Before Chris Hadfield flew in space, he spent evenings and weekends helping his father with projects in the family garage. Alongside the tractors and farm equipment, there was always a special vehicle tucked away in the shed or raised on the hoist.

The cars belonged to Roger Hadfield, an enthusiastic owners’ club member who regularly toured with his wife, Eleanor, driving to events across Canada. He also chronicled several of his cars in the Canadian classic-car magazine Old Autos.

The 11-car collection of British and American luxury classics will be offered at Hershey on 7–8 October.

Highlights include an American-built 1924 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Mayfair Town Car by Merrimac; a 1923 McLaughlin-Buick 23/45 Special Touring, which won Best in Class at the Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance; and a four-owners from new 1912 Hupmobile Model 32 Torpedo Touring. Bentley, International Harvester, and Ruggles are also represented.

For Chris, who flew on two Space Shuttle missions and commanded the International Space Station, the collection reflects an appreciation of machinery cultivated at home.

“Growing up on the Hadfield family farm, I was aware from an early age of two things: technology enables civilization to exist, and technology can be beautiful,” he told RM Sotheby’s.

That appreciation grew through time spent working alongside his father.

“Much of our time growing up in the Hadfield family was spent in the garage. In addition to readying and fixing tractors and implements for planting and harvest, there was also always at least one special vehicle parked out of the way in the shed, or up high on the hoist. These were family projects, with each of us helping our dad evenings and weekends.”