Filed under: Car Buying, Concept Cars
Barrett-Jackson collector car auction starts tonight
Say what you will about car-collector mania and auction hype, this year's Barrett-Jackson auction will give you the opportunity to see some truly remarkable vehicles.
After last year's $3.24 million sale of Harley Earl's 1954 Oldsmobile F88 concept car, collectible American concepts have come out of the woodwork for this year's event, including the 1954 Pontiac Bonneville Special pictured above.
In a more contemporary vein, the very first 2007 Ford Shelby GT500 Coupe will cross the block at this year's auction.
The auction has extensive live and tape-delay coverage in North America on SPEED Channel, starting tonight at 7p.m. ET.
Pictures of the rest of this year's American concept cars after the jump.
1953 Ford Vega Roadster - the "Gardner Special"
1950 GM "Futurliner" Parade of Progress bus
1964 Pontiac Prototype Banshee XP-833 Coupe
1953 Chrysler d'Elegance Sports Coupe
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Claud Pipkin 9:24PM (1/17/2006)
I, for one, hate to see this beautiful Exner/Ghia creation change hands so often....I fear it might end up in some garage, barn, field or worse a junk yard...I was in the (IIRC) Blackhawk for quite awhile...........It belongs in a museum.....
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roadrunner1122 11:16PM (1/17/2006)
I just finished watching the first nite's openning. Some AMAZING cars rolling thru there. Can't believe I saw an Excursion up on the block.....even less believable that someone paid so much money for it. But I love watching this yearly auction, I see a new dream car every year.
....And best yet, it affirms one thing that the import c*cksuckers can't argue about........that no Toyota or Honda, no matter how well built, will ever roll up on to the B. Jackson auction stage. Only European and American cars have ever, and will ever, be considered "classic". Cheers
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Brandon 12:21AM (1/18/2006)
=-o The Banshee is up for sale?!
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Mark MacLeod 2:07AM (1/18/2006)
I went yesterday (a special preview for auction participants) and saw some really great cars.
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Galley 7:39AM (1/18/2006)
Man, think of the chicks you could pick up in that rad bus!
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Dorkus Malorkus 12:14PM (1/18/2006)
Thanks to drunken, rich Barrett-Jackson buyers inflating the price of '60's muscle cars, I'll never be able to afford $100,000+ for a 1967 big block Corvette. Even old GTOs and Cudas can go for $50K now.
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Tim Rite 8:03PM (1/20/2006)
I am kind of tired of these shows. I listen to the announcers and their silly comments. Good example was they were asking why a guy wouldn't take it to the last step as there was overspray on the trunk latch of a 70 GTO Judge. Well guess what, that is exactly how they were done..it was very sloppy, right from GM. the car was correct, announcer was not.
These guys have created their own market of perfect paint, perfect gaps amd perfect trim and people build cars to suit the event, and it does a diservice to history and how these cars were REALLY put together.
And of course, as mentioned above, it has priced these cars out of the hands of the people who really enjoy them, and made them into expensive bragging right toys for people who have more money than common sense.
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ralph scheuer 1:17PM (1/21/2006)
beautiful cars, looney toon bidders. come on,$100,000 for an original Z-28 with 11k miles. the car wasn't even good looking.
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Jim Dayton 12:00AM (1/22/2006)
I would like to know who purchased the GM Futurliner.
Thankyou.
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kelly moss 12:16AM (1/22/2006)
is the guy in the white t shirt for real ?
craig said they screwed up on the bus - its going to the other bidder -the regal collection ? this was mistake #200 this week ...
does anyone know who the 10 guys are that buy most stuff ?
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kelly moss 4:05PM (1/22/2006)
a b-j sr vp just gave a bs accounting of the mix-up
it goes to ron pratt of the bonneville collection...
this show sucks - a bunch of assholes bidding so they can be on tv with their kids .. its more embarassing than wrestling ..
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James Merlo 1:40PM (1/23/2006)
Who was the guy in the white shirt buting everything in site?
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Loren Baker 9:30PM (1/20/2007)
Can anyone tell me just who Ron Pratt is, and how he became 'fiancially capable' to make all these purchases?
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johanna in Virginia 10:41PM (1/20/2007)
I also would like to know who Ron Pratt is? They said they did a special on him.
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Jason Kroop 10:42PM (1/20/2007)
I also, would like to know about Ron Pratt. Does he have a museum for these high priced vehicles?
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Pat Warsalla 10:46PM (1/20/2007)
From what I can gather Ron Pratte (correct spelling) was into construction with a framing business, and did very well during the boom growth in AZ in the 90's He recently (not sure how recent) supposedly sold off his business to pursue his collecting fetish.
I too think it absurd some of the prices paid for so called original muscle cars. Cars from factories came with blemishes, bondo, spot putty and some minor flaws and these yahoos have put average people from buying even local cars, since the local guy watches this and thinks "Wow I can sell my 68 Camaro for lots of money" .
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mrs.byac 11:07PM (1/20/2007)
Here you guys go. This is how Ron Pratte can afford all his toys. Awesome….
http://www.housingzone.com/topics/giants/giants/pbg04ba003.asp
Ron Pratte is the CEO of Pratte Development Company in Arizona. Here is the link to the merger with Pulte Homes that sent him into kajillionaire land.
http://www.buildingonline.com/news/viewnews.pl?id=2805
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johanna in Virginia 11:36PM (1/20/2007)
I am frankly jealous of the bizzillionaires and I would love to have a Cobra/'55vette/babyBird (yes, one of each) (oh, and a '56 Porsche) but when I watch this show as great as it is to see the fabulous cars, I can't help but think the people who run the event are the definition of (successful) hucksters. And of course I would go in a minute if I could. (Although it seems that I'm seeing too much money chasing too few cars. I think Barrett-Jackson is a place to sell a great car, not to buy one.
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StockJockey 1:06AM (1/21/2007)
great coverage today...fun...
more fun
http://www.underthecounter.net/archives/2007/01/big_spender.html
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Doone 11:49AM (1/21/2007)
I'm jealous of the bizzillionaires too! And since I didn't win the lottery, yet again, I guess I won't be buying any of these cars. Maybe I could sell one though, and it would be like winning the lottery! On another note, that Ron Pratte is a good looking guy - he should smile a little once in awhile.
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