Barrett-Jackson

Barrett-Jackson is an American collector-vehicle auction company based in Scottsdale, Arizona. It is best known for staging large public auctions of classic, collectible, exotic, muscle, custom, and contemporary enthusiast vehicles, generally using a no-reserve format in which consignors agree that vehicles will sell to the highest bidder rather than at a pre-set minimum price. The company also offers automotive memorabilia and related auction services, and its events have become major gatherings for collectors, restorers, dealers, manufacturers, automotive media, and enthusiasts. The business traces its origins to a partnership between Tom Barrett and Russ Jackson. Their first auction was held in Scottsdale, Arizona, in 1971. The Scottsdale event developed into the company's signature sale and helped establish Arizona as an important annual destination for the collector-car market. The auction's reputation grew through a combination of high-profile consignments, public attendance, celebrity and charity vehicles, and the spectacle of a live auction conducted before a large audience. Barrett-Jackson's business model differs from that of a conventional dealership. It does not primarily sell vehicles from its own inventory. Instead, it organizes auctions, markets consignments, manages bidder registration, coordinates inspections and logistics, and collects fees associated with transactions. The company presents vehicles across a broad range of values and categories, including American classics, European sports cars, modern supercars, hot rods, restomods, race-related vehicles, project cars, and memorabilia. Its no-reserve identity has been central to its public positioning, although the precise terms of any individual auction or lot are governed by the applicable sale documentation. A major turning point came through the professionalization and expansion of the Scottsdale sale under Craig Jackson, who became the company's chairman and chief executive. The event grew from a regional collector-car auction into a nationally recognized automotive occasion. Barrett-Jackson subsequently added or expanded events in other American markets, including Palm Beach, Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Houston, Texas, while continuing to make Scottsdale its flagship location. Event schedules and locations can change over time. Television exposure substantially broadened the company's audience. Barrett-Jackson auctions were televised through automotive and general-interest media partnerships, including SPEED and later Discovery-related programming. Broadcast coverage emphasized the live bidding, provenance, restoration quality, and personalities surrounding the vehicles. This helped turn auction results into widely followed market signals and made the company recognizable beyond specialist collector circles. The company also became associated with charitable auctions. Manufacturers, celebrities, collectors, and other consignors have offered special vehicles for charity, with proceeds or portions of proceeds directed to designated nonprofit causes under the terms of each individual transaction. These sales have included one-off production vehicles, signed or specially equipped cars, and vehicles connected with automotive personalities. Barrett-Jackson remains primarily a United States-focused auction brand. Its influence, however, extends internationally because its sales are followed by global collectors and because exceptional vehicles offered at its events can attract international bidding. Its present identity combines live-event production, auction services, automotive media, collector-market expertise, and enthusiast-community engagement. The company is active, but detailed ownership, financial, and executive information is not consistently disclosed in public sources.

Barrett-Jackson began in 1971 when Tom Barrett and Russ Jackson organized a collector-car auction in Scottsdale, Arizona. The sale was initially rooted in the regional enthusiast and classic-car community, but the Scottsdale auction gradually became a nationally prominent event. Its growth was supported by the increasing visibility of postwar American classics, muscle cars, hot rods, European sports cars, and other collectible vehicles. The company built its identity around public, high-energy auctions and a broad no-reserve offering. In a no-reserve sale, the consignor agrees that a vehicle will sell to the highest bidder rather than being protected by a confidential minimum price. This format can create strong competition and uncertainty, making the auction itself part of the entertainment. Barrett-Jackson's lots have ranged from affordable project vehicles to highly valuable, historically significant, heavily customized, or unusually documented automobiles. Craig Jackson later became the company's chairman and chief executive and played a central role in the professional development and expansion of the business. Under the modern Barrett-Jackson model, an auction is more than a live sale: the company solicits and evaluates consignments, publishes lot information, registers bidders, coordinates vehicle movement and display, provides auctioneering and transaction administration, and produces an event intended to serve both the trade and the public. The company also offers automotive memorabilia and related enthusiast merchandise or experiences depending on the event. The Scottsdale auction became the brand's defining annual gathering. It attracted collectors, dealers, restorers, manufacturers, celebrities, media organizations, and spectators, and its results were increasingly watched as indicators of collector-car demand. Barrett-Jackson extended its event calendar to other American markets, including Palm Beach, Las Vegas, and Houston. These events gave consignors and bidders additional regional access while preserving Scottsdale's position as the flagship sale. The exact schedule and scope of events have changed over time. Television was another important stage in the company's development. Coverage through SPEED and later Discovery-related programming introduced the auction format to viewers who might never attend a collector-car sale in person. Broadcast presentation highlighted rapid bidding, vehicle histories, restoration details, auctioneers, consignors, and the emotional drama of winning a lot. The exposure helped make Barrett-Jackson a consumer-facing automotive brand rather than only a specialist auction operator. Charitable sales became a recurring part of the company's public profile. Special vehicles have been offered to benefit designated charitable causes, including manufacturer-donated or celebrity-associated cars. The financial treatment of each charity lot depends on its specific terms, and not every charity-related sale represents the same donation structure. These auctions nevertheless helped connect the collector-car community with fundraising and public-interest campaigns. Barrett-Jackson's business remains based in auction and event services rather than manufacturing vehicles. It acts as an intermediary and event producer for consignors and bidders, earning revenue through transaction-related fees and associated services. Publicly available sources provide extensive information about events and individual vehicles but comparatively limited disclosure about private-company ownership, consolidated financial performance, and complete executive chronology. The brand is active and remains one of the most recognizable names in the American collector-vehicle auction sector.

• 1971

  First Scottsdale auction

  [1]Barrett-Jackson official about pagebarrett-jackson.com

  Tom Barrett and Russ Jackson held the first auction associated with the Barrett-Jackson business in Scottsdale, Arizona.

• Craig Jackson leads the company's modern expansion

  [1]Barrett-Jackson official about pagebarrett-jackson.com

  Craig Jackson became the company's chairman and chief executive and helped develop Barrett-Jackson into a nationally recognized collector-car auction brand.

• Expansion beyond Scottsdale

  [2]Barrett-Jackson official auction calendarbarrett-jackson.com

  Barrett-Jackson added major auction events in markets including Palm Beach, Las Vegas, and Houston.

• Televised auction growth

  [1]Barrett-Jackson official about pagebarrett-jackson.com

  Television partnerships expanded the audience for Barrett-Jackson's live auction events and helped establish the company as a mainstream automotive media brand.

A high-profile, enthusiast-oriented collector-vehicle auction house centered on large public events, no-reserve selling, televised auction entertainment, and a broad mix of classic, performance, custom, exotic, and contemporary vehicles.

• Auction services · 1971

  Collector-vehicle auctions

  Barrett-Jackson organizes live auctions for collectible automobiles across a wide range of eras, values, and categories. Offerings can include American classics, muscle cars, European sports cars, exotics, race-related vehicles, customs, hot rods, restomods, modern performance cars, and project vehicles. The company manages consignment intake, lot presentation, bidder registration, live bidding, and transaction administration.

• Auction format

  No-reserve auction events

  No-reserve selling is a central part of Barrett-Jackson's public identity. Under the relevant sale terms, a consigned vehicle is offered without a pre-established minimum price and is sold to the highest bidder. The format creates a visible contest between bidders and is a major reason the company's events are both commercial transactions and spectator experiences.

• Memorabilia auction

  Automotive memorabilia auctions

  In addition to vehicles, Barrett-Jackson auctions automotive memorabilia and related collectibles. Depending on the event, such material may include automobilia, signs, models, garage artifacts, and other items connected with motoring culture.

• Charity auction

  Charity vehicle auctions

  Special vehicles are periodically offered to support designated charitable causes. These lots may be donated by manufacturers, celebrities, collectors, or other partners, and the proceeds or donated portion are determined by the terms of the individual sale.

• Charity vehicle auctions

  United States

  Barrett-Jackson has used special vehicle consignments and auction lots to raise money for designated charitable organizations and causes.

  Outcome. The auctions generated charitable proceeds and increased the public-interest profile of the company's events; results vary by lot and beneficiary.

  Source
• Televised live auction programming

  United States

  Television coverage presented Barrett-Jackson auctions as live automotive entertainment, combining collector-car information with competitive bidding and event storytelling.

  Outcome. The broadcasts broadened awareness of Barrett-Jackson beyond people who attended collector-car auctions in person.

  Source

• 1971

  Establish a Scottsdale collector-car auctionStrategy

  Background

  Tom Barrett and Russ Jackson entered the emerging collector-vehicle auction market by organizing a sale in Scottsdale, Arizona.

  Action taken

  They created the auction business that became Barrett-Jackson and made Scottsdale its foundational event.

  Aftermath

  The Scottsdale sale grew into the company's flagship auction and a major annual collector-car gathering.

  Source

• Expand the auction calendar beyond ScottsdaleStrategy

  Background

  A single flagship event limited access for consignors and bidders outside Arizona.

  Action taken

  Barrett-Jackson developed additional major events, including auctions associated with Palm Beach, Las Vegas, and Houston.

  Aftermath

  The company established a broader United States event network while retaining Scottsdale as its signature sale.

  Source

• 2021.07.29

  Reported2021.07.30

  Barrett-Jackson announces acquisition of Collector Car Network[4]Barrett-Jackson 宣布收购 Collector Car Networkabc15.com

  Barrett-Jackson announced its acquisition of Collector Car Network, which includes ClassicCars.com, AutoHunter, The ClassicCars.com Journal, and the Future Collector Car Show. The financial terms were not disclosed, and Collector Car Network's brands were to stay in place.

Read more

1. 1Barrett-Jackson official about pagebarrett-jackson.com
2. 2Barrett-Jackson official auction calendarbarrett-jackson.com
3. 3Barrett-Jackson official charity informationbarrett-jackson.com
4. 4Barrett-Jackson 宣布收购 Collector Car Networkabc15.com