From the press archive. Event dates and availability reflect the original 2026 release.

Auburn, Indiana. August 2026. Labor Day Weekend in Auburn is a longstanding tradition in the classic car world and the 56th Annual Auburn Auction & Show, presented by Kruse Auctions this September at the Kruse Plaza Auction Park is just a week away. The event is open to the public as well as to bidders and collectors, and visitors can look forward to a terrific offering of hundreds of carefully curated cars crossing the block over the three-day sale, with something to suit all tastes and budgets. A diverse selection of sports cars, exceptional pre-war automobiles, next-generation, analog-era classics, rare muscle cars and singular customs and concept cars are in the mix, as well as five outstanding private collections and a choice selection of some of the best memorabilia on the market. With almost 70% of consignments offered at no reserve, the highest bid will win on the day. The auction is scheduled to run daily from 10 a.m., September 3-5 at Kruse Plaza Auction Park in Auburn, with preview from Wednesday September 2.

“My grandfather, Russell Kruse, started the legacy of auctioneering in the Kruse family in 1952 right here in Auburn and I’m grateful for the opportunity to carry that legacy forward today,” said John Kruse, Kruse Auctions’ Owner and Auctioneer. “Nothing beats the excitement and sheer spectacle of a live auction and where better to experience it than here in the birthplace of the collector car auction industry in America. Everyone is welcome to join us this Labor Day Weekend, right here where it all started, to experience the energy, tradition and great automobiles that have put Auburn at the heart of the collector car world for so long.”

As befits the ‘Home of the Classics’, the auction will include a terrific selection of imposing pre-war American cars, like an exceptional 1932 Packard Twin Six Dual Cowl Sport Phaeton, the resident of multiple prolific global collections, an award-winning 1932 Duesenberg Model J ‘Sweep Panel’ Dual Cowl Phaeton and a fascinating 1936 Jensen-Ford Tourer, offered at no reserve and featured in various publications and seen with screen legend Clark Gable in period press photos. Starring on the auction catalogue cover is a futuristic, airplane inspired 1953 Cadillac ‘Elegante’ One-Off Concept Car with coachwork by Carrozzeria Motto of Turin, exhibited at the International Automobile Show in New York in 1955 and proclaimed the star of the show in a related New York Times article

Showcased in the sale are no less than five NO RESERVE collections, including a diverse offering of very exciting cars from the Coffee Walk Collection, like a coveted numbers-matching, stunningly restored 1971 Dodge Challenger ‘Hemi’ R/T, and an ultra-exclusive, street-legal 2026 Shelby GT350/Trans Am, the very first of just 40 examples built worldwide and delivered new to private hands, serving as the test model used by Shelby and Road & Track magazine for global review. European sportscars from all decades are also well represented, including a highly original, preservation class 1959 Ace AC Bristol Roadster that retains its original engine and an iconic poster era 1999 Ferrari F355 Spider ‘6-Speed’, just 11,464 miles and three owners from new. A stunning selection of other analog performance favorites and ‘Youngtimer’ classics are also slated for the sale, like a coveted 1994 Toyota Supra Twin-Turbo Mk IV ‘Six-Speed’ Hardtop, the Japanese performance car that won legendary status and a worldwide following, and a no-reserve 1994 Dodge Viper RT10 Roadster, factory finished in Viper Black with a mere 742 miles from new and the original window sticker still affixed to the windshield.

For memorabilia and petroliana enthusiasts, the Ron Sutton Lifetime Memorabilia Collection offers a choice selection of original and authentic gas pumps and porcelain signs, and the sale will feature an additional extensive offering of some of the best automobilia on the market. Philanthropic lots include the feted, hand-embroidered Charity Quilt, that this year commemorates ‘250 Years of Freedom’, the last of the quilts ever to be auctioned after an illustrious 40-year run. All inventory can be viewed online at kruseauctions.com, along with information on how to register as a bidder. General event details are also available at 260-927-0000 or info@kruseauctions.com. Tickets are available as single day or 4-day passes and can be pre-ordered online or purchased on-site. The Kruse Plaza Auction Park is located at 5634 Opportunity Blvd Ste A, Auburn, IN 46706.

About Kruse Auctions

Kruse Auctions is a family owned and oriented collector car auction business with Midwest values and global reach, dedicated to facilitating the sale and acquisition of great motorcars. The legacy of auctioneering in the Kruse family started in 1952 in Auburn, Indiana, the birthplace of the collector car auction industry in America. Over the decades, some of the most significant cars in the world have changed hands there, and Kruse Auctions continues the tradition today.

Still headquartered in Auburn and led by John Kruse, a lifelong auctioneer and motorcar specialist who grew up in the family business, Kruse Auctions represents significant collector automobiles with commitment and passion. Relationships within the global collector car community drive meaningful outcomes for clients. From rare, pre-war automobiles, to American and European classics and iconic sports and supercars, Kruse Auctions achieves landmark results that reflect both market strength and buyer confidence.

As well as specializing in the sale and acquisition of collector automobiles at auction, Kruse Auctions offers specialist appraisal, collection consultancy, private sales and estate planning services. Its annual auction schedule includes the Auburn Spring Auction in April and the Auburn Auction & Show, staged over Labor Day weekend in conjunction with the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival. Kruse Auctions also presents stand-alone sales of significant private collections and scheduled online and sealed bid auctions. The company’s dedicated collector car facility encompasses more than 200,000 square feet, including a fully equipped live auction arena and secure, climate-controlled indoor space for hundreds of motorcars.

← All press releases