One of the going things in Scottsdale, Arizona is that it has become the new Mecca of the old car hobby. “The West’s Most Western Town” may give the uninitiated images of a Southwest version of Beverly Hills, but it’s really a sprawling outgrowth of Phoenix that has its own thing going – car auctions!
However, you might be mistaken if you thought Barrett-Jackson was the only game in town – I managed to visit four auctions plus a car cruise. As your roving clunker correspondent, it is my pleasure to give you a first-hand account of the goings-on in Scottsdale during Auction Week in January, 2011, and whether spending $1.7 million for a 1970 Barracuda is whacked.
BARRETT-JACKSON
STEREOTYPE: More money than God
WOMEN: Aren’t you too old to dress like that?
CAR QUALITY QUOTIENT: Your right thumb – a 6-out-of-6
This is the 40th anniversary of Barrett-Jackson’s founding. These days it’s run by Craig Jackson, one of the founder’s sons. You’ve really got to hand it to Craig – he’s made their Scottsdale event an extravaganza that draws people from so many different directions.
This has brought Barrett-Jackson a lot of admiration…and consternation, some of it deserved, some of it not. What it comes down to is that the hobby is made up of us – the people – and the cars, and Barrett-Jackson provides the medium.
If you don’t like the conglomeration of spectators, egos, and autos, then what keeps you begrudgingly interested? Like everything Hollywood or Las Vegas, it’s the lights, money, and action that’s the attraction.
So what about the cars anyway? There are some truly stellar examples, but don’t let the TV lens fool you – there are perfumed pigs too and everything else. Barrett-Jackson is only representing the collector car market in all its glory.
There’s a lot more than cars at Barrett-Jackson, though. The arcade is full of representative from corporations (GM and Ford, for example), high-end companies peddling rich people toys (neon signs for the garage, stereos for the den, and other stuff you find advertised in Robb Report). Outside, amongst the cars and food stands – from funnel cakes to HUGE turkey legs – you’ll find car-related companies that practically is spillover from SEMA.
RUSSO & STEELE
STEREOTYPE: No rappers here – same green, less flash
WOMEN: There were women here?
CAR QUALITY QUOTIENT: Six-point-five
This fledgling auction house is run by Drew Alcazar, a former Barrett-Jackson employee and, more notably, a renown restorer of concours Mustangs. His niche was originally Italian exotics (Russo) and American Muscle (Steele); today, in their 11th year, it’s more than clear that muscle cars are the main attraction.
If you don’t believe that it’s impossible to overcome the Barrett-Jackson juggernaut, then meet the people attending Russo and Steele – there are big-name collectors and muscle car experts/restorers running around.
Its smaller size doesn’t overwhelm you, which is a nice change of place from Cirque de B-J. Quality of cars? The smaller size means less variance, but that doesn’t mean the perfumed pigs are not there – like Barrett-Jackson, the description of the cars online may belie the whole truth upon inspection. As the descriptions are supplied by the owners and not the auction house, it’s still a caveat emptor situation.
RM AUCTIONS
STEREOTYPE: Does everyone here live near Pebble Beach?
WOMEN: Is the RM rep single?
CAR QUALITY QUOTIENT: Almost a full set of fingers
Canadian in origin and focusing more on the pre-war classics, exotics, and pedigreed hot rods, this company tends to have the biggest concentration of quality of the bunch. But how could you not when you’re peddling a Marmon V16 and Ferrari Superfast?
Post-war American car lovers are not left out, though, as the most desirable convertibles, Corvettes, and finned creations are their style too. You’ll even find American Muscle on occasion, such as a 1966 Impala Super Sport convertible with a 4-speed 427 and the one-and-only ’64 Dodge HEMI Charger show car.
Highlight this year was “The British Are Back,” which was playing off last year’s “The British Are Coming.” If your thing has names like Jaguar, Aston Martin, Rolls-Royce, or Bentley, then you would be pleased. If you are of the Arnolt MG persuasion, then ditto too.
This one is always a pleasure to attend.
GOODING & COMPANY
STEREOTYPE: Savile Row in all but dress
WOMEN: Older, wiser
CAR QUALITY QUOTIENT: Like RM with some “survivors” scattered about
This was my first time attending this event, which is comparable to RM’s in quality and scope. Certainly more of a hoity-toity affair than either Barrett-Jackson or Russo and Steele. I felt it a little stuffy, making me think that this was a British auction house even though it’s American through and through.
My favorite car of the weekend was here: the Fiat 8V “Supersonic” by Ghia. Cost? A cool $1.7 million. This car has been in Detroit its whole life, and it was there in all its unrestored glory.
Those looking for entertainment will be disappointed unless the British accent on the PA system is your form of fun. I predict this is the auction house to watch in a year or two.
PAVILIONS CAR CRUISE
STEREOTYPE: Groundlings and spillover from Barrett-Jackson
WOMEN: Do you like tatts?
CAR QUALITY QUOTIENT: For a local car show, stellar, but it’s still middling
Every Saturday, you can find car nuts gathering at this shopping center at Indian Bend Road. However, what may pass for a great car show to Snow Belt sufferers is just another weekend for thousands of metro Phoenix car nuts. Like Louis Farrakhan, I’m not an expert at estimating crowds, but there’s perhaps over 200 cars at any given Saturday?
But during Auction Weekend, there’s gotta be 500+ of all kinds: muscle cars, hot rods, sun-roasted Southwestern jalopies, California-style Vee-Dubs, and anything else that will strike someone’s fancy.
While a deejay spins stale Oldies and people line up at McDonald’s waiting to use the bathroom, you’ll realize there is a mood that this is really where it’s at – we are here for the cars, and it is we who are the hobby (even if it seems half the cars there are for sale!).