Thinking Small to Make a Big Difference

The Piston Foundation is a public charity designed to provide funding to young people in collector-car-focused skilled trade programs — and this week, the group has teamed up with Bring a Trailer and Veloce Valuations to present two auctions of 81 miniature cars, with proceeds going to the future education of collector car technicians. 

These two sales make up an event that the Piston Foundation has dubbed “Miniature d’Elegance.” The models on offer — all in 1:24 scale and from the Franklin Mint and the Danbury Mint — range from GM and Ford muscle through Full Classics and vintage and modern exotics. Bring a Trailer, which is hosting the auctions, has presented them in two groups: Grand Elegance and American Classics. Both auctions are live on the BaT site now, with Grand Elegance ending Monday, April 8 and American Classics closing on Tuesday, April 9.

The collection comes from automotive filmmaker Travis Geske, who had received them from his father and was looking to donate them to a good cause. Geske approached Veloce Valuations’ Steve Kittrell — a Piston Foundation Community Partner — and the two worked with Piston and BaT to create this unique charity auction event. 

“My father was a union steam welder and also a pilot that saw combat in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.” said Geske. “He really loved all things mechanical and loved collecting the Franklin Mint vehicles, from the pre-war offerings through present day cars.”

The models are all in pristine condition and come with their original boxes, paperwork and accessories.

Learn more about The Piston Foundation and its charity auction here, and see the Grand Elegance and American Classics listings now live on Bring a Trailer.