Last of the McDorman classic cars shipped off for Indiana auction

Workers CANAL WINCHESTER — loaded up some of the final pieces of Bob McDorman’s classic car collection on Monday, driving the rare vehicles onto trucks bound for an auction in Indianapolis.

It was the latest in a series of goodbyes since McDorman’s death in 2015.

The longtime Chevrolet dealer once had hundreds of classic cars, with a special fondness for Corvettes. He sold many of them before his death, and now his family is selling 40 more as part of a consignment auction.

“This will be one of the signature collections for that auction,” said Alex Yovanovich, an editor for Mecum Auctions who was overseeing the move. Mecum is transporting the cars and will run the May 18 auction, which will include McDorman’s vehicles and others.

The vehicles loaded on Monday were part of the Bob McDorman Automotive Museum, which closed last year. The Canal Winchester building is now open for other use; no plans have been disclosed.

Yovanovich singled out one vehicle that was among McDorman’s most prized: a white 1953 Corvette roadster with red interior. It was the first year for Corvette, and also the year McDorman became a Chevrolet dealer, making the car one of his favorites.

“All of those Corvettes were hand-built,” Yovanovich said. “At that time you didn’t see many cars that were hand-built.”

The estimated auction value for just that one car is $250,000 to $300,000.

Notably, the classic cars appeared to be in working order and could start and be driven onto the enclosed semi-trucks.

The excellent condition of the cars is due to the work of people such as Wayne Swisher, 70, who had spent decades working with the McDorman family.

Monday was a sad day for him, but he knew it was coming. The costs and time needed to maintain the cars had become too much, so the family decided to sell.

“It’s got to happen,” he said.

His favorite vehicle is a maroon 1936 Chevrolet that had the rare feature of a spare tire mounted over each fender.

Family members were not available for an interview.

McDorman was the longtime owner of Bob McDorman Chevrolet in Canal Winchester, which he sold in 2011. It now operates as Jeff Wyler Chevrolet. McDorman had been selling off his car collection, including about 150 cars at a 2010 auction, along with signs and memorabilia.

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COLUMBUS DISPATCH Clif Wright looks over the fins of a 1959 Cadillac Eldorado as it is about to be moved after being housed in the Bob McDorman Automotive Museum.