I hate to see a fine collection of cars spread to the wind, but this isn't a perfect world. Oldsmobiles and Duesenbergs aren't in production, my favorite drive-in is closing for the season and '57 Heaven Museum in Branson, Mo., has closed its doors. Even when bad things happen, there can be a bright side, even if it doesn't shine as brilliant. I'll appreciate that pizza burger in spring a lot more when the Dari-Ette drive-in opens next spring, people value Duesenbergs for their place in history and the cars of the '57 Heaven Museum are in appreciative new hands that may expose the cars to car events the vehicles have never appeared.The Oct. 24 sale of the contents of the '57 Heaven Museum was conducted by Mecum auctioneers with mighty results. What shocks me is that a 1957 Cadillac convertible outsold a '57 Chevrolet convertible at this sale, and the Chevy was an ultra-rare Morocco. It's always amazed me how a Chevrolet, which was far less expensive than a Cadillac, could regularly outsell its spendier GM sibling. But not at this sale. (Fellow Cadillac nuts will also notice the high-selling Cadillac was a Series 62 convertible, which also outsold a generally more-valuable Eldorado Biarritz. Perhaps condition was a factor here.)

It also surprises me that neither of the collection's 1957 Oldsmobile convertibles made it to this list, and 1957 Ninety-Eight and Super 88 and Rocket 88 convertible sales have been very strong in recent years. We'll get the details from John Lee's report of the sale in Old Cars Weekly.

If you want to do your own comparison of auction results for cars, go to Old Cars Report.

For those curious, here's the official press release from Mecum:

MECUM '57 HEAVEN MUSEUM AUCTION TOTALS $7 MILLION IN SALES
Classic Cars, Vintage Signs, Memorabilia from the Era
Crossed the Block during One-Day Event

MARENGO, Ill. - It was a standing-room only event as thousands of collectors packed into the Dick Clark American Bandstand Theater in Branson, Mo., for the Mecum '57 Heaven Museum Auction on Oct. 24, 2009.

Mecum Auction sold hundreds of items from the museum's unique collection of 1957 vehicles, authentic storefronts and automotive memorabilia, with total gross sales over $7 million (excluding buyer's premium).

"The Mecum team gathered a record number of pre-registered and registered bidders to buy pieces from the museum's incredible collection of cars, collectibles and re-created '50s-era storefronts like a drive-in movie and service station," said President Dana Mecum. "The '57 Heaven Museum drew an international crowd as well, with interested buyers from around the world - including Australia, Japan, South Africa and England - making purchases."

Attendees at the '57 Heaven Museum Auction bid on more than 75 classic cars and motorcycles of all makes and models. Also up for bid were neon and metal signs; vintage men's and women's clothing; furniture; books; magazines; vintage movie posters; and children's toys.

The '57 Heaven Museum Top 10 Sales (all sales reflect hammer prices) were:
1. 1957 Chrysler Dual Ghia Convertible (Lot S7) at $300,000
2. 1957 DeSoto Adventurer Convertible (Lot S61) at $250,000
3. 1957 Cadillac DeVille Convertible (Lot S56) at $245,000
4. 1957 Chevrolet El Morocco Convertible (Lot S26) at $230,000
5. 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Convertible (Lot S55) at $210,000
6a. (Tie) 1957 Chrysler New Yorker Convertible (Lot S28) at $195,000
6b. (Tie) 1957 Buick Super Convertible (Lot S29) at $195,000
8. 1957 Pontiac Chieftain John Zink Co. Record Setter (Lot S60) at $192,500
9. 1957 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer Convertible (Lot S4) at $190,000
10. 1957 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible (Lot S31) at $172,500