Top 10 Cheap Wheels At Barrett-Jackson Florida

Everyone knows auctions are the place to go for really expensive muscle cars and street rods, right? They’ve driven the prices into the stratosphere and, according to some, ruined the hobby for the real enthusiasts. We disagree. We think they not only keep interest in vintage cars alive, but entice newcomers to the hobby. Yes, people who watch these spectacles on TV start believing any rusted out shell of a car is worth $50,000, a closer look shows there are still good buys to be had, even at these auctions. 

To prove a point, we took 10 of the least expensive car sales at the recent Barrett-Jackson auction in Palm Beach, Florida, and listed them here. We started from the auction’s lowest sales price through $29,700. We wanted to see what you could buy for under $30,000, all in, with fees. No, there are no ’69 Camaros, Tri-Power GTOs or even a Javelin on this list. This is the state of the market. (In fact, we showed you the high end with this 1970 Hemi Challenger from the same auction.)

We did leave some interesting vehicles out. If you’re a Corvette nut, there were a host of 1968-’81 models that sold in this range, including some chrome-bumper ’68s. We also left a few duplicate types of cars out, so the list was not full of the same model cars. 

Not all of these conform to our specific tastes, but that is what makes the hobby interesting. Read the list and let us know what you think.

Hammer Time

1984 McLaren Capri: $7,700: This came in at the lowest end of the spectrum. It is a truly rare Fox-body vehicle that shares all the goodness of its Mustang cousin, but with an unusual pedigree. Only 50 McLaren Capris were said to have been built in 1984, this being number 21. It is a two seat convertible that still has the McLaren-installed leather seats and convertible top. Said to have 64,443 miles, we think it’s the perfect alternative to a “Me Too” ’87-’93 Mustang. It’s hard to say what this car is actually like from the pictures, but any Mustang ragtop in good condition is a $12-15,000 car without the McLaren heritage.

1995 Camaro Z28 $11,000: The fourth-gen Camaro Z28 had so much going for it — LT1 power, remarkable handling, and four-wheel discs. You could rip off high 13- or low 14-second quarter-mile passes, then tear up a road course without even a tire change. The cloth interior on this one, often worn down to the nub, appears to be in excellent condition, and includes the Z28 Preferred Package with air conditioning, cruise control, remote hatch release, power door locks, power windows, electronic twin mirrors, a leather steering wheel, remote keyless entry and a six-way manual driver’s seat. This one-owner example includes original books, window sticker, and two sets of keys, not to mention low (26,971) miles. The only fly in the ointment is an accident reported on Christmas 2024, but if it was fixed properly, who cares?

1988 Mustang GT, $14,300: This ragtop has some mods, but the 5.0 V8 is said to be original. The lack of a manual transmission no doubt held it back some, as the T-5 stick is far more desirable than the AOD slushbox. Convertibles also tend to bring lower prices than their notch- and hatchback stablemates when it comes to these ponies. Mods include a cold-air intake, upgraded ignition components, and Flowmaster mufflers. The power convertible top has been replaced and operates properly. The interior is trimmed in Scarlet Red articulated sport cloth seating and includes power windows, power locks, speed control, premium sound system and AM/FM cassette stereo. The sale includes a Deluxe Marti Report documenting a June 28, 1988, build date at Ford’s Dearborn, Michigan, assembly plant and confirming the car is one of 416 produced in this paint and trim combination.

1995 Firebird Formula, $15,400: Yeah, we could live without the goofy (non-stock) screaming chicken on the hood, but in the plus column, the car has BBK long-tube headers and (supposedly) 39,525 actual miles. The 1995 Pontiac Firebird Formula convertible is the kissing cousin to the Camaro Z28 above. The fourth-gen interiors are pretty goofy, one of the main reasons people didn’t buy them when new, but they drive like nobody’s business. 

2002 Mustang GT, $18,700: Pretty much the high end for a 4.6 two-valve Mustang GT, but it has more than your average Mod Motor under the hood. The description says it is a custom Sean Hyland Motorsport 4.6-liter supercharged V8 engine installed in 2004, but we’re not sure if that means the engine was built by SHM or if it just added the blower. It is backed by an AOD-E, a slight step up from the older AOD. The B-J site says the build includes numerous additional components, resulting in over 500hp. The car is equipped with a Roush lowering kit and sidepipes, and rides on new 18-inch FR500 wheels fitted with Continental tires. We know there will be some cowl shake with this one, but we can attest these SN95s are pretty rugged automobiles. We think if the 17,133 miles claimed is legit, this isn’t a bad price. Yeah, buying someone else’s custom is a little risky, but for under 20 grand, it is an acceptable gamble.

Mopar Or No Car

1964 Dodge Polara, $22,000: This was the year Dodge started emerging from the bizarre styling fog of the ’62 and ’63 models. The hardtop body still looks great and the Boyd Coddington wheels add a decent vintage flavor with a touch of modernity. It is powered by a rebuilt 383 Magnum with approximately 1,500 miles since completion, paired with a factory four-speed manual transmission and a 3.23 Sure-Grip rear. The car features a 2.5-inch exhaust system and upgraded suspension components. Stopping power was upgraded with a Wilwood front disc brake system. The interior features a red bench seat with factory-style air conditioning. If the subframe, floors, trunk, etc., are rust-free, this was well bought. 

1940 Ford Deluxe Tudor, $22,000: The first street rod on our list has a 350 Chevy paired with an automatic transmission. It has power steering, Vintage Air climate control, and cruise control. The car was built in the early 2000s in Manitoba, Canada, during a two-year project, and it supposedly had no rust prior to the restoration. It was originally sold new in Canada at Steinbach Ford and remained within approximately 40 miles of that location for most of its life. It rides on 15-inch Weld wheels fitted with radial tires. We’re not that big into street rods personally, and the look is pretty dated, but this seems like a pretty good value. Could you even do the body and paint for $10,000 these days? 

1968 Oldsmobile 4-4-2, $29,150: Now we’re getting into the deep, more expensive waters. The plusses? It’s a very desirable 4-4-2 convertible. It still has an Olds V8, though it is a non-stock 350, but it has been modified and the heads are said to have been rebuilt, whatever that means. It’s backed by a Turbo 350 automatic. Supposedly, the suspension was completely replaced in 2024, but it has air shocks. The black convertible soft-top features a replacement lift motor installed six years ago. Non-original engine means it will always be worth less than a matching-numbers example. The paint is 10 years old, which means it may be ready for an expensive re-do. Seems about $5-10k too high.

1964 Galaxie 500 XL, $29,700: This seems like an awful lot of money for a non-factory yellow ’64 Galaxie with a two-tone interior. Obviously, it found the right buyer, one with similar tastes to the owner. Power comes from a 390, which goes through an automatic. It is equipped with power steering and power brakes. The description on the B-J website says the “exterior features custom paint and custom wheels, while the custom interior features air conditioning and an AM/FM radio.” We think if the body and frame are in good condition and free of the demon rust, go with God and enjoy it.

1970 Chevy C-10, $29,700: This 1970 Chevrolet C10 has a rebuilt 350 with dual quads and an automatic. It also sports custom valve covers and a billet serpentine system, power steering and lowering springs. Add in power front disc brakes and 22-inch staggered U.S. Mags Desperado wheels and you’re off to a nice start. The interior features a black houndstooth design with bucket seats, a center console, door panels, carpet and visors. Additional features include a tilt column, Bluetooth stereo and Vintage Air. We think this was well bought, with strong looks and a bunch of desirable parts. It definitely needs some detail work under the hood and barely sneaks in under our $30,000 limit, but if it is as good as it appears, it is a turn-key hot rod you can cruise that very day.