Top 10 high-priced classic cars
In one year, Barrett-Jackson sold 2,126 vehicles for a total of $112-million.
1965 Shelby Cobra Roadster sold for $440,000.
1965 Shelby Cobra Roadster sold for $440,000.
1931 Chrysler CG Imperial Dual Cowl Phaeton: By 1931 the depression was hitting hard but that didn’t stop someone from buying this lavish Chrysler CG Imperial with Dual Cowl Phaeton bodywork – twin windshields with wind wings. It was the top of the line and powered by an eight cylinder engine with four-speed gearbox. The car required three donor cars to restore and spent time in Australia before returning to the U.S. Neat touches are dual Pilot-Ray lights that turn with the wheels, which may have appealed to the buyer who handed over $275,000 for it.
1931 Chrysler CG Imperial Dual Cowl Phaeton sold for $275,000
1931 Chrysler CG Imperial Dual Cowl Phaeton sold for $275,000
1947 Allard Hill Climb Racer: British car dealer Sydney Allard started his own company in 1946 and built just 1,900 cars, including the legendary American V-8 powered J2s, before folding it up in 1959. But this one, his personal hill-climber in which he won the British Championship in 1949, is perhaps the best known, with hundreds of articles documenting its history. Its alloy body is mounted on a modified J1 chassis and powered by a 150 hp, air-cooled, Austrian Steyr, 4.2 litre V-8. It took six years to restore and went for $203,500.
1947 Allard Hill Climb Racer took six years to restore and went for $203,500.
1947 Allard Hill Climb Racer took six years to restore and went for $203,500.
Jeff Gordon NASCAR racer: Throw in a high level of enthusiasm for NASCAR racing and a worthy cause and you have the reason a buyer came up with the $500,000 racer Jeff Gordon’s 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo was knocked down. The money went to a bone marrow donor program supported by Hendricks Motorsports which built and ran the car 14 times in ’06 and ’07, winning twice. The re-built multi-colored – naturally, as it was sponsored by DuPont – racer has a 358 cubic inch V-8 with four-speed gearbox.Nigel Kinrade
Jeff Gordon NASCAR racer sold for $500,000.
1934 Auburn 1250 Salon Cabriolet: It was a worst-of-times best-of-cars scenario in the depression 30s that saw splendid cars like this 1934 Auburn 1250 Salon Cabriolet being delivered to buyers for whom standing in a bread-line wasn’t likely part of the daily routine. This 391 cubic inch Lycoming V-12 engined car was in fact owned by a movie studio and starred with James Cagney in the film Mayor From Hell. After spending time in a cars-of-the-stars museum it was restored 20 years ago, and changed hands in Palm Beach for $253,000.
1934 Auburn 1250 Salon Cabriolet sold for $253,000 in Palm Beach.
1934 Auburn 1250 Salon Cabriolet sold for $253,000 in Palm Beach.
Ol Yaller VIII: Paying $198,000 for an old, scratch-built racing car might seem a little excessive but you can be sure the enthusiast who took ‘Ol Yaller VIII home was happy. California’s road racing scene was growing in the 50s as its stars dueled in Maseratis, Ferraris, Jags, but keeping it real were the “junkyard specials” the most famous of which were the ‘Ol Yallers built by Max Balchowsky and driven by guys like Dan Gurney and Carroll Shelby. This one is based on a Jag E-Type and powered by an American V-8.
Ol Yaller VIII: $198,000
Ol Yaller VIII: $198,000
Bo’s General Lee: This 1969 Dodge Charger Coupe is one of the most recognized cars in the world thanks to the bright orange and Confederate flag paint job that identifies it with the Dukes of Hazard television series. This one, known as “Bo’s General Lee” was built by “Bo” himself, actor John Schneider, for the Dukes of Hazard reunion movie and is signed by him and other cast members. It’s powered by a Hemi V-8 “crate motor” pumped up to 725 hp which was enough to entice a buyer to pony up $258,500.
1954 Kaiser Darrin Sports Roadster: When Kaiser-Frazer Corp. wanted to add something sporty to its early ‘50s lineup it turned to designer Howard “Dutch” Darrin who came up with 1954 Kaiser Darrin Sport Roadster – with the world’s only sliding doors. It’s also unique in being acknowledged as the first production fibreglass bodied car produced in the U.S., just pipping Chevy’s first Corvette. Its ultra rare too, with only 435 built in its single year of production. This one changed hands for $115,500.
1954 Kaiser Darrin Sports Roadster: $115,500
1954 Kaiser Darrin Sports Roadster: $115,500
1970 Oldsmobile 442 W30: The original owner of this 1970 Oldsmobile 442 W30 convertible – a muscle car legend and one of only 96 built – had just been checked out of hospital after crashing his Corvette. He’d decided his “hot-rod” days where over but on seeing the Olds changed his mind. This car sat in “time capsule” mode for years before a full rebuild restored it to its former glory, including its 455 cubic inch V-8 with four-on-the-floor gearbox. Muscle car nostalgia explains its $173,250 auction price.
1970 Oldsmobile 442 W30: $173,250
1970 Oldsmobile 442 W30: $173,250
1958 Jag XK 150 S Roadster: Jaguar’s XK 150 was the transitional model between the company’s post-war classic the XK 120 and the follow-on XK 140 and the legendary E-Type of 1961. This 1958 XK 150 S is a rare survivor of the only 2,265 roadsters built and is powered by the 3.4 litre ‘S’ version of Jag’s famous twin-cam inline six, tuned to produce 250 hp giving the car a top speed of about 130mph. Somebody drove it away from Barrett-Jackson’s Palm Beach action for $121,000.
1958 Jag XK 150 S Roadster: $121,000
1958 Jag XK 150 S Roadster: $121,000