Re: Mecum Pontiac Super Duty's
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I too was sad to see the collection split up.
Scott Tiemann is the best Pontiac restorer we will ever see, hands down, bar none. He and Randy were great friends and he loves these cars like you would imagine for a guy that had 6000 hours +/- of his life sitting there in the 4 cars he restored. Yes, he gets paid, but nobody is more of a car guy than Scott.
I was fine until I went to check on him right before they drove the cars in and he was (rightfully) welling up with tears. We all wanted the cars to stay together. But what I told Scott, and what I truly believe, is that no matter what, what Randy Williams envisioned and Scott helped him build will live forever - together or apart. The cars are art, plain and simple. Randy's vision and Scott's talent would blow anybody away. To think that Randy found out he had a brain tumor and he dropped everything to take his last 5 years and build these cars is a testament to what a true car guy and Pontiac lover he was. He wasn't taking them with him, he did this for US.
The next time you see any one of the Williams cars, just think about the dedication involved. While we can't thank Randy, if you happen to see Scott at a show, shake his hand and thank him for dedicating his life to restoring cars like Randy's. It will mean a lot to him. The cars always get the glory, but cars don't find owners, they don't find parts, and they don't slave over themselves and haul themselves to shows for us to see.
I have never, in all my years of going to auctions and watching cars sell, looked around when I was on the stage and saw so many people crying and trying to hold themselves together. It was an emotional sale and rightfully so. You could feel that these 5 cars were more than "just cars". And you couldn't help but feel a little sad that this wasn't where Randy saw these cars being when he dreamed of having the finest Super Duty collection in the world. They weren't meant to be on an auction stage.
My hats off to the Williams family and may the cars live on.And kudos to Dana Mecum for handling this sale with the tact and respect it deserved. Anybody that was there heard it in his voice and saw it in the tears he shed after the last car sold. How many auctioneers would stop an auction to huddle with the family and make sure the sale was what they wanted? I don't think we will ever see a sale like this ever again. I'm glad I was there.
Colin
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Well said Colin and Thanks for taking the time to say it.
I have known Scott for many years and I couldn't agree more. Scott has devoted his life to his art (and believe me, it IS art) and he is without a doubt the finest in the field. Scott is incredibly humble and approachable and loves to be a part of this hobby. He doesn't do it for the money, although he is (obviously) well paid. The list of cars that he has restored and the quality of each and every one of them is absolutely amazing. He truly is an artist and a super nice guy also.
It was also nice to see Arnie involved. I had the oppurtunity to spend some time with him at one of our shows last year, where we honored him with an achievement award. Through all his ups and downs, he is still a gentleman.
Hats off to both of these fine gentleman, along with Dana Mecum and congratulations to the Williams family. Looks like five people scored some real bargains.
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Bob Ashton
MCACN LLC
Managing Member
www.mcacn.com
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