Kirk F. White, the early Philadelphia-based Ferrari dealer who supplied cars that Roger Penske’s team raced and that Brock Yates and Dan Gurney drove across the country, died March 20. He was in his early 80s.
But while White’s Ferraris might be the first things that people remember about his long career in cars, perhaps his most important long-term contribution to the car community was being the founder of the modern collector car auction industry.
Back in 2015, The ClassicCars.com Journal published a four-part series on White’s staging of the first modern classic car auction.
“Ranging from small, local events to such extravaganzas as Arizona Auction Week and the mid-summer carfest on California’s Monterey Peninsula, classic car auctions have become a billion-dollar industry annually in the United States,” we wrote at the time.
“Which got us to wondering: When and where did this industry get its start? So we checked the archives, and asked some old timers, and here’s what we discovered.”
What we discovered was the story of Kirk F. White, which we shared in four installments:
‘It has to work if it were done right,’ so Kirk White staged the first modern classic car auction
‘Tiny’ Gould makes a very big introduction
The consignments arrive, but so does an act of vandalism
At last, it’s auction day, the first of many to come
White had moved from Philadelphia to semi-retirement in Florida, where he was writing an autobiography, Don’t Wash Mine. He shared completed chapters with friends and also through his Facebook page, where he reported recently that his book would be published, probably late this year, by Dalton-Watson Books.
The various chapters also are available on the Don’t Wash Mine website.
A great friend, mentor and enthusiast. I met Kirk in 1971 at Daytona when he supplied the 512 Ferrari to Roger Penske. He was an enthusiast first and always ahead of the curve, be it Ferrari’s, Spin Dizzies, hot rods….it was if he could see the future. I’ll miss our conversations and company. He was, indeed, one-of-a-kind. Rest in peace, my friend.
Bill Warner
Kirk was my Dad. The family is deeply mourning his loss. Seeing this article is such a gift as is your kind comment. Kirk was a true gentleman and he loved my mother and his other children Geoffrey, Chris, Libby and Trip deeply. He was a great father.
Thank you for this tribute.
I had several nice conversations a few year ago with your Dad about the start of his auction business. I’ve enjoyed his subsequent autobiography chapters he’s sent and look forward to the book to be available to read the full story. Cherish the memories as you grieve.
I had a wonderful opportunity to communicate with Kirk over many years . He always enjoyed reminiscing about his wholesale Ferrari experience. He was also an expert on early tin toys. Amanda your father was a special person, figuring you might agree. My condolences to you and your family.
he was my friend
Our father’s book is published and available at:
https://www.daltonwatson.com/Kirk-F-White-Don-t-Wash-Mine-p/dont-wash-mine.htm
Mandy, Libby, Geoff, Chris and Trip
Great ❤️
I attended Kirk’s second auction with my grandfather Roberts Harrison in April 1972. Of course as a 9 year old boy, the 1917 Renault tank was my favorite.
Roberts Harrison was one of the financial backers of the Ferrari 512M, which he later purchased from Kirk and owned from 1972-1985. He also purchased a 1936 Aston Martin LM racer in Kirk’s first auction held on May 1, 1971. The Aston now is in the Fred Simone collection.
Just purchased the book off of eBay, look forward to reading it.
Trying to hunt down a copy of the book, I didn’t get one at the time it was printed. I own the ‘32 Ford he purchased from Jim Lowrey and deeply regret not contacting g Kirk to chat about it – I believe that a small segment of the book is devoted to the purchase at Hershey. Mr. White was quite a legend!
I purchased me copy From Auto Books and Aero books in Burbank, Ca.