Rob Wolfe of 'American Pickers' to bring 400 to 500 old cars to the Bettendorf riverfront

Rob Wolfe estimates he’s been in the picking business full time for 40 years, and over that time, he's driven an estimated 50,000 miles a year just to discover and buy antiques from across the country.

That doesn’t include the mileage for his travels for “American Pickers,” the History Channel show he has starred on with his brother, Mike Wolfe, since it started airing in January 2010.

On this Monday morning, he’s driving home from Wisconsin, where he picked up a 1935 Ford panel truck that was stored in a barn.

“We get emails and people reaching out on Instagram and Facebook,” Wolfe said as he’s driving back to his warehouses in downtown Davenport. “It’s just nonstop people messaging me. My brother gets more messages than I do. A lot more.”

Wolfe tries to talk to everyone who calls, but he has messages from people in Connecticut, Oregon and California on a recent list who have items they want him to consider. Whole estates. Old signs. Antique autos.

“It’s impossible,” he said of trying to keep up with the calls, emails and messages. “That’s kind of what the show has done as a whole across the board.”

Don’t read that as a weariness; it’s the price of fame.

Wolfe wants to give everyday Joes, like the folks he meets while he’s picking his way across the United States, a shot at growing their own appreciation for the trade he learned from his older brother.

More: Rob Wolfe is ready to step out from his brother's 'Pickers' shadow, create his own legacy

What is Bettendorf Americana?

On Aug. 1-3, Wolfe brings the Bettendorf Americana event to the Isle of Capri casino in Bettendorf along the Mississippi River.

“I wanted to create a heritage event that would bring car and antique enthusiasts from around the globe to connect them to our region,” Wolfe says in a promo for the event.

The twin arches of the new Iowa-Illinois Memorial Bridge, known as the I-74 Bridge, stand as a backdrop to the casino.

“When you’re coming over the bridge, you’re going to see probably 400 to 500 cars that will be on the riverfront,” he said.

More: Want to be on 'American Pickers'? Mike Wolfe and crew will be picking in Iowa this fall

What autos will be on display at Bettendorf Americana?

The sweeping view of this three-day event features antiques from dozens of vendors representing at least 42 states. The event includes “not a typical car show,” with everything older than 1970, including “things people haven’t seen before.”

Wolfe plans to feature a GM Futurliner at the show. The vehicle was part of GM’s Parade of Progress in the 1940s, traveling North America to promote future cars and technology at World Fairs or even local fairs. It looks like a souped-up, art deco train engine.

“They were meant to serve as a way to show people when new things came out, such as the washer and dryer, the radio, your iron, all these new technologies,” Wolfe said.

He’ll also have autos from the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum and the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation on display.

Wolfe plans to show some of his own pieces at the show as well — such as a roadster he restored and a truck that he just finished refurbishing after buying it on the show a dozen years ago in Washington state.

“My brother ended up giving it to me on the show, and I've actually held on to it for these many years,” he said.

More: Rob Wolfe is ready to step out from his brother's 'Pickers' shadow, create his own legacy

What will Richmond Auctions sell?

Some of these items will be up for auction by Richmond Auctions, which specializes in automobilia, gas, soda, oil and other collectibles. The Aug. 2 auction includes 300 lots of neon signs, porcelain signs, tin signs, advertising displays, gas pump globes and oil cans. Bidders can see items up for sale online: bid.richmondauctions.com .

Rob Wolfe plans scholarships to help students get into picking

But the biggest reason Wolfe chose to do this event is to set up scholarships for students who want to go into antiques, preservation, or auctioneering as a career.

“The main reason I brought it about was it’s a way to give back to an industry that continued to give to me and my family for the last 40 years,” Wolfe said.

He's now 58, and Mike Wolfe is 60.

The price of admission — participants pay $10 for a three-day wristband — will go toward scholarships . Wolfe hopes to raise as much as $100,000 for the cause.

“I always tell these old guys, ‘Hey, you can die with as much money as you want, but if you're not giving back to the antique community in general, picking up the next guy and trying to make him understand what antiques are about, and getting the younger people involved, that's what this is all about.’”

Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor and dining reporter at The Des Moines Register. Follow her on Facebook , Twitter , or Instagram , or drop her a line at sstapleton@gannett.com .

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Rob Wolfe of 'American Pickers' to bring 400 to 500 old cars to the Bettendorf riverfront