Barrett-Jackson’s second high-energy auction as part of the Hot August Nights hot rod and custom-car extravaganza in Reno-Sparks, Nevada, reached an unofficial total of more than $11 million in sales for 342 cars and 300 pieces of automobilia.
Held in the Reno-Sparks Convention Center, the primarily no-reserve auction boasted a sell-through rate of 99 percent.
Barrett-Jackson started up its partnership with the highly popular Hot August Nights celebration of custom cars and rock ‘n roll with last year’s inaugural event, which had total sales just more than $14.2 million for 344 cars sold, including auction fees.
As well as holding its auction at Hot Summer Nights, Barrett-Jackson became strongly involved with the festival by conducting the Barrett-Jackson Cup competition for custom vehicles, which this year was won by a spectacularly customized 1957 Chevrolet pickup truck. Prizes for the top five Cup winners surpassed $100,000.
Three cars shared the spotlight for top-sellers at the annual three-day auction, each bid to $100,000 on the block. One of them was a custom 2014 Ford Transit Connect van outfitted for wheelchair accessibility that sold for charity to benefit the Darrell Gwynn Foundation.
The top 10 cars sold in Reno (including auction fees, except for the charity sale) were:
• 2014 Ford Transit Connect TTN Wagon Van – $100,000
• 1933 Ford Custom 2-door Coupe – $110,000
• 1932 Ford Custom Roadster – $110,000
• 1967 Ford Mustang Custom Fastback – $97,900
• 1961 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible – $88,000
• 1931 Ford Custom Vicky – $88,000
• 1952 Cadillac Custom Topless Roadster – $88,000
• 1966 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible – $83,600
• 1971 Chevrolet C-10 Custom Pickup – $82,500
• 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible – $82,500
“The collector car hobby is thriving and Barrett-Jackson is the catalyst,” Craig Jackson, chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson, said in a news release. “While we continue to offer top-tier cars for seasoned, high profile collectors, who were involved in some spirited bidding, our diverse docket attracts enthusiasts of all ages and levels.”