• (Lot #5054), a ’53 Chevrolet Corvette roadster race car raced by NASCAR Hall of Fame members Herb Thomas and Junior Johnson
• A ’68 Corvette L88 Competition Corvette Convertible (Lot #5048), one of three of James Garner’s American International Racing team car is among the anticipated consignments
• The first car to participate in a national NHRA event, Carl Grimes’ 1954 DeSoto Custom Drag Race Car (Lot #494) will cross the block in Scottsdale

  A 1953 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster driven by NASCAR Hall of Fame members Herb Thomas and Junior Johnson is just one of many great race cars set to cross the block in January at the 44th Annual Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Dec. 10, 2014 – Barrett-Jackson, The World’s Greatest Collector Car Auctions^TM, will offer hundreds of vehicles during its Scottsdale auction Jan. 10-18, 2015, at WestWorld in Scottsdale, Ariz. The predominantly No Reserve auction will offer a diverse docket of vehicles featuring some historic race cars. Highlighted by a coveted ’53 Corvette (Lot #5054) raced by NASCAR Hall of Fame members Herb Thomas and Junior Johnson, the auction also features a ’68 L88 Corvette Convertible (Lot #5048) from James Garner’s American International Racing team as well as Carl Grimes’ 1954 DeSoto that was the first car to participate in a national NHRA event.

“Motorsports has had a profound influence on our love for cars,” said Craig Jackson, chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson. “Many of the race cars in our Scottsdale docket have incredible stories behind them, and now our bidders can own a piece of that racing history.”

True to the roots of American stock car racing, a ’53 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster (Lot #5054) is set to cross the block in Scottsdale in January. The Daytona Beach NASCAR ’53 Corvette Convertible was created by Chevrolet Engineering for NASCAR as part of Ed Cole’s push to save the Corvette and create a brand image of speed and performance. Throughout its racing tenure, this corvette was driven by a number of NASCAR legends, most notably NASCAR Hall of Fame members Herb Thomas and Junior Johnson. Under the supervision ofthree-time Indy 500 winner Mauri Rose, this Corvette was one of two rebuilt by Chevrolet Experimental Shop and Garage in November 1955, as a project titled “Rebuilding of NASCAR Corvettes for NASCAR Stock Car Racing.”

Also among the most anticipated race cars at Scottsdale is a pair of ’68 L88 Corvette convertibles. One of the first 200 Corvettes built in 1968, a LeMans Blue L88 Corvette Competition Convertible (Lot # 5048) purchased by James Garner for his American International Racing team, will cross the auction block on Saturday, January 17. Raced by Dick Guldstrand, this #44 car took the pole in the 1968 Daytona 24 Hours race. The second, a ’68 Corvette Convertible L88 race car (Lot # 5035), was built and raced by Don Yenko for the Sunray DX-sponsored team. This #2 DX L88 became Yenko’s personal racer on his way to winning the 1968 SCCA Midwest Division championship.

The Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction will also feature an iconic piece of National Hot Rod Association history. The first car to participate in the first national NHRA drag race, a ’54 DeSoto Custom Drag Race Car (Lot #494), will be one of the most prized pieces of the drag racing genre in Scottsdale. The sole known survivor of motorsports pioneer and NHRA Hall of Fame member Carl Grimes, this drag car is famously known as Grimes’ “Wild Wagon.”

“True to Barrett-Jackson, we continue to build a docket with some of the most amazing collector car vehicles,” said Steve Davis, president of Barrett-Jackson. “Our mission is to include something for every car collector who comes to our auction. From high-performance race cars like the Corvette L88s to custom NHRA drag racers, we have something for every motorsports and racing enthusiast.”

Racing legend Graham Hill’s #70, Indy Car (Lot #5069), a 1968 Lotus STP Type chassis 56/3 will also cross the Scottsdale block. Famous for its turbine engine, it is one of the only four original type 56 cars ever made. Nearly 50 years after shattering the qualifying record at the 1968 Indy 500, this car was fully restored by Clive Chapman and Andy Granatelli’s son, Vince, with meticulous attention to detail and engineering.

Live coverage of the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction in Scottsdale will be broadcast on Velocity and Discovery during more than 36 hours of live, high-definition TV coverage from Tuesday through Sunday, Jan. 13- 18.

For more information on becoming a bidder, follow the link to .

About The Barrett-Jackson Auction Company

Established in 1971 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, Barrett-Jackson, The World’s Greatest Collector Car Auctions™, is the leader in collector car auctions and automotive lifestyle events. The company produces auctions in Scottsdale, Arizona; Palm Beach, Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Reno-Tahoe, Nevada. With broadcast partners Velocity and Discovery Channel, Barrett-Jackson will feature 100 hours of live television coverage in 2015, including live international coverage in both Canada and Latin America. Barrett-Jackson also endorses a one-of-a-kind collector car insurance for collector vehicles and other valued belongings. For more information about Barrett-Jackson, visit , or call 480-421-6694.

For high-resolution photos, please contact Aaron Cook at ACook@TPRM.com 

Media Contact:
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Aaron Cook
TimePiece PR & Marketing on behalf of Barrett-Jackson
214-520-3430
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