Anyone watch the Barrett-Jackson auction today or yesterday on Speed Channel? Some really beautiful classic and exotic cars. If I won the lottery, I'd probably make the trip to Scottsdale, AZ and get in on the action (it's really fun to watch the auction in progress as people bid against each other..... this morning a '72 Hemi 'Cuda started with 4 people bidding, when it went to the two final bidders the price jumped from 80k to 130k in about 30 seconds as they bid against each other). Some really rare cars and in perfect condition.

 

It's fun to watch, but I get somewhat disappointed by the fact that most of the cars that change hands are collector cars that will spend most of their future years sitting in some huge garage and getting an occasional rub down with a cloth diaper. That's especially the case with something that has been restored to better-than-showroom condition with all original parts.

 

I agree...those cars should be driven like they were intended to be driven...if you want it to sit in your garage you should just get a 1:! scale model and build it and put it up....you get the idea

 

On the other hand though, one could buy one of those freshly restored cars and treat it as if it were a new vehicle and drive it as such. Especially if it's been done with all original or replicas of original parts, it should drive like when it was brand new. I mean damn, if I could get me a '64-'67 Corvette hardtop with a 427 and a 4-speed in cherry condition I would pay the extra coin and then actually drive it around.

 

This would be a great opportunity to make a "brand new" purchase of a car you've always wanted new but weren't around when they were new (assuming you have the finacial fortitude). Cars like a 67 GTO, 71 Chevelle SS, or some of the Ferraris I would certainly drive if I bought. Others like the 36 Cord or 46 Ford Woody Wagon are specifically show pieces, and I would certainly treat them as such. Did you see Callaway auctioned 4 of his vehicles today, including 2 Vettes?