Built for the People, But Who Are These People Anyway?

Filed in archive on January 20, 2006

How much would you pay for a used Volkswagen microvan, the "people's" truck? Well, friends, you're going to find this hard to believe but a VW Westfalia and a VW pickup similar to the one seen here were sold at the Barrett-Jackson Auction for over $45,000. An example of the insanity surrounding the collector car buying frenzy in Scottsdale.

Somewhat more believeable, though still bordering on the absurd, is the $180,900 paid for a pristine 1966 Shelby GT350 H Fastback. And much as early Porsches are among my Favorites, I find it hard to accept that someone gave up $135,000 for a Porsche 356A Cabriolet. Still, if you wanted a car that is truly unusual, at least in North America, $43,200 may have been reasonable for the privilege of owning a 1974 Gaz Chaika Model 13 Russian limousine.

Today I'm off to the RM Auctions, where the really big money will change hands as genuine classics and rare sports cars go under the hammer. It will be interesting to observe how much this Volkswagen pickup brings, especially as word of the prices paid for the two at B-J's events gets out. Gee, and I thought it was just a nice old truck.