Minnesota farmer prepares to sell huge convertible car collection

NEW YORK MILLS, Minn. — In rural Otter Tail County, one of the biggest collections of convertibles around will be auctioned off in a month, but the collection is about more than just a love of cars.

In a few weeks, New York Mills farmer Ron Windels and his wife Carol will auction off most of their two-dozen convertibles, such as his 1956 Bel Air.

"I have collected every car from Impala or Bel Air from 1955-1969," Ron Windels said.

A sharp yellow Chevy, and a classic 1957 is the heart of any collection. There are also Fords like his 1957 Ford Fairlane retractable.

There is also a unique story about this Plum Crazy 1970 Charger. Ron recently brought it to a car show, when someone walked up and talked to him about it being his car.

"The guy said 'that is my car. I figured it was my car because I saw there was a pin I put in the windshield-wiper bracket, to hold it down when I took it up to 120 mph, it would fly off,'" Ron Windels said.

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His wife Carol said Ron always told her the collection of cars were for her.

"I would just roll my eyes, and then accept it," Carol Windels said. "You just never know what he will bring home next, and why."

Ron's first car was his 1962 Chevy Impala convertible, which is when he got the bug. His family then sold it while he was serving in Vietnam. Windels had been drafted into the Army in 1968, while he had a new wife and baby at home. He has many emotions about that dark time.

He eventually came back home, but was wounded in the war.

"I remember the day I heard he was wounded," Carol Windels remembers. "(I was) frantic."

In 1969, Ron Windels received the Purple Heart in honor of his service.

"I could have been dead or seriously, seriously injured," Ron Windels recalled. "You call it luck, or someone looking over you."

Life has become much better since that dark time in his life. The Windels now spend winter in Arizona, and now this collection of cars will make others very happy.

The sale will be held Sept. 19 just outside of New York Mills. Those interested can see the auction bill here .

1/12: Roy Windels cracks a smile while talking about his upcoming collector vehicle auction in September in New York Mills, Minn. David Samson / The Forum

2/12: Roy and Carol Windels talk about the year they met from their car storage building in New York Mills, Minn. David Samson / The Forum

3/12: Roy Windels shows off the hidden gas cap on a 1955 Chevrolet, one of the cars in his collection in New York Mills, Minn. David Samson / The Forum

4/12: The distinct tail lights from a 1959, left, and a 1960 Chevrolet Impala from the Roy Windels car collection in New York Mills, Minn. David Samson / The Forum

5/12: Roy Windels has a chuckle while talking about his Plume Crazy 1970 Dodge Charger. David Samson / The Forum

6/12: Five vintage tractors are included in the September vehicle auction at the Roy and Carol Windels residence New York Mills, Minn. David Samson / The Forum

7/12: Detail of the teardrop radio antenna from a 1955 Chevrolet. David Samson / The Forum

8/12: Detail of a 1957 Ford Fairlane Skyliner to be sold by Roy and Carol Windels in New York Mills, Minn. David Samson / The Forum

9/12: Hubcaps adorn the walls of Roy Windels car storage building in New York Mills, Minn. David Samson / The Forum

10/12: Carol Windels stands next to one of the many Chevrolet Impalas they have in their collection. David Samson / The Forum

11/12: A 1968 Pontiac Firebird is one of the vehicles up for sale during the car auction to be held Sept. 19 at the Roy and Carol Windels residence in New York Mills, Minn. David Samson / The Forum

12/12: A 1968 Pontiac Firebird is one of the vehicles up for sale during the car auction to be held Sept. 19 at the Roy and Carol Windels residence in New York Mills, Minn. David Samson / The Forum

1/12: Roy Windels cracks a smile while talking about his upcoming collector vehicle auction in September in New York Mills, Minn. David Samson / The Forum

2/12: Roy and Carol Windels talk about the year they met from their car storage building in New York Mills, Minn. David Samson / The Forum

3/12: Roy Windels shows off the hidden gas cap on a 1955 Chevrolet, one of the cars in his collection in New York Mills, Minn. David Samson / The Forum

4/12: The distinct tail lights from a 1959, left, and a 1960 Chevrolet Impala from the Roy Windels car collection in New York Mills, Minn. David Samson / The Forum

5/12: Roy Windels has a chuckle while talking about his Plume Crazy 1970 Dodge Charger. David Samson / The Forum

6/12: Five vintage tractors are included in the September vehicle auction at the Roy and Carol Windels residence New York Mills, Minn. David Samson / The Forum

7/12: Detail of the teardrop radio antenna from a 1955 Chevrolet. David Samson / The Forum

8/12: Detail of a 1957 Ford Fairlane Skyliner to be sold by Roy and Carol Windels in New York Mills, Minn. David Samson / The Forum

9/12: Hubcaps adorn the walls of Roy Windels car storage building in New York Mills, Minn. David Samson / The Forum

10/12: Carol Windels stands next to one of the many Chevrolet Impalas they have in their collection. David Samson / The Forum

11/12: A 1968 Pontiac Firebird is one of the vehicles up for sale during the car auction to be held Sept. 19 at the Roy and Carol Windels residence in New York Mills, Minn. David Samson / The Forum

12/12: A 1968 Pontiac Firebird is one of the vehicles up for sale during the car auction to be held Sept. 19 at the Roy and Carol Windels residence in New York Mills, Minn. David Samson / The Forum