MOPAR Barn Finds Going to Auction

They say the most expensive hobby starts with 98 cents, playing with Hot Wheels cars. 
Those vibrant colors, playing in the dirt, Alan couldn’t wait till he could have a car of his own. The Bright Orange 1970 Dodge Challenger was his High School car, his first car and from then on he was hooked. From then on, it was MOPAR or NO CAR. Growing up on the plains of Northern South Dakota, there are miles of roads that seem to go on forever, the perfect place to perfect Alan’s need for speed. Linda Rietz, his wife of over 30 years, remembers he was a football star that loved to drive fast. Linda was kind of a “Nerd”, and it was a blind date when she met Alan. That 1970 Dodge Challenger was a hot car, and how fast it would go. “Alan, was a quiet person, but when it came to cars, they seemed to bring out his wild side and he loved horsepower.” Alan went to college at Northern State University for Industrial Arts but the family farmed called and he started farming by Mansfield, South Dakota. Linda and Alan were married in 1985. Linda remembers that every chance Alan could buy a car he would. They spent their years going to car shows, swap meets, and buying cars in South Dakota. They loved to go to Midwest Mopars in the Park. Alan had his trusty pocket guides and on the hunt for parts.     

Alan absolutely hated to see a Dodge or Plymouth heading for a Demo Derby or Dirt Track and would rescue them and bring them home for a future project.  There were some cars that Alan had on his “wish list”. Linda remembers that he tracked down the rare 1970 Road Runner convertible in Mellette, South Dakota. This rare 1 of 824 ever made was sitting behind the owner of the Chrysler dealer in Mellette, SD, which is long closed.  The rare Ivy Green Metallic, White top and interior, coded 383 V8 was the personal car of the owner and in need of a motor. Linda remembers them pulling the car down Hwy 281 the 12 miles home. They put a 440V8 in the car out of a cop car. Linda drove the Road Runner to work and it went fast. The convertible was great in the South Dakota Summers, but being so petite, it was hard to clasp the power top down. While he still kept his High School Cars, the 1970 Dodge Challenger and 1970 Cuda, another goal was to buy a 1970 Dodge Super Bee 440 V8 6 Pack car. Linda says Alan loved that car as it was a screamer. They took it to area shows and on trips. He would go car hunting with his Buddy Doug Rush and they brought home parts and projects. Linda always wondered what he would do with all the cars, and didn’t mind him buying them, as long as the bills were paid. She actually encouraged the hobby, as it made him happy and they had a great time in the cars.

I asked Linda if he sold anything. “He never would sell anything. But, he would trade with someone. If he knew that you were going to cut something up, he wouldn’t trade with you. But if you were going to restore it, then he would. People would stop all the time and ask to buy cars and parts, but unless he knew you, the answer was always “No “. The Rietz Family had many pheasant hunters that would come from all over the US and hunt on their farm, including some MOPAR collectors. They would get a chance to look at the cars, but not the chance to buy. There are a few Corvettes and later Model Imperials in the collection. Linda said these weren’t added till it got harder to buy his MOPARS.

About 3 years ago, he lost his car buddy Doug, and Alan slowed down on the buying. They were building a drag car and that project stopped as well. Alan kept farming the family farm, and working in his shop. Linda always wondered if his cars were a big deal or worth anything, but Alan always said that it wasn’t junk and there were many valuable and desirable cars and parts. One day, Alan went out to the shop, as usual, but didn’t come back in the house. He died from an accident in his shop. This tragic loss led the family to wonder what to do with all of Alan’s cars, parts, and guns. The family called Yvette VanDerBrink, VanDerBrink Auctions, LLC, after some recommendations from friends and hunters. Yvette went and met with Linda and couldn’t believe the MOPAR Hoard. Road Runners, Cudas, the Super Bee, Satellites, Furys, Chargers, Power Wagons, Aspens, and hundreds of rare parts. “Just turning into the farm, I knew this was something special.” Yvette Says. “They were everywhere and in every building. You could tell that he was a true collector, the farm machinery was outside and the cars were inside the sheds.” So the work started on getting things ready for a series of auctions for the Rietz collection. VanDerBrink started tagging and making a preliminary listing that will be updated and posted to the website.  It’s going to be a great weekend. Here’s Dates to remember:


The MOPAR auction will be held on Saturday, June 9th, 2018. 9AM

Friday June 8th, 2018 will be the MOPAR Auction preview and the gun collection will be also be sold at 4PM. Enjoy some South Dakota Hospitality and bid on one of Alan’s Gun collection. There are many Winchester Long guns, along with Colt handguns, and more. FFL guidelines apply to bidders. Then come back on Saturday June 9th at 9AM to kick off the MOPAR cars & parts, and motorcycle auction.  The auction will be held LIVE, in person, at the farm by Mansfield, South Dakota, rain or shine. If you can’t make it to the auction, the vehicles, and an assortment of rare parts will also be available for online bidding. There are hundreds of motors, sheet metal, and more parts, and guns, that will be ONLY for ON-SITE bidders. “This is truly an amazing collection. If you are a MOPAR or Gun collector you won’t want to miss this big auction weekend. Most of all, Linda and Alan didn’t have children, the cars were their children. Linda and the family want them to go to good homes that will treasure them like Alan did.”

Plan to be in South Dakota on June 8th & 9th for the Rietz Collection Auctions.
All will be sold NO Reserve. For Inventory, Pictures, Terms, and more details on this and other auctions www.vanderbrinkauctions.com or 605-201-7005. See you in South Dakota!