Street Rods at Barrett-Jackson

At January's Barrett-Jackson 2020 auction there were over 1,900 cars and trucks to choose from. If you didn’t see it there, you didn’t need it! Street rods are always available at the auctions and over the past years the trend has shifted from the traditional factory correct restorations, to a modern take on what the car should look and drive like.

 

So walking the grounds in Scottsdale, AZ there were quite a few rods to look at. Rather than focus on just one, how about we show you a handful and let you know how they sold? All prices include the buyer's premium.

 

It doesn't get any sweeter than a lead sled and this Merc fits the bill. It had all the requisite body mods; chopped, dropped and channeled. They went to the junk yard and used a 1954 DeSoto grill and 1954 Mercury taillights which they then frenched in.  For the turnpike they have a LS3 V8 engine and an automatic transmission. That stance is via a bagged suspension that shows off the Lakes exhaust. Red with a flame accent hits all eight cylinders and rang up a sold sign for $88,000.

 

A drop top is a great street rod cruiser and this one looked ready for the road in hues of red.  This beauty was all steel with a new Dearborn Deuce body. The smooth ride came from Kugel parts with independent front and rear suspension. Another LS3 engine under the hood with a 4 speed automatic. A local Arizona shop put all the pieces together the right way.  As they should, as that shop later won the 2020 America's Most Beautiful Roadster award for another car in Pomona, CA.  This one sold for a sweet $118,800.

 

If red isn't your thing, how about yellow?  This was another convertible available at the auction. Gee, what were the chances you'd see two 1932 Fords for sale, huh!  This beauty exhibited a fiberglass body and a more sedate 350 V8 with a 700R4 transmission.  The builder chose an independent front end and rear coilovers to help the looks. The hi boy brought only $46,200 at the auction.

 

Before the Fords hit the road as police models, the Crown Victoria was a well regarded top of the line car. This 2 door hardtop had the right mix of custom touches to qualify as a road ready warrior. This drove out from the Sam Pack Museum in Texas and came with a LT1 V8 and a 4L60E automatic transmission. Of course it was bagged to get that down low look and it fetched $44,000.

 

This blue beauty grabbed a few eyeballs during the auction. It had been the cover car for Street Rodder magazine back in 2015.  So naturally it fits our guidelines. Another LT1 engine power plant with that reliable 4L60E four speed automatic transmission too.  Yep it was bagged too.  The cover for the convertible was a custom metal piece and I suspect that top doesn’t go up too often, especially since it only had 500 miles clicks on the odometer since it was restored. The console was appropriated from a 1964 T-Bird and those were Acura bucket seats.  All that blue brought some cool green cash as it sold for $275,000.

I don’t think any review of street rods would be complete without having a three window coupe in the mix. The seller claimed it was an eight year build. It boosts a 350 V8 and for a break, offered a manual transmission and a quick change Halibrand rear end. The front end of the car was notched to match the dimensions of a 32 Ford for giggles.  It hammered sold for $99,000.

 

© 2020 Mark C. Bach

 

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