Am I the only one watching the Barret-Jackson auctions in Scottsdale?

There are some beautiful cars going for cheap considering what it cost to restore/rebuild/customize them.

So many interests, so little time & money!

I've watched those and wondered how they could build/rebuild them for the prices they go for.

All boyz toyz get expensive.

I get Autoweek, and this weeks issue has a whole article on buying a collector car. This is THE year to buy the more common collector cars, not the one-of-a-kinds or ones owned by famous people/racecar drivers.

jeffreythree,

AW and Pond Boss are my two favorite magazines. Though based on completely different subjects, they are written and edited by enthusiasts on their subject matter. That is what makes them great.

I wonder how many more AutoWeek subscribers there are out there?

I have tried to watch Barret-Jackson but my boss has gotten very distraught over it. We even have two big screens and still she gets major attitude when I turn the channel to speed. It all started last Christmas when she agreed to let me start restoring my hotrod. I guess she had no clue how many hours that takes. I spent most of 2008 in the shop with grease and bloody knuckles. So Dave you ask were have I been in another thread now you know. Yes you might be a redneck if you use your tractor as a car lift. And don't tell the boss the long hours haven't even begun still needs paint and interior.









This is me getting spanked by a 11.8 sec 127mph vet at the local drag strip.
http://s282.photobucket.com/albums/kk243/rockytoppers1/?action=view¤t=MOV07194.flv
I don't know about you guys but I don't plan on ever growing up any time soon.
Older boys just get bigger toys as they say.

I've had my share of classic iron. A basic rule is that you almost never get the amount of money out of a classic car that you put into one. It is usually much cheaper to buy a completed car than to try and build one.

Barrett Jackson is, IMHO, one of the worst auctions to buy a car at. It is way too hyped. They have set record prices for cars there many times. Bidders get all caught up in the hype and overbid for cars.

This is my 1972 Olds Cutlass Supreme convertible. It was a rare car, although it was not a 442 it was custom ordered with the engine and drive train of a 442 (455 motor, TH400 trans with a Hurst Dual Gate shifter, 4bbl carb, dual exhaust, posi-traction with 3.42 gears) and was also custom ordered in Ebony Black with a white interior (this color combo was not a standard color on the Cutlass line in 1972. This photo was taken at the Route 66 Rendevous, we were chosen as a parade car (from over 2,100 cars). Our passenger was Scott Pruett (famous race car driver).



This was my 1955 Chevy Nomad. This photo was taken while Ricki and I were on vacation during the late Cretaaeous Period.



I sold both of those cars to buy some land with a pond and some fish. Was I stupid or what? I'm gonna own another Nomad some day, that was JWHAP and my most favorite car.

My brother has a 67 mustang convertible in mint condition with all the original parts. I will see if I can get another picture from him if anyone is interested. I don't know what I did with the ones he sent me. He bought it off of off Ebay and the price didn't seem that high to me when I heard how much he paid for it.

JHAP those were both very very fine rides. I bet you are still kicking your A... Don't wait to long on that Nomad or it will take 2 ranches with ponds to buy it back. I sold my 55 Belair 2d ht in 1985 and told myself I will just buy another one some day. Well they are no longer affordable. And then their was that 66 chevelle and 73 Z28, man I wish I still had those, prices have blown thru the roof.

Thanks Rocky. Selling the Nomad was the hardest and in hindsite I wish that I had kept it. But you know how it goes, I wanted to free up some cash to make the ranch purchase. I've be re-looking at Nomads (shhhhh, don't tell JWHAP) for the past six months. Prices have gone crazy, I'm in the wait and see mode now. I've been hoping with the bad economy that the prices will fall but no such luck so far.

The JWHAP comment is a joke, actually she loved the Nomad and knows that I'm always looking.

My farmer pal had a good year 2 years ago (thank you ethanol hype). He took a chunk of his retirement investment cash and bought 2 brand new Shelby 'stangs. He has 'em stashed as an investment. Figgers they're way more stable than the stock market with a much higher ROI.

Please don't tell her I've been watching it all day online she will kill me.
http://www.barrett-jackson.com/application/search/carlist.aspx?In_Day=Wednesday

JHAP, that Olds brings back some memories. I had a '72 Cutlas Supreme with the same color options and 50,xxx miles. Just a 350 though. I was in High School in the early '90's and one of our neighbors offered it to me for $2500. Owned by an Olds dealer owner for many years before being sold to this Olds General Manager. It had a 3" D-ring binder holding all of the maintenance receipts from Olds dealers only. Sold my pickup to get it on the sly thinking the parents would not do anything, possesion is 9/10ths of the law sort of thing. I was wrong, but it was great while it lasted .

Ya know, I built several of those things and never had one with AC. I don't want to build another one. Well maybe another Bike. I have been eyeing a Drone Airplane engine that I can put on a Cushman frame. I tried that in the late 60's but it didn't work. I just know that I can get it to work now.

For what it's worth here's my twin brother's 67 (I think or 68) Mustang. Mint condition all original parts.

About 15 years ago I went to a demo derby where a guy ran a very solid looking 59 Impala. I could have choked him. It was completely shot in a few minutes. I wish I had found this guy before he tore it up. I would have traded him a much better derby car for it.

Are you kidding me? I fall asleep watching them 2-3 nights a week!

Rockytopper,

Are you going to keep it street legal or throw some slicks on it and keep it for the track? What color are you going to paint it? Is that a brand new LS1 you dropped in it? Pretty sweet ride.

I got a kick out of your lift. I do the exact same thing with my tractor, including lifting up my Dixie Chopper lawnmower to change the blades, skin my deer, and anything else I can think of when in a dire situation.

In the neighboring town of Braymer, there is an old building on main street (main street is about 300' long) with glass windows. Inside sits an original 55 Belair 2d Hard top. No one really knows where the owner lives anymore except that its somewhere in KC. The locals say that he hasn't been around in a long time. I drove by with my dad a few years ago and he caught it out of the corner of his eye, slammed on the breaks, bailed out of the truck and appeared to be drooling at the window. My old man is a tough as nails, no emotions kind of guy so it was odd for me to see that kind of behavior. I made a mental note to add 55 belair to the list of his favorite things which includes fishing, his dogs, beer, and vienna sausages.

Cecil, tell your brother that is a great looking ride. We also owned a 1966 Mustang 2+2 Fastback that was Ricki's car. She rewired that car bumper to bumper (yep and I do mean SHE, it was during tax season and she did it all by herself). That was the car that I mentioned before that I bought her the intake manifold and carb for her birthday. All of our classic cars were drivers, no trailer queens for us. In fact for about 5 years we only owned classic cars. The Olds above we drove on the 2000 Hot Rod Power Tour - left coast to right coast - we put on over 6,600 miles in 20 days. The Mustang was Ricki's daily driver and the Cutlass was my daily driver. Anytime I went to a clien't site they always wanted me to drive to the lunch location.

Great story on the Cutlass J3, parents can be so unreasonable.

Cecil, I would have guessed a 65 mustang. Definetly not a 68. It could be a 67 if the hood has been switched or a 66 if the crome behind the doors was removed. But I'm no expert.
Beautiful car though!

In the name of propriety, I shall refrain from making any of the comments Camaro owners often repeat concerning the owners of Mustangs.

Theo wrote:


From the The Quiet Man
"The proprieties must be adhered to at all times!"
or something like that.

Don't tell Gail about this. It is my only secret.

Very nice grocery getter Dwight, I see why you keep it a secret from Gail, you don't trust her driving to the store without getting a ticket.

My wife saw it and says she would definitely like to drive to the store.

Did you put the ejection seats in yourself, Dwight?

God loves the Cuda!!!!

Is that actually your car Dwight??? Dang that is beautiful.

Ricki actually wanted a generation one curved glass Barracuda. In fact we had made a deal on a 65 Forumla S at the Route 66 Rendevous that I mentioned above. Agreed on a deal and were set to meet they guy at the bank. The guy backed out at the last moment. Turned out that when he told his daughter that he was selling it she went ballistic, apparantly he had promised it to her years before. Ricki was heartbroken.

I've never let brand names get in the way. IHMO every manufacturer has made some killer iron that I'd be proud to own.

It will remain street legal. Current plan is to paint it 2005 mustang gt mineral grey with black interior. I have been driving the car to work 60 miles one way and it is getting 22+ mpg. The ls1 and 4 speed auto trans were low miles pullout from a 2002. I was going to install a built 455 but after figuring out a budget for the power plant I went with the fuel injected lS1. After doing it and realizing how easy it is to make these modern power plants run in an 0lder muscle car I'll never go old school again under the hood. She will start instantly in any weather at the turn of a key.

I miss my 55 2d ht more than any but Dave this one does have A/C.

Dwight I wish I could see your baby but I guess it is behind the fire wall.

JHAP If I ever finsih it I would like to do the power tour some day it sounds like a blast. If not that Hot August nights in Reno also sounds like a nice Vacation.

I'm with ya there Rocky. In addition to the cars above I had a 2004 SVT Terminator Cobra. It was one of those factory supercharged Cobras. The powerplant was a 4.6 litre, double overhead cam motor with an Eaton supercharger and an intercooler. I got 26 MPG on the highway in a car that I had dyno'd at over 400 HP at the rear wheels. This was the fastest car I have ever owned. Bone stock they ran high 11s in the quarter mile, 0-60 in 4.6 seconds. A modern fuel injected motor is SO much easier to work with once you get used to tuning with a lap top computer rather that a timing light and a dwell meter.



The Hot Rod Power Tour was a lot of fun, we met some great folks, saw a lot of interesting places. Hot August Nights in Reno is supposed to be a lot of fun. I haven't been there as of yet.

I am looking for a Hemi AWD vehicle to donate it's drive train for the 1959 Desoto. My plan is to keep the 59 completely stock in appearance and all modern underneath, including suspension and brakes.

I bid on a couple Dodge Magnum Hemi-powered wrecks, but they went beyond what I am willing to pay. I can wait for the right opportunity. Maybe an SRT version?