The mind of Mike Hall is like an encyclopedia of vintage cars. He can list and detail the characteristics of each of the 562 rusted vehicles strewn across his property in Tappen, British Columbia, an area known as Rust Valley.

“It’s my passion. I don’t remember the faces or where I put my car keys, but car stuff, it sticks to me,” Hall explained as he walked past. rows of vehicles in various states of repair in the field behind his house.

Last Saturday, Hall sold the majority of its cars in an auction that drew hundreds of people to Tappen.

The sale was necessary after Hall sold his property earlier this year. Family pressure also played a role, according to his son Conner, who works with his father on vintage car restoration.

“We kind of tried to push him into an auction last year and he didn’t want anything to do with it,” Conner said.

“And this year, I think he finally woke up and was like, ‘Hey, I can’t do this anymore.'”

Hall’s obsession with vintage cars and his reluctance to ditch them is one of the main themes of the reality show, Rustic Valley Restorers. The series, filmed in Tappen, documents the adventures of Hall repairing numerous vintage vehicles in his yard and selling them.

Hall said the last thing he thought about doing in his 60s was watching a reality TV show, but his boundless energy, self-deprecating spirit and striking appearance – he’s a giant with blonde dreadlocks. that hang over his shoulders. – make him a convincing character.

His obsession with classic cars dates back over four decades. Hall started buying cars in his early 20s and has since researched hundreds of cars and trucks from the 50s, 60s and 70s and brought them home. Hall found many vehicles while traveling in British Columbia, working as a rock chipping contractor, he explained.

“As a kid, I always loved them,” Hall said. “I bought one. I bought two, I bought three, I bought 10, I bought 20. I mean, the last four properties I bought have been to move cars. “

The decision to sell his collection was not an easy one, Hall said, but it was the right choice at this point in his life.

“I will soon be 65. I have already lived five years longer than my father,” he said.

“I’ve seen friends die and then their wives and families have to deal with their issues. I’m going to leave enough issues for my family. This is an issue I think I should sort of sort out while I am still here. “

People came to the Hall Car Auction from all over North America to buy vehicles.

Father and son Tom and Corey Little made the trip from Ontario primarily to view the vast collection of vintage cars before it was dismantled.

“We thought we would mainly go to see the show,” Corey said. Tom added, “We’re hardcore car guys like Mike.”

Some of Hall’s cars sold for a few hundred dollars and others for over $ 10,000.

Hall described it as a bittersweet moment watching buyers grab the cars he loves and has obsessed him for decades.

“There are a lot of cars that I’ve had for 30 or 40 years. It’s about time someone else took care of them.”

Old habits die hard, however, and Hall is yet to exit the classic car business.

“I was supposed to keep ten and ended up keeping 52. I still have a full deck to play with. I just don’t have a full deck here,” he chuckled, pointing. her head.