Re: [Chrysler300] Elvis has left the building...maybe

[lettercars@xxxxxxx]

Louis:
Glad to hear Big Yellow is staying home.  Seems like the right thing  to me!
300ly, Gil C.
 
 
In a message dated 8/22/2011 2:22:13 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
lmbarrie@xxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:

On  Friday night about 10:30 PM, Big Yellow was rolled on the auction floor
at  the Russo and Steele auction in Monterey.



It had been a long  day, with Big Yellow being parked in front of the
Marriott and having a  large crowd of lookers and gawkers all during the
gray, overcast day.   We had much more foot traffic and photographers than
the Corvettes, Hemi  Cudas, Caddies and assorted Porsches and Chevys. I
anxiously checked back  several times during the day to be sure that Big
Yellow had not been  desecrated by an errant seagull. Fortunately, they knew
to stay  away!



The earlier drive up the coast from Morro Bay, along  Pacific Coast Highway
was truly spectacular, with panoramic picture  postcard views of 
California's
coast from the cliffs. It was worth the  extra time rather than cruising the
freeway. I would NOT recommend taking  the brutes on such a trip - there are
no gas stations past Hearst Castle  until Big Sur. Several sections of the
road were under repair and were only  one lane with either a flagman or
traffic signal. There were no long  delays, however.  As we came into
Monterey, the traffic slowed to a  crawl. The town was abuzz with Pebble
Beach week and there were tons of  exotic and classic cars around us. From
Deusenbergs, to Packards, to  Ferraris (plentiful) and Bentleys, everything
could be  seen.



Back to the auction.  



When we  arrived in the auction room, it was bustling with action and  very
crowded.  They auctioneer was pushing every car to the limit and  they were
running late.  We were supposed to on the block between 9:00  and 9:30PM and
now it's after 10 and the crowd was starting to thin.   Finally, Big Yellow
rolls onto the floor and the bidding quickly opens at  $50k and shoots up to
$85k. I am on the floor with the auction reps and a  bidder is asking me
questions about my documentation (which is extensive).  Suddenly, the car is
rolled off the floor and the bidding ends, not  reaching reserve.  No push.
No opening of the trunk to show the 1960  dealer color and swatch book, not
talking about the 1 of 3 sunburst yellow  color or the car's history, not
talking about the numerous concours wins  and publications around the world.
Nothing.  No idea as to why the  quick pass.



Big Yellow is now on its way back to LA where it is  going to stay.  Eileen
seems to become more attached to Big Yellow  than she has led me to believe,
and I was regretting placing to car up for  auction in the first place. Our
daughter, now 19 and in college, was sad  that the prospect of the auction
and happy at the "No Sale". You see, we  have had Big Yellow for 10 years -
she named the car from one of the  bedtime stories that I used to read to 
her
and had only recently had the  opportunity to drive our family 300F!



Monterey is a fun place  to be during Pebble Beach Week. Incredible cars to
see and feel - I will  post links to pictures shortly. We met some great
people with whom we will  stay in touch. Hotels are very overpriced and
scarce as the entire town  including Pacific Grove and Carmel are totally
sold out. Make reservations  far in advance. We found some great places to
eat away from the tourist  traps like The Cannery and Fisherman's Wharf.
There were some good buys out  there but plenty of (what I would consider to
be) garbage.  Beware.



We will go back next year, but as a spectator and maybe  a bargain hunter.



Louis M. Barrie

West Hills,  CA

(Still) Home of Big Yellow (Hopefully for a very long  time!!!)









Louis



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