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In This Issue
Generals Garage
Barrett-Jackson
Last Weeks Newsletter
Best Ride Contest |
Calendar Girl Contest!
$1000 Grand Prize! |
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Classic Car Community is looking for the next Classic Car 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 come. More Here! |
Best Ride Contest!
Win $500 in Gas! |
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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. |
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The Generals Garage!
Every weekend I record all the muscle car shows on all those cable channels. You know, MuscleCar, Overhaulin, My Classic Car, I even record the ones on the Do-it-Yourself network. I was watching one of the MuscleCar shows and there was a blurb that the pretty lady (can't remember her name) talked about at the beginning of the show. It was called The Generals Garage. Did anyone see what I am talking about? It was a "museum" of all kinds of General Motors artifacts. Everything from full size cars to sketch's of concepts. It lasted about 30 seconds and it was AWESOME! I saw some ultra-rare concepts cars, like the maco shark and other corvette concepts. Here's the problem: I accidentally deleted that show and have no idea where the museum is? If it still exists and is it open to the public. The only article I found on the net was this one, click here. So, I need your help. Does anyone know where I can get some info on this place? Please let me know and I will pass it on to the rest of the community. Thanks!
Barrett-Jackson, Friend or Foe?
Here I go again being controversial. Here in Arizona, my parents live in a town called Paradise Valley and every year this little town holds a classic car show. Mr. Craig Jackson lives in PV and was there with his original Shelby Cobra. I ran into him and asked if the auction was staying in Scottsdale and he answered a disappointed 'yes'. Craig Jackson is the owner of the largest classic car auction in the world and it is held every year at West World in Scottsdale, Arizona. You all probably knew that already, but did you know that Barrett-Jackson gets sued every year by people who have submitted their cars into his auction and did not receive anywhere near what the cars are worth? Or anywhere near what they put into the restoration? Here's my rant. Jackson has removed the reserve feature on all the cars that roll on to the block. Why? Well you see, he gets (I believe) 5% from the seller and 5% from the buyer. So, when the gavel dropped on the $5 million Shelby last year, Barrett-Jackson made $500,000 on that one car alone. A long time ago, my father asked me "what came first, the chicken or the egg?" At first, I didn't know what the hell he was talking about because I was four years old. Just kidding...I was six. In other words, If it wasn't for auctions like Barrett-Jackson, that Shelby would never have found a multi-million dollar buyer. What do you think?
My 9-to-5 job is a corporate one. As corporations go, we always try to solve a problem with a "win-win" solution. Here is why I bring this philosophy up. I ran into a guy at the Barrett-Jackson Auction that had an absolutely, gorgeous, perfect, 1968 Shelby Mustang GT500 King of the Road. It was perfect. Bumper to bumper, perfect. We both thought that his car should fetch over $300k. The funny part is, I ran into another guy who had a completely original unrestored GT500 the week before at a local car show and he said he was offered $280k. Anyway, back to the guy at the auction. I asked him when his car is going through....Sunday afternoon. The dreaded Sunday. Almost at the end of the auction. And you guessed it, the car only sold for $200k. Of course, the buy didn't have a choice when his car would go through. He also wasn't able to put a reserve on it. So, how can we find a "win-win" solution? I know there are other auctions in town and that one can take their car anywhere, but let's see if we can find a Win-Win solution. The problem is, no matter what, people are anxious to put their car in his auction at whatever the cost. So, what is the classic car owner to do? Bring back the reserve? Then cars won't sell and BJ won't make money. Lower the fees? Why? People are lining up to get the cars in there. Here is my solution. Mix it up. The cars that we know are going to pull the money, don't have them all on one night. Have them scattered from beginning to end. That way, the big boys with the money will have to watch them all. Also, what I know about auctions, is that people will wait for the car they want to bid on. They will pass on cars they like, because they are waiting for that one. Try to have the best go first. If I like 3 cars and I couldn't afford the first (someone outbid me) then I want to bid on my second choice. Darn, that one went through already. Get it?........who am I kidding. I am sure there are a million things that I do not understand or am missing, but I can dream, right? Don't worry, 5 years from now, when there is the 1st Annual Classic Car Community Auction, I will start it on Friday at about 6:00pm, and the best will go first. Who's with me?
Last Week
Boy did I hit a nerve! Thank you to all that took the time to write me back about what is a "Classic Car." What I have concluded from all the discussions, all the emails, all the arguments is....drum roll......nothing. Absolutely freakin' nothing. No one knows what a classic is and everybody knows what a classic is! I am going to go ahead and stick with my definition of "Historically Memorable vehicle that is on wheels"....or whatever I wrote, I can't remember. It's late and I'm tired!
Best Ride Contest
There are a lot of you out there that email me your cool rides and I always have to remind them to submit them into the Best Ride Contest. Remember, whoever is selected to have the best ride will win $500! So c'mon people, get those submissions in. Click Here!
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So there you have it. I hope you have enjoyed this Newsletter.
If not let me know. And don't just say "You Stink!"
Tell me why I stink. Click here to give feedback!
Thanks everybody!
We at Classic Car Community believe that the most important part of a community is its members. We ask that you join us in our quest to provide a state-of-the-art community for classic car enthusiasts
Sincerely,
Joseph Montenegrino
President
Classic Car Community |
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