Huge Nebraska Collection To Sell To Make Way for Real Estate: 350 Old Chevys, Most of Them Impalas

For decades, classic car enthusiasts chasing full-size Chevrolets in the Midwest looked to Fremont, Nebraska. Over a quarter of a century, collector Tim Robinson built a staggering automotive hoard that overflowed his property. Now, this massive slice of Detroit history is hitting the block, making way for real estate development.

VanDerBrink Auctions has announced the sale scheduled for the weekend of October 3, 2026. The major event will take place live on-site in Fremont, with online bidding enabled for global buyers. Roughly 350 of Robinson's 450 vehicles will cross the block.

The all-Chevy fleet (old Bowties, at that) features predominantly Impalas, Bel Airs, and Caprices spanning from 1955 through the 1970s. The roots of this incredible collection trace back to Robinson's youth in the western Nebraska community of Chadron.

In an interview with Hemmings, Robinson recalled working at a local salvage yard called Road Runner Auto. The yard's owner, Joel Schrack, specialized in 1965 to 1970 Chevrolet Impalas, a niche focus that instantly resonated with the young mechanic.

The experience hooked Robinson completely, sparking a lifelong obsession with full-size Chevrolets. This dedication ultimately resulted in a personal collection numbering roughly 450 cars over the years. Robinson transformed his passion into a family affair. Alongside his two sons, he traveled across the country to track down desirable bowties, hunting for clean, solid, rust-free bodies. 

Their rescue missions brought vehicles to Nebraska from all corners of the United States. They retrieved cars from Washington, California, or Louisiana. What started as a hobby evolved into a massive, preserved fleet stored on Robinson's property just 40 miles northwest of Omaha.

The upcoming liquidation was triggered by recent residential development encroaching on the area. After 25 years of quiet storage, county officials requested the removal of the vehicles to make room for local expansion.

Rather than moving the massive fleet, Robinson decided it was time to pass the torch to new builders. He selected Yvette VanDerBrink to orchestrate the public auction. Roughly 70 percent of the auction lineup consists of full-size Chevrolets (250 Impalas). The collection features highly sought-after factory performance packages, including a rare 1963 Bel Air two-door post equipped with a factory 409-cubic-inch V8. 

Muscle car fans will find a highly unusual 1968 Biscayne four-door sedan that originally served the South Dakota Highway Patrol. It was outfitted from the factory with a 427 big-block engine and a Turbo 400 automatic transmission. (Fine, a more-door can’t be a muscle car, but it was a muscle car hunter way back when).

That unique cruiser also features a 12-bolt Posi-traction rear end, disc brakes, factory air conditioning, and a 140-mph speedometer. Other standouts include a pink 1959 two-door sedan with a factory 348 V-8 and a highly coveted 1958 Impala convertible.

The family's diverse taste is evident in the remaining lots. The sale includes a heavy concentration of vintage station wagons, multiple Tri-Five Chevrolets, a pair of 1957 Nomads, and roughly 50 classic pickup trucks from the same era. 

Several Corvettes are also pinned to the catalog, highlighted by a pair of 1963 and 1969 drag racers. The lineup features a road-raced 1969 model and a completely original 1979 survivor. While many of the vehicles have spent decades outdoors, making them ideal candidates for patina-heavy projects, Robinson emphasized that the majority of the cars are 90 percent complete. They retain their original glass, bumpers, and front clips.