Denim king Robin Chretien‘s vehicular Americana collection rolls into Abell’s Feb. 29

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BELL GARDENS, Calif. — Robin Chretien may have been born in France, but his love for American iconography is unmatched. As a star in the denim apparel industry (he founded and owns Robin’s Jean in Los Angeles), he’s been able to amass a stunning and often highly eclectic collection of vehicular Americana that now comes to auction at Abell’s on Thursday, February 29. View the leap-year catalog and bid now at LiveAuctioneers.

The 231-lot sale is dominated by roadside, neon, and motorcycle artifacts, including a number of Harley-Davidson motorcycles and signs, along with original Indian motorcycle items. Catalog photos reveal that Chretien housed his collection in a large warehouse space, allowing for excellent display of each item.

Requiring a great deal of space are the two vintage billboards in the Chretien collection. The 1956 National Association for Stock Car Advancement and Research billboard shows a contemporary Cadillac test car being directed by a NASCAR employee on a test track in the desert. Mounted to six plywood panels, it’s the ultimate must-have for any NASCAR fan and probably the only survivor left. Like everything in the sale, it carries a $10-$100,000 estimate.

Purchased from the legendary Yoshi at Garage Company of Gardena, California is this purported paint test sample for the gas tank used on the chopper in Dennis Hopper’s 1969 hit Easy Rider.

Chretien is a big fan of Jackie Stanton (b. 1977-), a prolific artist based in Los Angeles whose pop culture and music sensibilities seem 100% in tune with her denim benefactor. Her Warholesque Coco-Cola Bottles from 2009, a 38.25 by 43.25in canvas on a wooden stretcher, was purchased directly from the artist.

Like any good warehouse display space, Chretien also acquired a number of very desirable and vintage neon signs. Based on early bid counts, this will likely be a dominating area of the sale. Navajo Lodge probably dates to the 1930s or 1940s and is mostly original and functional.
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1956 NASCAR six-panel billboard, estimated at $10-$100,000 at Abell.
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Jackie Stanton, ‘Coco-Cola Bottles,’ estimated at $10-$100,000 at Abell.
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Navajo Lodge neon sign, estimated at $10-$100,000 at Abell.
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Painted test gas tank for ‘Easy Rider,’ estimated at $10-$100,000 at Abell.
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Bid Smart: Harley-Davidson: more than just America’s motorcycle

A circa-1930s Harley Davidson motorcycles bar and shield porcelain neon sign on its original can achieved $70,000 plus the buyer’s premium in March 2023. Image courtesy of Dan Morphy Auctions and LiveAuctioneers.
A circa-1930s Harley Davidson motorcycles bar and shield porcelain neon sign on its original can achieved $70,000 plus the buyer’s premium in March 2023. Image courtesy of Dan Morphy Auctions and LiveAuctioneers.
A circa-1930s Harley Davidson motorcycles bar and shield porcelain neon sign on its original can achieved $70,000 plus the buyer’s premium in March 2023. Image courtesy of Dan Morphy Auctions and LiveAuctioneers.

NEW YORK — Detroit may have been the birthplace of the American automotive industry, but when it comes to motorcycles, the locus shifts about 300 miles west to Milwaukee, Wisc. While the latter city is perhaps most famous as the beer capital of the world, it’s also where the iconic Harley-Davidson brand sputtered and rumbled into life.

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Robots and space toys dominated high-end array at Milestone auction

Masudaya (Japan) 15in battery-operated Target Robot from the famed Gang of Five series. All original toy with correct dart gun and two darts. Accompanied by original box. Sold for $34,440 against an estimate of $20,000-$25,000

WILLOUGHBY, Ohio – Many hundreds of absentee bids were already on the books by the time Milestone Auctions’ co-owner and principal auctioneer Miles King stepped up to the podium to officially open the Ohio company’s May 27 Spring Premier Toy Auction. The 835-lot event, which featured virtually every popular category in the antique-toy realm, was on many a collector’s radar and had been closely monitored online, especially after word got out about a stellar collection of rare Japanese robots and space toys featured in the sale.

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Huge collection of rare robots, superheroes leads Milestone’s May 27 auction

Yone/Yonezawa (Japan) 12in battery-operated 8 Man remote-control Thunderbird car. All original and complete with retractable roof and steerable remote control. Sensational graphics on toy and original box (some restoration). Estimate $3,000-$5,000
Fantastic Nomura (Japan) battery-operated Walking Batman. All original, complete, and appears never to have been played with. All functions in working order when tested. Clean original box with great graphics of Batman, Robin and Batmobile. Estimate $6,000-$8,000
Fantastic Nomura (Japan) battery-operated Walking Batman. All original, complete, and appears never to have been played with. All functions in working order when tested. Clean original box with great graphics of Batman, Robin and Batmobile. Estimate $6,000-$8,000

WILLOUGHBY, Ohio – Today, many nations and private companies are engaged in the Space Race, but there’s no contest as to who the winner is when it comes to space toys. Japan has been the clear and unchallenged leader in the manufacture of robots and space toys since the end of World War II. The imaginative designs of Masudaya, Yonezawa, Nomura and scores of other Japanese firms of the 1950s-1970s are revered by collectors who love the toys’ fanciful looks and quirky actions, not to mention the wild artwork on their boxes. Milestone Auctions, the home of great toy collections, will offer a treasure trove of sought-after robots, space toys and dozens of other types of vintage playthings at their big May 27th Spring Premier Toy Sale. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.

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Stephenson’s recalls Fab ’50s and More with July 29 auction

Seeburg Select-O-Matic 100 High Fidelity Model HF 100R jukebox, plays 45rpm records, 1 play for a dime, 3 plays for a quarter. Comes with original manual and keys. Estimate $1,000-$2,000

SOUTHAMPTON, Pa. – On July 29th, Stephenson’s Auctions will return to the days of sock hops, drive-ins and old gold Chevys as they host a colorful 252-lot auction titled Fab ‘50s and More. The sale features a single-owner collection of advertising signs and store displays; boardwalk amusement games, vintage clocks and telephones; cash registers, vending machines, railroadiana, a diner booth, vibrant Fiestaware, and a Dunhill stainless steel soda fountain and related accessories. The saleroom will be filled with not only colorful sights but also the nostalgic sounds of vintage radios, a Bally Mr. and Mrs. Pac-Man pinball machine, and a Seeburg Select-O-Matic jukebox, wall-mount speaker and Wall-o-Matic tabletop music selector.

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Milestone’s big Winter Antique Toy Spectacular slated for Jan. 29

I.Y. Metal Toys (Japan), tin friction Harley-Davidson motorcycle, 15in, all original and super clean with rich, true colors. Estimate $3,000-$4,000

WILLOUGHBY, Ohio – Antique and vintage toys played a major role in Milestone Auctions’ success in 2021. Their October 2nd toy event rocketed to $768,000, a house record for the suburban Cleveland, Ohio, company. Milestone is on track to keep that positive momentum going in 2022 with an 867-lot Winter Antique Toy Spectacular on January 29, which offers absentee or Internet live bidding through LiveAuctioneers.

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