristine original condition. Some 80 cars are going under the hammer, including a number of classic Model T Fords from the earliest years and a gorgeous Hupmobile from the 1910s which has an asking price of SEK 650,000. There are also classic luxury cars from the 1930s including a Rolls-Royce Ghosthawk, asking price SEK 600-700,000 and a Mercedes-Benz 230, valued at SEK 500,000 – among the most luxurious, exclusive cars from that period.

The diverse collection of cars includes German and British luxury cars, American full-size cars and the delightful “micro cars” that were manufactured by Heinkel, Rovin and Fram-King in the 1950s and 60s.

Motorcycles and mopeds

Around 150 motorcycles and mopeds are on sale at the auction. There are vintage motorbikes by makes such as Ariel, Harley-Davidson, BMW, Honda, Henderson, New Hudson, Saroléa, Triumph and Norton and they include racing, touring as well as custom machines. One of the big draws is a Henderson motorcycle with sidecar from 1922 (asking price SEK 200,000). There are also retro mopeds from Apollo, Rex, Husqvarna, Monark, Mustang and Puch Nevada in all price categories.

Technical antiques etc.

A large number of nautical and technical antiques – mostly from the mid-1850s to 1950 are up for sale. The highlight of the auction is the British traction engine “Barbara Ann” from Aveling & Porter from the latter half of the 19th century (asking price SEK 800,000). There are also steam-powered vehicles including traction engines from Bingham NY och Munktell and a steamroller. The Aveling & Porter is the heavyweight at the auction – asking price from SEK 80-250,000. More than 120 stationary engines are also going under the hammer.

Other noteworthy objects include the carved wood figures by the local folk life chronicler Gunnar ’Bissefällarn’ Svensson (1925-2009) – a wood carver from Skillingaryd with his own museum. The collection includes everything from small figurines to 2½ metre-tall stage figures, all delicately painted.

For kids of all ages there are model boats, pedal cars (e.g. Corvette and Rolls-Royce electric motors) and bumper cars in need of renovation from Gebrüder Ihle (1960s-80s). There are a number of toys from Dinky och Techno and from Bugatti, a large “pucher” model.

Artist Ernst Georg Hildebrand (1906-1991) was the resident painter at High Chaparral and completed a large number of works both on canvas and on site in the amusement park’s chapel and at the hotel. The museums walls are bedecked with a large number of paintings – with luck you may find yourself the owner of a western motif depicting “Big Bengt” himself.

The physical auction will be held in a large storage building next to the amusement park for three days. The preview will be in the High Chaparral museum on 12-21 October (see times below). Online bidding starts on 20 September at www.hav.se.

Preview:

12-18 October, 10 am-4 pm

19-21 October, 9 am-11 am

Auction:

19 October, 11 am

20 October, 11 am  

21 October, 11 am  

See video and pictures from the museum at www.hav.se or download the catalogue here http://www.auction2000.se/auk/w.auctionList?inC=HAV

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