1958 Ford 500 Series Custom 2-Door Hardtop (Barrett-Jackson)
Each Barrett-Jackson collector-car auction has its own vibe, and the company’s first-ever California event in Costa Mesa, Orange County, will have a flavor all its own, said Craig Jackson, Barrett-Jackson’s CEO.
The Barrett-Jackson Orange County auction happens June 25-27 at the Orange County Fair and Event Center, and a week’s worth of rallies, cruise-ins, parties, charity galas and other events precede the auction.
The laid-back, top-down Southern California aura will be everywhere, Jackson said, and the collector cars for sale will reflect that image. Plenty of convertibles and sports cars will be on hand, as well as some “new collectibles” such as a 2001 Lamborghini Diablo and a custom 2008 Shelby Mustang GT500 “Supersnake.”
A custom 1970 Plymouth Road Runner that appeared in two of the "Fast and Furious" movies will be sold in Orange County. (Photo: Barrett-Jackson “There are some brand-new cars that are collector cars,” Jackson said. “You look at some of the modern cars, such as the (Corvette) ZR1 – that’s a collector car.
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“You see a lot of those kinds of cars just driving around here, daily drivers. My daily driver here is a Shelby GT500.”
The three days of Barrett-Jackson bidding will be broadcast live with 18 hours of high-definition coverage on SPEED.
Of Barrett-Jackson’s three other auctions, the famous 39-year-old Scottsdale auction has evolved into a sprawling lifestyle event; the Palm Beach, Fla., auction is like an upscale beach party; and the Las Vegas event reflects the glitz and glamour of that venue.
While in Costa Mesa, the diversity of collector cars will show the wide range of West Coast style, Jackson said, including such “very California” cars as the 2006 Cadillac custom built for NBA star Shaquille O’Neal on the Street Customs show; TV personality Jesse James’ own 1936 Ford Custom five-window coupe built by his West Coast Choppers crew; and a custom 2005 Mustang Shelby built by West Coast Customs.
There’s also a custom 1970 Plymouth Road Runner that has made several magazine and TV appearances, as well as a supporting role in the “Fast and Furious” movies three and four.
The cities of Costa Mesa and nearby Newport have designated June 20-27 as Barrett-Jackson Week, with signs and banners hung along the streets, Jackson added. “The community’s excited about it. We have great support over here.”
A 1938 Packard Victoria Convertible that once belonged to Barrett-Jackson co-founder Russ Jackson will be among the classic cars at auction. (Photo: Barrett-Jackson) About 400 cars will be up for sale over three days, with many of them the muscle cars, European sports cars, hot rods and customs, and ‘50s cruisers that Barrett-Jackson has famously brought to the forefront of collectability.