Louis, Glad you didn't end up "giving your car away" @ Russo & Steele. Your story reminds me of the first time I went to Barrett-Jackson. It was Jan. of 1990. 25th Anniversary Lamborghini Countachs were selling for 2x sticker, and I was young and impressed. Late on Saturday night, I was hanging around the auction block when a spanking new Aston Martin w/ a California Dealer tag on it came across the block. I was just in the right spot to hear both the Auctioneer telling the crowd that this car was an instant classic worth whatever price it brought, and the ring guy who was hustling the owner / driver of the car as to how the Aston market had gone to crap and that he'd better drop his reserve and let this car go pronto. Too damned funny. It's a scenario so blatantly slippery, I'll likely never forget it..... Take care! Best Regards, TFM Thomas F. Miller tfm@xxxxxxxxxxxx '57 300C, '70 440+6 'Cuda >>> "Louis M. Barrie" <lmbarrie@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> 8/22/2011 2:10 PM >>> 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 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ To send a message to this group, send an email to: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to bob@xxxxxxxxxxxxx or go to http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Chrysler300/join and select the "Leave Group" button For list server instructions, go to http://www.chrysler300club.com/yahoolist/inst.htm For archives go to http://www.forwardlook.net/300-archive/search.htm#querylangYahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Chrysler300/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Chrysler300/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: Chrysler300-digest@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Chrysler300-fullfeatured@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: Chrysler300-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <*> Your use of Yahoo! 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