Raving Toy Maniac

Iconic Ecto-1 Among Cars, Specialty Items Up For Bid Nov. 1-7

CHICAGO, Oct. 30, 2013 -- VOLO - Have a hankering to own the Ghostbusters Ecto-1? How about a 1982 Pontiac Trans Am KITT exhibition car? Or maybe a one-of-a-kind, screen-used, documented space rover from the 1979 cult classic "Alien?"

Christmas is right around the corner, after all. And anyone looking for that perfect gift for the guy or gal who has everything need look no further than the upcoming Volo Auto Museum eBay auction.

The auction will be Nov. 1-7 and can easily be accessed through a link at www.volocars.com. Participants must have an eBay account.

"When we were putting together our Cars in Wonderland exhibit, we bought a lot of items and there were many things that we took off of display," said Brian Grams, director of the museum at 27582 Volo Village Road, Volo. "We are liquidating multiple items - everything from a 4-foot-tall fiberglass "Aladdin" genie to a gas-powered "Herbie" go-cart - to make way for new exhibits."

Highest bidders will claim most items regardless of price, though a low reserve is placed on the "Alien" rover.

A few of Volo's more well-known movie cars will be among items up for bid. These include a "Herbie" Vokswagen Beetle from "Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo" that was used at a Walt Disney amusement park, the aforementioned KITT exhibition car and, of course, the 1959 Cadillac hearse-ambulance aka Ghostbusters Ecto-1 that has elicited smiles from thousands of Volo visitors during the past decade.

"We've had that for eight to 10 years," Grams said. "It's been a very good draw for us. We expect it to go for somewhere between $75,000 and $80,000."

The auction will include items for all budgets and tastes. Participants can bid on Walt Disney World signs and displays with estimated values in the low double digits; a rotating, musical Winnie the Pooh and fully operational '50s carnival swing kiddy rides, each estimated at between $3,000 and $4,000; and much more. Auction items may be viewed at www.volocars.com. Check back prior to Nov. 1 for updates.

The Volo Auto Museum features roughly 300 classic, antique, muscle and Hollywood cars, all displayed in comfortable, climate-controlled exhibit halls. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. For other information, visit www.volocars.com, find Volo Auto Museum on Facebook, or call (815) 385-3644.