Writer Lara Piu
Photos courtesy of Barrett-Jackson Auction Co., LLC

[dropcap]A[/dropcap]t the center of the Arizona Car Week excitement is the 46th annual Barrett-Jackson, the gala and star-studded auction held January 14-22 at WestWorld of Scottsdale.

“We’re going to fuel the excitement we built up during our 45th anniversary year with our 2017 Scottsdale auction,” says Craig Jackson, chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson.

This year, the auction – which has raised more than $91 million to date – is at it again. It’s partnering with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and four-time Grammy award-winner Steven Tyler to auction his extremely rare 2012 Hennessey Venom GT Spyder. Proceeds will benefit Janie’s Fund, an initiative created in partnership with Tyler and Youth Villages to bring hope and healing for many of the country’s most vulnerable girls who have suffered the trauma of abuse and neglect.

“We’re looking forward to another great contribution when Steven Tyler drives his personal Hennessey Venom GT Spyder across the block to benefit Janie’s Fund,” says Craig.
This rare supercar is the fifth of only 12 Hennessey Venom GTs ever created, and first of the Spyder convertibles. In March 2016, it recorded a top speed of 265.6 mph, making it the world’s fastest convertible sports car. It will cross the auction block at no reserve, with 100 percent of the hammer price benefiting Janie’s Fund. There’s already speculation that some buyers are already looking at car insurance comparison sites so that they can get a great insurance price and drive this beauty home if they win the auction.

“I’m confident this, as well as the more than 1,500 collectible vehicles we’ll have in Scottsdale, will set the stage for another banner year at Barrett-Jackson,” adds Craig.

Another highlight on the auction block will be the 1960 Chevrolet Engineering Research Vehicle 1 belonging to the “Father of the Corvette,” Zora Arkus-Duntov. This vehicle served as Arkus-Duntov’s personal test bed for what became the Chevrolet Corvette in the 1960s. Fitted with a 377ci aluminum small block, an advanced Rochester fuel-injection system and Indy-style tires and wheels, the car comes with considerable paperwork and history and stands as one of the experimental landmarks of General Motors history. The vehicle is an important piece of American automotive history and is said to be one of the most anticipated vehicles on the docket.

The Charlie Thomas Collection will cross the block at no reserve. The more than 140 vehicle collection is an eclectic mix of spectacular prewar classics, American muscle, European cars and high-performance vehicles. There’s a highly collectible 1970 Plymouth Superbird featuring the original V-code 440/390 horsepower six-pack V8, backed by a four-speed transmission with a pistol-grip shifter. It includes the optional A33 Trak Pak and Dana 60 rear, and features Mopar’s iconic Tic-Toc-Tach, radio, power steering, power front disc brakes and tinted glass. It’s been professionally restored to show-winning specifications and is a Mopar Gold national show winner.

Barrett-Jackson
January 14-22
WestWorld of Scottsdale
16601 N. Pima Rd.
Scottsdale, 85260
480-421-6694

barrett-jackson.com