The Barrett-Jackson collector-car auction in Las Vegas, the epicenter of celebrity entertainment, will feature luxury cars once owned by two true icons of American music, Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash, as well as a historic Corvette race car made famous in the movie “Viva Las Vegas.”
The seventh-annual Vegas auction, from September 25-27 at the Mandalay Bay Resort, will offer more than 700 cars, with Barrett-Jackson recently announcing that it has filled all available consignment spots for the primarily no-reserve sale.
The Scottsdale-based auction house touts its wide-ranging selection of sports cars, American muscle, classics, customs, exotics, specialty vehicles and charity sales for its fourth and final auction of 2014. As ever, Shelby Mustangs and Cobras, as well as Corvettes, will have strong presence at auction.
The towering image of Elvis Presley is connected with two of the signature celebrity cars:
• A bright-red 1967 Cadillac Coupe De Ville, which became known as the “Honeymoon Cadillac” because he and Priscilla drove it around the Memphis area shortly after they were married, should be of special interest to Elvis fanatics. Fully documented, the Caddy was on display for years in the Elvis Presley Museum in Pigeon Ford, Tennessee.
• The other Elvis car is a 1963 Chevrolet Corvette split-window coupe race car that was used in the climactic spinout scene in “Viva Las Vegas,” which starred Presley. The Corvette, famous in its own right after a unique racing history, was hidden away until being rediscovered in 2011.
After being found, the coupe was treated to a no-expense-spared restoration by specialist Mike Scott and restorer Gary Nabers, which qualified it for the National Corvette Restorers Society American Heritage Award.
The third celebrity car has both the flavor of American country music and British royalty. Few people realize that Johnny Cash, troubadour of the working man and the downtrodden, had a thing for Rolls-Royce motorcars. The 1970 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow offered by Barrett-Jackson was given to Cash by the ABC Television Network in recognition for his successful TV show. The car includes such “built-to-order” specifications as factory-provided “JRC” initials in gold on the rear doors.
“Las Vegas has a deep connection to many of the most celebrated rock ‘n roll legends of our time,” said Craig Jackson, chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson, in a media release. “It’s only fitting that we have a few of the cars from the biggest names in the music industry represented on our Vegas auction block.”
Some other highlights of Barrett-Jackson’s Las Vegas auction:
• 1969 Chevrolet Camaro COPO coupe, restored to original and recertified with 427 cid 425 horsepower L72 V8, said to be totally correct. Sold with reserve.
• Matching numbers 1966 Shelby Mustang GT350 fastback said to be in excellent condition, fully documented and with SAAC certification.
• 1970 Dodge Hemi Challenger convertible, rotisserie restoration, in Viper Red with a Hensley performance Hemi 426, 727 transmission, Legendary interior, power top, factory gauges, correct hood with Go-Wing.
• 1966 Chevrolet Corvette Custom with 427 cid aluminum head Tri-Power V8, Wilwood brakes, aluminum radiator and four-speed transmission.
• 1979 Lamborghini Countach, thoroughly restored by a certified technician.
• A modern exotic 2013 Lamborghini Aventador in orange with matte-black and driven only 1,358 miles. The 6.5-liter V12 generates 700 horsepower and more than 500 pounds-feet of torque.
Speaking of huge horsepower, among the charity car sales that have become a hallmark of Barrett-Jackson auctions will be that of the No. 1 production 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat donated by Dodge and SRT, which will be sold to benefit Opportunity Village of Las Vegas.
The one-of-one Challenger SRT Hellcat, boasting 707 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque, features Viper-exclusive Stryker Red paint, special Hellcat badging, specific VIN0001 documentation build package and additional one-of-a-kind memorabilia.
One-hundred percent of the proceeds will go to Opportunity Village, a not-for-profit organization that serves people with intellectual disabilities to improve their lives and the lives of their families.
For more information about the Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas sale, see www.Barrett-Jackson.com.
