By Brian Brennan – Images by the Author
When it comes to car auctions, you will be hard-pressed to find any larger and more exciting than the Barrett-Jackson auctions held around the country. However, the Barrett-Jackson Auction, which is organized yearly in Scottsdale, Arizona, is clearly the pinnacle of car and truck auctions. Held in January, the numbers are staggering, and emerging trends are there to see.
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Over 2,000 vehicles were sold with “no reserve,” meaning if it makes it to the block, it’s dealt with! It should be noted that this equates to over $200 million in sales. Throw in a few other numbers, such as $1 million-plus for charities, 190 world-record auctions, rock ’n’ roll concerts, and $6.7 million in automobilia, and you can see why upwards of 400,000 people attend.
And what are the emerging trends? Well, there are several, but make no mistake, trucks, whether they be original, restored, or modified, have captured the automotive world’s eye. Oh, and 4×4 or 2×4 are just as popular, and while Chevy may be the top dollar getter, Ford pickups and Broncos also bring top dollars.
The top dollar getter for a Ford product was a custom ’56 Ford F-600 pickup (Lot #1366), which brought $550,000. Powered by a 6.7L D&J Cummins engine, it sits on a Classic Car Studio–built frame with a fully customized four-door body and interior. Another mega-dollar Ford was the ’23 Ford Bronco DR Race Truck (Lot #1444) that brought a whopping $440,000. It is powered by a Coyote V-8 with a 10-speed trans.
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On Sunday, the top truck sale was a custom ’72 Chevy K5 Blazer (Lot #1597) at $258,500. Oh, did we mention trucks in two- or four-wheel-drive are popular? Another top sale on Sunday was a custom ’70 Chevy K10 pickup (Lot #1580) that brought a cool $148,500, and for the same dollars you could have owned Tom Selleck’s ’53 Dodge Power Wagon (Lot #1623)! Right behind Selleck’s Power Wagon was another custom ’72 Chevy K5 Blazer (Lot #1602) at $137,500.
Lest you think you must sell a Chevy to take home some amazing dollars, think again. On Friday there was a custom ’77 Ford F-250 pickup (Lot #1007) that heard the gavel at $222,200. Another Ford sale was a custom ’79 Ford Bronco that brought $216,700.
But Chevy was still going strong on Friday as a custom ’67 Chevy C10 pickup (Lot #1067) brought in an eye-popping $330,000. A custom ’72 Chevy K5 Blazer (Lot #1352) took in $440,000—talk about “strong” dollars for Chevys.
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On Thursday, trucks were the main stage darlings, with a custom ’70 Chevy K10 pickup (Lot #801.1) bringing in a “hot” $176,000. Right behind it was a custom ’72 GMC K1500 pickup (Lot #801.2) snagged a cool $165,000, and right behind it was a custom ’69 Chevy C10 Super Cheyenne pickup (Lot #818.1) for another $165,000. Of course, Ford wasn’t to be outdone, and a factory ’23 Ford F-150 Ford Raptor R pickup (Lot #805.1) brought $172,700.
Early in the week, a custom ’57 Chevy Cameo pickup (Lot #474) garnered $104,500. But what about deals? There were a few of them to be had. We watched a custom ’76 GMC Sierra 2500 pickup (Lot #65.1) roll off into the sunset for $34,650 … it was a very good deal.
Auctions are exciting and fun to watch, but they are especially fun if you are selling (or buying) a truck in today’s world. CTP
Click on this issue’s cover to see the enhanced digital version of 2024 Barrett-Jackson—It’s All About Trucks.
