Collection of closing auto museum hits auction block

TUPELO, Miss. – The collection of a Mississippi auto museum is being auctioned, with bidders for its 178 vehicles and memorabilia including author Clive Cussler.

The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reports memorabilia is being sold Friday at the Tupelo Automobile Museum, which is closing. Cars will be sold Saturday.

More than 400 buyers have registered for the auction, but thousands could watch.

Museum owner Jane Spain says she’ll use proceeds to repay the balance of a $3.2 million loan from the city of Tupelo used to build the facility. She hopes to use remaining proceeds for a charitable education foundation.

Spain says she’ll seek to sell the 120,000-square-foot (11148.37-square-meter) museum building.

The collection includes a 1948 Tucker possibly worth $2 million, as well as a 1934 Duesenberg that could be worth $1 million.

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Information from: Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, http://djournal.com