After a trip to Toronto, we’re back in Scottsdale, AZ. Scottsdale brings to mind thoughts of the desert, the old west and golf. For me those thoughts also include cars. It’s a mecca for great cars, new and old for a variety of reasons. The dry climate contributes to the longevity of vehicles, the abundant sunshine makes you want to own a convertible (we don’t) and the area is blessed with interesting, nearby destinations to visit. The Phoenix highway system is excellent, enabling the motorist to get around easily. The automotive culture is alive and well in this part of America.
Scottsdale is also the original home of the Barrett-Jackson auctions, an annual sale of vintage cars, attracting visitors from around the world to ogle and buy the amazing cars available for sale.
It is not unusual to see car clubs displaying their ‘vettes in a mall parking lot on a weekend or see a single car parked in a prominent location where prospective buyers can see it. Such was the case yesterday as we visited a nearby shopping mall. We spotted a 1937 Buick Century Custom Sedan dressed up for sale. I couldn’t resist a photo.
This car originally sold for $1,200 to $1,500. It sold at a Barrett Jackson auction in 2010 for $41,800. That price would not be unusually high. Today’s market value is strongly influenced by the vehicle’s authenticity. This one has been beautifully restored but using a number of non-original parts, notably the engine. The original engine was a straight eight cylinder, generating a peak of 120 hp. This particular vehicle is a little peppier with a 400 cid, V8 engine and a modern automatic transmission. The paint, fog lamps, interior finish and sound system are also new. A mint condition, ’37 Buick Century with original parts would likely fetch twice the selling price.
Check References (below) for link to More Details on the Vehicle.
This photograph is a high dynamic range image, created from three different exposures of the same shot. I used this technique to better display the colour and texture of the car’s beautiful paint job.