Barrett Jackson Begins 10th Run in Las Vegas

In 2008, the United States was facing economic uncertainty, but Barrett-Jackson Chairman and CEO Craig Jackson looked to Las Vegas and made a skillful bet that The World’s Greatest Collector Car Auctions® would be a perfect fit for the Entertainment Capital of the World.

A 1949 MG TC – Carroll Shelby’s first road race car – graced the cover of the very first Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas catalog, and was the top seller at the event, bringing in $313,500.

He was right.

Strategically selecting the vast Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino for the new auction’s location, Barrett-Jackson put collector car enthusiasts right in the middle of the action on the famous Strip, where the excitement in the auction arena easily rivalled anything the neon-bedecked city had to offer.

The Las Vegas Auction became the third automotive and lifestyle event offered by the company, which had already presented successful automotive lifestyle events in Scottsdale, Arizona, and Palm Beach, Florida that year. “We’ve always believed that adding a Las Vegas event was a natural step in the evolution of the company,” said Jackson at the time.

As with each of Barrett-Jackson’s auctions, the Las Vegas event has its own character: one big party from beginning to end, filled with glitz, glamour, celebrity appearances and more. That very first auction kicked off in true Las Vegas style with a festive party on the famed Mandalay Bay Beach, featuring live entertainment and libations, followed by three days of automobilia and collector car auctions, a vast marketplace and The Barrett-Jackson Garage venue for live music. Beginning in 2016, the Opening Night Party moved to the exclusive Drai’s Nightclub overlooking the Strip, providing high-octane entertainment like never before.

Highlights from 2016:

This year saw a new layout for the Las Vegas event, with the auction, sponsors and exhibitors, as well as automobiles on display all in the same building at Mandalay Bay, making the event more convenient and enjoyable for all involved. The 9th Annual Las Vegas Auction was headlined by the Tammy Allen Collection. Made up of more than 80 vehicles that crossed the block at No Reserve, the collection captured over $3.8 million in sales and featured some incredible customs, hot rods and high-performance vehicles, including a highly anticipated 1950 Mercury custom known as “Wasabi.” Automobilia sales totaled $777,000, making it Barrett-Jackson’s most successful non-Scottsdale automobilia auction. The event received unprecedented live global television coverage on Velocity and Discovery, with 24 hours in the United States and Canada, and 20 hours in the United Kingdom. Five charity cars brought in $950,000 for national and local causes, while the auction’s top seller was a 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429, at $357,500. A crowd favorite was the 1976 “Wayne’s World” AMC Pacer, which set a new world record when it sold for $37,400.

As history shows, when it comes to the Barrett-Jackson Auction in Las Vegas, you can always bet on an unforgettable time. Be sure to join us for this year’s celebration of the collector car hobby, October 19-21, 2017 at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. For bidder registration, consignment information or general admission, visit Barrett-Jackson.com.