The Barrett-Jackson auction featured hundreds if not thousands of muscle cars. Each of them more beautiful and powerful than the last. We showed you some smoking hot examples before the auction even began. And now even though the show is over we still can’t stop talking about them.
By far the most expensive muscle car to sell was the first production unit of the 2020 Shelby GT500 – VIN001. Craig Jackson himself gave the highest bid at $1.1 million to add to his personal collection, with proceeds going to JDRF.
One of our favorites was the 1967 Shelby GT500 Eleanor from Gone in 60 Seconds, which sold for $385,000.
In case you have room for more, these next few definitely warrant your attention.
Four Transformer Series, Bumblebee Chevrolet Camaros – $500,000
A fan-favorite were four Chevrolet Camaros which played Bumblebee in the Transformer series. The Bumblebee fleet made their way from Chevrolet’s corner and was sold as a package.
The hammer came down on a $500,000 bid for all four Camaros. At $125,000 per car that’s a bargain. The proceeds of the sale, as well as a generous $25,000 donation, will go to Operation Homefront. The organization helps families of military personnel meet their household needs.
These are the actual Bumblebee Camaros that starred in the movies. Given director Michael Bay’s use of CGI and Transformers generally being more about the bots than the cars, the Camaros survived the production intact.
The first car is a 2010 Chevrolet Camaro. It was used in the first two movies – “Transformers” and “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” with some modifications in between.
The second one is also a 2010 model which appeared in “Transformers: Dark of the Moon”.
The third was a 2013 Chevrolet Camaro starring in “Transformers: Age of Extinction”.
Finally, a 2016 Camaro played in the last movie – “Transformers: The Last Knight”.
The first two are generation five Chevrolet Camaro SS models. They come with a small-block V8, producing up to 426 hp and 420 lb/ft of torque.
The second two are generation six Chevrolet Camaro SS models with a V8, producing 461 hp and 455 lb/ft of torque.
We don’t know exactly what modifications have been made, other than the Transformers body styling. However, the nature of the series leads us to believe the drivetrain is still stock.
All cars are equipped with an automatic transmission, driving the rear axle.
You can watch a video from the event on Vimeo.
2015 Ford Shelby Mustang GT350R – $500,000
One of the biggest sales on Friday night was the 2015 Shelby GT350R – which sold for $500,000. It comes directly from Bruce Meyer’s collection.
The proceeds will go to help the Petersen Automotive and Henry Ford museums. They exhibit rare and classic vehicles and keep automotive history alive to inspire newer generations.
The 2015 Shelby GT350R is another Ford heritage car. It was launched in celebration of 50 years of Carroll Shelby’s first track-focused muscle car.
Similar to its 1965 ancestor, Ford built only 37 units of the new GT350R. Purchases were exclusive to Ford members and VIPs, so an auction is one of the only chances to acquire one.
The racing version uses the same engine as the base GT350 – a 5.2-liter Voodoo V8, producing 533 hp and 429 lb/ft of torque. The flat plane crankshaft reduces rotational mass inside the block, saving on weight. This makes the engine more responsive and allows it to rev up higher and faster.
The GT350R comes with many improvements, shaving seconds off your lap times.
The carbon fiber wheels save 60 pounds versus a set of aluminum wheels used on the base GT350. A set of wider Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires provides more grip. The large splitter and carbon-fiber rear wing increase the downforce significantly.
In 2016, the GT350R received Road & Track Magazine’s “Performance Car of the Year” award.