We arrived in Scottsdale on the first day of the event. There are no auctions, but the cars are arriving and staging up. Lots of fun. Venders have time to chat, and I’ve interacted with some at previous auctions.
This 1969 Roadrunner had a few issues.
Check it out:
Tim
If you follow this blog you’ve no doubt seen my posts on this past January’s Barrett Jackson event in Scottsdale, Az, you might even had caught my Facebook Live videos.
Of course I have to say it’s well worth the price of admission for all that there is to see and do.
One event is the Ride and Drive where you are allowed to drive some of the new cars. They also have a few of the more powerful cars that they only allow you to ride along with a driver, cars like the Hell Cat and Viper and some of the Mustangs. This year I chose to drive the SS and RS Camaro.
The key is to get there early because the line get long and the track gets crowded. We arrived at the right time and got a more personal touch. New for this year was the Breathalyzer test conducted by the Sheriff’s department, a smart idea, considering all the adult beverages available. But it was a bit early for that.
Here’s quick little slide show of my trip in one of the Camaro’s.
The auto cross course they had set up was pretty tight and for the novice this would a challenge and I think it was meant to keep the speeds down. When you attend these you are accompanied by a local drive either supplied by the dealership or by the car company for this event.
I drove the SS V8 LT Camaro first. I found the seat comfortable and driving position was really good. The car had quick response and the V8 really pulled great with hitting the gas. Not as good as my 2007 C6 Corvette but I was impressed. As an SCCA auto cross driver I found this course to be a bit tighter the standard down here at the regional I’ve driven often. The SS proved to be a bit sloppy in the corners at speed and it felt like a bigger car – of course it’s it a bit larger than my Vette. Although I made it round the course with out killing any cones, it would be understandable given how it handled.
Immediately after parking the SS, they had an V6 RS ready and I jumped in. I really appreciated that, having the SS drive still fresh in the never endign, it would make the comparison, a bit more visceral rather than homogenized by the thought process.
These days you know they can get a lot of power out of V6 engine and even 4 cylinders so I was curious to see how the RS’s V6 felt with my foot pressed to the floor. I didn’t have any specific expectations, but I was hoping to feel “WOW – this is a only a V6?!?!”, but I have to say it felt like V6. It was clear the power wasn’t there at the start line. However, it did get up to speed fairly quickly and by the first real corner you could feel it. The corner? Well, let’s say it was impressive. While driving SS the ride-a-long driver bet that I’d find the RS a much better handling car in the tight corners, due to the fact that the engine was set back a bit that changed up how the car made it though the corners. I have to say it was correct.
It’s true that in auto cross that horse power isn’t all you need, in fact, too much can make for rough runs. The key for any auto cross car is being able to handle the corner as the fastest speed possible. The RS made it through the course with much sharper corners and it felt really good coming out of them with not a lot of body roll, it was surprising.
So the V8 SS felt powerful (relatively speaking) – more what I’m use to with my Corvette. The RS felt like a V6 when getting off the line, but had the better cornering than the RS, basically verifying what the ride-a-long driver told me I would find.
It’s not often the average blogger, SCCA racer and car restorer, gets to take ride in or drive the newest cars which I think is a huge gap in what you see in the big time blogs and car magaiznes, so it’s always fun to poke them with the Average Guy’s thoughts when a chance for that experience can be documented.
Thanks for reading.
Tim
It’s Car Auction Season – Barrett Jackson Car Show – Westworld of Scottsdale
Welcome back to our recent trip to Barrett Jackson Classic Car Auction 2017 in Scottsdale, AZ. Keep in mind these videos were part of the our Facebook Live event and I’m sharing them here on our blog. Quality is ‘iffy’ in spots but if you’ve never been to some this huge it’s cool to see some of the areas that the TV coverage doesn’t always show.
These videos show more of the grounds and where you can view the sold cars (if you attend early in the week you can see the cars in these areas before they are shined up and sold). I apologize for top of the tent footage – sigh… live video streaming goes like that. BTW the phone noises you hear are responses to the live feed.
Thanks for reading.
Tim
Here are a couple more videos. Quality is not great in spots but it was the live feed through Facebook.
These videos take place at the entrance. I imagine that Ford pays good money to have their offering right up front. In these you’ll see the new Mustang and the Focus RS….both nice looking cars.
Thanks for reading.
Tim
#BarrettJackson
#ProjectSportsRoof
Barrett Jackson 2017 Walkthrough with Justin Bieber Ferrari …
It’s every muscle/antique/collector car owner’s dream that their car is “Rare”. However, determining that your car is rare can be tough. So, there is nothing cooler then having the numbers/statics that help prove that your car is special. Take such as the Marti Reports for Ford products. They provide those numbers for the Ford collector.
If you aren’t familiar with the products Kevin Marti can provide here is a link to my post where I the Marti Report for #ProjectSportsRoof – Classic Mustangs – #ProjectSportsRoof’s Marti Report .
There are other similar services for other brands like PHS (Pontiac Historic Services) which has similar documentation. Whatever your favorite car maker – go check out forums that are related to that brand and ask around. Now that I have a 1973 Mustang, I hang out at 7173Mustangs.com a wealth of knowledge exist here as well great looking cars and enthusiastic owners from all over the world.
The Marti Report #ProjectSportsRoof show that is is 1 of 76 with that paint and trim codes. No doubt it is ‘rare’ if you boil the data down far enough and that’s great. I as mentioned in the posting above that’s great to boast at the local car club hangout. But what does it mean for value?
Logically someone, who has been exposed to car values through the web or the online car auctions like Mecum and Barrett-Jackson, can equate rarity to value. Just count the number of times the auctioneer says the word “rare”. But really what equates to value is ‘desirability’ and rarity is a component of desirability. There are a lot more Boss 302 Mustang produced in 1969 or 1970 then 76 in 1973, but the body style of my Sports Roof isn’t as desirable as the 1970 or 1969 Boss. So during this Classic Car Auction season in Arizona, keep that in mind when you are attending an event live or virtually.
But value isn’t everything….you have to enjoy your ride!!!
Thanks for reading.
Tim
1973 Mustang SportsRoof
I love this time of year here in Arizona. Not just because you can work on your classic/muscle car in the garage without feeling like a Christmas turkey in the oven. I love this time of year because it’s Car Auction Season! For the next 3-4 weeks classic cars (and others) are bountiful between Tucson, AZ and Phoenix, AZ.
With Barrett Jackson Car Auction kicking off this week and RM, Russo and Steel auctions following up, beautiful cars are brought out in to the cool winter sunlight and driven or set on display. Now, I’m not just talking about at the auctions themselves. But I’m talking about the little known phenomenon that occurs in and around the area.
We have a tradition were we will spend some time driving round Scottsdale and Fountain Hills and other little sections of the greater Phoenix area and looking for the displays of cool classic, muscle, antique cars. The owners have push these beauties out of their warm protective garages, out into the cool winter air. Everywhere you drive, sitting next to the curbs or at the edge of the driveways are some of the most prized, collectible and unique cars south of Payson, AZ.
Some of these are for sale, owners hope to catch the eye of disappointed bidder on his way home or get noticed a buyer that doesn’t really want to ponying up baskets full of old presidents to just participate in the auctions, but still suffering from the ‘classic/muscle/antique car flu that is epidemic this time of year. Others just what to show off their well-loved works of metal art and have a discussion about it with passer-byes.
It is a great time! We’ll be head there to spend couple days attending the events at Barrett Jackson and we’ll take the time to drive around the area and I’ll grab a few shots of the local car eye candy and post them up. If you are headed up drop me a note, I’ve met a few readers at such events, that’s always cool.
BTW – Don’t forget some of the best view is in the parking lot at the these events – snap some shots and post them up on my Facebook page www.facebook.com/AGCarRestoration .
See you here.
Tim
#BarrettJackson
Barrett Jackson Scottsdale 2017
In a earlier post I picked out two sleeper cars that were totally awesome (does anyone use that phrase any more?). Here is how they did at auction.
The odd Pontiac Beaumont – Chevelle/Nova/Chevy II build by GM and sold North of the border by Pontiac-Buick dealerships throughout Canada brought a nice price. Seems someone liked the 375hp, 396 – Chevelle SS trim car to the tune of $32,000.00 (USD). Yeah…no kidding!!!!
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I love this car!!!
The other sleeper was a 1966 Chevy Chevelle 300 Deluxe. It was a plain jane looking Chevy with painted steel wheels. But it had a big surprise – 502 crate GM motor with 502 hp. AWESOME!!!! As was the hammer price…………………… $41,800.00. WOW!!!!
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Of course there were many, many other awesome cars. Look for a few more posts on the Barrett-Jackson auction from last week.
Thanks for reading.
Tim
I just have to add one more sleeper car slated to be auctioned off in Scottsdale this week. You might be surprised at this little gem.
Since you know by the title that it’s a Pontiac (or is it?) let me show you a badge on the car to give you a hint. Don’t scroll all the way down yet!!
Hey it’s a Pontiac Sports Deluxe? Not exactly!!
It is a 1967 Pontiac Beaumont!
Looks like a plain Jane Pontiac from the backside!!
It’s got a V8!!
Love the side vents!!!
The Beaumont was a GM based Canadian car sold at Pontiac-Buick dealerships in Canada. Through out it’s production years of 1962 – 1969 it was based on a the Chevelle, the Chevy II and the Nova, all at different point on it’s time line. The Sports Deluxe (SD) was in fact the same trim level as the Chevy Chevelle SS – hence the engine option below.
This one is restored to original, including paint color and it has date-code-correct 396 engine tweaked a bit to produce 375 HP.
Now that’s a sleeper!!!!!
Should be crossing the auction block on Thursday 1/28.
Thanks for reading.
Tim
It is tough to pick out favorite cars at a place like Barrett-Jackson’s Classic Car Auctions. There is too much to like. I can say I just like Mustangs or I just like Corvettes, but in reality, I can find lots to like about many classics. But when you sit back at the end of the day of previewing the cars and think about the beautiful works of art, there will be a few that come to mind right away.
So here is one of my favorites I saw on opening day.
Lot #1563 1966 Chevy Chevelle 300 Deluxe
Great looking 66 Chevelle.
It is a 300 Deluxe
Just a great little every day (back then) commuter car.
Just love the painted steel wheels and center hub caps. Hey..what’s that badge on the fender?
What?!!!!
What a sleeper car!!!!! Check out the options:
Should cross the block on Sunday, Jan 31. I’ll watch to see what it brings!!!!
P.S. – It’s NO RESERVE!!!
Thanks for reading
Tim
#barrettJackson
