The year 2025 is now in our rearview mirror. As we look back at another in a string of banner years for BaT, we want to take a moment to thank those we owe for our continued success: every member of the hard-working BaT staff and the buyers, sellers, and commenters that make up an enthusiast community that is unique the world over. This place wouldn’t be the same without any of you.
A few of the comments that stood out to us yesterday:
“Future owner needs to swear on a stack of Plymouth Owner’s Manuals to leave every inch of the drive train original, Love it 👍”
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Mouse51 commented on 1967 Plymouth Barracuda Coupe 3-Speed
“This car is a dream come true. I’ll be reaching out to the seller shortly. Will look brilliant next to our Charleston!”
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RaboK75 commented on No Reserve: 1953 Citroen Traction Avant 11BL
“Timeless styling. Always loved the look of the 505.”
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Autostocks commented on No Reserve: 1981 Peugeot 505 Turbo Diesel 5-Speed
BaT member stephen844 recently wrote to us with some interesting history on the 1956 Volkswagen Beetle that he won from Beuk73 in a July 2025 BaT auction:
The car came with receipts and documentation as far back as its “Birth Certificate” and papers from all eight of its previous owners! There was a cool story to tell about it after researching, beginning with its original owners, Elizabeth Loring Keyes Burckmyer and Lawrence A. Burckmyer, Jr., who were both professors at Cornell University. Elizabeth was a talented artist who taught drawing courses there, and was a trained biologist who had many of her etchings published in books and scientific journals. In 1956, she went on sabbatical leave to tour Europe and ordered this 1956 Beetle from Wolfsburg to take delivery in the Netherlands.
Alex is joined by fellow BaT luminaries Howard and Zac to take a look back at 2025 and ring in the new year. They discuss notable listings from 2025, Howard as a Corvette guy, the Mazdaspeed Protege, the Valentine One, curation regrets, going from one first world problem to the next, upcoming BaT events, and a yearning to get back out on track.
We tip our hats—not only have you officially made it through another week, but the holidays and, not to mention, another trip around the sun. If you’re needing a break from all of that travel, then may we present you with this week’s Weird and Wonderful. As always, this list is merely a snippet of goodness, so we encourage you to check out our live auctions page for more.
It was just before midnight, New Year’s Eve 1976, and a light snow had begun to fall as me and the rest of the crew walked wearily out of the service bay door of Mark & Randy’s Red Owl. We were beat-down, dead-dog tired but were all in a great mood. The supply semi had pulled in a couple hours ahead of schedule that evening, having left home base in Fargo early because another blizzard was on its way, so we’d gotten a head start on Stock Night, unloading the giant trailer and unpacking all the boxes, then filling the freezers and refreshing the coolers and stacking the dry-goods shelves to their very brim, making sure the product was orderly and neatly placed right-side-up with all labels dutifully facing front. I was anxious to get over to Anne’s and welcome in the New Year with a big wet smooch, but decided to stop for a minute to have a cigarette with the guys. And that’s when it happened. I had a great idea. One of the best I thought I’d ever had. The Red Owl Gran Prix.
A few of the comments that stood out to us yesterday:
“What a great track day car! Appears well sorted and ready to “Rock and Roll””
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Tombo62 commented on No Reserve: Ex–John Oates 1984 Tiga SC84 Sports 2000
“An iconic Mopar. One of the best designs of this period.”
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JAY-Z commented on 1968 Dodge Charger R/T
“When my Family was on a vacation in Hawaii back in 1977 we had the Ford version of this wagon finished in an emerald green. It was a tank of a car but did drive nicely and got us around Oahu in comfort. My parents owned a 1973 Ford Thunderbird with the same 460ci V8. I see some of the same or similar interior parts on this wagon as well. Very nice condition Colony Park Wagon for its age!
GLWTA 👍”
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Jimmyblues1959 commented on 26k-Mile 1975 Mercury Colony Park Wagon 460
A few of the comments that stood out to us yesterday:
“I am a retired Industrial Designer. Those out there who studied the curriculum know the hours and sleepless nights spent in the shop building scale models of soooo many consumer goods for curriculum projects….clay, plaster, and YES…WOOD.
I am speechless as I view this work of art.
YES…puns will abound here and as the new “caretaker”…(hopefully an arborist)… will soon discover…this is a MASTERPIECE in sculpting that will be the highlight any cruise/car show.
One thing every…”
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LMGun commented on No Reserve: 1:1 Ford GT Wooden Display Model
“A ton of period chrome doo dads added to this bike. I can see both sets of floor boards, all hand controls, grips, shifter pegs and foot brake, fork lowers, crash bars, most of the case covers, and others I might not be seeing. That dual exhaust alone was probably $1k. That’s what we did to these bikes back in the day!”
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ppointer commented on No Reserve: 67-Mile 1996 Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail Classic
“In ’68 my mom drove a ’65 impala… I remember sitting, well standing, behind pretending to cruise. Somehow I slipped it in N and rolled backwards into the street… I remember mom running out of the laundry mat in her feather hat and night robe… ha ha… I also remember sleeping in the rear window on long journeys. Different times! I was 4”
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Robert64 commented on 409-Powered 1965 Chevrolet Impala SS Sport Coupe 4-Speed
A few of the comments that stood out to us yesterday:
“A round of applause for the Mangusta owners who shared their knowledge here.
One of the best features of BaT.”
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Stratos commented on 1969 DeTomaso Mangusta
“John Oates was a very capable racer, campaigning a Tiga in SCCA S2000 among other cars.
During the Pontiac Fiero sponsored Big-Bam-Boom Tour, John tested a NASCAR Modified at Stafford Speedway, and Pontiac teamed him with Clay Young in the Dole Fiero for a couple of IMSA GTU races.
There was a crash at Brainerd or Road America (I forget which)… but not due to driver error. When Clay handed off the car to John he said something was rattling around in the transmission. Eventually the trans…”
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200mph commented on No Reserve: Ex–John Oates 1984 Tiga SC84 Sports 2000
“An incredible presentation here, under the radar in its day and virtually indestructible —
Make no mistake this is quite a find with the M130 straight-six one of my favorite engines. In this smaller W114 there’s plenty of power considering these were also utilized in the larger W108 series.
Notable recent service items ‘23 – ‘24 including:
– shifter linkage and kick down arm bushing, and solenoid
– front subframe mounts, engine mounts, and tie rods
– alternator belts, accelerator…”
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Luz_do_sol commented on No Reserve: 1971 Mercedes-Benz 250
A few of the comments that stood out to us yesterday:
“20 or so years ago my wife and I were staying at the Cypress Inn in Carmel. One morning I got up very early, so early that the hotel staff had not begun morning preparations.
I stumbled down into the lobby and saw an elderly lady walking the other way. I asked her if she knew where I could get a cup of coffee.
She smiled a 10,000 watt smile and said there was a place around the corner, or if I wanted to wait she’d make me some.
She wasn’t in a uniform and had no name tag so not quite…”
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angushopper commented on No Reserve: Ex–Doris Day 1976 Mercedes-Benz 450SEL
“A cassette deck next to an 8-bit onboard computer, wrapped in wood trim. Perfect. I hope the next owner shares my irrational nostalgia for older interiors.”
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Crovet commented on No Reserve: 21-Years-Owned 2000 BMW M5
“Not an uncommon swap in the late 1980s. I recall reading a Pontiac Magazine from that era where someone restored a ’69 Firebird that had the Chevy motor in it. There were far more parts available for small block Chevys either through catalogs like J.C. Whitney, or in junkyards, which were chock full of them. And, hey, if it ain’t broke…why fix it? If it gets to the point where the 350 needs to be pulled, then you can start thinking about putting a proper Pontiac motor back in. But,…”
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David_C. commented on 350-Powered 1969 Pontiac GTO Convertible