Utah will be the nation's showplace for the riches of excess next week when a monstrous collection of antique and luxury autos, muscle cars, motorcycles and even a tricked-out golf cart go on the auction block.
On sale will be most of the $6 million collection amassed by accused swindler Jeffrey L. Mowen, of Lindon --perhaps the most diverse collection of vehicles ever auctioned at one time by the U.S. Marshals Service.
"This is one of the largest collections that I know of this type, this variety," said Dan Juergens, a deputy U.S. marshal assigned to Utah. "That's not to say we haven't taken larger collections of vehicles, like maybe when we take over a car dealership, but this is by far the largest variety of vehicles."
Mowen, 47, is being held in the Davis County jail on federal fraud charges filed earlier this year. He also has been charged with attempting to convince a fellow inmate to kill witnesses who might testify against him.
Mowen has pleaded not guilty but was jailed after he fled to Panama, where he was arrested in April and returned to the United States.
According to court documents, Mowen used about $6 million in investor money to purchase 200 high-end antique, classic and muscle vehicles, including cars, trucks, trailers, motorcycles and three-wheelers.
Federal prosecutors say Mowen used the vehicles as symbols of his investing success before his alleged Ponzi scheme collapsed, which allegedly stripped investors of at least $10 million.
Such schemes depend on a constant infusion of new investors to pay earlier ones and furnish the cash for the scammers' lavish lifestyles.
The FBI and Marshals Service confiscated the vehicles after Mowen's indictment.
Because the Marshals Service was paying about $20,000 a month in storage fees, U.S. District Judge Dee Benson granted it permission to auction the vehicles, even though Mowen has not been convicted.
"Normally, we don't sell vehicles until the entire court case is finished, but the large cost of storing these vehicles was basically cutting into the amount of money we were going to be able to return to investors," Juergens said.
The vehicles and trailers go on display for potential bidders next early next week -- Monday, Tuesday and Jan. 6 -- in North Salt Lake, then will be put up for sale Jan. 7, with a second auction set for Jan. 14.
"We have people who are flying in from around the country," said Rob Olson, president of Erkelens & Olson Auctioneers, which is conducting the sale for the Marshals Service.
Among the vehicles are several Porsches, a 1948 Plymouth DeSoto, a 1932 chopped rat custom hot rod, a 1981 Delorean, a 1925 Ford Model T "Woody," a 1999 Jaguar XJR and what's described as a "miniature green car." There also are kit and replica cars.
"You've also got golf carts that are tricked out," said Olson.
Motorcycles will be on the block, including one with a propeller, another with a diesel engine and a "Miami chopper" with a portrait of Marilyn Monroe painted on the gas tank.
"A lot of these tanks have never had gas in them," he said.
Juergens said although 192 vehicles are listed for sale, an additional 15 or so have been held back, including several for which people have made claims in federal court.
He said he expected to raise as much as $3 million. But if bids don't reach a certain level on some vehicles, they will not be sold.
Jeffrey Mowen's cars for sale
List provided by Erkelens & Olson Auctioneers
2005 Freightliner Renegade commercial motorhome.
2005 Freightliner Renegade trailer with custom paint job
2002 Harley Davidson V-Rod Motorcycle
Shelby Cobra Kit Car Red w/Silver Stripes
1964 Chevrolet El Camino
1981 Chevrolet El Camino
1998 BMW R1200 Motorcycle
1966 Lincoln Continental
2002 Homemade Chopper. Custom Paint Job
2007 Miami Choppers Custom Motorcycle
1932 1934 Mercedes Benz Heritage 500K Replica.
1934 Mercedes Benz Heritage 500K Replica
1959 Chrysler Saratoga
2008 Miami Choppers Pitbull Motorcycle
1992 ASPT Race Car w/Bronco Trailer
Trike Town Custom Trike w/Orange Flames
1966 Plymouth Barracuda Formula S
1966 Ford E100 Econoline Pickup Truck
1962 Cadillac 62 Series Convertible
1934 Mercedes Benz Heritage 500K Replica
1970 Porsche 911T Coupe
1968 Chevrolet El Camino SS 396
1956 Chevrolet Post Car
1997 Harley Davidson FLSTS Motorcycle
1967 Pontiac Grand Prix Convertible
1971 De Tomaso Pantera GTS
1965 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu Wagon
1989 Bentley Turbo R
1990 BMW 750IL
1993 Classic '66 Austin Healey Sebring Replica
1931 Ford Model A Hi-Boy Roadster Kit
2004 Bergeis Bad Boyz "Captain America" Motorcycle
1963 Mercury Moneterey Convertible
1957 Ford Thunderbird
2000 Yamaha Road Star Motorcycle w/Custom Paint Job
Kikker 5150 Bobber Motorcycle Flat Black w/Old No. 7 Paint
Kikker 5150 Bobber Motorcycle Flat Black w/8 Ball Paint
Kikker 5150 Hard Knock Bobber Motorcycle w/Blue Custom Paint
1969 Dodge Charger "General Lee"
1939 Jaguar Replica made from a 1984 Cadillac
1993 Ford Thunderbird LX Custom Car
1993 Ford Thunderbird LX Custom Car
1973 Plymouth Barracuda
1993 Jaguar Convertible Replica
1995 Chevrolet Caprice Classic/Impala SS
1990 Classic 1957 Porsche Replica
2007 Miami Choppers Custom Motorcycle
1969 Chevrolet Nova SS Coupe
1956 Austin Healey Convertible
1995 Jaguar XJS
1967 Porsche Speedster Replica
1967 Volkswagen Beetle
1956 Ford Thunderbird
1968 Ford Mustang Convertible
1965 Ford Mustang Hard Top
1957 Ford Thunderbird Convertible
1964 Ford Thunderbird Hardtop
1948 Plymouth DeSoto
Vintage Ford Hot Rod
1986 Panther Kallista
Trike Town Silver Bomber Trike
1978 APA 1931 Ford Replica
Custom Munster Coach Trike
1968 Cord Replica
Honda Rikenkaki
1970 Pontiac GTO Judge Hardtop
Custom "Harley Davidson" Motorcycle Orange
2001 ASPT Ford Vehicle
2001 BMW R1200C Motorcycle
1953 Ford F100 Pickup Truck
2006 Innovative Trailer
2002 Yamaha YZFR6L Motorcycle
1956 Ford F100 Pickup Truck
1995 Fiat Barchetta
Miniature Green Car
1987 Yamaha Venture Royale Motorcycle
1969 Oldsmobile 442 Sport Coupe
Manhattan Derbi NYC Scooter
2004 Yamaha YZFR1 Motorcycle
2002 Yamaha YZFR6L Motorcycle
2006 ASPT Custom Motorcycle
Vespa 150 Motorcycle Lime Green
2004 Boom Family F3 Trike
1999 Plymoth Prowler Trailer
Mazda AZ-1 Imported Vehicle
1956 Chevrolet Bel Air Nomad Wagon
EZ-GO Custom Stretched Golf Cart
2000 BMW 7 Dinan
1955 Ford F100 Pickup Truck
2006 Wells Cargo V-Front Tote Wagon Trailer
1935 Ford Panel Truck
Miniature Blue Car
2000 Custom Motorcycle w/Confederate Flag Paint Job
Yamaha Chopper "No Leaf Clover" Motorcycle
Vespa 150 Motorcycle White
1932 Chopped Rat Custom Hot Rod
1947 Chevrolet Fleetmaster Sport Coupe
1991 Nissan Figaro E-FK10
1967 Camaro SS Drag Race Car
1974 De Tomaso Pantera
1948 Mercury Sedan
2005 Chrysler Crossfire Roadster
2005 Rewaco HS4 Trike
1998 Mercedes Benz S500
EZ-GO "Rhino Destroyer Cart"
2000 Lamborghini Artero Replica
2003 Mercedes Benz 600SL Convertible
1977 Avenger GT12 Kit Car
1998 BMW M3 Convertible
1994 Chevrolet Impala w/Custom Flaming Skull Paint Job
1966 Lincoln Continental
1972 Oldsmobile Delta Royale Convertible
1948 "Harley Davidson" Custom Motorcycle
1990 Chevrolet Racing 1500 Pickup
1981 Delorean DMC-12
1960 Cadillac Deville
1998 Boss Hog Motorcycle
2008 Miami Choppers Pitbull Motorcycle
1997 Yamaha XVZ13A Royal Star with Custom Leather Bead Work
2002 Yamaha XV1600AS w/Side Car
Custom Golf Car w/Viper Seats
2006 Vision Motorcycle Red
2003 Red Trigger Scooter Car
2005 GPX Pitster 125 Dirt Bike
1991 Kawasaki 1000 Police Motorcycle
1990 Kawasaki 1000 Police Motorcycle
Riding Trailer. Black w/Orange Flames
Chopper Motorcycle w/Zebra and Leopard Detailing
85 MiniKin Scooter Car Red
2006 Vision Motorcycle Blue
2003 Red Trigger Scooter Car
1922 Ford 2D Model T Opera Limo Kit Car
2003 BMW R1200C Motorcycle
1903 Oldsmobile Runabout Carraige Kit Car
1925 Ford Model T "Woody"
1925 Ford Model T Speedster
1918 Ford Convertible Model T Replica
XZILARATOR Custom 3 Wheel Motorcycle
1998 BMW K1200LT Blue and Silver
Detroit Diesel Custom Trike
White 4x6 Camp Trailer
White 4x6 Camp Trailer
1997 BMW K1200RS
1946 Mercury Coupe
1923 Ford T Bucket 2 Door
2005 Harley Davidson Road King Motorcycle
2002 Honda Shadow Motorcycle
1920 Ford Roadster w/Oldsmobile Engine
VW Buggy w/1956 Corvair Engine Buggy
1998 Calabria Boat and Trailer
1986 Chevy Corvette Converted into a Drag Racer
1999 Featherlite Car Hauler
1994 Dodge Viper Convertible
2003 Ford F-350 Pickup
2007 Ford Mustang GT500 Supercharged
1994 Dodge Viper Supercharged
Custom Black 16x8 Double Axle Trailer
Custom Voyager 12x6 Trailer
Black 9x6 Trailer
1969 Volkswagen Sandrail
1947 Chevrolet Nomad Dark Purple
Joyner Dune Buggy Black
Ford F-100 Pick Up Red w/Custom Cab
Harley Davidson V Four Brown and Tan
Maroon Custom Trike (Inside Trailer)
1997 Hallmark Trailer Dual Axle White
Dune Buggy w/Trailer SunL 250-2A
Shelby Cobra Kit Car Blue w/White Stripe
1966 Dodge Charger
T-Rex Limited Thunder Edition
Twister Motorcycle w/Airplane Propeller
2002 Cadillac Escallade Blue w/Orange Flames
Shelby Cobra Kit Car Blue w/Silver Stripes
Ford F-650 Super Crewzer Black w/Orange Flames
Chevrolet C4500 Kodiak Pickup Red w/Black and Silver Stripes
1964 Buick Riviera White
1964 Buick Riviera Maroon
Chevrolet El Camino Bronze Color
2004 Big Dog Rolling Thunder Motorcycle
Lucky Strike Custom Motorcycle
2008 Miami Choppers Retro Motorcycle
2007 Miami Chopper w/Marylyn Monroe
Street Buggies Chopper Rod w/Harley Engine
2005 Ford Mustang 4.6L w/Custom Paint Job
2002 Weekend Warrior Trailer Triple Axel Approx 33'
1999 Jaguar XJR
2001 Ford F-150 w/Custom 9-11 Theme
96 Boat and Trailer w/2 Yamaha Wave Riders
03 Suncountry Double Decker Trailer
Voyager Motorcycle Trailer Single Axle
Flatbed Dual Axle Trailer w/Drop Gate 16' Deck
06 Voyager Trailer Single Axle w/Drop Back
Here's a sampling of the 192 cars, pickups, motorcycles and trailers being auctioned that belong to accused swindler Jeffrey Mowen.
1969 Dodge Charger "General Lee"
1967 Volkswagen Beetle
1957 Ford Thunderbird convertible
1981 Delorean DMC-12
Twister motorcycle with airplane propeller
1999 Jaguar XJR
1948 Harley Davidson custom motorcycle
1939 Jaguar replica made from a 1984 Cadillac
2000 Lamborghini Artero, replica
1934 Mercedes Benz Heritage 500K, replica
Source: Erkelens & Olson Auctioneers
When » 10 a.m-4 p.m., Monday, Tuesday and Jan. 6
Where » 160 N. 400 West, North Salt Lake
Auction dates
When » 1 p.m., Jan. 7, Jan. 14
Where » 160 N. 400 West, North Salt Lake
For a list of all sale items, see http://www.salesandauction.com

