Just like that, the South Florida Fairgrounds are quiet once again. Barrett-Jackson’s trademark automotive chaos has subsided for now, leaving a host of lighter wallets and adopted cars now living with happy buyers. The usual over-chromed, candy-painted Americana was out in full force, but as we illustrated in a previous post, there are some great buys to be had. Here are the seven most interesting sales of Palm Beach 2018:
1966 Dodge Dart GT
When the dust settled, this bright orange coupe went to a new home for just under $15,000. This is an incredible amount of car for the money, especially with a 5.6-liter (340 ci.) Mopar V-8 providing motivation for tire obliteration. No info on how much power it puts down, only that it’s through a four-speed manual transmission. For less than half the price of a brand new 2019 Ford Mustang GT, this orange muscle bruiser offers up more fun.
1984 Ford Mustang GT350 Convertible
At the opposite end of the fun-for-money gradient is this impossibly expensive ’84 Foxbody. Settle down – beyond the name, nothing included with the special edition package adds to the performance. It carries the same displacement, but the 5.0-liter in the Foxbody is far from the high-revving 289 screamer found in Shelby’s 1965 GT350. According to the listing, just 1,213 of these anniversary packages were created, making this low-mileage example hard to come by. Regardless, $20,000 is steep, especially considering other options.
1987 GMC Jimmy 4×4
Other options like this wrapper-fresh Jimmy, for example. Smart money is moving into vintage SUVs and trucks, and the strong price tag proves this. For $17,600, the buyer took home a handsome and boxy four-wheeler that remained with its original owner since 2016. With an eye toward preservation rather than modification, this Jimmy is a pricey but forward-thinking buy.
2005 Pontiac GTO
The $26,000 winning bid is right on the money, considering the low mileage and relative rarity. The saga of the 2004-2006 Pontiac GTO is an example of great car, wrong audience. For a brief moment in 2005, the LS2-powered GTO was the most potent real-deal muscle car on the market, offering 400 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque from its 6.0-liter V-8. The performance was cutting edge, but the styling wasn’t. Despite the legendary nameplate, the bland design and heavy pricetag condemned this Aussie weirdo to low sales and an early death. It’s a real shame, as these are excellent cars. I should know–I owned a Torrid Red GTO for a few years.
2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon
Standing opposite the unloved GTO, a pair of Demons proves Fiat Chrysler’s dragstrip monster is one of its most hyped products yet. In both cases, brand-new Demons commanded nearly double the original $85,000 MSRP, claiming an impressive $151,800 for one and $143,000 for the other.
1936 Rolls-Royce 20/25
Talk about value for money. This excessive silver saloon cost the new owner around the same as a nicely equipped Buick sedan, and offers a real-deal Pre-War Spirit of Ecstasy. Much like the current Ghost, this was the entry-level Rolls. Ostensibly, this low point of entry and robust design keep this a must-have for fans of the marquee.
2012 Lexus LFA Nurburgring Edition
On the topic of appreciation, the orange LFA Nurburgring Edition netted a whopping $770,000 when the hammer fell. This is extremely well bought, considering the rarity and “cool” factor these LFAs possess. This is a huge chunk of change, but should the buyer bring it back to market in a few years, you’ll likely see a bigger figure.