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Automotive Lifestyle
AUTOS: Double Sale Nets $950k For Charity
Specially prepared 2011 Ford Shelby GT500 at Barrett-Jackson raises funds for the Wounded Warriors Family Support group; first winning bidder donated it back to sell again.
Marine Col. John Folsom (back to camera) talks with (from left) Barrett-Jackson president Steve Davis, retired Army Lt. General John Sylvester, auction CEO Craig Jackson and Ronnie Rains, who bought the car and donated it back. (Photo: Bob Golfen)
A very special-edition 2011 Ford Shelby GT500 was sold twice in a row Saturday at the Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach auction, raising $950,000 for the Wounded Warriors Family Support foundation.
The red, white and blue Shelby, signed by dozens of veterans, families and supporters from all over the country, was hammered sold for $500,000 to a thunderous cheer from the auction crowd, which rose to a fevered pitch when the winner of the sale, Ronnie Rains of Odessa, Texas, donated the car back to be sold again.
With that, auctioneer Spanky Assister started his patter over again, with the second sale quickly reaching $450,000 and sold to Jack Miller, a Jupiter, Fla., collector and restorer of Ford Mustangs.
Rains, an Army veteran who served in Viet Nam and Europe, said he wanted to give the car back for rebidding because of his strong personal support for the Wounded Warriors organization and similar veteran’s groups.
“This is what it’s all about right here,” said auction president Steve Davis. “God bless America!”
The group’s chairman, Army Lt. General John Sylvester (retired), with his arm around Rains’ shoulders, added, “God bless America and God bless Americans.”
Before the sale, Davis received a special award from Wounded Warriors Family Support for his unflagging support of the organization and other causes that benefit military personal. Along with a certificate, Sylvester also presented Davis with a flag that had been flown over an Army base in Afghanistan.
A custom 1964 Ford Fairlane was donated last year by Davis to benefit the Armed Forces Foundation family support group; the car sold in Las Vegas for $700,000 and was re-donated to the auction, selling again in Scottsdale for $1 million.
Barrett-Jackson has raised more than $46 million through its frequent charity sales, which have become a regular and popular feature of the auctions. In every one of the charity sales, all the money raised goes to the worthy cause with the auction waiving all fees.
Wounded Warriors Family Support, founded by Marine Col. John Folsom, helps families of active military personnel and veterans, some wounded or killed in action, in dealing with all the adjustments they must endure. The organization provides places for families to stay for vacations and special programs for the children, among other support activities.
Bob Golfen, Automotive Editor for SPEED.com, is a veteran auto writer based in Phoenix, Arizona, with a passion for collector cars, car culture and the automotive lifestyle. SPEED.com fans can email Bob Golfen at
The red, white and blue Shelby, signed by dozens of veterans, families and supporters from all over the country, was hammered sold for $500,000 to a thunderous cheer from the auction crowd, which rose to a fevered pitch when the winner of the sale, Ronnie Rains of Odessa, Texas, donated the car back to be sold again.
With that, auctioneer Spanky Assister started his patter over again, with the second sale quickly reaching $450,000 and sold to Jack Miller, a Jupiter, Fla., collector and restorer of Ford Mustangs.
Rains, an Army veteran who served in Viet Nam and Europe, said he wanted to give the car back for rebidding because of his strong personal support for the Wounded Warriors organization and similar veteran’s groups.
“This is what it’s all about right here,” said auction president Steve Davis. “God bless America!”
The group’s chairman, Army Lt. General John Sylvester (retired), with his arm around Rains’ shoulders, added, “God bless America and God bless Americans.”
Before the sale, Davis received a special award from Wounded Warriors Family Support for his unflagging support of the organization and other causes that benefit military personal. Along with a certificate, Sylvester also presented Davis with a flag that had been flown over an Army base in Afghanistan.
A custom 1964 Ford Fairlane was donated last year by Davis to benefit the Armed Forces Foundation family support group; the car sold in Las Vegas for $700,000 and was re-donated to the auction, selling again in Scottsdale for $1 million.
Barrett-Jackson has raised more than $46 million through its frequent charity sales, which have become a regular and popular feature of the auctions. In every one of the charity sales, all the money raised goes to the worthy cause with the auction waiving all fees.
Wounded Warriors Family Support, founded by Marine Col. John Folsom, helps families of active military personnel and veterans, some wounded or killed in action, in dealing with all the adjustments they must endure. The organization provides places for families to stay for vacations and special programs for the children, among other support activities.
Bob Golfen, Automotive Editor for SPEED.com, is a veteran auto writer based in Phoenix, Arizona, with a passion for collector cars, car culture and the automotive lifestyle. SPEED.com fans can email Bob Golfen at
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