Auctioneer Dean Kruse in big trouble. Hearse related too

[Tom Hoczyk]

I live very close to the (former) Kruse Auction Park in Auburn Indiana, which for many years was a premier auction house for vintage collector cars. I've been going to auctions in Auburn for over 30 years now. At various times I even met Reggie Jackson and Jay Leno there. Sadly, some bad dealings have happened, and Dean Kruse owes lots of money to lots of people. Up to today, those suits have been civil suits, but Pennsylvania is now filing a criminal suit against him.

Over a few years I've heard all the stories, from the plaintiff's side, and Dean's side. Dean is a master salesman, but a lousy businessman. It saddens me that all this has happened, especially to the city of Auburn and the car collecting world, but fortunately RM Auctions of Canada has purchased the auction park and have made many wonderful upgrades to the property and will conduct their 2nd Annual Auburn Auction there this weekend. It's a busy weekend, including a visit to the Gilmore Museum in Hickory Corners, Michigan, where the Cadillac LaSalle Club is building their new museum. Check out their site: http://www.gilmorecarmuseum.org/

Read the Kruse stories for yourself, and be sure to click on the links that will include the Pennsylvania lawsuit that involves a 1919 S&S hearse at Hershey. Links below. Tom

http://www.jg.net/article/20110831/LOCAL07/110839912

http://www.jg.net/article/20110831/LOCAL03/308319968

 

[Todd Merrifield]

Dwayne and I will be at the auction all day Friday. I was encouraged last year when they dropped the admission price to $10 a day, but I see it's back up to $15 this year. Still better than $20, and well worth it if you are within a couple hours or so of the auction park. I've seen things there I have never seen anywhere else, and it has a good sized swap meet.

For anyone interested in Googling directions, it is at the intersection of I69 and County Rd. 11A, just south of Auburn Indiana and about 15 miles or so north of Ft. Wayne.

 

[Tom Hoczyk]

Todd, in late afternoon will be a huge cruise in at the Square, around the Courthouse in the center of Auburn. I'll have my '39 Eureka Carved LaSalle, and some friends will have a '49 Miller hearse and '64 combination (coachbuilder unknown, I haven't seen it yet!) there too. Be sure to intruduce yourself if you stop by. Tom