A couple of years ago, I was sitting in the media tent at the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event in Scottsdale, Ariz., talking with Bob Golfen, SPEED.com’s Automotive hub editor.
 
A young man in his late 20s walked in, sat down and started chatting with us. He was there on a mission, to buy an old Shelby GT 500 or two, which at the time were going for around $200,000 or so. When Bob mentioned the then-current Shelby prices, the guy responded with, “It’s OK. My dad said I don’t need his permission, as long as I don’t go over $1 million.”
 
And then he proceeded to follow it up by complaining that his young wife, a former Playboy Playmate, was high maintenance. Regrettably, I was less than empathetic. Each of us has his or her own problems in life and I wasn’t going to lose any sleep over a man whose biggest issues seemed to be that he was young, rich and married to a Playmate. Man up, kid. Continue reading...

But it was a good metaphor for the weekend. Barrett-Jackson is, in its own way, as fascinating and seductive a wonderland as I’d imagine the Playboy Mansion is: Everywhere one looks, there is beauty that is exotic, expensive and, in my case, way out of my league.
 
Not everybody has a millionaire sugar daddy to raise him — God knows, I didn’t — so for some of us, finding affordable, cool cars at Barrett-Jackson is even more interesting than the ultra-high-end todays.
 
With that in mind, following are five cars I’d be taking a close look at this week at the 40th Annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event in Scottsdale. These all are cars from Tuesday’s docket, which means they will be more affordable than the big-dollar vehicles.
 
SPEED will have 40 hours of live HD television coverage from Barrett-Jackson, along with 40 hours of live chat and fantasy bidding. For more on the event, please see: 

Barrett-Jackson Starts Up

Barrett-Jackson Photo Galleries  

Famous Cars Owners at Auction

Bret Michaels at Barrett-Jackson

Fantasy Bid 

And for the complete docket, see barrett-jackson.com.
 
At any rate, five faves for Tuesday:
 
LOT 59.1, 1959 BUICK LE SABRE CONVERTIBLE — The 1959 model year was the high point — literally — of the General Motors tailfin craze. White over red, this is pure excess — and pure sex — on wheels. This car came from an era when America dreamed big dreams and made the outlandish a reality. It has presence. Want to make a statement? This American Beauty speaks volumes.

 
LOT 51.1, 1962 CHEVROLET BEL AIR COUPE —  Humble and spartan, with its dog-dish hubcaps and plain jane appearance, the ’62 Bel Air looked innocent enough. But the crossed flags and 409 script on the front fender tell you this is a bad-ass car, not to be trifled with, especially in a quarter-mile-long straight line. As Brian Wilson sang, “She’s real fine, my 409.” Yes, indeed.

 
LOT 73, 1924 FORD MODEL T CUSTOM ROADSTER — Built with everything a hot rod needs and nothing it doesn’t, this beautiful roadster evokes the look and feel of the halcyon days of the Southern California hot rod industry in the mid 1950s. Check out the louvered aluminum hood, the brushed aluminum interior panels and the varnished wood floor.

 
LOT 69, 1969 MERCURY COUGAR CONVERTIBLE — Sometimes referred to as a “gentleman’s muscle car,” the Cougar was an upscale version of the iconic Ford Mustang, but fetches far less in the vintage market these days, making it a real value. This one has a 351-cubic-inch/290-horsepower V-8. As a fun, affordable summer car, you can’t beat this.

 
LOT 55, 1965 VOLKSWAGEN KOMBI CUSTOM BUS — Pass the hookah and the Grateful Dead 8-tracks, man! This resto-mod VW bus has been beefed up with a 2,110-cc engine, front disc brakes and Porsche wheels. Just the thing to make Cheech & Chong green with envy.