Barrett-Jackson’s car auction underway at Mandalay Bay

The world’s greatest collector car auction is underway at Mandalay Bay with Barrett-Jackson unveiling valuable classic automobiles up for sale through Saturday night. It marks the 10th year for the world’s leading auto auction to call Las Vegas home. Millions of dollars will pass under the auctioneer’s hammer. The excitement in the auction arena easily rivaled anything our neon-bedecked city could 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 CEO Craig Jackson at the time. Now, Barrett-Jackson President Steve Davis reflects on the Las Vegas auctions that began back in 2008 and each year have grown in quality and quantity attracting collectors from around the world. It’s one big party from start to finish filled with glitz, glamour live entertainment and celebrity appearances.

At the first auction Steve sold a 1949 MG TC for $313,500 and at the 2011 auction he sold a 1964 Ford Fairlane for $700,000 to benefit the Armed Forces and Veterans foundation

“It’s really amazing to look back and see what we have done in Las Vegas and what transpired over the past years,” Steve said. The inaugural event back in 2008 was incredible for many reasons. Up until that time, no major auction company had ever executed a successful auction in the city. There had been many attempts, but none of them had ever achieved greatness, or even mediocrity. There are so many things to distract your attention in Vegas. Could we come in and make people focus on Barrett-Jackson, the headline show of the week?

“The other part of the uphill battle was the financial crash that year. We were watching the Dow drop like a boat anchor during the event; it was a critical time. But we got some great cars and worked real hard, and, lo and behold, that inaugural event was a tremendous success. Even today, it stands as one of the top auctions we ever presented in Las Vegas, which is a testament to the remarkable team we have at Barrett-Jackson.

“One of the exceptional vehicles on the docket for that first auction wasCarroll Shelby’s 1949 MG TC, historically one of the most important cars of his career because it was the first car he ever won a race with. We put in a lot of hard work getting that deal together, and then selling it at No Reserve at that first Las Vegas event.

“Of course, things at Barrett-Jackson have a way of coming full circle. The MG TC was purchased by our longtime friend Ron Pratte, who kept it until he decided to sell his collection at our 2015 Scottsdale Auction. When that MG TC crossed the block again, the winning bidder was none other than Aaron Shelby, Carroll’s grandson, who purchased the car for the Shelby family. Another amazing moment that unfolded on the Barrett-Jackson auction block.

“Barrett-Jackson has long enjoyed a relationship with the Shelby organization, which is headquartered in Las Vegas. In addition to the sale of the MG TC, a number of other significant vehicles with ties to Shelby have crossed the block in Vegas. One milestone that comes to mind was the sale of the 800-horsepower Prudhomme Edition Super Snake Shelby GT500 Mustang at our 2009 event, with Carroll Shelby and drag racing legend Don Prudhomme, who designed the car together, on the block to help auction it off.