I love getting lost in the beautiful paint, the glimmering chrome and the exotic cars that come to Barrett-Jackson at each auction location, and have learned each site seems to bring out a different style of cars. Maybe it’s because I am in Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, but the cars being offered for Barrett-Jacksons’ eighth year in Vegas are to die for. The cars, bikes, trucks and even boats are all show-stoppers in their own right, making it difficult to select just which ones I’d want to take home.
It’s also quite a journey to see the cars being offered -– finding the shuttle station, then taking two shuttles and several flights of stairs — but once you enter the building, your senses become overwhelmed and you feel like a kid in a candy store.
After window shopping, here are the cars I want to take home with me:
 | 1953 Ford F-100 Custom Pickup As long as I can remember I have always had a thing for classic trucks and they are becoming more popular. This truck is a professional nut-and-bolt frame-off build and you can see the builder paid a lot of attention to detail. The truck is coated in Ford Performance Red paint and has a 3 ½-inch chop top, shaved door handles, and widened rear fenders on a lowered suspension giving the truck an aggressive stance. The truck has been built for drivability and is powered by a Chevy 327 small-block with bolt on performance upgrades. |
 | 1974 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 455 Super Duty Trans Ams are just inherently cool muscle cars. This one combines performance and style and is one of 943 produced for the model year, and of them this is one of only 212 that came with the 455 Super Duty engine. This car comes with a three-owner history and has less than 9,500 actual miles. The exterior of the car has been restored and updated with fresh paint while the interior is all original and looks new. |
 | 1961 Austin-Healey 3000 Mark I BT7 Roadster I like this car because it is simple, elegant and classy. It’s not in your face like a bright muscle car but has been masterfully restored to still command a strong presence. The car has undergone a recent bare-chassis restoration by Healey Lane and has received a rebuilt engine, and restored hard top as well, plus all new parts which includes all the electrical components, brake and clutch components, new tires and wheels. |
 | 1973 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Fastback Lets be honest, what I love most about this car is how big it is. Don’t get me wrong, I love sport compacts and cars built for racing around and have agility, but I hate it when all the good stuff comes in a small package that makes you feel like you could be run over at any second. This Mustang comes with a rare combination built sheet and letter of authenticity from Ford Motor Company. This car also comes in light blue exterior paint, black interior with bucket seats and has a functioning Ram Air hood. |
 | 1948 Rolux Baby Since I am window shopping, I'd like to think someday I will live in a house on a property so big I will need a vehicle to get from one side to the other. In that daydream, this 1948 Rolux Baby will come in handy. Its small, nimble and has endured a frame-off restoration. The car originaly came from Lyon, France, with a 125cc motor pushing out 4.5 horsepower. The car is 8 feet and 9 inches long, making it the perfect car for short-distance drives. |
 | 1989 Lamborghini Countach 25th anniversary I’m pretty sure every kid who grew up in the '90s had a poster with a photo of one of these on the wall. Being older and more knowledgeable on various cars, the little kid inside me can’t help but drool over the Countach. I'd love to see the poster car on my wall make its way to my garage. This particular car has been finished in Rosso with a tan leather interior and is one of just 658 25th anniversary cars produced. |
