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- Posted Wednesday March 30, 2016
April 9 Auction of Classic Clarion BMW to Benefit TGen Cancer Research
Barrett-Jackson auction in Palm Beach features iconic 1974 BMW completely rebuilt from the ground up
PHOENIX, Ariz. - March 30, 2016 - In 1974,
The Sting was the Best Picture, the highway speed limit
was reduced to 55 mph, bell bottom pants and disco ruled, and
Americans woke up to question Detroit's fascination with massive
land yachts that sucked gas and took the fun out of driving our
great roads.
Meantime, something special was rolling off the assembly lines in
Germany: a 1974 BMW model 2002.
This iconic sport
coupe (Lot #3004) - the first completely restored by Clarion
Corporation of America's Clarion Builds Program - will be sold
about 4:30 p.m. (EDT) April 9 at Barrett-Jackson Auction Co.'s 14th
annual Palm Beach Auction in Florida, benefitting cancer research
at the non-profit Translational Genomics Research Institute
(TGen).
Barrett-Jackson has raised nearly $2 million for the
Barrett-Jackson Cancer Research Fund at TGen, in Memory of Russ
and Brian Jackson. The fund, established in 2010, is a salute
to auction Chairman and CEO Craig Jackson's father, Russ - one of
the founders of Barrett-Jackson - and brother, Brian, whose lives
were cut short by colon cancer.
"TGen is grateful for the support of these two iconic brands -
Clarion and Barrett-Jackson," said TGen Foundation President
Michael Bassoff. "Their passion for their work and for making a
difference in the lives of individuals faced with cancer will serve
to inspire our researchers as they apply precision medicine to the
improved care of cancer patients worldwide."
Clarion's complete restoration and modernization of the BMW - a
car that spawned the sports sedan revolution and put BMW firmly in
charge of this automotive segment for the past five decades -
retains the 2002's timeless lines, but is now equipped with an
upgraded engine, transmission, brakes, suspension and, naturally,
Clarion sound.
Over 12 months of painstaking, detailed work, Clarion and their
Clarion Builds industry partners completely restored and modernized
this BMW, bolt-by-bolt, earning the 2015 Petersen Perfection Award,
and resulting in the icon gracing the covers of European Car as
well as Roundel magazines.
"This sporty little coupe, a mix of practicality and muscle,
incorporates the latest in technology to get to the heart of the
driving experience, just as TGen employs state-of-the-art genetic
investigations to uncover the driving force behind diseases like
cancer," said Chris Forsberg, the two-time Formula Drift champion
and official team test driver for Clarion Builds.
More than 400,000 of these grand pieces of automotive art and
culture sold globally from 1968 to 1976, providing drivers with the
feel of a sports car in a package that also can accommodate a
family. It offers the best of both worlds.
"Clarion Builds was started with the mission of rekindling
America's love-affair with the automobile by building and restoring
cars with an incredible story that have touched the lives of
automotive enthusiasts around the world," stated Allen H.
Gharapetian, Vice President of Marketing and Product Planning for
Clarion Corporation of America and Chief of the Clarion Builds
Program.
"Our program is fueled by the attention and excitement generated
by our fans through social, as well as traditional media, and our
inaugural BMW 2002 project managed to do tremendously in that
respect with millions of fans following our every move and cheering
us along the way. We are very pleased now to proceed to this
project's final mission as we extend the reach of the lives touched
by the Clarion Builds program further with the donation of the
auction proceeds to the TGen Foundation in support of cancer
research," Gharapetian said.
Join two-time Formula Drift Champion and Clarion Builds Driver
Chris Forsberg as he discovers how TGen is transforming medicine at
its state-of-the-art research facility: Click here
Pictures of the full build can be found at: http://bit.ly/ClarionBuildsBMW2002
To learn out more about Clarion Builds, or to follow the build of
the program's iconic classic cars, visit Clarion Builds at www.clarionbuilds.com or watch
the latest Clarion Builds video at www.youtube.com/clarionUS.
# # #
About Clarion Builds
Clarion Builds is an innovative marketing program that began in
the summer of 2014, initiated by Clarion Corporation of America to
tackle unique restoration projects of iconic cars and trucks in
cooperation with key partners, hand-selected for each individual
project. The program is designed to connect with new and existing
fans that are car enthusiasts, automotive sports fans, journalists,
historians, and anyone with an interest in design and style,
through a mix of social and traditional media. For info about
Clarion, please visit: http://www.clarion.com/us/en/corp/about-clarion/index.html
About The Barrett-Jackson Auction Company
Established in 1971 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona,
Barrett-Jackson, The World's Greatest Collector Car Auctions®, is
the leader in collector car auctions and automotive lifestyle
events. The company produces auctions in Scottsdale, Arizona; Palm
Beach, Florida; at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut, and Las Vegas,
Nevada. With broadcast partners, Velocity and Discovery Channel,
Barrett-Jackson will feature live television coverage in 2016,
including broadcasts in over 100 countries internationally.
Barrett-Jackson also endorses one-of-a-kind collector car insurance
for collector vehicles and other valued belongings. For more
information about Barrett-Jackson, visit http://www.barrett-jackson.com,
or call 480-421-6694.
About TGen
Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is a Phoenix,
Arizona-based non-profit organization dedicated to conducting
groundbreaking research with life changing results. TGen is focused
on helping patients with neurological disorders, cancer, and
diabetes, through cutting edge translational research (the process
of rapidly moving research towards patient benefit). TGen
physicians and scientists work to unravel the genetic components of
both common and rare complex diseases in adults and children.
Working with collaborators in the scientific and medical
communities literally worldwide, TGen makes a substantial
contribution to help our patients through efficiency and
effectiveness of the translational process. For more information,
visit:www.tgen.org. Follow TGen onFacebook,LinkedInandTwitter @TGen.
Press Contacts:
TGen
Steve Yozwiak
TGen Senior Science Writer
602-343-8704
[email protected]
Clarion Corporation of America
Michael Farino
New Era Communications, LLC
Phone: (949) 346-1984
[email protected]
