Barret-Jackson Auction

I was unabashadley aroused while watching it at my buddy's house. The older cars were soooo sexy. That Hudson Hornet was AWSOME. My father-in-law had his own auction several years ago. A few Chevy Bel Airs, a '32 chevy pick-up, a fully restored '41 Ford sedan, and all the pieces to a Model T. I cried for weeks over that Pick-up. It was so purty and I wanted it. The only Chevy I ever wanted.

 

I'll take the '69 Mustangs any day of the week!
"GLO" which one did you bid on???

 

the world series of HYPE!
a vulgar display of America's gluttonous wealth and vanity, so typical of our "upper classes."

anyone who ever doubted that some people have more money than brains, just look closely at the ego-intoxicated drooling bidders!

there's a lot of gaming,market pumping and speculation in action, just like Wall street

A few great cars, but all reduced to their hypothetical investment value. most won't be driven!!

 

I stopped watching Barret-Jackson some time ago, Derstuka,please dont take personal offense to the following. I guess I will go out on a limb and say "that show makes me sick". The people that bid on those cars have more money than brains. I bet very few of those guys have ever crawled around a junk yard looking for parts. What Barret-Jackson has done to the classic car market is create fictious and outrageous prices on 60's and 70's muscle cars. B-J has taken the hobby of car restoration away from the average car enthusiasts. The vast majority of regular guys that bought an old car ,went to flea markets, yard sales and junk yards to find the ever elusive parts that they were after can no longer afford to do so. Don't get me wrong , this is not a case of sour grapes or anything like that.
Watching the B/J auction, is somewhat akin to watching a freak show, the freaks are the people buying the cars and the slick "con" men running up and down the isles prodding the bidders to pay ever more and more for these
vehicles that originally cost from $3000 to $4500 new. eddie

 

Well stated, Mr. Eddie

 

Couldn't have said it better myself. My Dad bought himself and I a project car when I was 15, a 1969 Mustang Mach 1 that we restored via the flea markets, junk yards, etc. No way that could be done affordable today.

 

Yep, I'm with Eddie on that one... Not 10 to 15 years ago you could've bought nearly any one of those cars for under 20K and now they're prices are out the roof. I owned a Bandit Trans Am in high school-1994 and I paid $2,500 for it with mint paint and matching #'s. I would hate to think what it would go for now. Hell, even the Volkswagon Karmen Ghia is going for stupid money these days and it was the slowest sports car ever produced.

 

Yeah, yeah, yeah...I know, being a big show-off. Lots of blood, sweat and tears have gone into this baby and I can't resist. I re-built the engine a few years ago for fun, but only 43K original miles on odometer. Still have it and probably will never sell it.

 

I would never go to one myself. Kinda like a strip club. But I would not turn down an opportunity to watch it on TV. I'm not the kind of guy to pay for a hooker either-just like I wouldn't pay for one of those cars. But they're very nice to look at.

 

Hell Yea! That's some American gas drink'n HP there :first: . I love the older muscle cars. My best friend had a '70 Cutlass Supreme that would side-swip the rear quarters when you stomp the gas, if you didn't watch it ... No way would I sell that car (maybe that's why they sell for so much).

 

I couldn't believe someone bid on the Russian rotary-powered-gullwing-counter-rotating-prop boat.

I enjoy watching how well some of the cars are restored. The prices paid are unreal... I wonder how many in attendance bid vice sit and watch?

 

But that is capitalism right?
why does it matter if the persons buying a car for $x ever went to a junk yard themselves for it? They are essentially willing to pay someone to do all the leg work for them. Isn't that what capitalism is all about?

As far as taking it away from the hobbyist, it has also made some of them a pot of gold. Paying them far more for a completed car than they ever paid for it in it's "junk" state. They got paid for putting in a bunch of time. If they didn't want the money, they didn't have to sell.

& there are still plenty of cheap cars out there to be had, pre-restoration state, you just aren't going to be able to get the rarer breeds or option packages, but then those were always more expensive (albeit not the prices we have seen in the last 6-10 years). B&J, from what I have seen, and I don't really watch it, tends to deal with the higher end of the collector spectrum, in terms of vehicles. The disparity has certainly grown, but there was always a jump.

why is it wrong if someone worked hard, built up a little fortune, and then he or she wants to blow it on some little treat for themselves? Why should that be wrong?

who says they have more $$ than brains, a lot of them are emotional purchases, where you can't put a price on it. They want it, for whatever reason, and can afford it apparently. Why exactly is that bad? The same can be said of nearly any purchase outside of basic food and shelter.
And some of those sales are people who bought the cars 5 years ago and are now sellign them at a profit. After owning/enjoying the car for 5 years. Not a bad transaction in some cases.

totally sounds like a case of sour grapes
no one is doing anything illegal or immoral, or at least that isn't alleged here. So why, would it be wrong? Particuarly in an auction format, where the bidders determine the price, there has to be at least two people involved to drive the price up. That is the American economic system.

 

But how old are you?

Let's say you are 30, so that would mean you would have to look at a 1984 vehicle, not that same -- now 15 years older and rarer, 1969 vehicle. So what can you pick up a 1984 Mustang for, and fix it up for?

right, to be fair???

 

Who the hell would want to fix up an '84 stang?
I just don't see my 9yr old son fixing up a 91 Honda Civic when he's 16 or even 30.
I think that alot of the prices are strictly #1: supply v/s demand, and #2: style. You can't find many 1930-1978 autos that are in good enough shape to restore without a substantial investment, and the style speaks for it self.

The worest thing I ever did was call a junk yard to haul off a 1958 F100 p/u that didn't run but had a great shell to start with and all the #'s matched. A few grand and it could've been a great looking ride. My mistake is probably why there are fewer and fewer of these cars around. And why they're prices are sky rocketing.

 

i just shed a tear for that '58 Ford, sad story....

 

Personnaly i dont like fords but a 89 mustang would be a better scenario to use (25th anniversary) I actually gave yes gave one to a now exg/f. good riddence to both.

As for rebuilding and restoring an old car like a 67, 68 or even a yenko camarro would be near impossible for the average joe these days. The carcasses just arent there in the junk yards to pick thru. There is always aftermarket suppliers like yearone but its just not the same as getting the parts yourself and doing it yourself.

The rarity of these cars and finding parts or having parts made along with suppliers is what drives the value of these cars. There not for the average joe anymore just like a lambo or other highend sports car.

Another similar scenario would be trying to find upgrade parts for our vfr's without help from the knowledge of others it wouldnt even be a consideration to many. Most would just sell our bikes for what we think would be better or just ride them like they are. rc51 front ends are getting a little scarce unless you order new from the dealer, then it isnt really worth the cost to upgrade.

B&J provides a service to those who can afford to pay top dollar. Doesnt mean there bad for driving up the cost of a very well done classic.:yield: