‘Road to 50’ Deep and Diverse: Barrett-Jackson’s 49th Annual Scottsdale Car Auction is January 11–19 at WestWorld
Diversity and depth: The docket for the 49th-annual Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction at WestWorld January 11–19, 2020, includes almost 1,800 cars at No Reserve, representing stand-out collections, professionally built and documented Resto-Mods, vintage American muscle, supercars, luxury imports, other blue-chip collector vehicles and charity cars.
The first event in the company’s year-long “Road to 50” celebration, Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale will offer marquee cars such as a Verde Mantis-finished 2017 Ford GT (Lot #1417) and a 2019 McLaren Senna (Lot #1393), both representing the Scott Thomas Collection, and five 1995 BMW M3 Lightweights (Lots #1371, #1372, #1372.1, #1373, #1373.1) from the collection of the late actor and car enthusiast, Paul Walker –– probably the first time a quintet of these has been offered simultaneously.
In addition to a week of car activity, attendees will experience 250 sponsors and exhibitors and 100-plus food vendors. New for the 2020 Scottsdale Auction is the Barrett-Jackson Performance Track, which will feature Thrill Rides and Hot Laps from Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford and Toyota, which is bringing its new Supra.
“My father and mother, Russ and Nellie, and their business partner, Tom, began Barrett-Jackson as a community fundraiser for a local library now almost five decades ago, and this small event has grown into an international brand,” says Craig Jackson, CEO and chairman of Scottsdale-based Barrett-Jackson, The World’s Greatest Collector Car Auctions.
Established in 1971, Barrett-Jackson also produces annual auctions in Palm Beach, Florida; Mohegan Sun in Connecticut; and Las Vegas, Nevada. With broadcast partners MotorTrend (formerly Velocity) and Discovery Channel, Barrett-Jackson features extensive live coverage, with broadcasts in 150-plus countries.
Jackson says: “The Barrett-Jackson team welcomes you to Scottsdale 49 –– a lifestyle celebration for everyone in the family.”
A Stellar Collection of Collections
Highlighting the event are four collections, featuring 21 cars owned by Walker, star of the Fast and Furious movies, eight vehicles from The Scott Thomas Collection, premier vehicles from Matt Furukawa and 13 cars and trucks from the Vault Portfolio of Paulo Docouto.
The Walker collection also includes an Alpine White 1991 BMW E30 M3 (Lot #1371.1) powered by the motorsport-derived S14 inline-4 rated at 195 horsepower, and a 1995 Ford Bronco Eddie Bauer Edition (Lot #731) with the 5.8-liter 351-cid Windsor V-8.
“We’re proud to help continue Paul Walker’s legacy by offering his esteemed collection to their new caretakers at our flagship Scottsdale event,” Jackson says. “Whoever buys them in January, it’s our hope that they will bring the same kind of joy to their homes that they brought Paul.”
Featuring early-production and limited-production supercars, the Scott Thomas Collection is led by three McLarens, a 2015 Le Mans edition (Lot #1394), a 2016 (#1295) and the 2019 honoring the great F1 champion Ayrton Senna, one of only 500 manufactured and 120 imported to the United States. The street-legal hypercar has a mid-mounted 789-horsepower V-8 and delivers 0-to-60-mph sprints in 2.8 seconds, quarter miles in 9.9 seconds and a top speed of 211 mph.
A 2003 Saleen S7 (Lot #1397) is one of only 78 produced, and a fifth-gen 2013 Dodge Viper GTS VIN 001 (Lot #1398) is powered by an all-aluminum V-10 engine capable of producing 640 horsepower. And, a 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle Custom Coupe (Lot #1007.1), has a GM LS3 6.2-liter crate engine with a 4-speed automatic.
“Our primal desire for speed is something that many car enthusiasts share, and Scott Thomas is no different,” says Steve Davis, president of Barrett-Jackson. “The Scott Thomas Collection contains a host of modern engineering marvels combining both elegance and design with raw power and performance.”
Resto’s Remain Robust
Reaffirming its growing market niche, professionally built Resto-Mods will again be a significant attraction at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2020.
“Resto-Mods have become the ultimate expression of creativity, design, engineering and performance within the collector car hobby,” Jackson says. “We’re proud to have shined the spotlight on this unique segment of collector cars over a decade ago. Today, these professionally built Resto-Mods represent half of our top 50 sales across all our auctions in 2019. The younger generation, the millennials, in particular, love them.”
Among these are a 1966 Chevrolet Corvette Custom Convertible (Lot #1449) and a 1967 Ford Mustang Eleanor Tribute Edition (Lot #1317.1), a celebration of the classic car in Gone in 60 Seconds starring Nicholas Cage.
A 1957 Chevrolet Corvette Custom Convertible (Lot #1377), carries a 7.0-liter LS7 engine mated to a TREMEC 6-speed manual transmission and rides on custom ultra-wide Asanti wheels stopped by massive Baer brakes front and back.
The Jeff Hayes Customs, a 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Custom Convertible (Lot #1367) and the 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Split-Window Custom Coupe (Lot #1363), are both on Art Morrison sport chassis and fitted with LS3 8-cylinder Hot Cam engines, 4L70E automatic overdrive transmissions, Vintage Air and Wilwood disc brakes.
“Resto-Mods emphasize performance while retaining as much of a stock look as possible, turning a classic into a modern performance machine,” Davis says. “Nearly all these modernized machines are built with the purpose of breathing a second life into the vehicle as a reliable and streetable driver.”
Other Chevrolet-based Resto-Mods include a 1951 Chevrolet 3100 Custom Pickup (Lot #1351) propelled by a 6.2-liter LS3 V-8 with a rear-mounted 6-speed automatic. A 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Custom Convertible (Lot #1325) has Parchment Corinthian leather interior and features a supercharged LS3 6.2-liter V-8 connected to a 4-speed automatic.
Barrett-Jackson Executive Vice President and General Manager Nick Cardinale is offering his ground-up-restored 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle Custom Convertible (Lot #1326). A supercharged 6.2-liter LSA V-8 connects to a T56 6-speed manual transmission, and the car features a Heidts front and independent rear suspension, four Wilwood disc brakes and Vintage Air.
“We’ve become even more discerning at Barrett-Jackson about vetting Resto-Mods by digging into the provenance of the cars,” Jackson explains. “We research these cars to make sure peoples’ opinions about the cars and the realities match. Just because a car has one part offered by a famous customizer doesn’t mean that he did the car. But, professionally completed, today’s Resto-Mods can remove the idiosyncrasies of the originals and add all of today’s power and upgrades and designer insights, making each one a one-off.”
Ford Mustangs and Broncos include a 1965 Ford Mustang Custom Fastback (Lot #1305), with a fuel-injected 408-cid V-8 stroker and a 5-speed manual, Detroit Speed suspension, Wilwood brakes, Autocross wheels and Vintage Air. “Smokin’ Oats” (Lot #1295) is a 1966 Ford Mustang Custom Fastback with a 427-ci V-8 Windsor, Eight Stack injection and a 6-speed manual. And, a fully restored 1977 Ford Bronco Custom SUV (Lot #1311.1) has a Ford Coyote 5.0-liter V-8, Wilwood 4-wheel disc brakes and Vintage Air.
Other notable Resto-Mods scheduled for Scottsdale 49: a 1943 Dodge Power Wagon Custom SUV (Lot #1443), a World War II command vehicle with an Art Morrison chassis and powered by an LS3 6.2-liter V-8 engine with a 5-speed manual; 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Custom Coupe (Lot #1357), restored by Hot Rod Garage of Sand Springs, Oklahoma, featuring a 6.2-liter supercharged V-8; and a 1960 Buick Electra 225 Custom Convertible, “Shades of Blue” (Lot #1350), a Street Rodder cover story, with an LT1 350-cid V-8.
Fords, Ford GTs and Ford Shelbys
Helping to celebrate the film Ford v Ferrari appearing worldwide starring Matt Damon and Christian Bale, Fords will be well represented, from early muscle-car classics to eleven Ford GTs.
“The 1-2-3 Le Mans win by Ford and Shelby in 1966 is one of the greatest success stories in racing history,” Jackson says. “Not only did Carroll Shelby and Ken Miles, led by Lee Iacocca and Henry Ford II, dethrone Ferrari at Le Mans, they also inspired generations to believe that anything is possible.”
In all, ten Ford GTs are consigned to cross the Scottsdale auction block, including a 2005 VIN 003 (Lot #1396), the first 2005 Ford GT offered to the public for sale, from the Scott Thomas Collection. Completed on June 29, 2004, this GT carries VIN 003 and features Carroll Shelby’s autograph on the dash.
A 2006 Ford GT Heritage Edition (Lot #1353.1) bears the famous Gulf livery celebrating the 1966 Le Mans-winning GT40. It’s one of only 343 produced and has just 2,384 actual miles. From the Matt Furukawa Collection is a 2006 (Lot #1353) with only 29 miles. And, a 2017 (Lot # 1392), from the collection of a retired Ford Motor Company exec, is finished in Liquid Red with Frozen White racing stripes and has just 141 miles.
“This is an incredible time to be a Ford and Shelby enthusiast,” Davis says. “These two iconic brands have forever impacted the world of performance driving. Their racing DNA runs through every vehicle Ford Performance and Shelby American builds today.”
Classic, late-model and custom Ford Shelby Mustangs will also be featured. These include a 1964 Ford Thunderbolt (Lot #1364). Bringing the dragstrip to your doorstep, the award-winning Wimbledon White-liveried classic muscle car is one of the documented 100 built.
A 1967 Shelby GT500 (Lot #1348), Candy Apple Red, received a concours-quality restoration in 2008; a 1968 Shelby GT500KR Convertible (Lot #1428) is one of 49 finished in yellow paint; and a 1966 Shelby GT350 (Lot #1306), with classic Wimbledon White with Guardsman Blue stripes, was recently restored.
Later super Fords include a 1999 Shelby Series 1 Convertible (Lot #1316), an early production car, #34 of 249 built; 2008 Shelby GT500 Super Snake Convertible (Lot #1288), prototype #003, the only convertible Super Snake of its generation; 2012 Ford Shelby GT500 Super Snake (Lot #1052), upgraded with Shelby’s 1,000-horsepower package; and a 2018 Ford Shelby GT350 (Lot #1438), custom-built for World Series MVP Madison Bumgarner of the San Francisco Giant with a flat-plane crank V-8 Voodoo engine fitted with a Whipple supercharger.
A Broad Selection of Cars
Exemplifying the diversity at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 49 is a 1959 Volkswagen Deluxe 23-Window Bus (Lot #1304) and #59 of the legendary 69 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL COPO (Lot #1409), featuring an all-aluminum big-block ZL1 427-cid engine, 100 pounds lighter than the also legendary L88s. In Hugger Orange, the matching-numbers Camaro is the only ZL1 ordered with an NC8 chambered exhaust.
Three Toyota Supras will be offered from the ’80s and ’90s, including a 1993 MKIV Toyota Supra Turbo (Lot #1433) powered by the legendary 2JZ twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-6 engine paired with a 6-speed manual.
“Barrett-Jackson’s dockets continue to adapt with evolving collector car trends,” Davis says. “Our Gen X and millennial buyers made up 44 percent of all our 1980s and 1990s vehicle auction sales in 2019. The demand for these cars will continue to grow, and we’re excited to lead this trend with some of the finest, low-mileage examples from this era.”
A Legacy of Charity
Charity cars always have marquee status at Barrett-Jackson. To date, the company has helped raise more than $118 million for a variety of charities nationwide.
Nine cars will benefit those in need this January, with all of the hammer proceeds donated by sponsors and private collectors to designated charities.
These include the first retail production 2020 C8 Corvette Stingray (VIN 001) (Lot #3007) for the Detroit Children’s Fund; Chris Jacobs’ 1968 Plymouth GTX (Lot #3000), benefiting the C4 Foundation; 1981 Jeep CJ7 Custom SUV (Lot #3001), the Make-A-Wish foundation; 16-time NHRA champion John Force’s COPO Camaro (Lot #3004), DonorsChoose.org; and one of the first of the 100 2021 Lexus LC 500 Inspiration Series Convertibles, for the Boys & Girls Club of America and the Bob Woodruff Foundation.
“This tradition of giving back was started by my parents, Nellie and Russ, and Tom Barrett,” Jackson says. “Supporting philanthropic organizations is the very foundation of our company. We’re honored to continue their legacy.”
For more information, see Barrett-Jackson.com or call 480.421.6694. Online conversation is on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram #BarrettJackson.
