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.
“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.”
Indeed! Get in - get paid - get out.
You too huh? One of these says I want to buy a mint Pacer wagon! I check ebay from time to time.
Maybe the most dangerous vehicle ever on American roads. Very little between the front seat and anything running into the front end. No heater. Waaaay underpowered. No, not every owner was a hippie. My Dad is a Korean War Veteran and he bought one. The poor man’s rv at the time. I learned to drive in one. Me and my buddy John took it to a parking lot, parked on some gravel, revved the engine to the max, dropped the clutch, and the old red and white beast chugged away with nary a rock flying.
being aircooled, in the winter they were rolling iceboxes.Having spent time in my friend mom’s VW, it was not fun.
Ahhhh, memories. My favorite of all the vehicles I’ve owned in my long life.
I managed to survive when I was hit while making a left turn at night and was hit on the front left corner by a car doing over 100 MPH without lights. Took the whole front off the bus and left me sitting holding the steering wheel and staring at a telephone pole. Only God saved me by seconds and inches.
So true. The other thing I notice today is the lack of available colors on cars. It seems that everything comes in silver. Light silver, dark silver, bronze silver, etc. Add in black and white, and that's about it for color choices on most cars. Hard to believe back in the conservative 50's you'd have cars in cool combinations like black and salmon pink, or white and teal.
The most important safety equipment for the driver was shin guards in case the bus rear ended another vehicle.
More of the story here with many more pictures:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1155981
Easy now. My dad is as far away from a anti-American Hippie as you can get. Born in ‘29, college in the ‘50s hair never below his collar, and a Chemical Engineer.
He loves these things for some reason. his parents traveled the country in one in the late ‘50s, and he’s had a fixation on them ever since.
He’s also so tight with money, when he farts only dogs can hear it, so he loves the gas mileage.
Thanks for the new link rawhide. Amazing photos.
Here's one by Chip Foose
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