2006 Barret Jackson Auction

Did Roush Performance go through a time warp? The engine builder, who supplies a great many kits and replicars with their large-cube performance crate engine combinations, is also looking into building vintage flathead V-8s for the street rod crowd. How cool would it be to have one of these? If you want one, let them know so they can get started.

There were a few 550s at the various auctions, but this one, done in stark white with blue fins, was built using a 2.3L VW Type I motor with twin 44 IDF Weber carbs. Titled as a 2004 kit, this Spyder sold for $49,680.

Not all re-creations are Cobras. Even an Alfa Romeo can get into the act. Copying a '32 8C design, we're not sure when it was built, but it uses a 2600cc inline-six backed to a five-speed box. The nice touch was the intentional fading of the old race numbers via wet-sanding. It sold for $54,000 at Barrett-Jackson.

Green and gold don't normally look that great on most cars, but it worked on this Cobra. With a Classic Roadster body and a newer 524 SVO motor installed, the car crossed the Barrett-Jackson block at $44,280.

Sometimes you get lucky. At the Russo & Steele auction this nicely done but older '32 Ford roadster sold for less than $25,000. Redo with a bench seat, lose the too-small whitewalls and steelies in favor of American five-spokes, add the correct windshield and you'd have a great roadster for cheap!

Allard, another company recently restarted by one of its faithful, was busy at the Barrett-Jackson auction in an outside booth showing off their latest creations.

Throughout the '80s and '90s Butler Racing Cobras were available in California. This one was built with a 427 side-oiler engine and sold at Barrett-Jackson for $42,120.

Even the lowly Gazelle had its moment in the spotlight, however dim. This is a '70s-era Classic Motor Carriage that was in the first group of cars sold (for a little over $4,000) during the day (non prime time) on Thursday at Barrett-Jackson.

Another re-creation, only this one is of a rare '38 BMW, was actually sold through BMW dealerships (they use a 3-series BMW drivetrain) in the mid-'70s. Only 80 were built, 10 of which reportedly made it to the U.S. (this was number six). It sold at Barrett-Jackson for $45,100.

California Cobra teamed up with Thunder Ranch to set up shop at Barrett-Jackson. Potential customers were quite OK with having kits and replicars in their midst, and the two companies were happy with the results of attending the show.

At Russo & Steele, this sano Porsche 356 kit went for a little over $26,000. You might be able to build one for less yourself, but the danger of buying one at auction is you never know how the previous owner treated it.

Speedway Motors, a longtime parts supplier to the hot rod crowd, had their new all-steel Deuce roadster on display. This makes the third U.S. company selling its own version of the '32 Ford roadster made from steel. Amazing!

At Barrett-Jackson, there are a whole lot of other things to look at under the big white tent, including lots of petroliana. If you could think of it, it was probably there and for sale!

Not all the Cobras crossing the block were replicas. This is an original (CSX3336) and is reportedly one of the last 25 original Cobras that were built (someone should tell Carroll that!). Original Cobra roadsters are always a hot seller (another sold for $605,000 at Russo & Steele), and this one crossed the block at $566,280.

Milt Brown, who also had his Monza Spyder for sale at Russo & Steele, brought his personal '57 Speedster replica out to see what he could get for it. It sold for a little over $26,000.