Iowa bound and down… The Steely Trans Am Hoard auction August 4-5 in Waverly, Iowa

Dig Trans Ams? The Steely Collection auction is the place to be August 4-5 in Wavely, Iowa.

VanDerBrink Auctions

VanDerBrink Auctions - Smokey and the Bandit had a huge influence on the classic car hobby. I don’t think the producers realized that a 1977 Trans Am would create such a frenzied demand for the Trans Am and Pontiac brand. Bob Steely has loved cars ever since he was a little boy. Bob was also enamored with the "Bandit" seeing the 1977 Trans Am in Smokey and the Bandit movie convinced him that Trans Ams were the way to go. The sleek Ponchos started his love affair with the collector car hobby. 

Bob lived and breathed Trans Ams. When he got his first Trans Am, Bob could hardly sleep until he picked it up. His anticipation was rewarded with the purchase of a new 1983 Trans Am (being sold at the auction). That car cemented Bob’s addiction to Trans Ams.

Bob was driving that Trans Am when it got the attention of a blonde at a party in 1984. Bob met Sheila and they were together ever since. Bob bought acreage outside of Waverly that originally was his parents place and built some buildings eventually filling them with Trans Ams. Together Bob and Sheila traveled the Midwest buying Trans Am cars and parts. One of those trips took them to Minnesota where they purchased two rare NASCAR Trans Ams and a 1981 Indy Pace car. 

VanDerBrink Auctions

Bob also setup a garage where he could fix up his cars and do some repair work on the side. An accountant by degree, the only addition that he wanted to do was adding more Trans Ams and parts to his collection. 

Bob and Sheila made friends over the U.S. Bob met a fellow Trans Am loving buddy in Georgia, they would buy and sell cars between each other. But it seemed there were more additions than subtractions to Bob's collection. 

Bob was a private person and even his friends did not know how many Trans Ams and parts that he had. Sadly, Bob had a heart attack that left him not able to fully enjoy his cars. Even though he was ailing, he kept adding to his collection with the help of the internet. Sheila would see crates and cars arrive and put them away in the sheds for Bob. Bob would sit and read his books and look through the PHS papers and plan for the day he would drive his cars again. Sadly, that day did not come, and he passed away.

His family soon discovered how big this collection was and called VanDerBrink Auctions to help them with auctioning off the collection. Before Bob had died, he told Sheila to call that VanDerBrink Gal. So, Sheila did. Yvette VanDerBrink was touched by the comment and amazed at the collection. 

VanDerBrink Auctions
VanDerBrink Auctions
VanDerBrink Auctions

55 Trans Ams and 65 cars total along with thousands of parts. It truly was amazing. Bob’s shop equipment, tools, tool boxes, and more will also be sold. The work started months ago and now the auction will take place over 2 days. Day one will be Friday August 4th, 2023 with gates opening at 10am and the tools, shop equipment will be sold at 4PM for ONSITE bidders only. Trans Am enthusiasts can come that day and preview the cars and parts and register for the auction. Day 2 will be August 5th, 2023 with gates opening at 7:30 and the cars starting to sell at 9:30am which will be LIVE ONSITE bidding along with online bidding. The selling of parts will also start and will be only for onsite bidders. It’ll be a big 2 days and more information, video, and catalog for the auction cars is at www.vanderbrinkauctions.com . It is amazing and you won’t want to miss this auction. Again, all information on this auction and more info is at www.vanderbrinkauctions.com

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