Michigan Couple Donates Collection Of 35 Classic Cars, Valued At Over $2 Million, To Northwood University

Bandit Industries isn’t a household name, but the wood chipper business has been good to Michael Morey, who founded the company in 1987.

His success enabled him to fuel a passion for car collecting and he’s amassed dozens of vehicles over the years. Now, Michael and his wife, Dianne, are giving back and donating 35 vehicles to Northwood University.

The university, which is located in Midland, Michigan, will receive the titles by the end of the year and is planning on selling most of the vehicles at Mecum’s Kissimmee Auction on January 6th. The collection is diverse and includes the rare 1981 Teledyne Continental Cheetah that we talked about last week.

Also: Rare 1981 Teledyne Continental Cheetah Going Up For Auction

Other models going under the hammer include classic Chevrolet pickups and Bel Airs as well as a couple of Corvettes. They’ll be joined by a 1966 Pontiac GTO, a 1969 Plymouth Hemi GTX, a 1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda, and a 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T.

The cars are estimated to be worth more than $2 (£1.6 / €1.9) million and the university plans on using up to $1 million (£820,400 / €953,050) of the proceeds to “enhance the campus experience and build upon recent campus improvements.” The rest of the funds will be used to build a scholarship and endowment fund that supports Northwood University’s “free-enterprise mission.”

The university will be holding onto a 1958 Corvette, to display on campus, and the Morey’s released a statement saying, “The cars have been a large part of our lives” but “it’s time for these cars to write a new chapter, and support young men and women who want to work hard, build something of their own, and positively influence the communities they call home.”

Northwood President Kent MacDonald remarked, “We are incredibly grateful to Michael and Dianne for this extraordinary gift, which will be used to enhance our Midland campus, create scholarship opportunities, and build the university’s endowment for future students.”

The Detroit Free Press reports the Morey’s will be keeping three cars that have sentimental value and their generous donation was spurred by their cousin, Lon Morey, who is also in the wood chipper business.