Feb 28, 2019, 10:55 AM by Michael Garland

Carlisle Auctions hosted its first of five auctions in 2019 and did so with a level of success that sets the bar high for the remaining four going forward.  Spanning two days and offering 400+ consignments, the Winter AutoFest auction in Lakeland, Florida welcomed an international audience of bidders, plus a wealth of consigners looking to move product…and move product they did!

Of the 400+ lots available, more than a dozen were Corvettes.  This feature tied in perfectly with the overall theme for Winter AutoFest, that being the Corvettes coming to Lakeland!  In fact, America’s Sports Car proved so popular that it held the top two spots for overall sales.  Both ‘65s that sold went for over $60,000, including the top seller for $72,760.  The full top 5 rundown is noted below.  There was a non-stop buzz in the arena, with a charity tie-in Friday and a special guest speaker on Saturday.  The two charity vehicles, a 1988 Camaro Convertible and a 2007 Precision Cycle Chopper tallied $9,000 for Wheels from the Heart out of Del Ray Beach, Florida.

As noted above, the auction welcomed a special guest speaker.  Taking the podium Saturday morning was Mr. Wes Wong.  Mr. Wong is a retired FBI agent and was one of the first on-scene for rescue efforts as part of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.  His story brought some to tears, while leaving most with goosebumps.  At the conclusion of the speech, Mr. Wong accepted donations for the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation and was also presented with a gigantic banner of thanks and recognition via Carlisle Events.
Overall, Carlisle Auctions tallied $3 million in total sales.  Bidder count was up over last year’s event too, as well as the overall quality of consignment.  This combination helped amass an unmatched energy in the room.

As top five selling cars go, the list is as follows:

1) 1965 Corvette $72,760
2) 1965 Corvette $60,990
3) 1969 Mustang Boss 302 $51,360
4) 1967 Camaro Restomod $45,475
5) 1967 Mustang $43,870

"Fantastic weather and great cars made for another outstanding sale in Lakeland," noted Director of Auction of Operations Tony Cline.  “We look forward to returning for two more days of fun February 21-22, 2020.”

Another piece of news coming out of the show was Carlisle Auctions announcement of a two-day auction only event in Sarasota, Florida.  Suncoast-Carlisle spans November 8-9, 2019.  More details will be released on this event in the coming weeks, but complete info on the auction, including results can be found at www.CarlisleAuctions.com.