A Lesson Learned at the Auction Block

One of the joys and hazards of live auctions is how easy it is to get swept up in the moment.

Last fall, I participated in the Lloyd Ralston auction featuring another portion of Ray Paszkiewicz’s vast model collection. I did my homework in advance, carefully reviewing the listings and placing early bids on several models I genuinely wanted. I even cleared my Saturday so I could watch the auction live from start to finish.

As the bidding progressed, I occasionally jumped in on other lots that appeared to be slipping by at bargain prices. One of those moments involved a two-model lot of CCC microcars:

#118 – 1951 Panhard Dyna X86 Fourgon Cinzano

#120 – De Rovin D2 Waterman Tour de France Cycliste

Microcars are a personal favorite, and with relatively few bids on the lot, I jumped in and won both models for $70 (plus buyer’s commission). At the time, it felt like a win.

That feeling lasted right up until the models arrived.

Only then did I fully appreciate what I had missed in the listing: the De Rovin’s labels were badly flaking. The issue had been clearly described by Ralston and was visible in the photos. I just hadn’t slowed down enough to take it in. A classic case of auction adrenaline overriding due diligence.

So, what to do?

I started by researching original examples of the De Rovin D2 to see what the Waterman Tour de France Cycliste label was supposed to look like, including a black and white photo and a sample of an IXO parts work car.

Using those references, I leveraged AI to recreate the artwork and get most of the way there. From there, I turned to a friend who happens to be both an expert model builder and a talented graphic artist. He refined the design, corrected the colors, and brought the image back to life.

The finished artwork was sent to a specialist who produces scale-accurate waterslide decals. A couple of weeks later, and with my friend’s steady hands, the new labels were applied.

The result? The model looks fantastic. Better still, the total cost to restore it was negligible compared to the satisfaction of bringing it back to life.

The only downside? Minimum print runs mean I now have a healthy stack of extra De Rovin waterslide decals.

So, if anyone else has a De Rovin in their collection that needs a refresh, or if you’re feeling creative and want to make a car Tour de France–worthy, let me know. I’ve got decals to spare.

And the lesson learned? No matter how exciting the bidding gets, always read the description and study the photos. The auction will test your discipline—but sometimes the recovery is half the fun!