You want a classic car and you live in Minnesota. The trouble is that most collector car auctions here happen once or twice a year, so if you miss the date you wait months. This guide lists where you can actually bid on a classic in Minnesota, what classics really sold for at our own online auction, and how to bid without a dealer license.
Want to look right now? This 1975 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royal is listed as runs and drives with no reserve, and bidding is open until November 18, 2026. You can also see every car up for auction this week.
The short answer: Classic car auctions in Minnesota are open to the public, and you do not need a dealer license to bid. Remlinger holds two collector car auctions a year in Winona, VanDerBrink sells whole collections on-site and online, and Remarket Space runs online auctions every day. On Remarket Space, 18 Minnesota vehicles built from 1958 to 1979 sold in 2025 and 2026 for $150 to $12,700.
Updated November 9, 2026. Checked against the Minnesota Revisor of Statutes, Explore Minnesota, the MSRA event site and sold listings on remarketspace.com. Sources are linked at the bottom.
Key takeaways
- Anyone can bid: the Minnesota collector auctions in this guide are open to the public. No dealer license needed.
- Event auctions are rare: Remlinger runs two sales a year in Winona, and VanDerBrink sales follow whatever collection is being sold.
- Online runs year round: on Remarket Space, classics sell next to everyday cars, with No Reserve cars running every day.
- Most are projects: 16 of the 18 pre-1980 vehicles sold on our site did not start or had an unknown run status.
- Tax can be tiny: Minnesota charges a flat $150 tax instead of 6.875% on a car registered with collector plates, and $10 on many old cars worth under $3,000.
Where can you bid on a classic car in Minnesota?
These are the real options, honestly compared. Dates change every year, so confirm with each organizer before you plan a trip.
| Option | Format | When | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remlinger Collector Car Auctions | Live event auction in Winona | Two auctions a year, including a spring sale | Seeing hundreds of collector cars in one place |
| VanDerBrink Auctions | Estate and collection sales, on-site plus online bidding | When a collection is consigned | Project cars and whole collections; estate sales may be no reserve |
| MSRA Back to the 50’s Weekend | Car show at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, not an auction | June 19 to 21, 2026; next show starts June 18, 2027 | Meeting owners of 1964 and earlier cars and making private deals |
| Remarket Space | Online auction, open to the public | Every day, all year | Bidding from home with an inspection report on every car |
Remlinger Collector Car Auctions
Explore Minnesota calls Remlinger one of the largest car collection auctions in the Midwest, with two classic car auctions a year in Winona, and says everyone is welcome. If you search for upcoming classic car auctions near me in southern Minnesota, this is usually the first name you will see. Check their site for the next sale date, since the state listing does not show future dates.
VanDerBrink Auctions
VanDerBrink is a Minnesota-licensed auction company known for selling entire collector car collections. A past VanDerBrink sale in Beardsley offered on-site, absentee and online bidding, sold everything as is, and charged a 5% buyer premium. Terms change by sale, so read each catalog.
Back to the 50’s Weekend
This is a car show, not an auction, but it is where Minnesota classic owners gather. Visit Saint Paul lists the 2026 show as June 19 to 21 at the State Fairgrounds, for vehicles from 1964 and earlier. The MSRA FAQ lists the next show starting Friday, June 18, 2027.
Remarket Space
Remarket Space is an online car auction based in the Twin Cities area. Classics come through the general auction alongside daily drivers, so there is no special classic sale to wait for. Use the sold vehicles page to see what has sold, and set an alert for the model you want. For every other Minnesota auction, public and dealer, see our list of car auctions in Minnesota.
What do classic cars sell for at a Minnesota auction?
Here is every vehicle built before 1980 that sold on Remarket Space in Minnesota in 2025 and 2026, taken from the sold listings on our site. Prices are the winning bid. Buyer premium and fees are extra.
| Vehicle | Condition at sale | Winning bid | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 Cadillac DeVille Series 75 | Run status unknown, junk title | $400 | Oct 29, 2026 |
| 1964 Plymouth Belvedere | Run status unknown, junk title | $300 | Oct 22, 2026 |
| 1965 Buick Skylark | Does not start, clean title | $2,650 | Aug 12, 2025 |
| 1968 International | Does not start, clean title | $12,700 | Jan 2, 2025 |
| 1969 Chevrolet pickup | Does not start, clean title | $6,000 | Aug 5, 2025 |
| 1969 Ford Mustang | Missing engine, clean title | $700 | Sep 25, 2025 |
| 1970 Chevrolet Impala | Run status unknown, clean title | $4,150 | Jun 29, 2026 |
| 1970 Lincoln Continental Mark III | Does not start, clean title | $2,200 | Feb 25, 2025 |
| 1971 Cadillac DeVille | Does not start, clean title | $1,850 | Jul 8, 2025 |
| 1971 MG MGB | Does not start, clean title | $650 | Oct 29, 2026 |
| 1971 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme | Does not start, clean title | $5,200 | Nov 17, 2025 |
| 1974 MG MGB | Runs and drives, clean title | $750 | Nov 5, 2025 |
| 1974 MG MGB Roadster | Runs and drives, clean title | $3,650 | Aug 26, 2026 |
| 1976 MG MGB | Does not start, clean title | $1,250 | Feb 25, 2025 |
| 1977 MG MGB | Does not start, clean title | $950 | Jul 6, 2026 |
| 1978 Chevrolet LUV | Does not start, clean title | $3,850 | May 27, 2025 |
| 1979 Ford wagon | Does not start, bill of sale | $200 | Jul 1, 2025 |
| 1979 Triumph TR7 | Does not start, clean title | $150 | Aug 26, 2025 |
Three patterns stand out:
- Most are projects: 16 of the 18 did not start or had an unknown run status. Price them as restorations, not drivers. The two running MGBs sold for $750 and $3,650, so photos and details still matter.
- Big numbers are rare: only two sold above $5,500, a 1968 International at $12,700 and a 1969 Chevrolet pickup at $6,000, both non-running.
- Paperwork matters: the junk title and bill of sale cars sold for $400 or less. A clean title is worth paying for.
Chasing muscle cars specifically? Our guide to classic American muscle cars covers the models, and you can watch the Ford Mustangs for sale in Minnesota for the next one.
Are classic car auctions open to the public?
Yes. Remlinger, VanDerBrink and Remarket Space all let the public bid. The dealer license question only matters at dealer-only wholesale auctions, which rarely sell classics anyway. Our page on Minnesota car auction laws explains where the line is.
How do you bid on a classic car online?
On Remarket Space the process is the same for a 1970 Impala as for a 2015 Civic. From our how it works page:
- 1. Create a free account. No dealer license and no membership fee.
- 2. Read the listing. Every car has an inspection by a Verified Remarket Space Inspector, a free Carfax and an HD virtual test drive. The inspection lists what is wrong, not only what is right.
- 3. Bid or Buy Now. Bids are binding. Offers before the live auction act as proxy bids, and live bidding moves in $50 steps.
- 4. Pay by card within 48 hours. Miss it and the account is suspended and the car is relisted.
- 5. Take delivery. Every car is delivered, typically within 48 hours in the Twin Cities area, with nationwide quotes on each listing.
What should you check before bidding on a classic?
Old cars hide old problems. Before you bid, look for these in the photos, video and inspection report:
- Run status: does it start, and does it move? A car that cranks but does not start is a different job than one with no engine.
- Title type: clean title, junk title or bill of sale only. This decides how hard it will be to register.
- Rust: check floors, rockers, frame rails and trunk floor in the underside photos. Minnesota salt is hard on old steel.
- Odometer: many classics have five digit odometers, so the true mileage is unknown.
- Keys and access: some project cars come without keys or with seized doors or hoods. The listing says so.
For a full list, use our free pre-bid inspection checklist and these car auction inspection tips.
What does it cost to buy a classic at auction in Minnesota?
The winning bid is only part of it. Here is the worked example from our buyer premium and fees page for a Minnesota buyer without a dealer license who wins at $4,000:
| Line item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Winning bid | $4,000.00 |
| Buyer’s premium | $549.00 |
| Administrative fee | $209.00 |
| MN sales tax (6.875% of bid plus premium) | $312.74 |
| MN DMV fees | $119.50 |
| Out-the-door total | $5,190.24 |
Classics can owe much less tax. Under Minn. Stat. 297B.02 and 297B.025:
- Collector plates: a passenger car registered as a pioneer, classic, collector or street rod vehicle pays a flat $150 instead of 6.875%. Move it to regular plates within a year and the full tax applies.
- Old, low-value cars: a passenger car in its tenth or later year with a resale value under $3,000 pays a flat $10.
Should you put collector plates on a classic in Minnesota?
Maybe. Minn. Stat. 168.10 sets four plate types for old vehicles, each with a $25 tax plus the plate fee, and no yearly renewal:
| Plate | Which vehicles | Key rule |
|---|---|---|
| Pioneer | Made before 1936 | Owned and operated solely as a collector’s item |
| Classic car | Made 1925 through 1948 | Must be a recognized full classic; trucks and hearses do not qualify |
| Collector | Made after 1935 and at least 20 model years old | Collector use only, and you must own another vehicle with regular plates |
| Street rod | Made before 1949, or built to resemble one | Not for general transportation, and you need another regularly plated vehicle |
If you plan to drive it daily, regular plates are the honest choice. After a private sale, Minn. Stat. 168A.10 gives the buyer 20 calendar days to apply for a new title. When you buy through Remarket Space, title work is covered by the administrative fee.
Antique, vintage, classic or muscle: does the word matter?
For searching, no. People type antique car auctions, vintage car auctions and muscle car auctions near me and mean the same thing: an old car they can bid on. For Minnesota plates and tax, yes, because the state uses the definitions in the table above. Shipping a classic out of the country? Read how to export classic cars first.
Why bid on a classic through Remarket Space?
Remarket Space, the d/b/a of Twin Cities Auctions, LLC, is an online car marketplace open to the public. You do not need a dealer license or a membership to bid. Every listing has real photos, a test drive video, a free Carfax and an inspection report that tells you what is wrong with the car, which matters more on a 50 year old car than on a new one. Auctions run every day, so you are not waiting for a twice-a-year sale, and the car is delivered to you from our Twin Cities-area lot. Our sold prices are public, so you can see what similar cars brought before you bid.
See cars up for auction now, read how bidding works, and check the buyer fees before you bid. New to auctions? Start with our Minnesota car auction beginner guide or browse Oldsmobiles for sale in Minnesota and Cadillacs for sale in Minnesota.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Remlinger holds two collector car auctions a year in Winona, VanDerBrink sells collector car collections with on-site and online bidding, and Remarket Space runs online auctions every day where classic cars sell alongside everyday vehicles. All three are open to the public.
No. Classic and collector car auctions in Minnesota, including Remarket Space, let the public bid. A dealer license matters only at dealer-only wholesale auctions, and those rarely sell classic cars.
On Remarket Space, 18 Minnesota vehicles built from 1958 to 1979 sold in 2025 and 2026 for winning bids between $150 and $12,700. Most were project cars that did not start, so condition and title type drove the price.
The standard rate is 6.875 percent. A passenger car registered with pioneer, classic, collector or street rod plates pays a flat $150 instead, and a car in its tenth year or older worth under $3,000 pays a flat $10.
A vehicle made after 1935 that is at least 20 model years old, used only as a collector vehicle. You must also own another vehicle with regular plates. Pioneer plates cover vehicles made before 1936.
Remlinger holds two sales a year, including a spring auction, and VanDerBrink schedules sales as collections come in, so check their sites for dates. Remarket Space auctions run every day, so there is always a sale open.
Yes. On Remarket Space you create a free account, review the inspection report, free Carfax and test drive video, then bid or use Buy Now. Payment is due by card within 48 hours and the car is delivered to you.
Sources
- Minn. Stat. 168.10: Collector vehicle registration
- Minn. Stat. 168A.10: Title transfer by owner
- Minn. Stat. 297B.02: Motor vehicle sales tax rate
- Minn. Stat. 297B.025: Old and collector vehicle tax
- Explore Minnesota: Remlinger Collector Car Auction
- VanDerBrink Auctions: past collector car sale terms
- Visit Saint Paul: Back to the 50s Weekend guide
- MSRA Back to the 50s: FAQ
General information, not legal or tax advice. Auction dates, fees and rules change, so confirm with the organizer or Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services.
