Former Owner Of Houston Rockets Auctions Off Personal Collection Of 175 Automobiles 'Without Reserve'

- RM Auctions presents the Charlie Thomas Collection, October 20, at the Gaylord Texan Resort, near Dallas

- Former owner of the Houston Rockets, Thomas built the "Texas-sized" collection over two decades

BLENHEIM, ON--Oct. 10, 2012:  Prominent Texas businessman, and former owner of the Houston Rockets, Charlie Thomas will bid a fond farewell to 175 automobiles from his personal car collection next week (October 20) at a single-day auction near Dallas, Texas.

Well-known by automotive enthusiasts, Thomas' impressive car collection is the product of two decades of careful acquisition. A lifelong auto enthusiast and prolific car dealer, Thomas operated more than 40 car dealerships, one of the largest dealership networks in the United States. His most visible activity outside the car business was as the managing partner of the Houston Rockets, which he owned from 1982 through 1993.

As Thomas prepares to downsize his private collection at auction next week, 175 cars from the collection will be offered 'without reserve', selling to the highest bidder. The single-day sale will be presented by leading international auction house, RM Auctions.

"Charlie Thomas is the consummate car guy with a great eye for quality," says Gord Duff, RM Auctions. "A connoisseur of American cars, his collection has a strong emphasis on fully-restored, well-optioned running and driving examples."

Catering to a broad range of automotive tastes, Thomas' collection spans the spectrum of the collector car market from early flatheads to '50s convertibles and '60s muscle and sports cars. Among highlights are a magnificent series of more than 80 Fords, including multiple Shelbys and more than 40 Chevrolets, joined by numerous examples from other celebrated American marques, including Cadillac, Chrysler, Packard, and Oldsmobile to name a few. Feature automobiles include a fully-optioned 1935 Ford Deluxe Three-Window Coupe finished in Washington Blue, a distinctive 1954 Ford Skyliner "Glasstop" , and an exceptional 1962 Chevrolet Corvette Fuel-Injected Convertible . Also on offer, a pair of highly sought after 1968 Shelby GT500s, including one of the most desirable of all Shelby Mustangs, a 1968 Shelby GT500 Convertible .

In addition, the sale will lift the gavel on a 1952 Willys Military Jeep , with 100 percent of proceeds from its sale benefiting the Brookwood Community, a non-profit residential facility and vocational program in Brookshire, Texas supporting adults with disabilities (Brookwood Community).

Full event details are available online at rmauctions.com or by calling toll free 1 800 211 4371. An exclusive video highlighting the collection is available online at RM Auctions Video Highlights.