Barrett-Jackson

JFK Ambulance Sold for $120,000 Despite Authenticity Doubts

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions

Avid Luxist readers may recognize this vintage ambulance from our article earlier this month. The 1963 Pontiac Bonneville is one of only a handful converted to an ambulance and commissioned by the U.S. Navy. It was said to have carried out the solemn duty of transporting the remains and bereaved of the assassinated president John F. Kennedy, and was slated for the auction block under the auspices of Barrett-Jackson at its recently-concluded auction in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The story sounded credible and straightforward enough, but before the auction took place, reports surfaced to question the authenticity of the vehicle's provenance. It seemed, according to the reports, that the vehicle that actually carried JFK's remains and grieving widow and brother from Andrews Air Force Base to Bethesda Naval Hospital was actually destroyed several years ago.

Authenticity notwithstanding, Barrett-Jackson elected to auction the vehicle just the same, where it promptly sold for a high bid of $120,000 – less than it probably would have fetched if not for the question of its provenance, but more than if it were indeed just an ordinary ambulance. The buyer stated her intentions to donate the car for display at the Smithsonian, but to make the story all the stranger, ended up reportedly selling it for little more than she paid for it to the daughter of a limousine collector in Colorado whose father is presently incarcerated for bribing Alaskan legislators.

Gallery: 1963 Pontiac Bonneville JFK ambulance

Tags: 1963 Pontiac Bonneville, 1963 pontiac bonneville ambulance, 1963 Pontiac Bonneville JFK ambulance, barrett-jackson, jfk, John F Kennedy, john f. kennedy, kennedy, pontiac, Pontiac Bonneville, pontiac bonneville ambulance, scottsdale

Barret-Jackson Auction: 50th Anniversary Shelby Cobra Offered

by David Kiley (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Gearing up for its Golden Anniversary in 2012, Shelby American will offer a special edition of the Cobra CSX2000 Series. Each of the 50 copies of the car are painted black with a premium wine colored leather interior, special badges, wire wheels and other one-of-a-kind trim pieces.

Price-tags for the chassis (minus the drive-train which is ordered separately), is set at $69,995 or $134,995 for an aluminum bodied car. Shelby made the announcement at the 40th Anniversary Barrett-Jackson Auction in Scottsdale, Arizona.

"Fifty years after its introduction, the Shelby Cobra is still an international symbol of high performance," said John Luft, president of Shelby American. "Combining a robust, powerful American engine with a lightweight European chassis was brilliant. Half a century later, the Cobra remains one of the most coveted cars in the world. Shelby's formula still resonates today and is followed by automakers worldwide."

Gallery: 50th Anniversary Shelby Cobra

Tags: barrett-jackson, shelby american, shelby cobra

Kennedy Ambulance up for Auction at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions

Few if any U.S. presidents have elicited the kind of following that JFK did in his life, and arguably even more so in his death. Collectors obsess over Kennedy memorabilia, and this will surely be one of the most coveted pieces.

The vehicle you see here – a 1963 Pontiac Bonneville ambulance commissioned by the Department of the Navy – was tasked with the solemn duty of transporting the slain president's casket (along with his widow and grieving brother who would vie to succeed him) from Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base to Bethesda Naval Hospital and then on to Capitol Hill.

Preserved in original condition, the vehicle will be going up for auction under the Barrett-Jackson gavel in Scottsale, Arizona, from January 17-23.

Gallery: 1963 Pontiac Bonneville JFK ambulance

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Tags: 1963 Pontiac Bonneville, 1963 Pontiac Bonneville JFK ambulance, barrett-jackson, jfk, john f. kennedy, kennedy, pontiac, pontiac bonneville

Buyer Renegs on $700,000 Bid for a Bugatti Veyron

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions

If you're going to place a bid at an auction, you'd better make sure you have the cash to back it up. Especially if its an item as high-value as a Bugatti Veyron.

One such supercar went across the auction block recently at Barrett-Jackson, where a prospective buyer on-premises placed a $700,000 bid, beating out several rivals calling in their bids by phone. But then the winner refuses to pay, claiming that he didn't mean to bid but was just trying to help.

The renegging bidder was escorted off the premises, but to save face, Barrett-Jackson's own CEO Craig Jackson pledged to buy it himself, until one of the phone bidders took it off his hands. Seriously, people...we couldn't make this stuff up.

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Tags: auction, barrett-jackson, bugatti, bugatti veyron

1930 Ford Model A used by John Dillinger up for Auction

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions

There are pieces of history and then there are pieces of history. This is clearly the latter. What you see here is the actual car which John Dillinger and his gang used to escape federal agents in one of the most famous shoot-outs in American history.

In the midst of a nation-wide robbing spree, Dillinger and his cronies stayed at the Little Bohemia Lodge in rural Wisconsin. After the proprietors alerted law enforcement to their presence, federal agents arrived at the scene, shooting the place full of bullets in an effort to kill the wanted criminals. As depicted in the blockbuster hit Public Enemies, Dillinger and a few of his men managed to escape into the woods and commandeered this very vehicle, using it to flee to Minnesota where they picked up a faster Ford V8. The Model A seen here was returned to its owner, who was forced to drive the car as Dillinger shot out the back window, and it stayed with the family for decades.

It's also the car the film-makers used to recreate the scene following an extensive and faithful restoration. Now the 1930 Ford Model A, with four-cylinder engine, bullet holes and all, is up for sale by Barrett-Jackson at their upcoming event in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Gallery: John Dillinger's 1930 Ford Model A

Tags: 1930 ford model a, 1930FordModelA, arizona, barrett-jackson, dillinger, ford, ford model a, FordModelA, john dillinger, JohnDillinger, public enemies, PublicEnemies, scottsdale

Gooding & Co Adds Another Day to Next Month's Barrett-Jackson Auction

by Jonathon Ramsey (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions

Gooding's regular yearly auction during Barrett-Jackson event in Scottsdale will take place January 23. Next year, though, Gooding will hold an additional auction the day before and it will be moving some delightful machinery. If you can't wait for Saturday's spoils, which include a 1959 Ferrari Series 1 Pininfarina Cabriolet, a Zagato-bodied 1932 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport, and a 1956 Maserati A6G/54 Berlinetta, then you might find something you like among the Friday collection specialities:

1934 Duesenberg Model J Disappearing Top Convertible Coupe, Chassis No. 2490, Engine No. J-461:
The only Murphy-bodied Convertible Coupe in existence with rear-mounted spares, J-461 is renowned for its many concours awards including a Best in Class at the 1986 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, a First Place at the 1987 Meadow Brook Concours d'Elegance and its coveted Category One standing with the ACD Club. First owned by Sigfried Roebling, of the famed Brooklyn Bridge family, this magnificent Duesenberg possesses an impressive lineage from new.

1927 Bentley 6 1/2-Litre Sport Coupe, Chassis TW2713:
With coachwork by the Surbiton Carriage Company, this low-windshield, fabric-bodied 6 1/2-litre coupe bodied Bentley was first delivered to England-based S.E. Parkes in April 1927. After many years at the Manx Motor Museum on the Isle of Man, TW2713 was shipped to America in the 1980s in original, near-perfect condition. Now after 20 years of healthy driving by previous owners, the fully-restored 6 1/2-litre Coupe is a rarity even among its prestigious vintage peers, having retained its original "Surbico" body and unique elegant design.

1959 Costin Lister Jaguar Sports Racer, Chassis BHL 123:
Arguably the most historically important of the entire run of Lister sports cars, BHL 123 is one of only two Jaguar-powered Costin-Listers built following a factory fire at Jaguar Works in 1957. Originally purchased by legendary American sportsman, race car driver and manufacturer Briggs Cunningham, the Sports Racer earned its place in motorsport history when it captured the 1959 SCCA C-Modified National Championship. After many years of podium finishes, BHL 123 is a fully-restored and acclaimed vintage racer.

If any of those speak to you, have your bidding hand ready on January 22, 11 a.m., across the way from Scottsdale's Fashion Square Mall.

Gallery: Gooding & Co Friday Auction at 2010 Barrett-Jackson

[Source: Gooding & Co | Images: Pawel Litwinski]

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Tags: auction, barrett-jackson, barrett-jackson 2010, Barrett-jackson2010, Gooding and Company, gooding co, gooding company, GoodingAndCompany, GoodingCo, GoodingCompany, scottsdale, vintage, wheels

Top Ten Luxury Cars From Barrett-Jackson 2009

by Jeremy Korzeniewski (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions, Events

Click above to see our top ten luxury cars from Barrett-Jackson 2009

The Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Auction may be best known for the many muscle cars that fill the tents in Scottsdale, AZ, but those in attendance are also welcome to bid on any number of other fine automobiles that pass through the auction block. We found ourselves among the bidders all day on Friday and Saturday, taking pictures and keeping track of each sale so we could compile interesting lists of the various vehicles that were scheduled to change hands, including quite a few beautiful luxury cars. From one-off Buicks to hand-built Rolls Royces, here are a few of our favorites. Note: This list is numbered chronologically in the order they were auctioned.

Gallery: Barrett Jackson 2009: Top Ten Luxury Cars

1942 Lincoln Continental Convertible - $44,000

1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Dual Cowl Touring - $95,700

1931 Cadillac 370 A Town Sedan - $79,200.00

Tags: barrett jackson, barrett jackson 2009, barrett jackson auction, barrett-jackson, barrett-jackson 2009, barrett-jackson2009, BarrettJackson, BarrettJackson2009, BarrettJacksonAuction, luxury car, luxury car auction, luxury cars, LuxuryCar, LuxuryCarAuction, LuxuryCars

1935 Rolls Royce Phantom II Sport Coupe at Scottsdale Auction

by Laura Malesich (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions

The 37th Annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event to be held in Scottsdale, Arizona on January 12-20, 2008 will feature a rare beauty. Saturday evening, one of only nineteen 1935 Rolls Royce Phantom II's with a coupe body will be on the docket as lot #1312. Special ordered in 1934 through R.P. Collyer, Ltd. in Montreal with very specific design elements, the car was refurbished in 1980 by R.R. & B. Motors and is in magnificent condition. It has even completed vintage touring events in France. If you are a pre-war collector you won't want to miss this amazing classic and unique opportunity -- plus the chance to be in a snow-free zone in January! Happy bidding!

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Tags: barrett-jackson, car-collector, phantom-II, rolls-royce, sport-coupe

Dr. Phil and Sir Paul auction off cars

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions

It's time to check out the goods for the next Barrett-Jackson auction. The next auction, in Palm Beach, March 30 and April 1 will include two of Dr. Phil's exotic rides. The talk show host is unloading a 2002 Ferrari 360 Spider and a 2001 Gemballa Porsche Turbo. The Ferrari has titanium paint, chrome wheels and a blue convertible top with matching interior and the black Porsche is a 911 Turbo modified by Gemballa with a 415-horsepower 6-cylinder engine and upgraded performance suspension. The cars should both bring in six figures. Also on sale is a 2006 Cadillac CTS owned by musician Paul McCartney. The car was built for McCartney with no animal products and proceeds from the sale of McCartney's car will go to Adopt-A-Minefield.

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Tags: automobiles, barrett-jackson, cadillac, dr. phil, Dr.Phil, exotic cars, ferrari, paul mccartney, phil mcgraw, porsche

Sammy Hagar's Shelby GT500

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

As Autoblog mentioned previously, a 1960 Lincoln Mark V limo belonging to Elvis Presley will be on the block at the Barrett-Jackson event in Scottsdale, Arizona on January 14-22. That lot isn't the only music-related car up for bid. Michael Anthony and Sammy Hagar from Van Halen are putting some of their cars on the block. The car shown here is Sammy Hagar's 1967 Shelby GT500. It was rebuilt in 1992/93 and has a solid lifter 427 Tunnel Port motor and Detroit locker. Sammy Hagar is including with this car one of his personal guitars and a signed case of Cabo Wabo Tequila in the trunk.

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Tags: barrett-jackson, celebrity cars, sammy hagar, shelby, van halen