Detroit Muscle Cars Generate Millions for Charity
January 22, 2008

Iconic muscle cars from Detroit automakers faced off at the 37th annual Barrett-Jackson Collect Car Event held in Scottsdale, Ariz., over the weekend, raising nearly $2 million in charity.

The first 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 raised $1 million; a 2008 Ford Shelby GT500KR sold for $550,000; and a 2008 Dodge Challenger went for $400,000.

"The great American muscle cars are back," said Barrett-Jackson CEO/Chairman Craig Jackson, who bought the Challenger. "During the 1960s and early '70s, Detroit demonstrated its stronghold on automotive performance and power with cars like these. We're thrilled that Barrett-Jackson provided the stage for the rebirth of these amazing vehicles.'

Among the stars present at the weekend auction was "Tonight Show" host and avid car collector Jay Leno, who drove the Corvette ZR1 across the block. Automotive icon Carroll Shelby addressed the crowd during the sale of the GT500KR, along with "Grey's Anatomy" star Patrick Dempsey.

$1 Million Corvette ZR1

Proceeds from the $1 million Corvette ZR1, along with proceeds from a trio of collectible authentic NASCAR Chevy Monte Carlo racecar hoods, will go to United Way of Southeast Michigan, the chair of which this year is Troy Clarke, president, GM North America.

Delivery of the vehicle will take place at the National Corvette Museum, in Bowling Green, Ky. The $1 million-deal also includes three days at the Bondurant School of High Performance Driving, with renowned Corvette racer Ron Fellows as a special instructor, tickets to the "Tonight Show" with Jay Leno and a personal tour of Jay Leno's "Big Dog" garage.

$550,000 Ford Shelby GT500KR

Ford donated the proceeds from the sale of the Shelby GT500KR to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

The one-of-a-kind 2008 Ford Shelby GT500KR was created just for the auction.

A number of other classic Fords crossed the auction block, including Shelby’s personal 1969 GT500 convertible, a pristine 1967 GT500 originally gifted by Carroll to his son, Mike Shelby, and "Grey's Anatomy" star Patrick Dempsey's No. 156 2005 Ford Mustang FR500C. Dempsey drove the car in the 2007 Grand-Am KONI Challenge series for Hyper Sport Racing, a team he co-owns.

$400,000 Dodge Challenger

The 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 will be the first of only 6,400 to be built and sold in the U.S.; a minimal number will be allocated to Mexico and Canada. Chrysler currently has 9,000 dealer (versus customer) orders for the 2008 Challenger, which will be officially unveiled at the Chicago auto show next month.

The Challenger was purchased by the Barrett-Jackson auction with proceeds going to NotMYKid, a non-profit that educates the public on youth behavioral health isses.

The $400,000 package includes two all-expense paid trips and VIP passes to the May 208 Dodge challenger 500 NASCAR race at Darlington Raceway with a meeting with Kyle Petty.

1 - Photo by Paul Morton for General Motors

2 - Photo by Ford

3 - Photo by Chrysler

Posted by Michelle Krebs at 6:19 AM under Chrysler , Ford , GM | Comments (2) | digg this | Seed Newsvine