No Reserve

40 vehicles from notable Dallas-area collector hit the auction block

This 1932 Ford Custom Roadster is nicknamed "Passion."

Photo courtesy of Barrett-Jackson

The gavel is already going. Forty vehicles from North Texas collector Sam Pack will be auctioned off during Barrett-Jackson's 49th annual Scottsdale Auction this week in Arizona. All of the models are offered at no reserve.

Pack is a Dallas-area Ford dealer who has collected over 400 models in his lifetime. In 2014, he put more than 130 models from his collection up for sale.

"Sam Pack has been part of the Barrett-Jackson scene for many years, so we are pleased with the opportunity to help him rotate some of his remarkable collection," said Craig Jackson, chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson. "The vehicles offered by Sam are an excellent representation of the diversity and quality that bidders have come to expect from Barrett-Jackson. Sam's collection, without a doubt, is a true celebration of our shared passion for automobiles."

Among the models Pack is bringing to auction are a 1952 Jaguar XK120 Fixed-Head Coupe that is powered by a 160hp DOHC 3.4-liter inline six-cylinder engine with double SU carburetors mated to a four-speed manual gearbox. But that's not the only Jaguar.

Lot #1390.1 is an unrestored, matching-numbers 1964 Jaguar XKE Series I OTS that comes with the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust Certificate. With less than 30,000 miles, this Opalescent Silver-Gray Jaguar is powered by its original 3.8-liter DOHC straight six-cylinder engine and a four-speed manual transmission.

Lot #1077.1 is a1952 Jaguar XK120 Fixed-Head Coupe that is powered by a 160-horsepower DOHC 3.4-liter inline six-cylinder engine with double SU carburetors mated to a four-speed manual gearbox.

Lot #1077 is a 1954 Jaguar XK120 Drophead Coupe powered by a 3.4-liter DOHC inline six-cylinder engine coupled to a four-speed manual transmission. This red Jag is one of 1,472 left-hand-drive models, and one of 466 produced with the Special Equipment Package.

There's also a trio of hand-built Kirkham Cobras, which are crafted from polished aluminum, copper and bronze.

Also headed across the block is a 1932 Ford Roadster nicknamed "Passion." Handcrafted by The Roadster Shop, the model is powered by a fuel-injected ZZ4 350ci crate engine that is paired with a TREMEC five-speed manual and onto a Ford 9-inch rear end.

"Sam Pack has built an incredible collection featuring multiple crown jewels that are coveted among collectors," said Steve Davis, president of Barrett-Jackson. "His 1989 Porsche 911 speedster (Lot #1390), for example, is one of only 823 delivered to this country and has just over 1,300 original miles.

"The depth and breadth of this collection is truly remarkable, and we're proud to have been trusted with its sale during our Scottsdale Auction."

The auction runs through January 19; more details on the Sam Pack Collection are available on the Barrett-Jackson website.

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A version of this story originally was published on our sister site AutomotiveMap.com.

This 1932 Ford Custom Roadster is nicknamed "Passion."

Photo courtesy of Barrett-Jackson

This 1932 Ford Custom Roadster is nicknamed "Passion."

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veterans day

Dallas ranks among best U.S. cities for military veterans to live

A veteran having a conversation in his home

Photo by Land O'Lakes, Inc. on Unsplash

Dallas has ranked as the 25th best city for veterans to live for the second year in a row, while neighboring Fort Worth improved its livability and now ranks in the top 10.

Dallas has just been declared the 25th best city for military veterans to live in America for 2025, according to a new study.

WalletHub's annual list of the "Best & Worst Places for Veterans to Live" compared 100 of the largest U.S. cities based on 19 relevant metrics, such as veteran unemployment rates, veteran income growth, the quality of each city's VA health facilities, local housing affordability, quality of life, and more.

Austin topped the list for the second consecutive year. The U.S. cities that round out the top five best places for veterans are Tampa, Florida (No. 2); Madison, Wisconsin (No.3); Raleigh, North Carolina (No. 4); and Colorado Springs, Colorado (No. 5).

Dallas has maintained its rank as No. 25 for two years in a row.

Dallas received the following rankings across the four major categories in the report:

No. 20 – Health
No. 41 – Quality of life
No. 44 – Economy
No. 44 – Employment

(And that's not even getting into the generosity of many Dallas restaurants that are offering free meals and deals for veterans on Veterans Day Monday November 11.)

Elsewhere in North Texas, neighboring Fort Worth made a big leap this year to rank as the 10th best U.S. city for military veterans after previously ranking No. 20 in 2024.

Plano ranked just outside the top 10 as the No. 11 best U.S. city for military veterans to live. Other DFW-area cities that earned spots in the report include Garland (No. 30), Arlington (No. 31), and Irving (No. 39).

Irving received additional nods for having the 5th lowest percentage of its veteran population living in poverty, and it landed in a five-way tie for the lowest veteran unemployment rates nationwide with Fremont, California; Lincoln, Nebraska; Chesapeake, Virginia; and Greensboro, North Carolina.

The report also found Garland boasts the 5th highest veteran income growth in the country.

Austin claims No. 1 nationally for the second time
The report said Austin remained at the top of the list for a second consecutive year because it offers the best colleges and universities for veterans nationwide, 10th highest median annual income for veterans (about $62,000), and the 7th best job growth rate nationally.

"In addition, Austin is great for going out to eat or enjoying entertainment as a veteran," the report's author wrote. "The city has the 12th-highest number of restaurants and the 10th-most arts/entertainment establishments per capita that offer military discounts."

Most importantly, WalletHub says Austin is the perfect fit for former military members who want to find community with other veterans who have had similar experiences during their time in the armed forces.

"Austin has the third-smallest projected decrease in veterans between 2024 and 2053, so that will certainly help veterans meet each other and forge friendships," the report said.

High-ranking cities for veterans in Texas
Other Texas cities that earned spots in the top 50 include Laredo (No. 32), San Antonio (No. 34), and Lubbock (No. 46).

Only three Texas cities lagged behind in the report: Houston (No. 59), El Paso (No. 67), and Corpus Christi (No. 74).

Earlier this year, WalletHub ranked Texas as the No. 21 best state for military retirees in 2025.

The top 10 best U.S. cities for veterans to live are:

No. 1– Austin, Texas
No. 2 – Tampa, Florida
No. 3 – Madison, Wisconsin
No. 4 – Raleigh, North Carolina
No. 5 – Colorado Springs, Colorado
No. 6 – Virginia Beach, Virginia
No. 7 – Orlando, Florida
No. 8 – St. Petersburg, Florida
No. 9 – Irvine, California
No. 10 – Fort Worth, Texas

At the opposite end of the list, Newark, New Jersey ranked as the worst place for veterans to live in 2025 for another year in a row. Detroit, Michigan (No. 99); Baton Rouge, Louisiana (No. 98), Memphis, Tennessee (No. 97); and Toledo, Ohio (No. 96) all ranked among the bottom five.

veterans day wallethub rankings dallas