Hello Friends and Family,

2023 Barrett-Jackson Auto Auction, Part 2

Link to this year's index by clicking here.

We start today with a 1967 Chevrolet Corvette convertible which was completely restored last year. It features a new GM LS3 540hp engine mated to a 4L70E automatic transmission. Custom Schott wheels and custom white line tires carry this classic, which is finished in a Dirty Martini Green exterior with a Buttercream interior and a matching cream cloth top. It sold for $770,000.


Another vintage Corvette, but this time showing the interior. Note the designers' use of circles for instrumentation, vents, knobs, and even the steering wheel. Sorry, I don't have the selling price for this baby.


Ah, the beautiful front end of a 1958 Chevrolet Corvette custom topless roadster. Notice the beautiful chrome that was common in cars of that era — you don't see that on modern cars. It debuted at Darryl Starbird's National Rod & Custom Show in February 2022, where it received a Fine Nine Award for its peerless combination of design, execution, and craftsmanship. It left the auction block with the previous owner pocketing $401,500 and the new owner with a BIG smile.


Back to the non-automotive vendors, I spotted an array of classic old-time radios. I remember that my family had a similar console radio which we kept in the basement. At that time (in my youth) we used to listen to music, of course, but also to radio shows like "The Lone Ranger" and "Jack Benny".


This next vendor had a dazzling display of neon-enhanced automobilia signs — these are mostly automotive brands. They are fun to look at — but I don't think my wife would agree that these are decor items. Maybe in a man cave but I don't have any kind of cave in my house.


I loved this vendor's merchandise and we engaged in an interesting discussion about it. If you don't know, these are tail lights from distinctive, memorable classic cars. In the far right, you see two lights and fins from a pair of 1957 Chevys, and in the center, three lights from 1955 Chevys. The vendor has been able to collect the taillights and then fashioned the tail light housing, adding original chrome to complete these items of memorabilia. These would also look great in your man cave.


Surprise, surprise, surprise. This vendor was selling helicopters. I guess if you can spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a classic car, the two million bucks needed for a helicopter is not out of reach. I talked to one of the sales reps and asked if he got to fly these babies. He said he did — one of the perks of the job. Where do I sign up?


Finally, I was ready to go outside where they have set up a dozen or more huge tents to protect the majority of the vehicles to be auctioned off. Unfortunately, it was cloudy which made photography a challenge (because of low light levels) and it was quite chilly which challenged the photographer to be selective in the choice of cars to photograph.

But I love these old cars — looks like they just came off the set where they were filming the old "Untouchables" TV series — except that this car had a bright yellow paint job instead of its original black (as most cars were painted in those days). The model is a 1935 Ford 3-Window Deluxe coupe that has a steel body and fiberglass fenders and running boards. This baby sold for $38,500.


This fine vehicle is a 1965 Pontiac Tempest convertible which underwent a frame-off restoration, with hundreds of hours spent at a custom restoration shop for bodywork and paint. This would have been sold originally at the same time I was in college. That was a time when we all spent thinking about the cars we would buy once we graduated. Soon after, with a full-time job as a programmer, I could only afford a Volkswagen Beetle. But it was definitely a good, practical car to have in Minnesota.


This same car has an all-new red interior, bucket front seats, bench rear, new door panels, and a new red carpet. It is equipped with a new black convertible top, GTO hood, and 17-inch American Racing wheels with Cooper tires. This baby sold for $51,700.


Ah, the days of distinctive taillights — these belonging to a 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air. In those days, most auto manufacturers changed the design each model year. As teenagers, we became experts at identifying the year. These days, almost no one can ID the year of current models — heck, they are lucky to ID the maker.


To be continued...

Life is good.

Aloha,
B. David

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