He Sold 30 Cars With ZERO Reserve Price—Why Did Gas Monkey Garage Risk Losing Millions Overnight? Richard Rawlings’ Boldest Move Yet Shocks Fans and Sparks Rumors About the Garage’s Future! 

When Richard Rawlings, the maverick behind Gas Monkey Garage, announced that he would be selling 30 cars at no reserve, fans and car collectors across the globe were stunned. No reserve? That meant no minimum price, no safety net, no backup plan — just pure, raw auction drama. For a man known for turning rusted heaps into roaring classics and building an empire out of grease, steel, and swagger, this bold move was both a gamble and a statement.

Now that the dust has settled and the last gavel has dropped, we’re taking a deep dive into what this historic event meant for Rawlings, the Garage, and the car community at large.

A Risky Move or a Genius Strategy?

For anyone unfamiliar with the auction world, a “no reserve” auction means the cars sell for whatever someone is willing to pay. There’s no guaranteed floor price. That alone is nerve-wracking. But when the cars in question are part of a carefully curated Gas Monkey Garage collection, each with its own story and value, the stakes are exponentially higher.

Why would someone like Rawlings, who has been in the car game for decades, take such a massive risk?

In a pre-auction statement, Rawlings said:

“Sometimes, you’ve just gotta shake things up. It’s time for new energy, new projects, and to let go of some of the pieces I’ve held onto for too long.”

In many ways, the sale wasn’t about money — it was about momentum. About clearing the slate for the next big chapter in the Gas Monkey saga.

The Stars of the Sale

Each of the 30 cars sold carried a slice of the Gas Monkey legacy. These weren’t just any used cars — they were restored, customized, and hand-picked rides, many of which had appeared in episodes of Fast N’ Loud or graced the Gas Monkey social media feeds for years.

Some of the jaw-dropping highlights included:

• 1968 Shelby GT500KR – The “King of the Road” Mustang, a true muscle legend, turned heads the moment it rolled up to the auction stage. Though some speculated it might fetch upwards of $200K, the final hammer price stunned everyone — in a good way.

• 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am – A fan-favorite made iconic by Smokey and the Bandit, this slick black-and-gold beauty brought in heavy bidding action.

• 1959 Chevrolet Apache – One of Gas Monkey’s more creative builds, this slammed pickup oozed attitude and customization finesse.

• 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Split Window Coupe – A holy grail for collectors, this classic ‘Vette generated perhaps the most buzz before and during the sale.

While some cars sold for what many deemed a steal, others exceeded expectations, proving once again that auctions are part theater, part treasure hunt.

Emotions, Legacy, and Letting Go

Richard Rawlings is no stranger to the spotlight. Known for his fast-talking, whiskey-drinking, larger-than-life persona, he’s built Gas Monkey into a lifestyle brand as much as a garage. But underneath the bravado, fans saw a rare glimpse of vulnerability during the auction.

Letting go of 30 vehicles — many of which had deep personal and professional ties — wasn’t easy. In a reflective post on Instagram, Rawlings wrote:

“These cars aren’t just machines. They’re memories. Late nights, busted knuckles, big wins, and bigger fails. But it’s time for someone else to make new memories with them.”

That human element, the acknowledgment of emotional connection in a business often reduced to horsepower and horsepower alone, struck a chord with fans and bidders alike.

A Packed House and a Frenzied Crowd

The auction venue was buzzing. Die-hard fans, celebrity car collectors, and casual enthusiasts alike gathered for a shot at driving away with a piece of Gas Monkey history.

Streaming numbers were through the roof. Car blogs live-tweeted the action. TikTok and Instagram were flooded with real-time bids and fan reactions. The vibe? Part rock concert, part car circus, part bittersweet farewell.

Interestingly, not all buyers were millionaire collectors. Several winning bidders were small-town mechanics, passionate hobbyists, and long-time Gas Monkey fans who scraped together enough to buy their dream ride.

What It Means for the Future of Gas Monkey Garage

So, what’s next for Rawlings and Gas Monkey Garage?

Insiders say this auction was just the beginning of a larger pivot. While Rawlings hasn’t officially confirmed details, rumors are flying about:

• A brand-new TV or streaming series centered on even wilder builds.

• Expansion into electric or hybrid hot rods, pushing the boundary between tradition and technology.

• A high-end Gas Monkey resort or lifestyle experience that blends car culture with hospitality.

• Collaborations with new-gen car influencers and builders — a sign that Rawlings might be looking to pass the torch or at least share it.

If anything, the sale of 30 prized cars signals a rebirth. A hard reset. A creative space-clearing before the next storm of horsepower and paint fumes.

Fan Reactions: Bittersweet but Excited

The fan response has been overwhelmingly supportive, though mixed with nostalgia.

“It’s the end of an era, man. But if anyone knows how to pull off a comeback, it’s Richard,” one long-time viewer of Fast N’ Loud posted on Reddit.

“I still can’t believe he let go of that ‘68 GT500. That car was Gas Monkey to me,” another user commented on Instagram.

Still, many are excited to see what’s next.

“Richard Rawlings doesn’t sell 30 cars at no reserve unless something massive is coming,” said one YouTube commenter. “This is the calm before the storm.”

Auction by the Numbers

• Cars Sold: 30

• Reserve Prices: 0

• Highest-Selling Car: 1968 Shelby GT500KR (final price undisclosed, but estimated at over $250,000)

• Lowest-Selling Car: A 1980s project car that still managed to incite a bidding war due to its Gas Monkey pedigree

• Viewership: Over 1.5 million across all platforms during the live stream

• Total Revenue: Rumored to exceed $3.2 million

Conclusion: More Than Just a Sale

Selling 30 cars at no reserve isn’t just a stunt — it’s a symbol. It shows confidence, recklessness, vision, and a deep understanding of when it’s time to turn the page.

For Richard Rawlings, this was more than a sale — it was a public declaration: the best is yet to come. Whether that means bigger builds, crazier content, or reinventing the entire Gas Monkey brand, one thing is certain — the garage may have emptied out, but it’s far from quiet.

And if you missed the auction? Don’t worry. With Rawlings at the wheel, the next wild ride is always just around the corner.

Gas Monkey Garage ‘Bring a Trailer’ Auction

These are some of the coolest vehicles up for auction that have been revealed so far.

King T

(Photo/Gas Monkey Garage)

A Model T roadster built by hot-rod legends Don Tognotti and Gene Winfield, it won Most Beautiful Roadster at the Oakland Roadster show way back in 1964. The car was restored in 2007, with Winfield repainting it in the original lavender. The roadster will be sold with period photos and a load of collectibles.

1965 Ford Mustang

This is a K-code car, short for the performance package offered that included a special high-performance 289-cubic-inch V8 but did not offer things like air conditioning and power steering.

The package included beefed-up suspension and driveline parts, and only around 13,000 were made over 4 years. This one, though, is far from stock, with electronic fuel injection, a Tremec five-speed, and lots of other changes.

Easyriders Custom Chopper

Built in the early ’90s for the founder of Easyriders Magazine, this bright-orange bike was featured in the magazine as well as in season 16 of Rawlings’ show “Fast N’ Loud.”

1987 Chevrolet R30

This classic work truck is — make that was — the Gas Monkey Garage shop truck. The Squarebody has a utility bed, 20-inch steel wheels, and a complete custom interior with air conditioning.

1986 Zimmer Quicksilver

Zimmer isn’t a name most car people would recognize, but the company built some very crazy cars. The Quicksilver looks straight out of “RoboCop” but is actually a Pontiac Fiero underneath.

The chassis was stretched and a new body was fitted, but it’s still a mid-engine car. This one has just 500 miles on the clock.

Gas Monkey Experience

The Gas Monkey experience up for auction is a chance to bring three friends along to Rawlings’s shop in Texas. The winner will get lunch with Rawlings “and lots of fun” — plus complimentary Miller Lite.

The proceeds from this one go to the Gas Monkey Foundation, a nonprofit that has worked with organizations including No Child Left Behind, American Warrior Garage, and Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Gas Monkey Garage Auction Details

The whole auction is a bit of a shake-up for Bring a Trailer. It’s the first time that the auction site has sold a single collection like this. There will be a livestream of the event at GasMonkeyGarage.com, and the sales will start to close on Sept. 14 at 10 a.m. Pacific Time.

When the auctions go live, each vehicle will get a YouTube video explaining the history of the car and helping to show it off to potential buyers. Summary videos showing the collection as a whole are live now, and you’ve already scrolled by the first one in this story.

The sales will end one after the other in rapid-fire succession. Rawlings likens making top bids in these auctions to winning a prize fight.

Check out the full list of vehicles below, all sold with no reserve.

• 1929 Ford Model A Tudor Sedan
• 1930 Ford Model A Tudor Sedan
• 1932 Ford 5-Window Coupe Hot Rod
• 1936 Ford Model 68 Deluxe Roadster
• 1937 Ford Model 78 Coupe
• Kurtis-Style Midget Race Car
• 302-Powered 1950 Ford Custom Deluxe Club Coupe
• 1957 Ford F-100 3-Speed
• 350-Powered 1959 Chevrolet Corvette 3-Speed
• 1962 Chevrolet Corvette
• Modified 1965 Ford Mustang Fastback K-Code 5-Speed
• 1966 Ford Fairlane 500 Hardtop
• 1966 Ford Mustang GT Coupe 289 4-Speed
• 1968 Ford Mustang Convertible
• 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Convertible 6-Speed
• 12k-Mile 1976 Jaguar XJ12L Series II Sedan
• 1978 Ford F-250 Ranger XLT SuperCab 4×4
• 1979 Porsche 928 5-Speed
• 500-Mile 1986 Zimmer Quicksilver
• 1987 Chevrolet R30 Chassis-Cab Utility Truck
• Modified 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 4×4
• 2022 Ford Bronco Badlands V6 4-Door
• Easyriders Custom Chopper
• Roadster Shop Fast Track Stage III Chassis for C1 Corvette
• Custom Harley-Davidson Panhead Chopper
• The Gas Monkey Experience for Charity