For our first expedition of the year, we had the pleasure of venturing back to the new & improved West World facility in Scottsdale, Arizona to experience the 43rd Annual World’s Greatest Collector Car Auction, Barrett-Jackson! Over the course of the last 365 days, the West World exhibition center did some serious expanding. Just last year it was a “small” equestrian space with an extended pavilion & a smattering of outdoor areas for rows of tents or vendors. Now, West Word’s pavilion space stretches over a mile long, with the South Hall building reaching around 44,000 square feet, new restaurant facilities, and what feels like infinitely more room to play. The venue is growing, and Barrett-Jackson seems to be blowing up right along with it.
NWAS Abroad: Barrett-Jackson 2014
The crowds this year felt bigger. The exterior storage tents for sold cars seemed to be overflowing with vehicles & foot traffic. There were just as many heavy hitters on deck to cross the blocks as last year, and even more rare, eclectic & eccentric vehicles available for purchase or just being displayed. Even after you get a feel for the new layout & where everything is, it’s easy to get lost and spend a couple hours just wandering around staring at the endless rows of originals, race cars, & replicas of every variety.
NWAS Abroad: Barrett-Jackson 2014
NWAS Abroad: Barrett-Jackson 2014
Amongst the madness Myron happened to spot a vendor truck loaded to the brim with just about every Hot Wheels imaginable, so we had to stock up on a few die-cast rarities for the growing collection on the shop’s back wall!
NWAS Abroad: Barrett-Jackson 2014
We also caught a glimpse of a brand new Audi RS7 that was tucked away in a Mother’s trailer, presumably only at Barrett for display or a quick detailing demo.
NWAS Abroad: Barrett-Jackson 2014
Galpin Auto Sports was on the scene again, this time with their GTR1 on display, as well as a selection of widebody mustangs and even one crazy multi-engine drag car that we snapped on our instagram.
NWAS Abroad: Barrett-Jackson 2014
Near the entrance to the staging area we spotted 2 of the 3 Bugatti Veyrons that were in attendance. The orange Vitesse might look familiar to some of you, as it payed us a visit last year before making its way out to Chateau Ste. Michelle for the Staycation event & E@RTC’s “Bugatti Day.” Simon Cowell’s black Veyron was tucked away inside, keeping Gas Monkey’s F40 and a few other high-dollar cars company in Barrett’s “Salon Collection.”
NWAS Abroad: Barrett-Jackson 2014
NWAS Abroad: Barrett-Jackson 2014
Out in the tents, the crowds were milling about admiring the many classics, muscle cars, resto-mods, and a few other oddities that had found their way to Scottsdale. We spotted an assortment of really eclectic autos including a few BMW Isettas, one very cool bubble-top Messerschmidt, a handful of well-patina’d rust buckets, and even an ancient Benz Motorwagen 3-wheeler.
NWAS Abroad: Barrett-Jackson 2014
NWAS Abroad: Barrett-Jackson 2014
NWAS Abroad: Barrett-Jackson 2014
NWAS Abroad: Barrett-Jackson 2014
NWAS Abroad: Barrett-Jackson 2014
Down at the end of one of the farthest tents sat the infamous Evo 7 hero car from 2 Fast 2 Furious, which netted a reasonable $24,200 when it went across the blocks.
NWAS Abroad: Barrett-Jackson 2014
Upon venturing into the brand new South Hall, we were presented with an even more expansive collection of increasingly expensive automobiles.
NWAS Abroad: Barrett-Jackson 2014
Gary Wale’s La Bestioni was one of the first cars that caught our eye. No velvet ropes, no extra security, just a big pile of trophies and a nice, informative display were keeping The Beast company while onlookers examined its extensive bright work & hand built intricacies.
NWAS Abroad: Barrett-Jackson 2014
We even caught one guy putting a little last minute polish on the brand new Ford Mustang that was slated to cross the blocks on Saturday night.
NWAS Abroad: Barrett-Jackson 2014
Deeper in the “Salon Collection” we stumbled upon the Gas Monkey F40, in company with a stellar 300SL Gullwing that went for a cool $2,090,000, and Mr. Cowell’s black Bugatti.
NWAS Abroad: Barrett-Jackson 2014
Once night falls, then it’s time for Barrett-Jackson to really comes alive. The staging area starts to fill up with eager buyers & onlookers alike, and the prices start going up!
NWAS Abroad: Barrett-Jackson 2014
NWAS Abroad: Barrett-Jackson 2014
Being up on deck with the vehicles as they’re auctioned off is a pretty awesome feeling, but the energy in the staging area is palpable. People inspecting their potential future purchases like they’re prepping for a track day, security & event staff hollering back and forth, keeping the flow of traffic moving with cars constantly firing on all cylinders; it sort of feels like being in a staging area for drag races, except with less tire smoke and no Christmas tree.
NWAS Abroad: Barrett-Jackson 2014
Once inside, the sound of engines roaring transforms into the voice of a rapid-fire auctioneer moving numbers faster than a stock broker. The crowds push up against the barricades, with cameras firing & drinks splashing every which way – it’s a little overwhelming at times, but the constant flow of crazy cars always makes for an entertaining evening.
NWAS Abroad: Barrett-Jackson 2014
This year, Barrett-Jackson posted sales in excess of $113,000,000 and held over 300,000 attendees. A grand total of 1,399 cars were bought & sold during the 43rd annual event, while roughly $4.4 million dollars was raised for various charities.
NWAS Abroad: Barrett-Jackson 2014
NWAS Abroad: Barrett-Jackson 2014
We lucked out again & were able to snake through the packed staging area to follow not one, but two Dark Knights as they made their way to the main stage!
NWAS Abroad: Barrett-Jackson 2014
NWAS Abroad: Barrett-Jackson 2014
While we might not have purchased any new project cars, just being able to take part in Barrett-Jackson as a spectator is worth every penny. It’s an auto auction experience that’s unlike any other, and given the new facilities & growing popularity, we can’t wait to see what’s in store for 2015.
NWAS Abroad: Barrett-Jackson 2014
For more automotive awesome from Barrett-Jackson, check out our instagram feed for any shots you may have missed, or take a look back through our 2013 Barrett-Jackson experience!