Sunday, April 10, 2022

The Extreme Car Auction

Another bucket list event for our friend Bill was going to a Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction, and there just happened to be one in Palm Beach a few days ago. He invited his sidekick Dave and off they went. General admission was $25 and that was just to walk around, but there sure was lots to see. It was 90 degrees that day and 89-year-old Bill didn't want to tire too easily, so they tried to rent a golf cart. Unfortunately, they had been reserved and sold out since January.  Leave it to charismatic Bill to convince the vendor to notify him if there were any no-shows (age and $20 helped 😉). A while later the call came, and they were set for the day. Amazingly, Bill also 'convinced' the person at the bidders only auction building, to let them in! What an experience for the guys. Below are some photos of the day including all the eclectic things you could buy outright for your mansion, property, yacht, or vehicle.



Why not add a helicopter to your yacht while you are there?


A 1963 Lamborghini exotic Italian tractor...



Bill contemplated owning a pre-war Rolls Royce limousine. 


This 1958 DeSoto Adventurer signaled the end of the big fin era, powered by a DeSoto Fireflight Hemi.


Bill stood next to a pair of just released Mercury Verado 600 HP V-12s. These are the largest production outboards to date.


The Barrett-Jackson company store where you could take home an expensive souvenir of the event...


The latest edition of the limited production Ford GT-40...


Massive in every way, this converted Ford Excursion was extreme.


More exotic statue art for your Palm Beach home.


Were you in the mood to furnish your man cave? 






This notice speaks for itself...


Here is a rear view of a new McLaren 720S. Look at that price tag!



50-year-old Honda Trail 70s have become a very hot commodity in the collector world. Dave saw a CT 70H cross the gavel for $7700 plus a 12% buyers and sellers fees!


Classic Japanese motorcycles have skyrocketed in value.



There was a custom made audio-video boom golf cart on site, ready for filming the pre-auction staging area.


The drivers who escort the vehicles across the stage in the auction had a meeting before the event.


Inside the auction arena, there are boomed video cameras recording the action and the bidders.


Massive screens kept the bidders informed. Note the currency exchange rates. Each car spent about less than five minutes on the block, from start to finish. Dave and Bill were there on the day that the vehicles sold for less than estimated $50K. Friday's auctions were to $100K and Saturday's were unlimited! There were about 125 vehicles auctioned each day.


The Barrett-Jackson mobile command center...

To sum it all up, the classic rock group Rush said it best..."Big money goes 'round the world!"

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