Why I May Never Attend Another Auto Show

"RW53104" (rw53104) 01/20/2015 at 18:28 • Filed to: Barrett-Jackson

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After attending the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, I've come to the realization that I no longer have any desire to attend another auto show, ever.

I should preface this by informing you that I've only attended the Chicago Auto Show, and would probably disregard these sentiments upon the opportunity to check out a more substantial show, such as New York, LA, Geneva, Paris, and the like.

Detroit... Probably not. I can think of no reason I would ever spend hard-earned leisure time in the Midwest, let alone Detroit. Sorry, Motor City.

But, I've been to the Chicago Auto Show many times. I really started looking forward to it every year, even though it meant braving downtown Chicago traffic, parking, crowds, and cold. Especially the cold- a true auto show addict knows to leave the coat and anything else that can weigh you down or be a nuisance in the car. But that also means trudging to the show with bitter wind at your face and unprotected body. Chicago winters suck, no matter how long you live there.

But I digress. Chicago is not why I'm avoiding auto shows; auto shows are why I'm avoiding auto shows.

See, when you go to the annual big-time auto shows, you get excited to see a few new cars. Last time I went, the FT-86 Toyota, Cadillac Elmiraj, and that incredibly ugly Chevy Reaper were all in attendance.

You'll notice that all those cars are concepts or aftermarket specials (or, whatever you choose to call the Reaper. I don't even remember anymore). Sure, you get to gawk at and plop your ass into quite a few showroom-ready models, but unless you're in the market for a brand new vehicle this can get boring pretty quickly, even if you've been a car nut all your life.

Add to this the ungodly crowds, the expensive food and beer, and the whole corporate nature of the thing (they're put on by dealers, you know), and I honestly don't know why I kept going back.

Enter Barrett-Jackson.

Now, Scottsdale and Chicago are apples and oranges. Scottsdale is somewhat of an enormous retirement community; you can practice your geography during rush hour by reading snowbird license plates. It's like Chicago's Gold Coast picked up, spread out, and got a bit hotter. Except most of the food sucks, as does the public transportation (because most people here drive Mercs and Ferraris). But Scottsdale has Barrett-Jackson.

Now, I the auction doesn't allow spectators to sit in and play around with the vehicles present (unless you're at the GM/Ford/Dodge outpost), but you are able to peruse tent after tent of collector cars, getting as close to them as you would at your local parking lot charity show.

For me, and many others I'm sure, this is infinitely more rewarding than sitting in a brand new Kia while some little brat in the passenger seat tries to steal the shift knob.

Instead, I got up close and personal with truly inspiring cars. Cars I may never see again in person. The sheer volume, combined with the wide range of affordability, meant I was continuously pulled along by my own curiosity towards the next configuration of four wheels and an engine.

Being the final day of the event, almost every car in the tents had that "sold" sticker on it, with numbers ranging from four to six figures. You could actually see, right there on the windshield, that this Volkswagen sold for over $100,000. And it sat only a few cars down from a custom Buick Regal that pulled in $5,500.

I left dumbfounded. My feet ached, my fiance's feet ached. But my mind was in a fervor, my heart's desire to be around metal, rubber, glass, paint, and a few mechanical bits and pieces satisfied for the time being.

Plus, the food and the beer was reasonably priced, the crowds were thin, and those babbling, barely-understandable auctioneers driving bids up tens of thousands of dollars in mere minutes is a spectacle in itself.

Do yourself a favor: check out the next collector car auction that rolls through your town. You might just ditch the big shows for good.

Images taken by the author.

Originally published !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

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E. Julius > RW53104 01/20/2015 at 18:34

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You won't "spend hard earned leisure time" in the Midwest? Where exactly do you think Illinois is? I have no time for another Detroit hater.

*exits in new Ford GT doing one long burnout*

Tohru > RW53104 01/20/2015 at 18:37

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I was at Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas 2013, and I agree with you whole-heartedly.

I'm still going to the Chicago Auto Show this year.

Sam > RW53104 01/20/2015 at 19:01

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I like auctions. But I have one problem with them in that people trade a lot of these cars at auctions like trading on the stock market. You see cars that are a dime a dozen (like the VW 23 window buses, my uncle has like 3 of them) yet they fetch astronomical prices due to the demons that trade classic cars like stock. They roll off a trailer, on to the block, and then back on to another trailer. They'll probably never be driven more than a few feet the rest of their lives. And the only time they'll be seen is when they sit under the tent at an auction. It's sad really.

RW53104 > E. Julius 01/20/2015 at 19:02

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Grew up in Illinois, lived in Chicago for a few years, now living in Phoenix. I will (hopefully) never go back to the Midwest in the winter for the rest of my life. I'm not really hating on Detroit (the Henry Ford Museum is awesome, everyone should go), I'm just very much over the Midwest.

RW53104 > Sam 01/20/2015 at 19:04

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I agree with you. However, I'm much more interested in assets when rich folk are trading classic cars rather than stocks. It does suck that most of these vehicles won't be used as intended, but that's the trade-off in keeping them in pristine condition, a time capsule of sorts.

xxstich666xx > RW53104 01/20/2015 at 19:14

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What the hell car is this?

Brickman > RW53104 01/20/2015 at 19:21

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Want! Although I prefer a 405 or U1500 One of these days or years! :)

CammedCTSV > RW53104 01/20/2015 at 19:26

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I was standing just to the right when this was taken. I had a great time and I cant wait till next year.

RedPir8Roberts > xxstich666xx 01/20/2015 at 19:32

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Custom Buick Regal "Cielo" concept. Not street legal, comes with a "scrap" title according to the description. Sold for $5500. Looks a little weird with the roof up. But a clever idea. I was sure it was going to be a French car, but the OP did mention Buick Regal in his post. I think the thing to do is to buy another Regal of the same year (1999), and migrate the body over.

http://www.barrett-jackson.com/Archive/Event/…

RW53104 > xxstich666xx 01/20/2015 at 19:36

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It's a 1999 Buick Regal turned "Cielo". As far as I could tell, it just has that trick retractable hardtop that stores in front of the trunk.

RW53104 > CammedCTSV 01/20/2015 at 19:38

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How much time did you spend watching the block? I kept meaning to go back, but we ended up only watching for less than half an hour. I just couldn't pull myself away from all the cars outside.

RedPir8Roberts > RW53104 01/20/2015 at 19:42

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Completely agree the auctions, and also the previews, are fun. They charge like $25-$45 to go see the cars pre-auction at RM and Gooding at Pebble Beach / Monterey. But you get to see things like a Lancia Stratos, one-off Ferrari Monoposto three-seater, and other cars you might never see even in a museum. If you have some bluffing power or just don't care, you could probably sit in some of them, at least at RM, I saw some potential buyers (or maybe not) doing so with some of them. Fortunately or not, the Miuras were up on pedestals so I wasn't all that tempted to find out if I'd be ejected (would have been worth it); actually, now that I think of it, I think I did sit in a Jaguar SS100 at RM. Wanted to see if I could actually fit in terms of the pedals etc. (yes). Also fun to eavesdrop on the serious buyers commenting on the cars. Harry Metcalfe was filming a segment holding a video camera himself and giving commentary right next to me at one point at Gooding. I guess Chris Harris at least does have a film crew.

CammedCTSV > RW53104 01/20/2015 at 19:43

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My job was to manage my booth (duPont Registry) so I spent my breaks up in the Muscle Lounge with Mr duPont. Did you happen to see my booth? I had the 67 Corvette raffle for Ronald McDonald house.

I would sit and watch for an hour then jump back to the booth to sell subscriptions

Our After Party was a smashing success. Jeff Gordon, Sharon Stone and John Hennessey helped to make it a fun night. I never got to go outside during the auction :(

RW53104 > RedPir8Roberts 01/20/2015 at 19:57

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I've definitely got the auction fever now, and will be constantly on the lookout. The lack of classic exotics at Barrett was a bit disappointing for me, so I want to make up for that sometime.

RW53104 > CammedCTSV 01/20/2015 at 19:58

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I didn't! Honestly, I was so caught up in the cars I barely noticed anything else. I was curious what the Muscle Lounge was, and we figured there would be some famous folk there.

Supercharged-V8-Jag > RW53104 01/20/2015 at 20:05

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Auctions are cool but let me tell you this..

Come out here to Northern California during the second week of August and go to any car show during the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance week (AKA Monterey Car Week), then tell me why you won't go to another Auto Show..

Just to list a few (of 30-40 Auto Shows during the week):

-Concours on the Avenue (Which is btw free)

-McCall Motorworks Revival

-Concorso Italiano

-The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering

-And of course the legendary Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

Perhaps this beautiful video (from last year's Car Week) will change your mind as well:

f86sabre > RW53104 01/20/2015 at 20:58

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If you like Motorsports, and who doesn't, get your butt on a plane and go to Goodwood. Basically, what you described, but with race cars that aren't for sale. Awesome!

Thanks for sharing the pics. Good stuff.

DipodomysDeserti > RW53104 01/21/2015 at 00:42

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I was surprised at how cheap the food was. I bought a CPK pizza for $9. They're $13 at the resturaunt. Also, Scottsdale is definitely not a retirement community. Lots of people come in from all over to Barrett Jackson, and Canadians have been buying up winter homes in the east valley which probably accounts for all the plates you saw. Scottsdale is where people with money live, and has lots of clubs and high end restaurants. It will be filled with NFL players come next week when the Super Bowl rolls into town. Arizona as a state has lots of old people though.

E. Julius > RW53104 01/21/2015 at 02:42

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Well, if you ever get tired of scorching heat and being unable to hoon in the snow, we will welcome you back. Ditto on the Henry Ford by the way.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > RW53104 01/21/2015 at 08:45

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Oh, dang.

RW53104 > f86sabre 01/21/2015 at 11:41

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That's on the bucket list, no doubt.

Super Nintendo Chalmers > RW53104 01/28/2015 at 17:49

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I would have bet dollars to donuts that before reading the article and looking at the image you took, you were going to complain about the over nationalization of 'Merica', the shameless exploitation of lost lives (on both sides) of Wars, and the public promotion of our Military all for the sake of selling cars.

See, I was there during the National Anthem before they kicked off the show and I was also present for the pedaling of a Mustang Resto-Mod, or so I believe it was, in Camo paint with the names of soldiers who died for reasons they really never understood or were told. [hint: its not our freedoms]

Nah.. instead you took a left at Albuquerque and lost me.

RW53104 > Super Nintendo Chalmers 01/29/2015 at 17:42

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Ha! Great point. I sat through the bidding on a custom motorcycle auctioning for some veteran's charity, and had the exact same thoughts as you. It surprised me, but I guess I'm no longer surprised when America/Veterans/Freedom/whatever is used to peddle anything anymore.