Barrett-Jackson Auction Company kicks off 2010

Barrett-Jackson Lot: 5499 - Auction: SCOTTSDALE 2010 - Rare 1950's Chevrolet single-sided porcelain neon dealership sign. Impressive with simulated neon tire movement [crtl-click image to enlarge]. Image Credit: Barrett-Jackson (2010)

Barrett-Jackson Auction Company kicks off 2010

Craig Jackson, CEO of Barrett-Jackson Auction Company, gave a visit to members of the Motor Press Guild (MPG) at their monthly meeting luncheon, Tuesday, Jan. 12, and passed on insights about the process of large scale Automobile and motor culture memorabilia auction sales. Barrett-Jackson's kicks off their year of auction event activity with the annual session that got the ball rolling in 1967, a car show they called, with the appropriate flair, "Fiesta del los Auto Elegance." held in Scottsdale, Arizona. The event was a fundraiser for local charities, including the Scottsdale Library and the community art center.

Barrett-Jackson Lot: 1292 - Auction: SCOTTSDALE 2010 - 1952 WATSON ROADSTER CUSTOM BY BLASTOLENE [ctrl-click to see larger image]. Image Credit: Barrett-Jackson (2010)

Today, Barrett-Jackson Auction Company holds annual auction events in Scottsdale, Arizona - January 18-24, 2010, Palm Beach, Florida - April 1-3, 2010, new this year ... Orange County, California - June 25-27, 2010, and ending the year in Las Vegas, Nevada - September 23-25, 2010.

Craig presented a positive view of the collector car industry as he opened with a short video, spoke for a short time on the state of his industry, and opened the floor to questions.

One of the most interesting questions posed went like this ... You have probably seen it all so is there an auction item that sticks out in your mind that you would like to share?

Craig responded that just recently, at the last Las Vegas auction, he and the staff were left looking at each other, dumbfounded, when the hammer came down on a car for $112,000 dollars. The car was a black & white 1963 Ford Galaxie squad car replication of the television version of the squad car used in the long running TV series, The Andy Griffith Show.


Barrett-Jackson Lot: 63 - 1963 FORD GALAXIE 4 DOOR SEDAN - Lot Number: 63 - Auction: LAS VEGAS 2009 - Sale Price: *$121,000.00 (*includes commission) - Year: 1963 Make: FORD Model: GALAXIE - Style: 4 DOOR SEDAN - Exterior Color: BLACK/WHITE - Summary: Barney Fife Squad car re-creation with a 289cid V8 and Cruise-O-Matic transmission. Built for the famous Barney Fife impersonator, Mick Kieffer. Details: This vehicle was redesigned to accompany Mick Kieffer, one of the nation's leading Barney Fife impersonators. This vehicle has been autographed by the late Don Knotts, documentation and photos are included. Featured on 2 magazine covers: "Rod and Custom" and "Good Guys Gazette". In addition it has been the feature subject of many magazine and newspaper articles across the country. The car's film credits include an episode of the TV series "Cops" filmed in Des Moines, IA, the film "Trash" filmed in CA and a rock video for the Harvey Danger Band. This is a functional "Squad" car powered by a 289cid V8 with a Cruise-O-Matic transmission. The trunk contains the original jack and spare tire. Caption Information & Image(s) Credit: Barrett-Jackson (2009)

Yes, the Mayberry RFD Squad Car ... but this one was a replica built for a Barney Fife (Andy's nervous cousin as played by Don Knotts) impersonator. The car had sold for just about half that price at a previous Barrett-Jackson Auction event (Scottsdale).

Then Craig Jackson made the statement of the afternoon's presentation - "That is why there are auctions ... it only takes two who have an interest in an item, then anything can happen."

Barrett-Jackson Lot: 1307 - Auction: SCOTTSDALE 2010 - 1929 HAMILTON METALPLANE H47 SERIAL #65 AIRPLANE [ctrl-click to see larger image]. Image Credit: Barrett-Jackson (2010)

All auction events held by Barrett-Jackson are classified as "No Reserve", in other words, all bids have the potential of purchasing the car from the seller, and the seller is not allowed to place bids hoping to drive the bidding process up (Barrett-Jackson have people checking the background of bidders as strongly as they know the background of the items up for bid). Further, Barrett-Jackson has contracted with Deloitte and Touche to fashion a code of ethics and procedure to govern the auction process so that people who are involved through either being the seller, or being the bidder, know they are operating on a legitimate and level playing field.

For Barrett-Jackson's part, they will pull an item if for any reason a question about its provenance (background history and authenticity) comes up at anytime before the actual auction. Due diligence is of extreme importance to this process, in that, in Scottsdale, for example, the majority of items being auctioned are going to be sold from between $50,000 to over $100,000 and confidence in the process is what Barrett-Jackson is really selling at each and every event.

See you all at the next Barrett-Jackson - The World's Greatest Collection Auctions - event in Scottsdale, Arizona - Westworld of Scottsdale - 16601 N Pima Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85260 - January 18-24, 2010, and televised LIVE on SPEED Channel since 1997 (consult your local cable listing for broadcast dates).

... notes from The EDJE