FUELING THE TRENDS: What’s hot on the block
September 25, 2018
Posted by Barrett-Jackson
Written by Chris Griggs
Will the success of the Resto-Mod pickup segment of the market continue at the 2018 Las Vegas Auction? This stunning 1958 Chevrolet Apache Custom Pickup (Lot #678) – a 2016 Battle of the Builders SEMA truck – is certain to see some hot bidding activity.
In the world of collector cars, it can be tricky to figure out what a particular car is worth and how popular it is in today’s market. With the variety of segments a car can fall into – like muscle cars, Resto-Mods, hot rods, prewar cars, European sports cars, etc. – it can be challenging to identify what cars are on the rise. However, once the hammer falls and the last car rolls off the block, each Barrett-Jackson auction provides a snapshot into the current market values for different segments of cars. Compiling numerous real-world sales helps give buyers and sellers an insight into what a particular segment is doing in the marketplace and which ones are on the rise, and through 2018 there have been a few notable ones.
This 1959 DeSoto Adventurer Convertible from the John Staluppi Cars of Dreams Collection sold for $330,000 at the 2018 Palm Beach Auction.
A perfect example of this is the recent resurgence of the value of 1950s American convertibles. Spearheaded by many of the excellent offerings from John Staluppi’s Cars of Dreams Collection at the Palm Beach 2018 Auction, what was previously a flat market saw new signs of life, best illustrated by the 1959 DeSoto Adventurer convertible selling for a massive $330,000. There were numerous examples of other big-fin convertibles bringing big money at that event, and the momentum carried into the Northeast 2018 sale, where a 1957 Ford Fairlane Sunliner convertible brought $110,000.
Crossing the block at the 2018 Las Vegas Auction will be this 1971 Dodge Challenger Resto-Mod Hellcat (Lot #771), serial #001 in the new series of Mr. Norm’s continuation vehicles.
It’s nearly impossible not to spot the rise of the customs and Resto-Mods segment. Every year the bar is set higher and higher, and 2018 is no different. It all started in Scottsdale, where a trio of Resto-Mod Corvettes all hammered above $300,000, the highest selling for a whopping $440,000. Fast-forward to the Northeast, and a pair of Resto-Mods made headlines, with a 1970 Dodge Charger R/T Custom Coupe selling for $154,000 and an over-the-top 1967 Nova dubbed “InNOVAtor” commanding an eye-opening $275,000. Combined with the numerous sales of other Resto-Modded classics, this is a trend that continues to climb in popularity every auction.
Known as “Urban Madness,” This custom 1969 Ford Bronco sold for $143,000 at the 2018 Scottsdale Auction.
A related segment that sees its fair share of Resto-Mods are pickups, SUVs and 4x4s. Many people took notice when this market saw the rise of the Dodge Power Wagon in recent years, but 2018 has shown this trend is spreading to other vehicles in this segment. The 4×4 world had a strong showing at the 2018 Scottsdale Auction, with vehicles like a 1971 Chevrolet K10 custom pickup selling for a record $110,000 and a 1969 Ford Bronco Custom known as “Urban Madness” going for $143,000. The trend continued into Palm Beach, where a 1971 K10 Cheyenne Super sold for $75,900 and a custom 1984 Jeep CJ8 Scrambler brought in $51,700.
This 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle LS6 (Lot #728) will be heading across the block in Las Vegas.
Beyond the customs and Resto-Mods, top-tier muscle cars have had a strong showing lately. The most desirable versions of American Muscle from the Big Three have posted impressive sales numbers so far this year. Setting the tone in Scottsdale were cars like a 1970 Pontiac GTO Judge Ram Air IV convertible selling for $440,000 and 1969 Camaro ZL1 ringing the bell at $770,000. A pair of MOPAR aero warriors also brought some attention, with a 1970 Plymouth Superbird and 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona selling for $286,000 and $275,000 respectively. The impressive sales continued with a 1969 GTO Judge Ram Air IV coupe selling for $178,200 in Palm Beach and a 1970 Chevelle LS6 bringing in $172,700 in the Northeast.
Each Barrett-Jackson auction showcases different segments encompassing nearly all aspects of collector cars, and every auction brings in new trends and market data. As segments rise and fall, there is no better indicator than the sales results of cars rolling across the Barrett-Jackson auction block.
For a look at what trend-setting vehicles will be crossing the 2018 Las Vegas auction block, click HERE.