‘Future Collector Car Show’ Highlight of Arizona Auction Week
Before the hammer drops on scores of incredible cars, Future Collector Car Show featured a rich display of tomorrow’s most wanted.
Some folks prefer Paris in the springtime, but we happen to love January in Arizona. What a time for auto enthusiasts and car collectors. Every year some of the biggest auction houses descend to the Southwest for Arizona Auto Auction Week 2020. The week runs until January 19, and will see auctions from the likes of RM Sotheby’s, Gooding & Company, Barrett-Jackson, Bonhams, and more.
Many will be on the hunt for rare, classic, and just awe-inspiring cars. Certainly Mustangs, Ferraris, Lambos, Porsches, Corvettes and other marques have earned their place as true collector cars.
But what about a BMW M3 E30, Acura NSX, or Mazda Miata? Turns out these rides, and a few others, are future collector cars waiting in the wings. On Sunday, January 12, over 170 cars gathered in Phoenix for the fifth annual Future Collector Car Show, hosted by Classic Cars.
Held on High Street, a posh shopping and dining entertainment center, enthusiasts came in hot; ready to show up, show off, and maybe win some awards (and bragging rights.)
Judges includes veteran concours judge Andy Reid; Formula Drift Judge Ryan Lanteigne; racer, drifter and Top-3 participant on the Netflix series, Hyperdrive Fielding Shredder; and Formula Drift Pro2 driver Andrew Schulte.
Best in Show
A yellow 1993 Mazda RX-7 won the coveted “Best in Show.” The modded rotary first called Hawaii home, before its owner, Timothy Eull, shipped it to his Arizona home two decades ago.
From there, Eull added a big turbo to the 13B dual-rotor motor, a self-designed intercooler, and a custom water injection system. The result is a monster with 450 horses ready to turn the desert sand to glass.
“This year’s Future Collector Car Show exceeded all expectations,” said ClassicCars CEO Roger Falcione. “The quality of cars continues to improve each year while new displays at the event expand the appeal beyond auto enthusiasts. We hope to return again next year with even more cars and more for the public to explore and enjoy.”
The Next Class(ic)?
Judges gave other other top honors as well.
- Best Modified Vehicle 1st: 1992 Mazda Miata; 2nd: 1997 Acura NSX; 3rd: 2009 Nissan GT-R
- Best Preserved: 1988 BMW M3
- Best Restored: 1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda
- Rookie of the Year: 2014 Subaru WRX
- Fan Favorite: 2006 Subaru WRX
- Students Choice sponsored by Universal Technical Institute: 2014 Ford Mustang GT
- Best Trunk sponsored by Slime: 2015 Dodge Charger RT
- Best Ford: 1979 Ford Mustang Indy 500 pace car (pictured below)
So what are your thoughts? Are these the next generation of collectible classics? What would you include as a car destined for greatness?
Photos: Future Collector Car Show; Kahn Media
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