Freak Winter Storm Lures Us to Phoenix and the January Auction Week

Filed in archive Auctions on November 28, 2006

Located at the southern end of Vancouver Island, a stone's throw from the US border, my new home base of Sidney BC rarely sees snow or below-freezing temperatures. Perhaps a couple of times in January or February but within a few days the white stuff melts and that's it. So much for weather prognosis: as I write this on November 28 the entire Island is buried under a foot of the white stuff. Outside temperature is a frigid 23 degrees. Cars are slip-slidin' everywhere, driven by folks with too little experience in winter conditions. Although the forecast assures us things will be back to normal by the weekend this freak storm was all it took to erase any doubts over attending the 2007 classic car auction week in Phoenix, beginning January 14th. RM Auctions is already whetting our appetite with photos and backgrounders on cars to be sold at its annual event, which takes place at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel on January 19. One car that caught my attention immediately is this 1971 HEMI-engined Barracuda convertible. It has a mere 282 miles on the odometer, is fitted with a shaker hood, and is one of only 11 similar 'Cudas built; one of only three with a 4-speed manual. Anticipated selling price is a mere $4.5 million. I'll be leaving my snow boots behind to make room for the cash... do you think they'll take Canadian?