A passionate antique appraiser working in the field of decorative and fine arts, Leigh Keno is the founder of Keno Auctions and the head of Keno Art Advisory. Leigh Keno also maintains an interest in vintage cars, and he enjoys racing and preserving vintage vehicles. He also regularly serves as a judge at Concours across the country including the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance Buying a car at an auction may be a way to get a vintage automobile at an affordable price. Leigh Keno's advice on how to go about buying an automobile at auction is as follows: - Read: Before the auction date, fully read the auction catalog and review the details of the car you want. Make sure that the vin number of the chassis matches that of the engine because the value of the car is affected greatly when the engine is not original. Thoroughly checking the catalogue listing will give you a better understanding of the history of the vehicle. Make sure that the car has a proper Title so that the auction house can facilitate transfer of title from the former owner to you if you are the successful bidder. - Plan on repairs: The risk is high that you’ll have to pay for unexpected repairs if you win the auction. As you bid, remember that you may need to invest a few hundred to a few thousand dollars for conservation or repairs, depending on the condition of the automobile. If the car has previously been in storage for a long time, make sure that the car is in running condition and that the oil pressure is high. Low oil pressure may be an indication of serious engine problems. Also check the mileage on the odometer while keeping in mind that the odometer is often set back to make the car appear less "road weary". As a general rule, remember that the mileage on the odometer should match the car's age and history of use shown on the exterior, interior and engine. -Hire an expert advisor: If you are considering a collector level car, it is very prudent to hire an specialist in the Marque. A true vintage car specialist knows what to look for in terms of originality on a car. The expert will give you an objective opinion on its condition and its worth relative to others which have sold recently at auction. - Arrange for transportation: In most cases, you won’t be able to drive your new vehicle off the lot, so you’ll need to set up a method for hauling or shipping the vehicle home on auction day. Most automobile auction companies offer several options in terms of transportation of the vehicle. In addition you must make sure that the vehicle is on your insurance policy before it is moved.
Leigh Keno has a background in fine and decorative arts across four decades which includes serving as: Vice President of Christie's Appraisals Inc.; an expert in Christie's American furniture and decorative arts department and in charge of the American folk; advising buyers in purchasing artwork and decorative arts valued at over $200,000,000 at public auction; advisor to and representative of owners of fine and decorative arts who are considering selling at auction so that they chose the right auction house and receive the best possible terms. One of Leigh Keno's most memorable and rewarding experiences advising clients began when he was asked to represent four siblings who had inherited a masterwork. Created by the celebrated American artist Norman Rockwell as an illustration for a 1954 Saturday Evening Post cover, the iconic image features a young man in a suit at the train station about to leave for college. He sits upright with bright, eager eyes alongside -and in stark contrast to -the slumped-over figure of his father, whose dirty fingernails, worn overalls and downcast expression exude a lifetime spent as a farmer. Keno had first gone to the Rockwell Museum with the family to see the work in the museum- but several things about the painting did not look right. In 2006, the painting at the museum was confirmed to be a copy, secretly painted- unbeknownst to the four siblings- by their father. Having purchased the original work from his friend Rockwell in 1960 for $900, Don Trachte had covertly painted a detailed copy of the work and kept the original within a hidden compartment between two walls in his house. The hidden wall was discovered by his sons- confirming experts questions over the visible differences between the painting in the Rockwell Museum and that shown in the Saturday Evening Post “tear sheet.” With no other explanation as to why the work at the Rockwell Museum was not the actual work, these discrepancies were at first attributed to poor re-varnishing and restoration efforts. Prior to being sent to New York to be auctioned, the two paintings were exhibited side by side. In this way, visitors to the Rockwell Museum could gain insight into the work of both a world famous artist and the artist/owner who copied the work. Leigh Keno recalls negotiating with dealers and auction houses on behalf of the owners. He finally convinced the siblings to turn down a cash offer of 8 Million dollars and to sell at auction. In 2006, "Breaking Home Ties" sold at Sotheby's for $15.4 million, setting an auction record for Rockwell's work.Leigh Keno had brought a bottle of champagne to share with the siblings for this event. Having told the owners repeatedly that their painting would almost certainly set a world record, they all had reason to celebrate!
