Barrett-Jackson delays January flagship Arizona auction until March

Barrett-Jackson is postponing its 50^th annual January auction, the company’s flagship event, until March because of the coronavirus pandemic, according to messages send by the Scottsdale, Arizona, company to its vendors.

While there has been no official word from Barrett-Jackson regarding the date change, the message makes it clear that the sprawling event would not be held at WestWorld in Scottsdale from January 16-23, as previously planned, but instead moved back to a later date rather than risk infections during to the recent surge of COVID-19 cases in Arizona, as in other places.

“After much thought and consideration, we have made the decision to postpone our Scottsdale Auction (currently scheduled for January 16-23) to March 2021,” says the letter, signed by Peter Lubell, Barrett-Jackson’s vice president of corporate partnerships.  “With the current spike in coronavirus cases, as well as the anticipated additional spike following the upcoming holidays, this decision was made out of an abundance of caution to help safeguard auction customers, sponsors, guests, and our staff.

“While the exact number of event days in March is not yet confirmed, we are targeting the week of March 22nd. We are working closely with the City of Scottsdale and WestWorld as it relates to scheduling. We will confirm the full event dates as soon as we are able.”

Barrett-Jackson is expected to announce publicly the postponement of its January Scottsdale event sometime in the near future. Barrett-Jackson’s website still listed the January 16-23 dates for the Scottsdale auction as this story was published. 

The postponement of the auction most likely will mean the Barrett-Jackson Cup custom car competition also will be pushed back to March.  The auction company recently announced the resumption of the competition after a five-year hiatus.

If the auction is scheduled in the March 22 timeframe, it will be around the time of  Mecum Auctions’ annual sale scheduled for March 17-20 in Glendale, Arizona, west of Scottsdale.

Nearly every one of the eight collector car auctions that held sales during Arizona Auction Week in January 2020 has announced changes in plans for the coming January because of the pandemic.

Gooding & Company and Worldwide Auctioneers both said they will hold their January sales entirely online.  RM Sotheby’s has announced a change of venue from its usual location at the Arizona Biltmore Resort to the OTTO Car Club, a north Scottsdale collector car storage and event center, with a one-day sale and just 80 vehicles offered.

Russo and Steele, also based in Scottsdale, says on its website that its annual Scottsdale sale will be an “exclusive private event.”  Held January 23, the invitation-only auction will feature a private preview reception and a full-course dinner, followed by an 80-car auction, all at no reserve.  

MAG Auctions has announced that it is cancelling its Arizona Auction Week sale, while Leake has said it remains undecided about its plans.  Bonhams has released no new information, and still has its Scottsdale auction listed on its website for January 21 with no changes.