CAR AUCTIONS ARE ALWAYS a roll of the dice for buyers and sellers. But what about for the house? In 2021, Barrett-Jackson’s first year back after a COVID-19-stifled 2020 and an ancient-history 2019, the auction house’s Las Vegas, Nevada, sale took in $48 million. In this early summer’s go-go economy, Barrett-Jackson’s Vegas Sale, June 30-July 2, took in ... $48.2 million. Hmmm. At first glance, numbers like that feel like a push. But 2021’s average sale was just north of $65,000, while this year the average car sold for $72,000 — about 12 percent more year-on-year. So total sales didn’t rise, but the house realized more per car that went across the stage. Even when the house doesn’t look like it’s winning, it’s winning.
Compared to Scottsdale, the floor remained relatively empty of foot traffic, making the viewing of the cars a simpler task than it is elsewhere. Only bidders and guests were allowed in the door; no lookie-loos treating the event like a car show allowed. The “automotive lifestyle” aspect of the experience was scaled
