Barrett-Jackson Records Strong Sales

[rich p]

The Hemi E-body's at Russo did pretty well I thought. One sold(Cage car)sold for 400K and 71 Hemi Challenger $350K
The BJ Blue 70 Hemi Cuda did 190K+(not a nice car) and the Yellow terd with non original drivetrain and auto on the column did 120K..
Pedigree cars are doing well in my book but any flaws and people dont even want to talk about it for any money.
I get a lot of calls from guys sitting on there couch watching, you need to see these cars first hand and you would understand why some of these cars bring what they brought in price. Like John said: No killer cars to say,we must see this go off the block !!
The ZL1 brought killer money as did his Yenko's. I told him his Yellow Yenko was going to be a homerun.
Big thing I noticed,they didnt do ALL the hoopla between the cars during prime time.. I think they learned that was a BIG mistake in the past few years..
The market took a big hit that weekend from the Beatles memorabilia.. Look at the #'s before that,you will notice the #'s were great from Tues-Sat afternoon and then the mudslide after at that !!!

Just my 5cents !!!

[GRB]

I now know to never question the "wisdom" of B-J and Steve Davis. Bound and gag that clown somewhere off-stage and Barrett-Jackson's credibility would go up 25%. If CJ had any brains whatsoever he would never allow that moron to open his mouth!!

[OldZ28Owner]

Does anyone know why the ZL1 that Reggie Jackson brought only sold for about $240,000? It seemed low, and the car looked good. I wasn't expecting $850,000 like the "unrestored" one last year, but that seemed low.

Oh, and I am sending in a contribution to join today!

[Charley Lillard]

It wasn't really a ZL1. It was a vin tag off of a ZL1 that someone built a car around. All the details are here and on Camaros.net.

[RM Schimel]

The market has definitely softened with the current state of the economy. I attended both Arizona auctions and I must say the quality of cars was abysmal as well. The collectors with the finest examples clearly are not going to risk losing their automobiles in a no-reserve auction such as Barrett-Jackson. I think the cars that went through the Russo-Steele auction house represent a better window as to the current state of the market. The hemi cars still did quite well. The W-30 ragtop with a questionable past and in need of restoration did fairly well also. As Rich stated high quality pedigreed cars will always be in demand. I think we have seen a softening of the standard cars such as GTOs, Firebirds, 442s, Chevelles etc and especially replicas. But the market will always remain strong for the top flight elite cars such as hemi cars, ZL-1, LS-6, Stage –1, W-30, 68-9 HOs or Yenkos. These cars will always be deemed the most desirable with the serious collectors and demand will always surpass supply. This always is reflected in their high valuations. RM

[StealthBird]

Well, that's just the opposite of what all the indicators show. The high end cars have fallen dramatically. The base level cars have been stronger. Several standard GTO's went across the block at B-J for over $50K, as well a few low mileage late 70's Trans Am's that pulled over $50K, some SS396 Chevelles did very well. The Hemi cars tanked, the Shelbys tanked, the COPO's tanked.

As for quality, I think every year people complain about the quality of the cars at auctions. The difference now is that in previous years, we were always stunned how much people paid for those cars. This year, people are using the "low quality, little documentation" excuse as to why they're selling lower.

Excellent article in the recent Muscle Car Review as to the state of the collector car market, and they also state that high end cars have fallen, and the $50K "base model" cars are up.

I'm also curious anbout the "W-30 convertible in need of a restoration". Wasn't this the dark blue/white top car that just went through a $100,000 total restoration? The photos on the website show an immaculate undercarriage, and states that restoration was performed under the scrutiny of OCA officials.

[Johnny Horsepower]

[ QUOTE ]
As for quality, I think every year people complain about the quality of the cars at auctions. The difference now is that in previous years, we were always stunned how much people paid for those cars. This year, people are using the "low quality, little documentation" excuse as to why they're selling lower.



[/ QUOTE ]

Not trying to be combative but.............UH no! I have been to every BJ in the last decade. I have been to every AZ Russo ever. And to every Mecum, spring and fall for the last decade.
BJ's car quality, certainly for American Muscle, was HORRIBLE. That is not to say there were not a few nice cars,(most of them going to Blackhawk) but NOTHING like years previous where there were alot of quality cars with history and legitimate paperwork. As I stated before, and Rich concurred, I used to struggle to find time to pee, cause I did not want to miss what was next.
I was there.

John

PS. Were you out there this year or in any years past? Just curious