AUBURN – The cars were out for display, the concession stands were open and the chairs and stands were set. They had everything they needed for the auction, except buyers.

The Classical Event Auctions, just south of Waterloo, was canceled Saturday because nearly no one showed up to buy. Frank Parr, company vice president, said the attendance was frustrating, but he knew starting a new auction event in competition with much larger nearby shows would be difficult.

“If you don’t have bidders, you can’t have an auction,” he said.

By 10:30 a.m., the few people at the event – across from DeKalb High School – were notified it was canceled but they could get a free pass to today’s auction. People were charged $10 to enter.

Todd Mercer, of Joliet, Ill., stopped by the auction in search of some deals. Earlier in the week, he sold two of the three vehicles he brought to town in the Worldwide Auctioneers event on the Allen-DeKalb county line.

Mercer said he’s been coming to Auburn for the Labor Day weekend auctions for the past 18 years, although he almost didn’t come this year because of the publicity about former auctioneer Dean Kruse’s troubles. He said it is understandable for a new auction to struggle as it typically takes three years to get it recognized.

Although he wanted to come back today, he was unsure his schedule would allow it. Mercer said the event had some good cars scheduled for auction today, and the low turnout meant a good chance he could find a bargain.

“I think there could be potential for a good deal here,” he said.

Parr said the event had targeted today from the start to differentiate itself from the other auctions, which focused on Saturday. He said that is when the high-end vehicles would be auctioned, including a 1972 Ferrari 365 gtb/4 Daytona alloy-bodied Spyder, which he said was one of two made. Memorabilia and taxidermy will be auctioned in the morning, cars at 11 a.m., real estate at noon and the high-end vehicles at 1 p.m.

Auction action

The mood was much different at the other two auto events. The Auctions America by RM at the Auburn Auction Park on County Road 11A, just south of Auburn, ran simultaneous vehicle auctions, and the Worldwide auction tent had a few dozen bidders Saturday afternoon.

The memorabilia sales at Auctions America were sparse, as bidders failed to meet the minimum price for the gun from “Scarface” or one of Marlon Brando’s “The Godfather” scripts. By the time the vehicles started rolling in, the auction area had become crowded.

Steve Parmerlee and his son Mitchell went to the Auctions America event to check out the vehicles. He said it was his fourth year in a row attending, and he was not concerned about the ownership change.

In fact, he said he’s seen improvements to the grounds and more cars to examine.

“I see more quality cars,” he said, although admitting he was there to look, not buy.

At the Worldwide event, bidders were falling short of the minimum prices for many of the vehicles, which was frustrating for Howard Schwartz of Parkland, Fla. Schwartz said he was willing to take a 25 percent loss on his car but could not even get a bid that high.

The sour economy has made it a buyer’s market. Although he said he has enjoyed his visits to Auburn over the past dozen years, Schwartz is rethinking whether he will return for business.

“There’s no money here,” he said. “Nobody’s buying cars.”

RM Auctions reported selling four vehicles for more than $50,000 on Friday.

Even if there weren’t the touted sales, the variety of vehicles available was worth the trip for Jon Ellerbroek of Norton Shores, Mich.

He said he chose the Worldwide event because of the quality of cars available. He attended Worldwide partly because of concerns he had about the former Kruse International auction, though he said RM is a quality company.

Kruse has battled lawsuits and creditors, had his auctioneer’s license suspended and finally had to sell his company to RM, a Canadian company, which ran the signature car auction this weekend.

Ellerbroek said he used to buy and then quickly sell vehicles, but the economy has made that business difficult so he will just be looking this year. He said he was curious what the high-end vehicles will fetch this year, noting someone could by a Duesenberg for hundreds of thousands of dollars less than its value in the current market.

Worldwide was expected to have its high-end sales Saturday evening.

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