Richmond Auctions to Present Tony Townley’s Private Car & Sign Collection
As the co-founder of Zaxby’s, Townley collected over 100 cars & 400 pieces of rare advertising, all of which will be up for auction in the two-day event…
Richmond Auctions announced what it is calling its most ambitious automotive and advertising event to date: The Tony Townley Collection. The two-day auction will be held Oct. 24-25, 2025, in Bogart, Georgia.
Townley, co-founder of Zaxby’s and a passionate collector for decades, has meticulously curated one of the most exceptional private collections of vintage cars, tractors and advertising signs in the United States, auction officials stated in a press release. The entire collection will be offered to the public in a once-in-a-lifetime auction.
“This isn’t just an auction—it’s an era on display,” said Jordan Richmond, founder of Richmond Auctions. “The Townley Collection captures American horsepower, brand history and emotional nostalgia in every piece.”
Cars & Advertising Art in the Tony Townley Collection
Highlights of cars and signage available at the auction include:
- Pre-war Elegance: 1929 Duesenberg Model J and 1930 Cadillac V-16 Sport Phaeton
- 1950s Icons: Fuel-injected ’57 Airbox Corvette and 1954 Dodge Power Wagon
- Muscle Car Grails: 1965 Shelby GT350, unrestored 1969 Yenko Camaro, 3k mile unrestored 1969 Dodge Daytona, 1971 ‘Cuda Hemi 4-speed, and more
- Rare Advertising: Over 400 pieces of petroliana and Americana signage, including neon, porcelain and gas pumps
The cars range from the exceptionally restored to highly preserved originals. The signs—ranging from gas station brands to roadside Americana—are equally museum-worthy, making this one of the most significant dual-category collections ever brought to market, noted the release.
Mike McCandless, co-founder of Richmond Auctions and entrepreneur behind North Carolina’s McCandless Collection museum, adds, “What makes this auction unique is the opportunity to buy exceptional cars across multiple brands—all from one owner. Few collections exist that showcase this level of quality over 100-plus years of the automobile.”
Public Preview of the Tony Townley Collection
Public preview of the collection will be held Oct. 20-22 on-site in Bogart, Georgia, just outside Athens. Auction participation is limited to registered bidders in-person, online or via phone.
Richmond Auctions continues its record-breaking trajectory following its recent achievement of $100 million in gross sales in under four years, including the world-record sale of a 1929 Musgo Gasoline sign, officials said.
