When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I have noted that those cars don't look that good when seen in person. You can always manipulate the worst car to look good with the right angel, lighting or not showing the disappointing views and lets not forget using great lines like "believed to have 30,000 original miles". Remember their money is generated by the price of sales and in a skillful manner of appealing to future buyers, maybe not at this action but the next one. Can't you hear one friend saying to the other, boy Barrett sold a nice looking 69 Corvette for only $31,000. As the discussion continues, one says let go to the next action and buy one at that price. I think most of the time sellers pay to ship their car there and pay a premium price to sell their car because they can't find a local buyer due to a poor restoration.
I’ve attended the Barrett Jackson a few times over the years, as I’m sure other members have as well. The “good” cars start showing up on Thursday, and then peak on Friday and Saturday.
There are TONS of good cars that never go across the auction block. There are several huge tents outside the Scottsdale show building where some really nice (but not auction block worthy) cars can be closely checked and sold. If someone wants to buy about ANY year/configuration of C3, spend a couple of days at the Scottsdale show on Tues-Thurs.
The cars that go through early are always on the low side as bidders simply are not there yet.........seen some crazy deals over the years........once seen a nut/bolt restored GTO clone sell no reserve for 15k.......a clone yes, but you can't even touch a clapped out lemans for that.....this was on a Thursday if I recall......
There are also other auctions going on in Scottsdale at the same time. Russo and Steele is happening just a few miles away right now. And Mecum arrives in Glendale at the Cardinals stadium in March.
There are TONS of good cars that never go across the auction block. There are several huge tents outside the Scottsdale show building where some really nice (but not auction block worthy) cars can be closely checked and sold. If someone wants to buy about ANY year/configuration of C3, spend a couple of days at the Scottsdale show on Tues-Thurs.
You might mean "never go across the auction block ON TV." They all go across the block. Actually, if you watch steaming online, you do see just about all of them go across.
Originally Posted by Jebbysan
The cars that go through early are always on the low side as bidders simply are not there yet.........seen some crazy deals over the years........once seen a nut/bolt restored GTO clone sell no reserve for 15k.......a clone yes, but you can't even touch a clapped out lemans for that.....this was on a Thursday if I recall......
Jebby
Yeah, the early week cars aren't the huge money cars, but its a mistake to overlook them. There are a ton of good buys that people simply miss because they sell early. This is true at many of the Mecum auctions too. We go to both a lot, and usually good early in the week to be able to see all the cars that are in the tends or in the buildings.
From: PHOENIX AZ. WHAT A MAN WON"T SPEND TO GIVE HIS ASS A RIDE
Originally Posted by 7T1vette
There are TONS of good cars that never go across the auction block. There are several huge tents outside the Scottsdale show building where some really nice (but not auction block worthy) cars can be closely checked and sold. If someone wants to buy about ANY year/configuration of C3, spend a couple of days at the Scottsdale show on Tues-Thurs.
ALL the cars at the BJ auction are auction cars. They don't have a for sale tent. Some cars are in the main building some in the horse arena & some in the 67 tents outside.
At the auctions I went to there were a lot of "auction prepped" cars. The top / paint was great, the rest not so much. There are 2 cars at a local restorer that were auction cars that came in for a clean up after purchase, one currently has $25k in work, the other is still getting it's rehab and will be over that.
Remember if you bid on a:
$30k car
$3k auction fee
$3k (up to sales tax)
$2k shipping
2025 c3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2025 C4 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2025 C8 Stingray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I go to several auctions a year (never buy but enjoy looking) and generally speaking, the cars look better in the pictures and on TV than they do "in person". In addition, IMHO, although Ive seen some really good deals most cars go for more than what there're worth especially when you and in fees and shipping.
I go to several auctions a year (never buy but enjoy looking) and generally speaking, the cars look better in the pictures and on TV than they do "in person". In addition, IMHO, although Ive seen some really good deals most cars go for more than what there're worth especially when you and in fees and shipping.
i agree, yes they do look much better on tv than in person.
At the auctions I went to there were a lot of "auction prepped" cars. The top / paint was great, the rest not so much. There are 2 cars at a local restorer that were auction cars that came in for a clean up after purchase, one currently has $25k in work, the other is still getting it's rehab and will be over that.
Remember if you bid on a:
$30k car
$3k auction fee
$3k (up to sales tax)
$2k shipping
So that $30k car costs $38k.
Yeah, good point... regardless if you find a decent buy early in the week or find your dream car later and you’re willing to pay for it, you have to have the above math done in your head long before you raise your hand to a bidders assistant. The add ons have been what’s kept me from buying many times in the past and even on the car I bought last Barrett all the numbers continued to recalculate in my head with each bid.
Also, depending on the venue and your choice of payment, some auctions are very easy to get bidder passes while some others require more stringent details, causing you to do things like finance just for the event and pay off quickly later... but you have to keep in mind early payoff fees that are extra costs. It’s all pieces on a chess board.
As well, as a seller you have to have the above numbers laser focused in your head because you never want to be making decisions like dropping reserves, etc when an Assistant is bearing down on you on stage and there’s a TV camera in your face.