Staff Photo by Tim Barber A Carroll and Greene Auction company worker unlocks a PT Cruiser and holds the keys to all six vehicles that were scheduled to be auctioned on Thursday at the McKenzie Financial Center in Cleveland.

Though four of Steve A. "Toby" McKenzie's vehicles drew bids too low for purchase, auctioneers said Thursday the sale of the Cleveland businessman's office items was successful.

Even so, the more than $78,000 garnered from the auction will make only a microscopic dent in the more than $150 million Mr. McKenzie allegedly owes creditors.

"I think they got a fair price at everything," said Johnny Holden, a friend of Mr. McKenzie's and chairman and CEO of Pioneer Credit Co., for which he was buying furniture. "It's a sad day to see them do it, though."

More than 60 people crowded the fourth floor of Mr. McKenzie's former office building on North Ocoee Street in hopes of purchasing leather sofas, bookshelves, desks, plants and paintings. An hour and a half later, they moved to the parking lot, where five cars and a truck were up for sale. Only a 2005 Toyota Scion and a 2005 Toyota Tacoma sold.

On the furniture and other office furnishings, bids ranged from about $250 to $2,500.

The rest did not receive high-enough bids, according to bankruptcy trustee Kenneth Still, who made the final decision on all sales.

Mr. Still declined comment on the auction or its results.

Auctioneer Max Carroll of Carroll and Green tried repeatedly to get people to raise their bids but ended the bidding on several items with no sales.

"We knew what the payoff on the cars was," he said, but bidders didn't cast bids high enough to cover those amounts.

Frieda Sisco attended the auction with one purchase goal -- the Scion. The Calhoun, Tenn., woman already owns a Scion but bought another for her son. She paid $8,250 for the car.

"I did look (at the other items), but mostly I had my mind on getting the car," she said. "Luckily, everything worked out."

Mr. McKenzie filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this year after he was ordered to make good on lease payments defaulted upon almost a year ago, one of several lawsuits he faced.

He made his fortune in the check cashing business and is known for donating money with his then-wife Brenda to help complete the construction of McKenzie Arena on the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga campus.

In February, Mr. McKenzie's attorney told the Times Free Press that the businessman had been hospitalized because of pre-existing conditions.