It was a defining moment in automotive auction history. Five years ago, my father and I traveled to Nebraska to put the final touches on what would become known as “The 3rd Most Earth-Shattering Auction of all Time”—the legendary Lambrecht Chevrolet Auction. As a lifelong Chevrolet enthusiast, there was no force on earth that could have kept my dad away from this once-in-a-lifetime sale.
I still vividly remember meeting the Lambrecht family, the distinct smell inside the dealership, and the layers of junk piled atop brand-new, unsold cars. Walking through the weeds at the farm, I recall seeing rows of untouched pickups that had been waiting for decades to finally see the road. What many don’t know is that over half of the “first-day” cars were actually stored in Kansas. We had to transport them back to Nebraska for the auction, where they were supposedly being kept “safe.” In reality, the situation was precarious, bordering on an automotive heist recovery mission. After an exhaustive search, all the titles and Manufacturer’s Statements of Origin (MSOs) were located, and the cars made their way back to Nebraska to take their rightful place in the Lambrecht Chevrolet Auction.
The Preparation: Unearthing Automotive History
With the help of loaders and roll-off trucks, my husband, son, and his friend began the painstaking process of clearing out the dealership. For the first time in decades, the cars were moved from their confines to be photographed for the auction catalog. The moment we pried open the garage door, a man greeted us with words that still resonate: “I’ve been waiting for over 40 years to see this day.” Local residents had spent years trying to buy back their cars, but were always met with a resounding, “NO.”
One by one, we began the restoration of movement. Stuck wheels were loosened, tires were aired up or replaced, and the cars rolled out for their grand debut. The first was a 1964 Chevrolet Impala in white with just 4 miles on the odometer. Next came the 1963 Impala, followed by the Cameo pickup showing only 1 mile, with its original floor mats still rolled up behind the seat. Before long, we had amassed a significant crowd of onlookers, and Sheriff Rick had to step in to direct traffic. We swept out the decades of debris from the dealership, removing three 30-yard roll-offs of refuse and barrels of used oil, then carefully placed the cars back in their restored positions.
Navigating Legal Hurdles and Preserving Original Documentation
Armed with my paperwork, I began a complex debate with the state of Nebraska regarding the MSOs (Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin). Marv Spomer from Minnesota proved invaluable in navigating these matters. After numerous meetings—and the threat of jail time if I didn’t surrender my MSOs—we secured an exemption from the state. We titled the cars, but I was able to retain the original MSO paperwork for the new cars.
This was a critical victory. Nebraska has a policy requiring that an MSO be turned in and destroyed once converted to a title, but I refused to comply. I understood the historical significance of that original documentation and what it meant for the value and authenticity of these vehicles. Had Nebraska not granted the exemptions, the fines would have been staggering: $5,000 per MSO. With 55 cars in question, that would have totaled $275,000 in penalties.
Building Momentum: Media Coverage and Logistics
Exhausted but exhilarated, I returned home and reached out to Ron Kowalke and Angelo Van Bogart of Old Cars Weekly, along with numerous other media organizations. I sent them press releases and video footage of the discovery. The news spread like wildfire, and the excitement began to build. Ron Kowalke, who had helped connect our auction company with the Lambrecht family, played a key role in sharing this incredible story.
There was still an enormous amount of work ahead. I hired a contractor to remove trees and level the field for the auction site, negotiated with local farmers for parking land, and coordinated with the state patrol, highway patrol, and county officials on logistics. But most importantly, I spent countless hours climbing through windows—my special technique for opening doors—to match VINs with titles and MSOs. There were no organized files, just rolled-up bundles held together with rubber bands. If buyers look closely, they might even find some prayers I wrote on door panels during those long hours. I was on a mission, and I took it seriously.
A Father-Daughter Moment to Remember
I quickly realized there were logistical challenges with the truckers from Kansas and the sheer scale of moving all the vehicles. I called my dad, who brought down his payloader. This is where déjà vu set in. Five years ago, on September 20th, I had ridden in the payloader buddy seat with Dad as we lined up over 100 of the “Day 1” cars. I would call out, “Get that 1955 Chevy… now the 1959…” and together we positioned them.
It was just Dad, me, and Chevrolets—a time I will always treasure. We were perfectly in sync, united by a shared goal of preparing over 400 cars for the droves of collectors who would soon arrive to bid. That experience remains one of my most cherished memories of the Lambrecht Auction.
Auction Day: A Historic Success
Filming for what would become a History Channel documentary began in July, long before the film crews arrived for auction week. It was groundbreaking—the first time a show was filmed, produced, and aired on the same night. Auction day was when I finally realized the magnitude of what we had accomplished and that all the hard work had paid off.
When the first items sold—hubcaps for $1,200 and yardsticks for $600—I knew we were going to be okay. The film crew played back their footage of the auction for me, and I cried tears of joy. It was surreal. The highway patrol estimated that nearly 25,000 people attended the auction on that first day alone.
The event was a resounding success, made possible by the help of countless individuals. Out of everything, the time I spent with my dad, Art Nordstrom—known as “The Chevy Man”—remains my most cherished memory of the Lambrecht Auction.
Final Reflections
There were many more months of work and countless untold stories from this incredible journey. In the near future, I plan to share more of those experiences. On a side note, one of the biggest miracles of this auction—something that still amazes us all—is how 110 portable restrooms managed to serve that massive crowd!
The Lambrecht Chevrolet Auction was more than just a sale; it was a preservation of automotive history, a testament to the passion of collectors, and a reminder of the importance of original documentation and authenticity in the classic car world. For those who were there, and for those who have since heard the story, it remains a defining moment in collector car auction history.
If you are looking to have an auction for your collection, I would love to work with you. Feel free to reach out to discuss how we can bring your automotive treasures to the world.
Stay tuned for more stories from the road…
References
VanDerBrink, Y. (n.d.). The Lambrecht Chevrolet Auction: A firsthand account. VanDerBrink Auctions, LLC.
Van Bogart, A., & Kowalke, R. (2013). Old Cars Weekly coverage of the Lambrecht Chevrolet Auction. Active Interest Media.
History Channel. (2013). The Lambrecht Chevrolet Auction [Television broadcast]. A&E Television Networks.