The END of Barrett-Jackson?

As the last several days are behind us, the Barrett Jackson thing has been unbelieveable this year. The prices for lousy custom Fords and even a stock 32 Ford were out of step with reality, and yet probably did not recoup the builders investment this year. Poorly chosen interiors and colors with odd monstrosity motors commanded decent, not extravagent prices. But Compared with some wonderful stock cars that did not even return the prices paid for body, paint and chrome it was an abomination! A good Continental MK II, and a host of other wonderful stock cars hammering down at significant losses for the restorers. The De Soto at 230,000 was perhaps the only real spot on well sold car, but then again, there are no catalogs for that one, and building another might cost more...

On the plus side, Corvette prices are strong, and while there are some auction fever exchanges happening the prices are about market in my opinion. The 78 Pace car was so meticulous that the doors were not ever closed to preserve the weatherstripping! As a time capsule, price paid top of the market. The 69 L-88 clone was high at 88 or so, but the real ones are 300...Finally mopar clone type respect for the 88?

The main thing is that aside from a few of the wierd ones, the Topolino and others, the prices are soft for the well restored car. Most of the things expected to do well are soft, and some fell flat! Did anyone see the debacle of the Von Dutch Bus? In any case...where is the money? Today there should be huge prices paid for some of the supercars, esp the Cobra...But the majority of the cars are well bought and are in fact real steals!!!

 

Barrett himself looked worried during some of those "faltering" bids several times watching him on TV last night.......after my first visit there last Thursday,I got the impression from bids that several stock restored cars lost money...no doubt in my mind...

And guess what ?? Just two miles away,there was another auction under a huge tent...."Russo Steel" or something like that...with tons of cars there...we did not have time to stop and look there...

Rich

 

I went to the Russo Steel auction and a friend bought a 70 Chevelle SS 454 fully restored for $50,000 and I saw a 69 427/435 vert fully documented and had several awards go for $127,000. The owners have the right to list their car at no reserve if the choose.

 

There is also the RM auction in town this weekend at the Biltmore. Lot's of places to spend your movey in AZ this week

Hey Rich, sorry we missed each other, but the sun is trying to peek out this morning. Why don't you head back over and I'll buy you your first beer

 

I missed that auction. Can you give the Cliff Notes version of the debacle on that heap? Thanks!

 

Funny you mention that !!! My bud is running over in his C6 tomorrow alone..I may make another "one day" bonsai run with him...

I'll let you know if I go.....Pusher called me last night...we had a neat chat talking vettes...

Rich

 

Dang it...I knew we should have stopped in there after Barrett Thursday......how much are tickets to get in ?? I may return tomorrow with a friend in his C6...

Rich

 

$46K for this?


I guess the seller expected $4mm like the bus last year. Is this thing "historically significant" ? I don't see why it would be worth ANYTHING!

 

Must have way too much money in the pocket is all I can say.

 

Story on the bus is the guy apparently was one of the first to do pin striping on cars..plus he was an artist,and began making custom guns (known worldwide?) inside the bus when neighbors griped about his machine shop at his house..so he lived the the bus and avoided local zoning restrictions moving his machine shop into the bus..even the refrigerator inside was pin striped.....

 

Von Dutch was the guy with the Flying Eyeball that became popular again the past few years. I guess it was because of the Rat Rod stuff and also his passing.

 

Dutch's Bus

The bus was a Long Beach, California city bus that was given to Dutch by a woman in the early '60s. for payment of some work he had done for her. He set up living quarters at the rear, the remainder of the vehicle was a machine shop, including a bluing tank and an old metal lathe covered with Dutch's pinstriping. The floor was covered with cigarette buts, beer cans, and metal shavings. VonDutch was at best, a terrible housekeeper.

Back in the sleeping quarters was a TV and about 150 manuals on all sorts of machinery, motorcycles, and guns. He had a photographic mind, so all the words in these books, were in his head. He could dictate verbatim, paragraph by paragraph, any part on any subject in these manuals.....and give you the page number, too. I asked him once why he bothered to keep the books, since he had them all memorized word for word. He said "I like to look at the pictures!"

 

Von Dutch....


http://www.letterhead.com/articles/bob_burns/vondutch/





Rich

 

Oh man...A black 1968 L-88 Coupe just went for $51,700 (Lot# 1212).....I seen that vette Thursday...very nice...I bet the guy with the 1969 Fathom Green L-88 Coupe (Lot#1327) is sweating BIG BULLETS right now..If I were him, I'd put it on the trailer,and get out of Scottsdale now...no kidding...

Rich

 

I just looked at the pics of that car. Pics look rough. It has a carb and normal air cleaner, not the L-88 airbox. I seriously doubt it was an original L-88. I wonder if it is a "real" L-88 engine, even aftermarket. Not sure what makes it worth even $51k. The wiper actuator is 69 style.. the windshield trim is not painted. Hooker sidepipes added on. I don't get it at all.

http://www.barrett-jackson.com/carli...LotNumber=1212

 

HERE'S A LITTLE HELP FOR THE BLIND

 

Gee,thanks...hood was closed when I seen it...oh well....and I did not buy one of their $15 programs...

...and...you are right...

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...l/magoo-11.gif

We will see what happens to the 69 L-88....

Rich

 

I'm not 100% sure but my wife has barrett on right now and she said a blind gentleman (at least he appeared to be visually impaired) just purchased an early corvette for $157,500......I keep getting this image in my head of them yelling sold! sold! sold!......and he ended up taking home a pink 1987 Chevy cavalier with the back seat removed.

 

REAL NICE CONVERSATION PIECE........the catalogue i mean !!!

AND.....The only thing from the Auction well worth the asking price !!!

 

WELL, IT'S GOT NEW TIRES .............& THE WHEELS ARE FULLY RESTORED !!!