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- Posted Thursday January 16, 2020
Electro-luminescent racing stripes spark Cobra’s auction, benefiting TGen cancer research
Classic model of 1965 Shelby Cobra auctioned in prime-time Jan. 18 during 49th anniversary Barrett-Jackson car show at Scottsdale’s WestWorld
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Jan. 16, 2020 — Deep-red racing stripes on a black replica of a 1965 Shelby Cobra immediately set this car apart from others at the 49th anniversary Barrett-Jackson classic car auction. The sale of the charity car will benefit colon and prostate cancer research at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), an affiliate of City of Hope.
To really appreciate this vehicle — a match of classic style and modern technology donated by Ron and Pam Evans of Scottsdale — turn out the lights and flip the switch that turns on the MKIII 427 Roadster’s electro-luminescent paint.
“This is truly a one-of-a-kind car,” said Ron Evans.
It’s the ride you might have wished for, following a classic ’60s blacklight party. No need for your eyes to adjust. With the headlights off, it looks like two giant red laser beams prowling through the dark, with splashes of the electro-red paint marking the bumpers, fenders and trunk.
Though it may look like a classic mid-20th-century muscle car, this is actually a brand-new vehicle, with a body created by Superformance, licensed by Shelby, and hand-built with a new 5-speed manual transmission and new Ford 435hp Coyote V8 engine. Dean McLaren of McLaren Classic Restorations applied the dozen or so coats of copper-based, light-emitting paint donated by LumiLor, the creator of electro-luminescent coatings.
Ron and Dean hatched the idea for the car at the 2019 Barrett-Jackson auction. Ron and his wife Pam, who have worked for three decades in the medical field, were looking for a way to memorialize the many members of their families who have passed away from cancer and heart disease. They previously donated an auction car to benefit heart research, and now they want to do something for cancer, and they chose TGen as the beneficiary.
“We’ve both lost mothers, fathers, grandparents, cousins, uncles and aunts to either cancer or heart disease,” Ron explained. “We’ve been blessed, and we feel this is the time for us to give back. TGen’s focus on cancer research is something that is near and dear to our hearts. We need to support those, like TGen, who are on the cutting edge of finding cures.”
For more than a decade, Barrett-Jackson has supported TGen cancer research through a special fund in memory of auction Chairman and CEO Craig Jackson’s father, Russ, and brother, Brian, whose lives were cut short by colon cancer.
Over the years, Barrett-Jackson has raised more than $118 million for charities, including more than $2.1 million for TGen, mostly through donated cars sold at auction. The Evans’ car will go on the block about 7:30 p.m. Jan. 18 at WestWorld of Scottsdale, 16601 North Pima Road.
“Barrett-Jackson’s contributions to TGen have enabled us to forge ahead with the type of research that is making a real difference in the lives of cancer patients and their families,” said Erin Massey, Chief Development Officer at TGen, and Vice President of Philanthropy at City of Hope. “We are constantly amazed and grateful to Craig and Carolyn Jackson, their friends, business partners, and staff for helping us pioneer research into new treatments for the thousands of cancer patients who need our help — today.”
Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death, killing an estimated 51,000 Americans annually. Only lung cancer kills more.
Ron Evans said the buyer of the 1965 Shelby Cobra should be ready for a lot of attention on the road. It only has 32 miles on the odometer, clocked driving from home to the DMV for a license plate, and to the Barrett-Jackson auction.
“I got tons of thumbs-up on those 10-minute drives,” he said. “It’s cool, and it’s something that someone is going to have a really good time with, and enjoy!”
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About Barrett-Jackson Auction Co.
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. Barrett-Jackson specializes in providing products and services to astute classic and collector car owners and automotive enthusiasts around the world. Barrett-Jackson produces The World's Greatest Collector Car Auctions® in Scottsdale, Arizona; Palm Beach, Florida; the Northeast at Connecticut's Mohegan Sun and Las Vegas, Nevada, where hundreds of the most sought-after, unique and valuable automobiles cross the block in front of a global audience. With an unprecedented expert staff, including Craig Jackson and Steve Davis, who have nearly a century of combined experience in the automotive field, Barrett-Jackson offers the most diverse and desirable inventory, accompanied with trustworthy and transparent customer service. Barrett-Jackson also endorses a one-of-a-kind collector car insurance for collector vehicles and other valued belongings.
About TGen, an affiliate of City of Hope
Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is a Phoenix, Arizona-based non-profit organization dedicated to conducting groundbreaking research with life-changing results. TGen is affiliated with City of Hope, a world-renowned independent research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases: www.cityofhope.org. This precision medicine affiliation enables both institutes to complement each other in research and patient care, with City of Hope providing a significant clinical setting to advance scientific discoveries made by TGen. TGen is focused on helping patients with neurological disorders, cancer, diabetes and infectious diseases through cutting-edge translational research (the process of rapidly moving research toward patient benefit). TGen physicians and scientists work to unravel the genetic components of both common and complex rare diseases in adults and children. Working with collaborators in the scientific and medical communities 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 on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter @TGen.
Media Contact:
Steve Yozwiak
TGen Senior Science Writer
602-343-8704
[email protected]
