A GDYNETS
PUBLICATION
© 2010, G. DAVID
®
Car Collector
Chronicles ®
YAROS. ALL
RIGHTS RESERVED.
Volume III, Issue 2 Car Collector Chronicles
Exploring:
 Car collecting today
 Classic rides
The 2010 Phoenix version of
 Reports from the field the Barrett-Jackson extrava-
ganza is in the books. At least
 Oldsmobile the bookkeepers should have
completed all their tallies and
 Cadillac made the requisite bank depos-
its! Admit it, you watched, if
 Corvair only for an hour. I publicly ac-
knowledge to you, the readers,
that I am an avid viewer.
Having come out of the
closet, the question has be
asked what conclusions are able
to be drawn about this, and
similar events?
The first conclusion has to be
IN THIS ISSUE: that none of the bidders travel
in circles similar to those of
CCC® readers! The second is
that the miles put on these rides
Barrett-Jackson 1 are racked up in the process of
2010 loading/unloading them at auc-
tions or concours events. The
pics transmitted from the auc-
GDYNets® 1 tion block chassis cam bear this
On the Web truth out. No car chassis, even
one moderately driven, has a
B-J Rides of Note 4 — Continued on p. 2.
GDYNets® on the Web
Mother Nature 4
Strikes Out at AZ
WHERE YOU WILL FIND
Pretenders
GDYNets (me) on the WWW:
B-J Selective 5 ests.
Dave’s Den -
Auction Results
http://GDYNets.WEBNG.com
Saved 62 -
How Much Is 6 http://www.freewebs.com/
Your Ride Worth? jeandaveyaros
(B-J Photos) The Gray Lady - 55 Cad de Ville
Car Collector Chronicles -
EMAIL:
OldsD88@gmail.com
February 2010
Barrett-Jackson 2010
better than factory fresh look. I
mean, one could eat off the
frames. Come on!
Has anyone else noticed that
over two or three years the
same cars seem to keep cross-
ing the auction block? I guess it
does not take long for the al-
lure , or is it the alcohol induced
state, to wear off and better
judgment to assert itself?
Does Barrett-Jackson have an
impact on the hobby? Is that
impact positive or negative? In
actuality, it is both.
It is positive in the sense it has
made more folks aware of col-
lector cars. It has also made the
hobby fashionable. spectator sport, instead of a being a
It is negative in that it has hands-on, participatory activity all
inflated ridiculously the price of may enjoy. Viewers of the Barrett-
old rides and parts. Perhaps Jackson dog & pony show must mut-
even worse, it has created the ter to themselves, “I could never
impression that for the masses afford to own one of those cars!”
the car collector hobby is lim-
ited to nothing more than a Nothing could be further from the
DAVE’S DEN: A website SAVED 62: A website devoted
devoted to a myriad of inter- to our 1962 Oldsmobile Dy-
Foremost is extensive namic 88 convertible. The site
information on the “Steel City” also has a lot of information on
of Gary, IN. There are also Oldsmobiles and its founder,
offerings on steel making, U.S. Ransom Eli Olds.
Steel-Gary Works, U.S. Marine
THE GRAY LADY: This web-
Corps, M14 assault rifle, of
site features our 1955 Cadillac
course Oldsmobile, and the
Coupé de Ville and Caddy infor-
tragic story of the murder of
mation.
Gary, IN Police Lt. Geo. Yaros.
Car Collector Chronicles Page 2

Barrett-Jackson 2010—Continued
truth. This hobby has its roots in the wallets of those who were not
“well heeled.” They bought old because it was all they could afford.
By the time they could afford better, an attachment to the machine
had arisen. So much so that they either kept the ride, or went out and
located another. Never was the activity viewed, or pursued, as a profit
making venture, a.k.a. business.

Make no mistake about it, Barrett-Jackson is a business, BIG busi-

ness. Not only is there the commission income, there is the television
revenue (39 hours over 6 days), and who knows what else? Here is a
sampling of some of the fees paid to Barrett-Jackson:

Seller Entry Fee - $600 - $1,500 (Depending on Lot #)

Bidder Card - $500
Absentee Bidder Fee - $100
Buyer’s Premium - 10%
Internet/Ph. Buyer’s Premium - 12%
Seller’s Commission - 8%
General Admission - $15 - $55
“This hobby has Week Pass - $160

its roots in the Do the math. A ride hammers at $179,000. $196,900 actually
wallets of those changes hands. Of that, Barrett-Jackson gets $32,220 (18%), plus a
$500 (Bidder Fee) and another $600, minimum (Seller Entry Fee), for
who where not a total of $33,320! I do find it more than interesting that while B-J gets
‘well heeled’.” its money instantly, sellers do not get paid until 21 days after the auc-
tion ends? That makes for more than a bit of interest income for B-J.

Not all are enamored with the Barrett-Jackson way of doing things.
In 2008, one disgruntled seller, an Illinois judge nonetheless, chained
the wheels of his car after it sold, to prevent it from being transported
by the buyer. The seller sued, claiming Barrett-Jackson brought the
hammer down early, not providing enough time for bidders to consider
the merits of his car. Ultimately, the seller dismissed his suit.

Sensing a need to brush up its image, B-J, with appropriate fan fare
(press releases), hired the accounting firm of Deloitte-Touche to per-
form and publish an audit.

The report purports to attest to the business practices of Barrett-

Jackson, LLC. It is all of 3 pages in length? Not a single dollar figure
is ever mentioned! I guess Craig Jackson does not want the world to
really know how much money he brings in? You may view the full
report yourself at - http://www.barrett-jackson.com/media/
pressreleases/photos/Independent_Accountants_Report_Deloitte.pdf
Car Collector Chronicles Page 3

Barrett-Jackson – Continued from p. 2

An anti B-J website (http://www.mystarcollectorcar.com/4-

community/letters-to-the-editor/442-barrett-jacksonthe-800-pound-
gorilla-we-pick-the-car-of-the-day.html) refers to the auction as “The
800 lb. gorilla.” It follows the auction online and picks a "Car of the
Day." It approaches this exercise from the perspective of an imagi-
nary buyer; a married guy who has some wiggle room on his buying
power, and the conditional consent of consent of his wife.

The wrinkle in the formula is they give a sober bid and drunk bid on
the same car. This is because, let’s face it, the odd cocktail or two
spilled at B-J has influenced auction bids; a lot!

The folks at this site also pick one of these cars to be a “divorce
car”. In other words, the fictional buyer is going to come home to a
broken marriage after a drunken bid. ― Sounds interesting? “[I]t is indeed
nice to see
There is more than a bit of the carnival aspect to the Scottsdale
spectacular. All are encouraged to purchase “officially licensed” Bar- these rides
rett-Jackson merchandise; such as hats, t-shirts, license plates, flags,
being
posters and fuzzy dice. You can even get an official B-J watch:
preserved.
BARRETT-JACKSON TIMEPIECE:

WITH COMPLIMENTARY ENGRAVING

However, it is
(NOT TO EXCEED 4 LINES AND 56 CHARACTERS INCLUDING SPACES)
a real pity to
Price: $395.00
have to endure
It does appear that the lure for the buck is all consuming on the part gentrification
of B-J. This year will see the addition of a fourth event to its annual
auction lineup. The fourth auction will be held June 25-27 2010, at the of the hobby.”
Orange County (CA) Fair & Event Center. Thanks to B-J, one may
now go to Scottsdale in January, Palm Springs, FL in April, Orange
County, CA in June, or Las Vegas in September and breathe the rari-
fied air of the moneyed upper crust. Can Chicago be far behind in
terms of the B-J invasion; say in late October, maybe? How much
longer before there will be a B-J extravaganza near you?

Don’t get me wrong, it is indeed nice to see these rides being pre-
served. However, it is a real pity to have to endure gentrification of
the hobby. The effect is, the price of rides for the rest of the us is
driven through the roof. Remarkable cars end up being exchanged for
ridiculous sums and subsequently seldom seen, let alone driven and
enjoyed on the open road. That is not, in my opinion, what the hobby
ever was, is, or should be about.
Car Collector Chronicles Page 4;

B-J Rides of Note

Having done my best to put B-J’s feet to the fire, I cannot deny some interesting cars
did cross the block in Scottsdale. One that I found particularly unique was a 1957 Chevy
210. The 210 was a mid-range model in the Chevrolet line. What made this one unique
was that if was a 2-door hardtop. I have seen many a 210 in my time, but this was the
first 210 I have ever seen in a hardtop configuration. It went to a new home for a mere
$70,000 hammer price. Equally remarkable was a 1967 Chevy Nova that sold for
$173,000!

For those with an interest, I have provided on Page 5 the B-J results for sales of all
Oldsmobiles, 1955 Caddys, Allantés and Corvairs. Yes, two Corvairs did cross the
block, but no one ever saw them on television! Page 6 has pictures of a few cars sold.

2010 did witness an increased interest in trucks. Naturally, an increase in interest also
translates into increases in prices. It seemed no matter the year or marque, trucks were
bringing high dollars. Every truck seemed to sport a wood bed. It reminds me of what,
as an Oldsmobile owner, I see at Olds car shows. At these shows, one sees today far
more Oldsmobiles with a J-2 (3 deuces) set up than were ever manufactured by Oldsmo-
bile back in the day. If B-J is to be used as a gauge, every truck that was ever manufac-
tured rolled off the line with a lacquered, hand-rubbed, oak-planked bed. I am here to
tell you, “It ain’t so, folks!”

Mother Nature Strikes Out at AZ Pretenders

While B-J was laughing all the way to the bank, Russo-Steele was taking a hit. Its
Scottsdale event was ravaged by severe rain storms. The display tents were ripped
from their moorings. Some 300 cars were damaged from flying tent poles and canvas,
to the tune of $1.5 Million. More than a few convertibles, with the tops down, were left
out in the open all night, soaking up all that Mother Nature chose to pour down on them.
I suspect Hagerty Insurance had to send disaster teams to the site? Was Mother Nature
expressing her angst at the usurpation of the hobby by the high rollers?

Ok, I have had my say for this month. Now it is your turn! I invite/encourage submission
of your comments, opinions and contributions, and ask that you do help spread the word
about our pub. Everything sent shall indeed be reviewed by me. Submissions should be
sent to: OldsD88@gmail.com
_________________________________________________

— RESTORE 'EM, AND DRIVE 'EM!

COMING NEXT ISSUE: [Ed. Note - The issue originally planned for Feb. has been pre-empted by this B-J report.]
 One Thing Leads to Another (Buying the car is just the start)
 Allanté Quirks
 Reach of Car Collector Chronicles®
 Cuban Classic Cars
Car Collector Chronicles Page 5;

B-J Results Scottsdale 2010 (Olds-Cadillac-Corvair)

Lot # Year Make Model Style _ Price

38 1958 OLDSMOBILE SUPER 88 4 DOOR SEDAN $ 19,800
95 1965 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS 442 2 DOOR HARDTOP 27,500
97 1972 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS 2 DOOR HARDTOP 442 RE-CREATION 28,600
404 1967 OLDSMOBILE 442 2 DOOR 32,450
440 1992 OLDSMOBILE 88 ROYALE 4 DOOR SEDAN 8,250
462 1953 OLDSMOBILE 88 2 DOOR SEDAN 25,300
605 1977 OLDSMOBILE TORONADO 2 DOOR HARDTOP 8,580
635.1 1968 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME 2 DOOR CONVERTIBLE 25,300
651 1961 OLDSMOBILE 98 HOLIDAY COUPE 17,600
696.1 1970 OLDSMOBILE RALLYE 350 COUPE 25,300
700.2 1967 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS CONVERTIBLE 30,800
761 1968 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS CUSTOM 2 DOOR HARDTOP 30,800
975.3 1957 OLDSMOBILE SUPER 88 FIESTA WAGON 52,800
1010 1971 OLDSMOBILE 442 CONVERTIBLE 83,600
1038 1967 OLDSMOBILE 442 2 DOOR HARDTOP 71,500
1039 1966 OLDSMOBILE F-85 DELUXE 442 2 DOOR HARDTOP 121,000
1041 1957 OLDSMOBILE 98 STARFIRE CONVERTIBLE 71,500
1047 1957 OLDSMOBILE SUPER 88 CONVERTIBLE 66,000
1076 1966 OLDSMOBILE 442 CONVERTIBLE 33,000
1215 1970 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS 2 DOOR HARDTOP 33,000
1221.1 1966 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS 442 2 DOOR HOLIDAY COUPE 38,500
1222 1972 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS CONVERTIBLE 44,000
1244 1971 OLDSMOBILE 442 W30 CONVERTIBLE 85,800
1248 1948 OLDSMOBILE WOODY 4 DOOR WAGON 71,500
1269 1970 OLDSMOBILE 442 W30 CONVERTIBLE 222,200
1276 1970 OLDSMOBILE 442 W30 CONVERTIBLE 159,500
1337.1 1971 OLDSMOBILE 442 CONVERTIBLE 84,700
1505 1966 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS COUPE 7,150
1525 1959 OLDSMOBILE 88 CUSTOM 2 DOOR HARDTOP 11,000
1577 1964 OLDSMOBILE 442 DOOR HARDTOP --

12 1988 CADILLAC ALLANTE CONVERTIBLE 10,010

314.1 1989 CADILLAC ALLANTE CONVERTIBLE 11,500
620 1993 CADILLAC ALLANTE CONVERTIBLE 13,200

359 1955 CADILLAC FLEETWOOD 4 DOOR SEDAN 12,650

14 1966 CHEVROLET CORVAIR 2 DOOR HARDTOP 5,280

335 1963 CHEVROLET CORVAIR MONZA COUPE 17,050

Total auction sales in Scottsdale came to approximately $35,000,000. That sum yields a
gross income (excluding earned interest on all seller sums held for 21 days) to Barrett-
Jackson of nearly $6,000,000; or $1,000,000 per day! Not a bad gig?
Car Collector Chronicles Page 6;

How Much Is Your Ride Worth?

A 1957 Chevrolet 210 Hardtop.
This baby crossed the block at $70,000!

While this ‘67 Nova was hammered at

$173,000!

The ‘48 Olds woody went up for a mere $71,500. A $222,200 Oldsmobile (1970 442—W30).
Photos property of sellers/consignors, and furnished to Barrett-Jackson, LLC.