Classic Red Truck
Restored 1949 classic pickup to be auctioned during Cibolo Nature Center's Celebrate the Cibolo gala
BOERNE, TEXAS-A symbol of true Texana is going on the auction block for charity this fall: a restored, fire-engine red, 1949 Ford F-1 pickup truck. Recently donated to the non-profit Cibolo Nature Center, the classic red truck will be the featured auction item during the CNC's annual gala, Celebrate the Cibolo 2010, to be held from 6 to 11:30 p.m. on Oct. 2.
Not much is known of the history of the truck, according to the donor, who wishes to remain anonymous. He bought it over the internet after it already had been restored. However, the truck does reflect some of his personal history.
"We have an old, rusted-out truck just like that one at our place in Boerne - my grandfather's truck," he said, adding that he and his wife decided to donate the restored truck to the Cibolo Nature Center expressly for the auction. "We have such affection for the Cibolo Nature Center. We hope it might be of use as a way to raise funds, especially in these economic times."
He noted that the Ford pickup is somewhat unusual because it has a V-8 engine instead of the V-6 that was more common on this model.
"It's really fun to drive, and it sure gets a lot of attention driving down Main Street in Boerne," he said. "We will miss it, but we know it will go to a good home for a great cause."
Members of the public interested in seeing the venerable red pickup truck will be able to do so at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 4, during the Kendall County Fair Parade on Main Street in Boerne.
The 160-acre Cibolo Nature Center in Boerne is a nature preserve dedicated to science-oriented education and research programs for schoolchildren and adults, while offering an oasis of quiet, nature-based recreation to the public. Its mission is to promote conservation of natural resources through education and sound stewardship.
The truck donor said that he and his wife became supporters of the Cibolo Nature Center about 15 years ago. "We love the idea that the Cibolo Nature Center reclaimed a piece of property that was important to Kendall County but was in bad shape," he said, referring to the Nature Center's acres of creekside forest, oak-dotted grasslands, marshland and prairie that now have been restored to a natural state. "We love that the organization has many nature-education programs that are available to children as well as programs available to adults."
Cibolo Nature Center Executive Director Carolyn Chipman Evans said the opportunity to offer the classic truck at auction during the organization's 2010 gala seemed to add just the right authentic flavor to this annual Hill Country event.
"We just love the truck, and we can't wait to help find it a new home," she said. "It is a very valuable contribution to our fundraising effort, and we are so grateful that the donors saw it as a perfect fit for us."
With the theme "Where Nature and History Meet," this year's Celebrate the Cibolo gala will provide a "taste of the Hill Country" fine dining experience, featuring fare from a variety of area restaurants, along with dancing under the stars to the Lost Mule Band.
The classic red truck will be offered for sale during a live auction at the gala under the auspices of licensed professional auctioneer Forres Meadows, CAI, BAS, ATS, of TexasBid.com. It will be sold to the highest bidder. A private tour and picnic at the Bracken Bat Cave, a stay at a private vacation home in Port Aransas, and an opportunity to "Fund a Field Trip" will also be part of the live auction, which begins at 7:30 p.m. during the gala. In addition, the live auction will be held online from Sept. 10 through Oct. 1 at http://www.texasbid.com/. Bidders are not required to attend the gala to vie for live auction items. The top two online bidders will be included in the live auction during the gala via telephone.
The live auction will be preceded by a silent auction featuring jewelry, adventure trips, hotel stays, restaurant dining, wine tastings, gift baskets, massage packages, special events, garden ornamentals, art work and more. Bidding for the silent auction will begin at 6 p.m.
Table sponsorships and tickets to the gala are available by visiting www.cibolo.org/gala2010 or by calling (830) 249-4616.
The Cibolo Nature Center in Boerne is located at Boerne City Park off Highway 46 just west of the Kendall County Fairgrounds. Learn more at http://www.cibolo.org/.
