Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach Auction Hits $39.4 Million in Sales Fueled by John Staluppi’s Cars of Dreams Collection and Celebrities Including Burt Reynolds

Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach Auction was a star-studded event that featured celebrity guests from across the entertainment and sports industries, record attendance, record auction sales and the largest number of registered bidders for any Palm Beach auction. (Photo: Business Wire)

PALM BEACH, Fla.--()--Barrett-Jackson, The World’s Greatest Collector Car Auctions®, was a star-studded event that featured celebrity guests from across the entertainment and sports industries, record attendance, record auction sales and the largest number of registered bidders for any Palm Beach auction. Three impressive collections were sold at the 16th annual auction, highlighted by renowned collector and philanthropist John Staluppi’s highly coveted Cars of Dreams vehicles, which all sold at No Reserve.

Celebrities who flocked to the four-day auction included Jimmy De Martini, fiddler with the Zac Brown Band, as well as Hollywood icon Burt Reynolds, who greeted fans, signed autographs and encouraged bidding on the block for three Pontiac Trans Ams. Other celebrity guests included actor Alfie Wise, North Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera, NASCAR legend Rick Hendrick and former NFL wide receiver Reggie Wayne.

In total, 692 vehicles sold, nearly all at No Reserve, for more than $38.3 million, while 380 pieces of automobilia brought in over $702,000, and $450,000 was raised through the sale of charity vehicles, bringing the total auction sales to more than $39.4 million. This year’s auction also attracted more than 700 new bidders, a new record for Palm Beach. In addition, there was an impressive showing from the international community, including vehicle consignments from Brazil and Italy.

Our guests have made the Palm Beach Auction such an electrifying event year after year,” said Craig Jackson, chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson. “We were especially honored to be trusted to auction three incredible collections, including the ‘Cars of Dreams’ owned by our good friends Jeanette and John Staluppi. Their 145 vehicles, which all sold at No Reserve, represented some of the finest examples of ’50s, ’60s and ’70s-era American cars. It was a pleasure working alongside John and Jeanette to find new homes for the vehicles in his remarkable collection, and we so appreciate their philanthropic support of our charity efforts over the years.”

At the beginning of the week, Barrett-Jackson kicked off its 16th Annual Palm Beach Auction with a special parade featuring vehicles from John Staluppi’s Cars of Dreams Collection. During the four-day auction, 145 vehicles from the collection sold for $13.96 million.

The top 10 vehicles sold during the four-day 2018 Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach Auction included:

  1. 2012 Lexus LFA Nurburgring Edition (Lot 724) - $770,000
  2. 1959 DeSoto Adventurer Convertible* (Lot #718.1) - $330,000
  3. 1970 Plymouth Superbird (Lot #708)* - $286,000
  4. 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Custom Convertible (Lot #719)* - $275,000
  5. 2006 Ford GT (Lot #726.1) - $244,200
  6. 1959 Cadillac El Dorado Convertible (Lot #719.1)* - $231,000
  7. 1957 DeSoto Adventurer Convertible (Lot #720)* - $231,000
  8. 1956 DeSoto Fireflite Convertible (Lot #717.1)* - $225,500
  9. 1959 Dodge Custom Royal Super D-500 Convertible (Lot #718)* - $220,000
  10. 1960 Chevrolet Corvette 283/290 Fuelie Convertible (Lot #712.1)* - $209,000

*From the John Staluppi Cars of Dreams Collection

Several auction sale world records were also set by vehicles from the Cars of Dreams Collection including “Herbie”, a 1963 Volkswagen Beetle (Lot #703) that sold for $128,700; a 1970 Superbird (Lot #708), which sold for $286,000; a 1959 Desoto Adventurer Convertible (Lot #718.1), which sold for $330,000; and a 1966 Ford Good Humor Truck (Lot #392.1) that sold for $117,700.

Automobilia sales during this year’s event were among the best recorded to date in Palm Beach, with restored gas pumps and porcelain neon signs among the most sought-after pieces. Top automobilia sales included:

  • Richfield gas station island with rare A.O. Smith matching electric gas pumps (Lot #6385.2) - $36,800
  • 1940s used cars single-sided neon porcelain dealership sign (Lot #6395) - $26,450
  • 1940-50s Pontiac Automobiles double-sided neon porcelain dealership sign (Lot #6395.1) - $25,875

Barrett-Jackson also continued raising funds and awareness for deserving charities with the sale of a 2006 Ferrari F430 Spider (Lot #3000) previously owned by Zac Brown Band fiddler Jimmy De Martini. With De Martini on the auction block, the Ferrari sold on Friday for $250,000, with 100 percent of the hammer price benefiting Camp Southern Ground. On Saturday, the 35th Anniversary Corvette (Lot #3001), which raised $350,000 in Scottsdale, sold again for $200,000 to benefit the American Heart Association. Renowned philanthropists Jeanette and John Staluppi were the winning bidders, and generously donated the Corvette back to be sold at a future auction. To date, the Corvette has helped raise $550,000 as part of Barrett-Jackson’s yearlong Driven Hearts charity initiative.

“This year’s Palm Beach Auction is proof that it’s a golden age for car enthusiasts and collectors,” said Steve Davis, president of Barrett-Jackson. “We are so thankful for our guests who joined us in Florida and spread their enthusiasm for this great hobby that we all love. We especially appreciate those who contributed to our efforts to raise money for charity. Together we raised $450,000 to help the American Heart Association and Camp Southern Ground move the needle on helping those they support.”

Barrett-Jackson’s Northeast Auction will be held June 20-23, 2018, at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn. For more information on becoming a bidder for the 2018 Northeast Auction, go to www.Barrett-Jackson.com/bid. To submit an application to consign at the 2018 Northeast Auction, click here.

About The Barrett-Jackson Auction Company

Established in 1971 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, Barrett-Jackson, The World’s Greatest Collector Car Auctions®, is the leader in collector car and automotive lifestyle events, which include authentic automobilia auctions and the sale of high-profile estates and private collections. The company produces auctions in Scottsdale, Arizona; Palm Beach, Florida; at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut; and Las Vegas, Nevada. With broadcast partners Velocity and Discovery Channel, Barrett-Jackson features extensive live television coverage, including broadcasts in over 150 countries internationally. Barrett-Jackson also endorses a one-of-a-kind collector car insurance for collector vehicles and other valued belongings. For more information about Barrett-Jackson, visit Barrett-Jackson.com or call 480-421-6694.

For high-resolution photos, please contact Aaron Cook at ACook@TPRM.com

Contacts

Media Contact:
Barrett-Jackson Public Relations Specialist
Robert Desimone, 480-306-8209
Corporate Communications
Rdesimone@Barrett-Jackson.com
or
Automotive Media:
TimePiece PR & Marketing on behalf of Barrett-Jackson
Aaron Cook, 214-520-3430
ACook@TPRM.com

Release Summary

Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach Auction Hits $39.4 Million in Sales Fueled by Staluppi’s Cars of Dreams Collection and Celebrities Including Burt Reynolds

Contacts

Media Contact:
Barrett-Jackson Public Relations Specialist
Robert Desimone, 480-306-8209
Corporate Communications
Rdesimone@Barrett-Jackson.com
or
Automotive Media:
TimePiece PR & Marketing on behalf of Barrett-Jackson
Aaron Cook, 214-520-3430
ACook@TPRM.com