Rare Cars and Unveilings Dazzle Crowds at Barrett-Jackson Auction
Palm Beach, Fla. – April 1, 2007 - Record crowds watched as some of the world’s finest collector cars sold at No Reserve, including the first Ford Shelby GT-H convertible and the first Foose Coupe available to the public, at the South Florida Expo Center during the third day of the 5th Annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event in Palm Beach, Fla. The two cars were among the highlights at the automotive lifestyle event, which featured a diverse field of muscle cars, hot rods, vintage sports cars, great classics and customs.
“The atmosphere was electric as over 50,000 people in the car collector community gathered to celebrate the hobby over the past three days,” said Craig Jackson, CEO of Barrett-Jackson Auction Co. “We’re offering over 600 of the most desirable vehicles in the world on display, surrounded by premium vendors with everything from jets to test drives in the hottest new models. At the end of each day, people drive off in the ultimate souvenir, the collector car of their dreams.”
Carroll Shelby and Mark Fields unveiled the new Ford Shelby GT-H “Rent-A-Racer” from Ford Motor Company, Shelby Automobiles and The Hertz Corporation. Hidden during the first days of the auction, Shelby and Fields were on the auction block as the hot convertible crossed so it could be introduced live on SPEED. The first of approximately 500 Shelby-modified Ford Mustang GT-H convertibles, the car fetched $250,000 and proceeds of the sale benefited charity; a matching Fender guitar was included with the Shelby. It was the first time that Ford had launched a new car outside of a major car show, the first time a vehicle was introduced at the Barrett-Jackson Auction and the first time a car was unveiled and sold the same day.
“The Ford Shelby GT-H was so much fun to drive that people literally begged us for more, which is why we created a convertible version of the car,” said Carroll Shelby, CEO of Shelby Automobiles, Inc. “It was fun to unveil it with my friends at the Barrett-Jackson Auction. It’s even more special as proceeds from the sale of this car will benefit so many children through the Carroll Shelby Children’s Foundation and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.”
Other highlights included the sale of several big block vintage Corvettes, a stunning 1957 Bel Air convertible, a rare 1969 Shelby GT500 and a spectacular 1988 Rolls-Royce Corniche II convertible. The diverse field included an exclusive 2003 Panoz Esperante, an eccentric 1966 Amphicar 770 and a sporty 1959 Morgan Plus 4 roadster.
A buyer paid $330,000 for the rights to the Foose Coupe, which includes a private session with Chip Foose to choose colors and options. The mid-engined coupe is powered by a Mopar Hemi V8 engine, capable of an estimated 550 horsepower and 520 pounds of torque. All Foose Coupes will be constructed by MetalCrafters, Inc. and available through Unique Performance.
“We also had a wonderful moment just before a specially designed Cadillac CTS Sport Sedan that once belonged to Sir Paul McCartney was sold with proceeds benefiting the Darrell Gwynn Foundation,” added Steve Davis, president of Barrett-Jackson. The Cadillac’s sun visor was also given a special touch with autographs by Jay Leno, Tony Bennett and Sir Paul McCartney himself.
“Darrell personally delivered a pink wheelchair to three year old Lana Rubin on the stage,” said Davis. “That gift was made possible through the kindness of enthusiasts and it was moving to see the generosity of the people who are part of this hobby. And when the Cadillac sold, Barrett-Jackson matched the $60,000 winning bid, totaling $120,000 to the charity.”
About Barrett-Jackson
Established in 1971 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., Barrett-Jackson specializes in providing products and services to classic and collector car owners, astute collectors and automotive enthusiasts around the world. The company produces the “World’s Greatest Collector Car Events™” in Scottsdale and Palm Beach, Fla. For more information about Barrett-Jackson, visit www.barrett-jackson.com or call (480) 421-6694.
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