BIRD ISLAND, Minn. – A massive two-day, two-ring auction – with Day 1 dedicated to cars and automotive collectibles and Day 2 to motorcycles, motorcycle parts and memorabilia – will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 24th and 25th, by Henslin Auctions, Inc., in the Island Ballroom, located on East Edge Highway (U.S. Route 212) in Bird Island, west of Minneapolis.

Nearly all of what’s contained in both auction days comprises items from the owner of Stella’s Body Shop in Springfield, Minn., a lifelong motorcycle, car and “rat rod” enthusiast. Offered will be an all-original two-door 1957 Ford Ranchero with fender skirts, $7,000 in recent repairs and 99,079 miles on the odometer; and a 1957 Chevy pick-up, fire engine red with a sound body.

Both vehicles are stick-shift and will be driven about 50 miles for the auction. Also on Day 1 will be gas pumps, automotive signs, various “rat rod” collectibles, new Ford parts and auto body shop tools and equipment. Day 2 will feature a 1946 Harley-Davidson motorcycle, a Suzuki 550 motorcycle, Harley and Indian motorcycle parts, gas pumps, signs and motorcycle memorabilia.

“We’ll be selling non-stop in two rings on both days,” said LaDon Henslin of Henslin Auctions, Inc. For those unable to attend the auction in person, internet bidding will be powered by the Henslin Auctions, Inc. website (www.henslinauctions.com) as well as the popular online bidding platform Proxibid.com. A 10 percent on-site buyer’s premium will be applied to all purchases.

Automotive and gas station signs are hugely popular with collectors. Day 1 offerings will include a round 1930s or ‘40s Red Crown Gasoline sign with red crown logo in the middle; a “Texaco Ahead” (Springfield, Minn.) horizontal sign in a wooden frame; a tall, vertical Century Tires sign, metal, in a wood frame; and a round Texaco sign encased in a double-handled metal pan.

Also sold will be a Star Motor Gasoline round sign (“Full Service Stations / Go with the Stars”); a Kendall Motor Oils (“Rapid City”) sign in a wood frame; and a visually striking Champion Spark Plugs sign, with spark plug graphic and bright yellow background. There is also a metal Hauerstein Beer sign (“John Hauerstein Co., New Ulm, Minn.”) housed in a nice wooden frame.

Other Day 1 collectibles will include a one-of-a-kind wall hanging that’s an old radiator grill with headlights on either side that light up; an old metal and glass barber shop pole; a 1940s or ‘50s Champion kids’ pedal car; and a 1940s/‘50s kids’ pedal trike toy (“Police / Radar Patrol”).

The 1946 Harley-Davidson motorcycle featured on Day 2 is mostly original and in good running condition. Also sold that day will be two gorgeous Harley-Davidson gas pumps, both showing the H-D logo and reconditioned; a Harley-Davidson reconditioned barber chair (the ultimate man-cave accessory); and a rare, old glass Harley-Davidson oil jar with spout (no oil in jar).

Several early 20th century wooden-wheel bicycles will cross the auction block on Day 2. One is a Waverly model, all original with a wooden handlebar. Another is a Regent bike made by the Spaulding Company. Both are chain-driven. Other lots for the mobility-minded include a red electric motorcycle, with headlight, taillight and basket; and a unique engine-powered unicycle.

Other Day 2 lots will include a round Indian Motorcycles sign (“Hendee Manufacturing Co., Springfield, Mass.”) with laughing Indian graphic; a Firestone (“Gum-Dipped Motorcycle Tires / Most Miles Per Gallon”) porcelain sign; a hand-crafted bench with the tail gate emblem off an old Studebaker car or truck for a back; and a wide assortment of like-new vintage license plates.

Henslin Auctions, Inc., is located at the corner of Main and Highway 212 in Bird Island, Minn. For over 40 years the firm has been serving the greater Minnesota region (and surrounding states, to include North and South Dakota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Pennsylvania), selling everything from construction equipment to farmland to real estate to antiques and collectibles.

Henslin Auctions, Inc., is always accepting quality consignments for future auctions. To inquire about selling a single item, a collection, an estate or a parcel of land, you may call Allen or LaDon Henslin at (320) 365-4120; or, you can e-mail them at info@henslinauctions. For more information about Henslin Auctions and the July 24-25 auction, visit www.henslinauctions.com.

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