Herbie Goes to Palm Beach could have been the title of Barrett-Jackson’s 13th annual Florida auction, where 98.3 percent of the cars sold for a total of $22 million (including auction fees), and a genuine Love Bug used in the Disney movie series set a world record for a Volkswagen beetle sold at auction.
More than 60,000 people attended the three-day Palm Beach auction, a 30 percent increase over last year’s attendance, according to Barrett-Jackson, and the number of bidders rose 28 percent to vie for the 526 vehicles crossing the block.
The appearance of the most iconic of VWs, the No. 53 prescient race car from the movies, was a crowd pleaser as it reached a sale of $126,500, including fee. Last used in Herbie Goes Bananas, the VW is documented as a real-deal Herbie.
This car was identified by the Disney studio as the “oil squirting” car, which in the film was shown spewing oil on a police officer’s shoe. When found, it still had the bracket for the extra oil pump. The bug also was driven in some of the movie scenes, as well as being used for some interior shots. The car has been restored and actually was vintage raced by one of its previous owners.
“This was one of the most successful Palm Beach collector car auctions in our history,” Craig Jackson, chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson, said in a news release. “The tremendous energy and excitement made the arena feel like Saturday evening during our Scottsdale event. This record level of interest demonstrates that Barrett-Jackson remains the hobby’s pacesetter.”
The five top-selling cars of the auction were modern exotics and new-car charity sales, lead by a bright-red 2006 Ford GT with only 19 miles showing on its odometer. It sold for $319,000, including fee.
After that came a 2012 Ferrari 458 Spider, $308,000; the charity sale of a 2015 Chevrolet Camaro COPO race car, $300,000; a 2009 Spyker C8 Laviolette, $220,000; and a 2016 Cadillac CT6 sedan sold for charity, $200,000. All results except charity sales include auction fees.
Another notable sale was the record-setting $165,000 for a 1987 Buick Grand National GNX.
Charity sales were front and center as always at Barrett-Jackson, including two General Motors-donated cars, the special-build 2015 Chevrolet Camaro COPO race car to benefit the Achilles Freedom Team, and the 2016 Cadillac CT6 sedan to benefit the Karmanos Cancer Institute.
A one-of-kind Tony Stewart “Smoke” Edition 1969 Chevelle sold for $75,000, benefitting The Darrell Gwynn Foundation.
WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan was on stage to raise money for charity with a’69 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 donated by Torque Sports and Performance. The classic muscle car earned $150,000 for three worthy causes: Connor’s Cure, A HERO Team and The Grace Project.
The top 10 sales at the Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach auction were:
- 2006 Ford GT, $319,000
- 2012 Ferrari 458 Spider, $308,000
- 2015 Chevrolet Camaro COPO race car, $300,000 (charity sale)
- 2009 Spyker C8 Laviolette, $220,000
- 2016 Cadillac CT6 sedan, $200,000 (charity sale)
- 1962 Chevrolet Corvette custom convertible, $192,500
- 1954 Buick Skylark convertible, $170,500
- 1987 Buick Grand National GNX, $165,000
- 1970 Plymouth Superbird, $165,500
- 1969 Dodge Hemi Charger 500, $165,000
- 1959 Cadillac Series 62 convertible, $165,000
- 1954 Kaiser Darrin convertible, $165,000
- 1937 Cord 812 Phaeton, $165,000
(Results include auction fees except for charity sales)
Prior to the Palm Beach auction, ClassicCars.com ran a daily countdown of auction cars. Results for those cars were:
- 1954 Buick Skylark convertible, $170,500
- 1969 Shelby GT500 fastback, $104,500
- 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T SE, $52,800
- 1962 Chevrolet Corvette custom convertible, $192,500
- 1957 Chevrolet 3100 custom pickup, $80,300
- 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 convertible, $110,000
- 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle SS, $71,500
- 1959 Mercedes-Benz 190SL roadster, $159,500
- 1937 Cord 812 Phaeton, $165,000
- 1941 Cadillac Series 62 convertible, $95,700
- 1965 Chevrolet Corvette L78 convertible, $88,000
- 1967 Chrysler 300 convertible, $18,700
(Results includes auctions fees)
The next Barrett-Jackson auction takes place August 6-8 at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center during the Hot August Night events in Reno and Sparks, Nevada.
