Chicago Auto Museum Selling Entire Inventory

Chicago’s Klairmont Kollections Automotive Museum is closing this year and plans on auctioning off its entire collection of vintage automobiles.

The museum’s owner, Larry Klairmont, was an avid automobile collector and used the venue as a way to showcase his best picks. Having passed away in July, the remaining business partners have opted to close the site down and auction off the entire inventory of roughly 300 cars.

Ed. note -- I had the chance to visit a few years back and the place was amazing. This is bittersweet news.

While the museum originated as little more than a holding area for models purchased by the real estate mogul, it eventually became one of the better automotive museums of the Midwest. The collection consists primarily of pre- and post-war American models. But there are a few oddities mixed in, including two versions of the Batmobile and some one-off manufacturer concepts. Larry also seems to have a penchant for high-end luxury cars stemming from mid-century Europe and the United States.

Mecum Auctions has said it plans to auction off everything, which includes an “estimated 295 collector vehicles and over 1,000 pieces of Road Art.”

From Mecum:

This auction celebrates the lasting impact of the late Larry Klairmont, whose lifelong passion for preserving automotive history led to the creation of one of the most extraordinary car museums in the country. Headlining the collection is the legendary Golden Sahara II, a futuristic custom car icon that captivated America’s imagination in the late 1950s, and the one-of-a-kind 1926 Rickenbacker Eight Super Sport that is believed to be the only example still extant today.

The public will have a final opportunity to tour the museum during the preview weekend, September 13-14, before it permanently closes its doors following the auction. Preview days are open at no charge to registered bidders, and the public is welcome to attend with the purchase of a general admission ticket. Proceeds from the ticket sales will benefit the Larry’s Legacy Foundation.

The no-reserve auction will take place from September 19th through the 21st. Additional details can be found on the Mecum Auctions website.

If you’re a hardcore collector with money to burn, there will undoubtedly be a few items worth bidding on. However, due to the fact that many of the vehicles Klairmont auctioned in the past were replica builds, those with shallower pockets may actually be able to find something to fit their budget.

[Images: Mecum Auctions]

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