In less than three weeks, the Barrett-Jackson Auction Company will bring its renowned collector car event to Las Vegas with an amazing selection of vehicles being sold at No Reserve. From October 15-18, 2008, the Mandalay Bay Events Center will be the site for collectors across the globe to bid on everything from iconic vintage race cars to a fully functional scale model train, while Barrett-Jackson’s lavish lifestyle atmosphere blends with the bright lights of the Las Vegas strip. SPEED cameras will also be on hand all three days to capture live, high-definition TV coverage of the first-time event.
“We’ve begun the countdown to our inaugural Las Vegas automotive lifestyle event,” said Craig Jackson, Chairman/CEO of Barrett-Jackson. “Following two stellar auctions in Scottsdale and Palm Beach where sales totaled more than $111 million, we’ve arranged the perfect mix of vehicles for our final 2008 event. It will be the same rousing experience that enthusiasts have come to expect from Barrett-Jackson, but with an added dynamic that only Las Vegas can deliver.”
Rare Gems
The centerpiece of the Las Vegas event will be the sale of Carroll Shelby’s first race car, a 1949 MG TC (Lot #819) that the performance legend piloted to victory in 1952. A portion of the proceeds from the sale will benefit one of Mr. Shelby’s charities. “This MG ranks among the most significant vehicles to ever cross the Barrett-Jackson auction block,” noted Steve Davis, president of Barrett-Jackson.
Joining the MG will be a 1957 Ford Thunderbird ‘F’ Convertible (Lot #817), an American classic and one of only 211 produced. The F-Bird was once owned by Robert McCulloch, father of the McCulloch/Paxton Supercharger, and is body-off restored with a 3-speed overdrive transmission. With only 27,000 miles on its odometer, the 1966 Chevrolet Corvette (Lot #786.1) is also a rare car. The 425 horsepower Milano Maroon coupe is highly optioned with a L72 engine and underwent a complete restoration this year.
Muscle at Mandalay Bay
Demand for top-tier muscle cars remains strong, and Barrett-Jackson will feed that demand with an offering of premium Detroit iron. One of the highlights will be a pristine 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 429 (Lot #816) in Grabber Blue with a 4-speed manual transmission and only 36,500 original miles. Also garnering attention will be a pair of Chevrolet Chevelle SS LS6 convertibles (Lot #s 797.1 and 810), a Lime Gold 1967 Shelby GT500 (Lot #807) and a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro RS/SS Convertible Pace Car (Lot #789).
A 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 custom fastback (Lot #796), dubbed “The Sin City Shaker,” will certainly make noise in Las Vegas. It contains a Ford 427 S.O.H.C “Cammer” that pumps out 657 horsepower.
A new generation of rare muscle cars will be represented when a 2008 Barrett-Jackson Edition Shelby GT (Lot #819.1) crosses the block. It is No. 9 of only 100 built. As an added bonus, the interior of the coupe will be signed by the host and judges of FOX’s hit reality show, “American Idol.” All proceeds from the sale will benefit the Lili Claire Foundation, which was founded to enhance the lives of children living with Williams Syndrome, Down Syndrome, Autism and other neurogenetic disorders.
“We’ve lined up some spectacular vehicles that will appeal to fans of Detroit’s finest,” stated Davis. “And we’re proud to join forces with Lili Claire to auction the Barrett-Jackson Shelby GT. 100 percent of that winning bid will help care for some very special children and their families.”
Customs by Coddington
Custom restorations allow enthusiasts to blend the style and concept of classics with the comfort of modern technology. Barrett-Jackson has given these vehicles and their builders a stage to transform the works of art into true collector cars.
In Las Vegas, customs from late hot-rod legend Boyd Coddington will take center stage, led by a 1957 Cadillac Series 62 custom 2-door (Lot #815). Coddington built the Pink Pearl Caddy on his TV show “American Hot Rod” in collaboration with Hershey’s Chocolate for a Reese’s promotion. It is completely handcrafted with a 540cid, 650 horsepower big block Chevy engine, Turbo 400 transmission and a candy cooler in the trunk. Additional Coddington customs include a 1932 Ford Custom Roadster (Lot #791.1) and a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air built for O’Reilly Auto Parts known as “Chubster” (Lot #815.1).
Exotics
Extravagant automobiles are popular in Las Vegas, which means the crop of mid-engined exotics on the docket should have no trouble finding new homes. The group includes a 1973 De Tomaso Pantera (Lot #806) owned and customized 
by the original Pantera designer, Tom Tjaarda. He restored the car and designed numerous modifications for the project, including new front and rear fascias and spoilers, which he hand-sculpted to fit the car. Tjaarda also made extensive changes to the interior, which now resembles the luxurious confines of a new Aston Martin or Jaguar.
“Tom Tjaarda, who penned the Corvette ‘Rondine’ we sold in Scottsdale for $1.6 million, will join us again in Vegas to sell his personal Pantera,” added Davis. “Only at Barrett-Jackson can you bid on an exotic sports car owned by the man who designed it.”
A pair of cars that undoubtedly fit the “exotic” profile are the 1992 Jaguar XJ 220 2-door hardtop (Lot #805) and the 2003 Saleen S7 (Lot #805.1). One of 280 produced, the blue Jaguar XJ 220 is powered by a twin turbo-charged, 542 horsepower engine with a 0-60 mph time under four seconds and a top speed of 217 mph. The Saleen is one of 65 total S7’s produced, and boasts a 7.0 liter, 750 horsepower engine with a 6-speed manual transmission. It is one of only two production Saleen S7s painted Saleen Signature Red.
Extraordinary
The Barrett-Jackson team has also secured some of the most unusual vehicles in the world. The one-and-only 1918 Le Bestioni (Lot #813), a gargantuan boattail speedster, will roar across the block in Las Vegas. Le Bestioni is a stunning creation by classic car expert, Gary Wales that harkens back to when giant, two man race cars ruled road racing circuits. Its 14-liter, 6-cylinder engine has pistons the size of two-pound coffee cans.
For collectors looking to add a train to their collection, Barrett-Jackson will auction a fully functioning scale model of a Union Pacific 484 Baldwin Engine (Lot #777), plus four Pullman cars and a half-mile of track. The 52.5-foot train can transport 36 people with its functioning coal engine. It was constructed by Daniel Boone VI, a direct descendent of legendary pioneer, Daniel Boone.
Another giant of sorts on the docket is “Thunderous Cyclops,” the world’s largest “to scale” three-wheeler. The red Honda bike stands 10-feet tall and features a 489cid, 1200 horsepower engine in front and a 1100cc, 78 horsepower Honda Shadow motorcycle engine in the rear.
“Barrett-Jackson has broadened the definition of a collector vehicle over the years,” said Davis. “We were the first to embrace muscle cars, hot rods and customs. Now, the unusual vehicles we sold, like Robosaurus and the Monster Garage cars, have opened a new genre that will expand in Las Vegas.”
100 Years of GM
General Motors will celebrate its 100th anniversary and partnership with Barrett-Jackson by auctioning 20 vehicles during the event. On Saturday evening, the auction will end with seven track-used pace cars crossing the block, including the 2005 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe Daytona Pace Car (Lot 832.2); 1999 Corvette Coupe 24 Hours of LeMans Pace Car (Lot #833); 2005 Pontiac GTO Coupe Pace Car (Lot 833.1); 2005 Corvette Convertible Indianapolis 500 Pace Car C6 #3 (Lot #833.2); 1993 Camaro Indianapolis 500 Pace Car #3 (Lot #834); 2005 SSR NASCAR Pace Roadster Pickup #3 (Lot #834.1); and 2006 Monte Carlo Coupe NASCAR Pace Car (Lot #834.2).
For more information, visit www.barrett-jackson.com.
[Source: Barrett-Jackson]
