www.vkauctions.com

John Twist University Motors auction set for Nov.21, 2009
Take a look at the above site and see if you are interested in anything that might be available from his closed shop. Not sure if any of the stuff can be bid online, or if you have to be there in person?

Art

I wonder if he has some used but usable Dark Blue leather seats with Light Blue piping? I need a very worn pair for my '63 Iris Blue B.

If someone out there is replacing theirs, I have use for the old leather covers. I rather use a nice old seat with patina then put new into my interior. My interior is decent but putting new seats in would look out of place.

Several things I'd like to bid on - but, no way to get them here...don't think John's gonna pack & ship - even using my FEDEX account!

Heres some more info that was emailed me from John:

UNIVERSITY MOTORS MG AUCTION

A massive auction of MG sportscar memorabilia both from the walls of University Motors and from the personal collections and archives of John Twist will be held on Saturday, November 21st, 2009 at University Motors in Ada, Michigan, beginning at 10:00am. The shop will be open on Friday, November 20th, for inspections and tours.

The auction includes office equipment and supplies, workshop tools and machinery, automotive books, factory and club publications, new and used parts, and more. The most interesting items will be the hundreds and hundreds of objects of MG Memorabilia comprising the bulk of the auction.

If you cannot attend then bid online at www.vkauctions.com. If you do wish to attend, reserve a room at the Hilton Hotel 616 957 0100. The Hilton has been the party headquarters for 25 years.


University Motors Ltd
6490 Fulton Street East
Ada, MI 49301
616 682 0800
616 682 0801 fax
www.universitymotorsltd.com

If you see something, I will certainly pick it up for you and ship it next week. I am not personally going out there tomorrow as I have a Football Game to attend at the same time.
Let me know, and I will check back tonight for responses.

Art

I'm here in Grand Rapids and will be attending the auction tomorrow. Not sure of the online bidding status of items....I have a gut feeling that things will go for "insane" money...but I've been wrong before...I came up to visit with friends...and "commiserate"/"celebrate" the passing of an icon...the UML Summer Party. John Twist will be fine...and will still be found in the form of seminars, You-tube, and printed materials. He is doing fine.

I have made SO MANY friends throug this venue since 1985 (my first UML party)...and I never missed one since...it waw a summer ritual for Jean and me.

It's not the cars....it's the people. The cars are merely the catalyst that creates the bonds of friendships.

YOMV

Rick's right on: it's the people. And, John Twist would appear to be one of the best examples of the great folks one meets in this hobby.

Old-world craftmanship, integrity. Never gets old. It's a real shame to lose a shop like John's. Too bad.

Well, I'm doing my part - I bid on one of his prints....gonna try to give hime a little help as he closes down...trouble is, I'm leaving for the AL game in a few minutes.

Hope you win Tony...

Art

Is it over? Can't find it...

It was a fun, yet bittersweet day. Drew Hastings and I got to UML about 8:15am, and were one of the first to arrive. (Terry and Carol Looft had already gotten there)

Got signed up as a bidder, and then talked with John and Caroline...and with many friends who began to arrive.....Pete Cosmides, Dave Terhune, Reinout and Henika Vogt, Robert Rushing, John Mangles, Bruce Wyckoff, Jim Miller, Art Lewis, Jai Deagan, Rick Verhey, too many to list without leaving someone out....let me just say it was like a homecoming.

The auction had 252 lots, and began with shop tools, etc. These went for good, fair prices. A 1977 MGB sold for about $2800. John also sold off the shop chairs, stools, tables and benches, display cabinets, etc, etc, etc...

MG memorabilia went for good money; posters and prints typically hit the hammer at $100 to $200, with some exceptions (an MG1100 framed poster for $775). I was bidding on the small MG/Austin Healey dealer showroom sign, but dropped out at $1725. The enthusiast (from Lansing, MI) who outbid me on this sign also outbid the Loofts on the large outdoor MG/Austin Healey dealer sign (which sold at about $2700). I came home with one print of a pre-war MG...and most of my pocketbook.



John and Caroline were present during the whole auction, which ended about 1:00pm or so. A couple of John's children were also present.

All in all, it was another good day of MG comaradarie.

Well, you just told me I didn't win! Glad things went great for John.

Did you place a bid on one of the dealer signs?

I thought the small sign would sell in the ballpark of $500. The final price ($2700)for the large, outdoor sign was fair..and it would have looked great in my barn. But, I could tell from the way the enthusiast from Lansing was bidding, there was no way that it was going anywhere but to Lansing..... so I didn't even enter the bidding; Terry Looft got into THAT bidding war with him and lost! (I guessing he(the Lansingite)spent upwards of $5000 to $7500 that day! He certainly had very deep pockets!)

No, I bid on the framed MG1100 drawing.