Hello Friends and Family,

Barrett-Jackson Auto Auction 2019, Part 8

Link to this year's index by clicking here.

Continuing our tour of the autos under the tents (to protect them from the Arizona sun), we see a 1936 Plymouth Deluxe custom coupe. You can't help but notice that these were the days when automobiles had unique and stylish hood ornaments which told you for sure that this is a Plymouth.



This beautiful automobile features an all-steel body, fenders, and running boards, and has a tip-out windshield. It is finished in Go Mango Orange over a tan interior.



It's been upgraded with a fuel-injected 5.7-liter HEMI V8 engine and an overdrive automatic transmission.



This Plymouth is equipped with air conditioning, power steering, front disc brakes, Fat Man front end, and a Ford 9" rear end. Don't you think you'd look cool tooling about town in this baby? It could have been yours if you had just bid one dollar more than $40,700.



Next up is a 1954 Oldsmobile Rocket 88, a 2-door hardtop powered by a 324ci/185hp V8 engine backed by an optional 3-speed Hydramatic automatic transmission. This was the automotive era of chrome — chrome bumpers, chrome grills, chrome trim, chrome hood ornaments, chrome nameplates, and chrome lettering.



This automotive era also included distinctive hood ornaments such as this jet plane that we all recognized as belonging to Oldsmobile, a GM brand dating back to 1908. This vehicle had only one repaint — in 2001, has been garage-kept since new, and comes with the original owner’s manual and original spare tire.



The chrome logo includes a map of the western hemisphere with a suggestion of satellite orbits — something that would not be accomplished for another few years.



Oldsmobile, like other GM divisions, was in love with bullet-shaped tail lights. To me, as a teenager, they looked more like the flame of a rocket — altogether fitting for a vehicle named Oldsmobile Rocket 88. This one sold for $16,500.



When I reached the end of the tent I had been exploring, I encountered a parade — of automobiles that had just left auction central. It was good timing because the first car I spotted was a 1960 Ford Thunderbird convertible. The T-bird had graduated from two seats to four. Sadly, I lost interest in T-birds until Ford eventually re-introduced a 2-seater some years later. BTW, this T-bird sold for $31,900.



In addition to the parade of sold vehicles, this was the spot to grab something to eat and drink. It looks very much like a county or state fair.



This was interesting — a vendor selling beer — you get to serve yourself. My guess (since I didn't see a sign) was that you paid a fee then you could sample the various beers they had to offer. There was no indication of when you had to stop imbibing — I guess when your money ran out or you could no longer stand.



For those enjoying refreshments, there was a Jumbotron in this area, showing the action at auction central, including identifying the vehicle and the bid price. This 1963 Chevy Nova sold for $44,000. That was funny to me because as teenagers this model did not appeal to us. We all knew the joke that in Spanish, "no-va" meant "won't go". Obviously, with that sale price, someone admires them.



To be continued...

Life is good.

Aloha,
B. David

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