Barrett-Jackson broadens collector-car reach via acquisition
Acquisitions aren’t just happening among dealerships. Auctions and other automotive service providers are in the mix, too, with the latest move involving the rarest of vehicles.
On Thursday, Barrett-Jackson Holdings, the parent company of Barrett-Jackson Auction Co., announced the acquisition of the Phoenix-based Collector Car Network, including ClassicCars.com, AutoHunter, The ClassicCars.com Journal and the Future Collector Car Show.
The company said through a news release that the acquisition furthers Barrett-Jackson’s mission to grow the collector car market through strategic alignment of best-in-class brands and world-class customer service.
“Barrett-Jackson Auction Company and ClassicCars.com are two of the most respected companies in the collector car hobby,” Barrett-Jackson chairman and chief executive officer Craig Jackson said in the news release. “Our internationally broadcast live events and their online platforms are unrivaled.
“Working together, we will better serve our booming customer base, as well as attract the next generation of collectors to the hobby,” Jackson continued. “This strategic step has the potential to fuel unparalleled expansion of the collector car market.”
Collector Car Network is a four-time honoree on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies and is comprised of four brands, including:
— ClassicCars.com: Five-time Stevie Award winner for Front-Line Customer Service Team of the Year. Attracts more than 4 million visitors each month and supports the largest online network of buyers, sellers, dealers and auction houses.
— ClassicCars.com Journal: Reaches more than 500,000 monthly readers and is recognized as one of America’s most influential online automotive websites.
— AutoHunter.com: Launched in 2020 and offers a simple, convenient online auction site supported by a seasoned team of automotive experts who guide, inform and educate buyers and sellers.
— Future Collector Car Show: Hosts more than 12,000 guests annually and features vehicles that target the next generation of car lovers, as well as the up-and-coming cars of today.
Roger Falcione, president and CEO of Collector Car Network, described the potential impact of this deal involving Barrett-Jackson, which was founded in 1971 and has been on the internet since 1994 to incorporate online auction catalogues, online bidding and live streaming.
“We see this acquisition as an enormous growth engine for the collector car marketplace,” Falcione said. “Our two companies are perfectly aligned to be the leading resource for car collectors worldwide, including the rising generation of collectors who are evolving the market.”
Jackson added, “Roger and his team have built an exceptional organization with an award-winning customer service culture. Like Barrett-Jackson, they have built incredible brand equity over the years.
“Combined with Barrett-Jackson’s customer service record, expertise and world-class marketing efforts, we will make it even easier for everyone to engage in the hobby,” Jackson went on to say.