AUTO AUCTION
Dennis Dammerman cars to highlight Saratoga event
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Iconic 1950s convertibles, a 1936 Ford Street Rod, plus 1960s-era Corvettes and Mustangs owned by the late Dennis Dammerman will highlight the second annual Saratoga Auto Auction, set for Friday and Saturday, Sept. 2122 at Saratoga Performing Arts Center.
Dammerman, who passed away at 67 in 2013, was a former General Electric Company vice chairman and chief financial officer, who lived in retirement on the east side of Saratoga Lake.
Locally, he was on the boards of New York Racing Association, Skidmore College and Adirondack Trust Company.
“All 43 of his cars are going to be in the auction,” said event Director Jeff Whiteside. “This is a collection that every large auction company in the country has gone after for the past few years. Mrs. Dammerman (Marsha) gave us the right to sell them about two months ago.”
The auction is a major fundraiser for Saratoga Automobile Museum, which uses proceeds for its distracted driver program and ongoing operations. Last year’s inaugu-
ral event generated about $3 million in sales and provided more than $200,000 for the museum.
“We believe we can at least double those numbers this year,” Whiteside said. “This is the second year so a lot more people know us. Last year dealers came and said, ‘Wow! I never expected this. Next year I’m bringing better cars.’”
More than half of Dammerman’s collection is convertibles including a 1953 Buick Skylark. There will be two in the show, one from Dammerman and another from a different consignor.
“They’re beautiful cars,” Whiteside said. “They’re very popular in the marketplace right now. We believe both of those cars will go for over $100,000.”
Other prized vehicles in Dammerman’s collection are a 1957 Jaguar XK 140M, a 1965 Austin Healey 3000 convertible and a 2003 Ferrari 360 Spider.
About 300 vehicles will be offered for sale plus 10 motorcycles and five classic boats such as a 1920 Hutchinson long deck launch, owned by a party from Lake George. The sale even includes antique Mobile and Sunoco gasoline pumps.
“All the cars are going to go no-reserve,” Whiteside said. “This makes an auction more interesting for all parties involved, especially those with good cars The seller knows that the car will sell and they won’t have to take it back. Buyers know for sure they can buy the car if they have the highest bid, and it can generate more bidders on a car. Also, the audience is more engaged because they also know the vehicle will sell. It’s just a matter of how much money.”
“It’s exciting just to see what these cars go for,” he said. “So in addition to buyers and sellers, we really want to encourage spectators. You can see great cars you’ll never see anywhere else, especially with the Dammerman collection that most people have never seen together.”
Another vehicle sure to attract plenty of interest is a licensed replica Batmobile, an exact model of the one used in the popular 1960s television series. Built with a Lincoln Continental frame and drive train, it even shoots flames and comes with a working bat-parachute.
New to this year’s show, two special vehicles will be auctioned for charity. On Friday, a 1991 Humvee will be sold to benefit Feed Our vets, a Utica food pantry, followed by a Beach Boys-style 1964 Pontiac Catalina Safari on Saturday, to benefit Ronald McDonald House.
In addition to sales, the two-day event will have a variety of entertainment including a patriotic performance by The American Bombshells, a modern-day version of World War II-era Andrews Sisters singers.
Other celebrities on hand will include Steve Hale, host of the History Channel’s “American Restorations” show, and Robbie Wolfe from the History Channel’s “American Pickers.”
Auction previews are scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 19-20.