The Barrett Jackson auction from Scottsdale, Arizona is on TV this weekend and if you need an excuse to tune in, some motorcycles are included. They have a few old Vespas, some custom choppers and an old Triumph or two. I don’t think it’s necessarily the best place to sell an old bike but they show up on the list and when you get the auction feeding frenzy that often takes place where cars go for seven figures, dropping way too much on a bike may seem easy to do and those bike owners might get lucky. This year they have a 1950 GM Parade of Progress Futurliner among the offerings, a pretty cool oldie you won’t see every day. The list is long and interesting.
Anyone interested in motor vehicles should watch the action, it’s fun to see opening bids at five times the money I would or could spend on any car. There’s a lot of money floating around out there and I’m always amazed to see some guy that looks like he just gave his wife or son a few hundred thousand to pick up something they like. Geez!
Last year an Olds F88 concept car went for $3 million and lots of custom rods and muscle cars went for well into six figures. I like the old cars and I’ll definitely be watching. On SpeedTV.
hoyt says
I watch Barrett Jackson occasionally, but sometimes I have to turn it off as fast as the times I tune in expecting motorcycle programming but find NASCAR 24/7. The BJ auction can get out of control with the cash and the silly screaming.
It is difficult to see old cars going for that much cash, especially since I grew up around many 1966 Olds Toronados. I understand the demand is very high and the supply is dwindling after 30+ years but isn’t the money out of control at times?
A Nomad went for $60,000.00 right before a run-of-the-mill custom chopper went for $50,000.00. In that case, did the Nomad buyer get a good deal or was the chopper buyer just foolish?
I continue to tune in because there is some wild stuff like a 30’s-era Chrylser Airflow street rod with a Viper V10 engine. It went for Half a mil, though….
http://www.timshotrods.com/
http://www.barrett-jackson.com/about/pressreleases/BJCCA05-wrap.asp