More to this auction than meets the eye: Wife forces sale of £200k Transformer collection to pay off the mortgage

It was a childhood hobby that became a lifelong obsession.



As the years went by, Shane Fenton’s collection of cult Transformer toys just grew and grew. and grew.



Not just in volume but also in value, they are worth a cool £200,000.

Impressive – except his partner has now stepped in to insist that he sells his stash of the Japanese-inspired toys to pay off the mortgage... or else.

No disguise: Transformers super fan Shane Fenton has spent his lifetime building up his stash of more than 1,000 Transformers models at his house in Boddam, Aberdeenshire

Yesterday, as 32-year-old Mr Fenton surveyed his collection which fills the master bedroom of his home at Boddam, near Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, he ruefully admitted defeat. ‘It’s true I could pay off my mortgage twice over if I sold them,’ he said.



‘My partner who wants to start a family is desperate for me to get rid of them so I suppose they’ll have to go.’



His only stipulation is that the collection is sold as complete lot to a single buyer who cares about the brand. ‘At least I’d know they weren’t being ruined by someone playing with them,’ he explained.

Mr Fenton’s obsession began when he was given a Trans-robo, Transformers’ Japanese predecessor, as his first ever toy when he was just three-years-old.



A 12-year career in the army saw him teased by friends after he kitted out his room Transformers-style.



Every spare penny went on his collection. ‘I don’t smoke or drink so that was what I spent it on,’ he said. ‘And every present I got for Christmas and birthdays had something to do with Transformers.’

Moving out: Transformers collector Shane Fenton has been ordered to sell off his £200,000 collection - so he can pay off his mortgage.

Now a technical instructor for a marine company, his passion has never dwindled – and he has even forked out $26,000 on a U.S. collecting website in the past six years.



Almost every one of the items are in sealed boxes and still in mint condition. And he has researched each item online to estimate how much his vast collection is worth.



So far Mr Fenton, who even has two Transformers tattoos on his arms, has received offers from businesses in England.



The thought of parting with his vast collection upsets him but he accepts he has to think of the future.

He said: ‘My biggest fear is that if we have kids, they might rip them open and play with them.



‘If I keep collecting I’d need a bigger house to store them all and the only way I can get a bigger house is to sell them. It’s a catch 22.’



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His huge collection is made up of items ranging from action figures, bean- bags, rare one-off Japanese releases and toys signed by the original voice actors from the films.



The Transformers franchise has been growing steadily in recent years.

And the third sci-fi blockbuster film based on toy has just been released in cinemas.



Dark of the Moon is expected to significantly add to the 700miliion dollar box-office takings. Mr Fenton, who was at a preview screening of the movie, is already booked in for another viewing of the film this weekend.



He said: ‘The team have finally listened to the fans and delivered what they want, an adult version of the original cartoon, with action, adventure and a story line.



‘I can only hope that a fourth instalment will not be too far away.’

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Mr Fenton’s girlfriend, who did not want to be named, said she wanted space back in the house because they planned to start a family. The couple have been together for six years but have been forced to sleep in the guest room of their village home because his collection has taken over their bedroom.



His 32-year-old partner said: ‘He has finally given in to me and I can’t wait to get rid of them. His collection has been getting bigger and bigger since we moved in together. He kept on ordering boxes from Canada.



‘I told him he is not a child anymore – he’s going to be 33 next year. His sister thinks he is mad.’



The couple are now busy compiling lists of all the items for sale.



Five stores specialising in collectors’ items in England have already been in touch with offers since word got out he is selling them.



His girlfriend said the couple planned to start trying for a baby after their three-week holiday to Florida in October.



And she said she had no fears of his collection obsession returning.

