Whether they were there to purchase the car of their dreams or just to dream about the cars, more than 1,200 people wandered among decades of automotive history at the Show Me Center during Smith Auction Co.'s collector car auction Saturday.

Doors opened at 8 a.m. The auction was packed wall-to-wall with more than 170 cars and trucks from household names like Ford, Chevrolet, Dodge, GMC, Jeep and Plymouth. American muscle cars like a 1968 Plymouth Roadrunner in bumblebee yellow stood with some eclectic rides like the 1970 Manix VW Dune Buggy with a custom island sunset paint job.

"It's working pretty well," said Sherm Smith, owner of Smith's. Smith's has been holding auctions at the Show Me Center for 16 years. Smith was pleased with the turnout as well as the sales early in the day.

A 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air sold for $23,000.

"It's exciting to come to these auctions, even if you're not here to buy," said Lawrence Wilkerson of Cairo, Ill. "The auctioneers keep things intense, and it is fun to watch the bidders as they make the choice on whether to buy or not. Of course, I come here to see these cool cars and trucks, but the auctions are more fun than the shows."

Buyers, easily identified by the bidding numbers hanging on a lanyard from their necks, perused the sea of vehicles looking for their next big score.

"We're selling and buying," said Bill Hopkins of Caruthersville, Mo. Hopkins and his partner, Bill Carter of Cape Girardeau, were selling a 1966 Corvette, which many guessed would be the most expensive car at the auction.

"We're looking for General Motors, preferably, and Camaros, for sure," Hopkins said.

"If it looks nice at a good price, that's what we're hunting," Carter said.

Hopkins and Carter rebuild and restore cars; Carter does the body work, while Hopkins does the mechanical work.

Smith's Auction Co. will return to the Show Me Center for another collector car auction July 9 and 10. For more information, visit www.smithsauctioncompany.com.