Barrett-Jackson: An automobile auction unlike any other
The World’s Greatest Collector Car Auctions
Temptation is hard to resist.
There I was, in the middle of Arizona, and I was feeling the temptation to bid for a car. It was a beautiful orange Boss 302 Mustang, and the starting bid was USD 40k. I'm feeling the urge: should I sign up for the badge to bid and feel the thrill of an auction? Or should I do the responsible thing and pay the salaries of my guys?
That is the temptation you feel when you're at Barrett-Jackson.
When we arrived early in Arizona to drive Lexus’ all-new premium off-roader – the GX 550; we didn’t expect to be right in the middle of Arizona's car week. It's an event made up of the Arizona Concours, and a bunch of collector car auctions. We decided to make the most out of our time by making a side trip to check out the festivities at Barrett-Jackson.
World’s Greatest Collector Car Auctions
Everyone wants to be the best, the greatest, the grandest at something in the world. We only live once, why settle for less? We experience Barrett-Jackson’s year-opening car auction event for ourselves and find out why it brands itself as such.
We arrived a bit early to get closer to the action on the bidding floor but maintained our composure and tried not to raise our hands for fear of accidentally going home with a car.
Founders Tom Barrett and Russ Jackson held their first car auction, originally as a one-time event in December 1971. The success turned it into an annual event, which inspired other car auctions in the Scottsdale area. Barrett-Jackson also holds auction events in other cities, but the Scottsdale event remains its flagship auction that is attended by visitors and buyers from around the world.
Barrett-Jackson is more than an auction but a convergence of a car show, festival, and good old Americana. Automakers like Dodge, Ford, and Toyota also offered thrill rides and hot laps to visitors who just needed to sign up. They had a band playing on stage, there was barbeque, burgers, hotdogs, fries, and families and friends enjoying together.
Manufacturer displays
Car collectors and enthusiasts are also car buyers. Car brands know this and join the festivities at Barrett-Jackson. Incidentally, the first brand that welcomed us was Lexus where we got acquainted with the new GX, some of their latest models such as the TX (which we won't likely get in the Philippines), and other electrified models.
The fairest of them all
With over 2,000 cars sold at the event with a total value of over $200 million, this 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL "Gullwing" fetched a winning bid of $3,410,000 and was the most expensive car sold at the event. The second most expensive car was a 2018 Bugatti Chiron which fetched $2,970,000. One notable car sold was a blue 1997 Lamborghini Diablo VT Roadster formerly owned by Donald J. Trump, former US president.
More than just cars
Collectibles such as vintage neon signs, fuel pumps, and other car memorabilia are also up for auction or purchase at the event. Organizers revealed that the 1,180 pieces of automobilia sold fetched a total of $6.7 million.
Not just classic cars
Contrary to popular belief, collector car auctions don't just feature classic cars. Unique builds like this custom 2009 AM General Military Humvee that was slammed and turned into a 6x6. The builders Gas Monkey Garage, Danton Arts Kustoms, and Frenchy Exports even slipped in a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 Hellcat engine mounted in the middle. It sold for $750,000. It is now the world's most expensive Humvee.
Showcase Pavillion
The showcase pavilion is where cars get displayed before and after they get auctioned off, featuring an array of collector cars from preserved to restored classics, restomods, crazy customs, and cars out of your wildest dreams. We ogled and admired the seemingly endless sea of cars. We also spotted some of our favorite cars and those which we aspire for.
Likely to arrive in the country this year, we spotted the Toyota Land Cruiser 250 at the Toyota booth as well. It is a platform sibling of the Lexus GX.
For enthusiasts and fans big or small, the event also welcomes children. This particular little car fan caught our attention as she was taking photos of the cars herself with an equally adorable camera.
By the afternoon, the seemingly relaxed auction floor was filled with crowds wanting a feel of the car auction scene themselves even just to witness and marvel in awe at the beautiful machinery and prices they fetch.
To Bid or Not To Bid
In the end, I didn't bid for the 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302. That would have been reckless, especially since the winning bid was USD 63,000 (about PHP 3.53 million) before all the commissions and other fees associated with the sale that brought it up to USD 71,500 (about PHP 4 million). And bringing it back to the Philippines would been a bit complicated. I don't think my new frequent flier status allows me to check in a car, tax free.
Still, it was fun to be there and witness it all. Maybe I'll just get a few T-shirts for the boys from their wall of merch. That was a quick way to dispose of bills.
I got a T-shirt with a Mustang instead. At least that one I can bring back, no problem.
