I guess all the '32s are in Kansas

If you’re wondering where all the 1932s have gone, look no farther than Kansas.

This fall, Yvette VanDerBrink of VanDerBrink Auctions will offer two collections of 1932 hoarders. The first sale will be held Oct. 24 and feature no fewer than 20 Deuce Fords collected by the late Bob Regehr, inventor of the original “Moon Walk” children’s bouncy house. The 1932 Fords are just a fraction of the 140 vintage vehicles owned by Regehr at his passing; all will be auctioned at the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson, Kansas.

1932 Plymouth roadster is one of six collected by the late Mr. Adair, who had a penchant for all 1932 MoPar products.

Three weeks later and about 3-1/2 hours southwest, VanDerbrink will offer the 1932 MoPar collection of Mr. Adair of Atchison, Kansas. The collection includes 14 1932 Plymouths, 3 1932 DeSotos and one 1932 Dodge. One of the 1932 Plymouth roadsters is believed to have just 1312 miles. Before he passed, Mr. Adair also collected a few other interesting collector cars including a 1931 DeSoto roadster, a 1979 Glenn Pray Auburn Speedster Replica and a 1970 Cord Replica by Samco. These cars, along with many MoPar parts from — you guessed it — 1932 will be sold at the Nov. 14 auction.

1932 was a great year for American automobiles, but a terrible year for Americans. The year would come to mark the worst year of the Great Depression with nearly 25% of the work force unemployed. In a brighter spot, Ford introduced its soon-to-be-famous V-8 engine to the entry-level car buyer, and mass-produced cars would begin the streamlined period that marked the zenith of style in the prewar era. 1932 cars generally adopted a rounded radiator grille shell with gracefully sweeping open fenders, and their bodies were often more rounded to bring all of these design components in harmony. It was all a result of aggressive competition among automakers to attract the scant remaining car buyers and keep their business afloat amidst the depression.

The late Bob Reghr collected many 1930s to 1960s cars, but 1932 Fords seemed to be his favorites. This Cabriolet is one of 20 1932 Fords from Regehr’s collection that will be offered at auction.

One of two 1932 Ford B400 two-door convertible sedans offered in the sale of the Regehr collection. Both were export models and both are solid, restorable left-hand drive models.

The only Deuce coupe being sold from the Regehr collection is this five-window 1932 that is ripe for restoration.

This right-hand-drive 1932 Ford phaeton has a stamp on the dash proclaiming it to be a product of the British Empire. Regehr apparently bought the car in Tulsa, Okla., from an Australian man.

Blue 1932 Fordor is the nicer of two in the Regehr collection. This Deuce four-door has the less common 25-slot louver hood.

Both Kansas collections have replica Auburn speedsters; this is Regehr’s speedster, which is said to have been built in Broken Arrow, Okla., which would make it a product of the respected Glenn Pray.

The 1957 Thunderbird in the foreground is an original two-four-barrel “E Bird,” but this one also has bonus carburetors in the trunk so maybe it’s an “EE Bird?” The ‘57 T-Bird behind it is a 312-cid V-8 with a four-barrel. Both are in the Regehr collection.

The Regehr collection has three Nomads: a 1955, a 1958 four-door and this 1956. The ’55 was restored 10 years ago while this restorable ’56 is also representative of the ’58 Nomad’s condition.

There are three 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupes in the Regehr collection, plus a Bel Air convertible and a Two-Ten coupe “survivor” that was special-ordered with air conditioning, but without a clock or radio. A 1957 Two-Ten V-8 four-door sedan project will also be auctioned.

1956 Corvette in the Regehr collection has dual four barrels

1953 Skylark in the Regehr collection has known provenance since new.

Regehr’s lone 1957 Chevrolet convertible.

Four-barrel-equipped 1958 Corvette in the Regehr collection.

Originally fuel-injected, this 1958 Corvette now sports a different 283 and 2x4 carbs.

Regehr’s 1964 Corvette roadster has the 300-hp 327-cid V-8.

A pair of Deuce collections

Regehr was not known for selling cars and still had his first, a 1940 Mercury custom, at the time of his passing. It wasn’t until after his dust-covered collection was featured in Hot Rod Magazine during 2009 that he began selling a few of his 200-plus cars. When he almost sold a 1932 Ford, he put the brakes on selling and dictated no more would be sold until after he died. Today, the collection includes mostly 1950s cars including several 1957 Chevy two-doors, a 1953 Skylark that Regehr has known since its earliest days and a handful of 1950s Fords. There are also many additional Flathead V-8 Fords of the 1930s to the ‘50s and eight Corvettes from the 1950s through the ‘70s.

Mr. Adair also had a replica Auburn Speedster that will be sold by his estate.

1932 De Soto roadster is one of at least two such cars in the Adair collection. One of the other De Soto roadsters is an ambitious project.

This 1932 Plymouth roadster in the Adair collection may have just 1312 miles, according to a previous owner of the car.

Super rare 1932 De Soto two-door deluxe convertible sedan in the Adair collection is one of just 275 built for the model year. As with all of the other MoPars from 1932 in the late Mr. Adair’s estate, it will be sold by VanDerBrink Auctions.

The 1932 Ford stash includes mostly project cars with stand-outs in the collection being two very solid and intact export B400 convertible sedans (left-hand drive), a restored Cabriolet, a Sport Coupe project, two Tudors, a five-window coupe, two Fordors, three phaetons (one a chassis missing a body and another a right-hand-drive model) and four trucks. There are also two fiberglass 1932 Fords and a pair of Deuce frames. Several 1932 Ford parts are also part of the sale including six original Deuce grille shells and an NOS left rear fender.

The 1932 MoPar collection is loaded with very desirable and rare roadster models. Adair had no fewer than six 1932 Plymouth roadsters, one a street rod, plus a ’32 Plymouth coupe, two convertible coupes, a right-hand-drive phaeton export and a sedan. There are two 1932 De Soto roadsters and an even rarer two-door ’32 De Soto convertible sedan plus a stray 1931 De Soto roadster project. For good measure, Adair also had a 1932 Dodge sedan.

Most of Adair’s MoPars appear to be driver-quality, but a few are projects for the hearty collector.

When & Where to bid

The Regehr collection of 140 vehicles — including 20 1932 Fords — will be offered on Oct. 24 at the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson, KS, at 9 a.m. There will be an open house preview from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Oct. 23 with in-person bidding commencing on Oct. 24. Online bidding is already available at Proxibid.com. For questions on the Regehr collection, call VanDerBrink Auctions at 605-201-7005 or go to www.vanderbrinkauctions.com.

The Adair MoPar collection will go up for bids on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 10 a.m. at 8191 Pratt Road, Atchison, KS 66002. There will be an open house preview from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Nov. 13 with in-person bidding commencing on Nov. 14. Online bidding has already commenced at Proxibid.com. For questions on the Adair collection, call 815-535-1367 or go to www.vanderbrinkauctions.com.

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Adair Collection Bob Regehr Collection Chevy Duece Coupes Ford VanDerBrink Auctions

Angelo Van BogartAuthor

Angelo Van Bogart is the editor of Old Cars magazine and wrote the column "Hot Wheels Hunting" for Toy Cars & Models magazine for several years. He has authored several books including "Hot Wheels 40 Years," "Hot Wheels Classics: The Redline Era" and "Cadillac: 100 Years of Innovation." His 2023 book "Inside the Duesenberg SSJ" is his latest. He can be reached at avanbogart@aimmedia.com