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, its 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 Foundations 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.
I’ve driven a few VW buses and found them a rare bit of fun to drive. The old ones weren’t good for the interstates but otherwise a person just needed to work the gearshift a lot and keep the gas pedal down.
VW back then was far more innovative and interesting company then any today.
It’s a lot for a microbus, but someone obviously feel in love with it.
One must also remember that this was not the yearly auction B-J holds in Scottsdale, Arizona which is always filled with the best items to go to bid that year. That’s the auction where B-J will handpick everything and the primetime items (usually saturday evening) can hit mid 6 figures or higher.
B-J holds smaller auctions in cities like OC, Palm Beach - FL, and Las Vegas. These usually have only a few true bidding war items that will got way over true market value.
And if you watched last years auction in scottsdale, you really got a taste of how bad the economy is. Prices have really returned to reality as many would not reach the sellers minimum bid and would leave unsold, compared to Barrett’s golden years right before the credit crisis kicked in. Years like 2005-2007 when mint baracudas and old school concept cars from the 50’s and 60’s were hitting over 1 million, some going multi-million.
During that time, the Cobra “super snake” hit the all time record for a B-J auction for 5 mill. It was Carol Shelby’s prototype Cobra that he had built and kept for himself. During these years, all the biggest names were clearing out their collections because soo many deep pockets were around.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPES8hxU4dM&feature=player_embedded#at=23
And if you want to see what was probably the peak of the Barrett-Jackson years, it was the 2005 auction for the F-88 concept car built in 1954 by Harley Earl at Oldsmobile. The bidding got soo out of hand, it’s the stuff of legend.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vm5RqBZ7XqU
The worst problem(s) were never getting all the aircooled shroudimg back the way it was on the pancake engine and snapping the clutch cable
I think he should build another few of those ASAP to the same high standard (and, you can't argue, the darned thing did look absolutely immaculate) to sell at future auctions. He could really rake it in.
One of the announcers did opine that we're undoubtedly going to see some copycat builds in the future. I don't know how big the market will be in the end, but we know there were at least two guys willing to spend pretty close to $200K.
Probably a 60s era stoner who can't get a date and thinks the retro approach will get him in good with the 60s era female stoners...
I gotta admit, for $200k, I might let my dream vehicle go also. I had a 1967 Camero I bought new in 67 and kept all the way through my younger days and into the Army. I had to sell it for $400 when I went broke after I got out of the military. If I could find it and get it restored by Foose, it would take some bucks to get it away from me again. $200k might get it.
Keeping my money for the right mint restored AMC Pacer.
That thing might get to 65 on a good day with the wind behind it, it might also turn upside down with a strong wind to the side of it.
Somebody has more money than brains.
I had a 63 microbus when I was in college. A great traveling party.
True of so many car companies. Each car manufacturer use to have a "look". Now without a manufacturer's logo on the car, it's hard to tell many sedans apart. It's sort of the great blandization of car design.
Got it right away without the hint, Alice
Word for the day: “Umpteen”
ump·teen
[uhmp-teen]
adjective Informal .
innumerable; many
Nothing comparable to VW’s products could be found and at this point the Japanese were importing laughable four wheeled motor bikes passed off as cars.
Some twenty years later the old VW “bug” had about exhausted it's possibilities and the Japanese had a firm foot hold in the American market.
The laughing has stopped as U.S. auto makers are bankrupt or involved in mortal combat.
When I look at todays autos I see little tin boxes that are cramped and hard to enter and exit. Little tin boxes that if you kick one in anger you might just total the thing from plastic breakage alone. Little tin boxes with only slight differences from brand to brand.
So the VW bus was at one end of the scale and an American version of Cleopatra's barge on wheels at the other end...but there WAS a scale!
I watched the Indy car race but during the cautions and commercials flipped over to the auction.
Fortunately at the right moment to see the green ‘40 Pontiac.
Oh Man!! That was my show stopper.
Ever take seven children to the beach and have a picnic lunch? A week of camping with all the supplies?
Pop the seats out and hose down the interior if need be.
I’ve never driven one but I can tell that they are grossly underpowered — which of course is where the fun would come in. Just keeping up with traffic would be an interesting challenge.
Found a pic of the ‘40 Pontiac.
The body work is spectacular, no ripples anywhere. Paint job you could swim in.
Beautiful.
http://www.barrett-jackson.com/application/onlinesubmission/imageviewer.aspx?aid=423&ln=349&i=3&it=1
>>I wouldn’t say that but it did come down to two last bidders
In my experience, most auctions do.
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