Very few auctions earn the distinction of being described only as “Barrett-Jackson” but that’s the sobriquet applied to B-J’s annual January auction at WestWorld in Scottsdale.
It was the original and it remains – despite the spawn of imitators and competitors – one of a kind. Not that it has remained the same, however, evolving steadily through the past forty years to reach today’s “event” stature. But still, if you say you’re going to “Barrett-Jackson” everyone knows it means WestWorld in January, not Las Vegas, Palm Beach or Houston. Russ and Nellie Jackson, Tom Barrett and the Jackson sons Brian and Craig created, largely from the whole cloth, the concept of the high-content collector car auction.
And they turned it into a massive spectator draw. They filled acres of tent space with vendors doing millions of dollars in business selling everything from model cars and art to Western regalia, massaging chairs and flagpoles. They populated the WestWorld polo field (actually a catch basin for rainfall overflow with all the complication that entailed in some damp years) with ride & drives, sometimes from competing Detroit manufacturers in the same year.
Everyone has B-J stories. The year of the Big Wind when haulers lined up alongside the American Flag tent as a windbreak while aerodynamic forces lifted gigantic metal tent poles feet off the ground. The year it snowed. And of course the GM Futurliner year when the consignors were looking for $300K and it went away to Ron Pratte for $4.32 million after Spanky Assiter recognized Ralph Whitworth’s $4 million bid – that was actually a wave-off.
Barrett-Jackson has settled back into a more predictable pattern in recent years with a heavy consignment of custom, modified and RestoMod (a category B-J originated and popularized) cars. Out of 1,907 vehicle lots offered in 2023, 835 of them were self-described as custom, re-creation or RestoMod, 43.8% of the lots crossing the B-J block.
Observers looking for hints about the new year’s market were left clueless when dealing with customs, each of them unique, individual and idiosyncratic, imparting little insight into the value of the vast majority of collector cars.
But Barrett-Jackson is the premier celebration of the enthusiastic, often irrational, love of beautiful, powerful, imaginative cars. B-J is probably the only auction where bus loads of buyers happily go home proudly proclaiming, “I paid a world record price for this car at Barrett-Jackson.”
Here are the numbers:
| Year | Cars Sold/ Offered | Sale % | Average Sale | Median Sale | Total $ |
| 2023 | 1,907/1,907 | 100% | $96,491 | $63,800
[66.1%] |
$184,007,595 |
| 2022 | 1,857/1,857 | 100% | $105,332 | $64,900
[61.1%] |
$195,600,725 |
| 2021 | 1,063/1,063 | 100% | $95,470 | $55,000
[57.6%] |
$101,484,620 |
| 2020 | 1,929/1,929 | 100% | $71,101 | $49,500
[69.6%] |
$137,153,570 |
Due to family commitments I didn’t go to B-J in 2023. On-site reports are by Andrew Newton and Greg Ingold.
Subsequently B-noted the death of Don Williams in early March, an early and prolific contributor to Barrett-Jackson’s evolution and consignor of some of its best Classic cars. Don understood the collector car market and through his Blackhawk Collection (distinct from the Blackhawk Museum) owned, brokered or facilitated a litany of historic, beautiful, important cars. He was always courteous, always willing to impart his knowledge and created one of my favorite phrases for spectacular coachwork: “It’s no ‘walk-by’”. Neither was Don and I have gained immeasurably from his thirty years of friendship, confidence and understanding.
Lot # 19 1979 Ford F-250 3/4 Ton Styleside Long Bed; S/N F25HRFC3137; Brown, Tan/Tan vinyl, cloth; Visually maintained, largely original 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $10,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $11,000 – 351/156hp, automatic, camper-style bed topper that has been on the truck since new, factory air conditioning, original radio. – Well-preserved original condition with paint chips and fading, worn trim, and small dings. In remarkably good shape given its age and utilitarian use, and the 59,419 miles on the odometer are represented as actual. – A Southwestern vehicle that probably spent most of its life parked under a carport (given its general lack of ultraviolet ray damage) and used for infrequent weekend trips into the desert. It’s still appropriate for that purpose with a new family and is a good value for the money at this price.
Lot # 37 1977 Lotus Eclat Coupe; S/N 100190E; Yellow/Black; Enthusiast restoration 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $13,900 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $15,290 – 1,973/160hp, alloy wheels, caps, Toyo tires, LeCarra woodrim steering wheel, wood shift knob. – With the same owner for about 25 years and got restoration work somewhere in that time. What a surprise…it’s leaking fluids. Older paint with some overspray on the rubber and a few of the stress cracks endemic to old Lotuses. Clean, bright bumpers but scratched window frames. The headlights are up despite the car being off, so maybe they’re stuck. Aged wheels. Clean, possibly newer seats but worn shift knob and warped console. A bit grimy underneath but there isn’t any rot, at least that I can see, but a big area of rust on these cars is the backbone chassis and that isn’t really visible with the car on the ground. It’s a leaky old example of one of Lotus’s most infamously unreliable cars, sold early on day one of the auction. What could go wrong? – The Eclat, a slightly sportier fastback version of the Gremlin-esque 1974-82 Elite, was not Lotus’s best. Part of the company’s attempted move upmarket in the 1970s, it is fun and stylish but plagued by all the reliability and build quality issues you hear about on old Lotuses, and whoever came up with the old joke that Lotus stands for “Lots Of Trouble, Usually Serious” may have owned one. Its natural habitat is usually either disintegrating in someone’s garage or driveway, or sitting on eBay Motors with a temptingly low asking price, so good running and driving Eclats are rare. They do exist, though, and they have sold in the mid-teens. But this car doesn’t look that good, and the puddle forming on the ground underneath it is probably just the beginning. It looks like the kind of car you pay 15 grand for, put another 10 grand into, give up, and then sell for 15.
Lot # 96 1949 Plymouth Deluxe 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N 25504357; Yukon Gray/Light Gray; Older restoration 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $22,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $24,200 – 218/97hp six, column shift 3-speed with overdrive, wide whitewall tires, heat and defrost, radio, clock. – Older restoration with some stress cracks and swirls in the paint, and the rear brightwork significantly faded. The interior, though, is in excellent shape. Previously owned by actor Kathy Bates, though it’s not clear when or for how long. – This might be the first time anyone has ever said this, but Kathy Bates is no Steve McQueen. Previous celebrity ownership almost never hurts when you’re trying to sell a car, but the list of names that really send bidding sky-high is a relatively short one. Even so, this is a very high price for an unremarkable car, and a big bump over the $15,950 that it sold for at Mecum Monterey in 2021. There must have been some Misery fans at WestWorld this year.
Lot # 146 1969 Datsun 1600 Convertible; S/N SPL31126307; Light Yellow/Black vinyl; Black vinyl top; Enthusiast restoration 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $15,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $16,500 – 1,595/96hp, 4-speed, hub caps, Goodyear tires, original AM-FM radio. – Represented as a California car since new, and with 81,510 actual miles. Good older paint and chrome that were redone at some point. There were masking issues around the windshield but that’s it. The steering wheel and door cards are worn but the interior is mostly solid. Some of the finish is cracking on the wheels. The possibly original top is rough, with crudely stitched up tears and a scratched rear window. Underbody looks remarkably clean, probably refinished at some point. Not restored, just got major attention when it needed it. – The Datsun Roadster (known as the Fairlady in Japan) is a bit like a Far East MGB, just more sophisticated, quicker, a whole lot rarer and a little more valuable, although it doesn’t enjoy the same aftermarket support as its British doppelganger. Datsun Roadsters (available in 1500, 1600, and 2000cc versions) have a following but haven’t seen the same kind of massive leaps in price as the later, more usable, game-changing Z-Cars and other newer Japanese classics. This was a fair, somewhat modest price for a solid car and a lot of fun per dollar.
Lot # 178.1 1959 Ford Country Sedan 2-Dr. Station Wagon; S/N H9FR306965; Inca Yellow, Colonial White roof/Brown, Light Brown; Visually maintained, largely original 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $43,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $47,300 – 352/300hp, column shift 3-speed, overdrive, wheel covers, whitewalls, factory radio, spotlight mirror. – From the Boyd collection. Represented as original other than a lower body repaint, although all the yellow parts look like an older respray. Well-preserved chrome with only mild pitting on the door handles and rear bumper. Clean wheels. Tidy underneath. Well-preserved interior. A charming `50s wagon, and you hardly ever see the Fords anymore compared to Chevrolets. – This is an intriguing combination of station wagon style and utility with a potent engine and standard transmission. It attracted plenty of attention if only to judge from its generous price, a comment on the current vogue for station wagons and the appeal of its originality and preservation.
Lot # 180 1956 Cadillac Sedan de Ville 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N 5662145523; Light Blue, Dark Blue roof/Blue, White; Unrestored original 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $45,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $49,500 – 365/285hp, automatic, power steering and brakes, signal seeking radio. – From the Boyd collection. Showing 12,374 reportedly original miles. The paint has dulled from age, and there are some blemishes and scuffs on the fenders just behind the headlights. The windshield is delaminating at the edges. The mechanicals show some aging but not excessively so and the interior presents little visible wear. A solid, completely original Sedan DeVille. – This is an impressive, artifact of a Cadillac and we think it should be left and enjoyed exactly as-is rather than restored. And at this price, which includes a massive premium for preservation, it’s far too expensive to embark on much restorative work, anyway.
Lot # 182.1 1954 Triumph TR2 Roadster; S/N TS1113L0; Engine # TS1264E; Red/Tan leather; Black top; Older restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $31,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $34,100 – 1,991/90hp, 4-speed with overdrive, hub caps and trim rings, dual wing mirrors, boot cover, wood shift knob, tonneau cover. – Restored in the early 2010s. Originally finished in Ice Blue. Overdrive currently doesn’t work. Decent respray with some blemishes up front and chipping around the door edges. Lightly stretched leather but mostly lovely interior. Beautiful wheels and new-looking tires. Nearly spotless underbody. Restored to the standards of a cheap-ish British classic, and seemingly seldom driven since. – The TR2 was Triumph’s first serious sports car play for the blossoming roadster market in the United States, and its mix of performance and affordability set the tone for Triumph sports cars all the way up until the company went bust. In its day, the TR2 was one of the cheapest ways to hit triple-digit speeds, bridging the gap between budget MGs and more expensive Jaguar XKs, and TRs filled many an early SCCA race grid. TR2s are much rarer than the slightly more practical TR3 that replaced them (fewer than 9,000 TR2s vs. nearly 75,000 TR3s) yet they’re typically worth only a few thousand more than their successors. This one sold for $31,763 on Bring a Trailer back in 2020, and it appears the winning bidder there enjoyed it for a few years, put 1,152 miles on the odometer, and then just broke even at Barrett-Jackson. Fair deal.
Lot # 253 1983 Dodge Shelby Charger Hatchback; S/N 1B3BZ6485DD170629; Blue, Gray/White vinyl, Blue cloth; Unrestored original 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $25,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $27,500 – 2.2/94hp, 5-speed, alloy wheels, Dunlop Direzza tires, sunroof, factory radio. – Slightly faded paint with numerous chips on the front and a crack in the bumper. Rough-looking wheels. Dry weather stripping. Lightly worn interior. Represented as part of the personal collection of Carroll Shelby, although the title reads the Carroll Shelby foundation. – A car of little importance other than its personal connection to Carroll Shelby, retained by him until his death, probably as a memento of his renewed association with Lee Iacocca at Chrysler. Bonhams sold it at Scottsdale in 2019 for $26,880, and despite everything that has happened in the car market in the four years since, Scottsdale bidders put approximately the same value on it in 2023.
Lot # 349 1967 MG MGB Mk I Roadster; S/N GHN3L107782; British Racing Green/Black piped in Red; Black top; Recent restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $32,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $35,200 – 1,798/95hp, Monza exhaust, 4-speed, alloy wheels, store brand tires, boot cover, woodrim steering wheel. – Represented with 200 miles on a restoration and represented as the original engine. Arizona car since new. Beautiful new interior, although upholstery isn’t the correct type. Restored, dry and clean underneath. Good fresh paint. Older chrome with scratches on the rear bumper. Dull marker lenses. The panel fit also isn’t very good, particularly on the doors. A few details away from being perfect but, come on, it’s just an MGB. – Don’t tell that to the buyer, though. This is concours car money for something that isn’t up to that standard. Original drivetrain and fresh restoration work are big pluses on an MG, but these are not rare roadsters and it would not be difficult to find one this good for cheaper. Buyer paid for the satisfaction of right here, right now.
Lot # 434.1 1985 Chevrolet K10 Blazer Silverado Sport Utility Vehicle 4×4; S/N 1G8EK18C1FF154012; Red, White roof/Red cloth; Visually maintained, largely original 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $50,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $55,000 – 6.2L Detroit Diesel, air conditioning, class 3 tow hitch, bed cap, AM-FM radio. Includes window sticker and manuals. – Good original paint with some fading at the cowl. The belt line trim has fading, especially at the tailgate. Parts of the underbody appear repainted as the paint is far too clean to be original. The interior presents well, and the dash is crack free, which is a big deal on one of these. Overall a decent, mostly original finish Blazer. – SUVs were the center of attention at WestWorld this year and brought some eye-watering prices whether Restomodded or, in this case, original.
Lot # 457.1 1967 Dodge D200 Power Wagon Sweptline Pickup; S/N 1281740978; Beige/Black cloth; Truck restoration 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $37,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $40,700 – 383 Magnum, automatic, All Terrain T/A tires, Vintage air conditioning, AutoMeter column-mounted tach, Camper Special model. – Some stress cracks in the paint and the chrome plating on the rear differential is peeling. Newer exhaust and rear suspension installed. Undercarriage is clean, and the interior refinished. Basic condition, but a cool, seldom seen, usable vintage pickup. – Sold here a year ago for $55,000 which makes this year’s result seem like something of a bargain even though at the same time it’s been an expensive year’s ownership. An unusual truck in good longbed 4wd pickup condition at a price less than it cost to get it to look this good.
Lot # 461.1 1951 Buick Roadmaster Model 79R Estate Wagon; S/N 16243498; Dark Green, Wood/Dark Green; Visually maintained, largely original 4 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $35,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $38,500 – 320/152hp, automatic, wide whitewall tires, roof rack, sun visor, dash clock, original radio. – Sold new in the south of France and has grille badges from France and Cameroon. Original condition. Pitted chrome, battered paint, worn wood. Very uneven hood fit. Interior is surprisingly nice, with just a cracked driver’s seat and missing upholstery on the rear of the second row. The visual appearance is one of a life well lived as opposed to one of neglect. – Sold by Bonhams at Monaco in 2003 for $25,935 at the end of its European sojourn then by Broad Arrow from the Jim Taylor Collection three months ago for $42,000. It was less than enthusiastically greeted here at WestWorld but brought a reasonable price for its preservation and equipment. It needs a caring home to give it the attention it deserves.
Lot # 463.1 1956 Cadillac Series 62 Coupe de Ville 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 5662141360; Arlington Green, Star Dust Pink roof/Star Dust Pink with Black cloth; Unrestored original 4+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $33,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $36,300 – 365/285hp, automatic, Autronic eye, power steering and brakes, power windows, driver’s side spotlight, signal seeking radio. From the Boyd collection. – The original paint is very hazy. The chrome has some light pitting on the spotlight. However, the bumpers are surprisingly good. The frame is heavily oxidized and the front seat has a number of small tears at the seams. An original car that presents exactly how you’d expect a preserved car of this age to look. – This result is a pleasing premium for the pleasing preservation of this Coupe deVille. In absolute terms it’s a little expensive for the condition, but preservation and originality make up for it.
Lot # 529 1979 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Hardtop Coupe; S/N 2X87K9L159733; Firebird Metallic Orange, Black, Gray graphics/Black; Visually maintained, largely original 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $35,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $38,500 – 403/185hp, automatic, gold snowflake wheels, shaker hood, T-tops, tilt steering column, power windows, brakes and steering, factory air conditioning, TA Rally dash, aftermarket stereo. – Some light marks in paint and waves in body. Fading rear decal. Hood and door fit are uneven. Interior is tidy, but there is wear to the top of the driver’s seat and the passenger’s seat is missing the seatbelt guide. Door seals are torn. Still, presents well overall for a driver. – This is somewhat expensive for this T/A’s condition but the bright color is as good explanation This is somewhat expensive for this T/A’s condition but the bright color is as good an explanation as any why it appealed so much to the WestWorld bidders.
Lot # 531 1981 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 Sport Coupe; S/N 1G1AP87L5BL184764; Charcoal Gray Metallic, Light Gray graphics/Silver; Recent restoration 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $98,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $107,800 – 350/175hp, automatic, power windows, aftermarket CD player, power steering, brakes and windows, alloy wheels, cruise control. GM of Canada documented. – Recently restored and represented as the original engine, but the paint has spots of dirt in the finish throughout, the rear spoiler is slightly out of alignment from the deck lid portion to the quarter panel, and the hood is out of alignment, too. The cold air induction flapper is disconnected, there are light upgrades like a flex fan, high energy ignition coil, and headers added. The interior has been reupholstered. A basic restoration with plenty of details left unaddressed. – What the heck happened here? A mediocre restoration that sells for $107,800 with the juice. While inspecting the car, I was questioned multiple times by inquisitive Camaro fans trying to figure out what happened. Maybe just a bidding war that got out of hand. We all agreed that this is not going reset the market.
Lot # 660 1950 Willys Jeepster Phaeton Convertible; S/N 473VJ12241; Engine #;, /; Enthusiast restoration 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $22,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $24,200 – 134/63hp four, column shift 3-speed, hub caps and trim rings, rear-mounted spare, amber fog lights. – Body-on restored. Good older paint with a scrape on the A-pillar, a few touch ups on the driver’s door, and chips around some panel edges. Clean wheels and underbody. Good, lightly worn interior with newer seats and steering wheel but original gauges and switchgear. A charming, casual beach cruiser. – A basic, driver-quality example bought for driver-quality money. These two-wheel drive Jeepsters are oddballs. They’re not quite trucks, nor do they have much of the utility of a “real” Jeep. But they’re not as fun to drive as most vintage convertibles and they’re too slow to do much other than putter about town. That’s enough for many people, though, and Jeepsters have stayed somewhat low-priced even as values for other Jeeps have soared. This one sold for $17,600 here in 2014, $34,560 at Mecum Seattle five months later and $30,800 back here in Scottsdale in 2018, so this price looks like a solid value.
Lot # 677 1957 Toyota FJ25 Land Cruiser Utility; S/N 7FJ253431L; Green/Brown vinyl; Recent restoration 2+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $43,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $47,300 – 3.8/105hp, 4-speed, hub caps, Firestone tires, jack, owner’s manual. – Represented as matching numbers and restored to factory specs by Land Cruiser specialists. Spotless underneath. Straight body with shiny paint. New upholstery. Cracking cap on the steering wheel and the odometer is hard to read, but no other stones were left unturned in the full restoration of this rare, early FJ. The FJ25 is notable as the first Japanese vehicle imported in significant numbers to Australia, and Brazilian-built FJ25s were the first Toyotas built outside Japan. – Prices in the classic car market are still high for the most part, but vehicles like this provide insight into how things are softening. It sold here last year for $49,500. Many other vehicles that sold previously in the 2020-22 window before coming to Scottsdale 2023 took a similar minor haircut.
Lot # 680 1970 American Motors Javelin SST Mark Donohue Fastback; S/N A0C797X220412; Light Blue, White/Blue cloth; Recent restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $70,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $77,000 – 390/325hp, automatic, side exhaust, added air conditioning, pushbutton radio. – Restoration finished by an AMC specialist in 2021. The paint looks older than that, though, and all the window frames plus the exhaust surrounds are scratched up. The interior and engine look mostly restored. Mark Donohue Javelins numbered 2500 units fitted with a rear ducktail spoiler to homologate it for racing. – Freshly pulled out of 30 years of storage in 2019, this Javelin sold as a barn find at RM’s Auburn auction for $3,575. It’s not clear what the total bills were for the restoration, but this is still as good of a return as the seller could have hoped for. Even high-spec AMCs are typically cheaper than household name muscle cars, but this was well past our expectations. The last Mark Donohue Javelin to sell close to this was a $66k car sold out of a major AMC collection at Mecum Indy last spring.
Lot # 705.1 1990 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Coupe; S/N 1G1YZ23J4L5801880; Bright Red/Saddle leather; Unrestored original 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $48,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $52,800 – 350/375hp LT5, 6-speed, Goodyear Eagle tires, glass roof, factory CD. – One owner car represented with 45 miles, and in storage since new. There is no shortage of red, low-mile first year ZR1s out there, but this has to be among the lowest mileage examples. – Clean, low-mile, red ZR-1s may be quite common, but they haven’t been immune from the wider appreciation for 1990s performance cars over the course of 2020-22. This result is up there but it’s not outrageous given the delivery mileage that some collectors clamor for. C4 ZR-1s are still a great performance value. Decent ones with reasonable mileage and a little wear and tear can still be had for $30k or less. Even $52,800 seems reasonable for something that offered supercar-level speed in its day.
Lot # 727.1 1970 Pontiac GTO Hardtop Coupe; S/N 242370R110635; Orbit Orange/Black vinyl; Older restoration 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $80,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $88,000 – 400/366hp, automatic, hood tach, PMD wheels, bucket seats, AM/FM, console. – Represented as matching numbers, body-off restored. Straight body with decent panel gaps. Thick paint drips above rear bumper, and some inconsistently applied decals. Front seats are sound but the rear seats have several marks. Steering wheel finish significantly chipped. A car that looks great from a distance but disappointed upon closer inspection. – This car sold for a somewhat modest $37,400 at Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas in 2016. It had already been restored at the time, but was represented as a regular GTO with “Judge upgrades,” a distinction not made here in Scottsdale where it was described as a “GTO Judge”. The price is consistent with a genuine Judge in this condition, not a GTO with “Judge upgrades”.
Lot # 730 1990 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z Convertible; S/N 1G1FP33F8LL130871; Bright Red/Black, Gray cloth; Black cloth top; Unrestored original 2+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $93,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $102,300 – 305/210hp, automatic, Goodyear Eagle tires, power windows, cruise control, air conditioning. – Rare IROC convertible, one of just 1,294 built for 1990, showing just 557 miles and carefully stored since new. Window sticker reads $23,477 (about $53,900 in today’s money). – It’s hard not to compare this sale to Lot 705.1. It’s another low-mile, red Chevrolet from 1990, but that was a Corvette ZR-1 with boatloads more performance plus more historical significance to the brand. And yet this IROC sold for twice as much. The soft top 1990 IROC is nearly four times as rare as the coupe and clean ones must be rare, but how much of the six-figure price tag that explain? Nostalgia might explain the rest. Gen Xers across America lusted after the IROC in their teenage years, as it was an attainable dream car. This was an unusual opportunity to buy an essentially new one, and a few people who were probably graduating high school when this Camaro rolled out of the Van Nuys factory threw their wallets at it.
Lot # 761 1991 Acura NSX Coupe; S/N JH4NA1156MT000932; Berlina Black/Black leather; Unrestored original 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $69,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $75,900 – 2,997/270hp, 5-speed, Yokohama tires, factory cassette. Comes with original window sticker. – First year NSX showing 23,243 miles. Recently serviced. Some decent sized chips on the front. Mostly clean wheels. Original brakes. Lightly worn interior. All stock, seldom driven and well-maintained. – Values for good NSXs nearly doubled over the five-year period from 2017-22 but have been quiet the past few months. This car suggests they may have topped out. It sold for $72,450 on Bring a Trailer in mid-2020, and if we adjust that for the significant inflation we’ve seen since then, it was over $83k in today’s money.
Lot # 769.1 1995 Ferrari F355 Spider Convertible, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N ZFFPR48A8S0103955; Giallo Fly/Black leather; Black cloth top; Unrestored original 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $65,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $71,500 – 3,496/375hp, 6-speed manual, Michelin Pilot Sport tires, Scuderia shields, carbon fiber console and steering wheel trim. – Showing 52,793 miles and represented with $100,000 in maintenance records from new. Doesn’t get much more illustrative of what it’s like to own a 355 than that, does it? Unclear when its last belt service was, although the clutch is new. Several blemishes in the paint on the front, a small ding in the left rear wheel, and a lightly worn driver’s seat. All normal, inevitable wear and tear for a car with this kind of mileage. – The WestWorld bidders seemed to show surprising prudence with this bright yellow Ferrari, hedging against potentially steep future shop bills with subdued bidding. Provided there aren’t any nasty surprises, this actually looks like a decent deal.
Lot # 774.1 1974 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Coupe; S/N 2V87X4N167750; Buccaneer Red/Black vinyl; Recent restoration 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $77,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $84,700 – 455/290hp Super Duty, TH400, A/C, Rally II wheels with trim rings and BF Goodrich Radial T/A tires, power windows, aftermarket CD player – Paint presents well, but the front spoiler fits poorly and the hood alignment is uneven. The underbody is restored well. The driver’s seat has some upholstery stretch. Restored, but lacking some attention to detail. – The 455 Super Duty Trans Ams were a last gasp of classic American muscle and always command attention among the Pontiac faithful today. This one sold for $50,350 at Mecum Dallas 2012, for $49,820 at Kissimmee in 2013, for $51,840 at Mecum Indy in 2014, and was a $60,000 no-sale at Mecum Glendale last year. That timeline more or less accurately traces the trajectory in values for these cars, and although this result in 2023 is on the expensive side for a car with flaws.
Lot # 787 1967 Sunbeam Tiger Mk II Convertible; S/N B382100310LRXFE; British Racing Green/Black; Black top; Recent restoration 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $100,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $110,000 – 289/200hp, 4-speed, Kumho tires, hardtop, woodrim steering wheel. – Sold new in Quebec in Polar White. Repainted in British Racing Green two years ago. The paint and chrome look fresh. So does the engine. It has no sign of use, and what appear to be all new wires and hoses. Beautiful interior, too. Lovely car with good equipment. – In 1967, after Chrysler had bought the Rootes Group and the writing was already on the wall for the Ford-engined Tiger, Sunbeam extensively revised it to have the 289 engine it probably should have had all along, giving a sizable bump in speed from the 260 in the earlier Mk I and Mk IA. Fewer than 800 genuine Mk II Tigers were built compared to 6,400 260s, so that extra 29 cubic inches doesn’t just translate to extra performance. It also translates to a bigger price, about an extra 50 or 60 grand. Tiger prices have been relatively stable lately, and this decent price for a decent example suggests they’re about where they should be.
Lot # 790 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 Sport Coupe; S/N 136370A144344; Cranberry Red, Black stripes/Black vinyl; Older restoration 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $108,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $118,800 – LS5 454/360hp, 4-speed, power steering and brakes, SS wheels with Firestone Wide Oval Tires, bucket seats, console, aftermarket radio, cowl induction. – The paint is aged and has a nick by the hood behind the right headlights and a few chips on top of the hood. The engine compartment shows very well and indicates little use. The underbody is slightly dirty and the interior shows a little but not excessive use. An older restoration with some minor flaws but still presents well enough. – An attractively presented Chevelle SS 454 with desirable equipment and good care since restoration. The price might be a little strong, but that was generally the pattern here at WestWorld this week for good cars.
Lot # 823.2 1953 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible Coupe; S/N 536245986; Blue/Dark Blue leather; Tan top; Unrestored original 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $100,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $110,000 – 331/210hp, automatic, power steering and brakes, Autronic Eye, whitewalls, power windows, AM radio. From the Boyd collection. – 36,637 reportedly original miles. The old paint has some noticeable deterioration on the right fender where it meets the door, and the paint has some hazing throughout. The chrome is very good throughout. A new top has been installed, the frame is oxidized but not heavily and the interior shows only moderate wear. A decent, original car. – While there are no prior auction sales on this lot there are two no-sales, here in 1995 for $40,000 and at RM in Ft. Lauderdale in 2019 for $80,000. Like the other cars from this collection, it has been well looked after and preserved in very good original condition which was recognized and rewarded by the WestWorld bidders.
Lot # 826.1 1976 Datsun 280Z Coupe; S/N HLS30279831; Cocoa Brown/Black vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $27,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $29,700 – 2,753/149hp, 4-speed, TRX wheels and TRX tires (original wheels included), factory radio, air conditioning, aftermarket air dam. – Long time Arizona car. Regularly maintained but never fully restored. Repainted at some point and it looks quite good other than a handful of runs. Small gouge in the air dam. Loose plastic on the bumpers. Very good original interior. Tidy and maintained underneath. A solid Z-car. – By 1973 Datsun’s original Z-car, the 240Z, was getting hampered by emission controls and the 1974 260Z was only a stopgap solution. The fuel injected 280Z that arrived in 1975 returned the car to roughly 1970 levels of performance but it did have added weight and big bumpers. The 280 carries a significant discount compared to the original 240s and present a decent value proposition, but most Z-cars have rocketed up in value over the past several years and have been outside the realm of “budget” classics for a while now. This one sold at a perfectly reasonable number in today’s market given its condition.
Lot # 958 1968 Pontiac GTO Hardtop Coupe; S/N 242378P156397; Flambeau Burgundy/Pearl vinyl; Older restoration 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $49,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $53,900 – Ram Air I 400/360hp, 4-speed, 4.33 Safe-T-Track axle, power steering, bucket seats, Rally II wheels with trim rings and Goodyear Polyglas tires, console, PHS documented. – The paint is old and tired. There a few cracks on the Endura bumper and the finish overall is hazy. The engine compartment is aged and dirty, as is the underbody. The interior is old and worn, especially on the door arm rests. An old restoration that will need a refresh to be show worthy again. – But to be enjoyed around town, on tours and in local shows the configuration (one of 670 Ram Air GTOs in 1968) will be sufficient to get it the spotlight pretty much wherever it appears. It might be possible to bring it back to show worthy condition, but it will be expensive, a difficult decision when it is usable at this price. Also, not that there is no claim the engine is original, just “a 400ci Ram-Air I engine”.
Lot # 997.1 1957 Cadillac Series 62 DeVille Convertible; S/N 5762037143; Black/Black, White leather; Black vinyl top; Visually maintained, largely original 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $175,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $192,500 – 365/300hp, automatic, Autronic Eye, power steering and brakes. From the Boyd Collection. – 30,815 original miles, the paint is aged gracefully with dulling to the finish but no noticeable cracking, the convertible top has been replaced, the engine compartment presents very well and shows like new, and the interior shows minor wear in the form of creasing on the upholstery. A fantastic, mostly original De Ville. – A dramatic, elegant, luxurious car but this is Eldorado money for a DeVille. The bidders fell head over heels for it and paid an extravagant price.
Lot # 1051 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air FI Convertible; S/N VC57S261763; Matador Red/Red, Silver; Black cloth top; Older restoration 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $107,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $117,700 – Original 283/283hp Fuelie engine, column shift 3-speed manual, wheel covers, AM radio, tissue dispenser, added console with CD player and auxiliary gauges that appears removable. – Very good paint and body. The chrome and brightwork are excellent as well, while the engine and underbody are clean and still appear fresh. The interior shows no visible wear. An older body-off restoration done to factory-like standards. – Sold for $118,800 at Mecum Indy 2015 and for $118,250 at Kissimmee the following year, then was a $120,000 no-sale at Mecum Dallas a few months later, and finally sold again at this sale in 2018 for just $73,700. This car has most everything you’d want on a Tri-Five Chevy and has been well-kept even if it has been passed around a bit. This is a realistic price for it.
Lot # 1051.1 1962 Chevrolet Bel Air Bubble Top 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 21537F290939; Twilight Blue, White roof/Aqua vinyl with cloth inserts; Modified restoration 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $112,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $123,200 – 409/409hp, dual quads, 4-speed, hub caps, Goodyear tires, bench seat, column-mounted tach, factory radio. – Originally a six-cylinder car but since restored to over the top show standards with an appropriately date-coded engine and displayed all over the country. The paint, chrome and interior are gorgeous. The gaps are slightly uneven but probably no worse than when they were new. Beautiful bubble top. – An immense amount of work and hours of parts chasing went into building up this facsimile of a 409/409 Bubble Top and the price it brought is fitting reward for the effort, expense and show history. On the other hand, it isn’t what it wants to be, but the decision on valuing it rests only on the Barrett-Jackson bidders and their decision is definitive, at least for today.
Lot # 1065.1 1970 Triumph Spitfire Mk III Roadster; S/N FDU89097L; Black/Red leather; Modified restoration 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $77,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $84,700 – 1,296cc inline four, dual Webers, 5-speed, limited-slip, chrome wire wheels, Vredestein tires, custom exhaust, coilover shocks, Mk II nose, wood shift knob, Moto-Lita woodrim steering wheel, Pioneer CD stereo. – Restored for Simon Cowell in England at great expense and with tasteful upgrades. The finish on the headlight bezels is dull and there are some scratches on the tail. The filler cap is also pitted, but by the standards of the typically cheap and cheerful Spitfire, this is a show car. – The list of celebrities who have real star power and cachet in the collector car world isn’t a particularly long one, and we wouldn’t ordinarily put Simon Cowell on it. And even though this is one of the best Spitfires we’ve ever seen, it still would have been overpriced at half this number from Scottsdale. Beyond rationality.
Lot # 1070.1 1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1 SportsRoof; S/N 1F05J110931; Grabber Lime, Black hood/White vinyl; Older restoration 2+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $230,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $253,000 – 429/375hp SCJ, 4-speed, Drag Pack, 4.11 axle with Detroit Locker, power steering and brakes, Magnum 500 wheels with BF Goodrich Radial T/A tires, center console, 8 track player. – Excellent paint. Door and deck lid fit need minor adjustment. The engine compartment and underbody are immaculate and the interior is completely redone. An excellent restoration needing only minor tweaks. From the last year for the big-block Mustangs – This Mach 1 reportedly received an $85,000 high bid at Mecum Dallas last year, but remained unsold despite that being a reasonable number. It looks insultingly low only if you compare it to this price, which is way beyond top dollar and would buy a higher spec Mustang than this and in better condition in addition. A great day for the seller, an astounding result.
Lot # 1073 1973 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Hardtop Coupe; S/N 2V87X3N144683; Cameo White/Oxblood vinyl; Older restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $150,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $165,000 – 455/310hp Super Duty, TH400 transmission, air conditioning, Rally II wheels with trim rings and Goodyear Steelgard tires, power windows, AM/FM radio, original purchase paper documented. – Represented as 44,015 miles from new and the numbers-matching engine. Good paint overall, however there are a couple large chips on the body in front of the left rear tire. Good panel gaps and fitment. The underbody and engine presents very well and the interior shows minimal use. A well-presented restoration with some blemishes from use. – Sold here five years ago in 2018 for $145,200, and this result reflects an appropriate amount of appreciation (or maybe inflation) since then. An elusive model as Detroit downplayed performance and rated engines by net horsepower including ancillaries and exhaust systems which goes a long way to explain why it brought such a generous price.
Lot # 1079.1 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 Convertible; S/N 136670B182123; Classic White, Black stripes/Red vinyl; Older restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $150,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $165,000 – LS5 454/360hp, automatic, power steering and brakes, 3.31 axle, SS wheels with Firestone Wide Oval tires, bucket seats, center console with shifter, AM radio. GM of Canada documented, one of three Can-Am series pace cars. – Good paint, panel fit is straight, and very good brightwork. The engine compartment is clean and has correct finishes but does show minor run time. The underbody is fully restored and very clean, the interior is restored, however the gauge lenses have some yellowing. A great example of an LS5 convertible with interesting history and impressive documentation generally not available for Chevelles. – Thank you, GM Canada, for saving your build records. With its distinctive history pacing famed Can-Am races in Canada, this is even better than your average (?) LS5 SS454 Convertible and could have brought a bit more than this result.
Lot # 1080 1970 Buick GSX Stage I Coupe; S/N 446370H293600; Apollo White, Black, Red stripes/Black vinyl; Unrestored original 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $120,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $132,000 – 455/360hp, automatic, Radial T/A tires, hood tach, horseshoe shifter, dash clock, factory AM-FM radio, bucket seats, console, power steering, power brakes, tilt steering column, tinted glass, GSX Historical Society documented. – Unrestored matching numbers survivor with sun faded paint and a decent number of chips. Surprisingly shiny chrome. Faded dash top, gauges and switchgear plus mildly stretched upholstery. Clean wheels. Tidy underneath and looks to have always been a Western car. Too good to restore. – This survivor Stage I shows just 12 more miles than in 2018, when we saw it sell at Leake Tulsa for $82,500. It’s a serious Buick that found a more serious buyer in Scottsdale. You could buy a clean and restored one for the money, but it wouldn’t be as impressive as this preserved one.
Lot # 1144 1962 Lincoln Continental 4-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 2Y82H411773; Sultana White/Turquoise; Visually maintained, largely original 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $85,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $93,500 – 430/300hp, automatic, wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, pushbutton radio, power everything.. – Reportedly kept at the Kennedy compound in Florida. Used to go to church, and Jackie used it to go shopping in Palm Beach. Has been in two museums over the years, and is in largely original other than possibly an old repaint that is faded, cracked and blistered enough that it looks original. The interior is remarkably preserved, and it’s tidy underneath. Not all that remarkable as a car, but there is huge appeal in its history. – No US President and automobile are as closely associated as JFK and the fourth generation Lincoln Continental. He was killed in one (which is on displayed in the Henry Ford Museum) but also rode in one during his inauguration and in others throughout his short presidency. Bonhams sold a convertible that he rode in on the morning he died for $375,000 in 2020, and this one sold for $209,000 at Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas way back in 2008. Fewer people were charmed by it in Scottsdale 2023, but the presidential premium is still very big here. If Kennedy had nothing to do with this car, it would have sold for about a third as much.
Lot # 1154 1954 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith 4-Dr. Sedan, Body by Hooper; S/N DLW3; Beige, Black/Beige leather piped in Dark Red; Older restoration 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $68,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $74,800 – RHD. 4,257/125hp F-head six, automatic, wheel covers, dual wind mirrors, fender skirts, three driving lights, suicide rear doors, division window, rear cabinets, original Smiths radio, single jump seat, dual heaters. – Sold new in London. One of 639 long wheelbase Silver Wraith chassis built and even rarer Hooper coachwork with characteristically swooping lines. Older paint with masking issues around the edges and general age. Loose rubber around the rear glass. Uneven panel fit. Cracking leather, especially up front, and aging wood that needs attention. Surprisingly tidy underneath. A regal limousine. Huge, stately and graceful, but far too much wear and tear for a show field. It would make a decent wedding or event car as-is, but with the rare coachwork it would be nice to see it restored to former glory. – The Silver Wraith was the final Rolls-Royce model to see such a variety of coachwork fitted to it. Values vary depending on body style, who fitted it, and history (many were used by politicians and elites), but Hooper-bodied cars tend to sell for less than ones clothed by Park Ward, Mulliner, Freestone & Webb, or James Young. This price is a good value for a very cool and very rare Rolls-Royce, but it is still favorable to the seller. It was advertised on the private market late last year asking $58K. And even just the leather and wood (this car needs both) will cost a fortune. If the new owner embarks on any projects, this will likely be a six-figure car in no time, and that will be more than anyone else will pay for it and its Hooper coachwork.
Lot # 1155 1975 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 Targa; S/N 9115410017; Peru Red, Gold Carrera script/Tan leather; Visually maintained, largely original 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $75,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $82,500 – 2,687/157hp, 5-speed, Fuchs wheels, Pirelli tires, whale tail, air conditioning, later Blaupunkt CD stereo, fog lights, Porsche Letter of Authenticity. – Represented as 59,054 miles and the matching-numbers engine. Good paint that might be original but is likely an older repaint. Good, clean exterior rubber and plastic, but the lip around the whale tail doesn’t quite fit right. The upholstery on the roof is a bit warped. Lightly wrinkled leather but mostly very good interior. Tidy underneath. Never restored and shows use but well-maintained. Relatively rare colors and specs. – A good, well-preserved and well-maintained example of the first “whale tail” Porsche Carrera. Modest miles and careful ownership make this a desirable car, although it would be a better value at $10-15,000 less than the all-in price here.
Lot # 1252 1952 Jaguar XK 120 Roadster; S/N 672051; Red/Biscuit leather; Tan cloth top well-presented; Older restoration 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $79,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $86,900 – 3,442/160hp, 4-speed, fender skirts. – Good older paint and chrome, with some prep issues behind the headlights. The panel fit isn’t great. Lightly worn interior. Body-off restored a while ago, and currently a solid touring or event car. – This sold here in Arizona, shortly after its restoration way back in 2000, for $44,000, which was about the going rate at the time. This result 23 years later, on the other hand, is a downright bargain. There’s no reason why this couldn’t be a six-figure car even with about 1,200 miles added to its odometer since it was offered at the Brooks auction in Hershey in 1999.
Lot # 1269.1 1997 Toyota Supra Mk IV Limited Ed. Turbo Sport Roof; S/N JT2DE82A4V0037401; Black/Black; Unrestored original 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $132,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $145,200 – 2,997/320hp, 6-speed, aftermarket intake and exhaust. – Showing 65,464 claimed original miles. There is some paint cracking on the rear hatch above the rear glass, and underneath the undercoating has chipped away in areas. The driver’s seat has creasing and cracking to the bolsters. A car that looks fine from afar but definitely shows age and use up close. – This sold for more than the other black Anniversary Edition Supra Turbo at Barrett-Jackson but it is the better car, mileage and reversible aftermarket add-ons aside. It’s a sensible price for a used but solid manual Supra Turbo in today’s market.
Lot # 1278 1998 Toyota Supra MK IV Turbo Sport Roof; S/N JT2DE82A6W1002662; Quicksilver Metallic/Black; Unrestored original 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $170,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $187,000 – 2,997/320hp, 6-speed manual, spoiler. – 18,446 miles. The hood has a number of small chips, the underbody has some chipping of the undercoating, and the driver’s seat has only slight use showing. A low mile example showing minor wear. – This car was one of three original 6-speed Supra Turbos on offer at WestWorld this year, and it was the most expensive. Two were black Anniversary Editions but this one’s lower mileage more than made up for its boring color and lack of anniversary badges, as the 65,464-mile car sold for $145,200 and the 52,379-mile car sold for $110,000. Mileage is always something to consider when car shopping, but especially when it comes to modern Japanese collectibles like these, it really is amazing how much of a difference the different numbers on the odometer can make even between similarly clean examples.
Lot # 1290 1970 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Coupe; S/N 228870N130125; Polar White, Blue Stripe/Blue vinyl; Recent restoration 1- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $140,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $154,000 – 400/370hp Ram Air IV, TH400 transmission, 3.73 limited slip axle, power steering and brakes, Rally II wheels with Firestone Wide Oval tires, AM/FM radio. Includes PHS documentation, restoration receipts, featured in High Performance Pontiac Magazine in August 2001. – Great paint and body, and the trim is very good. Engine compartment and underbody are immaculate, as is the interior. A no expense spared restoration of a highly sought after T/A. – This is a lot of money for a Trans Am, but a lot less than similar Ram Air IVs have brought, even taking the Hydramatic into account. The restoration is essentially fresh and above reproach leaving little or nothing for a new owner to do to make it better except protect it and show it off proudly.
Lot # 1299.1 1979 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Coupe; S/N 2W87K9N183396; Starlight Black, Red, Orange graphics/Carmine Red; Unrestored original 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $200,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $220,000 – 403/185hp, automatic, cruise control, power steering, brakes, windows and locks, limited slip, cruise control, snowflake wheels, includes window sticker. – Represented with 37 actual miles and as a survivor with its original engine. The paint is shows some deterioration from age. The deck lid spoiler is out of alignment, but it could have come like that from the factory. The underbody has some oxidation from age and the interior shows no deterioration. In orderly condition, but far from showroom fresh not to dwell on the fact that it has its original tires. – Originality rang the bidders’ bells on this T/A and brought it a huge premium. The price here is less than half for the car. The bigger half is for disappearingly low miles and preservation.
Lot # 1301.1 1929 Pierce-Arrow Model 125 Landau Club Sedan, Body by LeBaron; S/N 2003489; Green, Grey fenders, Grey padded roof/Grey cloth; Older restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $115,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $126,500 – 366/125hp inline eight, 3-speed, body color wire wheels with hub caps, dual sidemount spares with covers, suicide rear doors, luggage trunk, wood interior trim, rear window curtains, robe rail, pop-out windshield. – Has been in one family for 40 years. The paint and chrome don’t shine like they used to, but they were done well and don’t have many problems. The panel fit is good but not perfect. Good interior with lightly faded gauges. An older restoration. – An elegant, refined and luxurious automobile that also evidences some of the best automobile technology of the late Twenties, this Pierce also is in excellent condition with its well-preserved old restoration. We used to joke about “Tom Barrett’s parade of unsaleable” classics during Saturday at B-J but Craig and Steve are still willing to take the chance and turn it into a successful category.
Lot # 1304.1 1948 Mercury Series 89M Station Wagon; S/N 899A2165989; Yellow, Wood/Brown leather; Older restoration 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $140,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $154,000 – 255/110hp flathead V8, floor shift 3-speed with overdrive, Marmon-Herrington 4WD conversion, hub caps and trim rings, dash clock, original radio, three-row seating. – Represented as one of two with the Marmon-Herrington 4WD. Represented as a 255 V8, which would be a 1949 engine but with ten more horses. Old respray with chips, touch ups and scratches, plus microblisters on the fenders. Mostly beautiful restored wood with a few flaws. Beautiful interior. Clean and restored underneath. A super rare woody, on which new paint would make a world of difference. Arizona title AZ387729. – This is roughly double the value of a 2-wheel drive conventional 1948 Mercury wagon with the noted paint flaws, and it deserves to be. Marmon-Herrington 4WD conversions were workhorse vehicles employed by survey parties, prospectors and construction companies. They usually died somewhere in the back of beyond where they were left to rot into oblivion. Finding one, particularly this complete (if, in fact, it was complete when found and not assembled from parts) is a rare occurrence and it could have brought even more than this result from a modern-day explorer.
Lot # 1353 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL-1 Sport Coupe; S/N 124379N642927; Green/Black vinyl; Older restoration 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $700,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $770,000 – 427/425hp aluminum ZL1, 4-speed, 4.10 Positraction, Goodyear Polyglas tires, Cowl Induction hood, spoilers, original AM radio, fog lights. – Represented as matching numbers. Good older paint with a few tiny blemishes on the body sides. Very clean underbody. Good gaps. Excellent interior. Camaro royalty, older restored but maintained in museum quality condition. – This is what happens when COPO 9560 puts a Can-Am aluminum big block under the hood of a Camaro: it becomes a phenomenon, an object of veneration and far more Tonawanda horses than the measly 425hp claimed in scanty Chevy literature. It will never be worth less than this absent the Apocalypse.
Lot # 1382 2012 Lexus LFA Coupe; S/N JTHHX8BH4C1000435; Steel Grey/Orange leather; Unrestored original 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $680,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $748,000 – 4,805/553hp V10, paddle shift, BBS forged wheels, Bridgestone Potenza tires, Mark Levinson sound system. – One owner car, sold new in Dallas. Reportedly the only LFA in this color combination, and one of just 156 US market cars in total. Looks new, showing 9,250 miles. – Of the two Lexus LFAs on offer in Scottsdale this year, this one at Barrett-Jackson was a bit better than the red-on-red example over at RM Sotheby’s, and it brought a higher price than the red car’s $675k. Both results generally make sense. Since these Japanese hypercars surged in value over the course of 2021 they can surpass $800k, but only if they have super low mileage.
Lot # 1396 1966 Shelby Mustang GT350 Fastback; S/N 6R07K191911; White, Blue stripes/Black vinyl; Older restoration 2+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $700,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $770,000 – 289, T10 4-speed, side exhaust, 3.89 gears, roll cage, fire bottle. Carroll Shelby signature on the glove box, and John McComb signed the door panel. – One of 16 Group II Mustangs built in 1966, essentially to GT350R specs to compete in Trans Am and A-Sedan classes with notchback 4-seat bodies. Built for Ken Miles, who was killed before he could drive it. Then it went to John McComb, and driven in over 30 races in period, including a few wins. Replacement engine to period-appropriate specs. Beautiful engine and underbody, both spotless. The wheels show a little age but nothing serious. Good paint, straight body, and clean interior. The restoration is older, but is holding up very well on this historic car. – Interesting that this “Shelby” has a Ford VIN, but that’s what Shelby and Ford did back in the Sixties when they wanted to qualify a car for A/Sedan racing. It was sold by Mecum at Kissimmee in 2013 for $424,000 and does not appear to have had any significant use since then. It is a successful and rare Shelby Mustang variant and the price it brought is appropriate to its history and historic racing potential.
Lot # 1405 2005 Porsche Carrera GT Coupe; S/N WP0CA29805L001248; Red/Dark Gray leather; Visually maintained, largely original 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,450,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,595,000 – 5,733/605hp V10, 6-speed, red calipers, Michelin Pilot Sport tires, luggage. – Originally a black car, then repainted at great cost in this lovely red hue that looks deeper and darker than it does in the photos. Just 3,310 miles and no wear or tear to speak of. It originally cost $452,989. – And now it’s worth three times that, according to both the bidders at WestWorld and numerous other recent transactions for a model that has recently gained a lot of clout for being one of the last truly analog hypercars.
Lot # 1413.1 1959 Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ1 Coupe, Body by Zagato; S/N 1012600082; Black, Red stripes/Red, Black vinyl; Older restoration 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $300,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $330,000 – 1.290/115hp, dual Webers, 4-speed, alloy wheels, Avon tires, woodrim steering wheel, wood shift knob, Nardi woodrim steering wheel. – Restored in 2006-08. Some dullness to the brightwork but the wheels are very clean. Lovely interior. The paint is starting to show its age a bit but has no major flaws. Cool car. Odd venue for it. Shift knob and lever also looks like one from a later 5-speed Alfa. – Let’s approach this car gently. A lot with this chassis number was reported sold by RM at Monterey in 2000 for $49,500 in decidedly mediocre “auction car” condition. Today’s Alfa has about 3,000 km more on the odometer. In 2000 it was described as “Salvaged in damaged condition from an Italian storage garage in ’78, repaired and street driven by a Swiss dentist.” It was later reported not to have been bodied by Zagato in the SZ1 style and RM, to their everlasting credit, took it back. That history is not addressed here, either to acknowledge it or to refute it. Also worth noting is that the car card description says the engine is 1.6 litres, not the Giulietta’s 1.3 litres (1,290cc). Until the history is resolved this is a very, very expensive Giulietta.
Lot # 1415 2001 Ferrari 550 Barchetta Pininfarina Spider; S/N ZFFZR52B000124070; Argento Nürburgring/Black leather; Unrestored original 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $340,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $374,000 – 5,474/485hp, 6-speed manual, Speedline wheels, yellow calipers, Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires, books and tools. – Represented with 8925 miles, a major service and new tires last year. Sold new in Germany but imported and federalized in 2002. All good stuff and a rare car. Only mild signs of age, too, but the big selling point, at least here at Barrett-Jackson, is that Rod Stewart used to own it. – But it’s also unclear how long Mr. Stewart owned it or how much he used it, not to mention the fact that the car was built long after his glory days of the ’70s and ’80s. RM Sotheby’s sold it in Arizona two years ago for $329,500, then it was reported sold on Bring a Trailer last year for $479,000, but it appears that deal may have fallen through. Either way, no celebrity magic to see here, just a 550 Barchetta sold for 550 Barchetta money, and in fact it’s even a somewhat modest number.
Lot # 1429 1992 Lamborghini Diablo Coupe; S/N ZA9DU07P6NLA12466; Purple/Black leather; Visually maintained, largely original 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $150,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $165,000 – 5707/485hp, 5-speed, Pirelli P Zero tires. – Older paint with particles in the finish on the nose, masking errors around the windshield, a large chip in the left part of the bottom front, and what appears to be a painted over crack in the bottom front. There is also a large scrape behind the driver’s door. One of the bolts holding the left front wheel well in is missing. The interior is clean, but those paint issues are too numerous to ignore and makes you wonder what else might be wrong. – Big Countach prices and growing interest in analog exotic cars generally have seen Diablos appreciating sharply, in some cases more than doubling in value since the mid-2010s. But this car is far from the world’s best, and in Scottsdale it was a case of a used Diablo selling for used Diablo money, just like it was when it sold for $187,000 in Las Vegas last year. Just like in Vegas, the fact that it had been owned by Danny Koker of Counts Kustoms (“Counting Cars” on the History Channel) didn’t set any extra paddles waving, especially with the erratic repaint.
Lot # 1447 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Convertible; S/N 5762102922; Red/Red, White leather; White vinyl top; Older restoration 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $180,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $198,000 – 365/325hp dual quads, automatic, gold Sabre wheels, whitewalls, dual mirrors, parade boot, Autronic Eye, power windows, power seats. – Lightly scratched older chrome with mild pitting on the right rear bumper. Slightly dull older paint. A little bit of dirt on the seats and faded carpets. Clean wheels and tidy underbody. A presentable Biarritz in eye-catching colors, but it was restored many years ago. – And another restoration on a gargantuan Cadillac such as this would be very expensive. Probably best to enjoy it for a bit and then sell it on to the next guy. That appears to be what happened here, since this car sold at WestWorld exactly a year ago. But that buyer overpaid a bit with a $220,000 final price. Of this more reasonable $198k final price, the $18k buyer premium goes to B-J, and that’s not including seller fees. Looks like one expensive year of ownership with the auction company coming out the winner. Compare this result with the ’57 Series 62 convertible lot #997.1 which sold for $192,500 this week.
Lot # 1455.1 2003 Bentley Azure Final Edition Convertible Coupe; S/N SCBZK25E83CX01196; Monaco Yellow/Blue leather, Yellow stitching; Unrestored original 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $77,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $84,700 – 6,748/420hp, automatic, chromed wheels, Michelin tires, chrome gauge bezels, books, service records. – One of 62 built. Represented with 31,000 miles. Good, loud paint and extravagant interior, but there is light wear and fading on both the steering wheel and seat leather. I’d feel self-conscious driving this car unless I was a rapper or an oil sheikh. Original bill of sale showed a purchase price of $500k, or about $795k adjusted for inflation. – Based on the Continental R, the Azure is a sportier alternative to something like the plush Rolls-Royce Corniche. Gaudy colors aside, the attention to detail on a high spec Bentley like this is impressive, from all that leather and wood to the stitching and gleaming gauge bezels. Top mechanisms can be astronomically expensive on Azures (think five-figure repair bills) not to mention the usual servicing for a modern Bentley, but assuming everything works as it should on this car it’s kind of a tempting value at this price. There aren’t many ways to drive around looking like a celebrity for less than 90 grand but keep a lot of liquidity in reserve because if something goes wrong (and it will) it’ll be godawful expensive to fix.
Lot # 1465 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Big Tank Coupe; S/N 194375S119250; Glen Green/Tan; Older restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $185,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $203,500 – L76 327/365hp, 4-speed, N03 Big Tank, centerlock alloy wheels, power brakes, power windows, wood steering wheel, tilt and telescoping steering column, AM/FM radio, 3.70 Positraction axle, Bloomington Gold certified, NCRS Top Flight and Duntov Mark of Excellence. – Represented as the original L76 engine and 64,200 miles from new. The paint has some light scratches and swirls in direct light. Good chrome. The engine compartment shows use but is not dirty, the same goes for the underbody. The interior is clean and does not show significant wear. A good older restoration of a highly optioned Corvette. – Comprehensively inspected and documented while also being desirably equipped with the high output carbureted engine and Big Tank option (useful in the wide open spaces back in 1965 when high octane fuel was rarely available) this is an unusual, and unusually reassuring, Corvette. It also is breathtakingly expensive.
Lot # 1471 1997 Toyota Supra Mk IV Limited Ed. Turbo Sport Roof; S/N JT2DE82A7V1000062; Black/Black; Visually maintained, largely original 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $100,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $110,000 – 2,997/320hp, 6-speed, spoiler. – Showing 52,379 miles. Inspected and serviced in 2021. CARFAX reports an accident involving “multiple impact areas, it hit a fence.” Good paint and panel fit. The engine and underbody are clean and present very well. The driver’s seat has stretching to the upholstery from use, however the rest of the interior presents well. A well-presented Supra, however the accent history presents an issue to potential buyers. – It also helps explain this relatively low price for an otherwise clean, stock 6-speed Supra Turbo Anniversary Edition. Venue also matters, though, and a truck- and resto mod-heavy auction like Scottsdale might not be the best place to bring Japanese collector car, even a high tier one like a fourth gen Supra. Case in point, this one sold for $161,555 on Bring a Trailer in March of 2022. It may be telling, though, that a few strong BaT results don’t reflect reasoned inspection, an internet phenomenon.
Lot # 1524 1979 Puma GTE Coupe; S/N SP1026320; White/Dark Gray leather; Enthusiast restoration 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $21,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $23,650 – 1600 Volkswagen engine, 4-speed, alloy wheels, Michelin tires, air conditioning, leather-wrapped steering wheel, later radio, white face VDO gauges. – Unclear early history. Titled as a 1979 Volkswagen. Good paint with a handful of chips on the front. Significant scratching on the windshield and rear glass. Huge crack in the right taillight. Lightly worn leather and switchgear, plus pitting on the E-brake handle. Aging wheels. Tidy underneath. Brazil’s most famous sports car, not that it has much competition for that title. – A two-stroke DKW-powered sports car called the Malzoni GT competed successfully on Brazilian race tracks in the mid-1960s, but it was soon restyled and rebadged as the Puma, and when VW took over DKW’s Brazilian facilities in 1967, Pumas swapped in the Karmann Ghia’s flat-four and underpinnings beneath the rather attractive fiberglass body. Pumas sold as complete cars on their home turf, but in export markets (the “E” in GTE stands for “Export”) like the United States it came as a kit. Don’t think of it as a cheap Beetle-based kit car, though. All American owners had to do was put in the engine, front suspension, transaxle, wheels, and battery. Fit and finish aren’t great, but they’re better than you might expect. Obscure little sports cars can sometimes fly under the radar at a massive, muscle- and restomod-heavy auction like Barrett-Jackson, but this Puma sold surprisingly well, especially as this Puma sold at the GAA November 2022 auction for $12,960. Not outrageous considering what other clean Pumas sell for, but certainly well over VW kit car money and a paid the consignor’s travel expenses for going to Scottsdale.
Lot # 1531.1 1961 International (IHC) Scout 80 Traveltop Utility; S/N FC11170; Light Green, White roof/Black vinyl; Truck restoration 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $19,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $20,900 – 152/93hp four, floor shift 3-speed, store brand tires, removable roof. – First year Scout. Some light surface rust poking through on the roof and painted bumpers. Paint coming off around hinges and in the rear cargo area. Scratched windows. Clean wheels. Clean underneath. Erratic panel fit. Budget restoration but no major problems. Fun runabout for the ranch. A charming little truck, and arguably even more charming in that it’s all stock. – This is a rational price for a cute, basic classic utility vehicle. If you like the look of an eye-catching vintage SUV but don’t have Bronco money in the bank, something like this is a fine alternative.
Lot # 1547 1992 Dodge Stealth R/T Turbo Hatchback; S/N JB3XE74C1NY063499; Emerald Green Metallic/Black leather; Unrestored original 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $30,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $33,000 – 181/320hp V6, 5-speed, alloy wheels, Goodyear Eagle tires, CD/cassette. – Early R/T with just 5,281 miles. It was stored carefully and shows no flaw or age to speak of. It’s a cherry example of this badge-engineered Mitsubishi. – Japanese performance cars from the 1990s are a whole lot more expensive than they used to be, but the Mitsubishi 3000 GT has lagged behind its peers despite offering impressive performance and (for the time) cutting edge tech. Its fraternal twin brother, the Dodge Stealth R/T, has lagged even further. When new, it wasn’t all that popular and most buyers chose the Mitsubishi version. Maybe it felt weird to buy a Dodge performance car with a V6 and a “made in Japan” sticker. Regardless, clean ones are rare, and although this isn’t a record price, it’s about top dollar for a collector-grade example in a neat color. What buys you a scruffy Skyline or Supra will get you into just about the world’s nicest Stealth.
Lot # 1549 2003 Mercury Marauder 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N 2MEHM75V73X660898; Black/Dark Gray leather; Unrestored original 2+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $42,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $46,200 – 4.6/302hp, automatic, limited-slip, power windows, power seats, factory CD/cassette. Comes with original bill of sale, window sticker, Marauder jacket, and books. – Canadian market car showing just 251 km (156 miles), and wasn’t registered or titled until preparation for this sale. A collector piece. – Similar in concept to the Chevrolet Impala SS of the mid-1990s, the 2003 Mercury Marauder was a full-sized muscle sedan based on a more pedestrian luxury counterpart. Largely based on the Crown Victoria, it got police-spec bits like an aluminum driveshaft, and the 4.6-liter Modular V8 was built to the same 302-hp, 318-lb-ft specs as the Mach 1 Mustang. Black, Dark Blue Pearl and Silver Birch were the only available colors, but black was by far the most popular. With a name like Marauder, how could it not be? It’s a neat sleeper sedan that makes whoever’s driving look like an FBI agent, but historically hasn’t been particularly valuable. This one sold for $42,000 on Bring a Trailer in May of 2022, but as a never-driven showpiece this car’s sales have little bearing on prices for other, more used Marauders, which are commonly less than half this number.