PROVEN PARTNERSHIPS: Barrett-Jackson Sets the Stage for Automakers’ Newest Cars
April 25, 2017
Posted by Barrett-Jackson
Written by independent automotive journalist Scott Black
With Ford Motor Company CEO Mark Fields and Aaron Shelby (grandson of Carroll Shelby) on the stage, the VIN 001 2015 Ford Shelby GT350R (Lot #3008) rolled across the stage for a cool million dollars at the 2015 Scottsdale Auction, all of which went to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Over the decades, car companies have used a variety of tools to capture the attention of potential customers. As the competition for mindshare has heated up, automakers have migrated from the car show floor and racetrack to the Barrett-Jackson stage. And as the rivalry escalates on the auction block, so has the desirability of the vehicles being offered to collectors.
“We’ve built a reputation for offering access to the world’s greatest classic collector cars, which is why the most passionate enthusiasts are always at Barrett-Jackson,” said Craig Jackson, chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson. “So manufacturers began to look at our auctions as the perfect place to sell their first-production cars and prototype vehicles.”
Ford was the first automaker to leverage the unique Barrett-Jackson platform when, at the 2006 Scottsdale Auction, the 2007 Shelby GT500 was launched to the world. The VIN 001 car (Lot #1259.1) sold for charity for $600,000.
Ford was the first to leverage the unique platform when, at the 2006 Scottsdale auction, the 2007 Shelby GT500 was launched to the world on the Barrett-Jackson auction block as Edsel Ford, Carroll Shelby and many of the top Ford brass looked on. The VIN 001 car (Lot #1259.1) sold for charity for $600,000, unprecedented at the time. It was the beginning of what would become a Barrett-Jackson hallmark.
“Much like the Mustang ushered in a new era of competition between the automakers in the 1960s, Ford’s use of our auction block to sell VIN 001 vehicles created a stir,” added Steve Davis, president of Barrett-Jackson. “GM jumped into the fray with both feet, which compelled Chrysler to join the competition. Best of all, the cars were sold to benefit charity, so everyone truly wins.”
The number of VIN 001 cars sold at Barrett-Jackson over the years has been staggering. Here are just a few to cross the block recently.
Famous Fords
In late 2014, Ford Motor Company reintroduced the Shelby GT350 to dealerships for the first time since 1970. Only 137 total Shelby GT350s were built for the 2015 model year, making each an instant collectible; 37 were the coveted “R” model. To celebrate the return of this legendary car, Ford chose to auction the first 2015 GT350R.
With Aaron Shelby, grandson of Carroll Shelby, on the stage, VIN 001 rolled across the block at the 2015 Scottsdale auction. The new Ford Shelby GT350R (Lot #3008) fetched a cool million dollars, with all proceeds benefitting the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
The first 2017 Shelby GTE was consigned by mega-dealer Gaudin Ford for the 2016 Las Vegas block. Built at the Shelby factory, only a mile away from the Mandalay Bay-based Barrett-Jackson auction, the VIN 001 car (Lot #3003) fetched $150,000 for the Grant a Gift Autism Foundation.
GM Muscle
While Ford may have ignited the 1960s “pony car” wars, General Motors has been at the forefront of performance for decades. Some argue that the small-block Chevy motor amped-up the competition among the “Big Three.”
VIN 001 of the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 C7.R Edition (Lot #3002) sold for charity at the 2015 Las Vegas Auction for $500,000.
In 2015, GM introduced a version of the legendary Z06 based on the C7 Corvette. A road-going, track-capable homage to the Corvette Racing C7.R race cars, only 650 total were slated for production worldwide.
“Before the car was available at dealerships, GM offered VIN 001 of the C7.R Edition Corvettes through Barrett-Jackson,” noted Jackson. “GM rarely sold a first-production Corvette to the public, so this was an opportunity to literally be the first to own, as well as put an instant collectible in the garage.”
The sale of the car (Lot #3002) at the 2015 Las Vegas auction sent $500,000 to the College for Creative Studies, which educates visual artists and designers to be leaders in creative professions that shape society and advance economic growth.
GM also brought a special pair of Camaros to Scottsdale to be auctioned for charity.
One of the best-known Camaros was the famous COPO version intended for racing. Chevrolet resurrected that nameplate for a small run (69) in the 2016 model year – a purpose-built car for NHRA drag racing. Chevrolet introduced the new car at the SEMA Show in 2015 with Funny Car driver Courtney Force.
The show car at SEMA was VIN 001. It featured a Red Hot exterior color with Courtney Force-signature graphics and red-accented grille trim, wheelie bars and a parachute, along with Goodyear racing tires and many other bits of speed gear. When GM sold the car (Lot #3005) at the 2016 Scottsdale auction, it generated $300,000 for United Way.
Kettering University was the recipient of $500,000 from the sale of this VIN 001 2016 Chevrolet Camaro SS (Lot #3008) at the 2016 Scottsdale Auction.
That same weekend, GM offered VIN 001 of the new 2016 Camaro SS (Lot #3008). The dark black coupe featured a 6.2-liter V8 with 8-speed paddle-shift automatic transmission, 20″ wheels, Brembo brakes and Magnetic Ride Control suspension. Its sale raised $500,000 for Kettering University.
GM brought a pair of special edition cars to Barrett-Jackson’s Palm Beach auction in April 2016. One (Lot #3003) was the first retail production 2017 Corvette Grand Sport Collector Edition (VIN 001), which was designed to carry on the racing spirit of the original 1963 model. When the bidding ended, $170,000 was raised for the Karmanos Cancer Institute. Later in the evening, GM sold the first retail production 2017 Camaro 50th Anniversary Edition, VIN 001 (Lot #3005). The Nightfall Gray Metallic convertible earned $150,000 for United Way of Southeastern Michigan.
The most track-capable Camaro ever came to the 2017 Palm Beach auction block courtesy of GM. Featuring a powerful 6.2-liter V8 engine with 650 horsepower, premium suspension components and the largest tires ever fit to a factory Camaro, the first retail production 2018 Camaro ZL1 1LE (Lot #3002) brought the hammer down at $250,000 to benefit United Way.
Pentastar Performance
A head-turning Stryker Red 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat (VIN 700001) sold at the 2014 Las Vegas Auction for $825,000 – made even sweeter by a matching donation from the Engelstad Family Foundation. The entire amount benefited the Opportunity Village Foundation.
Chrysler chose to auction a very special 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat (VIN 700001) at the 2014 Las Vegas Auction to benefit the Opportunity Village Foundation. The muscle car (Lot #3004) was propelled by a 707hp supercharged HEMI, the most powerful V8 engine ever to come from the Chrysler Group. It boasted an 8-speed automatic transmission, lightweight wheels and Brembo brakes.
To add to its appeal, VIN 700001 had a one-of-a-kind, Viper-exclusive Stryker Red exterior and was the only production Hellcat model hand-painted at the Viper facility. It also had special exterior badging and an exclusive documentation build package. When the battle was done, $825,000 was donated to Opportunity Village, a nonprofit organization serving adults in Nevada with intellectual and related disabilities.
Looking out the windshield
Not only is Barrett-Jackson associated with the celebration of cars past, but now it has also evolved into the heartbeat of the new car industry.
“Whether it is a prewar classic, European exotic, wild custom or muscle car, no one offers the breadth and depth of vehicles available at our events,” said Jackson. “Now Barrett-Jackson is earning a reputation for attracting the latest vehicles and, most importantly, giving collectors the ability to take one home. That’s something you can’t do at one of the traditional auto shows or the racetrack.”