Brian Earnest - Old Car Auction Bible: Auction Prices Realized 2012-2013

At our Old Cars Weekly and Old Cars Report Price Guide magazine headquarters, we often get asked The Question. Whats my old car worth? And the answer, honestly, is always the same: The car is worth whatever somebody is willing to give you for it. Price guides are helpful they can give you good ball park figures for what people have paid for similar vehicles in the past. But price guides arent gospel, and the prices in them can change quickly from month to month, or even week to week.

One of the best barometers of a cars value, though, is a collector vehicle auction. Our huge Old Cars Report Price Guide pricing data base contains tens of thousands of auction results, and the values published in the magazine are based on actual auction prices realized.

In the following pages, weve included a variety of auctions that show you exactly what buyers are paying for a wide variety of cars, from exotics and classics, to bread-and-butter cars that make up such a huge part of the old car hobby. Weve included all kinds of sales, from huge, high-profile events in Scottsdale, Ariz., and Monterey, Calif., to smaller venues you may have never heard of. More than 40 events from all parts of the country are included from 2012 and 2013. Weve packaged it all up in one handy reference that can help you accurately gauge the market and maybe even pick the correct auction for you to buy or sell a car.

Each auction listing includes a condition rating figure from 1 to 6. Condition is key when trying to compare apples to apples among old cars. Here is a brief explanation of the exclusive Old Cars Report Price Guide grading scale.

No. 1 Excellent: Near-perfect car, restored to maxium professional standards.

No. 2 Fine: Well-restored, or combination of superior restoration and excellent original. Would take top award at many judged shows.

No. 3 Very Good: Completely operable original or older restoration showing wear. Also, a good amateur restoration, all presentable and serviceable inside and out. A 20-footer.

No. 4 Good: A drivable vehicle needing no work, or minor work, to be functional. A deteriorating or poor amatuer restoration. A good driver that is a good candidate to be restored.

No. 5 Restorable: Needs complete restoration, but not beyond help. Not a basket case.

No. 6: Parts Car: May or may not be running. Incomplete or deteriorated to the point it would be extremely difficult to restore.

Orange Co., CA, June 22-24, 2012

Phil Skinner & Allyse Traeger reporting

Vehicles listed were declared sold. Reportedly, 398 were offered.

Price/Condition

The 2012 Barrett-Jackson Orange County sale was loaded with VWs, including this 1963 Type II eight-passenger van that went for $70,000. Photo by Phil Skinner