1963 VW 23-window Microbus
Posted on 06/26/2011 12:33:17 AM PDT by Liberty Valance
A 1963 Volkswagen Microbus. $198,000.
here are always plenty of surprises at a Barrett-Jackson auction, and when you team one up with the vagaries of Southern California, you have a volatile mix of possible weirdness.
Case in point: the highest-selling vehicle so far at the Orange County auction, and possibly the entire three-day event, is none other than a Volkswagen microbus. Oh, it’s a plenty-nice microbus, a highly coveted 23-window Samba with full-length sunroof restored to much-better-then-new condition. And microbus prices have been strong as of late.
The custom 2011 Mustang GT500 built by West Coast Customs especially for the Darrell Gwynn Foundation reached $105,000 in Saturday's top charity sale. (Photo: Bob Golfen) But who could have guessed that the highest price at Barrett-Jackson, renowned for its sales of muscle cars, sports cars and street rods, would be for a VW bus.
It happened late Saturday, after the most-valued car at the auction, a 1973 Ferrari Daytona, was bid to $325,000 but failed to meet its reserve in one of the few reserve sales of the auction. A 1965 21-window VW bus had sold earlier for $82,500, with bidder fee, which was considered to be a solid home run.
But the 1963 23-window Samba shot straight to the moon, thrilling the crowd in the packed auction tent with an astounding sale of $198,000, which comes to $217,800 with bidder fee. This is unexplored territory for a VW bus of any ilk, and by far the most ever paid for one at auction.
This is certainly one for the record books, and a fun sale at that. The second-annual Orange County auction had a bunch of Volkswagen beetles and VW derivatives on its docket, more than any Barrett-Jackson auction in recent memory, so maybe that has something to do with it.
A 1970 Dodge Hemi Challenger from the Dave's Garage Collection was bid up to $196,000, plus 10 percent bidder fee, the second-highest sale of the auction. (Photo: Barrett-Jackson) Next highest sale so far was for a more-expected collector car, a 1970 Dodge Hemi Challenger coupe that went for $215,600 including fee. After that, a terrific 1966 Shelby GT350 H that sold for $181,500, with fee.
Some other top sales of note (including bidder fees):
• 1957 Cadillac convertible, $172,700. • 1964 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III James Young sedan, $159,500. • 2005 Ford GT, $165,000. • 1970 Chevelle SS LS5 convertible, $137,500. • 1969 Plymouth Roadrunner hardtop, $121,000. • Custom 1955 Chevy Nomad, $121,000. • 1968 Shelby GT350 convertible, 121,000. • 1937 Ford street rod, $110,000. • 1961 Impala coupe, $110,000. • 1957 Chevrolet convertible, $106,700. • 1958 Corvette 283/270 four- speed, $99,000.
Top charity sales on Saturday went to the Darrell Gwynn Foundation’s 2011 Mustang GT500 customized by West Coast Customs, $105,000, and the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro Honor & Valor Limited Edition, benefitting Cell Phones for Soldiers, $100,000.
1963 VW 23-window Microbus
I wouldn’t have one of those hippy mobiles as a gift!
They are pure crap!
You can be sure that some anti-American bought this.
Only worth it if it was red and full of garbage from Thanksgiving dinner.
(Highly Obscure 1967 Musical Reference.)
You can get anything you want at Alice’s Restaurant.
Not that obscure. You can find Arlo singing it on YouTube.
What the #$!! were the bidders smoking?
I could buy several actual automobiles for that price!
BJ auctions are nuts.
2 Questions:
1. Was it purchased by 11 long haired friends of Jesus?
2. Is it chartreuse?
Well, yes.
I would. The only people I ever knew that had one were hippie types.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16qsYreBJZE
Junior Brown and the Beach Boys - 409
Cool. But VW Micro-bus does not equal 409.
49 Caddy?
I think there is one for sale around the corner.
Believe it runs, needs paint, not sure what else.
At B-J prices you can probably restore one yourself, and save a lot$.
Thanks LS. Send me that addy. ;o)
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