The Estate of William L. King Jr.

The Ultimate Barn Find Estate Auction

Butler County, Ohio 

Situation

In May of 2011, Worley Auctioneers was contacted to perform a personal property appraisal ordered by the Butler County Probate Court for the Estate of William L. King Jr. When appraiser Jerry Jenkins arrived on the property, he immediately realized this was no ordinary assignment. What appeared on the surface to be a collection of vehicles and parts was only the beginning of what would become one of the most extraordinary barn finds in auction history.

William L. King Jr. was a Barron pig farmer who, after retiring from farming and selling portions of the family land, devoted decades to collecting Corvettes, Indian motorcycles, Japanese motorcycles, engines, parts, tractors, and automotive memorabilia. A lifelong car enthusiast, King had been involved in drag racing during its earliest—and most dangerous—days. He was also famously private. Few people had ever been allowed inside his barns, and the true scope of his collection was largely unknown.

The estate had already consulted a competing auctioneer who proposed removing select high-value items, transporting them to a fairgrounds, and conducting a live auction—estimating a total result of approximately $200,000.

Strategy

Worley Auctioneers proposed a fundamentally different approach.

Rather than dismantling the collection, Worley recommended preserving it in place and telling the story of William L. King Jr. through a fully branded, globally marketed event. The team believed removing the items from the property would destroy context, diminish authenticity, and significantly reduce value. This was not inventory to be cherry-picked—it was an experience collectors needed to see.

Worley branded the sale “The Ultimate Barn Find Estate Auction” and committed to cataloging everything: vehicles, engines, motorcycles, parts, and collectibles—much of it still hidden. The auction would be conducted online to reach serious collectors worldwide.

Over the next two months, more than ten auction professionals worked in extreme summer heat uncovering extraordinary discoveries across half a dozen barns. Rare Indian Motorcycle parts were found hidden in floorboards, rafters, rafters, and outdoors. Hemi big-block engines sat quietly in barn corners. The property also included a Victorian home built by Kenesaw Mountain Landis, the first Commissioner of Major League Baseball—though it was no longer habitable, having been filled floor-to-ceiling with automotive parts.

Recognizing the importance of accurate identification and credibility, Jerry Jenkins made the strategic decision to bring in outside expertise. Worley hired renowned Indian Motorcycle authority “Injun Wayne”, covering $3,500 in fees plus travel expenses, to spend three days on site identifying, authenticating, and tagging parts. The investment proved critical.

Marketing Innovation

Worley Auctioneers invested more than $100,000 into the production and marketing of the auction—thousands of labor hours, equipment rentals, dumpsters, and a pioneering digital campaign. In 2011, social media marketing was still emerging. Jerry Jenkins began filming discoveries as they were uncovered and posting videos to YouTube, where they quickly spread through niche collector communities.

Momentum surged when a small startup automotive blog, Bring a Trailer, reached out to cover the story. While now a household name in the collector world, at the time it was a fledgling editorial platform. The exposure ignited global interest.

Worley targeted international markets where Indian Motorcycles are especially collectible, including Australia and New Zealand. Bidders participated from Australia, New Zealand, France, Vietnam, across Europe, and throughout the United States. Jenkins routinely fielded calls at 3:00 a.m. to accommodate international collectors.

Local media coverage followed, with both Channel 9 and Channel 12 News in Cincinnati covering the event.

Outcome

The auction exceeded all expectations.

The personal property auction alone generated over $1,000,000, with Indian Motorcycle parts surpassing $300,000. Items the family remembered casually kicking around as children—such as old Indian cylinder jugs—sold for $5,000 per pair. Collectors still reference The Ultimate Barn Find Estate Auction as a landmark event.

Following the success of the personal property auction, the family retained Worley Auctioneers to also sell the real estate. Leveraging the momentum, audience, and credibility built during the barn find event, Worley successfully auctioned the property as well.

Total Results & Value to the Client

Combined, the personal property and real estate auctions totaled $2,048,012.00.

The heirs were ecstatic—not only with the financial outcome, but with the way William L. King Jr.’s legacy was honored and shared with the world. Worley Auctioneers transformed a hidden lifetime collection into a globally followed event, delivering exceptional results through vision, storytelling, expertise, and innovation.

More than a decade later, the family remains in touch—and The Ultimate Barn Find Estate Auction remains a defining moment in Worley Auctioneers’ history.