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May 30, 2018

Posted By : Barrett-Jackson

Written By : independent automotive journalist Steve Magnante

THE ASHTON COLLECTION: Own a Piece of a Top-Notch Offering from Texas

May 30, 2018
Posted by Barrett-Jackson

Written by independent automotive journalist Steve Magnante

A wide variety of collector vehicles and authentic automobilia from the Texas-based Ashton Collection will be offered at No Reserve during the 3rd Annual Barrett-Jackson Northeast Auction.

A wide variety of collector vehicles and authentic automobilia from the Texas-based Ashton Collection will be offered at No Reserve during the 3rd Annual Barrett-Jackson Northeast Auction.

Brent Ashton is a successful 44-year-old Texas businessman who runs an enterprise named Diesel Displays, which he has grown into a leading provider of custom trade show and retail displays made of wood, metal and plastic. Located in a 100,000-square-foot complex, Diesel Displays has an in-house, multi-medium fabrication shop with a staff of designers and craftsmen, automated laser-cutters, metal brakes and 3D printers that can transform virtually any idea into reality.

Business is booming, and that has allowed Ashton to amass a stunning collection of cars and automotive memorabilia. Better yet, with full access to his company’s cutting-edge fabrication capabilities, Ashton founded Ashton Motor Sports, which built many of the cars or added finishing touches that just cannot be purchased from any catalog.

This one-of-a-kind Steam Punk custom 1969 Chevrolet Camaro is among the collector cars from The Ashton Collection bound to turn heads at the Northeast Auction.

To store his collection, Ashton acquired a 20,000-square-foot building that he named the Ultimate Car Cave, which you can check out online at UltimateCarCave.com. Recently, Brent has decided to shuffle the deck and sell some choice examples from his car and automobilia stash at the 3rd Annual Barrett-Jackson Northeast Auction at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut.

Though over 2,000 miles span the distance between his Dallas, Texas, location and the Barrett-Jackson venue at Mohegan Sun, Ashton has reserved space aboard nearly a dozen Reliable Auto Carriers enclosed transport trucks to get the job done. Let’s take a quick look at some of the offerings from The Ashton Collection, all of which will be sold at No Reserve when they cross the auction block.

In many cases, Brent has tapped into Diesel Design’s ability to work with plastic, wood, metal and even leather during construction of his cars. Two great examples of exceptionally creative, visionary thinking are Ashton’s “Steam Punk” 1969 Camaro and “Shotgun” 1959 Chevy Apache stepside pickup. Each is packed with one-off design details. Brushed metal surfaces and hand-tooled leather interior fixtures abound. Under Shotgun’s seat is a custom slide-out holder for vintage firearms, another of Ashton’s passions.

This 1954 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible from The Ashton Collection has a unique Blue Flame inline 6-cylinder engine.

Like any well-rounded car collection, Ashton’s includes many Corvettes. Highlights include a correctly restored 1954 with the unique Blue Flame inline 6-cylinder engine, a fully documented triple-black 1962 roadster (one of the rarest colors in 1962) with dual-quads, a 1961 Fuelie and, from more recent times, a 1987 Callaway Twin-Turbo coupe. One of only 123 made (plus 65 roadsters), 1987 was the first appearance of the RPO B2K Callaway turbo option, and the only year an automatic transmission was not offered.

Muscle cars from both ends of the scale are also a big part of The Ashton Collection. Big-block Camaros, a 1963 Impala SS (with an unusual tachometer delete feature) and a 440-powered Dodge Challenger represent the high-powered early days. On the other side of the coin, a fully documented 1981 Firebird T-Top Trans Am illustrates the fact not all TAs got big 400 and 403 engines. A close look at the Shaker hood scoop decal reads 4.9 liters! This rare 4.9-liter TA was a base-level offering and, with only 11,606 miles showing and with its original Window Sticker and Build Sheet, the small engine isn’t a setback. In fact, because so few were built, Trans Am collectors looking for rarities scramble when they hit the market.

Collectors can go “back to the future” in this clean example of John DeLorean’s dream car, the DMC-12.

European sports and luxury cars are represented by a truly regal 1962 Rolls-Royce with cream leather seating and numerous burled walnut interior appliques inside. From Ireland – by way of Detroit – a clean example of John DeLorean’s dream car, the DMC-12, reminds us of the former GM superstar’s rise and later fall from grace. Though somewhat underpowered by its DOHC V6 engine, this one features the 5-speed manual transaxle, which restores much of the sporting flair for which these cars are known. James Dean fans will appreciate the 1955 Porsche Spyder replica, correctly rendered in silver with proper staggered-width chromed rims and aluminum brake drums.

And naturally, the Resto-Mod segment is well-represented. Beyond the previously mentioned “Steam Punk” Camaro and “Shotgun” ’59 Apache pickup, several C2 Stingrays and a big-block-powered Chevelle represent the benefits of engine, suspension and brake upgrades. There’s even a Resto-Mod AC Cobra in the mix. Inside its sleek silver-striped black body, the interior has been completely reimagined by Ashton Motorsports and the Diesel Displays prototype fabrication shop. Milled aluminum fascias add a high-tech look, while dual exposed frame tubes straddle the transmission tunnel in an effect never before seen inside an AC Cobra.

A longtime Barrett-Jackson buyer, Brent Ashton also gathered a variety of vintage American vehicles, like a clean 1938 Cadillac V16 limousine. Complete down to its synchronized twin carburetors and distinctive side-by-side air cleaner canisters, this highly original example is huge compared to the multitude of Ford Model T and A-based boattail speedsters in the collection. There’s even a 1929 Bugatti-themed boattail speedster tribute in the mix that takes “staged authenticity” (the art of replicating the effects of age) to new heights. Though crisp and new in every way, smart use of shading and burnishing tricks casual observers into assuming it’s a century-old relic.

Hot rod fans will love this 1932 Ford Custom Roadster, featuring an Edelbrock-built 350ci 8-cylinder engine.

Before Henry Ford unleashed the Flathead V8 in 1932, hot-rodders based their efforts on Model Ts and As. Blending traditional Depression-era build styles with the fruits of the Diesel Displays prototype shop, many of these open-wheel machines feature custom leather interiors – one with over 150 brass buttons pressed into the seats. Recurrent use of vintage aviation design details like flight goggles and leather skull caps add visual excitement.

Those interested in the growing appreciation for vintage Jeeps and SUVs will like The Ashton Collection’s 1972 Chevy K5 Blazer, 1980 Jeep CJ5 and 1986 Jeep CJ7. Each is mildly updated: A modern throttle body EFI system on the Blazer’s small-block V8 engine, a 4-inch lift kit on the CJ7 and a cluster of automatic rifles on the CJ5. Wait, what? Yep, named “Hogzilla,” the CJ5 was rebuilt as the ultimate trail-going Armageddon machine (don’t worry folks, the guns are non-functioning replicas).

The Ashton Collection also includes plenty of original, non-reproduction memorabilia in the form of antique pedal cars, vintage Coca-Cola items, classic pinball machines and more. Once everything has been unpacked from its careful cross-country trip from Texas, it’ll all be offered at No Reserve on the auction block in Connecticut. Be part of this historic sale. When its’ done, you can boast that you own a piece of The Ashton Collection.

Check out the sneak preview video and gallery below for a look at just a few of the collector cars and automobilia pieces from The Ashton Collection, all selling at No Reserve at the 2018 Northeast Auction: