Nearly 150 Collector Cars Seized in an FBI Raid Head to Auction

In December 2018, federal agents from the FBI and U.S. Marshals Service raided the offices of DC Solar and the home of company founders Paulette and Jeff Carpoff, exposing the supposed maker of solar-powered generators and light towers for an $800-million-plus Ponzi scheme. Started in 2008, DC Solar attracted investments from Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway and Progressive insurance. The company brought in $810 million in total, $340 million of which came from Berkshire Hathaway. Now, almost a year after the FBI showed up at the Carpoffs’ 4,100-square-foot California mansion, 149 collector cars seized during the raid are going up for auction.

So if you thought auction season was over, you thought wrong. As it turns out, the hottest (in more ways than one) car auction of 2019 has yet to take place. The auction is set for October 26 in Woodland, California, near Sacramento. The entire collection is valued at more than $6 million, and there’s a lot to pick from. We’ve narrowed the field down to the 15 best cars on the list. If you ever wanted a car with a rap sheet, this is your chance. Check out our picks below.

1993 AM General Hummer

There are actually four Hummers for sale next weekend, all of which are H1s and one of which doesn’t start. The Hummer H1 was essentially a military M998 HUMVEE that was modified by AM General for civilian use. Production started in 1991 and the H1 was built until 2006. Fun fact: Arnold Schwarzenegger bought the first two H1s that came off the production line.

1964 Austin Mini Cooper

The current Mini Cooper isn’t really “mini” anymore, but this Austin Mini, originally designed as a compact city car for a bustling 1960s Britain, is true to the name. This Mark 1 Mini has just 10,000 miles on the clock, but the listing on the website reads “Start?: Yes, but difficult.” Are there any master Mini mechanics out there who want to take a look?

2017 Cadillac CTS-V

At MotorTrend we’re big fans of the last CTS-V. In 2018 the Alpha platform-based CTS won MotorTrend’s coveted Car of the Year award. Even though the CTS is out of production, the CTS-V is still one of the most powerful and best handling big sedans in the business.

1939 Cadillac Limousine

There are plenty of good American cars on the docket for next weekend’s auction, but if you’re looking for something extra patriotic this 1939 Cadillac Limousine with two American flags on the front is the perfect car for you. Not to mention it’s one of the most unique vehicles featured here.

1970 Chevrolet Chevelle

The second-generation Chevelle was redesigned with new front and rear bumpers, Coke-bottle hips, and most importantly a longer hood. It looked tough. It was also the perfect size to accompany a massive engine swap, and it looks like this car has had an LS motor dropped right into it. No details are given on which LS motor it is, but this retro-modern Chevy mashup has us excited.

1969 Chevrolet El Camino

There are plenty of reasons to want this sweet El Camino. First of all, it’s got a killer almost-British-Racing-Green paint job. It’s got what looks to be a modern engine. It’s basically a second-generation Chevelle with a truck bed. Not only that, but it’s only got 1,020 miles on the odometer. It might be one of the cleanest El Caminos on sale right now—or at least the cleanest one formerly owned by a millionaire scam artist.

1935 Chrysler Airflow

Manufactured for just four years, the Airflow was one of the first cars that took aerodynamics seriously, hence the name. It also ditched the ladder-frame chassis that was popular at the time and stretched the wheelbase of the common American sedan to give a better ride and stability at speed. It was marketed as “the first real motor car since the invention of the automobile” because of all the innovations that were baked in. These cars are rare, too. Less than 30,000 were made over the course of its four-year run.

2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon

This might be the strangest way to get your hands on a Demon. As you’re probably well aware, the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon was a one-year-only drag racing special that packed an 840-hp version of the Hellcat’s motor and was able to run a quarter mile in less than 10 seconds. Just 3,300 units were made, and used examples are still trading hands for well over the original $84,995 base asking price. This one is apparently no different; as of this writing, it already has an $83,000 bid on it.

1969 Dodge Daytona/1970 Plymouth Superbirds

This 1969 Dodge Daytona is joined by three Plymouth Superbirds on the docket. The Dodge Daytona and the Superbird were the fastest muscle cars of their day. The Daytona was the first car to do more than 200 mph during a NASCAR race. The Superbird is the car the Daytona essentially birthed. The Plymouth got numerous changes based on lessons learned during the Daytona’s NASCAR run. Hard to go wrong with any of these if you’re looking for a cool piece of muscle car royalty.

2002 Dodge Viper RT-10

The Carpoffs apparently had a thing for good old American muscle, and even this 2002 Dodge Viper made its way into their garage. Infamous for being a little too hot to handle, we still think this Viper would make a sweet addition to any enthusiast’s garage.

1973 Fiat 500

The Fiat 500 will no longer be sold in America. That was the declaration made by FCA this past August. As sad as that may be, the original 500 is still one of the cutest little cars ever made, and this red example is extremely clean. Small cars like the 500 and the Mini represent back-to-basics-driving, and all for one heck of a low price, too.

1967 Ford Mustang GT

This 1967 Shelby GT500 “Eleanor” clone is one of the coolest cars on this list. If you grew up watching 2000’s Gone In 60 Seconds, this is the perfect Mustang for you. It’s only got 1,600 miles on the clock, too. So it’s just waiting to be driven.

2007 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500

This isn’t just another Shelby GT500. It’s THE Shelby GT500. This is the only car Carroll Shelby personally OK’d to wear the white racing stripes. It also included one-of-a-kind memorabilia signed by both Carroll Shelby and Bill Ford when it was new, and they’re still in the car. Check the photos to see the autographed monroney sitting pretty in the trunk. Jeff Carpoff paid $1 million for it at an auction in 2017 and it’s currently going for just over $30,000. Talk about depreciation…

2014 Jaguar XKR-S GT

What happens when Jaguar’s Engineered to Order division get their hands on the already special Jaguar XKR-S? You’re left with the lighter, harder-riding, and even more capable XKR-S GT, of course. We liked this car when we tested it in 2014, and as of this writing the winning bid for this example is just $40,025. That’s one heck of a deal.

1961 Volkswagen Beetle

The original people’s car, the brainchild of Ferdinand Porsche, and one of the best-selling cars ever made, the Volkswagen Beetle is a bona-fide automotive icon. The VW Beetle had the longest production run of any model, with more than 21 million units built between 1938 and 2010—easily making it one of the most influential cars of all time. Want a piece of automotive history that actually runs? This is your chance.

To check out the full list of cars, click the link here!

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