It is an undisputed fact that Barrett-Jackson is the biggest and most expensive auction in the world, attracting buyers from all over the world. The fact that there can be NO RESERVE on any vehicle sold there means if your car is not near perfect you could loose a ton of money. Barrett Jackson is also the world's most televised car event being shown around the world. These are all undisputed facts.
We are watching automotive history being made and precedents set by 2011 auction prices which shows what sells high and what does not sell high and approximately what our similar cars are worth.
I, like thousands of other collectors, was in shock that the amount of PURE STOCK CARS WERE IN THE MINORITY. It showed that the pure stock cars are now worth more if they have been tastefully customized!!!!
There was a continuous flow of custom cars and hot rods that were not kept or put back to 100% stock and they brought higher bids then 90% of the totally stock cars going across the bidding block.
Every year about 20 of us car guys get together and all watch the Barrett Jackson auction. This year three of our buddies that are purist and have beautiful 100% stock cars---------actually got up and walked out----they were totally disgusted with the change in the bidding. Before one purist left he said, "You very seldom or ever saw hot rods and custom cars on Barrett Jackson 4 or 5 years ago, and now they dominate the auction!!!!"
I guess we will not hear many purist collector guys saying " MY CAR IS WORTH A LOT MORE BECAUSE IT IS 100% STOCK IN EVERY WAY". Don't get me wrong, there were cars there that were 100% stock that brought big auction prices but most were one of a kind production cars that were already changed (customized) at the factory before they were shipped to the new car dealers.
So my condolences to all the purists out there, ( I myself was one many years ago) I know how you must feel. My advice is accept it or go into denial and try to prove 3 days of world wide facts broadcast to the world never happen.
Of course that is just my opinion, and I could be wrong-----but the overwhelming facts do point in that direction.
Ron Swartley