One man’s obsession with Americana and iconic motoring memorabilia will soon be auctioned to benefit sick kids.
Greg Kowplos started collecting petrol station signs, fuel pumps, air compressors and a plethora of petrol paraphernalia about 30 years ago.
“I have always loved cars and America,” he said.
His obsession grew into a garage called Billy’s Service Station, a full-size replica of a 1930s Los Angeles garage by the same name.
“I used to travel to the Daytona 500 every year and always came back with something,” he said.
“It was as a hobby, but eventually it got out of hand. I couldn’t move in my garage and I needed somewhere to put it. Then I saw Billy’s and I decided to create a similar service station here.”
Over the past nine years, the servo has become a backyard shrine to motoring in suburban Rochedale that has hosted private functions for car clubs, weddings and visits by the Starlight Foundation.
Now Mr Kowplos finds his large house, sprawling suburban block and large garage shrine too much to handle so he is moving to the Gold Coast to be near his kids.
“I’m over mowing acres of lawn. I’ve worked non-stop since I was 14 and I think it’s time to slow down a bit,” said Mr Kowplos, a builder, developer and manager for Brisbane motocross sensation Daniel Reardon’s assault on the US race scene.
“I’ve been so busy I haven’t been able to get down to the garage for about six months.”
When he decided to sell his beloved collection, Mr Kowplos found it was too large to sell privately, so he enlisted the help of specialist motoring auctioneer Shannons.
He said he expected the 150-lot auction on April 20 to fetch between $150,000 and $300,000 with a percentage to be donated to the Starlight Foundation to go towards buying a van to transport ill children and their families.
National auction manager Chris Boribon said a couple of rare petrol bowsers could fetch as much $10,000 to $15,000 each.
“It’s very difficult to know what value to put on some of these items,” he said.
Mr Kowplos’ favourite piece is a Fry petrol pump known as “Mae West” because of the womanly shape. But the only item he hopes to keep is a sign with the name of the garage as a reminder of his 30-year obsession.
- The Courier-Mail
