19 January 2008

Live Blogging Barrett-Jackson

I'm not in Scottsdale but in Saint Paul, where I have a dish on the roof and wi-fi coursing through me. Let's try doing this live:

2:55 1948 Chrysler Town & Country 2 door Convertible lot #1251.1
What a monster. This is the droptop version of what my grandfather had at one time. It's definitely a ride for when you're in no hurry to get anywhere. Gaveled at $125,000.

3:01 1957 Chrysler New Yorker lot #1253
Another lovely Mopar from the day when driving a Chrysler product was not the punchline to a bad joke. Gaveled at $115,000

3:10 1968 Shelby GT500 lot# 1255
Acapulco Blue and unblemished by savages. 450hp Cobra Jet 428 and a 4 speed. Carroll's name on the dash. All good news. How can this go for less than a 'Cuda? Gaveled at $135,000

3:22 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle COPO lot# 1257
A fine sleeper here. Numbers match. All the paper. Sneaky under the hood. Column shift and bench seat help hustle others on the street. Gaveled at $140,000

3:45 1953 Buick Skylark lot #1260
A relative unicorn for production cars of any era. This one's got all the candy and it's so white and clean it's hard to properly photograph for television. Looks like some one will steal this queen. Gaveled at $195,000

4:06 1979 Oshkosh M1000 lot #1263
Oshkosh makes those giant trucks that stand at the ready to put out an Airbus, and someone thought to make it into a motor home, or rolling fortress, or mobile armory. Perfect for when you wheel into the Fallujah KOA. Stolen at $44,000. Unreal.

4:42 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 lot #1269
Hand restored by a Ford guy. Everything perfect. Way rare NASCAR motor option. Gaveled at $325,000. Wowzer.

5:50 1967 Shelby Cobra lot 1281.1
The real shit. 11,000 miles on the 427 side oiler. Sunburst knock-offs. Green on black. Except for the color it really can't get better. Stolen for $625,000.

6:15 1967 Shelby GT500 Convertible lot 1287
A one-owner car, that owner was Carroll Shelby. Just off a 5-year restoration. Big bucks for this one right out of the chute, but not enough for the guys running the show. It's a bit creepy to have the Barrett-Jackson folks berating the crowd and prospective buyers for what they feel is a soft price. They, of all people, should know that auction process is all about the market determining the price, not the guy with his name all over the place. Hammered down at $675,000

7:42 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Rondine lot 1304
Yea, it's a one of a kind 'Vette, but it wears Italian coachwork. Barrett-Jackson is such a homer (American) enclave, I think the demand will be soft for this one, unicorn or not. Once it rolls off the stage, I think we may never see it again. Gaveled at $1,600,000

8:00 1963 Ford Thunderbird Italien lot 1306
Another one-off concept. Not as exotic as the Rondine, but as well done. Neither was exciting, just unique. The folks in the good seats who manage collections and often snap up this stuff are not too jazzed. Gaveled at $600,000.

8:56 1959 Pontiac Catalina Convertible lot 1314
Harley Earl had this one made for Mrs. Earl. A Catlina chassis with mostly Bonneville metal. Not as over the top as an Eldorado, but pink, pink pink; it's a chick car. Too bad about he color because the "hybriding" of the GM parts is really nice. Someone's second wife will have her hands full parking it. Out the door at $225,000.

9:14 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 lot 1316
VIN #1 of the greatest American car ever screwed together. 620bhp supercharged LS series small block, 6 speed and race-spec goodies all day long. This is the chance to get the king of the road in Le Mans Blue. Gaveled at $1,000,000.

Good night.

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