EATONIA, Sask. – Isabelle Hoffman knew her husband had a habit of
attending auction sales and seldom came home without one treasure or
another, but even she was surprised with what the family found after
his death last Christmas.
By the time Oscar Hoffman died at the age of 75, he had amassed one of
the largest collections of vintage Chevrolet cars, trucks and auto
parts in Western Canada. Most were stored bumper to bumper inside farm
sheds. More than 100 vehicles dating from the 1920s to 1970s were
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retrieved from a dozen wooden grain bins and spread out for the auction
sale. Three acres of auto parts were found.
“I knew it was big,” Isabelle said.
“I didn’t know it was this big. He knew about the big stuff, but I
don’t think even he had any idea about the little things.”
So large was Hoffman’s collection that it took three auctions to sell
it. Antiques and collectibles were sold in Alberta, guns in the United
States, and the cars and remaining items at the family farm at Eatonia.
High-selling collectibles in the first two auctions included a Victoria
Cross war medal for $40,000 and a Remington pistol taken from a soldier
at Custer’s Last Stand for $60,000.
Hoffman began collecting lamps after the Second World War. The hobby
spread into glassware, guns, antiques, military memorabilia and finally
the old automobiles he enjoyed driving into town or to the fields to
check his crops.
Neighbours said he was a traditional farmer who kept livestock and was
proud of his black summer-fallow and that he never bought a pound of
fertilizer.
Included at the farm sale were several 1926 Chevrolet touring cars and
sedans, a 1928 coach and roadster, 1929 Pontiac coupe, two 1926 Ford
Model T touring cars and a 1928 Ford Model A roadster.
Buyers from across Canada and the U.S. flocked to the June 15-16 sale.
“Oscar loved the sales,” said friend and auto sale organizer Dick
Meather. “He would have hated to see his stuff go, but he would have
loved the sale.”
