[Ed Russo]

Is there anyone else out there that is wondering why we never see our beloved machines on Barret-Jackson auto auction ?

Specifically the Porsche 968 !

I've seen other Porsches and rare exotics but never a 968.



Just wondering if I am alone with this question.

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[flash]

price tag - our cars just aren't what people think of as "collectable"

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[xrad]

Maybe they are at the auction, but just not on the broadcast.

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[uscarrera]

I went to the AZ BJ auction as a bidder one year and it seemed to me that a lot of the values placed on cars that cross the auction block were determined from previous sales at BJ. In other words same cars resold year after year or like kind cars sold year after year. I got a sense that most buyers were investor types not enthusists, so until our cars sell higher year upon year not sure if they will be a BJ type of car. It is true that there are some cars sold that never make it to the TV show, the first day I saw some resonably priced cars go over the stage but when the TV lights come on prices go UP!

Rich

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[cosimo]

I've been watching BJ on Speed (reruns) as there was noy much to watch over the holidays. My interest is as a great car show than a barometer for car prices. I don't understand why someone who has mega $'s in a car put it in an auction with No Reserve. Some of the cars go very cheap, especially in the 1st two days. I met someone over Christmas that was an avid collector (177 cars) and he never goes to BJ as he says "it's a circus". He choice is the RM auction. As for our 968s, I think time (10 years) will see them appear at major auctions. The rarity of a 4 cyc, rear wheel drive Porsches should give it some aura.

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[968Syncro]

Funny coincidence, I was flipping the channels last night, and the BJ auction was on Speed (no idea of the actual auction date). A few examples:

• - a 1963 Corvette concept car called the Rondine went for $1.6M.
  
  - a Camaro (67 or 68) that was once owned or raced by Dale Earnhardt went for $575K (it came with 2 spare engines and an opportunity to join the pits at Daytona and other frills).
  
  - they listed a number of Shelby GT500s that went in the $400-$500K range.
  
  - one Shelby GT-350H (Hertz) model went for $130K (this one was a good deal).
  
  - they had a Duesenberg (not sure how much, clearly more than my monthly salary <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> )
  
  

I've seen other shows, this one must have been a very high end instance of the auction for very expensive cars.



Roland

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[Cloud9...68]

Making predictions of any kind is a dangerous thing, particularly over the internet where your prognistication is out there with the potential for making you look foolish for all eternity, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say the 968, other than one of the uber-rare turbos, will never make it as a Barret-Jackson auction car. As much as we love them, they're just not particularly unique, nor do they have an interesting history. They were a decent sports car, that was unfortunately ridiculously overpriced relative to the competition in the marketplace, resulting in abysmal sales and a short lifespan. I hope I'm wrong, because I love mine and plan to keep it forever, but I just don't see it as auction material.

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[flash]

agreed - they likely won't have the attraction or romance that a collectable car would - there was just never enough of the car that set it apart from the rest in its market



it doesn't help that the average sedan now outperforms it either

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[cosimo]

Flash, there a lot of cars that "outperform" the 968. Although I would have to ask what criteria you are using? That is not a very valid criteria for not getting the "collectibility status. There are so many cars that are now very collectible,that we sold earlier and are now kicking ouirselves in the pituty (Austin Healy 3000, Mk IV). I don't know how you can rule out the 968. Granted it won't make Shelby status but it might bring more money than the original sticker price. I'm optimistic but banking on it to buy a GT 3 RS.

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[banditsc]

There are three 928's at Barret this year. On the flip side there is one Geo Metro from the GM collection up for auction also.

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[flash]

well, the way i see it, there isn't much that made the car stand out - things that make a car collectable are varied, but there is always some single feature or mystique about the car that puts it forefront in people's minds - if there were such a thing about the 968, it would have sold - let's face it, all paid publicity aside (and remember that the magazines had to write about something just to stay in business, and there wasn't any other game in town), it was mediocre even at the time, and by today's standards, pales by comparison to most cars - as much as we love them, i think we all dream to have something else - it's a great car, and i have no intention of changing anytime soon, but even i am thinking seriously about a better performer for street



now, the turbo is a different story - we may see one of those up there soon

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[xrad]

uscarrera: Many of these car make the owner/buyer circles over the years purely for investment purposes. There are some tax benefits to having your money invested in collections, like art.

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[Cloud9...68]

I'm with Flash on this one. Nothing about the 968 really stands out enough to give it collectors' status. It a good, all-around, competent, attractive car, but I can't see it at Barrett-Jackson (an auction I attended many times while I lived in Phoenix - a real cool experience that I miss very much) any more than I can see, say, a Mazda RX7, or a mid-generation Nissan Z.

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[tom968]

I typically see the 356 speedsters. Unless BJ thinks the 968's can sell

for low 6 figures or high 5's you won't see any soon.



Everything goes in waves. Right now muscle cars are still hot. You

do see some unusual cars which makes the auction unique and

watchable for tv.

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[flash]

see - that's my point - the speedster has a legacy - it was the first - it was the fastest - yada yada - the muscle cars stir romantic memories - the 968 just never got there with enough people to generate a buzz - that's good news for us though - if it ever did catch on, we'd likely not be in the unique position we are

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[Darryl]

I too logged some time with BJ auction (repeat) from Scottsdale...the next one is airing starting Tuesday that will be live. I love to see how much things go for and I think it's good to use all of the info as a guage to know how to take care of a certain type of car to maintain it's value over time. Bone stock, all original, unique, classic automobiles will always command a higher price. A well done authentic restoration usually gets a decent price as well.



Sure, we are all biased and wish our cars were worth more and were more collectible...my guess would be we think that due to the low production numbers and the fact that there's that famous badge on the hood, but alas, they may never make it to the ranks of a Barrett Jackson or Mecum type auction.



Just my thoughts....



- Darryl

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[uscarrera]

Will be interesting to see if current economic conditions extend the darkness to collector car values and auction prices at this years,2009, BJ Scotsdale auction.

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[Duckman]

I, too, love to watch the auctions. First and foremost I love to see the cars. The auctions are wild and often generate higher prices than are justified but, hey, that's why they have auctions.



There's a local classic car restorer and dealer who recently took several mid-sixties vintage 'Vettes to the Las Vegas BJ auction. I didn't see there cars go across the block and don't know what they brought but it was probably a lot. The ones they were taking were complete restorations to a very high finish.

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[cosimo]

There was a comment last night at the end of the past Scottsdale BJ auction that cars of the first day brought 4 and 5 figures. IF nothing else BJ does have a variety of cars and "things" , e.g. trains, motors, boats. I'm curious if a low mileage, immaculate 968 might make it to the auction. The 968 does have the distinction of the last 4 cyc, front engine rear wheel drive sports car. I say go for it. We have all noticed comments from people admiring our cars. I once had someone ask if it was a Farrari. I think some people are selling the 968 short.

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[ds968]

I think this is one of top 10, if not the top 5 most beautiful cars ever made, I also think its balance of practicality, power, and handling is difficult to match..not more than a handful of vehicles I would consider uniquely appealing have that same balance, and when combined with its rarity the car is most definitely a gem. Yet, in spite of continuous admiration from other people who wonder if it's a Ferrari, or some exotic Porsche, I don't see this car ever being ( no, not even the factory turbo ) a true collector's car, generating enough interest to make it a highly desirable, high priced auction automobile. Sad as it may be, most people look at this car as barely one step above a 944, and I don't see how that perception will, or can change.

I don't think the power vs. some of of today's family sedans <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/dry.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/rolleyes.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> factors in at all here.. those same sedans can also outrun the Dinos, the rare Jags, the Aston Martins, even many of the stock so-called muscle cars which sell for huge money at auction.. for whatever reason the 968 just does not have that romantic or nostalgic or whatever you may call it appeal factor which would compel people to feel they are buying a rare piece of history.

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