Rock star Bret Michaels, who rose to fame as the frontman for the band Poison, will lend some personal magic to the Barrett-Jackson collector car auction in January with the sale of his own 2007 Bentley Continental GT.
Michaels is a familiar presence at Barrett-Jackson, having sold several cars at the Scottsdale, Arizona, venue as well as performing in concert.
“Bret has long been a part of the Barrett-Jackson family,” Craig Jackson, chairman and chief executive of Barrett-Jackson, said in a news release. “Bret first sold a car at Barrett-Jackson during our 40th anniversary in Scottsdale, creating a level of energy in the arena that only a legend like Bret could, and then returned to our 45th anniversary with an incredible concert and once again with vehicles that included a charitable element.”
The Scottsdale auction celebrates its 50th anniversary when it takes place January 22-30, 2022, at the WestWorld event center, a belated observance because of COVID restrictions that pushed back the annual auction earlier this year.
The Bentley, powered by a twin-turbocharged V8 producing 552 horsepower and finished in Moonbeam Silver, is a rock star in its own right, having been featured in a number of music videos, reality shows and magazines, the release says. It’s been driven frequently by Michaels in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Scottsdale, as well as on many road trips.
The winning bidder also will receive from Michaels a one-of-a-kind, personally signed “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” guitar. And like nearly every Barrett-Jackson offering, the Bentley will be sold to the highest bidder without reserve.
Michaels is well-known both as a car guy and a major philanthropist – he has twice been named Humanitarian of the Year – and he will donate a portion of the proceeds from the Bentley sale to the Bret Michaels Life Rocks Foundation, which benefits a number of causes, including awareness for Type 1 diabetes, with which Michaels has endured his entire life, as well as childhood cancer, veterans organizations and others.
“I can’t wait to bring this car to Barrett-Jackson in January,” Michaels says in the news release. “I’ve had the pleasure of partaking in a handful of Barrett-Jackson events over the last decade since I sold my 1969 Camaro over 10 years ago, and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to also be a part of their 50th anniversary celebration.
“This Bentley has been one of my favorite vehicles and I look forward to seeing it cross the auction block for a great cause. Like Craig says, it is like driving your most comfortable chair surrounded by 552 horsepower, and as I have always said, a good drive is great for the soul.”
The Bentley is scheduled to cross the block on Friday, January 28, during Barrett-Jackson’s famous “prime time” auctioning, which also takes place Saturday.
For more information about the 50th anniversary Scottsdale auction, visit the Barrett-Jackson’s website.
