Rare automobilia, collected over a lifetime

The Curator & the Collection

Steve Trott was a Chartered Accountant, a 50-year member of the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand and the convenor of the vintage vehicles that support Napier’s internationally renowned Art Deco Festival each February.

His lifelong enthusiasm for motoring history extended far beyond the cars themselves. Over the years, Steve amassed more than 5,000 pieces of automobilia. His collection encompassed advertising and enamel signs, petrol pumps, hubcaps, vehicle badges and scripts, motoring memorabilia and an extensive selection of Automobile Association badges from around the world.

Collecting was Steve’s passion. He spent countless evenings following leads through an international network of contacts, bidding online and researching the next addition to his collection. He regularly attended swap meets and car shows throughout New Zealand and overseas, including numerous trips to the celebrated AACA Eastern Fall Meet—widely known as the Hershey Meet—in Pennsylvania, USA.

Steve was also a meticulous custodian of the collection. He carefully journalled his acquisitions, recording when each item was purchased, what it was, where it came from, who supplied it, its purchase price, freight costs and other relevant details. These records preserve an extraordinary history of the collection and the journey behind many of its individual pieces.

Steve also owned and restored many vintage vehicles. His meticulous eye for detail earned him a reputation for presenting rare cars to an impeccable standard. That same knowledge, care and determination shaped every part of the remarkable collection held within “Steve’s Shed”.

Why the Collection Is Being Sold

In late 2024, the collection’s curator, Steve Trott, made the decision to begin reducing the size of his collection due to his age and deteriorating health.

Thousands of items were sold as part of this process before Steve sadly passed away. The balance of his remarkable collection will now be progressively offered for sale, continuing the process Steve himself had begun.

How the Collection Will Be Sold

The collection will be offered progressively rather than all at once, giving buyers the opportunity to explore carefully selected groups of items as they are released.