In this Issue:
Barrett-Jackson 2013 |
Calendar Girl Contest!
$1000 Grand Prize |
|
Classic Car Community is looking for the next
Classic Car Community
Calendar Girl.
This contest is open to all members. Submit your poses with your favorite classic and you could be chosen to represent your community on the first of many calendars to com ... more
|
| Best Ride Contest!!! |
|
Think you have the best wheels on the road? Well put your classic car up to the test in the Community's
Best Ride Contest. Submit a story stating why you think your ride rules the rest and you'll be entered to win a $500 gas card.
Sign up here.
|
|
Barrett Jackson 2013
After an uneventful 2011, a much better 2012, Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2013 came back with a vengeance…and it’s all due to one of the most recognized cars in the world, the Batmobile.
Now, this is not just any old replica, reproduction, kit cheapo batmobile. This is "THE" batmobile. Built and owned by none other than George Barris himself, the creator of the batmobile. This is the car that stayed with him for over 45 years. This is the car that sat in his museum, the car that was used in the pilot…the batmobile of all batmobiles!
Where do I begin? First, the display in the pavilion was awesome. I stood there for 20 minutes and witnessed patron after patron taking a picture with the car. Everybody, and I mean everybody, went out of their way to see the POW, BANG, BAM, mobile.
Next, was the buildup. As the car rolled up onto the stage, the lights dimmed and the music began. Everybody was on their feet. Na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na…BATMAN! Even Batgirl was there. George was in the car and emerged to thunderous applause. He spoke to the audience and thanked them for the years and years of appreciation.
Then, the bidding. Hundreds of bidders flocked to the stage to see the car one more time before it shifts to a new owner. The bidding started at $100,000 and then in no time crossed $1,000,000 with ease. One minute later…$2,000,000. Then is slowed at $2,300,000, but three minutes later…$3,000,000, plus the bat coat off Georgie’s back! Then the bat dual started, that is not to be confused with the bat duo. Two bidders went back and forth at $100,000 a bid. $3,500,000…YES! Thirty seconds later $4 MILLION DOLLARS announced Spanky the auctioneer. Then it happened.
Finally, the sale. A game of chance entered into the equation. The two bidders that wanted this haloed car chatted and decided that they would flip a coin to decide who gets it. Yes, that’s correct, right in the middle of all this chaos; one guy reached into his pocket, pulled out a quarter and said “Call it!” The gavel dropped and the winner of the coin toss bought the Batmobile for $4.2 million dollars. HOLY COIN TOSS BATMAN!
Needless to say that was the most magical event of the night. It was awesome. Barrett-Jackson recaptured the excitement that they built up a few years back when a certain man named Carroll sold his prized Cobra. Although the Batmobile didn’t reach Carroll Shelby’s Cobra money, the excitement was the same.
Here comes the funny part…and a story. I went to the Phoenix Open (that’s a PGA golf tournament held here in Arizona shortly after the Barrett-Jackson auction) in 1997 and sat behind the green at the 16th hole. Omar…something, I can’t remember his last name, which makes this story even funnier…tees off and plants the ball two feet from the pin. Then his partner, one Tiger Woods tees off. After two short bounces, the ball lands in the hole. A hole in one! As Tiger walked off the tee, anything that wasn’t nailed down showered onto the tee box. It was awesome. Cheers and applause lasted for 15 minutes as he walked onto the green and removed his ball from the cup. Shortly after, Omar Something tapped in for a birdie. Then, as the applause died down, someone yelled “Nice birdie, Omar!” To this day, I still laugh at that.
So, the Omar to the Batmobile was Clark Gable’s 1955 Mercedes-Benz Gullwing Coupe. It sold for just over $2 million. Sorry Clark, Tiger showed up in the form of a Bat.
|
