Littlefield Collection & Auction

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Andrew

This makes me wonder what deals have been made to get them and why they are being moved.

Isn't this the classic case of the family getting rid of the "junk that dad collected"? Not wanting to sound harsh, but often when an avid collector passes away the family gets rid of the collection because they have no interest in it or simply need money.....

H.

[Dianaa]

I guess the one good thing is that dad's stuff isn't going to the scrappers and some people with an interest may be able to buy one of the vehicles at auction.

It seems to me that very few vehicle museums keep the vehicles on the road, like many aircraft museums do, so our only hope is the few places like Bovington or private entusiasts who get them out to display.

[Ed Storey]

We know where the vehicles are going, but what happened to his staff of about a half-dozen or so people who worked on the AFVs and kept them running?

[Phil Waterman]

Hi Ed

Strange that was my first thought as well, I had seen a program on the restoration process and was impressed with restoration team.

But as I have heard someone from the New England end of tank restoration has gotten the contract to go out and get all of the tanks running and prepare for shipping the ones which are coming to Collings Foundation. I suspect that the Littlefield restoration team has already gone elsewhere. The move process will take place over the next two years as Collings Foundation plan to build a new facility, the question is will it be next to the existing facility or in a more accessible location.

Cheers Phil

[George McKenzie]

I have a large collection of machines ,over 150 and am no spring chicken any more So what to do ? My family don't want it .Museums aren't a safe place to keep thing together as they can be sold too .I guess that makes more toys for the boys

[Duane Leiker]

Because the vehicles are excellently restored and coming from the Littlefield Collection, the vast majority of us wouldn't be able to afford the cheapest vehicle offered.

I feel it truly disgusting that a family who has never had an interest in their Dads collection is allowed to profit from it. Believe me, they are profiting in this or wouldn't do it. Yep, you can choose your friends but not family.

Lastly, what happens (if) the Collings Foundation can't come up with the $10mil. needed to house these restored vehicles? Will they be left outside? Some of these vehicles are worth more than the WWII aircraft they have.

I have prepared for this and am giving all my vehicles and "stuff" to my youngest son who is the only family member to take interest in them and the Military Vehicle hobby.

[Ed Storey]

Anyone with a collection of anything regardless of the size or value will have the problem of finding a home for it after the person who built the collection wants/needs to move it on. Family members, other collectors or museums are great places to pass this material on to; and even if those people or institutions are keen to look after the collection, there is never a guarantee that they will look after it once they gain possession or the people/organization who get it after them.

We are only caretakers of this material for a short time, so in the end I think a collection owner has to be happy with whoever gets the collection and sit back and think that at least they looked after or preserved it while they had it.