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
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