It’s great saddened to learn of the passing of Don Williams. Williams was a key member of the team that founded Barrett-Jackson and was a much-loved member of the Barrett-Jackson family.
Williams has always had a passion for cars. He was just 21 when he started working at Old Time Cars on La Cienega Boulevard in Los Angeles, the largest classic car dealership west of the Mississippi and one of only a few in the country. His growing knowledge and passion for pre-war cars eventually led him to start his own classic car dealership, and he got involved in the auto auction business by running the first collector car auction in California.
In 1979, Williams moved to Arizona where he joined forces with Tom Barrett and Russ Jackson and was primarily involved with Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auctions. A few years later, opportunity came knocking and Williams moved to Northern California to accept the exciting challenge of assembling one of the finest collections of classic and post-war automobiles at the request of millionaire land developer Ken Behring. This collaboration eventually culminated in the Blackhawk Museum, which opened in 1988 to display the collection.
While working on the collection, Williams started Blackhawk Collection, Inc., which specializes in the acquisition and sale of unique classic cars, as well as sports and racing cars. Three years after its founding in 1981, Williams became the first person to sell a classic car for more than $1 million with a 1931 Figoni-bodied Duesenberg. Williams has become one of the world’s leading classic car brokerages, buying, selling and assembling entire collections. This allowed him to indulge his passion for finding the rarest classics, unique or limited series models from the “golden era” of cars before World War II. At one point, Williams owned more classic Bugattis than any other collector.
Despite its new venture in California, Williams, highly regarded for its classic car knowledge and determination to seek out the highest quality and most unique vehicles, has remained a vital part of the Barrett-Jackson world over the years. As a key member of the company’s exclusive team of renowned and trusted automotive experts, he and Barrett-Jackson President and CEO Craig Jackson put their minds together to create the Barrett-Jackson Salon Collection offering at the Scottsdale auction in January. 2012
The Salon Collection provided auction participants with the perfect pairing of the world’s most valuable collector cars and the diversity, excitement and prestige associated with the Barrett-Jackson event. This new, elite collection was the centerpiece of Barrett-Jackson’s flagship Scottsdale Auction and featured some of the rarest, most valuable, collectible and coveted vehicles in the world.
The first saloon car to cross the block was Williams’ own Silver Bullet style 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing, one of the lowest mileage cars in existence. The car set a new world auction record when it sold for $2.2 million – the first Gullwing in the world to sell for more than $2 million.
“I spent many days restoring cars for Don and Tom Barrett and my dad,” recalls Craig Jackson. “I’ve found Don to be a valuable resource and trusted advisor, and not a day goes by that I don’t miss his influence and friendship.”
Don has been a beacon at Barrett-Jackson events over the years and will be truly missed. Craig Jackson and the entire Barrett-Jackson and Collector Car Network team extend their deepest condolences to the entire Williams family.
