---
title: "Feds Holding Online Auction for 149 Classic Cars Seized in DC Solar Fraud Case"
description: "A Plymouth Superbird, Dodge Demon, and a Pontiac Trans Am formerly owned by Burt Reynolds are some of the rides once collected by the former NASCAR sponsor."
date: "2019-10-16"
modified: "2019-10-24"
authors:
  - name: "James Gilboy"
    job_title: "Contributing Writer"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/james-gilboy"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/30465/feds-holding-online-auction-for-149-classic-cars-seized-in-dc-solar-fraud-case"
categories:
  - "News"
---

# Feds Holding Online Auction for 149 Classic Cars Seized in DC Solar Fraud Case

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2019/10/pjimage-2.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

In less than two weeks' time, nearly 150 collector cars, trucks, and boats will cross the auction block to settle a civil case between failed energy startup DC Solar and its victims.

DC Solar was a supplier of mobile solar power generators that raised $800 million in capital from the likes of Berkshire Hathaway, Sherwin-Williams, and Progressive. Unfortunately for DC Solar's investors, its owners Jeff and Paulette Carpoff allegedly used the purported energy startup's money to live a lavish lifestyle, collecting cars, [sponsoring NASCAR teams like Chip Ganassi Racing](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/25654/fbi-raids-properties-belonging-chip-ganassi-racings-nascar-sponsor-dc-solar>), and even buying a baseball team, all on the company dollar.

Law enforcement identified DC Solar as a possible Ponzi scheme and kicked over the house of cards last December with a raid on the Carpoffs' home, wherein phones, $1.8 million in cash, and 149 of the Carpoffs' vehicles were confiscated.

![message-editor%2F1571254263755-roadrunner.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1571254263755-roadrunner.jpg>)
**Apple Auctioneering**

All these seized vehicles will soon be auctioned off by [Apple Auctioneering](<https://www.appleauctioneeringco.com/10-26-2019>) in Woodland, California, and their proceeds will be funneled back to those cheated by DC Solar. The formerly Carpoff-owned collection spans nearly a century of vehicles and includes everything from classic Americana such as hot rods and muscle cars to [Hummers](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/30194/sensory-assault-official-hummer-branded-cologne-still-exists-and-we-took-it-for-a-spin>) and modern grand tourers. Below are some of the highlights:

- 2017 Bentley Continental GT V8
- 2017 Cadillac CTS-V
- A dozen Chevrolet Camaros of varying vintages
- Nine Dodge Challengers, one of them a 2018 SRT Demon
- 1969 Dodge Daytona
- 2002 Dodge Viper RT/10
- Seven Ford Mustangs
- Eleven Plymouth Road Runners, three of them Superbirds
- 1978 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am owned by Burt Reynolds
- A dozen [Cummins-powered Ram pickups](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/30102/cummins-celebrates-production-of-three-millionth-diesel-engine-for-ram-trucks>)

![message-editor%2F1571254295022-screenshot2019-10-16at2.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1571254295022-screenshot2019-10-16at2.jpg>)
**Apple Auctioneering**

"It is rare for the U.S. Marshals to hold an auction of such a stunning collection of vehicles," stated Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal Lasha Boyden in the auction's announcement. "We've got classic 1960s Ford Mustangs, 1990s Humvees, a 1960 Austin-Healey, and even [a 1978 Pontiac Trans Am that was owned by Burt Reynolds as a memento of the car he drove in the movie *Smokey and the Bandit*](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/28606/burt-reynolds-own-smokey-and-the-bandit-pontiac-trans-am-sells-for-317500-at-auction>)."

Pre-bids on any of the 149 lots can be placed [here](<https://appletowing.hibid.com/catalog/185288/u-s--marshals--live---online-webcast--auction-10-26-2019/?>) from the comfort of your home. Not all of them run, so if you end up placing a winning bid online, be sure to pack a jump box and some starter fluid in your duffel bag on the way to collect your car.

## Author
James is a former staff writer for The Drive. He has changed the conversation around electrification, debunked misinformation online, and become a prominent hunter of what he calls "automotive cryptids."

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://instagram.com/jamesgilboy>)