Some people like meat and potatoes, while others want foie gras and bone marrow. At Barrett-Jackson’s 2023 New Orleans Auction, there’s something for you, whether your diet is basic or adventurous. Below is the best example of this: classic hot rod staple, an exotic with an injection of Yankee ingenuity, and a JDM Honda that will make some folks swoon. All those cars and more can be found in the New Orleans docket.
Regardless of your diet, if you have a car that may whet the appetite of enthusiasts with a wallet full o’ money, you can consign your own vehicle for sale. You already know Barrett-Jackson has the resources, experience, and reputation to market and sell your collector car, so why not?
1955 Chevrolet Sedan Delivery
Sedan deliveries have always been a favorite of customizers and hot rodders. Once bare-bones transportation for handymen and the self-employed, sedan deliveries were disposable and cheap. They rarely had luxuries, making them perfect for folks who wanted to go fast and have a bit of weight on the rear wheels. This ’55 stands out from the rest because a Hot Rods by Boyd Bowtie. Power comes from a supercharged 350 small-block. Befitting a Boyd car, it features custom billet pulleys plus polished aluminum intake, and polished water pump.
That mill is paired with a four-speed automatic for you folks who just want to shut up and drive. And since that’s your style these days, certainly you’ll appreciate the air conditioning and power windows. Other interior features include a custom gray bucket leather seats (remember, the sedan delivery was a two-seater) and console, wool carpet, tilt steering, and a custom audio system so you can ride the storm out while listening to REO Speedwagon. And in case you have your doubts, this Tri-Five comes with a Certificate of Authenticity from Chris Coddington.
2005 Ford GT Hennessey
You’d probably be satisfied with a Ford GT, right? Lots of people would. As the modern-day heir apparent of the Le Mans winner that showed Ferrari who’s boss, the Ford GT combined an inspired design and several leading-edge technologies, plus an aluminum alloy, supercharged 5.4-liter Modular V8 that pushed 550 horsepower. Paired with a six-speed, the GT ran the 0-60 sprint in the mid-3s and pulled mid-11 ETs. Sounds satisfactory, right? But then Hennessey Performance Engineering (HPE) has massaged this GT by adding twin turbos to complement the supercharger, with dyno testing showing 850 horses at the wheels.
Everything else is stock Ford GT, from the red paint with white stripes, black interior with McIntosh stereo and, unusually, the base aluminum rims. Unlike all those other mothballed GTs you see at auction, this one has actually been driven — to the tune of 19,985 miles. In other words, this 2005 Ford GT is a win/win: you can drive it, and the drive will be even more satisfactory thanks to HPE’s input.
1988 Honda CRX SiR
The CRX was Honda’s snappy little Civic coupe in the 1980s and, in more recent years, it’s been a favorite of fanbois of little roller skates. However, like a lot of vehicles imported to America, we didn’t always get the good stuff. In the case of this 1988 CRX, this SiR was a Japanese-market stormer equipped with a DOHC 1.6-liter VTEC engine putting out 158 horsepower. Of course, this JDM CRX is backed by a five-speed manual just so you can enjoy the sweet revs.
To ensure reliability once it’s in your driveway (hint hint), this CRX has been gone through with new cam seals, valve cover gasket, spark plugs, rebuilt VTEC solenoid, 255 Walbro fuel pump and a new oil pan gasket. Underneath, you’ll find new ECB slotted front rotors and, inside, a new stereo with Kicker speakers. In addition, the seller will throw in TEIN springs and KYB struts — whattaguy!
