Although there are auctions with more exotic offerings, higher record sales numbers for individual cars, there is no more famous collector car auction event than Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale extravaganza. For anyone who has not been, it is far more than an auction, it’s nearly a carnival. There are massive displays by automakers, lifestyle booths with automobilia, clothing, luxury services, massive food offerings, and more. If you get a chance, you should attend at least one day of the event. Tickets for the weekend before the big sales are generally inexpensive as well as other pre-auction days during the week. Once the gavel starts crashing, though, ticket prices skyrocket.
One thing that is often overlooked is that Barrett-Jackson is not exclusively a venue for high-dollar muscle cars or rare exotics. The TV coverage may help to give that idea, but there are a lot of mere mortal cars available each year for mere mortals to purchase. Bargains can be had when sellers offer a car at no reserve, expecting the Barrett-Jackson name to do more work than can be done for their car given its lack of rarity or overall condition. There are also a number of cars that seem to be sure show-winners in their preview images or on the screen that do not live up to the camera’s kindness. Solid ‘driver’ status cars abound here, and if there isn’t someone in the audience with a gotta-have-it obsession with a vehicle you’re interested in, you could do well. That said, bidding from afar would not be recommended.
80s-cars took a quick and very early tour of Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale auction grounds and found that the classics are waning, and our era of cars is on the rise. Corvettes, Porsches and Mercedes-Benzes are the most heavily represented cars of the 80s in this year’s event, and two low-mileage DeLoreans are in attendance as well. Here are some of the highlights of the docket:
There are two low-mileage, numbers matching 1980 Corvettes: Dark Claret Metallic and White.
A 1980 Black Special Edition Firebird Trans Am (they’re calling it a ‘Bandit Edition’ which is common to hear, but the Internet deems incorrect).
A very 80s-appropriate white with white wheels and brown interior 1981 Porsche 928 which was seen puttering around the grounds yesterday.
How about an 80s car that you wouldn’t think of as an 80s car at all? A Citroen 2CV, from 1981. Yep. They were produced from 1948 all the way to 1990.
Two DeLorean DMC-12s presenting low miles: 13,000 and 7,715, take your pick.
This 1982 Toyota 4×4 looks great and claims full restoration. It will be very interesting to see the selling price on this one.
Guards Red, black wheels. Turbo. The 930 was a beast and still demands respect. 1983 Porsche 911 (930) Turbo.
Proof that people took a gamble and mothballed 80s Mustangs: 99 mile (not 99K) 1984 Mustang GT 350/20th Anniversary car.
Dust off your tennis racket, loosely tie that sweater around your neck and get ready to cruise to the country club in the timelessly classy 1985 Mercedes-Benz 380SL.
Or, if you’d prefer Italian, a 1986 Maserati Bi-Turbo droptop may be what you need.
A new 1986 Corvette with 1,200 miles is awaiting a new owner.
Take a ride on the Dark Side with your choice of 1987 Buicks…Here’s a Grand National and if that’s far too common for you, one of the 547 GNXes to be built is also up for bid.
Most people won’t know what it is, but they’ll know to be impressed. Another white car, white wheels combo in this 1988 Lotus Esprit.
A no-less-fast but more sedate appearing 1989 Lotus Esprit can be had at the auction, sporting a subtle greyish-blue finish.
Finally, a very black 911 Speedster, one of 2200 rounds out our look at some of the more interesting 80s offerings at this year’s Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale.
As you can see, it’s not just 60’s muscle. There’s plenty of muscle cars there, of course, but cars for nearly any interest are waiting to be auctioned off.
The best day at any of these auctions is the first day, when the less expensive and more interesting cars cross the block.
…and then we have the 1984 Mustang GT 350 with 99 miles go across the block for $71,500 all said and done on day one. O_O Going to keep an eye on results for these other low-milers.
The day of the 80s is upon us! Maybe.
But, I agree. I like the oddballs. The car that would’ve come home with me this year was a 78 Fiat 131 Supermirafiori with Abarth trimmings. There’s always ONE that I’d make mine. That one was it.