Craig Jackson, Zac Brown, Rick Hendrick and John Mendel.

Barrett-Jackson: 0 to 45 and Successfully Accelerating

Family patriarchs Russ and Nellie Jackson hopped in their ’50s Cadillac and moved from Michigan to Scottsdale in 1960, bringing their passion for classic cars, especially prewar 12- and 16-cylinder-powered Caddys. The co-founder of the original auction and also a car lover, Tom Barrett III, and his family had migrated to Scottsdale at about the same time.

After meeting and befriending, the two established the “Fiesta de los Autos Elegantes” car show in 1967, benefitting Scottsdale’s art center and library. The Barrett-Jackson Auction Company followed in 1971.

After the Jackson family acquired the company, the auction grew in numbers of cars, attendance and coverage. The Financial News Network televised part of the Scottsdale auction in 1994, later leading to the broadcast on Speedvision. Today the Barrett-Jackson auctions are live on Discovery Channel, Velocity and worldwide on Discovery Networks International, including Spanish-language broadcasts throughout Latin America and the United States.

In addition to the television coverage, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, live streaming of the auctions on Barrett-Jackson.com and the Beyond the Block app provide instantaneous coverage for the always-in-touch mobile and social world.

“I learned the business from the shop floor up,” Jackson says. In high school, he restored a 1968 427 Corvette and in the early 1980s an award-winning 1948 Delahaye. “I developed a passion for this industry and learned all of what it takes to put on these mega-events. And today, every day –– because we are the world’s greatest collector car auction –– we are also committed to remaining a great community partner.”

Barrett-Jackson, barrett-jackson.com, 480.421.6694