OT---Barrett-Jackson Car Auction in Arizona

Barrett-Jackson has their auction going all week in Scottsdale ending Sunday. I already have my hot-rod and not looking for another. I wonder how all those classics will be driven in the future with everything going driverless? I will probably consider my truck a nic-nac sitting in my garage.

I can't believe the prices they can get for stuff. And then tack on the premiums !

I've been watching off and on. First problem is the auctioneer doesn't let a car stay on the block long enough. Several cars only spent 20 seconds on the block before being rolled away. That's BS.

There are no bargains that I saw. Once the buyers premium is added, no one got any deals.

I absolutely hate, hate, hate shill bidding, and I saw a TON of it on several cars. Sellers who sell often at BJ must have a half dozen shill bidders sitting in the audience. Maybe BJ has some too. Dishonest and nasty way to run a show.

Probably cool to see al the cars but I don't think I'd ever be able to buy anything. Seems like a rich man's show. I friend from high school lives out in Scottsdale now, he works for the same company and transferred to our office out there. He's been posting on FB pics of the late 60s / 70s muscle cars we were familiar with growing up that went across the block.

A classic car auction is not about getting a bargain. It is about getting that car you always wanted as a youngster but couldn't afford.

Doc ..... I sometimes think like you that they move them too quick ... but just think, over 1700 vehicles to move plus all the
memorabilia stuff. Not sure if that is at the same stage or not, maybe you know. How do you know that there are shills
bidding on the stuff, do you actually recognize some of them? I doubt Barrett Jackson has any, the difference it would make
to them would be negligible I think. What surprises me though is some of the prices they are still getting for some of the
big land yachts that are up for grabs, big Lincolns and Cadillacs from the 70's and 80s bringing in big dollars. I watch some
on Velocity TV channel, it gets somewhat repetitious I find.

(quoted from post at 11:58:57 01/18/18) Doc ..... I sometimes think like you that they move them too quick ... but just think, over 1700 vehicles to move plus all the
memorabilia stuff. Not sure if that is at the same stage or not, maybe you know. How do you know that there are shills
bidding on the stuff, do you actually recognize some of them? I doubt Barrett Jackson has any, the difference it would make
to them would be negligible I think. What surprises me though is some of the prices they are still getting for some of the
big land yachts that are up for grabs, big Lincolns and Cadillacs from the 70's and 80s bringing in big dollars. I watch some
on Velocity TV channel, it gets somewhat repetitious I find.

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I have worked with Wayne Carini who does a lot of selling at various car auctions. He's tried to the lower the reserve on several cars during the auction and the auctioneer will wave him off, which means the bid has stalled on a fake bidder, and leave it go a bit longer to get a new real bid. Also, Mecum has been caught with a shill bidder mistakenly 'winning' a bid, auctioneer mistakenly banged the gavel and said "sold", but the car never changed hands, and the seller sued them, because the 'buyer' backed out. Turns out he was employed by Mecum.

As for the time on the block, I don't care if they have 8000 cars. If I'm a seller, and I want to have my car on the auction, it has to stay up long enough to get some movement in the crowd. I've been to many auctions and the inertia of bidding can be brisk, or it can be slow. If it's slow - then there needs to be more time built in. At these big name auction places, if the bidding doesn't take off right away, they'll just dump the car and go on to the next. If it was my pride and joy up there, and got tossed off after 20 seconds, I would be hot. They are getting PAID by the sellers, and the buyers, and the network which promotes the show. Lot of overhead money, and short shrift on the block is no excuse. Seller still has to pay his fee.

(quoted from post at 11:58:25 01/18/18)
A classic car auction is not about getting a bargain. It is about getting that car you always wanted as a youngster but couldn't afford.

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Maybe to you, but I go to auctions to get a bargain. I can walk into any vintage car sales office and drop my coin down for exactly what I want.

3 months ago, I went to an aviation auction. I bought a prop for $1800 that markets for $11,000. After $2000 overhaul, I sold it for $10k. I bought a GPS for $450 that I resold for $1200.

While I agree that most of the buyers want their dream car, they can go anywhere on the internet for the same price and get the same deal. Auctions were for bargains, now it's just getting one's face on the TV for 10 seconds.

I saw a Mach1 sell for $42k. I can buy them anywhere for $30-40k in decent shape.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/273024630745?vectorid=229466&lgeo=1&item=273024630745&rmvSB=true

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/282808862646?vectorid=229466&lgeo=1&item=282808862646&rmvSB=true

and these are ASKING prices, not selling price. Plus the buyers premium, that Mach 1 was no deal at ~$45k.

Sounds like someone has been burned by a classic car auction.
More than once.

None of them force the seller to consign their vehicles.
All the financial details are in the contract.

Nobody forces a bidder to make a bid he does not want to make.
His/her inability to stick to his budget and walk away is his/her own fault.

I enjoy Wayne's show and I hope he is as pleasant in person as the show depicts. I'd like to visit his shop sometime, but Roger Barr would be the guy I'd want to spend time talking to. Whole show could be about him.

I knew a guy who used to work security at the Barret Jackson auctions, he said lots of high brow folks out there. They just trading $$ between themselves. That wouldn't work for me, I'll just stick to my old junk.

Doc ..... your story about Mecum (who are a pretty legitimate auction house and as reputable as anybody) is interesting .....
I'm sure you can do some Googling and find an article or news report that substantiates your claim. If you do find something,
post a link here on the YT forum, I'd like to read about it.

While watching BJ the last two nignts......I see three common themes.....lots of people are drinking....lots of guys seem to be trying to impress their wives/girlfriends (also drinking).....lastly....being a buyer gets you your 15sec. of fame high-fiving your wife/girlfriend/buddy.

On another note.....I do really like the Wayne Carini show and the types of "finds" and vehicles he has on the show.

(quoted from post at 14:01:44 01/18/18) Doc ..... your story about Mecum (who are a pretty legitimate auction house and as reputable as anybody) is interesting .....
I'm sure you can do some Googling and find an article or news report that substantiates your claim. If you do find something,
post a link here on the YT forum, I'd like to read about it.

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I'm sure I could do some investigation. My hourly rates are $375 per, min 3 hours. Alternately, this is a web board for chatter. I'm not asking anyone to take my word for anything. All I give here is a money-back guarantee that what I've written I've experienced.

Long ago, I used go to car auctions. Back when they were local deals, and each one brought out local products from estate sales, and the like, it was a fun afternoon. Now, it's a high dollar circus. No thanks.

(quoted from post at 13:04:36 01/18/18) Sounds like someone has been burned by a classic car auction.
More than once.

None of them force the seller to consign their vehicles.
All the financial details are in the contract.

Nobody forces a bidder to make a bid he does not want to make.
His/her inability to stick to his budget and walk away is his/her own fault.

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If you're referring to me, not at all. I've bought exactly 2 cars at an auction. 1975 Fiat X1/9, running, in fair shape for $1050 incl fees. Cleaned it up, changed the timing belt, new tires and brakes and sold it for $1900. 1984 Ferrari Mondial QV convertible paid $16k. Still have it, it's a great car, current value is ~$25-30k.

(quoted from post at 13:48:56 01/18/18) I enjoy Wayne's show and I hope he is as pleasant in person as the show depicts. I'd like to visit his shop sometime, but Roger Barr would be the guy I'd want to spend time talking to. Whole show could be about him.

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Wayne is a nice guy. I didn't work for him, but we cross paths a few times at deals. I will tell you a dirty secret though. He doesn't make money on all his trades, unlike what you see on his show. He's doing pretty well, and has a better track record than me for flipping cars, but he's lost his tail a few times too.

If you ever meet him, ask him about the Citroen Pallais he got stuck with. Or, maybe better don't! 8)

(quoted from post at 14:01:44 01/18/18) Doc ..... your story about Mecum (who are a pretty legitimate auction house and as reputable as anybody) is interesting .....
I'm sure you can do some Googling and find an article or news report that substantiates your claim. If you do find something,
post a link here on the YT forum, I'd like to read about it.

Click to expand...

Yeah Doc, I will be watching for it too.

I can't stand Wayne, always taking advantage of a widow lady that is left with her husbands cars. Seems someone is in distress and he's there to "help" them out.......