For more than 10 years, developer and business mogul, Ron Pratte has been a force to be reckoned with in the collector car world. The Chandler, Arizona native (who has an estimated net worth of $350 million) reportedly got his start collecting cars when he bought 52 vehicles at the 2003 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction. Since then, Pratte has set auction records with several of his purchases.
$4.1 million he spent in 2006 on a GM Futurliner.
$5.5 million he spent a year later on the last remaining 1966 Shelby Cobra Super Snake OWNED BY Carroll Shelby, himself.
1954 Pontiac Bonneville concept car, which Pratte bought in 2006 for $3.04 million.
The last Corvette Sting Ray, a 1967 Chevrolet Corvette coupe that Pratte bought in 2007 and the first production Ford Thunderbird, bought in 2009. Both were purchased for the paltry sum of for $660,000.
During the auctions, Mr. Pratte is very reserved, which is probably a character trait since he has never showed his collection publicly or been interviewed. A select few have been privileged to view one of the world’s most valuable collections. Portions of this assortment can be seen in a Speed TV video from 2012.
httpvh://youtu.be/zUiC63w_8EM
The big news is not that he HAS this vast collection, but that he is selling the ENITRE collection. He will return to the very place he has acquired most of it to offer it to the public – the Barrett-Jackson Auction in Scottsdale Arizona. The event is set to take place January 10-18, 2015. This is monumental in the collector car world. If you have never seen or been to an auction, I advise you to watch this one or visit in person. You will understand the value of collector cars and get an idea about the discerning tastes of Ron Pratte, a businessman who demands perfection in everything. His collection reflects that. Current and aspiring collectors, I know you will be watching. Car enthusiasts, here is your chance to sit back and get a trivia quiz, a history lesson and a peek at one of the foremost collections in this country. Barrett-Jackson has a few auctions remaining this year, but that is news they couldn’t sit on. Trust me, this is a BIG deal.
What car would you want to buy at auction from the Pratte collection?
