39th Annual Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction

Car enthusiasts came in droves as the 2010 39th Annual Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction took place. Aside from the torrential down pour that occurred, 180,000 people attended the automotive lifestyle event.  I guess rain isn’t only lucky for weddings; it must also be lucky for car auctions, because the event sales totaled a whopping $68 million. For all you vintage automotive consumers, that would be an 11 percent increase from the 2009 Scottsdale event. The big sale of the day was a lovely 1929 Hamilton Metalplane H-47 for $671,000 and a 1964 Shelby Cobra that sold for $478,500.

The auction became a candy store for car aficionados filled with classics, muscle cars, customs, new model-year collector cars, Cobras, and even an airplane. In fact, about 40 percent of buyers were actually first-timers who got to enjoy the Barrett-Jackson lifestyle experience. Sponsors General Motors hosted their ride and drive, while The Garage at Barrett-Jackson sponsored by Stone Rose Lounge provided a VIP setting for attendees, with drinks and music. Guests enjoyed a party of sorts with a myriad of sponsored events like fashion shows, car collector seminars, health screenings, and cooking demonstrations inside the Scottsdale Fairmont Lifestyle Pavillion. Of course, no event raking in $68 million would be complete without celebrity appearances, this time by Lee Lacocca, Carroll Shelby, and Jordin Sparks, among others.