January 18, 2015
Posted By : Barrett-Jackson

HISTORIC HIGHS FOR THE 44TH ANNUAL BARRETT-JACKSON SCOTTSDALE AUCTION

HISTORIC HIGHS FOR THE 44TH ANNUAL BARRETT-JACKSON SCOTTSDALE AUCTION

January 18, 2015
Posted by Barrett-Jackson

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It’s a wrap. The biggest auction in Barrett-Jackson history concluded today at WestWorld, reaching historic highs and resulting in some truly unforgettable moments. During the 10-day auction, Barrett-Jackson recorded more than $131 million in sales of 1,612 vehicles (unaudited) and a world-record $6.55 million in automobilia sales (unaudited), making it the highest sales result to date. The highly regarded Ron Pratte Collection alone brought in over $40.44 million in vehicle and automobilia sales.

“This year’s Scottsdale auction was on a scale unlike anything in our 44-year history,” said Craig Jackson, chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson. “From sales and consignments to our ratings on Discovery and Velocity, we smashed records at every level. Our week kicked off with a gala and continued to build excitement with our largest vehicle consignment in history, including the sale of the Ron Pratte Collection on Tuesday. Everyone who attended this year’s Scottsdale auction was a part of automotive history.”

TOP TEN

A record number of bidders attended the auction for a chance to purchase from the wide range of American muscle, European classics, exotic sports cars and one-of-a-kind customs. Here are the 10 cars that finished on top in Scottsdale:

2509_Above: 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake (Lot #2509) – $5.1 million

2501_Above: 1950 GM Futurliner Parade of Progress Tour Bus (Lot #2501) – $4 million

2500_Above: 1954 Pontiac Bonneville Special Motorama Concept Car (Lot #2500) – $3.3 million

5087_Above: 1949 Talbot-Lago T-26 Grand Sport Franay (Lot #5087) – $1.65 million

5090_Above: 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 Roadster (Lot #5090) – $1.595 million

5075_Above: 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing (Lot #5075) – $1.1 million

5086_Above: 1937 Mercedes-Benz 320B Cabriolet (Lot #5086) – $1.045 million

2515_Above: 1936 Delahaye “Whatthehaye” Street-Rod (Lot #2515) – $671,000

5071_Above: 1991 Ferrari F40 (Lot #5071) – $643,500

5076Above: 1953 Mercedes-Benz 300S Cabriolet (Lot #5076) – $643,500

RECORD SALES

The auction saw a number of benchmark sales, including Italian, German and domestic marques. While record auction results are typically the domain of restored originals, one car—the Ringbrothers Pantera—proved that a fully customized car can hold top spot in terms of value. Here are overviews of record sales from the 2015 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction:

50721972 De Tomaso Pantera by Ringbrothers (Lot #5072)
As Italian supercars go, two things are true about the De Tomaso Pantera. First they are quite affordable relative to other classic Italian Supercars from the era. Top prices for restored steel bumper Panteras hover in the $80,000 to $100,000 range. The second truth about Panteras is that modified examples often sell for more than original examples. The Pantera community, as a whole, embraces upgrades. Ringbrothers, a custom car building shop owned by Mike and Jim Ring, created this one-of-a-kind custom that rocked the industry when it was unveiled in 2013. At the 2015 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction, the radical custom attracted the attention of fans and bidders alike. When the gavel dropped, the Pantera sold for a record $330,000 at No Reserve.

50421952 Alfa Romeo 1900C Sprint Pininfarina (Lot #5042)
Coachbuilt examples of the 1900C, the first production Alfa Romeo made after World War II, are in very short supply. Legendary coach builders such as Ghia, Zagato, Bertone, Pininfarina and others produced cars with bespoke bodywork between 1952 and 1959. Recently, a Zagato-bodied barn find, in non-running condition, sold for $1,000,000. Also at the top of the sales spectrum, a Ghia-bodied car sold a few years ago for $649,000. Conversely, standard cars with standard Touring coachwork trade for approximately $125,000 to $150,000. In the case of the Pininfarina 1900C Sprints, there is little or no public data available. While a private sale in Europe is said to have transpired at approximately $325,000, the car before had some watchers holding their breath in anticipation. Would the little Alfa sell for $125,000 or $1,000,000? Sold at No Reserve, the market truly decided the value of this car. Under the bright lights of the legendary Barrett-Jackson stage, the Alfa Romeo 1900C Sprint Pininfarina sold for $550,000. This is a world record sale.

2508

Above: 2005 Ford GT Serial #003 First Production Car (Lot #2508) It’s no secret that 2005-2006 Ford GTs are appreciating. With a top speed of 205 mph and docile street manners, the Ford GT is easy to own and to collect. Typically the most valuable examples are the Heritage Edition cars with their “Gulf Racing” inspired livery. A Heritage Edition Ford GT sold here at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2015 for $473,000. There is one car, however, that tops them all. Ron Pratte’s Serial #003 Ford GT is the first production car sold to the public. In 2006, Pratte paid $530,000 as a charity sale in West Palm Beach. Eight years later, that purchase has proven to be a wise investment, as the same car sold here in Scottsdale, Saturday night for a record $605,000.

1937 Mercedes-Benz 320B Cabriolet (Lot #5086) (pictured above in top 10 sellers)
Few cars at the 2015 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale sale captured the attention of onlookers and bidders as much as this 1937 Mercedes-Benz 320B Cabriolet. Perhaps it’s black and deep navy-colored bodywork combined with exquisite red leather interior. Sparkling wire wheels and gleaming chrome add to the car’s panache. For every reason, the crowd loved this car, chassis #172436. It sold for a record $1,045,000 which is quite a bargain for this near concours-ready beauty. Between the 190SL record set in 2014 and cars like this sedan, Barrett-Jackson has been setting the pace for classic Mercedes Benz collectibles, as of late.

CROSSING THE BLOCK FOR CHARITY

“It’s been an absolute pleasure working with Ron and building his collection over the years,” said Steve Davis, president of Barrett-Jackson. “Ron took great pride in the cars and automobilia. He painstakingly restored many of the vehicles, making them truly outstanding collectibles. It’s wonderful to see ownership of some amazing vehicles pass along to new collectors.”
FuturlinerWide

Led by the 1950 GM Futurliner that raised $4,650,000 ($4 million bid and $650,000 in additional pledges) on Saturday evening, a total of 10 cars crossed the Scottsdale auction to raise more than $8.6 million to benefit local and national charities. The Futurliner was donated by Pratte, a Vietnam veteran, to benefit the Armed Forces Foundation. The other nine charity auction cars were:

lot3001_Above: 2015 Jeep Wrangler Custom SUV (Lot #3001), donated by SEMA to benefit Child Help and Victory Junction – $85,000

charity3002_Above: 2015 BMW M5 (Lot #3002), donated by BMW to BMW Car Club of America Foundation and Tire Rack Street Survival Program – $700,000

charity30032016 Cadillac CTS-V (Lot #3003), donated by GM to benefit College for Creative Studies – $170,000

3004Above: 1979 Oldsmobile Cutlass Hurst (Lot #3004), donated by Joe Riley for Cancer Research Fund at TGen in memory of Russ and Brian Jackson – $140,000

3001Above: 1939 Cadillac LaSalle C-Hawk Custom Roadster (Lot #3005), donated by Bubba Watson for Birdies for the Brave – $410,000

3006 copyAbove: 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Convertible “1st Retail” (Lot #3006), donated by GM for United Way – $800,000

jeffgordoncarAbove: 1999 Chevrolet Monte Carlo NASCAR Busch Series Stock Car (Lot #3007), donated by Jeff Gordon and Ray Evernham for Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation – $500,000

gt350frontAbove: Ford Shelby GT350R VIN #001 Coupe (Lot #3008), donated by Ford for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation – $1,000,000

3009Above: 2014 Victory Cross Country 8-Ball Motorcycle (Lot #3009), anonymously donated to benefit Ride 2 Recovery – $180,000

DSC_2600The 2015 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction was a star-studded extravaganza and included celebrities from the movie screen and TV, as well as from the sports industry and corporate world. Some of the biggest stars included four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon, two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson and Hollywood stars Sharon Stone and Tim Allen. Other popular luminaries included pop music artist CeeLo Green, country music artist Rodney Atkins, country music duo Thompson Square, rock music artists Alice Cooper and Michael Anthony, MLB Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson, and actor Steven Seagal.

Barrett-Jackson’s new relationship with Velocity and Discovery Channel premiered with a spike in ratings for the channel during auction coverage in Scottsdale. Throughout 2015, Velocity and Discovery Channel will broadcast more than 100 hours of coverage that will include auctions in West Palm Beach, Fla., as well as Reno and Las Vegas, Nev., in 2015.For the first time, the Big Three automotive manufacturers—Ford Motor Company, GM and Dodge—were together at Barrett-Jackson, showcasing their latest models and offering exciting interactive activities for auction guests.

Heritage Partners