watching Barrett Jackson

tibalda · Apr 26, 2025

Usually when I watch Barrett Jackson I just think the prices they get are insane. I just watched 2 tri-five cars cross the auction block. The first was a 56 150 2 door wagon that was a restomod with upgraded LS motor with an impeccable black paint job an perfect looking chrome (as far as you can see on TV). It sold for $55k. The second was a 57 convertible black and white top, closer to stock with again gorgeous paint job and chrome for $63k. I must admit if I was there I might have had trouble keeping my hand down during the bidding process. Of course, if I won either one, I would have to get a divorce and sell my house - but well, you only live once

. I look at those prices differently now after working on my project and seeing what it cost for parts and paint - forget about the labor. I won't be surprised if I end up spending close to those prices, but falling very short of their quality. I know that many here on this site make the point that you should buy a done car if you are just looking to drive around in a show car, because the economics of building it yourself never seem to work out. I am enjoying my build and am happy with my decision to do a project car, especially with the help on this site. I can't say that I don't have a thought in the back of my mind to trade up someday to one of these really nice cars, but I doubt that will ever happen.

Art

69SHEVL · Apr 26, 2025

I was there yesterday all day, and I will say that prices were down on many,

but not all cars.

Ticket prices were up, though.

$48 single day entry, $43 for seniors and Military.

Vic55 · Apr 26, 2025

I'm happy I did a project car because I know every square inch of it. I got lucky and found a 99% rust free car. Mine is a more old school type car. I tried to go middle grade with parts $$$$. And I still ended up spending more than those two cars. But happy with the end result. It's a driver not a show car. I watched Barrett Jackson the other day and saw two tri fives going for 6 figures. I new I probably would never get what I put in to it. But I know my car inside and out. I think you made the right decision.

tibalda · Apr 26, 2025

Nice looking car. My car was originally Gypsy Red, India Ivory and it was repainted to what I believe is Dusk Rose and India Ivory. I am stripping the whole car, so new paint colors are an option. I am painting in my attached garage and will be painting in stages not to overrun the house with fumes. It has been recommended to using single stage, non-metallic paint to avoid shade differences. Originally I was thinking of picking a non-metallic color close to Dusk Rose (Dusk Rose being metallic), a bit less pink. Every time I see a '55 in your colors, it makes me think I want to go that route since I like the color so much. One consideration I have is my interior is now black, and if there is anything I would sacrifice from a budget standpoint, it would be to leave the interior as it is. I don't think I would like your color with a black interior, although I have seen some. I am likely at least a year away from paint, so I have time to think about it.

Art

Mister56 · Apr 26, 2025

I noticed something else,
an off brand was on the block,
it appeared to me it was down to one bidder,
the bid never changed as the camera's bounced around to the bidder, the auctioneer and the audience,
you could even see and hear the bidder saying drop the hammer repeatedly,
but it didn't, the camera pans around a bit more, then back to the bidder and once again the bidder is saying drop the hammer, finally what seemed like a long time the hammer dropped,
then the next few cars were VW's of some sort, very nice, and the hammer dropped immediately,
maybe I'm just seeing or imagining this or thinking this is happening,
it was noticeable or was it.................

angs1957 · Apr 27, 2025

Prices sure have come down it was a buyers market

Greg's 56 Nomad · Apr 27, 2025

tibalda said:
The first was a 56 150 2 door wagon that was a restomod with upgraded LS motor with an impeccable black paint job an perfect looking chrome (as far as you can see on TV). It sold for $55k. The second was a 57 convertible black and white top, closer to stock with again gorgeous paint job and chrome for $63k.

tibalda · Apr 27, 2025

Those are them. I think they sure are pretty 😃.

Art

Carmine2 · Apr 27, 2025

Thanks for sharing that. I still can't believe it went for that little. Dual quad original motor. I'm glad I wasn't there, Carmine.

Robert Haas · Apr 28, 2025

Morrison chassisied big block car went for 90 k

Sellers have to be mortified.

Greg's 56 Nomad · Apr 28, 2025

'Morrison chassisied big block car went for 90k' can be seen here.
I might be comparing apples to oranges, but it was just a little over three years ago that blown502's 1957 big block Morrison chassis Bel Air sold @ Mecum for $258,500.

55 Tony · Apr 28, 2025

It's much more special when you build it yourself instead of buying it built.

Robert Haas · Apr 28, 2025

If you have the talent, and are willing to eat the massive depreciation of every part you buy. That convertible and Morrison chassied 57 are going to make your argument a tad difficult to accept once you add up your receipts, and factor in the time it would take any of us to build one of those. Both of those cars are darn special.

55wagoncrazy · Apr 28, 2025

Add to that that the seller is also charged 15% sellers fee on the sale price. So they don't even get the full price it sells for. The sellers also must
agree to sell the car for the auction price........there are no reserves anymore with BJ

Mikey

tibalda · Apr 28, 2025

I didn't realize they didn't allow reserves any longer because I was wondering why they didn't have one. That is one huge risk if there turns out to be a bad day. After seeing some of those sale prices I wonder if they will need to change that back.

Art

Rod Homire · Apr 29, 2025

If I'm buying, it would be Barrett Jackson. If I were selling, it would be Mecum. No way am I selling without a reserve.

CY1957-1967 · Apr 29, 2025

I have built quite a few VERY nice cars over the years, and it definitely takes much time.
I spend 10 years building a beautiful Resto Mod 67 Nova that started as a rusty body shell. Sold that last year privately and started look for a Nomad.
Did not have 10 years or more to start from a "major project car", so looked for a finished Nomad that I could change to my tastes.

Found this 55 Nomad "finished" on BaT, and won the bid last year.
The guy who owned this prior, took a BIG LOSS on what he had in it vs what I paid on the BaT auction, but that is chance you take when you pay people to build cars for you.

While it saved LOTS of hard work in starting from scratch with a rust bucket, I do have to say, since I did not build it, now I am finding and correcting LOTS of little things that were not done or not done correctly!
Been a bit frustrating but still gives me some things to do to "personalize" that car to my taste and I can say I did some of the work on it.

As far a BaT, they only get 5% to buyer, and only min or $100 fee to seller, and can have a reserve. You are just taking a chance by not seeing it in person, unless you are near where car is.

Nice to watch Mecum and BJ on TV, but is mostly for "high rollers" in my opinion.

watching Barrett Jackson

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