SUPERCARS & SUPERSTARS: Action-Packed Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach Auction Breaks Records
April 19, 2015
Posted by Barrett-Jackson
From the Opening Night Gala to the final drop of the gavel, the 13th Annual Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach Auction has been an unforgettable event.
The top-selling vehicles truly captured the Florida lifestyle, with many exceptional European and American supercars crossing the block, along with highly stylized convertibles from the 1930s to the 1950s. The auction was punctuated by growth: a 90% increase in automobilia sales, 30% increase in attendance and 28% increase in number of bidders. Most importantly, the auction resulted in an impressive sell-through rate of over 98 percent.
Barrett-Jackson introduced an exciting new facet to the Palm Beach event. Known as the Supercar Showcase presented by duPont Registry, enthusiasts were able to get up close and personal with sleek exotic automobiles from makes like Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston-Martin and Spyker. On Saturday morning, each supercar was started up in succession to celebrate their unique, high-revving V12 and V8 exhaust notes. The resulting early-morning reveille is likely to become an annual Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach tradition.
Supercar Showcase presented by duPont Registry.
World records were shattered on Saturday as a 1987 Buick Grand National GNX (Lot #387) sold for an unprecedented $165,000. The result exceeded Barrett-Jackson’s previous record price of $132,000 set at the 2009 Palm Beach Auction, then tied at the Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas Auction in 2010. Later that same day, one of the most beloved movie cars of all time, Herbie (Lot #394), sold for an astonishing $126,500 – a new high for a Volkswagen Beetle. The famous car will be a feature attraction at John Staluppi’s Car of Dreams museum in Florida.
Herbie crosses the Barrett-Jackson block and sets a new world record.
Cars for a Cause
Proving once again that the car collecting community is exceedingly philanthropic, seven charity vehicles crossed the auction block, including one boat. In a great demonstration of how cars can fuel charity and increase awareness, $966,000 was raised for worthy causes across the nation.
A beautiful black 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle Custom (Lot 3000), packed with horsepower and known as the “Smoke” edition, was the first charity car to cross the block. NASCAR great Tony Stewart and his staff were instrumental in the design of this highly chromed car, which features custom wheels donated by Chip Foose. Every penny of the $75,000 winning bid went to the Darrell Gwynn Foundation.
General Motors brought a brand-new 2016 Cadillac CT6 (Lot 3001) to the block, with 100 percent of the $200,000 hammer price going to the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute. The winning bidder will receive the first retail unit, delivered with letter of authenticity.
The Lonnie and Carol Poole Foundation donated a 1996 GMC Sierra Custom Pickup (Lot 3002), which raised $41,000 to be used to send underprivileged boys to a **Boy Scouts of America **summer camp.
A powerful 2015 Chevrolet Camaro COPO (Lot #3003) race car revved the bidding up to $300,000, every penny of which goes to the Achilles Freedom Team. An additional $100,000 donation from Jeanette and John Staluppi brought the grand total to $400,000 for the worthy cause.
WWE wrestling great Hulk Hogan took to the stage to assist in the auction of a head-turning 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 Custom (Lot #3003.1). Showing his ability to work a crowd, Hogan offered to rip the shirt off his back and give it to the winning bidder – which is exactly what he did. The car, donated by SJO Foundation for Hope, sold for $150,000, which will go to three great causes: Connor’s Cure, AHERO – America’s Hero and The Grace Project.
**The Foundation for Exceptional Warriors **is an organization that assists in the healing process of the families and veterans of Special Operations Forces, those recognized for valorous actions, and also those wounded in combat by providing customized therapeutic recreational and sporting events. It was appropriate, therefore, that a luxurious 2015 Bennington 2375GCW boat and trailer (Lots #3004 and 3004.1) were brought to the block on Sunday, bringing in $100,000 to benefit the admirable charity.
Top Sellers
A total of 526 remarkable vehicles journeyed across the stage over the three-day auction. Here are our top-selling vehicles from the 13th Annual Palm Beach Auction:
Lot #406 – 2006 Ford GT – $319,000
Lot #412 – 2012 Ferrari 458 Spider – $308,000
Lot #409 – 2009 Spyker C8 Laviolette – $220,000
Lot #420 – 1962 Chevrolet Corvette Custom – $192,500
Lot #7001 – 1954 Buick Skylark Convertible – $170,500
Lot #387 – 1987 Buick Grand National GNX – $165,000 – A NEW WORLD RECORD!
Lot #419 – 1970 Plymouth Superbird – $165,000
Lot #426 – 1969 Dodge HEMI Charger 500 – $165,000
Lot #433 – 1959 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible – $165,000
Lot #438 – 1954 Kaiser Darrin – $165,000
Lot #440 – 1937 Cord 812 Phaeton – $165,000