P opular throughout the city of Wichita Falls, Texas, Peyton Carnes was known as a considerate, generous and hardworking man with a special interest that set him apart: a love for collecting the most beautiful classic vehicles, especially those reminiscent of his formative years. From Jaguars to Lincolns and Cadillacs, Carnes collected them all, each one in his possession dating between the 1930s and 1960s (with the exception of his lone Ferrari). After Carnes’ recent passing in February, The Peyton S. Carnes, Jr. Estate Collection of 14 classic and cherished beauties is seeking a new home, and each vehicle is ready to roll through the auction procession at Mecum Dallas 2020 this October. According to his son, Matt, Peyton Carnes’ life had always had an automotive focus. He had spent his adolescence and teen years working on his father’s car lot in Fort Worth, Texas, and while there, he would help drive, pick up and deliver the cars to patrons. This daily task is what first ignited Carnes’ admiration for the classic American metal models. Although it was the car lot that planted the initial seed of intrigue, it wasn’t until much later in life that Carnes’ car collecting journey began in earnest. It was 1958 by the time that the idea of collecting finally implanted itself into Carnes’ mind, and it all started with a promise to his first wife, Sally. Upon returning from England after serving in the Air Force, Carnes and his wife were penniless and pregnant, wandering the streets of New York and awaiting the arrival of their vehicle from overseas. The downtrodden couple was roaming the streets when a pristine 1956 Mark II caught Peyton’s eye. Realizing that he only had enough money for two hot dogs and a coke, Carnes decided to make an oath. He turned to his wife and promised, “One day, I’ll be able to buy that car for us.” When recalling this tale, Matt stated that his mother didn’t care much for the idea of a Mark II, especially at the time. She was more concerned with getting back to Oklahoma where she could put her feet up and rest. But Sally’s nonchalance never extinguished Peyton’s desire. Several years later, Peyton put his petroleum engineering degree to use and began working for oil companies, allowing him to begin his dream collection. By 1998, Carnes had stumbled upon a 1956 Continental Mark II that was listed in a collecting magazine. Nestled and handled in Utah, the car sat in a well- kept garage, and when Carnes went to survey the first of his soon-to-be-many prized possessions, he came to realize that it was in nearly perfect condition. From that point forward, Carnes was on the hunt for more cars that sparked his intrigue. MECUM.COM • 17
