Hello Friends and Family,

Barrett-Jackson Auto Auction 2019, Part 3

Link to this year's index by clicking here.

If you walk far enough through the tents, you will eventually come to this large auditorium which is the heart and soul of the Barrett-Jackson Automobile Auction. Obviously, the stage is the focal point where the current auction auto or truck is on display while the potential bidders sit in the center. Behind me were tables set up for representatives helping remote bidders get in on the action.



Vehicles were pushed up a ramp onto the main stage (thanks for that — they used to drive them up but the exhaust was overpowering). This auto is a 1941 Plymouth Special Deluxe Convertible in its correct color of Charlotte Ivory with Chocolate Brown leather interior. Certified bidders are allowed to come onto the stage and inspect the vehicle before the formal bidding begins. A few minutes later, this vehicle sold for $51,700.



We are all familiar with the auctioneer's bid calling (which a novice observer must listen to for a while to understand the actual progress of bidding) but the auctioneer has assistants who look for signals from bidders and point them out to the auctioneer. It is a subtle dance that is fascinating to watch. By the way, this beautifully restored 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air sold for $55,000.



Just outside the main arena, is the queue of vehicles ready for the auction block. Note that every vehicle up for auction will have a similar information sheet attached to its windshield with the sale number and a description of the vehicle. This information is invaluable for poorly informed photographers who want to share information about these marvelous vehicles with his friends. This vehicle is a 1959 Ford Galaxie Skyliner, finished in coral and white paint with...



...a hideaway retractable hardtop. The trunk lid is hinged at the back and lifts up to allow the folding top to slip backward into the trunk then is covered by the closing trunk lid. Reversing the sequence coverts the convertible back into a hardtop. If you would like to see it in action, search for any of the YouTube videos using keywords such as "ford hardtop convertible commercial Lucy and Desi" for a "back in the day" look at the then-new technology.



Many of the cars of the 1950s had hood or fender ornaments to set them apart from the others. This Ford fender ornament always looked to me like an aiming device for taking out pedestrians.



Here we see the grill of a 1932 Ford custom roadster finished in black with tan leather interior and tan canvas soft-top. It’s powered by a professionally-built 239ci Flathead V8 engine with a 3-speed manual transmission.



It is a handsome vehicle with many admirers stopping to take a look. It sold for $60,500.



Here we see another roadster — specifically, a 1932 Chevrolet Confederate Deluxe Sport Roadster which was a National AACA First Prize winner in 1983. It is powered by a 194ci inline-6 Flathead engine mated to a synchromesh 3-speed manual transmission with a free-wheeling feature. It rides on wire-spoke wheels with dual matching spares and is equipped with cowl lights, dual chrome horns, and engine vents.



This Chevy Roadster features an eagle mascot radiator cap, rumble seat, and rear trunk rack.



Another car from my era, a 1955 Ford Crown Victoria Skyliner, a prestige version of the Crestline Victoria hardtop coupe, with an acrylic transparent roof panel over the front seat. Now part of the top-of-the-line Fairlane series, it was twinned with a steel-topped coupe, the Crown Victoria, which had a streamlined roofline and a bold chrome tiara in the B-pillar location. Just 1,999 were built.



This Skyliner is the real deal. It has been restored in Snowshoe White and Tropical Rose colors, with matching vinyl interior and black carpets. It is equipped with a tinted glass top, dual exterior mirrors, cruiser fender skirts, chrome lake pipes, and Continental kit. Powering this Skyliner is an M-code 272ci V8 engine with 4-barrel carburetor mated to a 3-speed Ford-O-Matic automatic transmission, and is equipped with a dual exhaust system. Wide whitewall tires fitted to Kelsey Hayes front wire wheels with spinner caps give the car an elegant appearance.



The interior features a push-button radio, electric clock, Magic Aire heater-defroster plus the popular customization of a fuzzy die at the end of the gear shift. This baby sold for $44,000.



To be continued...

Life is good.

Aloha,
B. David

P. S., All photos and text © B. David Cathell Photography, Inc. — www.bdavidcathell.com