MIDWEEK RECORD CROWDS AT DAY FIVE OF BARRETT-JACKSON
By: Barrett-Jackson
You would have never guessed it was a Wednesday if you were walking around Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale today. The party atmosphere, the crowds, and the excitement on the auction block made it feel more like a Friday. The collect car hobby is truly thriving. Where else can you see a beautifully restored Jaguar, a classic sightseeing bus and a sleek Street-Rod crossing the same auction block? You can always count on diversity at Barrett-Jackson, and today was no exception.
Today saw the first of 10 charity cars cross the block. For the sixth year running, SEMA Cares put forward a vehicle to benefit Childhelp and Victory Junction, two great charities whose goal is solely to help children. To great applause, the fully loaded 2015 Jeep Wrangler Custom SUV (Lot #3001) sold for $85,000—100 percent of which will go directly to the charities, as Barrett-Jackson waives all fees.
Big hits today were two Gas Monkey Garage vehicles from the popular Discovery Channel show 'Fast 'N Loud.' With stars Richard Rawlings and Dennis Collins looking on, a 1966 Volkswagen Van Custom Shorty Bus (Lot 384.1) fetched $38,500, while their 1969 Ford F-100 pickup (Lot 450.1) went for $42,900.
Whether re-creations or Resto-Mods, Mopars with non-original HEMI engines continue to be strong performers. Resplendent in its Plum Crazy Purple paint, a 1971 Plymouth Barracuda HEMI re-creation (Lot #541) was a perfect example of this, rolling across the block for $71,500. Another attention-grabber in this category was a 1968 Dodge Charger 6.1-liter HEMI Custom (Lot #511), which sold for $77,000.
It was all about the blue with another crowd-pleaser—a Marina Blue 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 with matching blue interior (Lot #462). This rare, highly optioned car with its F40 suspension and Strato bucket seats went for $66,000.
Exuding style and '50s Americana, three full-size Mopar convertibles crossed the block today. A 1960 Plymouth Fury convertible (Lot #544) with a 413ci/375hp Sonoramic Commando Power Package and a 1955 DeSoto Fireflite convertible (Lot #545) with an early HEMI were part of a trio that included one of our top sellers of the day, the 1957 DeSoto Fireflite (Lot #483).
Photo credit: Barrett-Jackson posted on conceptcarz.com