Amazing Shipwrecks

A bronze sword is among the artifacts. The 18-inch-long (45-centimeter) sword is of a style dated to between 950 and 850 B.C.

The Salcombe Wreck. Between 1200 and 900 B.C., a ship sank off the coast of Devon in England. Divers have so far uncovered 300 artifacts that weigh over 185 lbs combined, including copper and tin ingots (used to make bronze), weapons, and several pieces of jewelry. The wreck is significant because of its age and because the artifacts have proven that a trade network existed during the Bronze Age.

Golden adornments called torques which date to between 1300 and 1100 B.C.

The Belitung Shipwreck. The Belitung shipwreck was the first Arabian ship to be discovered and excavated. Found off the coast of Indonesia in 1998, it has yielded the richest and largest assortment of early ninth century Tang Dynasty gold and ceramic artifacts ever found–bowls, spice jars, inkwells, funeral urns, crystals, and gilt-silver boxes. Items included pearls from the Gulf, rubies and sapphires, a gold cup, and a silver flask.

The Antikythera Treasures. In 1900, divers discovered an ancient shipwreck just off the island of Antikythera. Another expedition in 1976 recovered the most significant part of the cargo. The massive haul of artifacts from the wreck included the Antikythera mechanism. Coins and jewelry, glassware, pottery, statues, and even copper couch beds were found. One statue is a classical bronze statue made sometime from 340 to 330 B.C.

The Bom Jesus. The Bom Jesus was a Portuguese ship which sailed in 1533 and disappeared off the coast of West Africa. Geologists working for De Beers discovered the shipwreck buried in the beach. After uncovering several copper ingots, the mining operation was stopped and archaeologists were called in. It is the oldest shipwreck ever to be found off Africa’s coast and contained more than 22 tons of copper ingots, 6 cannons, swords, thousands of gold coins traced back to King João III, and more than 50 elephant tusks.

The Ghost Ship was accidentally discovered in 2003 by a crew searching for a Swedish plane shot down in WWII on the Baltic Sea. A full-scale expedition was launched in 2010, and researchers were able to confirm that the ship was built around 1650. It is believed to be a type of Dutch ship known as a fluyt (a sailing cargo ship). The waters of the Baltic Sea have almost no tidal movement and the low salinity means shipworms are not able to inhabit it. That’s why the Baltic houses some of the most ancient and well-preserved vessels in the world.

The Vasa. The most exquisite shipwreck ever to be found in the Baltic Sea was the Swedish royal warship, the Vasa. Built between 1626 and 1628, it sank on its maiden voyage, less than a nautical mile from the harbor. During a recovery operation in 1961, thousands of artifacts and human remains were removed. The wreck was so well-preserved that the smallest details could still be discerned on its artwork. It took more than eighteen months and 1,300 dives to salvage the Vasa. The Vasa museum is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Sweden.

Cool Cars at Barrett-Jackson

Lot 42: 1989 Jaguar XJS Convertible - $9900

The Barrett-Jackson auto auction produces large prices but there are still some good buys to be had. These cars may not have been the cream of the crop, but they're cool machines.

Lot 205: 1965 Ford Mustang - $11,000

Lot 39.1: 1969 Buick Custom Sport Wagon - $14,850 A 400 cubic inch "big block" with 350 Turbo transmission was found in the GS series.

Lot 461: 1991 Chevrolet Corvette Callaway ZR1 - $30,800. The fourth-generation Corvette isn’t remembered fondly but in the hands of noted Corvette tuner Calloway, this ZR1 makes 550hp through a six-speed manual. It’s a very rare find.

Lot 519: 1981 Chevrolet Camaro - $6050. Second-generation Camaros are quickly rising in value. This particular example has Z/28 trim, T-tops, and a 350 cubic-inch V8. The buyer got a bargain.

Lot 807: 1967 Chevrolet Impala SS Convertible - $22,000 Impalas were all over, but one of the best buys was this all original 1967 SS. This car has all the right parts, including the 275hp 327 cubic-inch V8 mated to a four-speed manual transmission.

Lot 7000: 1967 Chevrolet Camaro Custom Coupe - $34,650 Similar Camaros in both stock and custom trim sell closer to $100,000. This one slipped through. It’s a keeper with a 475hp V8, Muncie four-speed manual transmission, front disc brakes and a complete restoration.

Widget Contact RSS

The Ron Pratte Collection

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Barrett-Jackson, The World’s Greatest Collector Car Auctions™, is honored to be selected by world-class businessman and car collector Ron Pratte for the sale of his world-renowned collection at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2015 auction. Ron Pratte, a businessman who demands perfection in everything he has a hand in, built the majority of his collection at Barrett-Jackson auctions. This pristine collection includes Carroll Shelby’s personal vehicle – the only remaining 1966 Shelby Cobra Super Snake, that sold for a world record $5.5 million, and a Pontiac Bonneville Special Concept Car, one of only two.

Shelby pegged the car's 0-60-mph time at just over three seconds.

The Pontiac Bonneville Special is a purpose-built concept car unveiled at the General Motors Motorama in 1954, the first 2-seater sports car Pontiac ever produced.

Two prototypes, one painted metallic bronze and one emerald green, were built with the intention of unveiling them simultaneously at the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf in New York and the Pan Pacific Auditorium in Los Angeles in 1954.

The 1954 Pontiac Bonneville Special concept car, went for $3.3 million

The former record for a Tucker was $ 1.1m. $2,915,000.00

"This year's Scottsdale auction was on a scale unlike anything in our 44-year history," said Craig Jackson, chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson, in a statement

The bus roared to $4 million on the block.

This 1947 Bentley Mark VI last sold for $ 1.7m. $2,750,000.00

One of only 153 1968 Shelby GT 500s. $440,000.

1957 Desoto Adventurer Covertible $225,500.00

1955 Chevrolet Nomad Autorama Custom Wagon