VINTAGE: NASCAR Auction Cars Raise Pulses At Barrett-Jackson

Sprint Cup

VINTAGE: NASCAR Auction Cars Raise Pulses At Barrett-Jackson

Actual stock cars, production cars and resto rods tied to the All-American racing heritage are offered at the Scottsdale event.

David Harris | Posted January 02, 2013 Scottsdale, AZ

The 1977 Oldsmobile Cutlass Winston Cup Series entry built by the legendary Banjo Matthews and driven by NASCAR Hall of Fame member Cale Yarborough will cross the block at the Barrett-Jackson auction. (Photo: Barrett-Jackson)

The great Henry Ford once said, “Auto racing began five minutes after the second car was built.’

For more than 60 years, there are few entities that better represent auto racing in America than NASCAR. From the hallowed grounds of Daytona International Speedway to Sonoma, California’s intricate and picturesque road course, the sport has created a lifetime worth of motor-racing memories. It’s become part of the nation’s collective DNA.

The torch-red 1970 Plymouth Superbird packs a 440-cubic-inch V8. (Photo: Barrett-Jackson)

Some of that great stock-car lineage is set to cross the auction block in various forms during the 42nd annual Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Collector Car Event, where live coverage begins Tuesday, Jan. 15 on SPEED at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.

Everything from NASCAR-inspired resto-mods, actual on-track machinery and production cars with direct ties to the sport, the high-banked offerings are plentiful throughout this six-day event.

(For photos and a catalog description of each car, click on the highlighted lot number.)

One of these special rides comes from the mind of former championship-winning crew chief, car owner and racer Ray Evernham. An avid car collector, he’s attended many a Barrett-Jackson fete throughout the years.

This year to raise money for North Carolina-based IGNITE, which supports adults with high-functioning autism or Asperger’s syndrome, Evernham built a one of a kind, off-the-chain 1964 Plymouth Belvedere two-door hardtop resto-mod.

This unique 1964 Plymouth Belvedere resto-mod was built by NASCAR veteran Ray Evernham for auction to benefit the North Carolina-based IGNITE, which supports adults with high-functioning autism or Asperger’s syndrome. (Photo: Barrett-Jackson)

Lot #1394 is literally something to behold; radiant red in color with a graphite gray interior, this showpiece could double as a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car. A 358-cubic-inch, fuel-injected Dodge R5-P7 V8 race engine, once driven by Kasey Kahne, was installed that has been re-engineered for street use with more than 750 horsepower at the wheels.

This slant-back machine is all business with on-track components integrated from Scott Riggs 2007 Daytona 500 mount, including its front and rear clips, Dodge competition powertrain, race driveline, four-speed transmission and tunable, track-ready suspension. It also has a front splitter, rear deck-lid spoiler, carbon-fiber panels, race bucket seats, 18-inch NASCAR-inspired wheels and an all-digital, multi-channel input, dual dash display with separate controls for the driver and passenger. It’s a car that celebrates Chrysler winning the 1964 Daytona 500 and later, the NASCAR Grand National championship.

“Ray Evernham's Plymouth shows an extraordinary level of design and craftsmanship, and a very unique theme,” said Mike Joy, Voice of NASCAR on FOX & SPEED and collector-car expert. “While repurposing NASCAR Sprint Cup cars are not new, hiding the framework and components inside a nearly 50-year-old body shell is certainly a new twist.

“This is a very special build and I hope the bidders take the time to examine it carefully in the display area,” Joy said. “There just won’t be near enough time to describe all its special features when it is up on the block.”

Page 1 of 3

12 3