The Most Respected Car Guy in the Collector Car Industry
BIOGRAPHY
Gary’s professional career in the collector car industry has spanned over 45 years, throughout which he has become one of most respected individuals in the field – if not THE most respected – for not only his knowledge of cars, but also for his honesty,
integrity and credibility.
He has been actively buying, selling and participating in the collector car lifestyle auction industry since 1971.
During his 17-year tenure as a Vice President for Barrett-Jackson Auctions, Gary oversaw the Consignment, Bidder, Guest Services, and Insurance departments, and was key in growing Barrett-Jackson from $18M to $130M in sales during their signature Scottsdale event alone, and expanding the company from one auction event to quarterly events.
Gary implemented strategic campaigns to increase event attendance by the general public. As a result, attendance went from 70,000 to 350,000 for the company’s signature event alone. During his employment, was solely responsible for negotiating, helping to secure, and management of noteworthy sponsorships with Ford Motor Company (2005), General Motors (2004), Chrysler/Dodge (initially in 1996), as well as many others.
He handled broadcast negotiations to increase live television coverage with SPEED network – later, FOX Network – from 4 to 40 live broadcast hours per event, and was heavily involved in the charitable aspects of Barrett-Jackson, and has been passionate about these organizations and their causes.
Gary has been involved in the automotive industry throughout his professional career, and has worked in many different aspects of the industry - including the restoration, aftermarket, and design fields. He began his career as a founding general partner for BSW International, which grew to become one of the largest architectural firms in the United States with clients such as Wal-Mart, Texaco, Applebees, and Burger King.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Gary served as the President of the Mercedes-Benz Club of North America – Sooner Region – which covered the state of Oklahoma, focusing his passion on the Mercedes-Benz brand that he had become so interested in during the mid-1960s.
In 1989, Gary sold his interest in BSW International, and began pursuing his automotive passion on a full-time basis. He started Bennett Investor Auto Auction Inc., which specialized in classic, collector, and special-interest cars, and also established Auto Connection - a highline automobile dealership with annual sales in excess of $10M per year.
Broadening his automotive horizon, Gary began his adventure with Lister North America - a European company - and became the President of Lister North America, a Jaguar/Corvette aftermarket tuner company, specializing in performance upgrades for those two marks.
Simultaneously, he was the President of Lister Restoration, a premier restoration company which specialized in muscle cars, European sports cars and Shelby Cobras, serving distinguished clients such as Roger Penske, Prince Abdul Azziz of Saudi Arabia and Nubo Sawama of Japan.
He served as the President of Coach Connection - an upscale motorcoach accessory company.
Among his many design accomplishments, Gary designed and was awarded two separate patents for the conversion of Chrysler and Ford minivans to be utilized as motorcycle carriers. He subsequently sold the patent and all rights for the benefit of manufacturing handicap-accessible vans.
Aside from his love of automobiles, Gary also established a passion for motorcycling, and designed and built custom V-8 motorcycles utilizing the engine as the stress-bearing member in place of a frame.
Throughout his long and varied automotive career, Gary became an avid racecar driver, winning many awards racing vintage NASCAR, Trans-Am, European sportscars, and open wheel racecars at racetracks throughout the United States.
Gary has been quoted often and regularly in noteworthy publications such as the New York Times, Autoweek, Motortrend, Corvette Fever, SuperChevy Magazine, Mustang Monthly, and other similar publications.
Gary’s industry-related TV exposure has been expansive:
o He was a regular on the Speed Channel/Fox/Discover/Velocity networks while supervising the auction events;
o Regularly interviewed as an automotive expert;
o Was a key character in “Life on the Block,” a behind-the-scenes program which revealed the inner workings of the consignment and auction process;
o Was the “car expert” on the television program “Car Search,” a competition program designed to create interest in the collector car hobby for profit;
o Showcased on “Wealth on Wheels,” a regularly broadcast program involving cars;
o Hosted countless "Expert Symposiums" during his tenure at Barrett-Jackson;
o Gary has also given countless radio interviews on local, national and satellite radio broadcasts throughout the years
Gary now oversees Leake Collector Car Auctions, a subsidiary of the largest auction company in the world, Ritchie Bros.
Gary can be reached at (480) 290-3019
Copyright © 2022 Gary Bennett - All Rights Reserved.