When one of the biggest auctions around happens within driving distance, you have to take a road trip. That’s just what we did when the Barrett-Jackson auction rolled in the West Palm Beach for its annual event at the South Florida Fairgrounds. And, much to our delight, there were wall-to-wall Fords of all shapes and sizes on hand.
“This year’s Palm Beach Auction is proof that it’s a golden age for car enthusiasts and collectors,” Steve Davis, president of Barrett-Jackson, said. “We are so thankful for our guests who joined us in Florida and spread their enthusiasm for this great hobby that we all love. We especially appreciate those who contributed to our efforts to raise money for charity. Together we raised $450,000 to help the American Heart Association and Camp Southern Ground move the needle on helping those they support.”
It didn’t seem fair to include Ford Performance’s pack of display models among our favorites, but the Blue Oval’s in-house hot rodders had everything from a Ford GT to a Fiesta ST for potential customers to peruse. Of course, we gravitated to the new stuff, particularly that 2019 Mustang Bullitt. Ford also offered ride and drive experiences in many of its latest vehicles, including the 2018 Mustang GT.
While the big-money auction prices eluded most of the Blue Ovals on the block, a 2006 Ford GT (Lot #726.1) placed in the top five of the weekend with a $244,200 price tag. Clearly these supercharged supercars are holding their value, but bringing in that kind of cash was particularly impressive. That’s because this car had nearly 12,000 miles on the clock and it had been in an accident.
In addition to private sellers and OE manufacturers, there were plenty of other vendor displays. Roush Performance showed off an Stage 2 Mustang as well as one of its F-150s. For those looking to upgrade vehicles they already own, Forgeline showcased its full lineup of custom wheels, including its cutting-edge Carbon+Forged units.
Obviously the GT was as good or better than new, but there were a full range of Fords on the fairgrounds, ranging from modded drivers to pristine restorations. And, ultimately that’s the best part of the roaming carnival that is the Barrett-Jackson auction. We were able to bounce between manufacturer displays and vendors to indoor showcases and outdoor groups of cars up for auction.
Scott Patton spotted us snapping shots of Fords and questioned our enthusiast credentials — and with good reason. He is the proud owner of not one, but two 2007 California Specials. He also rocks the ultimate display of fandom, a flaming Blue Oval tattoo on his arm.
Everywhere we turned there was a desirable Ford on display, so we had a hard time narrowing down which ones to share with you here. In the end, we picked our five favorites, but there are plenty of other great cars in the gallery below, so enjoy…
5. 1984 Mustang GT350
There were only a few Foxes on the property in South Florida, so they definitely stood out to us. While this iteration was not the finest representation of the GT350 breed, it’s still fun to see one in good shape. One of only 1,213 produced, this highly optioned droptop carries full documentation and has just shy of 22,000 miles on the clock. It sold for $19,800
4. 1965 Mustang K-Code Coupe
While Fox fans are usually all about coupe, classic Mustang aficionados love fastbacks and convertibles. We were drawn to this Caspian Blue 1965 Mustang K-code coupe. The fully restored example is one of just over 7,200 built, it is powered by a 271-horsepower 289 backed by a Toploader four-speed and a 9-inch rear. We weren’t alone in our appreciation of this one, as it sold for a cool $55,000.
3. 1969 Mach 1
This one might not be stock, but it is a stunner. A 1969 Mustang Mach 1 is a classic no matter how you look at it, but this one was restified in an impressive way. Not only is its visibly gorgeous, but it was also upgraded with a storied 428 Cobra Jet underhood, giving it the performance to back up those good looks. It hauled in $62,700 in Palm Beach.
2. 2009 Mustang Iacocca Edition
Talk about rare, only 45 of these limited edition machines, inspired by the father of the Mustang, were built during the 2009 model year — and this is number 20. With only 334 miles on the odometer, this Lee Iacocca Silver 45th Anniversary 2009 Mustang is certainly mint. As a result, the unusual S197 went home with a new owner for $64,900.
1. 2000 Mustang Cobra R
Your scribe will never forget flying down a desert road at over 180 MPH in a 2000 Cobra. At the time its high-revving, yet torquey 5.4-liter modular engine was a revelation. When paired with a six-speed manual and a tautly sprung independent rear suspension, this insulation-free machine was the raw performer of a Mustang fan’s road-course dreams. This pristine example was number 22 of only 300 built and it only has 593 miles on the clock. A buyer raced away with this one for $53,900.
So that was just a handful of our favorites. If seeing machines like these up for auction sounds like fun, Barrett-Jackson’s next event rolls into Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut, from June 20-23, 2018.
