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Interesting Items from the Great California Garage Sale

Paul Toscano@paul.toscano@ToscanoPaul
WATCH LIVE

California's Great Garage Sale

The “Great California Garage Sale,” , is selling surplus items from the state government in order to help close a substantial budget deficit.Items for sale have been deemed non-essential, which raises the question, why did California have some of them in the first place? This includes more than 500 vehicles, a range of confiscated items and other unlikely objects you wouldn’t expect to be in government hands.Click ahead to see some of the items in this unique garage sale!
Photo: California DGS

The “Great California Garage Sale,” taking place August 28-29, is selling surplus items from the state government in order to help close a substantial budget deficit.

Items for sale have been deemed non-essential, which raises the question, why did California have some of them in the first place? This includes more than 500 vehicles, a range of confiscated items and other unlikely objects you wouldn’t expect to be in government hands. You can also find out more about the auction on our Funny Biz Blog.

Click ahead to see some of the items in this unique garage sale!

By Paul Toscano
Posted 28 Aug 2009

Consumer Electronics

The  garage sale also includes a wide variety of consumer electronics products, including  ten  35mm Cameras, 166 BlackBerrys, eight car stereos, 255 computers, 33 floppy disks, four GPS units, five microwaves, a radar detector, two satellite receivers, video games and even a Sphygmomanometer (a blood pressure meter device).
Photo: California DGS

The garage sale includes a wide variety of consumer electronics products, including  ten  35mm Cameras, 166 BlackBerrys, eight car stereos, 255 computers, 33 floppy disks, four GPS units, five microwaves, a radar detector, two satellite receivers, video games and even a Sphygmomanometer (a blood pressure meter device).

Sacramento Kings Bobbleheads

Only in California, and right from the state’s capitol. On sale are  ten  Sacremento Kings bobble heads, all listed in “fair condition.” There are also other Kings items available, including a “Kings Avenue” sign, Kings flag, poster and towel.
Photo: California DGS

Only in California, and right from the state’s capitol. On sale are ten Sacremento Kings bobble heads, all listed in “fair condition.” There are also other Kings items available, including a “Kings Avenue” sign, Kings flag, poster and towel.

Evacu-Trac Emergency Chairs

Also featured in California's garage sale are two unique safety devices - Evacutrac evacuation chairs, which are used to allow small individuals to "easily evacuate a larger passenger down stairs," according to the company that manufactures them.
Photo: California DGS

Also featured in California's garage sale are two unique safety devices - Evacutrac evacuation chairs, which are used to allow small individuals to "easily evacuate a larger passenger down stairs," according to the company that manufactures them.

XBox360 with Halo 3 cover

One of the  featured  items is an X-Box 360 with a Halo 3 cover. Too bad for California that just this week, Microsoft lowered the price for its X-box 360 Elite system by $100, lowering the government’s potential profit.
Photo: California DGS

One of the  featured  items is an XBox360 with a Halo 3 cover. Too bad for California that just this week, Microsoft lowered the price for its Xbox360 Elite system by $100, lowering the government’s potential profit.

Government Vehicles

The garage sale lists 13 pages of California government vehicles up for sale, with odometers ranging from 21,774 miles to 270,628 miles. An overwhelming amount of these cars are Ford, GM and Chrysler models, with a small number of Toyota, Honda and Hyundai cars for sale. Ironically, many of these cars would have qualified for the federal government’s recently expired “Cash for Clunkers” program.
Photo: California DGS

The garage sale lists 13 pages of California government vehicles up for sale, with odometers ranging from 21,774 miles to 270,628 miles.

An overwhelming amount of these cars are Ford, GM and Chrysler models, with a small number of Toyota, Honda and Hyundai cars for sale. Ironically, many of these cars would have qualified for the federal government’s recently expired “Cash for Clunkers” program.

Surfboard

The official list of  items includes only one surfboard. Interestingly enough, the surfboard has the word “Chronic” across the top, perhaps inadvertently referring to California’s liberal marijuana laws.
Photo: California DGS

The official list of items also includes a surfboard. Interestingly enough, the surfboard has the word “Chronic” across the top, perhaps inadvertently referring to California’s liberal marijuana laws.

Fake Plants

So much for California being the green capital of America. Listed for sale are five "fake plants." At least they were taken care of, as they are all listed in "good condition."
Photo: California DGS

So much for California being the green capital of America. Listed for sale are five "fake plants." At least they were taken care of, as they are all listed in "good condition."

Diamond & gold rings, Watches

Perhaps best said by the Flickr user “Maka” in the comments of one of the government’s posted images of these items… “Why does the state of California own a ring?” In all fairness, the jewelry sold in the auction was originally confiscated goods. Also available are 27 watches.
Photo: California DGS

Perhaps best said by the Flickr user “Maka” in the comments of one of the government’s posted images of these items… “Why does the state of California own a ring?” In all fairness, the jewelry sold in the auction was originally confiscated goods. Also available are 27 watches.

Leather Jacket

Perhaps a confiscated item, this "Harley Davidson" leather jacket is displayed with matching leather gloves and a matching leather hat.
Photo: California DGS

Perhaps a confiscated item, this "Harley Davidson" leather jacket is displayed with matching leather gloves and a matching leather hat.

Exercise Steps

Perhaps the California government’s gym is being downsized, but seemingly only in the exercise step department. Although no other exercise equipment is listed, 39 individual exercise steps are up for sale.
Photo: California DGS

Perhaps the California government’s gym is being downsized, but seemingly only in the exercise step department. Although no other exercise equipment is listed, 39 individual exercise steps are up for sale.

Antique piano

Although one would like to imagine this item was right out of the governor’s mansion, perhaps an extravagant purchase from years past, this antique piano is actually a confiscated item. The dust from on the original photo of the item suggests it has been left unattended for years.
Photo: California DGS

Although one would like to imagine this item was right out of the governor’s mansion, perhaps an extravagant purchase from years past, this antique piano is actually a confiscated item. The dust from on the original photo of the item suggests it has been left unattended for years.

Specialized & Bianchi racing bikes

It’s hard to imagine why California would have invested in the purchase of these high-performance racing bikes, but the government has deemed them  dispensable.
Photo: California DGS

It’s hard to imagine why California would have invested in the purchase of these high-performance racing bikes, but the government has deemed them  dispensable.

Massage Seat

Technically a “Massaging Seat Topper,” it looks like California is forgoing ergonomics with the sale of this genuine back massager.
Photo: California DGS

Technically a “Massaging Seat Topper,” it looks like California is foregoing ergonomics with the sale of this genuine back massager.

Dentist chairs

California is also trying to sell six dental chairs , one of the more  unlikely  items .  Some lucky California dentist may get a bargain on these items. Unfortunately, they are only listed in “fair condition.”
Photo: California DGS

California is also trying to sell six dental chairs, one of the more unlikely items. Some lucky California dentist may get a bargain on these items. Unfortunately, they are only listed in “fair condition.”

CHP motorcycles

Want to ride like the California Highway Patrol does? Well, here’s your chance. Included for sale are several motorcycles, most of them 2004 BMW models. Although they may look new, the bikes have  seen some wear and tear, with 100,025 miles the lowest number on the odometer of these vehicles.
Photo: California DGS

Want to ride like the California Highway Patrol does? Well, here’s your chance. Included for sale are several motorcycles, most of them 2004 BMW models. Although they may look new, the bikes have  seen some wear and tear, with 100,025 miles the lowest number on the odometer of these vehicles.

Fish Rite Boat with Johnson motor

Another outrageous item is a “Fish Rite” boat, along with an outboard Johnson motor. If you’d like the complete package,  there's also a fishing pole, in fair condition.
Photo: California DGS

Another outrageous item is a “Fish Rite” boat, along with an outboard Johnson motor. If you’d like the complete package,  there's also a fishing pole, in fair condition.