Articles | Barrett-Jackson Auction Company - World's Greatest Collector Car Auctions

February 24, 2021

Posted By : Barrett-Jackson

Written By : Eric Becker

FOR THE DRIVERS: Barrett-Jackson Presents the Larry Winkler Collection

February 24, 2021
Posted by Barrett-Jackson

Written by Eric Becker

Craig Jackson and Larry Winkler with just a portion of the Larry Winkler Collection.

Cars are for driving. This seems an obvious thing to say, but in an era where so much talk is focused on electric this and autonomous that, it seems right to remind that cars go beyond mere transportation tools. Indeed, they offer something far more real, elemental and even life-affirming. And that’s why we’re here.

We celebrate the love of the automobile – the sounds, movement and more that contribute to the thrill of driving. And few understand that better than Larry Winkler. Winkler, a gearhead’s gearhead, has collected extensively and wisely, and has based his collection on a single raison d’être: get out and drive.

“The nearly 35-car-strong Larry Winkler Collection is a fine example of curation and imagination,” said Barrett-Jackson Chairman and CEO Craig Jackson. “The cars span a spectrum from impeccably done Resto-Mods – like a jaw-dropping 427-powered 1955 Chevrolet Nomad and big-block-powered ’56 Ford F100 pickup – to more modern classics like the indomitable 2006 Ford GT. Winkler’s commitment to engineering, design, execution and the love of driving is on full display with this collection.”

Indeed, the Larry Winkler Collection offers a broad variety of engine types, cylinder counts, natural aspiration or forced induction, manual or automatic gearboxes, two- or four-wheel drive … we could go on, but while each car is different, they all share important things in common. Among the attributes of the collection, all are headed to the 2021 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction, all are offered with No Reserve and all are built to drive.

Designed by the most capable engineers and honed by the sharpest drivers, these are track-focused racers, and they represent the pinnacle of driving excitement across a range of manufacturers. No Brand-X loyalty here; these cars are poised to pounce at the next apex and are ready to put you in the driver’s seat and experience unbridled performance.

Lot #1374.2 – 2020 Ferrari 488 Pista

With a name literally translating to track in Italian, the collection’s **2020 Ferrari 488 Pista (Lot #1374.2) **boasts the most powerful production V8 in the history of Ferrari. As the hardcore version of the Ferrari 488 GTB, the Pista uses a thoroughly reworked version of the 488’s 3.9-liter twin-turbo V8 engine. Total output is an astonishing 711hp at 8,000 rpm with 537 ft/lbs of torque. The Pista can rocket to 60 mph in 2.7 seconds, and go from 0-120 mph in 7.4 seconds and on to a top speed of 211 mph. The incredible engine is mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission capable of shifting in 30 milliseconds when in race mode. Shaped by the wind, the Pista generates 20 percent more downforce than the standard 488 GTB and features a radically redesigned front end. Air passes through an S-duct in the front bumper and re-directs through a vent in the hood, creating more downforce over the nose at high speeds.

Lot #1373.1 – 2016 Porsche 911 GT3 RS

Launched at the Geneva Motor Show in 2015 and following the RennSport ideology to a whim, the 2016 Porsche 911 GT3 RS (Lot #1373.1) is the ultimate naturally aspirated, road-going variant of the 911. With a 500hp 4.0-liter flat-6, 7-speed PDK gearbox, aluminum body from the 911 Turbo and borrowed aerodynamic tricks from the Le Mans-winning RSR, Stuttgart has outdone itself on this racer. Set to deliver the purest of driving thrills, the 911 GT3 RS blankets the line between road car and racecar – all with a kicking stereo, air conditioning and cruise control.

Lot #1372 – 2016 Dodge Viper ACR

While certified as a street-legal car, the 2016 Dodge Viper ACR (American Club Racer, Lot #1372) was designed and engineered to be the best track car possible. It is, and one of the fastest. The ACR set 13 lap records at tracks all around the United States and is fitted with carbon-fiber rear wing that measures 6-feet wide and helps the Viper generate 1,700 pounds of downforce at top speed. Powering the Viper is the largest and most powerful production V10 ever: an 8.4-liter monster producing 645hp and 600 ft/lbs of torque. An engine this mad could only come from Detroit. Best of all, unlike the paddle-shift dual-clutch transmissions in the previous entries, the ACR allows for drivers to row their own gears thanks to a 6-speed manual.

Lot #1374 – 2013 Ferrari F12 Berlinetta

For a more refined but equally potent driving experience, the Larry Winkler Collection offers the incredible 2013 Ferrari F12 Berlinetta (Lot #1374). Billed as the ultimate in grand touring, this Berlinetta is a sublime addition to any collection. The naturally aspirated 6.3-liter V12 produces 731hp at a stratospheric 8,250 rpm, and peak torque comes in at 6,000 rpm sending 509 ft/lbs through a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. The incredible engine catapults the two-seat Ferrari from standstill to 60 mph in 3.0 seconds flat. Acceleration continues to 100 mph in as little as 6.5 seconds, and the V12’s power will carry the Grand Tourer to a top speed of 211 mph.

Lot #1373 – 1997 Lamborghini Diablo VT Convertible

But driving isn’t all about speed. Sometimes a bit of style goes a long way, and no one does style better than Lamborghini. Styled by the legendary Marcello Gandini and built to succeed the fabled Lamborghini Countach, this stunning 1997 Lamborghini Diablo VT Roadster (Lot #1373) is one of just 132 produced for the U.S. market between 1997-99. The look is inescapably iconic; a true poster child of supercar styling one is unable to ignore.

Lot #1372.1 – 1999 Vector M-12

Then there’s the Vector M-12 ( Lot #1372.1). Designing a car with styling more outrageous than a Lamborghini is an unparalleled achievement – especially when it shares much of the same underpinnings and engine, a 5.7-liter 48-valve V12. Exceedingly rare, this Vector M12 is #12 of 14 production cars built from 1996-99 and the second of four produced in 1999.

Lot #1374.1 – 2006 Ford GT

In terms of design, few cars can match the superb retro-modern looks of the 2006 Ford GT (Lot #1374.1). Built to celebrate Ford Motor Company’s centennial year, the GT was inspired by its legendary Le Mans GT40 predecessors and features a mid-mounted 5.4-liter modular V8 engine topped with a Lysholm twin-screw supercharger. This 2006 example is finished in Performance White with blue stripes and features a smaller pulley for a total output of 660hp; power is routed through a Ricardo 6-speed manual transmission.

Lot #1024.2 – 1973 Porsche 911E

For those interested in a true analog driving experience, the collection features a striking Silver Metallic 1973 Porsche 911E (Lot #1024.2). One of just one of 2,421 sold for the 1973 model year, this exquisite example is powered by its matching-numbers 2.4-liter flat-6 engine and 5-speed manual transmission. The Porsche provides a wonderful reminder of how cars drove. And it has a sibling, a “twisted sister” known as the “Slinger 911” – a 1973 Porsche 911T Custom Coupe (Lot #1371). Stunning to look at and even more so to drive, the “Slinger 911” has the Resto-Mod ethos applied to Stuttgart’s finest.

Lot #1371 – 1973 Porsche 911T Custom Coupe

The Slinger features fiberglass bumpers from GT racing, flared rear arches and a custom RS-style ducktail spoiler. Power comes from a 3.0-liter flat-6 engine fed by 40mm PMO carburetors, upgraded camshafts and a stainless-steel exhaust system. The fully bespoke interior is resplendent in Italian leather, and the bolt-in rear roll bar was wrapped to match. Fully custom, the Slinger 911 has been aligned, lowered and is ready to wow on road or track.

It is difficult to find such automotive variety in one place, but that place will be the 2021 Barrett-Jackson Auction in Scottsdale. The near 40-car collection of Resto-Mods and hot rods, track stars and supercars truly celebrates the diversity of designs and styles so incumbent of the collector car hobby. And we didn’t even mention the 50 stellar motorcycles and 400-plus items of automobilia, also part of the Larry Winkler Collection. Check the docket for details – but in the meantime, take a look at the gallery below for a taste of what’s in store in the collector car category!