Nick's Muscle Car Blog: Barrett Jackson and more

Nicks's Muscle Car Blog: Barrett Jackson and more...

It's December and anyone who is an avid collector car, muscle car fan knows what happens at the end of January. In the Scottsdale Arizona area a group of auction companies gather for the premiere week of vintage car sales in the world. Companies like Russo and Steele, RM and a few others spend an entire year marketing their events to try and compete with the big boy on the block, Barrett Jackson. BJ is known for being the most highly regarded collector car auction in the world. Sellers ship their cars from all over the country for this high stakes no reserve event hoping to cash in big. People will fly from all over the world to be apart of this event that will auction off around 1200 vintage collector cars including exotic, specialty, and muscle cars to name a few. If you have ever been to one it's a crowd of who's who in the industry spattered with celebrities and movie stars.  The specticle that is BJ is only appreciated in person.

The first thing I noticed was the group of vendors. I have been to a ton of auctions and most vendors consists of people selling kettle corn and old car parts. Not at Barrett Jackson. The vendors setting up shop here sell products like jewlery, furs, high end furniture and all the luxury items that only the rich and famous can afford. The vendor that caught my eye the most was a company selling Jets, yes Jet  Airlplanes. My question is, "how the hell did they get that Jet Their?" There isn't a Airport within two miles of the place.  The second thing I noticed was amount of people being flown in on Helicopters. It seemed like every 5 minutes you would here the sound of one flying overhead. That's kind of an exageration but there were a bunch of them.

I had a car at last years event which we will get into on future blog but the inventory of cars for the most part were very impressive. If you are a car nut and have a list of things you want to do before they put you in the ground, Barrett Jackson should be added to your list.

You Want To Buy My Car?

Being in this busines you get alot of phone calls wanting to sell their vintage cars.  Some of the calls I get can be very humerous sometimes. While I was writing this blog a guy calls and asks me if I buy Muscle Cars, I said yes I do depending on what it is. Here's how the conversation went.

Me: Thank you for calling Blad Boys.

Man: Yeah, I'm sitting here down in unemploymentville and am wanting to know if you buy muscle cars?

Me: Yes, whatcha got?

Man: Well I have been working on my ride for a long time and it's got a 350 Chevy in it with an automatic, fully tubbed in the rear.......

Me: I interrupt by saying, What kind of vehicle is it?

Man: It's a 1980 Chevette.

Me: As I'm putting my head down into my hand I politely tell him that I am interested in cars pre-1972 and nothing of that age, I appreciate the... click.

I am not here to disrespect the guys car. To him it is what he either chose to build or it's all he had. To me and the majority a 1980 Chevette is not remotely close to a desireable Muscle Car. While I am talking to him all I can imagine is the cars looks something like this.  I thought the unemploymentville quote was kind of humerous.

Teenage Drivers

My son Kyle turned 16 last April and is currently holding an Ohio Drivers License. He seems to be a careful young driver but as parents we all can't help but to be a little nervous when he's out driving around.  Being around Muscle Cars and Hot Rods all his life he is always asking me to drive them. I have let him drive a couple (with me in the car of course) and he really gets a kick out of it. He is constantly asking to drive our own 1987 Buick Grand National but since it is a highly modified 700 horse firebreather he is currently banned from sitting in the seat let alone starting it up and taking off. Last summer a teenage boy was in his Trans Am and thought it would be a good idea to run from the police. During the  pursuit he ended up crashing it into a bridge on the highway and was thrown from the car. Watch this video, it is amazing that he lived thru this.

Bonehead Driver of the Week

Man: Hi honey, I bought you a present.

Woman: Really, what is it?

Man: It's a Big Block Shelby Cobra!

Woman: Oh, thank you so much honey. Can I take it for a spin?

Man: Sure, but be very careful.

She wasn't very careful. Video The woman had to be taken to the hospital but ended up being alright. You could obviously tell that she had never been behind the wheel of a car that had so much power. It might have been a good idea to show her a thing or two before allowing her to do her own impression of Big Daddy Don Garlits.

Babe of the Week

Is it me or does this truck actually look more desireable in this shot instead of other photos without a certain someone in them? Very pretty girl and a pretty cool truck also. It amazes me how a swimsuit and cowboy boots do not clash on certain people. I myself would not pull it off as well as she does.

Well that's it for now. I will be blogging again soon and hope you have enjoyed this session of Nick's Muscle Car Thoughts. Please remember to give us a ring at Blad Boys Muscle Cars anytime.

Thanks, Nick