Two bidders remained neck and neck through the final gavel of the Futurliner bus. After a miscommunication during the bidding process, the high bidder deferred the sale to his opponent, who had purchased the Bonneville Special a few minutes before. This allowed the two cars to become the centerpiece of one lucky collector’s collection.

"This is the way we believe that Harley Earl would have wanted the sale of these masterpieces to come to a close,” said Craig Jackson, Barrett-Jackson Auction Company President and CEO. “It was a deafening, adrenaline-pumping experience that anyone would enjoy experiencing again in a heartbeat.”

The Futurliner sold for $4,000,000, while the Bonneville Special fetched $2,800,000.

"To have both of these magnificent vehicles cross the block during the same event was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Craig Jackson. “Now they will have the distinction of remaining together for years to come, just as they were intended."

The original Parade of Progress opened the minds of many Americans to a sense of the unlimited possibilities of the future. An optimistic feeling some wish we still had today.

To catch the spirit of optimism try to see the Futurliner, restored by Mayton and his crew of volunteers, at a collector car event. Check out the links below to find out if it’s going to be in your area. Or you can organize a trip to Auburn, Indiana’s National Automotive and Truck Museum of America and view the Futurliner when it’s not touring. It’s right next door to the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Museum. Now that’s a dream day for any car lover.