Page 106 - Experience Magazine Spring 2023

Barrett-Jackson’s first Palm Beach Auction was held drive American sedan fitted with a HEMI engine
in 2003 at the South Florida Fairgrounds, achieving and an industry-first Multi-Displacement System to
significant sales and giving our East Coast fans a improve the HEMI’s fuel efficiency. Production started
chance to experience what many had come to love at in January 2004 for the 2005 model year. By April
the company’s flagship Scottsdale Auction in Arizona. 2004, the public could test drive the car during Barrett-
Upon its return to Florida in 2004, the auction house Jackson’s second annual Palm Beach Auction, which
nearly doubled its sales, cementing Palm Beach as its was sponsored in part by Chrysler.
second home. One of the aspects beyond the auction One of the allures of this first Ride ’N Drive offered in
block contributing to the second year’s success was Palm Beach was the early access to that new Chrysler
the addition of a unique “Ride ’N Drive” experience. 300 – a vehicle incredibly powerful for its time with
As Barrett-Jackson celebrates 20 years in Palm Beach 340 horsepower, as well as the ability to seamlessly
this April, let’s examine how this adrenalin-pumping turn off the fuel consumption in four cylinders of the
attraction has evolved.
5.7-liter HEMI engine when V8 power was not needed.
In April 2003 at the New York Auto Show, Chrysler Chrysler, now a subsidiary of Stellantis North America,
debuted the 2005 Chrysler 300, a large rear-wheel- has always been intertwined with Dodge, which

PALM BEACH
PAST AND PRESENT

THE EVOLUTION OF RIDE ’N DRIVES AT THE FLORIDA AUCTION

106 BARRETT-JACKSON EXPERIENCE SPRING 2023