- After being hidden away for nearly three decades, an enormous collection of more than 140 barn-find cars will cross the auction block this fall.
- The stash – which spans from the 1920s to the 1980s – boasts lots of treasures, including several early Corvettes.
- The Corvettes span the first three generations of the model, which were all wildly different in their own ways.
- The full collection will be auctioned off on October 24 through VanDerBrink Auctions.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
A Kansas businessman kept his enormous collection of classic cars hidden away for close to 30 years. Now, that secret stash of Americana – including several highly collectible Corvettes – will be auctioned off.
The vast collection of more than 140 cars belonged to the late Bob Regehr, an inventor and entrepreneur whose claim to fame was inventing the bounce-house castle back in the 1970s. A lifelong car enthusiast, Regehr started collecting cars when he was just 14 years old and eventually amassed a whopping 226 vehicles, his daughter told local outlet KWCH.
Regehr apparently had a thing for antique cars – much of the collection dates back to the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s – but he also snatched up plenty of iconic sports cars from the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s. Some of the most notable models hint at his affinity for Corvettes, of which he had eight.
The entire collection – originally dug up by Carscoops – will cross the auction block on October 24 through VanDerBrink Auctions. But before then, take a closer look at his eight stunning, long-hidden Corvettes:
A massive collection of more than 140 classic cars — including several vintage Corvettes — is up for sale after being hidden away for close to 30 years.
The stunning stash spans all the way from the early 1920s to the late 1980s ...
... and includes dozens upon dozens of antique Fords, Chevys, Cadillacs, and Pontiacs — as well as one Ferrari.
The collection belongs to the estate of businessman Bob Regehr, the inventor of the bouncy house, who died late last year.
Regehr started collecting cars at 14 and at one point owned well over 200 classics, his daughter told local outlet KWCH.
Source: KWCH
Some of the highlights of his collection are eight long-hidden Corvettes spanning the first three generations of America's sports car.
In the collection, there's a 1956 'Vette Coupe in red.
There's also a 1958 convertible ...
... which has a dusty but still gorgeous silver-blue paint job ...
... and an interior to match.
Rounding out Regehr's trio of first-generation Corvettes is another 1958 edition ...
... with a pristine interior ...
... and a shiny red paint job.
The Regehr collection also includes a pair of red, second-generation Sting Rays.
There's a 1964 drop-top ...
... and a '67 coupe.
The second-gen Corvette was the first to feature hidden pop-up headlights.
There's also a third-generation 1970 Stingray coupe.
Known as the "shark," the third-generation Corvette got more exaggerated, aggressive styling than its predecessors.
Learn more about the Corvette's history here.
Regehr also had a red 1972 Stingray fitted with the beefier, 454-cubic-inch V8.
It had a bulgier, vented hood to make room for the big-block engine.
Plus, there's a 1978 Silver Anniversary Corvette with a two-tone paint job ...
... and a fastback roofline.
The full collection will be auctioned off on October 24 — at the Kansas State Fairgrounds and online — through VanDerBrink Auctions.
