For car buffs, there’s no greater thrill than the elusive, one-of-a-kind showstopper that is a vintage automobile. Cadillacs, Thunderbirds, Jaguars and, yes, an Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme convertible are all up for bid at the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction. Aptly nicknamed “the greatest car show on earth” by the Arizona Republic, the 37-year-old auction is not new to international pomp. The

auction takes place every January in Scottsdale, Arizona, but other satellite auctions have sprouted in über-wealthy hotspots like Las Vegas and West Palm Beach. South Florida’s sub-tropical waterfront city is the perfect fi t for the car extravaganza. Home to the wealthiest elite (read: old money) and some of the most picturesque palm-tree laden Mediterranean revival architecture (a realtor’s dream), it’s the ultimate millionaire’s playpen. After all, the epitome of Palm Beach cool is driving down Worth Avenue’s luxury retail strip in true awe-inducing form. Not shy for spending, last year’s four-day event reached $32 million in total sales with 600 cars on the auction block. Attendance rose by 65,000 and 1,443 bidders attended from 13 countries – as far as Uganda, Malta and Norway. Just to put it into perspective, the total credit line of these bidders was a whopping $260 million. Auction highlights included a 2007 Foose Custom Coupe, which sold for $330,000, and a 1971 Plymouth Barracuda Coupe, which went for $285,000. Going into its sixth year in West Palm Beach, the auction company also manages to raise money for various charities. Sir Paul McCartney’s 2006 Cadillac CTS was among the auctioned cars in 2007. In total, the Palm Beach event raised more than $500,000 for local and national charities. Nice to know you can have your cake and eat it too.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT WWW.BARRETT-JACKSON.COM.

When just another Rolls won’t do6th Annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction set to roll March 26-30 at South Florida Fairgrounds, West Palm Beach

BY ELLIOT KOTLYAR

2007 FOOSE CUSTOM COUPE

1957 CHEVROLET BEL AIR CUSTOM CONVERTIBLE. THE “SUPER CHEVY” PROJECT AMERICAN HEROES ’57 CHEVY IS FULLY CUSTOM AND ALL NEW WITH A 572 AND AUTOMATIC. PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT THE ARMED FORCES FOUNDATION.