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Springsteen super fan Michael Crane said on Thursday the
auction of the car was the first in the planned sale of his
entire Springsteen collection because he wanted to move on from
his long love affair with The Boss.
"I've been a fan since I was 7 years old. I got to meet Bruce
Springsteen with the car, which was amazing. But I'm ready to
move on in my life and I want to pass the torch on to somebody
who will enjoy the car and get to drive it," Crane, 46, told
Reuters.
Crane, who like Springsteen is also from New Jersey, believes
Springsteen was referring to the car in his 1975 hit "Born to
Run" in the line, "I looked out across my hood and saw the
highway buckle 'neath the wheels of a gold Chevy 6."
The car is being sold on eBay in an auction that ends on Monday.
Bidding on Thursday afternoon was $200,100 - below the
undisclosed reserve price.
Crane bought the yellow soft-top with orange flames on eBay in
2006 and it was exhibited at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in
Cleveland from 2008-2010. It has registration and insurance
documents in Springsteen's name and is in running condition.
Springsteen mentioned the car in his 1998 book "Songs."
"In '70's New Jersey, the car was still a powerful image. That
summer I bought my first set of wheels for two thousand dollars.
It was a '57 Chevy with dual, four-barrel carbs, a Hurst on the
floor and orange flames spread across the hood," the rock
musician wrote.
Crane, a real estate developer, started collecting Springsteen
memorabilia in 2006. He has amassed a collection of handwritten
lyrics, guitars, posters and personal effects that has been
appraised at over $7 million.
He plans in the coming months, however, to dispose of it all,
including Springsteen's 8th grade report card, in which he got a
D for music.
"I am selling the whole collection. My love affair with Bruce
has become more real. I'm moving on to some bigger projects. I
started a non-profit and I am raising money for orphans and
widows now, and it's kind of where my life has taken me," Crane
said.
(Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Dan Grebler)
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