Luxe Life Blog
Barrett-Jackson Car Auction shatters sales, attendance records
Late-model Shelby Mustangs are lined up before a classic car parade on the Strip on Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012. The annual parade serves as a kick-off to the Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas auto auction at Mandalay Bay.
Photo: Steve Marcus
For the fifth consecutive year, it was another three days of record-breaking numbers for the prestigious Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction at Mandalay Bay over the weekend. Our hometown “Pawn Stars” heroes and Aerosmith guitarist Brad Whitford and drummer Joey Kramer were among the celebrities attending.
The figures released this morning are staggering and prove that the car market is stronger than ever. The sales of rare, high-end collectible vehicles, exotics, customs and classics generated more than $23 million in sales.
More than 68,000 car enthusiasts attended the event, representing a more than 10 percent increase from a year ago. Additionally, millions more watched the three-day auction with 20 hours of live broadcasts on Speed TV.
World record highlights of the 525 vehicles under the hammer were a 1967 Mustang Shelby Super Snake that sold for a whopping $330,000; a 1970 Shelby GT500 that sold for $220,000; and a 1962 Lincoln Continental Convertible at $113,300, the highest sales for vehicles of their kind.
The highest-selling cars also included a 1970 Plymouth Hemi Superbird Two-Door Hardtop, which brought in $297,000, and a 1967 Ford Mustang Custom Fastback selling at $275,000.
The Barrett-Jackson auction raised more than $540,000 for local and national charitable organizations including the YMCA of Southern Nevada, Festival of Hope and the Greg Biffle Foundation.
Fans marveled at the amazing sneak preview of select vehicles from the 2013 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Salon Collection. It included the newly restored legendary Shelby Prototype, dubbed “The Green Hornet”; a 1955 Mercedes Benz 300 SL owned by Clark Gable; and one of only 11 1971 Plymouth HEMI ‘Cuda Convertibles ever built. Each is estimated to fetch $1 million when sold.
“As each car crossed the auction block this past weekend, you could feel the excitement and enthusiasm in the air among our bidders, consignors and the animated Las Vegas crowd,” said Craig Jackson, chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson. “The collector car market proves to be stronger than ever.”
Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.
Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.
Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.
Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.
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