THE ARTISTRY OF CUSTOMIZATION: Builders Bring Their Best to Barrett-Jackson

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Be on the lookout for these incredible custom creations and more on the docket for the 2024 Scottsdale Auction.

 Builders Bring Their Best to Barrett-Jackson

As anyone who has witnessed The World’s Greatest Collector Car Auctions knows, you can expect the unexpected at any given event – particularly when it comes to custom cars. The 2024 Scottsdale Auction will be no different, with some incredible custom creations set to make their way across the famed auction block, a sampling of which are highlighted here.

These often include re-creations of exceptional collectibles, like Shelbys from the 1960s, or tributes to popular movie cars, like the ever-popular Eleanor of “Gone in 60 Seconds” fame. Then there are those that fall into the not-something-you-see-every-day category, such as a highly customized 1932 Willys named “Low Standard” that is toting its very own hot-rod tanker based on an early 1900s Standard Oil horse-drawn version.

Often builders really let their creative juices flow with the customs they bring to auction and reimagine the classics into something completely new and different. Bodies are chopped, door handles shaved, frames modified, accessories and modern technology added and – voila! – before you know it, you are looking at a 1960 Cadillac Coupe de Ville in a whole new light.

Barrett-Jackson has always been at the forefront of the Resto-Mod movement, first hinted at when something completely different crossed the block during the 2002 Scottsdale Auction – a 1957 Ford called “The Intruder” and a 1954 Plymouth known as “The Sniper.” While they looked fairly stock on the outside, at the heart of the vehicles was the latest technology in terms of powertrain, suspension and more. Highly successful sales, they became the first of what was to become the Resto-Mod trend that continues to this day.

Be on the lookout for these incredible custom creations and more on the docket for the 2024 Scottsdale Auction.

JOHN D’AGOSTINO’S 1958 PACKARD CUSTOM SPORTSTER “RITA” – NO RESERVE
Pictured above, this custom 1958 Packard named “Rita” was built by Oz Kustoms and is powered by a stock original 289ci engine that was detailed and chromed. Finished in Lavender Pearl from House of Kolor, the exterior features a 5-inch chopped top, extended hood, fender and tailfins using frenched ’56 Packard taillights. It was completely molded, nosed and decked, the suicide doors were extended 8 inches and the cockpit area has been completely reshaped. The Pearl White and Lavender interior has a fabricated console, New Zealand lamb’s-wool carpeting and a pearl steering wheel made in Australia. It is equipped with an air-ride system and rolls on Packard 15×6 wire wheels wrapped in Coker tires. “Rita” has been a major show winner, debuting in 2016 in Pomona, CA; winning the Sam Barris Memorial Award at the Sacramento Autorama; was a feature entry at Concours on Rodeo in Beverly Hills, CA; and was shown overseas in Sweden and Norway. It has been on display at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, CA. 1967 SHELBY GT500CR RE-CREATION – NO RESERVE
Created under license by Shelby Licensing, this is one of 25 all-carbon fiber GT500CRs built in 2022. More than 600 pounds lighter than the original 1967 Shelby GT500, this re-creation is powered by a third-generation Ford Performance 5.0-liter Magnuson VMP supercharged Coyote V8 engine paired with a TREMEC 5-speed manual transmission. Casting a sinister presence with its raw carbon-fiber exterior, this unforgettable car features Dark Shadow racing stripes, and the body is fully wrapped in paint protection film. Featuring vertical stitching, the black leather Carroll Shelby Heritage interior includes Carroll Shelby’s distinctive signature on the dash, and it is also embroidered into the seatbacks. This car also features a wood-trimmed three-spoke steering wheel, white shift knob and Shelby-branded white-faced Classic Instruments gauges. Other options include a Wilwood high-performance hydro-boost braking system, coilover suspension, air conditioning, an Alpine digital AM/FM CD stereo system driven by a trunk-mounted Focal amplifier, a custom-built Rick’s fuel tank, a rear-mounted Optima battery, and aluminum-accented clutch, brake and accelerator pedals. A front fascia/spoiler, twin close-coupled large-diameter driving lamps, a 1967 Shelby-style scooped hood, dual side-exit exhaust and handsome 10-spoke Shelby alloy wheels round out the visuals for this awesome, limited-production reinterpretation of Carroll Shelby’s Mustang-based GT500.  1966 CHEVROLET CHEVY II NOVA CUSTOM COUPE – NO RESERVE
Built by Artistic Customs in Jasper, OR, this custom Pro-Touring 1966 Chevrolet Chevy II Nova is a show-quality custom build powered by a new 525hp 6.2-liter GM Performance LS3 crate engine topped with Borla stacked fuel injection, mated to a TREMEC 6-speed manual transmission. The engine is equipped with a Wegner front-drive system, Wegner custom billet valve covers and Ultimate stainless headers. It is equipped with a TIG-welded exhaust system, Rick’s stainless-steel fuel tank, stainless-steel brake lines and Fesler hood hinges. The Pro-Touring treatment includes Detroit Speed suspension, a hydro-formed full front frame fitted with tubular upper and lower control arms, DRI/JRI aluminum body coilover shocks and Detroit Tuned valving, as well as power rack & pinion steering. The custom red Mercedes-Benz leather interior was done by award-winning Jon Lind and features Dakota Digital gauges and a Vintage Air system. Key customizations include a smoothed firewall, DSE inner fenders, widened rear wheel tubs and a custom transmission tunnel.

1967 FORD MUSTANG ELEANOR TRIBUTE EDITION – NO RESERVE
This Mustang was transformed into an officially licensed Eleanor Tribute Edition by professionals utilizing correct movie Eleanor body modifications and accessories, including a side-exit exhaust, sequential taillights, Go-Baby-Go shifter and ornamental nitrous bottle. It is powered by a 428ci V8 engine mated to a Toploader 4-speed manual transmission and has an 8-inch Ford rear axle, a Vintage Air system, power disc brakes and power steering. The interior features custom seats with a roll bar, as well as a vintage-style steering wheel and a RetroSound stereo. It has LED blue lighting in the interior cabin, engine compartment and under the chassis.

1967 FORD MUSTANG ELEANOR WIDEBODY LIMITED EDITION – NO RESERVE
This is the first “Widebody” licensed and certified Eleanor Limited Edition Mustang fastback, with only 60 to be built. Its fully handcrafted all-metal body was professionally widened, beginning at the nose and continuing for the fastback’s full length, eventually ending with a rear end 8 inches wider than a standard body. This is an official Licensed Eleanor (not a Tribute Edition) certified build and comes with the genuine Eleanor Certification paperwork, body VIN plate and emblems. It has all the movie-correct Eleanor modifications and accessories. Underneath the domed Eleanor hood sits the recently introduced Ford Racing Predator 5.2-liter supercharged intercooled aluminum-block engine, factory-rated at 760hp and 625 ft/lbs of torque, which is mated to a 6R80 6-speed automatic transmission.

1970 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE CUSTOM CONVERTIBLE – NO RESERVE
Powered by an LSA 376/600hp supercharged V8 engine and 4L80E automatic transmission. Art Morrison chassis with Penske adjustable shocks, Forgeline Center Lock wheels and Wilwood disc brakes. All sheet metal fabrication, custom interior, iPad ride control.

1932 WILLYS CUSTOM SEDAN “LOW STANDARD” – NO RESERVE
This Willys comes with a hot-rod tanker and is powered by a turbo-diesel 2.2-liter inline 4-cylinder engine paired with a 5-speed manual transmission. The back doors were removed, the rear section of the body was moved forward, the top was chopped 2 inches, the grille was sectioned 6 inches, roof-mounted ’37 Oldsmobile taillights were added, and the original wood structures were remade out of steel. The WWII-plane-themed interior utilizes seats from a B-25 bomber, the throttle control from a ’37 Bristol Blenheim bomber as a shifter and a control yoke from a Convair 440 airliner on the steering column.


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