Page 9 - Experience Magazine Fall 2022

very special, not only because of its and hours playing with them. But
uniqueness and rarity, but for the throughout my adult life, I still get a
personal story it represents. thrill finding a Hot Wheels vehicle
on a peg that’s rare and unique.
The following year we put together
a deal with Carroll Shelby and Ford I’m an avid Hot Wheels collector
Motor Company to produce 100 and have a lot of rare examples on
Barrett-Jackson Mustang Shelby display in my office.
GTs, and I added a convertible and That’s what makes this hobby, this
a coupe to my collection. Those car culture, so special. Everybody has
were amazing cars and made great a unique story about a car. Those
additions to my collection, and again, stories motivate us to not only keep
the personal story attached to those our cars alive, but keep the history
I cherish. When I think back on
that experience, I look at it now cars made them even more special. and spirit behind the cars alive.
through the prism of being on the That personal approach extends The common denominator is to
auction block and working with to my automobilia collection, too. stoke the passion, look for what
Carroll, working with Edsel Ford I’ve been inclined to collect for a you enjoy, buy the nicest you can
and working with all the people at long time and have amassed quite a afford. And hey, if all else fails, you
Barrett-Jackson to make that happen. personal collection of Hot Wheels can always buy some Hot Wheels to
cars and other automobilia. When keep that flame alive.
But I was also very fortunate that I
was the purchaser of a 2007 GT500 the Hot Wheels first came out, my
convertible that was very special. I younger brother and I spent hours
took delivery of that car in Flat Rock,
with Carroll Shelby and collector
Ron Pratte as he took delivery of his
cars. It was a triple-black convertible,
and not only was it VIN 011, but
through a series of events, after I
took delivery right off the assembly
line, that car was then sent to Shelby
American and used as the concept
car for what would become the
40th Anniversary package. So my
car has a Ford number 011 VIN, and
then a Shelby VIN of 001C, which
stands for “Concept.” That car is

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