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enjoyment and the camaraderie – and we make that easy
by bringing everyone, from all walks of life, together to
have fun at one amazing bucket-list event.
I think a large part of the company’s longevity can be
attributed to its evolution. Barrett-Jackson has remained
at the cutting edge of where car collecting is going, as it
has morphed over the past 50 years from solely prewar
classics and antiques, through the rise of the muscle cars
and ’60s and ’70s sports cars, to Resto-Mods, hot rods
and modern supercars. Now, cars from the ’80s and ’90s
are on the rise as enthusiasts from Gen X and Gen Z get
more involved in the hobby. Who knows what the future
holds? We’re seeing more and more electric vehicles and
hybrids; perhaps vehicles with hydrogen power plants are
on the horizon. People like the uniqueness and diversity
of vehicles that Barrett-Jackson provides.
Today, Barrett-Jackson encompasses a far broader
geographical and cultural footprint than ever before; a
footprint I envision will grow even larger. Over the last
half-century, the company has survived recessions, wars,
health crises, technology and societal transformations, and
a whole host of other innovations and events that could
have potentially put it under. But thanks in large part
to that strong passion for collector cars, our incredibly
supportive customers and partners, and what in my
opinion is the best team in the industry, we have not only
survived, but thrived.
Like the company, I have had a lot of challenges in my
life. Because I’m an A-type personality who always wants
to find a solution, I think it’s only through tenacity and
building a team full of people with different skill sets than
my own that those challenges have been overcome. I’m
not a quitter. Those of us who were born into the Boomer
generation like I was don’t give up. When challenges arise
– and they always will – you’ve just got to see there’s a
light at the end of the tunnel, and it’s the great customers
who see you through it.

As Barrett-Jackson heads into its next decades, I am excited
to see what lies ahead – what new technology will be
showcased on our auction block and at our events; what
passion the next generations will bring to the hobby. I am
grateful to have learned so much from those who came
before me, and I sincerely hope that my father, mother and
brother would all be proud that I have carried on their legacy.
- - -
From top left to right: the original auction site next to the Safari Resort which was on Scottsdale
Road just north of Camelback Road; with lead auctioneer Joseph Mast and Barrett-Jackson President
Steve Davis in 2016; Tom Barrett (left) at the Fiesta de los Autos Elegantes in the 1960s; the Scottsdale
auction site in January 2020, which was the company's largest No Reserve Auction to-date; with Nellie
at the Scottsdale 35th Anniversary Auction.

12 BARRETT-JACKSON EXPERIENCE WINTER 2022