Rogers’ Classic Car Museum 2015| Feb 27 -28

Media mogul, former chancellor and lover of all things automotive, Jim Rogers was one of this era’s most passionate activists and most generous philanthropists – and in addition, he was a prolific collector of classic automobiles. His $130-million gift to his alma mater, the University of Arizona College of Law, stands as the largest single donation ever made to an American law school, and he was named by Time Magazine as one of the top 12 philanthropists in the nation after his donations to institutions of higher education reached $275 million.

Rogers passed away in June at age 75, but his passions did not die with him, and he left behind a legacy larger than life, as well as his 230-plus-car collection. Rogers committed himself fully to everything he did and believed in, and his collection of classic cars grew just as quickly as his generous contributions to education and the arts.

Rogers truly represented the quintessential classic car enthusiast. He was more than just a collector; he had extensive knowledge about the cars and the details of their existence. “He didn’t just buy the cars – he knew every little detail about their production,” says his widow Beverly. “He knew how many Oldsmobiles, Buicks, and Cadillacs that had been made from the end of World War II through the ’70s, and he could rattle off the particulars of each model.”

After Rogers’ passing last year, it was decided that the collection should be used to pay it forward, the way Rogers had always lived his own life. That is why it was decided to offer the entire collection at auction with all proceeds to benefit The Rogers Foundation – dedicated to transforming the lives of K-12 students and artists in Southern Nevada through arts and education grants and scholarships. The auction will be held right from the collection’s museum display space in Las Vegas this February 27-28.

“When you buy a car from Jim Rogers’ collection, you’re not just buying a well-made or refurbished automobile,” Beverly says, “you’re buying a piece of American history. Take it to heart – enjoy it – and my heartfelt request is that someday you pass it on, and let the next generation understand and appreciate the place of the automobile in American history. That, my friends, will do Jim proud.”

–Mecum