VIEW FROM THE BLOCK: Marking monumental moments in automotive history
September 13, 2019
Posted by Barrett-Jackson
WITH CRAIG JACKSON AT THE HELM, BARRETT-JACKSON IS CELEBRATING 49 SUCCESSFUL YEARS IN THE COLLECTOR CAR HOBBY. CRAIG IS ALSO AN AVID CAR COLLECTOR, AWARD-WINNING RESTORER AND RACING ENTHUSIAST.
In the world of car collecting, “first” and “last” have considerable importance. The first and last of any generation or model of a vehicle signifies changes, breakthroughs … captured moments in automotive history.
Among the “first” and “last” Fords to cross the Barrett-Jackson auction block was this 2019 Ford GT Heritage Edition VIN 001 at the 2019 Scottsdale Auction.
Barrett-Jackson has been honored to have a number of these significant vehicles cross our auction block over the years. It all started back in 2006, when Ford and Shelby brought VIN 001 of their 2007 Shelby GT500 to the Scottsdale Auction. With Carroll Shelby and Edsel Ford among the dignitaries on hand, the car sold for an unprecedented $600,000 to benefit the Carroll Shelby Children’s Foundation. Fast-forward to the 2019 Scottsdale event, when VIN 001 of the 2019 Ford GT Heritage Edition brought in $2.5 million for United Way of Southeastern Michigan.
The last-production 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon and last-production 2017 Dodge Viper sold as a pair at the 2018 Northeast Auction for $1 million, all of which went to charity.
Dodge donated VIN 001 of the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat to be sold at the 2014 Las Vegas Auction, which resulted in $865,000, with a matching donation, to total $1.73 million for charity. Dodge also made their mark at the 2018 Northeast Auction by bringing the last 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon and the last 2017 Dodge Viper, which sold as a pair for $1 million to benefit United Way and the American Heart Association.
Chevrolet, of course, has also had some memorable moments on the block. I remember our great friend Ron Pratte purchasing a very significant 1967 Corvette known as “The Last Sting Ray” for $660,000 at our 2007 Scottsdale Auction. At our 2016 Scottsdale event, VIN 001 of the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro COPO Gen 6 brought in $300,000.
The first-production 2020 Toyota Supra was among the stars of the 2019 Scottsdale Auction, selling for $2.1 million for charity.
Overseas automakers are also now taking notice of the power of the Barrett-Jackson block. At the 2016 Scottsdale Auction, Acura sold VIN 001 of their 2017 NSX for $1.2 million to benefit the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation and Camp Southern Ground, and Toyota came to the 2019 Scottsdale event with the very first production 2020 Toyota Supra. The much-anticipated car sold for $2.1 million for charity; the beginning of another era for the Japanese automaker.
At our most recent auction in Connecticut, Chevrolet made quite an impact by bringing four of the last front-engine Corvettes to the block – one of which has incredible historical significance: a replica of what will be the very last C7 Corvette ever built. The rights to that noteworthy vehicle went to the winning bidder for $2.7 million to help veterans through the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation’s Smart Home Program.
It was an incredible Barrett-Jackson moment when the last C7 Corvette crossed the 2019 Northeast Auction block, raising $2.7 million for the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
It really seems to be the year of the Corvette. Not long after that last C7 sold on our auction block, Chevrolet unveiled the C8, their first mid-engine Corvette, in California. Carolyn and I were honored to be present for the occasion. They’ve really thought the car out well; I was impressed by the technology and the ergonomics. The car is tied to GPS, which means, for example, that whenever you lift the front end to clear a bump, the next time you drive there, it will automatically lift it for you. The C8 has interesting lines, a beautiful interior, a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. It’s very structurally sound, and they have created a true mid-engine car, with the engine being so far forward there is a decent luggage area, big enough for five pieces of custom Corvette luggage – three in the back and two in the front. Most mid-engine vehicles have the radiators up front, but Corvette has put them out to the side, so the air comes out under the wheel wells, keeping that front luggage compartment cooler. Probably the most incredible thing was the starting price of $60,000, an announcement that had the entire crowd at the unveil murmuring in surprise.
Carolyn and Craig Jackson were honored to be present for the unveiling of the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray – the first mid-engine Corvette.
What’s next in store? We’re excited to see what “firsts” and “lasts” may be headed to our upcoming auctions (expect some big news for the 2020 Scottsdale event). One monumental moment I expect to see is that Corvette will probably go to a hybrid. You’ve got the Porsche 918 and LaFerrari hybrids. We sold an incredible 2019 McLaren Senna at our 2019 Scottsdale Auction, which is apparently the last pure-petroleum supercar they’re ever going to make. One can only speculate on when we’ll see the last internal combustion engine car, then the last car you can actually drive, with autonomous vehicles now on the scene.
The times are changing, to be sure.