Barrett Jackson: WHo's been?

[Instrument 41]

Spent New years alone, watched the 2007 Barrett Jackson reruns. So who out there has actually been to the Scottsdale auction? It looks like it would be a great time. What else is ther to do other than the auction. The next auction starts the 15th.

[DonDavis]

I've been twice. '07 and '05. It truly is something to see. What was once a 3 day event has turned into a week-long affair. If you go, let me know and I'll be glad to meet up and visit. Aside from the show, there's a weekly event about 4 miles from there that's great to see. That only happens on Saturdays. I believe the RM auction coincides with Barrett. It's only a few miles from there.

PM me if you are serious.

[Cdnone1]

I went last year. I had a blast but to me it was the kind of thing you do once and cross off your list.
make sure to book a hotel ASAP and if you want to eat at a nice place you better get on the phone now, actually you may be too late.
I gets insanely crowded and if the weather is bad the field tents get muddy. Bring comfortable shoes as you will be socked at how big it is and how much walking you will need to do.
Steve

[LeeH]

I thought it was an amazing car show for the $20 (Sunday) entry fee.

[legion]

Wow, they charge at the door!?

And then they steal cars from sellers and use shills to drive up prices for buyers. Great place! They've figured out a way to pick everyone's pocket...

[Mo_Gearhead]

QUOTE: "And then they steal cars from sellers"
_________

We may need some clarification on that statement please?

[legion]

From what I understand, when a car is not moving they will buy it themselves (another use for the team of shills) and move it to a new location where they hope to sell the car for more than they paid for it. This is why they insist on no reserve. I seem to recall someone posting a few months ago that they had even been accused of ending auctions early to steal cars.

[CurtEgerer]

It's definitely something to go see. Once. Sort of like going to the circus. It's $37 Fri, $47 Sat and $20 Sun just to get in! It's really amazing that they charge a fee for the privilege of going in and spending money on vendors who in turn paid big$$ to rent booth space. And then the 100s of thousand$$ in commissions. There's a reason why everybody working for Barrett-Jackson has a big *****ty grin on their faces all the time

Last time I went I hooked up with Don and we went to a local cars&coffee type thing that was really cool too! There's lots of car stuff to do in Phoenix area.

[Mo_Gearhead]

Well, I have never sold a car through that auction company, but...

They used to take cars with a 'reserve'. But now they have grown so and become such popular events that (I believe) they ONLY accept "No Reserve" cars.

They will not waste time on cars that may not sell. It's a business move certainly. So the gamble is indeed on the seller.

But they (B J) are not breaking anyone's arm to put their cars in the line. It has grown so large, I understand they turn away/refuse many cars now.

[KNS]

I've been a couple times years ago when they had much more European content. Not interested now ($20.00 bucks at the door - sheesh!). I think they have hyped up the muscle car market so much that they have priced out the average Joe from ever being able to purchase what was once a very affordable ride.

[Rich76_911s]

I will be there this year.

[legion]

Originally Posted by KNS

I've been a couple times years ago when they had much more European content. Not interested now ($20.00 bucks at the door - sheesh!). I think they have hyped up the muscle car market so much that they have priced out the average Joe from ever being able to purchase what was once a very affordable ride.

With the stupid money chasing that...it keeps the prices of the Euro cars reasonable...

[Mo_Gearhead]

Quote: "I think they have hyped up the muscle car market so much that they..."
______________

They? Surely you are not talking about B J (or ANY auction company)?

Take a look at eBay or other sites/sellers. Our early P-cars. Anything collectible.

The prices are market driven ...not by some auction house.

[sammyg2]

I still watch it but instead of enjoying the show, I watch it now waiting for them to do somethnig stupid and get caught.
I heard a rumor that this year they are only going to auction old corvettes, shelby mustangs, and old t-birds. Evidently they are selling the exact same 40,000 or so of these cars they sold last year.
BTW the total commission last year was nearly $10 million, not hundreds of thousands. IIRC it used to be 8% but they upped it to 10%. Add that to the take at the door, the selling of spaces, the money from speed channel, the money from the concession stands etc, the charge to get on the bidder's list and all the other ways they get into your pocket, it's out of control IMO.
Like most things (former dunkel's swap meet for example) someone gets ahold of a good thing and milks it for all it's worth until they ruin it. A little bit of power and lots of greed are a dangerous combination.
BJ has jumped the shark and they will eventually shoot themselves in the foot. Too much hype, too much greed, too much power. They've gone way past their 15 minutes of fame.
I figure they will start to fade soon enough. If they get hit with a good scandal it will push them over the edge. It's still kind of cool but as soon as the shine fades the rich will stop going, the image will be that it is for fools and con men and no one will care anymore.

[Instrument 41]

I think I have seen enough Mopars, mid year Vettes and late 60"s stangs. I'd like to see some of their "off beat" cars and what they go for. And definitely more foreign cars

[strupgolf]

I also watched the reruns of last years auction. I forgot how high the prices got, and how "happy" the new buyers looked after forking over 500k for a mustang. Everybody who has any old car in the garage thinks its now worth 100k. Oh well, fools and their money are soon parted.

[911pcars]

It looks like the place to go if you're shopping for a nice foreign car on a budget. They don't seem to move as well there among the domestic hot rod crowd, and since there's no reserve ..............

I saw a nice '69 E-type Jag on the broadcast yesterday and it only went for $30K. Well, as nice as one could see on TV for 60 seconds anyway.

Sherwood

[legion]

And that could have been bought by the shills at that auction for resale at another auction...

[Porsche_monkey]

There was something on TV the other day about a 'quick-sale' of a classic car at BJ. It looked like they dropped the gavel very quickly, as opposed to some other timed when they stop the auction, hype a car, and then start again.

The BJ lawyer went on about how they are not obligated to say going once, going twice etc.

It all looked pretty sleazy. No one should be suprised by what goes on there, it's just a big show.

Someyhing tells me those chumps paying mega-bucks for 'frame off restorations' a) don't know much about what they bought and b) think it's a great way to get on TV.

[jorian]

I agree with Sherwood. You can still get a decent deal on a 'driver' condition car. Number 1 cars, low editions and Chip Foose types get the huge money.