Features of the GT-H include a rollbar, black-painted “Bullitt”-style wheels, a black and gold paint/stripe color scheme, a horizontally-slatted aluminum grille, a 319-horsepower engine, and an automatic transmission. The first car of this production was sold at the Barrett-Jackson auction with the proceeds going to the Carroll Shelby Children’s Foundation and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund; the remaining 499 cars went into the Hertz fleet and were then to be auctioned off after their stint with Hertz was over. It was one of these remaining 499 convertibles that stood proudly on the auction floor at the Anniversary Auction held in January by the Kraft Auction Company. There were only 33,000 miles on the engine and, because it had been on lease to the Hertz Company, the new owner would be granted an original bill of sale. On the auction block this car drew a crowd and spirited bidding resulting in a final bid of $29,750.

While this car was probably the “star” of this auction held by Conrad and Jonathan Kraft, many more interesting items crossed the block. Four rings were utilized to accomplish the task of running a brisk, efficient, fast-paced auction. The diversity of the items in this auction generated considerable interest throughout the world resulting in calls from Australia, Spain, Italy Germany, England as well as calls from all over the United States. Auction day found registered bidders from eight states, and registered online bidder from 30 states and some European countries.

There were two other cars that also found interested bidders. One was a 2000 Cadillac STS with 48,000 miles. This car was also in excellent condition and would provide a wonderful ride. The new owner bid $14,100. The second car was a 1982 Rolls Royce Silver Spirit with 80,000 miles. This car was from Florida and was in excellent condition and crossed the block for $6,000.

A 10-pound sterling silver coach that had been produced as a dealer premium for Chevrolet dealers crossed the block at $7,500. There were several other model cars, many mint in box, that attracted a large crowd of buyers to the ring in which they were sold.

Finding interest around the world were the many guitars and banjos. One of the banjos was an outstanding Bacon Day Montana Silver Bell no. 3 tenor banjo. This was presented with its original case and was vied for by both live, telephone and online bidders. The winning bidder at $3,500 was one who had come to the auction from Ohio. The winning bidder at $1,700 for the S. S. Stewart inlaid four-sting banjo was one of the phone bidders. Among the other banjos a Vega Little Wonder selling for $220 went to a bidder in Beverly Hills; and a Mountain five-string banjo saw $220.

A phone bidder was the winning bidder for a Ibanez Joe Pass, JP-20, electric guitar when the hammer fell at $1,250. A Washburn J-10 electric guitar sold for $350; a Fender Vibro Champ sold to an online bidder for $300; and a Music Man 110 RD 50 was claimed by an online bidder in Nebraska for $300. A Lotus electric guitar and case that had belonged to a local musician earned $275; an Epiphone electric guitar sold for $850; and a Washburn J-68 guitar with its case crossed the block for $350. Examples of the many other guitars to cross the block included: a Fender Squier Stratocaster standard electric guitar with its case that saw $200; an Epiphone acoustic guitar that earned $175; and a Broadway Harmony acoustic guitar that sold for $175 and, appropriately, went to an online bidder from New York.

In addition to the banjos and guitars there were several other musical instruments with a slide trombone selling for $60; a Bundy saxophone earning $80; and a Martin flute crossing the block for $45. For the prospective percussionist there was a Swingland snare drum with a stand and case that sold for $150.

From an estate out of Valparaiso, Ind. there was collection of 75 Lladro figurines. Online bidders from Spain, Texas, New York and Utah were among those who joined the onsite bidders to make their offers on the figurines in this collection with several of them being the winning bidder. The Boxer, the largest of the Lladros presented and the one did not look like the typical Lladro, had a final bid of $1,025. Fantasia sold for $725, Flowers of the Season earned $800, and Wheelbarrow With Flowers crossed the block for $315. Holy Mary earned $420; Out Lady With Flowers saw $170; and Obstetrician crossed the block for $150. How You’ve Grown sold for $110; Innocente in Bloom earned $150; and Old Fishing Hole found a final bid of $300.

A 55-piece set of Wallace sterling silverware in the Grand Baroque pattern, was new in the box and generated a final bid of $1,525. This was followed by an 89-piece set of Mandel Brothers sterling silverware that sold for $900.

A three-piece Delft mantel set from the 1780s proved to be very desirable and found a final bid of $800.

Three Gallé bowls, an orange one with a floral pattern, one in red with a cream background, and a small red one sold for final bids of $500, $350, and $250 respectively. A tall Legras Cameo vase with a red floral design sold for $310; a beautiful green Loetz vase crossed the block for $700; and a Cameo vase, which contained a signature that was unable to be deciphered, earned a final bid of $350.

Rookwood was one of the first potteries that marked their seconds as seconds at the factory. In spite of being a second, these are still desirable and, as Jonathan joked, “there are fewer seconds than firsts so that makes it rarer!” The Rookwood vase at this auction, which was a second, was dated 1911 and earned a final bid of $575.

There were several desirable clocks that found new owners. There were two figural female clocks, one of which was European, which found bids of $700 and $550. A clock featuring a European warrior crossed the block for $200.

The Mills 25-cent slot machine was going to be packed up and sent to Texas as the winning bidder for this item was an online bidder from that state. The final bid for this item was $850.

Signed F. Rosterk the bronze lady with her bonnet sold for $400 and a bronze angel earned a final bid of $250.

From the tag on the back of the large oval oil on canvas portrait of E. T. Smart it was possible to attribute it to Sir Godfrey Kneller. This piece found a final bid of $1,000.

From the 19th century there was a large figural carved partner’s desk that caught the interest of many bidders resulting in a final selling price of $2,000. A European cabinet with painted porcelain panels sold for $475; a Horner-style rocker earned $140; and a Chinese cabinet in old red paint saw $200.

An Eberts tin sign from 1902 sold for $825; a Dixie Milk clock earned $500; and a No. 30 church bell from Valparaiso, Ind., sold for $700. Milk bottles from Gary and Hammond, Ind., found local interest and sold for $100 to $125. A Tokheim Sinclair gas pump with a repro globe (with the gas price at 40 cents a gallon) earned $550; a restored 19th century carousel horse sold for $550; a beautifully restored one-horse sleigh saw $910; and a beautiful, tempting crystal chandelier by Swarovski crossed the block for $310.

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