January-February 2018 - American Car Collector

Profiles

Auctions

Worldwide, Auburn, IN, September 2, 2017

Dan Kruse, Austin, TX, September 16, 2017

Smith Auctions, Springfield, MO, September 30, 2017

VanDerBrink, Hutchinson, MN, September 30, 2017

RM Sotheby’s, Hershey, PA, October 5–6, 2017

Barrett-Jackson, Las Vegas, NV, October 19–21, 2017

Branson, Branson, MO, October 20–21, 2017

Smith Auctions, Overland Park, KS, October 21, 2017

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The First Dragster? $193k 37 PROPERLY ’VETTED AMERICAN First Dragster? $193k 37 PROPERLY ’VETTED AMERICAN CAR CAR COLLECTOR Why This ’71 LS5 is a Deal at $41k INSIDE: The Hottest Wheels and Gadgets of SEMA 2017 rst Dragster? $193k 37 PROPERLY ’VETTED AMERICAN CAR COLLECTOR Why This ’71 LS5 is a Deal at $41k INSIDE: The Hottest Wheels and Gadgets of SEMA 2017 CALLED CALLED ON THE CARPET: $170 and Three Hours of Your Time Can Enhance Your Car’s Interior FIERY DEBATE: Will the Pinto Ever Be Collectible? LY ’VETTED AMERICAN CAR COLLECTOR Why This ’71 LS5 is a Deal at $41k INSIDE: The Hottest Wheels and Gadgets of SEMA 2017 CALLED ON THE CARPET: $170 and Three Hours of Your Time Can Enhance Your Car’s Interior FIERY DEBATE: Will the Pinto Ever Be Collectible? Keith Martin’s

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CAR COLLECTOR Volume 7 • Issue 37 • January–February 2018 The Scoop CORVETTE 1971 CHEVROLET CORVETTE 454/365 $41k / Mecum Low-spec big-block Corvette brings the right money — John L. Stein Page 50 GM 1972 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE HEAVY CHEVY $33k / Barrett-Jackson A heavy price for this almost-SS model — Chad Tyson Page 52 Eight Sales That Define the Market MOPAR 1957 DESOTO ADVENTURER $126.5k / RM Sotheby’s Drop-top Mopar brings below-market money — Tom Glatch Page 56 FoMoCo 2012 FORD MUSTANG BOSS 302 $80k / Motostalgia Top dollar for a modern performance Mustang — Jeff Zurschmeide Page 54 AMERICAN ™ 8 AmericanCarCollector.com Keith Martin's

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CUSTOM 1932 FORD ROADSTER $192.5k / RM Sotheby’s Fantastic drag-race history powers a big price — Ken Gross Page 58 AMERICANA RACE 1961 AMC METROPOLITAN $74k / RM Sotheby’s Over-the-top money for an exceptional Met convertible — Carl Bomstead Page 60 1956 CHEVROLET 210 H DRAG CAR $21k / RM Sotheby’s Decorated, original racer faces a shrinking fan base — Dale Novak Page 62 TRUCK 1952 FWD F-SERIES FIRE TRUCK $13k / Barrett-Jackson Big money for a big toy — B. Mitchell Carlson and Stuart Lenzke Page 64 Cover photo: 1971 Chevrolet Corvette 454/365 coupe Jeremy Cliff, courtesy of Mecum Auctions 1957 DeSoto Adventurer convertible, p. 56 Courtesy of Motostalgia January–February 2018 9

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The Rundown COLUMNS 12 Torque: Out with the Viper, in with a Mustang — Jim Pickering 44 Cheap Thrills: 1971–77 Mercury Comet — B. Mitchell Carlson 46 Horsepower: Whatever it is you’ve heard about SEMA, it’s true. All of it — Jay Harden 48 On the Market: Highs and lows from 40 years in the car business — John L. Stein 138 Surfing Around: Must-have automobilia — Carl Bomstead FEATURES 20 Good Reads: The Definitive Firebird and Trans Am Guide, Streamline Aluminum Trailers: Restoration and Modification, GTO: Race to Oblivion and AMC Javelin, AMX and Muscle Car Restoration — Mark Wigginton 24 Desktop Classics: 1964 Ford Country Squire — Marshall Buck 26 Snapshots 1: Why it pays to get the right glass — and have it installed professionally — Chad Tyson 30 Snapshots 2: Sights of SEMA 2017 — Chad Taylor 102 Market Moment 1: 1976 Ford Pinto Pony MPG hatchback — Chad Taylor 120 Market Moment 2: 1996 Chevrolet Camaro custom convertible — Jim Pickering 130 Junkyard Treasures: Friesen Salvage is not your average parts yard — Phil Skinner USEFUL STUFF 14 What’s Happening: Car events of note 16 Crossing the Block: Upcoming auctions 22 Parts Time: Aftermarket pieces for your car 24 Cool Stuff: Record it all from your dash, plus multi-tools galore 32 Wrenching: A carpet kit to freshen up your interior 10 AmericanCarCollector.com 38 Your Turn: Don’t count out those Dodge Neons 40 Readers’ Forum: Will the Pinto ever be collectible? 70 Buy It Now: 1984–87 Buick Grand National — Garrett Long 112 One to Watch: 1971–80 International Scout II — Chad Taylor 128 The Parts Hunter: Tracking down rare parts and pieces on the market — Pat Smith 132 Showcase Gallery: Sell your car in ACC’s classifieds section 134 Resource Directory: Get to know our advertisers 137 Advertiser Index AUCTIONS 68 Market Overview High-selling months for the American market, and hitting the next generation of enthusisats — Garrett Long 72 Barrett-Jackson — Las Vegas, NV Barrett-Jackson totals $30.7m, selling 671 lots in Las Vegas — Travis Shetler 82 RM Sotheby’s — Hershey, PA American classics steal the show at RM Sotheby’s with $15.7m in sales and a 95% sales rate — Larry Trepel 90 Branson — Branson, MO Everyman deals at Branson total $3.4m with a 75% sales rate — Andy Staugaard 98 Worldwide — Auburn, IN Worldwide brings vintage cars to Auburn, with a 96% sales rate and a $2.7m total — B. Mitchell Carlson 106 Smith Auctions LLC — Overland Park, KS Smith Auctions brings 134 cars to Overland Park for a $1.5m total — B. Mitchell Carlson 114 VanDerBrink — Hutchinson, MN 15 out of 15 Pontiacs sell at VanDerBrink’s Hutchinson sale — B. Mitchell Carlson 122 Roundup American vehicles from Smith Auctions LLC in Springfield, MO, and Dan Kruse in Austin, TX — Andy Staugaard and Cody Tayloe

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Torque Jim Pickering bought it. It was minty fresh when it rolled off the enclosed carrier at ACC headquarters in 2014, bought for $42,500 with just 1,200 miles from new. After a new set of tires, I took it on several high-speed distance runs — first 200 miles to Brothers, OR, where I rattled it over gravel washboard on the way to an auction of dead Imperials in the high-desert brush, then 540 miles through Oregon and California back roads on the way to Reno for that year’s Hot August Nights event. It proved to be every bit the monster that the car world has made it out to be — but one that behaves until poked. And I did poke it. I spent a bunch of time tooling around town in that car, too. My then 3-year-old daughter Katie fell in love with its rumbly V10, and I made it a point to pick her up from her daycare in it every few months just to see her smile and to irritate the other dads in their minivans. I’d lusted after Vipers since they were first introduced, and it only got worse once I started drag racing my ’66 Caprice and had those wide-set taillights regularly blow past me at the 60-foot mark. First- and secondgen Vipers don’t look like anything else, and they certainly don’t sound like anything else, either, with a low-pitch growl that instantly pops out among cackling V8s. As I’ve written before, they’re the poster cars of a generation — especially the coupes — and that will give them staying power in the collector-car market well into the future. In with the old Our Viper has been fantastic, but ACC has done most of what it was looking to do with it, so now it’s time for us to move on to something else to suit a different need — specifically, something that actually has a few needs we can address in our “Wrenching” columns. The Viper never really fit that bill, as it’s a modern car that has only required oil changes since we bought it. So as of this writing, the ACR’s posted on eBay — it likely 12 AmericanCarCollector.com Out With the New I ’m about to do something I know I shouldn’t do. I’m going to ignore my own advice. ACC’s Dodge Viper GTS ACR has been a staple in the garage since we will have sold by the time you read this. I know I should be the one to buy it. The trouble is I just don’t have room for it in my life at the moment — or maybe I should say it’s the Viper that doesn’t have the room. Now that I have two young daughters, buying a fun car with only two seats just won’t work — especially when the one that currently sits in my garage has more than enough room for everyone to enjoy the tire-smoking fun. But I can’t escape the thought that I’m going to regret passing on what is basically the Shelby Cobra of my generation — and more specifically, the one I blasted to Reno at 90 mph in and used to introduce my car-loving daughter to the concept of a manual transmission. The fact that I’ve been calling out Vipers as solid buys for two years doesn’t help, either. I know better than to let this one go. Do as I say, not as I do, right? In the meantime, ACC is on the hunt for another car — preferably a Ford. I’d love to find a 1965 or ’66 Mustang that’s in good, generally original condition but showing some needs here or there. Ideally it’ll have a 289 and a 4-speed, along with a Pony interior and original paint. Drop me a line at jim. pickering@americancarcollector.com if you know of a good one for sale — or if you’re Knowing you’ll regret passing on a car makes the call that much harder She’ll be missed, but car requirements change over the years interested in the Viper. I’ll be watching the auctions in Scottsdale to see if I can find what I’m looking for there, too. Transitions The ACC garage occupants aren’t the only things changing around here. It’s hard for me to imagine, but with this issue, ACC is now six years old. We’ve covered a lot of cars in those 37 issues of the magazine, written up by some of the best writers in the American car world. Jay Harden isn’t a new voice to ACC — he’s actually been a part of the team here at ACC since before our first issue went to press. Last month, however, he took on a new role as Editor at Large, filling the space left by Colin Comer, who has moved to another full-time responsibility. Jay’s a hot-rodder, a talented writer, and an all-around great car guy — this month I sent him to SEMA to get his take on the event, which you can read on p. 46, and I spent a rainy Friday with him tearing the carpet out of his Chevelle to show you how easy replacing it with a new kit can be — and how much of an impact that simple job makes once the interior is all bolted back together. Check it out starting on p. 32. A

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WHAT’SHAPPENING Let Us Know About Your Events Do you know of American-car-related events or happenings that we should publicize? Contact us at: American Car Collector, P.O. Box 4797, Portland, OR 97208 or online at comments@ americancarcollector.com. Hot Cars and SoCal Sun at the Granddaddy of Hot Rod Events Most of the United States is frozen right now, but the 69th Annual Grand National Roadster Show — the granddaddy of all hot rod shows — will bask in the endless summer of Southern California. Better yet, more than 500 showcase cars and trucks will rumble into the Pomona Fairplex from January 26 through January 28. The coveted America’s Most Beautiful Roadster prize is up for grabs. Be there or be cold. Can’t make it to Pomona? The 67th Annual Sacramento Autorama will bring more than 500 show and custom cars and trucks inside the Cal Expo Fairgrounds in Sacramento from February 16 to 18. www.rodshows.com (CA) Shake Off the Cold With Auto Mania in Allentown Sure, it’s cold out there in Pennsylvania, but it’s nice and warm at Auto Mania from January 19 to 21. Pennsylvania’s biggest indoor swap- meet — at the Allentown Fairgrounds — rolls into the big, heated Agriculture Hall, where you’ll find tons of parts, automobilia and anything to do with cars. This spot is two hours from New York City, Philadelphia and Scranton, so expect a lot of gearheads. Visit www.carliseevents. com for more information. (PA) ACC Arizona Insider’s Seminar Heading to Arizona Auction Week 2018? So is ACC! Sign up now for the annual Arizona Insider’s Seminar presented by American Car Collector and Barrett-Jackson. The seminar is on Wednesday, January 17, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Barrett-Jackson, WestWorld, 16601 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale. We’ll talk about cars to buy, sell or hold. In addition, an expert panel — including Carl Bomstead, B. Mitchell Carlson, Jay Harden, Sam Stockham and Editor Jim Pickering — will dig into the current market and where things are headed in the future. The seminar is free for SCM and ACC subscribers, Bloomington Gold-Certified Corvette owners and NCRS members. Admission is $10 for all others. Barrett-Jackson admission is required to get into WestWorld. www.americancarcollector.com (AZ) ACC in Arizona American Car Collector, along with our sister magazine, Sports Car Market, will visit all the big Arizona auctions from January 13 through January 21. You can find our magazines at almost every auction, including the Russo and Steele and Silver auctions. Stop by our booth at the Gooding & Company auction. Don’t miss our annual ACC Insider’s Seminar from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Barrett-Jackson Auction site on January 17. Get the scoop on the entire week in the 2018 Insider’s Guide to the Arizona Auctions, which is packaged with this magazine. Please drop by and say hello when you see us in the desert! For more information, visit www. americancarcollector.com. (AZ) AutoFest and Sunscreen in Florida Winter Florida AutoFest in Lakeland brings together a huge swapmeet, a Carlisle Auction and thousands of gearheads. Add in the Florida sun, and you’re tuning up for spring on February 23–25. A classic car show and a big car corral are also on tap. Bring money and sunscreen. www.carlisleevents.com (FL)A 14 AmericanCarCollector.com

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CROSSINGTHE Upcoming Auctions (Images are courtesy of the respective auction houses unless otherwise noted) BLOCK Silver AZ Where: Fort McDowell, AZ When: January 19–22 Web: www.silverauctionsaz.com Last year: 219/494 cars sold / $3.3m by Garrett Long Featured cars: • 1959 Ford Galaxie Sunliner • 1960 Chevrolet Impala convertible • 2008 Shelby GT500 convertible Gooding & Company Where: Scottsdale, AZ When: January 19–20 Web: www.goodingco.com Last year: 106/126 cars sold / $33.4m Star Car: 1972 Chevrolet Corvette at barrett-Jackson Scottsdale FebruAry JAnuAry Mecum Where: Kissimmee, FL When: January 5–14 Web: www.mecum.com Last year: 1,983/2,703 cars sold / $84.4m Dave Rupp Where: Fort Lauderdale, FL When: January 5–7 Web: www.ftlauderdaleauction.com Barrett-Jackson Where: Scottsdale, AZ When: January 13–21 Web: www.barrett-jackson.com Last year: 1,711/1,1720 cars sold / $101m Featured cars: • 1966 Shelby GT350 • 2006 Ford GT • 1934 Packard 1101 cabriolet • Star Car: 1972 Chevrolet Corvette Worldwide Auctioneers Where: Scottsdale, AZ When: January 17 Web: www.worldwide-auctioneers.com Last year: 64/82 cars sold / $11.4m Featured cars: Russo and Steele Where: Scottsdale, AZ When: January 17–21 Web: www.russoandsteele.com Last year: 606/780 cars sold / $22m Petersen Where: Salem, OR When: February 3 Web: www.petersencollectorcars.com Featured cars: • Star Car: 1964 Bill Thomas Cheetah • 1967 Chevrolet Corvette 427/435 Bonhams Where: Scottsdale, AZ When: January 18 Web: www.bonhams.com Last year: 84/105 cars sold / $36.2m Featured cars: • 1937 Cord 812 RM Sotheby’s Where: Scottsdale, AZ When: January 18 Web: www.rmsothebys.com Last year: 142/159 cars sold / $53.7m G. Potter King Where: Atlantic City, NJ When: February 9–11 Web: www.acclassiccars.com Mecum Where: Los Angeles, CA When: February 16–17 Web: www.mecum.com Last year: 283/586 cars sold / $9.4m Leake Where: Oklahoma City, OK When: February 23–24 Web: www.leakecar.com Last year: 405/549 / $10.4m A • Star Car: 1931 Cord L-29 cabriolet • 1960 Chevrolet Corvette 283/270 16 AmericanCarCollector.com Star Car: 1964 bill Thomas Cheetah at russo and Steele Scottsdale

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Publisher’s Note Keith Martin CAR COLLECTOR Volume 7, number 37 January–February 2018 GeT In TouCh Email: comments@americancarcollector.com Publisher Keith Martin Executive Editor Chester Allen Editor Jim Pickering Art Director Dave Tomaro Digital Media Director Jeff Stites Editor at Large Jay Harden Auction Editor Garrett Long Senior Data Specialist Chad Taylor Copy editors Yael Abel, Dave Tomaro Auction Analysts Andy Staugaard Dan Grunwald Mark Moskowitz Adam Blumenthal Bob DeKorne Doug Schultz Pierre Hedary Daren Kloes Brett Hatfield Larry Trepel 1971 Ford pinto hatchback — want one? Toasted Ponies and Market-Leading Mets “toasted pony” Pinto on p. 40. On p. 60, Contributor Carl Bomstead looks at a Nash Metropolitan I that brought a staggering $74k. Heck, you could buy a Camaro Z/28 or a Mustang Boss 302 for that kind of money. As usual, this issue of ACC not only contains updates on the mar- ket — we also walk you through how you can improve your own car in your own garage. One of our writers installs a new carpet kit in his Chevelle, and the other learns the ins and outs of replacing auto glass. There’s plenty more to entertain and educate you here. Settle back, put your feet up and get ready to enjoy the read — from the front cover to the back. A think we’d all agree that the Ford Pinto and the Nash Metropolitan were truly horrible cars. They were bad when new, and they haven’t gotten any better with age. However, how a car goes, stops and turns doesn’t have much to do with it becoming collectible and even valuable. In this issue, ACC readers discuss the future collectible of the Contributors Carl Bomstead Ken Gross Tom Glatch Michael Pierce Marshall Buck Dale Novak Phil Skinner Information Technology Brian Baker Web Developer Ian Burton SEO Consultant Michael Cottam Advertising and Events Manager Erin Olson Financial Manager Cheryl Ann Cox Advertising Coordinator Jessi Kramer ADVERTISING SALES Advertising Executives Darren Frank darren.frank@AmericanCarCollector.com 877-219-2605 x 214 Cindy Meitle cindy.meitle@AmericanCarCollector.com 877-219-2605 x 213 SubSCrIpTIonS Subscriptions and Customer Service Coordinator Susan L. Loeb Subscriptions 877-219-2605 x 1 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., M–F service@AmericanCarCollector.com 503-253-2234 fax @AmericanCCMag CORRESPONDENCE Phone 503-261-0555 Fax 503-253-2234 General P.O. Box 4797 Portland, Oregon 97208 Fedex/DhL/upS 401 NE 19th Street, Suite 100 Portland, Oregon 97232 Email help@AmericanCarCollector.com Feedback comments@AmericanCarCollector.com Web www.AmericanCarCollector.com 1961 AMC Metropolitan convertible — $74k worth of cute 18 AmericanCarCollector.com American Car Collector magazine (ISSN# 2164-1323) is published bimonthly by Automotive Investor Media Group, 401 NE 19th Street, Suite 100, Portland, OR 97232. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to American Car Collector, PO Box 4797, Portland, OR 97208. The information in American Car Collector magazine is compiled from a variety of reliable sources. However, we disclaim and deny any responsibility or liability for the timeliness, use, interpretation, accuracy and completeness of the information presented. All material, data, formats, and intellectual concepts in this issue © 2018 by American Car Collector, LLC, Automotive Investor Media Group, Inc., and Automotive Investor in this format and any other used by American Car Collector magazine. Copyright registered with the United States copyright office. PRINTED IN USA Travis Shetler Pat Campion Jeremy Da Rosa John Boyle Michael Leven Cody Tayloe Joe Seminetta Jeff Trepel Morgan Eldridge B. Mitchell Carlson John Draneas Chad Tyson John L. Stein Mark Wigginton Jeff Zurschmeide AMERICAN JOIN US Keith Martin's

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GOODREADS by Mark Wigginton The Definitive Firebird & Trans Am Guide: 1967–1969 by Rocky Rotella, CarTech, 192 pages, $33.33, Amazon When GM woke up to find Ford’s Mustang flying out of dealer- ships, they quickly answered with their competitor, code-named Panther. It turned into the F-body Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird, which became powerful on-street performers and sales leaders for the General. James “Rocky” Rotella grew up in a Pontiac family, and his passion is the Firebird. In this early-year segment of his two-volume set, Rotella takes a detailed look at all facets of the design and production. This book is filled with all manner of build codes and back story, from prototypes to the end of the third model year. It’s a solid, complete look at the Firebird, full of great color photos, historic documents and information for your reading or restoration pleasure. Lineage: ( Fit and finish: is best) GTO: Race to Oblivion by Roger Corea, SelectBooks, 256 pages, $11.52, Amazon There aren’t many novels, mysteries or thrillers built around classic cars, but Roger Corea is trying to fill the gap. GTO: Race to Oblivion is his second thriller, following The Duesenberg Caper. It seems the prototype Ferrari GTO was loaded into the Andrea Doria headed for America, but we know how that turned out. So now, fifty years later, newly rich and impulsive Mike Bender and his level-headed, careful financial advisor/best friend Tommy Grimaldi are on the trail of the priceless sunken relic, leading them to a shadowy underworld of potential world domination and… you get the picture. Fast paced, with awkward exposition and “do people really talk like that?” dialogue, GTO is just good enough to not throw across the room — but not good enough to recommend. Lineage: Fit and finish: 20 AmericanCarCollector.com Drivability: Drivability: Lineage: Fit and finish: Streamline Aluminum Trailers: Restoration and Modification by Daniel Hall, CarTech, 176 pages, $22.27, Amazon As the Boomers hit the retirement road, you can see both innova- tion in the new trailer market (even the pop-outs have pop-outs now) and a growing interest in restorations of travel trailers from the last golden age. This has led to rehabs and restorations of popular models from the ’50s to ’80s, with the aluminum trailers from Airstream and their competitors drawing plenty of attention. But restoration of an aluminum trailer has an even longer set of necessary skills than your basic old-car redo. Woodworking, plumbing, propane systems and flooring are just a start. Taking a trailer from basket case to campground beauty can be daunting. Daniel Hall leads you through from start to finish on a project, right to the final fluffand-buff of the aluminum exterior. It’s a complete and informative journey. Drivability: AMC Javelin, AMX and Muscle Car Restoration: 1968–1974 by Scott Campbell, CarTech, 176 pages, $29.11, Amazon The underappreciated Javelins and AMXs of the world have gotten a bit hotter, and there are enough American Motors fans out there to get to work fixing up long-lost and unloved examples. But Scott Campbell wants you to do a correct restoration, not a newer-than-new, never-was-this-nice restoration. Which means he is here to help you re-create the look of the cars as they came to the dealer floor, not to the lawn at your favorite car show. He walks you through all the steps, with plenty of detailed photographs, shortcuts and hardwon advice. Lineage: So put the rotisserie away and do it the factory way. Fit and finish: Drivability:

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PARTSTIME by Jim Pickering New Products to Modernize Your Street Machine Corvette Bones If you’ve got a 1978–87 GM G-body car — such as a Buick Regal, Chevrolet El Camino, Chevrolet Malibu, Olds Cutlass Supreme or Pontiac Grand Prix — and you’re looking for brake upgrades, CPP has a new starting point for you. Their newest Corvette-style stock spindle for G-bodies uses a Corvette-style hub assembly and works with factory 1997–2005 C5 Corvette hub bearing packs, rotors and calipers — a great upgrade considering Corvette brakes are as close as your local auto parts store. Get them for $269 at www.classicperform.com. Cool F-Series F-series running hot? U.S. Radiator Corp. has released a new aluminum radiator for 1948–53 Ford trucks. It features a core with two one-inch rows of aluminum tubes, which should cool even the baddest big-block. It also is available with a custom fan shroud and electric fan, and can be had in either polished or unpolished finish. Get it for $420 at www.usradiator.com. Super Trans Is the old T-10 transmission in your muscle car growling or popping out of gear? Summit Racing’s got you covered with Richmond Gear’s new Super T-10 and T-10 Plus transmissions. These upgraded versions feature strut-type synchros, and first and reverse gears are in constant mesh to prevent gear clash. The Super T-10 Plus includes brass race synchros and a billet front bearing retainer, which make the transmission easier to shift on the track. Both are rated to 375 ft-lb of torque and have several gear-ratio options. Prices start at $1,998 at www.summitracing.com. Seal the Patina Does your car have original paint with great patina? Lock it in with POR-15’s new Matte Clear Coat. It’s specifically designed to seal in any color or patina with a custom low-sheen finish. It uses waterborne polyurethane technology that delivers a fantastic resistance to weathering, scuffing and burnishing. It won’t turn yellow over time and is silica-free. Use it on original paint, directly over metal or over wood. Learn more at www.porproducts.com. 22 AmericanCarCollector.com

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COOLSTUFF Th OOLSTUFF Th u u opener. The tool can also be used as a hex wrench and with a hex bit driver. You can put any handle on it you want with its adjustable, patent-pending clamps. The coolest part? It is made out of titanium and weighs just 8 ounces. It is sure to be the most useful product in your arsenal. Pick it up at kleckerknives. com for $595. A Traffic-Jam Necessity n the roads, a dash king like more of a d idea all the time. With the PapaGo! GoSafe 220 dash cam, you can record any incidents that might occur. It features a wide-angle s to capture the whole d and is compact, so on’t be in your way. ord eight hours of o in three recording es. It will even start f it feels a bump when you are parked. Find it on Amazon.com for $99.99. All-Weather Roadside Helper Winter is in full swing, which means that cheap plastic ice scraper you got for free is being used frequently. Chuck it and get the Spare Me Rescue Tool i like your old one b enough to use as a s traction when stuc in a fair-weather r in changing a flat t end of a breaker b will give you more l verage to break lo those lugs and use it to help lift that fresh spare into place. Find it on Amazon.com for $24.95. DESKTOPCLASSICS by Marshall Buck 1964 Ford Country Squire Auto World, which offers a vast array of models and kits in several scales, has released an intriguing model in their “true 1:64-scale” line. This one is the first in their “muscle wagons” series. So far there are six color variations. To get them all, you’ll have to buy a few of their six-car assortments — and dioramas — comprising other Americana. Most are found on eBay. Each is solidly made of metal, including chassis. These mini family wagons are very accurate and pack in a lot for very little cost. However, some are becoming scarce, so prices are going up. 24 AmericanCarCollector.com Detailing Scale: 1:64 Available colors: Turquoise, red, black, light gold, light blue, white Quantity: 1,672 of each color Price: $15 to $40 Production date: 2017 Web: www.autoworldhobby.com Ratings Detailing: Accuracy: Overall quality: Overall value: is best ½ by Chad Taylor Keep Your Keys Organized Remember the giant ring of keys the old school janitor used to carry around? Do you feel like you carry around that same ring of keys now? KeySmart has the solution for you. The new rugged multi-tool and key holder can accommodate up to 14 keys — plenty of room to keep all the most important keys in one place. It also has a bottle opener, removable pocket clip, and built-in key ring to attach it to your car’s key fob. See it in multiple colors and get yours now on Amazon.com for $35.

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SNAPSHOTS Seeing Clearly How do you know your replacement glass will fit properly and look right once installed? Pilkington Classics can help by Chad Tyson W hen it comes to classic-car glass, not every piece is created equal. Say you end up with a cracked or chipped original windshield in your vintage Ford. It happens, especially when passing through an area that uses gravel to solve wintry traction problems, even months later. Some chips can be filled, but some can’t. So how do you fix it? Well, there are probably NOS pieces out there for your car, but if you can find one, it’ll be expensive, and you’d better hope the installer knows what he’s doing and doesn’t break it. Another option is reproduction glass. But how do you know the glass will fit right and look right once installed? That’s where Pilkington Classics comes in. Pilkington Classics is a part of Pilkington North America, which is in turn part of the NSG Group, an international glass-making conglomerate that oversees the whole process from pounding sand to rigorous quality-control testing to building relationships with installers. Their automotive-glass division manufactures OE pieces (many of which are now structurally integral to the vehicles) for companies including Toyota, GM, Ford, Chrysler, BMW and many others. Within the Classics division, Pilkington manufactures OE-spec glass for a wide range of classic American cars, including windshields to back glass, side glass and vent glass. They also offer OE-spec logo etching and date 26 AmericanCarCollector.com coding, which makes their pieces blend in on an otherwise original classic. For those of you taking your cars to shows, this is the ticket in replacement glass. While installing side glass is a DIY project you can tackle in your own home garage, windshields and back glass are not that simple — and aren’t areas you’ll want to skimp on. We went to Collision Auto Glass in northwest Portland to have them show you how it’s done — and why you’ll want help. Collision Auto Glass general manager Brad Burmester owned a restoration shop focusing on classic Mustangs for years, so his passion for older cars runs deep. Scott Duncan (featured doing most of the work in our photos) has worked installing automotive glass since 2001. He has seen most everything from sections of pinchweld so rotted they come out during the glass removal to steak knives used as removal tools. Burmester said it best, “Go the extra mile; [we’re] pilkington also offers oe-spec logo etching and date coding to match the look of original classics trying to slow it down, not speed it up. Quality is the key component, especially on older cars where rust is more prevalent. We want to make sure it’s done right the first time.” Special thanks to Brad Burmester and Scott Duncan of Collision Auto Glass (www.collisionautoglass, 503-656-3500) in Portland, OR, and Lon Tiniakos, sales manager of Automotive Replacement Glass, of Pilkington North America (www.pilkington.com).A

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1 Inspection The vehicle came into the shop with the glass already removed, so that made for easy inspection. All Collision Auto Glass needs to do is take out a few interior pillar panels and the rear-view mirror, since they will interfere with the gasket upon installation. With rust repair, the top corner on the passenger’s side was the worst of it, but nothing a little elbow grease couldn’t fix. Any rust deemed more than surface should be taken to a bodyshop for proper pinchweld repair. 2 Thorough Cleaning Scotch-Brite Roloc discs are the standard for surface rust and butyl removal. Our subject car already had one windshield replacement, as evidenced by the butyl residue left behind. Scott goes around the entire pinchweld frame several times for thorough cleaning. Other scrubbing tools the shop uses include non-marring sticks and wire brushes. 3 Experience Counts So far it’s pretty simple, but this is where timing and knowledge separate the one-and-done installs from the back-in-a-few-months- because-my-windshield-is-leaking ones. Priming the pinchweld with one-time-use brushes ensures contaminants stay out of the specialty primer. To reach the flashpoint, we wait 10 minutes between coats. Two coats are the norm at Collision Auto Glass, with the first to reach into crevices and the second to ensure complete coverage. January–February 2018 27

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SNAPSHOTS 4 Installation Time While the second coat of primer is drying, it’s time to install the rope into the gasket. The rope helps slip the gasket around the pinchweld to secure the windshield into place. 5 Group Effort This is where it becomes readily obvious that a one-person shop can’t do this job alone. With Pilkington panels being a bit heavier than most of their competition, even the most seasoned glass installers work in multiple-man teams. 6 S@#! Happens Like so many other instances in life, the install didn’t go right in the first time. The brightwork popped out of its gasket channel when the guys began placing the glass into the body. 8 Weathersealing The last step to ensure a weather-tight seal is to seal the gasket to the body and the glass with urethane. This is perhaps the most time-consuming step in the whole process, sealing both sides of the exterior of the gasket and cleaning up the excess sealer. Aerosol glass cleaner speeds up the curing time for the urethane and helps with cleanup. One last thing to note: Perhaps some of you reading this wonder why they didn’t just use silicone spray to ease the gasket installation. I asked Burmester the same thing and he responded with some basic chemistry. Nothing sticks to the silicone, so while it would have eased installation, the sealing urethane wouldn’t adhere to it and therefore wouldn’t seal properly. Water, however, is an acceptable lubricant, but it must be completely dried before the sealer is applied, and that would have taken overnight. All the more reason to let the experienced professionals do it right the first time. A 28 AmericanCarCollector.com 7 Extra Hands A third set of hands came in to hold the troublesome trim in place during install. After a slight bit of shifting to center the windshield, Duncan slowly pulls out the rope, sealing the gasket around the pinchweld in place.

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SNAPSHOTS Sights of SEMA 2017 Talk about cruisin’ the sparkling blue riviera... The automotive aftermarket’s annual Las Vegas party shows off the industry’s best Report and photos by Chad Taylor E very November, the automotive aftermarket gathers in Sin City to show off what they’ve been up to all year. It’s where the manufacturers unveil new models, companies debut new products, and builders demonstrate their talent through over-the-top customs — all inside the massive Las Vegas Convention Center. Here are our favorite shots from this year’s event. A 30 AmericanCarCollector.com A whole new meaning to gray-market car

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The Good Stuff ACC picks four favorite new items from SEMA 2017 Loud On Demand For years, car guys have had to walk that A new look for an old-school rig fine line of too loud for the neighbors and too quiet for our friends. Now we can have the best of both worlds. Quick Time Performance offers an electric exhaust cut-out valve for almost every application. Simply flip a switch and an electric motor will open the cut-out valve, switching your car’s acoustic temperament from quiet grocery-getter to snarling all-out race car. They can be run completely open, completely closed, or anywhere in between to suit your taste. Sizes are available from 2.25-inch to 4-inch. Special low-profile kits are now available for newer Camaros, Mustangs and Chargers. See all the options at www.quicktimeperformance.com. how low can you go? Tight-Space Frustration It doesn’t matter if you are working on a foreign or domestic, new or old, gas or diesel vehicle — we all run into nuts and bolts that are nearly impossible to reach. That is where the Tite-Reach comes in. This product acts as an adaptor Some nips and tucks on a Tucker between your socket and ratchet. Snap your socket on one end and place it on the bolt or nut giving you trouble. Use your ratchet on the other end and you are no longer smacking your knuckles. This handy tool comes in light- and heavy-duty models that can be used with an impact wrench. There are ¼-inch, ⅜-inch and ½-inch sizes for every task. Stop removing more parts than you need to just because of one ill-placed bolt. Find out more at www.tite-reach.com. Next-Level Lighting Finding the right work light to use while working on your auto is a neverending task. Sometimes it seems as though half the battle is just being able to see. Some lights are not bright enough, others constantly shift and blind you, and many have a cord that gets in the way. Advanced Lighting Systems’ new underhood light is the solution. It features These mods really deliver ultra-bright LEDs and attaches to both sides of your vehicle’s hood. The bar is adjustable from 47 inches to 79 inches and the brackets are carefully coated to not cause any damage to paint. They also allow the light to swivel 360 degrees to any angle you need. The light puts out up to two thousand lumens and is powered by a rechargeable battery. Learn more at www.advancedlightingsystems.com. RPM Recall Did I shift too early? Was I in the wrong gear for that corner? In the midst of a race it is difficult to analyze your accuracy. Sometimes we need to go back and see where we can improve. The Playback Tachometer helps with just that. The pedestal-mounted tach records your engines A few degrees from stock rpms during a run and allows the driver to go back and examine them. It can be played back in real time or slowed down for a more accurate reading. It can even examine the run down to one-hundredth of a second. Need another look? No problem, you can pause and rewind the playback. Get all the info at www.speedhut.com/gauges. — Chad TaylorA January–February 2017 January–February 2018 31

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WRENCHINGHOW-TO FLOOR IT! Is it worth $170 and a few hours of work? you be the judge A fresh carpet kit is a fast, easy way to enhance your car’s appearance by Jim Pickering and Jay Harden W hen it comes to our classic cars — especially at a car show or when being sold at a collector-car auction — a first impression can have a huge impact on performance, from winning an award through bringing the right price across the auction block. One of the simplest and most overlooked components in our cars is also one that suffers some of the most wear through use: interior carpet. The carpet is trampled every time you get in or out of the car, and sun fading is a real issue when you use your car in the summer, as most of us do. The wear is incremental — you may not even notice your carpet is looking fuzzy, threadbare and faded, but onlookers (and bidders) will. Swapping out interior carpet is an inexpensive proposition, and it’s 32 AmericanCarCollector.com an easy afternoon task that can really make your car’s interior look crisp. Now that winter is here, it’s the perfect time to tackle the job. ACC Columnist Jay Harden’s Chevelle is a perfect example of a car in need of fresh carpet. So we contacted Original Parts Group and sourced one of their Auto Custom Carpets “Raylon” carpet kits, which closely resemble the original 80/20 rayon/nylon carpet from the 1960s and 1970s but with more durability and resistance to fuzzing and pilling. It looks stock but will last much longer than an OE kit. Here’s what it took to get the job done. ORIGINAL PARTS GROUP PARTS LIST P/N ACC26 Raylon-style Original Molded Carpet Kit, Red. $169.99 TIME SPENT: Three hours DIFFICULTY: J (J J J J J is toughest)

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1 Jay’s Chevelle still looks pretty good inside, but like many muscle cars that wear older restorations and get used regularly, its carpet kit is faded. opGI has carpet kits for a number of GM vehicles. They come rolled up in a box, so the first step, other than verifying that you have the correct color and the correct kit for your application, is to pull the new carpet out and lay it flat to work out any shipping wrinkles. There will be plenty. 2 3 next up is removing the currently fitted carpet kit from the car, but this requires some disassembly. We attacked Jay’s af- termarket seat belts first, which were held in place with four 13/16-inch bolts. 4 This was originally a benchseat car. Jay installed aftermarket buckets in the early 2000s and had to make special brackets to fix them to the floor — but stock cars come apart the same way. Four half-inch bolts hold each seat to the floor. We removed the bolts and lifted the seats out of the car. 5 We pulled the aftermarket floor shifter next, then turned our attention to the original rear seat, which is held in place with two clips welded to the floor. 6 The seat frame is pinched in place in two spots: one on the driver’s side and one on the passenger’s side. Here we pulled some of the carpet away to show how the clips work — note that the spring steel is grabbed and held in place. To remove the seat, push it toward the back of the car and down at the same time, then lift up and pull toward the front. 7 Just like that, the rear seat pops out. The side panels and the seatback stay in place, as they’re not in the way here. January–February 2018 33

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WRENCHINGHOW-TO 9 8 With the seats out, you get a better sense of just how faded this kit has become. This is also a good time to note where the front and rear carpet sections overlap, as you’ll want to try to match that with the new kit once it’s installed. next up we removed the two step plates on either side of the car. They’re held in place with four Phillips screws each. After that, we pulled the two kick panels under the dash on either side. With the step plates out of the way, the kick panels slide back toward the rear of the car and out. 10 The last things holding the carpet in place are a few brackets on the firewall — in this case, the throttle pedal bracket and a plastic cover at the base of the steering column. We removed both and set them aside. 11 With the step plates removed, the kick panels out, and the under-dash components also out of the way, the old carpet kit is ready to come out. 12 Both the front and rear sections of new carpet come with thick jute padding glued to the bottom. The rear section needs to be installed in the proper orientation, with the padding located in the footwells. Folding the section in half makes getting it in the car easier. 13 The carpet is molded to fit the floor — but it does take some finesse to get it centered and placed correctly. The idea is to get it to sit flat everywhere, without wrinkles or high spots that stand up from the floor. No glue is required. We did use a heat gun to warm up several sections, as the cold November day was doing us no favors in getting this kit to lie completely flat in the car. 34 AmericanCarCollector.com 14 We trimmed the carpet around the two rear seat clips using a razor blade, then reinstalled the rear seat to hold the carpet in place. Note we did not trim the sides to fit — that comes last. 15 The front section is next, which first must be test-fit in place and marked where it needs to be cut for the shifter cable to pass through it. This is a crucial step, as this car has no console, so a cut in the wrong place would be impossible to hide. We used a black Sharpie to mark the location, then cut it with a razor blade.

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WRENCHINGHOW-TO 16 With the carpet placed where we wanted it, we went ahead and reinstalled the shifter. To do so, we used a sharp pick tool to locate the shifter’s mounting holes in the floor, stabbing through the new carpet. We then used a razor blade to cut an X over the top of each located hole. That allows the bolts to pass through without creating huge holes in the carpet. Note the wrinkles from shipping, which still need to be worked out before installing the seats. 17 In the past, I’ve made the mistake of cutting carpet kits too short at the kick panels. This method works great to avoid that — cutting a slot at the corner allows the carpet to lie flat, and the excess is hidden behind the kick panel. Again, we used a sharp razor blade here. 18 After cutting the passenger’s side carpet to match, we reinstalled the kick panels and then set about marking the seat bolt holes. Again, using a sharp pick tool, we found each hole, then made sure there were no wrinkles, and then stuck small screwdrivers through the holes to keep everything lined up. Again, using a sharp razor blade, each hole got an X cut over the top of it. 19 Finally, we reinstalled the seats and the seat belts, doing our best to maintain a tight-to-floor carpet fit in the process. 36 AmericanCarCollector.com 20 The last step is trimming the sides to fit — I like to trim the carpet right at the step-plate mounting holes, as the plate then has enough bite to really pinch it in place. Four screws on each side finish off the job. A

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YOUR TURN Tell Us What’s On Your Mind Contact us at: American Car Collector, P.O. Box 4797, Portland, OR 97208 or online at comments@americancarcollector.com Remember this ad? Neon Glow of Nostalgia You may remember me as the guy with the one-of-one Studebaker Wagonaire. This month’s editorial had a comment about collecting Dodge/Plymouth Neons (November–December, “Torque,” p. 12). Well, if you can find a nice one, buy it, because those cars had a great following when they were new. FCA should have called the recently departed Dart the Neon instead. The Neon was targeted at young buyers, many of whom fell in love with the cute little car. It also had its own set of factory racing setups and parts. Chrysler also promoted what was called the Neon Challenge. Here’s what to look for: Generation I, 1995–99: All years ACR versions, 4-door and 2-door. 1998–99 Dodge Neon R/T, any version with the double-overhead cam and stick shift, any year Plymouth Expresso. There are also some 1996 black-and- yellow Neon Challenge cars that escaped the factory (I live 40 miles from the plant). Generation II 2000 and forward: SRT4 38 AmericanCarCollector.com turbos, unmodified if you can find one. They’re interesting, fun cars and were easily modified when new. I owned three. — Tom Stoka, via email ACC Editor Jim Pickering responds: I figured my Neon comment might bring some feedback, and I’m glad it did. This actually fits in nicely with this month’s Readers’ Forum as well, which covers our readers’ thoughts on the collectability of the Pinto and other ’70s subcompacts on p. 40. As with the Neon, those cars were once everywhere. Now they’re not. What’s left seems to be minty originals that can sometimes bring decent money at auction — and sometimes not. Fundamentally speaking, I do think the Neon is probably positioned better compared to the Pinto, Vega and AMCs in the long term for a couple of reasons. First, like you mentioned, was that racing series — from what I understand, those bright little cars were pretty good SCCA racers. Second, and just as important, was the impact of Chrysler’s “Hi” ad campaign that played off the Neon’s happy-face front-end design. From magazines to TV spots during football games, you couldn’t escape it — and as an image, that happy face is burned into my brain deeper than the image of the rusty beater $500 Neons we all saw everywhere in the mid-2000s. I don’t think I’m alone on that one, either. Third, they were actually pretty good little cars. Yes, my family had one too — a white 1995 Highline sedan purchased to save the front-yard shrubbery (and everything else) from getting flattened by my sister at the helm of our family Suburban. I drove it quite a bit in the years we had it, and other than some transmission issues typical of Chrysler in the 1990s, it was a reliable, decent-handling little driver. I think you’re right in your picks of the Neons to buy. That said, I’m not sure nostalgia for the car is powerful enough for most buyers to spend any money to replicate the experience just yet. But I won’t be surprised to see movement in the market here in the future. The pieces are all there. A

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READERS’ FORUM Crowdsourcing Answers to Your Car Questions Contact us at: American Car Collector, P.O. Box 4797, Portland, OR 97208 or online at comments@americancarcollector.com Will the Pinto Ever Be Collectible? Readers respond: If you don’t remember that they blow up. — Anonymous, via email n n n Is the Edsel? While there may always be a niche for passionate Pinto collectors, I believe a car had to be desirable during its run to be desirable a generation (or two) later; not sure the Pinto fits that category. — Jim Hill, via email n n n I am glad to see that the lowly Pinto is finally being recognized in the collector car community. I was an engineer at Ford and on the Pinto for most of its life. I had three of them during the production run: a ’72 Runabout, a ’76 station wagon and a ’78 Runabout. While not the fastest cars in town, I considered them to be dependable. Living in Michigan, I had plenty of rust to contend with. Now that I have returned to my homeland in Oklahoma, I know of at least one example still running around on the road. I would like to add one to my “stable of cars,” if I had room for it. I think it was a muchmaligned car that may be a real sleeper as far as collectibility. I would like to have seen the “Pinto Stampede” that they had last year at the Ford Employee car show. There would have been many of my brothers there. — Dan R. Davis, via email n n n The Pinto was a good car in its day. I owned several of them and used them as commuter cars — and I have to say I got very good service out of those little Fords. The collectibility of the Pinto rates the same in my opinion as other small cars of that time period. Pintos, Gremlins and Chevettes This month’s Readers’ Forum question: Ford’s compact Pinto, launched in 1971 as a response to the growing number of subcompact imports being sold in this country, isn’t exactly fondly remembered. ACC has followed the trend in 1980s cars for the better part of two years now — prices on cars from that era are up as collectors start to buy both the halo cars they always wanted, such as the GNX or 5.0 Mustang, and the pedestrian drivers that used to be everywhere but are now thinner on the ground — think early Honda Civics and Accords. Where does that leave the Pinto and its 1970s American subcompact counterparts like the Vega and Gremlin? Do you think they are collectible now? Is there a cool factor there? Is there movement left in the collector market for the Pinto, or will they forever be a flammable footnote in American car culture? will never have the same show-stopping value as muscle cars and other collectibles — but they were part of the automotive landscape of the 1970s, and seeing a nicely preserved example always makes me stop and take a second look. — Dave Hollen, Glasgow, PA n n n email No. Not until five-gallon gas cans are. — Mike McCormish, via n n n Not sure if it will ever be “collectible,” but I’ve been a car guy since I could crawl, and I wouldn’t mind driving an excellent example of a Pinto, Vega, Chevette or Gremlin around. I do own a couple of somewhat expensive cars, but I really think the fun factor would be higher in one of the abovementioned cars. — Michael Horrigan, via email n n n No. Many cheap cars made in big numbers have become collect- ible... Ford T, Ford A, VW Beetle, Citroën 2CV... but all of them were good cars. The Pinto was a piece of automotive trash, in which there was zero innovation and nothing that would allow it to remain in production a long time. No engineering, modest style, bad performance, nothing whatsoever to separate it from other trash vehicles except a propensity to burst into flames if struck in the rear. Does anyone want to collect Chevrolet Chevettes and the Opel, Pontiac, Vauxhall, and (disgracefully) Cadillac variants of the very poor (but better than Pinto) GM cheap car? — Robert Cumberford, SCM Contributor and automotive designer, via email n n n My folks bought a brand-new 1977 Chevette, and I learned how to drive in that car! If I see one, it brings back memories, just like someone else might have with a Pinto, Gremlin or Vega. These cars were like Dixie Cups — used, then thrown away. We hardly see them anymore, and that adds charm to their memory. However, I don’t believe these vehicles will ever rival a Shelby Mustang or Corvette for investment or collectibility. They are for fun. Isn’t that part of the reason we all enjoy old cars anyway? — John Kriegshauser, Omaha, NE n n n Well, this ’79 Ford pinto hatchback sold in June for $15,400, so what does that tell you? 40 AmericanCarCollector.com Yes, I do think that the Pinto will be collectible. It was a decent little car that was not terrible-looking, and was quite reliable and af

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n n n This article is a perfect lightning rod for my friends and me. Made us laugh. Here’s the scenario... I started collecting cars about 20 years ago. The first car was a one-owner, 20,000-mile 1973 Levi’s Gremlin (258-ci 6-cylinder). The car was in great shape, and the interior was in great shape. I’d (inexplicably) loved Gremlins since they arrived in 1970, and I wasn’t disappointed with the buy. About seven years ago, I stumbled onto the perfect mix of car and kitsch: a 1976 Mercury Bobcat Squire runabout (V6) — the perfect blend of disposable car and woodgrain contact paper. The scotch plaid upholstery screams bellbottoms and KC and the Sunshine Band. My 20-car collection is all over the map. 2013 McLaren 12C This ’77 pinto sold for $4,620 in 2013 fordable. Some of the compacts of the era were worse and may never be collected — Lada, for one. — Brian Curtis, via email n n n Of course the Pinto will be collectible, and here’s why: Everyone remembers them and everyone had one! Yes, they were a horrible throwaway car back in the ’70s, and that’s another reason why they will be collectible — few kept them. My family had two of them, and the car I brought to college was a white 1980 Pinto. It brings back memories — not all good, of course, because they were so basic and boring — but it does bring back memories. This past summer I saw one at a car show and it was a huge hit! — Greg Mosho, Farmingdale, NJ n n n I sure hope so, as I have put a few of them on ice — especially the Squire wagons! — Peter Bronken, via email Spider, 2014 Porsche 911 50th Anniversary edition, and 2006 Aston Martin V8 Vantage to a 1981 DeLorean, 1959 El Camino, a 1963 Corvette Split-Window and a 1962 flat-floor Jag E-type OTS. The largest percentage of the collection is Indianapolis 500 Pace Cars, including three track cars and two actual Pace Cars. But the beauty and attraction of the Gremlin and Bobcat is that they were designed to be used up, then thrown away. They weren’t supposed to survive like my other cars. While hundreds of thousands were made, there are probably fewer condition 1 and 2 Gremlins than there are NCRS Top Flight-winning 1967 Corvettes. And while the Pintos/Bobcats, Vegas, and Gremlins will never be in as much demand as big-block Corvettes, Boss Mustangs or E-body Mopars, the low rate of survivability of the econoboxes makes them charming survivors. Pickup trucks became hip. Station wagons are getting there. Econos soon to follow. (Next? Condition 1 and 2 early Mopar minivans.) — Tom Beeler, Indianapolis, INA January–February 2018 41

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Cheap Thrills The B. Mitchell Carlson UPMARKET MAVERICK The final pass of the Mercury Comet was about as dim as t 1977 Mercury Comet coupe for a n de int me sen That Falcon-based Comet compact was built from 1960 through I 1965. In 1966, the name moved to the Fairlane mid-sized platform, where it stayed until 1969. With the success of the Ford Maverick, which was introduced for the 1970 model year (exactly five years after the Falcon-based Mustang), Mercury wanted a piece of that action. So the Comet name made another pass for 1971. In essence, it was little more than a badge-engineered Maverick, with Comet-unique grille, hood and taillight panel. Some go, some show All Comets came s six, and were availabl or 302-ci V8, availabl 4-door sedans — both t 4-door being new to t 1971 Maverick. Simil to the Grabber from t Maverick side of the aisle, a 2-door-only Comet GT was offered as a quasiperformance car. Wit no changes to the eng availability, the GT w 44 AmericanCarCollector.com Cheap Thr Cheap Thr Cheap Thr s The B. Mitchell Carlson UPMARKET MAVERICK The final pass of the Mercury Comet was about as dim as t 1977 Mercury Comet coupe for a n de int me sen That Falcon-based Co p Thrills The B. Mitchell Carlson UPMARKET MAVERICK The final pass of the Mercury Comet was about as dim as t 1977 Mercury Comet coupe for a n de int me sen That Falcon-based Comet compact was built from 1960 through I 1965. In 1966, the name moved to the Fairlane mid-sized platform, where it stayed until 1969. With the success of the Ford Maverick, which was introduced for the 1970 model year (exactly five years after the Falcon-based Mustang), Mercury wanted a piece of that action. So the Comet name made another pass for 1971. In essence, it was little more than a badge-engineered Maverick, with Comet-unique grille, hood and taillight panel. Some go, some show All Comets came s six, and were availabl or 302-ci V8, availabl 4-door sedans — both t 4-door being new to t 1971 Maverick. Simil to the Grabber from t Maverick side of the aisle, a 2-door-only Comet GT was offered as a quasi- performance car. Wit no changes to the eng availability, the GT w 44 AmericanCarCollector.com more more show than go — with dummy hood scoop, matte black accent paint, blackout grille and high-back bucket seats. Year-to-year changes were minimal — essentially housekeeping to keep up with new safety and emissions standards, such as everincreasing bumper sizes starting in 1973. The anemic 170 gave way to the adequate 200-ci straight six from the Mustang as the standard engine from 1973 onward, along with offering the truck-based 250-ci straight six as the first-tier optional engine, with the tried-and-true 302 still in the options list. Initially, the Comet met with some modest success, not so much as an “import fighter,” but as a lower-price-point ll on the other side of Lincolncury dealers’ showrooms from ontinental Mark IIIs and IVs. This became a godsend for the division during the OPEC oil embargo of 1973–74, as the Comet gave L-M dealers the traffic and sales they needed to eep the division alive. ur is more ally, the coupes were the hot 1975 Mercury Comet GT o to one — but in 1975, 4-doors st time. That gap widened until

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As such, underpinnings such as springs, axles and brakes were from the bottom of the pricing bin. If you have any desires to build one up — even if it’s a factory 302 car — beef up the undercarriage first. Prices are all but equal to Mavericks — if not slightly cheaper. A low-mile GT with a 302 might get close to $10k, but to go higher than that, it would have to be a minty unrestored virgin with more documented history than miles. While 1970s geek cars have seen an uptick in interest and values Vintage ad for a 1975 Mercury Comet 4-door sedan the end of production. The Comet was originally going to be retired in 1975, replaced by the Mercury Monarch (yet another FoMoCo with Falcon bones). However, the OPEC oil embargo was considered a sign by the Lincoln-Mercury division that they needed to maintain a diverse lineup of smaller cars, so the Comet got a stay of execution. With lagging sales (a meager 21,545 in its final year — including just 9,109 2-doors), 1977 was the last call for the Comet. Tailing the Comets Despite the GT package, no Comet ever left one of the factories in the U.S. or Canada with a 4-speed manual transmission or anything more potent than a 2-barrel 302 V8 with single exhaust. If you find one with either of those, it’s been swapped out. The aftermarket is rife with performance components that’ll fit a Comet. However, bear in mind that unlike the Mustang, which ranged from mild to wild when new, the Comet was originally lame to tame. in recent years, Mavericks and Comets still lag behind even Mustang IIs. Since they’ve been dirt-cheap since the first one financed was paid off, and with all that Falcon/Mustang DNA, these cars have been prime candidates for low-budget engine swaps and performance mods. Since “done on the cheap” is a common theme here, “buy on the cheap” should be your mantra. Still, for those of us who were Detailing of that age in the 1970s and early ‘80s when these were at giveaway prices, there is a sense of cheap nostalgia here. Yet with nearly half a million Comets built all told — let alone millions of Mavericks — don’t get sucked into the “they all got scrapped and this is the only survivor” mindset. Plenty of grandmas and grandpas bought these as their last cars. Those are Comets to look for. Just remember, if you catch one, you’d better be prepared for folks continually asking you, “What kind of Maverick is that?” A Years produced: 1971–77 Number produced: 487,202 Original list price: $2,461 Current ACC Valuation: $4,000–$7,600 Clubs: Maverick/Comet Club International Tune-up/major service: $250 VIN location: Base of the windshield, on driver’s side and body tag in door jamb Web: maverickcometclub.org, www.cometcentral.com Alternatives: 1970–77 Ford Maverick, 1974–78 Ford Mustang II, 1970–76 Dodge Dart/Plymouth Duster ACC Investment Grade: CJanuary–February 2018 45

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Horsepower Jay Harden BACK FUTURE to the SEMA is where the ridiculous and absurd meet, but it is also where groundbreaking ideas that drive the market emerge SEMA great. Buyers and builders and designers and writers are given the rare opportunity to size manufacturers up against one another and compare quality, componentry, ingenuity and style. We all win as a result. Some of the most interesting and relevant products I saw on hand were retrofit plug-and-play packages designed specifically for easing the pain of sliding a modern drivetrain under the hood of old iron. The concept isn’t new, of course, but the packaging and completeness of the units have improved tremendously over the years. The OEMs have fully recognized articulate on paper, and the level of organization is simply astounding. Though impressed by the sheer scale of the event, I was also struck by several distinct impressions that I think affect us directly as American car collectors. I’ve learned over the years that the SEMA show acts somewhat I as a breeding ground where the ridiculous and absurd meet for their annual fling, but it is also where the groundbreaking ideas and breathtaking new trends emerge that drive many automotive markets forward for years to follow. Here’s what I saw: The good The first hall I hit on Day 1 housed the New Products Showcase. The simple fact that everyone who’s anyone in the world of automotive-product manufacturing comes together to display their latest and greatest under one roof is the driving force that really makes 46 AmericanCarCollector.com We’ve said it for years but now it’s official: Fox-body Mustangs are a hot ticket ’m not sure exactly what I was expecting out of my first trip to the SEMA show in Las Vegas, but the event somehow ended up being both everything and nothing I thought it would be. Let me put it this way — I can say with some confidence that whatever it is you’ve heard about SEMA, it’s true. All of it. The event is carried out on a scale that is virtually impossible to the demand for easy-to-install packages that eliminate the need for an electrical engineering degree, and business is booming. Dropping an LT4, Coyote or Hellcat into your Pacer may never be easier. Just don’t expect it to be cheap. Piggybacking on the high-techmeets-low-tech of the plug-and-play packages were the data acquisition systems. Although most of us prefer to tune blindly by ear and smell and overinflated sense of ability, the argument against adding some sort of data-acquisition tool to your ride is growing increasingly difficult to defend. Imagine popping a couple of holes in your exhaust, threading in a couple of O2 sensors and getting live, recordable and repeatable data from affordable units that you can use to dial your tune in wherever you are and however you drive. And that is really just scratching the surface. Digital data loggers that provide accurate engine vitals and recordable track data and real-world diagnostic tools in simple, clean and affordable packages are officially here. No need to wait for the flux-capacitor to hit the market. Keep the carb. Tune like you actually know what you’re doing. Amazing stuff. The better If you are still holding on to the idea that street rods, muscle cars and Day 1 originals are the only American collectibles, you’ll find that the folks who show up to SEMA are working hard to change your mind. There’s no place quite like SEMA for unique body styles to get the full-boogie treatment. Vendors and builders are looking for any opportunity to stand out from the crowd, and ’32 Fords and ’69 Camaros just don’t garner the

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bang for the buck they did a few short years ago. As a result, SEMA offers one of the year’s best venues for taking a risk on underutilized machines. For example, do you think mid-’60s GM pickups are ugly? Well, you might want to skip down a paragraph or two. They were everywhere. And they looked amazing and absolutely at home under the lights. If you have a shortbed tucked away in the barn, your time is now. Speaking of trucks, if I never see another lifted F-150 on ginor- mous wheels, it’ll be too soon. Positive spin? If SEMA is any indication, and it is, trucks are every bit a part of the modern American Car Collector scene as Mustangs, Camaros or Challengers. That means the rising tide we’ve watched lift ’70s and ’80s trucks and SUVs is surging against the levee, and the breach is coming. Are you ready? Editor Pickering has been predicting the coming of the Fox-body Mustangs for a couple of years now, and the inevitable is officially here. Goolsby Customs brought a ’79 equipped with a Coyote Aluminator under the hood and a retro paint job on the surface that was absolutely stopping people in their tracks. Now that consumers have a nextgeneration 5.0 and OEM-supported plug-and-play options, don’t be surprised if we see a huge resurgence in Fox-body values. Be prepared for other ’70s and ’80s performance platforms to follow suit. The best I’m a hot rod/street rod/muscle car, burn-’em-up, slide-it-sideways kind of guy, and SEMA brings out the best of the best from the world I love. Thankfully, the SEMA organization continues to find a bigger carrot to hang from the stick each year, which in turn encourages more vendors to write those blank checks for the top builders. There are some truly exceptional craftsmen bringing truly exceptional cars and trucks to SEMA, and, once again, we all benefit as a result. They don’t make them like this anymore. Well, actually, they never made them like this We don’t need to be exceptional if those that are can share their ideas and their successes. Builders at the top of the heap can almost single-handedly change the marketability, and thus desirability, of a body style in one fantastic effort. As I’ve said before, you don’t necessarily need to own the best example of something so long as someone out there is dreaming about it. SEMA’s influence here cannot be understated. The Las Vegas event is more than a little overwhelming, to be sure, but SEMA keeps the spotlight on making sure our hobby is relevant, innovative and unified. I can’t wait to go back. A January–February 2018 47

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On the Market John L. Stein RAVES, FAVES andSAVES John L. Stein Lucky Find: The author with the 1967 pontiac GTo convertible he picked up for $800 in 1981 I goaded my workmate into taking a fast left-hander flat-out ... We snapped onto the grass track perimeter at nearly 80 mph B ack in the mid-1970s, there was a paperback called Real Steel by Bill Neville, which offered guidance on the best American cars to buy. It focused on profit potential, and offered various charts showing how much cars might be worth in a few years. My buddy and I “co-owned” the book at the time, and I don’t know where it is now. However, I recall that by the end of the 1970s, 1957 Corvette Fuelies and 1955–57 Thunderbirds were projected to be worth $5,000 — a huge sum for college kids when you could buy a respectable used car for $150 to $350 or so. Always busy with other things, we never got that T-bird or ’Vette. But we did cross paths with many other American cars while horse-trading our way through school. And my relationship continued with U.S. steel later, after moving to Ann Arbor, MI, for the startup of Automobile magazine in 1986, and later after becoming editor of Chevrolet’s publication Corvette Quarterly in 1997. Here are some highs and lows from 40 years of engagement with “real steel” as an owner, driver, racer, mechanic and editor: High Priests: Riverside International Raceway, October 1962. Prior to attending this event with my dad, the only thing I knew about racing was that the local TV channel showed Figure 8 racing from Ascot Park — in essence a bash-’em-up jalopy race. But at Riverside were Cobras and space-age-looking Corvette Sting Rays that forever imprinted me with the speed and savagery and noise of racing. It was controlled violence, and those American sports cars were in there fighting with the world’s best. Then and forever, I became a fan of the 260/289 Cobras, Split-Window Sting Rays, and the men who raced them. Wicked: My aunt’s black 1964 Sting Ray. Tuxedo Black on black, and equipped 48 AmericanCarCollector.com with a “ladies’” automatic transmission, to me it looked just wicked, and she was one wicked aunt for driving it. I remember sitting eye-to-eye with the white cue-ball door handles, recall the rotating doorlock knobs, the red door lights and the passenger’s grab handle — and the 160-mph speedometer. She hit 60 mph once in a school zone (on a weekend), which cast her in my mind as a legend. Unfortunately, she disliked the car and ditched it for $1,500 before I got my driver’s license. First Love: Found in an alley for $25, a Heritage Burgundy 1963 Thunderbird Landau with a white interior was a pure ladies’ car. I didn’t care. It had a good battery and it limped home under its own power. A day spent with chrome cleaner, rubbing compound and Turtle Wax made it look amazing, and despite its proclivity for running on seven cylinders, I felt like a real grownup in that Bullet Bird. It was a great, and cheap, first foray into classic-car ownership. Low Blow: In lieu of working college summers, my car friends would cruise side streets and alleys looking for telltale signs of abandonment on interesting vehicles. One such recon discovered a gold 1971 El Camino SS with a white vinyl roof and an interior

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I can’t recall much about it except for the bench seat, automatic trans on the tree, and that it smelled like an old car. It ran like an old car too, and I discovered later why. Pulling the big-block’s valve covers and watching some rockers barely move indicated a flat cam. Lucky Find: Stuck at Lake Tahoe without a ride in summer 1981, I looked in the classifieds for a used car. Among the Volkswagens and Vista Cruisers was a Silverglaze 1967 GTO convertible. It was stuck in a meadow behind the seller’s home, victim of a blown clutch courtesy of his teenage kid. It also had a Muncie 4-speed, a tattered convertible top, and a price tag of $800. Sold. I had the clutch replaced at a local shop, powered the tattered top down, and drove it 500 miles home. That Goat became a fantastic surf car for a year, until I sold it to a Canadian pal for $1,300 — exactly what I had in it. All it had needed was the clutch, a top, mufflers and a gearbox shaft. Lesson Learned: Automobile magazine received a 1986 Corvette convertible — the first ’Vette droptop since 1975, for a yearlong “Four Seasons” test. To no one’s surprise, the Corvette was nearly undriveable in the snow. In fact, I remember thinking that with its wide tires, the C4 had so little grip that you could probably shove it sideways across an icy parking lot with one hand. But then the bright yellow ’Vette got a set of proper Goodyear winter tires installed. After that, it became nearly unstoppable — so good that you could almost push a snowplow with it. Then and there, I realized that all the work really does occur at the tire footprint. Respect: For Corvette Quarterly, longtime So-Cal racer Fred Yeakel kindly let me race his 1957 Corvette Fuelie at Thunderhill and at the Monterey Historics. And separately, Steve Earle entrusted me with the ex-Bob Bondurant 1959 Corvette “614 car” at Willow Springs. Different cars, different years, different tires and different tracks. But they were both unified in their handling idiosyncrasies: Struggling to get power to the ground; RPO 684 “big brakes” that would randomly pull one way or another; and handling that would snap from plowing understeer to pirouetting oversteer in milliseconds. To drive these cars at competitive race speeds, on the bias-ply tires of the day, took strength, bravery and talent. LMAO: With the 1987 Mustang GT, Ford was back in the performance game. John L. Stein First Love: 1963 Ford Thunderbird Landau The car’s “cheese-grate” taillights seemed garish at the time, but today they define the car as the late-’80s hot rod it was. The Mustang GT’s 225 hp put it in the same camp as a Corvette. And its handling-oriented suspension, dual exhausts, a 5-speed, and bolstered buckets made it tons of fun. So was one particular moment at the press launch at Ford’s Dearborn proving grounds, where riding shotgun with my workmate, I goaded him into taking a fast left-hander flat-out. An experienced A Production Corvette racer, he was up to the challenge, but the rear tires on the Mustang weren’t. We snapped 180 degrees onto the grass track perimeter at nearly 80 mph. The memory of sailing backwards at speed, inside a massive cloud of grass clippings, and my compadre swearing while wildly sawing at the wheel, remains one of my favorite car moments. Boy, was he flustered, and boy, was I laughing. Which is why, even 30 years later, I’m ending this column with a big, fat grin. A January–February 2018 49

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PROFILE CORVETTE 1971 CHEVROLET CORVETTE 454/365 COUPE Right on the Money Jeremy Cliff, courtesy of Mecum Auctions Down the road, this LS5 should be a safe investment because it’s a nicely preserved big-block, but it will likely never break out because it’s a low-spec big-block VIN: 194371S117521 by John L. Stein • 71,000 original miles • Original matching-numbers 454-ci, 365-hp LS5 engine • 4-speed manual transmission • One of 1,455 equipped with the factory alarm system • Four Season air conditioning (not operational) • Power steering and brakes • Original AM/FM radio • Original luggage rack • T-tops with original covers • Pop-out rear window • Original order copy • Original owner’s manual in plastic sleeve with brochure • Engine rebuilt and clutch replaced at 60,000 miles • Modified with fiberglass rear springs, gas shocks, polyurethane bushings and BFGoodrich Radial T/A tires • Documentation and receipts dating back to the 1970s • One owner for past 21 years ACC Analysis This Corvette, Lot S36, sold for $40,700, including buyer’s pre- mium, at the Mecum auction in Chicago, IL, on October 7, 2017. With a Skunk Works beginning as the Chevy “Mystery Motor” used in Junior Johnson’s Impala at Daytona in 1963, the “big block” occupies hallowed ground for Chevy performance devotees, and its reputation remains unabated among collectors today. The 50 AmericanCarCollector.com 50 AmericanCarCollector.com axioms used to describe a big block — and Chevrolets in particular — are as bold as the idea of a seven-liter V8: “There’s no replacement for displacement,” and my personal favorites, Porcupine Motor and Rat Motor. Although the original Chevy big-block NASCAR motor displaced 427 cubic inches, R&D developed it into a 396-ci version for the 1965 Corvette. Here, the big block lasted through two Corvette generations and all the way through 1974, after which emissions regulations brought about its demise. Corvette big-block displacements were 396 ci in 1965 (2,157 built), 427 ci from 1966 to ’69 (48,149 built), and 454 ci from 1970 to the endpoint in 1974 (21,577 built). The most popular year for the big-block Corvette was 1969, when a total of 15,441 427s were sold. The real deal The big block wasn’t smoke and mirrors, as were so many of Detroit’s marketing ploys at the time. In various guises, it raced to numerous wins on the world stage, including Can-Am, particularly with the 7-liter Chevy-powered, papaya-hued McLarens of Bruce McLaren and Denny Hulme, and in many other U.S. drag-racing and oval-track events. Of course, there are big blocks and then there are big blocks, just as there are ’Cudas and Hemi ’Cudas, Camaros and COPO Camaros, and Mustangs and Boss 429 Mustangs. Big-block power output is directly tied to desirability, with the 1967–69 L88s at the top of the pyramid; the range of median values for these cars is estimated at $500,000 to nearly $4 million.

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CoLLeCTor’S reSourCe: You can easily track a car’s value over time with the ACC Premium Auction Database, featuring more than 125,000 American cars searchable by year, model, VIN and more. Sign up for just $59 at www.AmericanCarCollector.com! Detailing Year produced: 1971 Number produced: 14,680 (all 1971 Corvette coupes) Original list price: $5,496 Current ACC Median Valuation: $30,500 Engine # location: On block in front of right cylinder head Club: National Corvette Restorers Society “Everyday” big block The subject of value brings us to the 454-ci, 365-hp LS5 featured here. It was the entry-level big block of the 1971 model year, and arriving right in the middle of the big block’s reign, it was a great product and marketing move for Chevrolet. Its rated output was right in between the base small-block 350-ci engine (270 hp) and 454-ci LS6 (425 hp). So was the price, with the LS5 adding just $295 (5%) to the base price of the Corvette coupe, compared to $483 (9%) for the 350-ci LT-1 and $1,221 (22%) for the LS6. Key point here, during the “Big-Block era,” the 365-horse LS5 was just right for the everyday guy who wanted an extra dose of performance — and the street credibility that went with it. And now back to our subject car, the War Bonnet Yellow 1971 coupe, one of 5,097 C3s made for ’71 with the 365-hp 454. As noted above, this car was mid-level on the Corvette performance scale. The entry-level big block, it offered the best of both worlds — only a modest price premium over the base 270-hp 350 engine and nearly 100 more horses. Our subject 454 drives through a 4-speed Muncie gearbox, now considered desirable versus the Turbo Hydra-Matic 3-speed automatic, which was a no-cost option that nearly half of all 1971 Corvette buyers adopted. Just nice enough This particular car features the most popular op- tions of the time, including power steering and brakes, an AM/FM radio, and the now nonfunctional a/c. It also has a relatively rare alarm system, which is activated by a key just above the rear Corvette letters — when active, opening a door or the hood will cause a horn to honk. Altogether, it’s a nicely equipped but not particularly special car. Another important matter is the body style. The 1971 models are the next-to-last of the “chrome bumper” Sharks, and as such hold a strong styling edge over the following, plastic-baby-bumper Corvettes that lasted until — well, actually, they never went away. 1972 was the last year for full-metal-bumper Corvettes of any stripe. Now to the condition, originality and history. In terms of investment potential, to me this car has a decent scorecard. It’s a sanitary and well-presented example of a chrome-bumper, big-block C3 in an arresting color with no known issues, aside from the air-conditioning. That’s all good. However, it’s rated as only a “B” in ACC’s Pocket Price Guide, where it is outplayed by the high-output LT-1 small-block and the low-production LS6 big-block of the same year. Niggling points include that nonfunctional a/c and the rear ride height, which appears a bit high thanks to that new fiberglass spring. Price-appropriate The price paid was 30% above the ACC guide’s median value of $30,500, appropriate for this car’s excellent presentation and suggesting that the buyer and seller each got a fair deal. My bottom line: The buyer got a respectable car that will make a great careful driver, and the seller got solid money for the model. Down the road, this LS5 is likely to be a reasonably safe investment because it’s a nicely preserved bigblock whose odometer is still on its first trip around the block, but it will likely never break out because it’s a low-spec big-block. Also of concern, the performance world is turning toward smaller displacements, fewer cylinders, turbos and hybrids. And so, when Millennials age up onto their peak toy-buying years, it’s impossible to know whether big blocks will become more valued… or more vilified. In either case, all that remains today is for the new owner to fix the air conditioning, strap a suitcase onto the luggage rack, grab a map and go use and enjoy this throwback from 46 years ago — intimidating a few Priuses at the next stoplight while he’s at it. And while on the road, let’s hope he remembers to take that alarm key!A (Introductory description cour- tesy of Mecum Auctions.) January–February 2018 51CC 51 1971 Chevrolet Corvette 454/365 convertible Lot 37, VIN: 194671S121024 Condition: 2- Not sold at $42,000 ACC# 6803586 Motostalgia, Indianapolis, IN, 6/18/2016 Tune-up/major service: $500 Distributor cap: $35 VIN location: Plate on lower left windshield pillar More: www.ncrs.org Alternatives: 1970 AMC AMX, 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396, 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T 383 ACC Investment Grade: B Comps 1971 Chevrolet Corvette 350/270 coupe Lot 251, VIN: 19437S118163 Condition: 2+ Sold at $42,350 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ, 1/17/2017 ACC# 6816742 1971 Chevrolet Corvette 454/365 coupe Lot 2495, VIN: 194371S111460 Condition: 2 Sold at $39,600 Leake, Dallas, TX, 4/17/2016 ACC# 6799676

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PROFILE GM The Everyman’s SS 1972 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE HEAVY CHEVY Courtesy of Barrett-Jackson Chevy made it abundantly clear that this sub-model is second to the SS cars, and that’s where the prices fall today, too VIN: 1C37U2R67144 by Chad Tyson • LS3 402-ci, 300-hp V8 • Documented one-owner car, with original title and Protect-O-Plate • Factory air conditioning cally avoided the SS title, which triggered staggering double-digit insurance premium increases in the early ‘70s. The factory RPO code YF3 made this a rare Heavy T 52 AmericanCarCollector.com Chevy, a sub-model based on the Chevelle series. It features a blacked-out grille and headlamp bezels, 14-by-6-inch Rally wheels with bright center caps and no trim rings, a domed hood and hood pins, lanyards and full-length Heavy Chevy body stripes, and hood, trunk-lid and fender badges. It’s also equipped with F41 heavy-duty suspension and a base interior including rubber floor matting and bench seating to save weight. This Heavy Chevy is one of only 286 built with the optional big-block LS3 402ci engine (the largest engine available) and the special heavy-duty MC1 Muncie 3-speed manual transmission that was only available with this engine. his rare special-order Heavy Chevy was marketed as a lighter version of the SS and advertised much lower stated horsepower as an insurance beater. Heavy Chevys were factory coded as a base Chevelle and theoreti- ACC Analysis This car, Lot 361.1, sold for $33,000, including buyer’s pre- mium, at Barrett-Jackson’s Las Vegas, NV, sale on October 20, 2017. Finding car folks who love Chevrolet’s mid-size monster, the vaunted Chevelle, isn’t hard. Stop by any classic-car gathering and it won’t be long before you see a Chevy A-body. Search any Chevy-centric Internet forum and you’ll see plenty of praise heaped on big-block tire roasters and plenty of signatures including LS5, LS6 and SS 454. But one variant isn’t as often discussed — the Heavy Chevy. Under the radar Sure, there is a small set of fanatics for these cars, the same as with most unappreciated trim levels or models. Chevrolet produced only 16,235 (a scant 3.8% of all 2-door hard tops) during the brief two-year run. Then again, calling it a two-year run is a bit of a stretch, as the option was introduced in March 1971. The Rally Nova joined it in Chevrolet’s lineup as a less-than-SS performance variant to combat the skyrocketing insurance prices driving buyers (especially the younger ones) away from the top-end performers. Chevrolet, in their 1972 Chevelle brochure, referred to the package as “an economical running mate to the one on top. That’s the SS.” To make that happen, Chevy made some conces

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CoLLeCTor’S reSourCe: You can easily track a car’s value over time with the ACC Premium Auction Database, featuring more than 125,000 American cars searchable by year, model, VIN and more. Sign up for just $59 at www.AmericanCarCollector.com! Detailing Years produced: 1971–72 Number produced: 16,230 (1971, 6,727; 1972, 9,503) Original list price: $3,216.20 Current ACC Median Valuation: $21,188 Engine # location: Pad on front of passenger’s side of engine below cylinder head Tune-up/major service: $100 VIN location: Tag on forward part of dash near driver’s side A-pillar Club: American Chevelle Enthusiasts Society sions. RPO YF3 — the Heavy Chevy option code — was only available on the 2-door hard top, and wasn’t available with the 454-ci big block, as the 454 was exclusive to the SS lineup by this point. Ordering customers could pick from any of the other V8s, starting with the standard 307-ci small block, but also including two 350s and the one under this hood — the big-block LS3 402. Almost an SS Visual identification of one of these cars is pretty easy. A blacked-out grille and Heavy Chevy block-script vinyl spelled out the option on both front fenders and on the driver’s side in front of the hood. Speaking of the hood, it was domed with lock pins, just like the one on the SS, but with no Cowl Induction flapper. Front-to-back side stripes were the other exterior cue as to which car you’re looking at. Inside, the car reveals its economic emphasis, with a front bench, no console available and standard-issue rubber floormat. This one is an even rarer example of the almost-SS, as it sports the MC1 heavy-duty 3-speed manual transmission. It’s easy enough to dismiss a 3-speed manual as the base transmission, especially since it was, but the MC1 wasn’t the base gearbox. In fact, buyers plunked down an additional $135.20 over the base price for the heavy-duty 3-speed upgrade. The plain-Jane ZW4 is the quickly disregarded (and often replaced) base unit, but the Muncie MC1 is every bit the equivalent of its 4-speed counterparts, just minus one gear. The 402/MC1 combination was installed in only 272 cars, while Chevy produced 286 of the pairings total in 1972. Other options here include power front disc brakes, a Positraction rear end and a Sport steering wheel. Good docs, some needs Our subject isn’t ready for the concours circuit, with paint flaking off of valve covers and staining on the passenger’s side of the front bench seat. But that’s hardly the point of this car. The glitz and glamour, such as any Chevrolet could garner, was reserved for the SS models and Corvettes. The old, corrugated wire looms and rusty vacuum hose clips add to the everyman charm epitomized by those 10 blocky letters. According to the auction catalog, plenty of documen- tation accompanied the car: a copy of the original sales agreement, Protect-O-Plate, special-order deposit receipt, pre-delivery inspection form and more proof of the seller’s claims of matching numbers. All bonuses here. Chevy made it abundantly clear that this sub-model is second to the SS cars, and that’s where the prices fall, too. ACC’s Premium Auction Database has tracked just five Heavy Chevys selling in the past decade at public auction, and that includes this one. Even if we include a Heavy Chevy sold in 2006 to the equation, the median sales price for all of them is just $21,188. That’s a far cry from the market median of the ’72 SS 454, which stands at $36k, according to the most recent ACC Pocket Price Guide. Now, as for this car’s sales price, $33k is among the highest tracked by ACC. I know one car’s sale doesn’t make a market, but given this model’s rare auction appearances, it’s just about all we’ve got to go on to nail down a current valuation. The loads of documentation likely added to price, too, but if this result is any indication of how buyers are feeling about the rarer-than-an-SS Chevelle, perhaps we’ll see some new love come to this under-loved everyman’s performance Chevy. A (Introductory description courtesy of Barrett- Jackson.) 1972 Chevrolet Chevelle Heavy Chevy Web: www.chevelles.com Alternatives: 1972 Chevrolet Rally Nova, 1971 Pontiac LeMans GT-37, 1972 Plymouth Road Runner ACC Investment Grade: C Comps 1972 Chevrolet Chevelle Heavy Chevy Lot J132, VIN: 1C37H2K598638 Condition: N/A Sold at $15,120 Mecum Auctions, Kissimmee, FL, 1/25/2015 ACC# 6775376 1972 Chevrolet Chevelle Heavy Chevy Lot TH281, VIN: 1C37J2L548074 Condition: 3 Sold at $19,800 Russo and Steele, Scottsdale, AZ, 1/18/2012 ACC# 4775770 Lot 766, VIN: 1C37F21543901 Condition: N/A Sold at $27,500 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ, 1/18/2010 ACC# 1679418 January–February 2018 53

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PROFILE FOMOCO Big-Money Boss 2012 FORD MUSTANG BOSS 302 Courtesy of Motostalgia This car sold at auction for an eye-popping $80,300, which is fantastic for the seller but could be ridiculous for the buyer VIN: 1ZVBP8U2C5199915 by Jeff Zurschmeide • 5.0-L DOHC 32-valve V8 • 6-speed manual transmission • 945 miles from new Boss 302 Mustangs were built for 2012. This example, which has barely had break-in miles put on the clock, is finished in black with the distinctive red markings. Only a few miles have been put on this car, but T 54 AmericanCarCollector.com 54 AmericanCarCollector.com the entire engine-drivetrain, suspension, handling and even the Torsen differential combine to make this machine a dream to drive. Just 612 Boss 302s received the black/red treatment, which includes the red anodized alloy wheels. This car still wears its factory Pirelli tires. ACC Analysis This car, Lot 55, sold for $80,300, including buyer’s premium, at Motostalgia’s auction of the McPherson Collection in Waxahachie, TX, on October 14, 2017. The original Boss 302 is the stuff of automotive legend. The man behind the Boss — Semon “Bunkie” Knudson — had been at the helm of Chevrolet during the early ’60s and in that capacity had signed off on the second-generation Corvette. So when he left GM to become president of Ford in 1968, it was a big deal. Knudson brought Corvette designer Larry Shinoda over from Chevrolet to work on the Mustang. here was no mistaking the Boss 302 for other run-of-the-mill Mustangs. Like the original, its unique exterior décor set these cars apart, as if the running gear didn’t do that. Produced for just two years, a total of 3,249 With the Pony Car wars at full volume, Shinoda began work on a special project for Knudson. He simply referred to it as “the Boss’s Car,” and the name stuck. The Boss 302 was developed for Trans-Am racing, and the Hi-Po engine became a fan favorite. Ford built 1,934 Boss 302 Mustangs in 1969 and 6,318 in 1970. Today, the original Boss 302 is a solidly collectible vintage Mustang with an “A” investment grade in ACC’s Pocket Price Guide. Return of the Boss Ford revived the Boss name in 2012 for a special edition of the popular fifth-generation Mustang. The car featured a plussed-up version of the Mustang’s standard 5.0-L V8, fitted with special CNC-ported heads, forged crank, performance cams and a long-runner intake manifold. The modern Boss 302 engine delivers 444 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque, and was mated to Ford’s best 6-speed manual transmission. In the chassis, the 2012–13 Boss 302 uses the Mustang GT setup, but with firmer springs and bushings and a bigger rear sway bar. Adjustable shocks, 19-inch wheels, and a race-inspired aero package complete the hard-parts upgrade. Recaro seats and a Torsen limited-slip differential were optional. Finally, Ford gave the Boss an additional intermediate setting on the electronic traction and stability controls for light-duty track use. The results are impressive. Fresh off the showroom floor, the Boss 302 does 0–60 in about 4.3 seconds, runs a 12.8 second ET in the quarter-mile, has a top speed governed to 155 mph, and will pull 0.90 Gs on

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CoLLeCTor’S reSourCe: You can easily track a car’s value over time with the ACC Premium Auction Database, featuring more than 125,000 American cars searchable by year, model, VIN and more. Sign up for just $59 at www.AmericanCarCollector.com! Detailing Years produced: 2012–13 Number produced: 8,289 Original list price: $40,995 Current ACC Median Price: $39,050 Engine # location: Engine compartment on driver’s side fender apron Club: Mustang Club of America the skid pad. It will brake from 70 mph to a dead stop in 160 feet. Two keys There’s some technological fun to be had in the modern world, and Ford went all-in with the Boss. When you bought the car, you got two types of key — a basic key that starts the car with the parameters listed above, and a red “Track Key” that has the potential to change the car’s engine settings for a more dynamic driving experience. The Track Key engine programming cost the new owner a gimmicky $302, but the reflash included changes to the cam timing, spark and fuel curves, and launch control. Retrofit Track Keys are now available from Ford again, but the whole package costs about $900 for the key and the reflash unit. There were a few extra-special editions made based on the new Boss. The 302R and 302S were not streetlegal and sold purely for racing use, while the Laguna Seca edition used all the racing parts but remains street-legal. For 2012, Ford produced a total of 4,016 Boss 302 Mustangs. There were 3,249 basic cars and 767 Laguna Seca models. For 2013, production amounted to 4,273 cars, with 3,526 of the street version and 747 Laguna Seca editions. These numbers do not include the special-order 302R and 302S versions. The 2012 Boss 302 carried an original sticker price of $40,995. For $302 more you got the Track Key reflash, and you could get the Recaro seats and the limited-slip diff for $1,995. The Laguna Seca edition was $6,995 more than the basic Boss. Collecting the Boss Finding a Boss 302 today isn’t hard. One popular nationwide online aggregator shows 147 examples for sale. Prices start in the low $20k range, and the highest-mileage cars have about 86,000 miles on the clock. There are several examples with fewer than 1,000 miles covered since new, and most of those are priced just under $50,000. Our subject car is a 2012 Boss 302 in black over red, with the Recaro and Torsen option. It’s effectively a perfect time-capsule car, with just 945 miles showing on the odometer. It’s called out as the Pilot Laguna Seca edition car on the windshield but not in any of the auction company documentation. All in all, you really couldn’t ask for a nicer example of this generation of the Boss. But this car sold at auction for an eye-popping $80,300, which is fantastic for the seller but could be ridiculous for the buyer. Here’s why: Almost every Boss 302 that was made has been well cared-for, and a modern factory performance car can easily show 30,000–80,000 miles without losing any of its mojo. If you want to be sure to get a good example, look for the usual provenance such as a clean CARFAX report, no title brands, and have the car professionally inspected for any signs of crash damage or abuse. As an extra measure of protection, you might look for cars that have not had the Track Key reflash done, because owners who installed launch control probably used it. With more than 8,000 cars built, the Boss 302 is not going to be exceptionally rare any time soon. It’s entirely possible to buy a solid, reasonable-miles example for much less than the original MSRP. If you want a car that’s never really been driven, you can have that for $50,000 without any negotiation. Was this car worth $80,300? I don’t think so, but Web: www.mustang.org Alternatives: 2014–15 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28, 2015–17 Dodge Challenger Hellcat, 2013–14 Shelby GT500 Tune-up/major service: $300 Distributor cap: N/A VIN location: Base of windshield, driver’s side ACC Investment Grade: C Comps 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Pre-Production Lot T240, VIN: 1ZVBP8CU6C5199884 Condition: 2Sold at $70,200 Mecum Auctions, Indianapolis, IN, 5/15/2015 ACC# 265275 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca Parnelli Jones Edition Lot 144, VIN: 1ZVBP8CU4C5257491 Condition: 1Sold at $88,000 RM Auctions, Farmers Branch, TX, 11/15/2014 ACC# 256067 when it comes to buying decisions, you’re the boss. A (Introductory description courtesy of Motostalgia.) 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Lot 902, VIN: 1ZVBP8CU65221883 Condition: 2+ Not sold at $35,000 VanDerBrink Auctions, Bismark, ND, 6/16/2012 ACC# 207932 January–February 2018 55CC 55

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PROFILE MOPAR Dynamic DeSoto 1957 DESOTO ADVENTURER CONVERTIBLE Darin Schnabel ©2017, courtesy of RM Sotheby’s Few automobiles from the flamboyant ’50s turn heads quite like Adventurers, and their prices reflect that VIN: 50417133 by Tom Glatch A 56 AmericanCarCollector.com 56 AmericanCarCollector.com ll Adventurers built between 1956 and 1958 were limited in production, but the 1957 model was especially so, having been introduced later than the rest of that year’s DeSoto line. There was no mention of the model in the catalog and no Adventurer brochure — just an insert for the owner’s manual, welcoming owners to “the elite Adventurer family.” Elite, indeed; in 1957, only 300 convertibles were made. The car offered here is even rarer in being equipped with factory Airtemp air conditioning, as well as the Benrus steering wheel-mounted chronometer, power seats and correct accessory wire wheels. It was fully restored in 1998 by well-known Forward Look expert Greg Groom of Chrysler Works in Highland, CA, to a very high standard. The work included proper trim throughout, such as the metallic-threaded carpet that is now nearly impossible to find. In a recent telephone conversation, Mr. Groom recalled the DeSoto well, noting that it is a true Adventurer and that it was acquired as a solid, good-running car, on which only the trunk floor and fenders required replacement. The interior was done by Mopar upholstery legend Gary Goers. Subsequently, the DeSoto was acquired by Thomas F. Derro in January 1999, and has remained in his collection since. Fit and finish throughout remains superb, and the car appears to have always been well maintained and preserved. It recently underwent a brake service and detailing, in preparation for sale, and presents beautifully throughout, with fine paint and chrome and an excellent interior. ACC Analysis This car, Lot 257, sold for $126,500, including buyer’s pre- mium, at RM Sotheby’s auction in Hershey, PA, on October 7, 2017. Straddling a fence can be a perilous act, yet that is exactly what Detroit’s mid-price makes did. General Motors sandwiched Pontiac, Oldsmobile and Buick between Chevrolet and Cadillac, roughly in that price order. Ford introduced Mercury in 1939 as their bridge between the Ford brand and the luxury Lincoln. Over at Chrysler, DeSoto was created in 1928 as their value proposition between Dodge and Chrysler (budget-brand Plymouth launched a few years later). At times, poor management reduced these mid- range brands to mere badge-engineered Chevys, Fords or Dodges — which didn’t fool the buying public. But when these fence-sitters were allowed to develop their own unique image and style, the results became some of the best cars to roll out of the Motor City, hitting that sweet spot of price, performance and features. Looking forward Beginning in 1955, DeSoto nailed that mid-market target right in the bullseye. Sure, they shared much of their components with Dodge and Chrysler cars, but their engineering and styling deftly hid their commonality. Famed designer Virgil Exner had been brought in to remake the entire Chrysler lineup from old-and

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CoLLeCTor’S reSourCe: You can easily track a car’s value over time with the ACC Premium Auction Database, featuring more than 125,000 American cars searchable by year, model, VIN and more. Sign up for just $59 at www.AmericanCarCollector.com! Detailing Years produced: 1956–60 Number produced: 300 (1957 convertibles) Original list price: $4,272 Current ACC Median Valuation: $181,500 Tune-up/major service: $350 Distributor cap: $102.61 (NOS) Club: National DeSoto Club Inc. Engine # location: Top of block in front of valley cover stodgy to cutting edge, and the 1955–56 lineup jolted the market with the first of Exner’s “Forward Look” designs, and from Plymouth to Imperial, sales took a turn upward. The new Adventurer became the style and per- formance leader of DeSoto in 1956, even serving as Indianapolis 500 Pace Car. But Exner’s next remake stunned the market in 1957 — and the two cars that delivered the biggest blows were both limited editions: the Chrysler 300C and DeSoto Adventurer. “The most exciting car today is now delighting the far highway. It’s DELOVELY! It’s DYNAMIC! It’s DeSOTO!” shouted the TV ads for the ’57 cars. Hardly warmed-over Dodges, Exner’s DeSoto exuded the style and performance of the top-line Chryslers, without stealing the Chrysler’s thunder. Sales were up from ’56, with 117,514 DeSotos built, including 1,950 Adventurers. Of those, just 300 were convertibles. Starting at $4,272, the Adventurer was powered by a 345-ci first-gen Hemi delivering 345 hp (the legendary one-horsepower-per-cubic-inch) through a 3-speed TorqueFlite automatic. Surf White, Adventurer Gold and black were the only colors available, with contrasting trim. DeSoto was at its zenith — but not for long. From dynamic to defunct Author and DeSoto enthusiast Dave Duricy wrote, “It’s said that DeSoto 4-door hard tops built at Los Angeles leaked so badly in the rain that occupants were wise to exit the car to avoid drowning. One 1957 DeSoto Adventurer was incapacitated for four of the total 18 months it was owned by its first owner. The car went through four transmissions, three powersteering units, two new double-point distributors, new valve guides and a new radiator. Reportedly, it took considerable effort and the attention of Chrysler’s chairman of the board to have the car corrected. Stories like these and a propensity for early rust angered DeSoto’s traditional clientele.” DeSoto’s moment was up. Sales dropped so precipitously (by 70%) in the recession year of 1958 that the brand never recovered. The last DeSoto was built on November 30, 1960 — an ugly, half-hearted Dodge re-skin. This was the first domino that would eventually leave Buick as the last mid-market brand standing today. Top of the drop-top heap What made the DeSoto Adventurer so compelling when new continues to make them popular 60 years later, and when the Adventurer is a convertible, all the better. Our feature DeSoto has a fine restoration and loads of options. Few automobiles from the flamboyant ’50s turn heads quite like Adventurers, and their prices reflect that. Mr. Derro paid $81,400 for this DeSoto at Barrett- Jackson in 1999. Today the median price for a ’57 Adventurer convertible has risen to around $181,500, with several selling for over $200k. With few Adventurers in existence, only one or two of these cars come to market every year. For the past several years, we’ve seen no real upward or downward trend with the Adventurer — just steady value near the top of the peak for all ’50s American cars. That said, considering this car’s condition, the price paid was a deal at $50k under what the market can support. Maybe the Mardi Gras Red 1961 Chrysler 300G convertible that was next in line completely stole the spotlight. Whatever the reason, there is nothing middle-of-the-road here — this DeSoto was very well bought at a truly Delovely price. A (Introductory description courtesy of RM Sotheby’s.) 1957 DeSoto Adventurer convertible Lot 609, VIN: 50411051 Condition: 3 Sold at $187,000 Auctions America by RM, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 3/4/2011 ACC# 169134 1957 DeSoto Adventurer convertible Lot 5008.1, VIN: 50417567 Condition: 1Sold at $225,500 VIN location: Plate on driver’s side door hinge pillar Web: www.desoto.org Alternatives: 1957 Chrysler 300C convertible, 1957 Oldsmobile J-2 convertible, 1957 Pontiac Bonneville convertible ACC Investment Grade: D Comps 1957 DeSoto Adventurer convertible Lot 5103, VIN: 50414922 Condition: 2+ Sold at $198,000 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ, 1/10/2015 ACC# 256727 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ, 1/15/2012 ACC# 191444 January–February 2018 January–February 2018 57

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PROFILE HOT ROD & CUSTOM 1932 FORD ROADSTER Horse of a Different Color This Ford once beat a quarter horse in a race. Noted hot rod racer Ak Miller and writer Gray Baskerville traced the origins of drag racing to that historic contest 58 AmericanCarCollector.com OT ROD & CUSTOM 1932 FORD ROADSTER Horse of a Different Color This Ford once beat a quarter horse in a race. Noted hot rod racer Ak Miller and writer Gray Baskerville traced the origins of drag racing to that historic contest 58 AmericanCarCollector.com (original (original replaced by a Florida-issued VIN) by Ken Gross • The famous ’32 Ford roadster that raced the quarter horse in 1944 • Russetta Timing Association tag: 120.9 mph at Harper Dry Lake, 1944 • Starred in several hot rod B movies in the 1950s • Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance “Best Historic Hot Rod” • Named as one of the Most Significant 1932 Fords of all time in 2007 ACC Analysis This car, Lot 173, sold for $192,500, including buyer’s pre- mium, at RM Sotheby’s auction in Hershey, PA, on October 5, 2017. Several factors, when combined, make for a valu- able historic hot rod: racing history, notable owners, a period-correct restoration with authentic parts and a great story. This ’32 Ford Highboy roadster checks all the boxes. First the story: In 1944, a flimflam artist with a quarter horse won many bets challenging hot cars. His streak ended with a specially staged race between the horse and this hot rod, held in La Habra, CA, and witnessed by a large crowd that included speed equipment gurus Vic Edelbrock Sr., Ed Winfield and Phil Weiand. Ernie McAfee, courtesy of RM Sotheby’s This 1944 battle is considered by some to be the origin of quarter-mile drag racing The horse had been trained to respond when the con man waved his hat, so he’d always get the jump on an unsuspecting driver. But not this time. Ernie McAfee took a famous grainy photo showing the deuce just leading the horse. Noted hot rod racer Ak Miller and writer Gray Baskerville traced the origins of quartermile drag racing to that historic contest. Young gun Eighteen-year-old Pete Henderson’s ’32 Ford Highboy was known as “the fastest hot rod in the San Fernando Valley.” Karissa Hosek ©2017, courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

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CoLLeCTor’S reSourCe: You can easily track a car’s value over time with the ACC Premium Auction Database, featuring more than 125,000 American cars searchable by year, model, VIN and more. Sign up for just $59 at www.AmericanCarCollector.com! Detailing Year produced: 1932 Number produced: 6,893 DeLuxe roadsters, 520 standard roadsters Original list price: $500 Current ACC Median Valuation: $57,750 Tune-up/major service: Estimated $250 Clubs: Goodguys, National Street Rod Association (NSRA) VIN location: On the front frame rail, driver’s side. Pete bought the speedy ’32 from Don Casselman. It was equipped with a Don Blair-built bored-andstroked 296-ci Mercury flathead. It had a cam from the legendary Pierre “Pete” Bertrand, milled aluminum “Denver” heads, a Weiand high-rise dual-intake manifold, twin Stromberg 97s and a Spaulding dualpoint, dual-coil ignition. It also had a neatly chopped top, but it retained its original mechanical brakes and mid-’30s 16-inch wire wheels. A 1944-dated Russetta Timing Association timing tag on the dashboard claims a 120.9-mph run at Harper Dry Lake in that configuration. Pete Henderson sold the car in 1946 to L.K. Chappelow of Monrovia, CA. The ex-Henderson ’32 roadster then passed to Manny Ayulo, who competed at a number of L.A.-area circle tracks in it. The Henderson deuce was next owned by George Rowland, who added bobbed rear fenders by Art Chrisman, steel wheels with baby-moon caps and wide whites. Ralph “Digger” Guldahl Jr. got it in 1955, dropping in a new 265-ci Chevy V8. The roadster then appeared in a slew of B movies, including “Hot Rod Gang” and “The Spider.” Later, it was owned by Art Vitteraly, under whose ownership it was channeled and powered by a Buick V8. It passed to Florida-based hot rod builder Chuck Longley in 1977. Mystery deuce Longley didn’t know much about his vintage hot rod, so he ran an ad about the car, hoping to find out some information about its history. The ad was answered by none other than Pete Henderson — the man who had driven past the quarter horse. The two talked, and when Longley mentioned the car’s Auburn dash panel and noted several distinctly filled holes, Henderson said, “It kinda sounded like my car.” Longley asked if Henderson still had the road- ster‘s serial number. Henderson did, and was able to verify it as the same car. After all those years and transformations, the his- toric deuce still retained its original body, frame and chopped windshield. Referencing old photos, Chuck Longley and his son Mike set about restoring the car in 1995. In the process, they located a proper flathead V8, a ’34 Auburn dash panel, a rare accessory rimless steering wheel, an early Cadillac fuel-pressure pump, a pair of ’39 Ford teardrop taillights and more. After restoration, the Longleys took the car to the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, where it won the award for the best historic hot rod. Crash landing The ex-Henderson ’32 was featured in The Rodder’s Journal #32, and then later was selected as one of the 75 Most Significant ’32 Fords of all time by a committee of automotive and hot rod experts (of which I was a member). It was honored at the Grand National Roadster show in 2007, and then later passed to Ralph Whitworth, who planned to display it in a museum in Winnemucca, NV. In transit to Pebble Beach that year, the car was damaged. It then underwent an extensive re-restoration by National Rod & Custom Hall of Fame honoree Tim Strange, owner of Strange Motion in Lewisburg, TN. “We stripped the car to bare metal and did a full frame-off restoration. Jamie Rice did the upholstery. Talking with Pete Henderson, and studying old photographs,” Strange says, “we restored the car as close to the way Pete had built it as we could.” The Pete Henderson ’32 Ford attracted consider- able attention at the RM Sotheby’s Hershey sale. It had been a while since an authentic historic hot rod had been offered at auction, and this car’s neat appearance and fascinating story attracted spirited bidding. The underbidders were a sports car-loving New Jersey couple who’d never owned a hot rod but were captivated with the saga of the roadster and its victory over the quarter horse. The winning bidder was Ross Myers, a noted Pennsylvania-based car collector whose “3 Dog Garage” private museum in Boyertown, PA, is home to the Ricky Nelson channeled ’32 Ford roadster, the ex-Fred Steele roadster, and several more cars with great pedigrees, not to mention a Ridler Award-winning ’36 Ford 3-window. The selling price of $192,500 exceeded the $160k– $180k high estimate. You could probably build this car for $150k, but history is priceless. With that in mind, I’d call it a good deal for the seller and the buyer. A (Introductory description courtesy of RM Sotheby’s.) January–February 2018 59 Web: www.goodguys.com, www.nsra.com Alternatives: Other ’40s-to’50’s-era period hot rods ACC Investment Grade: B Comps 1932 Ford Highboy roadster, ex-Tom McMullen Lot S109, VIN: 18152025 Condition: 1Sold at $742,000 Mecum Auctions, Anaheim, CA, 11/14/2012 ACC# 213966 1932 Ford Highboy roadster, ex-Walker Morrison Lot 132, VIN: 1874450 Condition: 1 Sold at $225,000 Bonhams, Carmel, CA, 8/16/2013 ACC# 227288 1932 Ford Edelbrock Special roadster Lot 154, VIN: N/A Condition: 2 Not sold at $210,000 RM Auctions, Monterey, CA, 8/21/2011 ACC# 183925

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PROFILE AMERICANA AMERICANA Darin Schnabel ©2017, courtesy of RM Sotheby’s Most Metropolitans in the ACC Premium Auction Database sold for $1 LE AMERICANA Darin Darin Schnabel ©2017, courtesy of RM Sotheby’s Most Metropolitans in the ACC Premium Auction Database sold for $15k or less VIN: E91257 Body number: 98800 by Carl Bomstead A 60 AmericanCarCollector.com 60 AmericanCarCollector.com t a time in automotive history when American manufacturers were consistently arguing that “bigger is better,” Nash dared to be different. After creating a well-received concept car called the NXI, Nash believed that a small, efficient car could be successful amongst the sea of large cars being offered by the Big Three: Ford, GM and Chrysler. In 1953 Nash put the redeveloped NXI into produc- tion, and starting in 1954, the car would be marketed as the Metropolitan. It would be produced by Nash and its successor, American Motors, for eight years, and was one of the first small automobiles to find widespread success in the United States. This particular 1961 model was built in June of 1960 and is one of 116 shipped to Canada. Acquired from a longtime owner in Blenheim, Ontario, it was fully restored by its present owner to an exhaustive standard of factory correctness. It is finished in the original color scheme of Berkshire Green and Frost White with a black and beige striped interior, matching its trim tag. It is show-ready in all regards, as one of the finest Metropolitans that we have ever had the pleasure of offering. ACC Analysis This car, Lot 233, sold for mium, at RM Sotheby’s auction at Hershey, PA, on $74,250, including buyer’s pre- October 5–6, 2017. It takes a committed visionary to go against the tide of conventional wisdom, and George Mason, president of Nash-Kelvinator, was such a man. While the majority of automotive manufacturers wallowed in the car-buying frenzy that resulted from the pent-up demand at the end of World War II, Mason saw that this euphoria would be short-lived. As the population migrated to the suburbs, Mason knew that people would need a smaller, inexpensive second car for the family, and this was the market he set his sights on. Enter the NXI The Nash Rambler, with a 100-inch wheelbase, was introduced in 1950, but Mason was convinced there was a market for an even smaller car. A prototype called the NXI — Nash Experimental International — was developed, based on independent designer Bill Flajole’s design. Flajole’s design was well received, but price was a major consideration. Mason realized the car could not be built in America at a competitive production cost, so he looked for a European partner. It came down to Fiat and Austin, with the latter selected. The body was to be built by Fisher & Ludlow Ltd., with final assembly and the 42-horsepower A-40 engine from the Austin Motor Company. The car was introduced in March 1954 — with a retail price of $1,469 for the convertible and $1,445 for

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CoLLeCTor’S reSourCe: You can easily track a car’s value over time with the ACC Premium Auction Database, featuring more than 125,000 American cars searchable by year, model, VIN and more. Sign up for just $59 at www.AmericanCarCollector.com! Detailing Years produced: 1953–61 Number produced: 94,968 Original list price: $1,697 Current ACC Median Valuation: $17,600 (convertible) Engine # location: Tag on right side of engine the coupe. The initial response was enthusiastic, with over 11,000 orders placed in 1954. Super product placement Now, George Mason was a true master of market- ing. He managed to get the 112-horsepower Nash Ambassador 4-door sedan, which he drove, selected as the pace car for the 1947 Indianapolis 500. He also arranged for Nash products to be prominently featured in the popular “Superman” TV series. Clark Kent, aka Superman, often drove a Nash-Healey. His girlfriend, Lois Lane, appeared in a Rambler, and photographer Jimmy Olsen drove a Metropolitan. Time passed, and sales faltered, which meant a redesign was in order for the 1956 model year. The larger Austin A-50 engine, which produced 52 horsepower, was utilized. Distinctive zig-zag chrome side moldings became the car’s trademark. The Metropolitan was now sold by both Nash and Hudson dealers, with the only difference being the grille badging. However, both names were gone by 1958, when AMC dropped the Nash and Hudson brand names. The little Metropolitan, however, motored on. “Luxury in Miniature” A trunk was added in 1959, and Metropolitans were advertised as “Luxury in Miniature.” Sales were at an all-time high, with 22,209 Mets leaving dealer showrooms. Production was ramped up for the anticipated sales increase that never happened. Why not? Small, imported European cars such as the Volkswagen, MG and Opel were now dominating the market. The Metropolitan was discontinued in the middle of 1960, but sales continued as late as 1963, as the cars were retitled to the appropriate year. The last 412 Metropolitans were delivered in 1962, and the little car became a footnote in automotive history. Too much for an exceptional example Our subject Metropolitan was built in June of 1960 and was one of 114 shipped to Canada in 1961. It was restored to an exceptional standard and finished in the correct livery of P 912 Berkshire Green with P 914 Frost White. The trim code was listed as T-1, however, which is correct for cars built through 1955, with code T-921 being correct for this car. This car sold for over-the-top money, as at least two spirited bidders decided they had to have the car regardless of common sense. There are 249 Metropolitans listed in the ACC Premium Auction Database, with only two selling in the $50,000 range. Most of the cars in the database sold for under $15,000. This car was an outlier by a wide margin. The sale of the famed Bruce Weiner microcar col- lection in February 2013 seemed to legitimize little cars, and we have seen numerous unusual examples sell for six figures. Close to 100,000 Metropolitans were produced, however, so they are far from rare. They are not a difficult restoration. With that said, it’s difficult to justify the price paid here. I have to think the underbidder is breathing a sigh of relief. A (Introductory description courtesy of RM Sotheby’s.) 1960 AMC Metropolitan hard top Lot 56R, s/n E67728 Condition 4Sold at $7,910 ACC# 6840158 VanDerBrink Auctions, Hackenberger Collection, 7/15/17 Web: mocna.us Alternatives: 1950–59 Volkswagen Beetle, 1958–59 Opel Rekord, 1958–59 Fiat 500 Tune up/major service: $250 Chassis # location: Tag on firewall, right upper shock tower Club: Metropolitan Owners Club of North America ACC Investment Grade: B Comps 1957 Nash Metropolitan convertible Lot 285, s/n E35013 Condition 2Sold at $15,750 McCormick’s, Palm Springs, CA, 2/24/17 ACC# 6827933 1959 AMC Metropolitan convertible Lot 60, s/n E68770 Condition 2 Sold at $24,200 ACC# 245255 Worldwide, Auburn, IN, 8/30/14 January–February 2018 61CC 61

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PROFILE RACE 1956 CHEVROLET 210 H DRAG CAR Demand Begins to Drag Karissa Hosek ©2017, courtesy of RM Sotheby’s As their owners age, more of these cars are coming up for sale, and the market is flooded VIN: AZ37848 by Dale Novak A 62 AmericanCarCollector.com man named Jim Lamatrice purchased this 1956 Chevrolet 210 sedan brand new and would own it for the next 45 years. The best option that year was the Corvette-derived 265-ci, 225-hp Power Pak engine with dual-WCFB Carter 4-barrels, a Duntov-type 30/30 camshaft and factory dual exhaust. Jim’s classic “Shoebox Chevy” also ended up with the 3-speed overdrive manual transmission and steep 4.57:1 Positraction rear gearing. Many original Power Pak race cars were radically changed over the years. It is rare indeed to find an example whose competition heritage ended in Stock Eliminator, as this 210 post sedan did — and whose equipment as such has remained in place. ACC Analysis This car, Lot 171, sold for $21,450, Sotheby’s sale at the Hershey Lodge in Hershey, PA, on October 5–6, 2017, as part of the Ralph Whitworth Collection. Vintage drag cars can come in all sorts of configu- rations, from mild to wild. They are usually pretty worn out, have been passed from one team to another, butchered, stripped of parts, flogged and turned into farmyard art. That would apply to most old drag cars — but not our subject car. The original owner, Jim Lamatrice, had the car for a whopping 45 years. That’s an eternity in car years. He bought the car to go drag racing and apparently for no other reason. It was a stripped-down, bare- including buyer’s premium, at RM bones, stock-class machine with the 225-hp Power Pak engine, which gave you two fours up top. He wisely added the Duntov camshaft (or at least installed a like-kind solid-lifter cam later) and a high-winding 4:57:1 Positraction rear axle. To row through the gears, Lamatrice fitted the car with a manual 3-speed overdrive transmission, which was very astute. That gave Jim a final drive of about 3:70:1, which would allow for some spirited hole-shots with the lower gears and the ability to drive the car at highway cruising speeds without the engine sounding like a KitchenAid blender. As built and equipped, Jim’s car loaded up on plenty of wins and trophies — including his cake-topper O/Stock title at the 1970 NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, CA. From track to street to collectible After our subject car went into retirement, sometime after 1970, it was painted brown, which was a popular color in the early 1970s, and Jim detuned the car for street use. Based on the catalog copy from RM Sotheby’s, the interior was “customized” while the car was still being raced, which would have matched the brown exterior quite nicely — provided you love old brown cars. But our subject car was parked and likely left to fade away until it was eventually sold to Joe Petralia (the third owner). Petralia decided that the car was something special and took on a restoration to bring the car back to life

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CoLLeCTor’S reSourCe: You can easily track a car’s value over time with the ACC Premium Auction Database, featuring more than 125,000 American cars searchable by year, model, VIN and more. Sign up for just $59 at www.AmericanCarCollector.com! in “as-raced” condition. The car still had the original drivetrain, which is unheard of for an old dragster. Petralia reapplied the yellow paint and rebuilt much (if not all) of the original components that had wisely been left intact. Parts were restored, and the engine was rebuilt to the original NHRA specs. Decals and other lettering were placed back on the car using vintage photos as reference. It was reported that the restoration took about two years to complete. Jim Lamatrice documented the car as his original drag car from 1956. Sold at Barrett-Jackson in 2007 During our research, it was discovered that chassis 37848 was sold at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale sale in 2007 as Lot 745.1. Including the buyer’s premium, the car sold for $49,500. Given this sale result, I would suggest that the restoration was fresh at that time. Plus, the description provided with the car stated that tons of excellent documentation, photos, track slips, magazine articles and the like were included with the sale — even an old racing jacket. I would assume that same documentation was included with the car this go-round, but there is no mention of it in the RM Sotheby’s catalog copy. Arizona-assigned VIN While it doesn’t really seem to matter in the big- picture overview, one item that does stand out, at least to me, is the Arizona-assigned VIN on the car. Why? Based on everything we’ve learned and read about the car, it was purchased new, drag raced and used on the street during its illustrious life. That said, at some point an Arizona VIN was assigned to the car, which raises a few questions but doesn’t likely affect the value assessment — given the fact that we are talking about an old drag machine. Gracefully aging Perusing the photos from RM Sotheby’s, it appears that Jim’s old car is showing her age. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like it’s been kicked to the curb, but she’s definitely showing signs of storage and deterioration (so am I). In the world of classic machines, condition drives value more than almost any other factor. As suggested by the Barrett-Jackson sale at $49,500, I would surmise that our subject has deteriorated enough to drive the value down substantially. Of course, we can argue that the Barrett-Jackson sale price was overly exuberant (it was), so how do we benchmark the latest sale at $21,450? Tri-Fives take a nosedive The market is changing for Shoebox 1955–57 Chevrolets. A quick search of Hemmings showed 441 cars for sale (all models). It’s not that the cars aren’t iconic — they are — but as folks age, more of them are coming up for sale. We all know that if there aren’t enough buyers in the room, the prices drop. This is simple supply and demand. Our ACC Pocket Price Guide shows a drop of about 15% from last year, with an Investment Grade of C (for hard tops). This is spot-on. Prices are dropping for this group of cool cars that are losing their fans to time. The quick analysis on a quick car With any former race car, no matter what type, the value is directly connected to the chassis, provenance and whether the original equipment is still intact (along with the condition, of course). The more notorious the car was back in the day, the more bids it’s likely to attract. The high-pyramid cars, those at the top, will set the market, and all others will follow. With our subject car, while it’s very cool and incredibly intact, it was never a car that was a top performer. Yes, the O/Stock title at the 1970 NHRA Winternationals is a big achievement, but the car simply doesn’t carry the brand recognition as a promoted, factory team car. At the end of the day, what we have here, at least by my observations, is a cool, authentic old drag car. This car has a lot of the original mechanical parts, and it is back into “as raced” condition. The restoration is unwinding, or at least mellowing to a point that is likely still acceptable, but no longer in stellar condition. So, this car is a driver. The interior could be described as an eyesore, but that’s in the eye of the beholder. If this weren’t an old drag car with some provenance, it would likely be a $15,000 car. Nobody got hurt here, and the all-in money at $21,450 is pretty low on the Old Car-O-Meter. This car is surely a blast to drive, and it will be a huge hit at the next burger-joint cruise-in. As just an old vintage 1956 210 driver with the original drivetrain, it is fairly bought. But given the vintage livery, cool factor, documentation and undisputed racing 1955 Chevrolet 210 2-door sedan Lot T251, s/n B55T211423 Condition 2+ Sold at $36,380 Mecum, Houston, TX, 3/6/13 ACC# 215967 1956 Chevrolet 210 2-door sedan Lot S48.1, s/n 61011623808 Condition 2Sold at $33,480 Mecum, Dallas, TX, 9/6/14 ACC# 245180 Detailing Years produced: 1955–57 Number produced: 205,545 (1956 210 2-door sedans) Original list price: $2,011 Current ACC Median Valuation: $37,300 (Bel Air) Engine # location: Stamped in block on pad ahead of passenger’s side cylinder head Club: www.trifive.com Alternatives: Any period drag car built to race in a specific class ACC Investment Grade: C Comps Tune-up/major service: $300 Distributor cap: $14 VIN location: Driver’s door A-pillar 1957 Chevrolet 210 Black Widow replica Lot 63, s/n A570138807 Condition 1Sold at $71,500 Gooding & Co., Scottsdale, AZ, 1/19/08 ACC# 48801 history — it’s a great buy. A (Introductory description courtesy of RM Sotheby’s.) January–February 2018 63

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PROFILE TRUCK 1952 FWD F-SERIES FIRE TRUCK A Burning Desire for Big Toys Courtesy of Barrett-Jackson Many collectors who buy fire trucks — despite their actual age — are still kids who always wanted a fire truck VIN: 115823 by B. Mitchell Carlson and Stuart Lenzke bought the retired engine from the department. The firefighters believe the old engine and its rich service history deserved far more than to fall into a state of abandonment. Engine 2632 has been used for parades and special T 64 AmericanCarCollector.com 64 AmericanCarCollector.com events, including some photo advertisements in Boise, ID. The department personnel hope a new owner will give this family member the home it deserves for the lives and property it has saved. A Cummins 220 engine with 5-speed manual transmission powers this fire truck. ACC Analysis This truck, Lot 26, sold for $12,650, including buyer’s pre- mium, at Barrett-Jackson’s Las Vegas auction on October 19, 2017. Many have heard of Oshkosh Truck — now Oshkosh Corporation — a world-renowned manufacturer of heavy-duty military and civilian trucks. his FWD Pumper, Engine 2632, was in service as a front-line pumper until 2004, when it was replaced by a new pumper engine at the Baker Rural Fire Protection District in Baker City, OR. Department personnel Yet few know of the Four Wheel Drive Auto Company, or FWD, which was the first successful U.S. manufacturer of four-wheel-drive vehicles. Both FWD and Oshkosh Truck had roots in the small town of Clintonville, WI. Started in 1908 by Otto Zachow and his brother-in-law William Besserdich, what became FWD in 1911 was the world’s largest maker of four-wheel-drive trucks by the end of the decade, having built upwards of 15,000 FWD Model Bs for the U.S. Army. Besserdich left FWD and co-founded Wisconsin Duplex Auto Company, which relocated south to the city of Oshkosh to become the Oshkosh Motor Truck Manufacturing Company. As the post-World War I market was flush with trucks, FWD sold parts to sustain the business until the market picked up again. As the demand for more specialized trucks picked up through the 1920s and 1930s, FWD offered a bewildering array of choices, not just in wheelbase and model, but also in engine, transmission, axle, carburetor and even ignition. Buda and Cummins Diesels with Waukesha and Hercules gas engines served most needs prior to World War II. GM diesel use increased

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CoLLeCTor’S reSourCe: The easiest way to track a car’s value over time is the ACC Premium Auction Database, featuring more than 125,000 American cars searchable by year, make, model, VIN and more. Sign up at www.AmericanCarCollector.com. post-war, with International gas engines replacing Waukesha starting in the mid-1950s. FWD built its own transmissions, transfer cases and axles, but the company also offered Brown-Lipe, Cotta, Fuller, Wisconsin and Timken parts. FWD also dabbled in auto racing, with a four- wheel-drive Miller V8-powered car placing 4th in the 1932 Indianapolis 500. FWD continued as a custom-build truck manu- facturer into the late 1990s, with an emphasis on Seagrave fire engines. FWD bought Seagrave Fire Apparatus in 1963. Today, FWD Seagrave is still in Clintonville and building fire trucks. From Portland to Baker City FWD Seagrave didn’t have much information on our subject truck, so we contacted the Baker Rural Fire Protection District in Baker City, OR. The district’s retired chief, Howard Payton, knew a lot about our fire truck. Payton said the truck is a 1950 model — not a 1952. In 1986, the Baker Rural Fire District bought the truck — then white — from the Portland Fire Department. The truck came cheap, as the original gas Waukesha engine was toast. A freshly overhauled Cummins 220 was salvaged from a wrecked Freightliner and adapted to the FWD. The truck was then painted yellow. Chief Payton said our subject truck was a good brush-fire truck. The four-wheel-drive truck was equipped with a 750-gallon-per-minute pump and a 1,000-gallon water tank. That rig made the truck perfect for fighting wildfires and structural fires in rural areas. For quicker rough-country response times, the tire chains were left on all winter. The truck as sold in Las Vegas looks like it is in very good condition. The unusual chrome grille gives the truck a unique look. Use of the International Truck Comfo-Vision cab started about five years after our subject truck was built, so it may well have a woodframed cab. Owning a FWD One of us owns one of these beasts, although it is not a fire truck. After moving off Minot Air Force Base, ND, to a place in the country in early 1996, Stuart needed a last-resort snow defense system. He became the owner of a 1947 FWD Model HR snowplow that used to clear the streets of St. Paul, MN. The choice was easy, as he could have paid $1,500 to put a plow on his 1975 GMC ¾-ton pickup. Instead, he paid $500 for the FWD Model HR snowplow. Stuart’s snowplow is styled very similarly to our subject truck. The snowplow has a wood-framed, slightly different cab. It has the 404-ci Waukesha 6MZR gasoline flathead straight-six engine and a FWD 5-speed with a Hi/Lo transfer case. Low miles and hammered engines Fire trucks are hit-and-miss on values. Overall condition plays a far greater part than low miles, as the vast majority of fire trucks have low miles. However, fire trucks often have a ton of hours on the engine, as they often ran a pump at full throttle for hours on end. Some gearheads may buy fire trucks as a cheap way of getting a low-mile chassis once the fire apparatus is stripped off. However, those same lowmileage trucks may be mechanically needy. The level of specialization also plays a big factor in values. On the bottom of the pecking order is a regular commercial chassis with a fire body on it. The next tier up is trucks from the more-specialized builders. Our FWD is in this category, along with Oshkosh, Mack and International. The top tier is fire-engine-specific builders, such as American LaFrance, Seagrave and Crown Firecoach. Where do you put it? A fire truck has limited practicality for a civilian. Most will not fit in a standard garage. A fire truck is a very big toy that you need to park. If you park it outside, the fire truck is not going to fare well. Serious fire-truck collectors can afford to properly store and maintain their equipment. A person of average means might be able to prop- erly care and tend to one rig, but anything more is just too much. Our subject fire truck sold well because of the venue — and because it was a serviceable unit rather than one raised from the dead. This sale doesn’t set the market for FWD fire trucks. A year and a half ago, a local estate sale had a few vehicles in the mix. One of them was a similar FWD fire engine — a model F75T, built 415 units before our subject truck. This truck had the usual Waukesha gas engine, and it had been sitting dormant for some time. It still ran, but it had issues. That truck sold for $450, and it probably went to the scrappers. The Cummins engine probably helped the sale of our subject fire truck. In today’s truck world, diesels are more accepted than a gas engine that may get two miles to the gallon — if you’re lucky. Granted, servicing a vintage Cummins 220 is a more specialized task than caring for a 6B yanked out of a T-boned Ram 3500 Quad Cab dually. The Cummins 220 saw a long service life — many are still working for a living — so parts and service know-how are still out there. We suspect that a collector — one with the means to park it inside with the rest of his toys — bought our subject fire truck. Many fire-truck collectors — despite their real age — are still kids who always wanted a fire truck. This emotion will always drive the fire-truck market. Looking in from the outside, we may feel this truck was well sold. But to the buyer, it was the deal of the day. A (Introductory description courtesy of Barrett- Jackson.) January–February 2018 65CC 65 1939 Diamond T 406 fire truck 1959 Dodge Power Wagon fire truck Lot 138, VIN: B2444 Condition: 1 Sold at $59,400 RM Sotheby’s, Santa Monica, CA, 6/24/2017 ACC# 6839578 Detailing Years produced: 1946–55 Number produced: Unknown Original list price: $5,500 Current ACC Median Valuation: $10,825 Club: American Truck Historical Society Engine # location: Driver’s side of the block, aft of the injection pump Tune-up cost: $1,500 Distributor cap: N/A VIN location: On weight rating plate on the driver’s door Web: www.aths.org, www. yesterdaystruck.com Alternatives: 1947–55 American LaFrance model 700 COE, 1946–60 Oshkosh W-Series fire chassis, 1951–70 Seagrave 70th Anniversary series, 1949–82 Crown Firecoach ACC Investment Grade: D Comps Lot 28, VIN: 11880 Condition: 3Sold at $12,338 U.S. Auctioneers, Friesland, WI, 7/25/2013 ACC# 226899 Lot 31, VIN: 10D56W005127 Condition: 4Sold at $3,150 U.S. Auctioneers, Friesland, WI, 7/25/2013 1956 Chevrolet 10500 fire truck ACC# 226901

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MARKET OVERVIEW Hot Fall Auction Months Across the Country The Branson sale cradles the next generation of restorers MARKET MOMENT Whenever our hobby makes enter into collecting with the precursor to the Mustang — 1963 Ford Falcon convertible, sold at $7,500 by Garrett Long average sale price of $122k at their Hershey, PA, auction, RM Sotheby’s proved that the pre-war car market is still alive and booming. RM Sotheby’s doesn’t appear to be slowing down as results continue to ramp up, having not dropped to a seven-digit total since 2013. As the broader market moves away from almost century-old cars, they will continue to be welcomed and adored by the participants at the Hershey auction. Optimistic Pontiac fans attended VanDerBrink’s Hutchinson, MN, auction in September to find a classic F GTO or LeMans restoration foundation. Just 15 cars were offered — all in different states of disrepair — and all sold for a total of $78k. The auction was held in conjunction with a Pontiac parts sales, so many of the purchasers probably went home with head starts on their new projects. The Branson Auction recorded their second-highest total at their Missouri sale in late October. While their average sale price and number of lots have stayed roughly the same, they seem to have improved on their ability to close deals, as their sales rate and totals have been up for the past half-decade. In Auburn, IN, Worldwide Auctioneers made all the right moves at their September sale, having sold 96% of the 85 lots that were offered, but their average sales price and total is lower than typical. If they can ramp up their quality of offerings while continuing to offer their impressive sales rate, Auburn should bring impressive numbers next year. With the Frank Thompson Collection as their base, Smith Auctions held their first-ever sale in Overland Park, KS, where they reported over a $1.1m total. As they continue to find their footing in an unlikely location, Smith Auctions should provide a low-key future venue for American classics. A BEST BUYS 1956 pontiac Safari wagon, $36,040—Smith Auctions LLC, Mo, p. 122 68 AmericanCarCollector.com 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 convertible, $66,000—barrettJackson, nV, p. 76 1969 Chevrolet Camaro rS/SS coupe, $45,650—branson, Mo, p. 92 1921 Ford Model T Center Door sedan, $16,500—Worldwide Auctioneers, In, p. 103 1970 Shelby GT500 convertible, $137,500—barrett-Jackson, nV, p. 80 or their 2017 October Las Vegas sale, Barrett-Jackson returned to the Mandalay Bay Resort and hit impressive numbers despite uneasiness in the city. Totals have been around $30m since 2013, and those stable numbers don’t appear to be dropping anytime soon. Reporting a solid average-sale price, number of lots and their always impressive sales rate, Barrett-Jackson’s cornerstone auction in Vegas should have a slot in their lineup for years to come. Recording their second-highest total at $15.7m — just $200k shy of their 2014 record — and their highest headlines, it’s usually from another dusty unearthed Shelby Cobra or Aston Martin DB5 that crossed the block for millions of dollars. While entertaining, it is hardly close to the “average” auction purchase. The Branson Auction seems to have capitalized on the overlooked meat and potatoes in the auction world, as their average sale price rarely goes over $25k. They are further tapping into the market by selling “gateway” cars to younger buyers who are testing the waters in the auction market. Targeting younger buyers is hardly a groundbreaking strategy, but it’s refreshing for their focus to be on the other end of the $100k rarities. As they continue to cement their reputation for entry-level cars and a user-friendly experience, Branson will help nurture the next generation of enthusiasts and reap the rewards when they are ready to put down big bucks for a car. — Garrett Long

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MARKET OVERVIEW TOP 10 SALES THIS ISSUE buy It now What to purchase in today’s market — and why 1 1935 Duesenberg $1,485,000—RM Sotheby’s, PA, p. 84 coupe, $1,000,000— Barrett-Jackson, NV, p. 80 3 1932 Duesenberg sedan, $594,000—RM Sotheby’s, PA, p. 84 4 1941 Packard vertible, $407,000—RM Sotheby’s, PA, p. 88 5 1957 Dual-Ghia $341,000—RM Sotheby’s, PA, p. 88 6 1955 Cadillac Die convertible, $209,000— Worldwide Auctioneers, IN, p. 102 7 1970 Chevrolet 2-dr hard top, $198,000— Barrett-Jackson, NV, p. 76 8 1932 Ford V8 Pete ster, $192,500—RM Sotheby’s, PA, p. 84 9 1970 Dodge Henderson road- 2-dr hard top, $176,000— Barrett-Jackson, NV, p. 81 10 1957 Cadillac convertible, $165,000— Barrett-Jackson, NV, p. 74 Eldorado Biarritz Charger Custom Chevelle SS 454 Valkyrie Concept D-500 convertible, Super Eight conModel J Town Car 1984–87 Buick made some big waves in the performance pool during the ’80s. While emissions were choking big V8s, turbo technology really came into the spotlight with the Buick Grand National. Love it or hate it, the Grand National proved that displacement wasn’t always the recipe for speed in America. These cars could regularly embarrass other production muscle cars on the drag strip. We talk about the inevitable ’80s upswing quite frequently in ACC, and the cars that are going to ride that upswing will be the cars people remember most fondly. While the GNX will always be the darling of ’80s American collectors, the Grand National was the one kicking ass and taking names. The Grand National — from 1984 and on, or after the blacked-out paint job and turbo engine became standard — is hardly a collector sleeper. Their average price in the ACC Premium Auction Database has been hovering around the $23k mark for quite some time now. Compare that to Mustang GTs and Camaro IROC-Zs in the same time frame at $14k and even Corvettes at $16k. This is the time to swoop in and pick up a solid example before one of the most desirable muscle cars of — Garrett Long all time creeps further into collector status. Auctions and Totals in This Issue $10m $15m $20m $25m $30m $35m $40m $5m $2.7m $0 September 2, 2017 Worldwide Auburn, IN 70 AmericanCarCollector.com September 16, 2017 Dan Kruse Austin, TX September 30, 2017 Smith Auctions Springfield, MO September 30, 2017 VanDerBrink Hutchinson, MN October 5–6, 2017 RM Sotheby’s Hershey, PA October 19–21, 2017 October 20–21, 2017 Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas, NV Branson, MO Branson Overland Park, KS October 21, 2017 Smith Auctions $819k $730k $78k $30.7m Super Snake Model J cabriolet, 2 2007 Shelby GT500 $15.7m $3.3m $1.1m

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BARRETT-JACKSON // Las Vegas, NV Barrett-Jackson — Las Vegas 2017 Barrett-Jackson embraces, supports Las Vegas after the tragedy in early October BarrettJackson Las Vegas, NV October 19–20, 2017 Auctioneers: Joseph Mast and the Mast Auctioneers Automotive lots sold/ offered: 671/675 Sales rate: 99% Sales total: $30,738,961 High sale: 2007 Shelby GT500 Super Snake coupe, sold at $1,000,000 buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold price barrett-Jackson showed strong results in a town with heavy hearts Report and photos by Travis Shetler Market opinions in italics ACC 1–6 scale condition rating for vehicles in Market Reports 1. Perfect: National show standard 2. excellent: Club show-worthy, some small flaws 3. Average: Daily driver in decent condition 4. Meh: Still a driver, with some visible flaws 5. Questionable: A problem-plagued beast that somehow manages to run 6. Lost cause: Salvageable for parts 72 AmericanCarCollector.com B arrett-Jackson scheduled their 10th Las Vegas auction in mid-October at the Mandalay Bay Resort just two weeks after a mass shooting took place in that same location. There was speculation that people would not feel safe coming to Las Vegas, that tourism would plummet and that the specific hotel involved would become an empty shell. That was not the case. Las Vegas — my home town — is unlike any other place. Hunter S. Thompson’s description of the attorney in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas seems to suit it: “Too weird to live, and too rare to die.” While the Vegas attitude does not enable one to make sense of the reality of life in modern America, it can assist as we try to digest enough of the horror to attempt to move forward. Pulling together as a community is one of the most effective ways to deal with horrific events. Barrett-Jackson did just that and faced the post-shooting uncertainty head on. Barrett-Jackson made their support a central theme of the auction. President Steve Davis personally donated the high sale car — a Shelby GT500 — at the event, designating the proceeds to benefit Las Vegas first responders. This was an early-production vehicle. Originally owned by a former Ford CEO, the car was converted to a 40th Anniversary Super Snake when it was returned to Shelby and, under Carroll Shelby’s supervision, modified into a monster. The addition of a 600-plus horsepower Super Snake motor was the most significant change. With less than 1,000 miles and a lifetime of pampering, the car was in perfect condition. It alone raised $1,000,000 of the $1,640,000 in charity sales. The atmosphere was thick with sorrow but full of resolve. The son of a Barrett-Jackson regular was killed in the shooting. In remembrance of the loss, an empty chair was reserved in the front and covered with flowers. In addition, virtually each person I spoke with mentioned that no one wanted to allow the acts of one mentally unsound individual to impact more lives than those which had been unalterably changed. Despite following so closely on the heels of tragedy, Barrett-Jackson’s 2017 auction continued the company’s success story in Las Vegas. The company reacted immediately, strongly displaying the charitable spirit which has always been a major part of the BarrettJackson culture. A

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BARRETT-JACKSON // Las Vegas, NV GM #703-1953 BUICK SKYLARK convertible. VIN: 16991019. White/black vinyl/red & white leather. Odo: 6,384 miles. 322-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. This is an ultra-low-mileage, all-original car that has been well preserved. Paint and panel fit are excellent. There is small pitting on some exterior chrome. Under the hood, the engine bay shows small evidence of corrosion. The interior is very well preserved as well. Cond: 2+. good condition. The panel fit is fair. Under the hood, some items should have been addressed before the sale. The interior has more than just wear and cracking to the leather. There are some model-specific trim pieces that need replacing. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $93,500. Well bought at a price on the low side of the current Pocket Price Guide value. The buyer obtained an original car with plenty of room to make a profit. #705-1955 CADILLAC ELDORADO custom convertible. VIN: 556282360. Mint & Teal Pearl blend/white vinyl/white leather & teal alligator. Odo: 1,108 miles. 502-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. This is a sectioned and chopped Eldorado with many custom features, all finished to a high standard. However, time has obviously passed since the build. Excellent pearl paint is showing some wear, especially at the thresholds. The custom body panels are all well finished and fit correctly. The engine compartment shows well. Inside, the leather and alligator interior is missing driver’s seat finish button. This is a great-looking, trimmed-down Eldorado. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $51,700. Well bought at a price 40% below the current price-guide value. I reviewed this car in June of this year when it was sold at RM Sotheby’s auction in Santa Monica, where it crossed the block with a hammer price of $71,500 (ACC# 6839869). At that time I rated it as a 2-. I spent a good deal of time inspecting the car this time and I have revised that rating. Just 13 miles have been added to the odometer since the last sale and it does appear that the driver’s side door alignment has been addressed. The same very expensive needs remain, but the new owner has more than enough room to address most of the concerns. 5762059000. Amethyst/ white vinyl/black leather. Odo: 16,270 miles. 365-ci V8, 2x4bbl, auto. This is a stunning Biarritz. One of the most sought-after convertible Eldorados. Claimed to be one of five that left the factory in this color—the paint is expertly applied over a fully restored and well-aligned body. The trim is replated or polished and the glass is very good. There are just a few areas that could be improved in the engine compartment, but they are truly minor annoyances. The interior is reupholstered to concours levels. The dash gleams. Perhaps the leather is too soft, but the look does not detract. Cond: 1-. 10 #757-1957 CADILLAC ELDORADO Biarritz convertible. VIN: SOLD AT $41,800. Quite well bought. The sales price was almost half of the current price-guide market value. Previously sold at Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale auction in 2008, where it sold for $79,200 (ACC# 1572838). The passage of a decade has resulted in a considerable drop, but I have no doubt that the buyer is very pleased. #787-1957 CADILLAC ELDORADO Brougham 4-dr hard top. VIN: 5770089009. Dark silver & stainless steel/white & black leather. Odo: 58,650 miles. 365-cc V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. This Brougham is an eyecatching car in an attractive color scheme. The paint is in good condition, but there are areas of touch-up. The glass and trim are in 74 AmericanCarCollector.com #752-1962 CHEVROLET IMPALA SS lightweight 2-dr hard top. VIN: 21847S15 8537. Black/red vinyl. Odo: 311 miles. 409-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. This is a perfectly restored example of a rare “aluminum lightweight” car designed by Chevrolet to go racing. One of three known to exist out of a total of 16–18 actually built. The cars were produced without soundproofing, seam sealer, radios or heaters. The engine and aluminum front-clip pieces were shipped separately for assembly. This car is finished in excellent black paint over well-aligned body panels. Under the hood, the motor sits inside a well-executed engine compartment. Inside, the interior is as-new. This car is fully documented and well presented. Cond: 1. NOT SOLD AT $100,000. This car was one of the few with a reserve and did not sell. Previously seen at Mecum’s May 2017 auction in Indianapolis, where it did not sell with a high bid of $190,000 (ACC# 6837795). There is little concern that the owner will eventually be able to achieve a price that will work. This factory racer is a rare car with documented, winning history. This is as good as it gets for a racing Impala; be patient, seller. #449-1969 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS Hurst/Olds replica convertible. VIN: 336679M241055. White w/gold stripes/ white vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 86 miles. 455-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. This is a well-executed Oldsmobile that was built into a Hurst Pace Car. The paint is finished to a high standard and the body panels fit very well. The trim and glass are in very good condition. With very close inspection, the rear bumper fit is just slightly off. Under the hood, the heavily accessorized 455 fills the engine compartment from fender to fender. Inside the car, SOLD AT $165,000. Very well sold at nearly twice the current price-guide value. The seller sold the car for well above market value. However, the buyer obtained a virtually perfect example of a great car in a very rare color. The market will eventually allow a profit for what is an excellent example of the style and presence that Cadillac convertible purchasers hope to obtain. the interior is fully optioned and looks good. There are very small wrinkles in the passenger’s door panel that may not be worth addressing. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $33,000. Well bought for half the price of an original example. The seller must have more invested. Hopefully the former owner had as much TOP 10

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BARRETT-JACKSON // Las Vegas, NV fun with the car as the new owner surely will. The car was worth the price and should maintain the value. #780-1970 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE SS 454 convertible. VIN: 136670L155913. Cranberry Red/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 37,601 miles. 454-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. This big-block Chevelle looks good. Stated to be the recipient of a frame-off restoration. The paint is well applied, with a few chips and runs. The trim has some scratches that look much rougher than the overall car. The engine compartment is properly detailed and appears showroom-fresh. The convertible-top fit is off on the driver’s side. Inside, the interior looks good, but there are small issues that need to be addressed, such as the carpet in the rear and at the door post. Cond: 2+. sporting a new cover. This low-mileage car carries all factory sheet metal and many speed-related options. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $198,000. Well sold at roughly twice above the current price-guide value. One of Chevrolet’s most desirable muscle cars in spectacular condition. #409-1979 PONTIAC TRANS AM 10th Anniversary Edition coupe. VIN: 2X87Z9L158353. Silver/silver leather. Odo: 17,602 miles. 400-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. This 10th Anniversary Trans Am has under 20,000 miles and looks to have been well kept. The factory paint is good. There are some swirl marks showing through on the passenger’s side. Weatherstripping is cracked and dry. The long and heavy doors open and close very nicely, unlike most F-body cars available today. Under the hood, the 400 is stock. Inside is a sea of gray and silver. The interior is in excellent condition with only slight evidence of use. Cond: 2. where the upholstery needs to be adjusted. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $67,100. Well bought and sold at a price approximately 20% below the priceguide market value. The non-original drivetrain may be what kept the car from reaching the price of a factory-built-Fuelie. This was a very attractive car that was finished to a good standard. Both parties should be pleased with the hammer price. SOLD AT $66,000. This car was very well bought, well below the current price-guide value. This car was offered at Russo and Steele’s Monterey auction in August of this year, where it did not sell at $55,000 (ACC# 6846498). The car has traveled 60 miles since then and it appears that the same issues were present at that time. There is lots of room here for the buyer to make an immediate profit and even a good profit if everything is addressed. It would seem that there is no reason not to take the car out and enjoy it in the meantime; the cruising experience would be well worth delaying the repairs until selling. 136370 B158636. Astro Blue/ black vinyl. Odo: 57,856 miles. 454-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. This is a very sharp, all-original LS6. The paint is very good, with some small cracking at the leading edge of the fender. The glass and trim are very good. Under the Cowl Induction hood, the engine looks completely original, with some evidence of use. Inside, the interior is good. There is a small crack in the steering wheel, and the dash may be 7 #738-1970 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE SS 454 2-dr hard top. VIN: SOLD AT $44,000. Very well sold 50% over the price-guide value. This car was sold for $41,800 (ACC# 6789009) at Barrett-Jackson’s 2015 Las Vegas auction. The F-bodies have been doing well for a few years. These were some of the most powerful cars Detroit offered during their time, and pop culture was saturated with them well into the ’80s. I have heard the siren song of these cars and found it quite challenging to resist. The new owner should get this one out and enjoy it a bit. As long as the originality and condition are maintained, there should be plenty of enjoyment and also a positive return on the investment in the future. The best of both worlds. CORVETTE #697-1957 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: E57S100848. Aztec Bronze/ beige leather. Odo: 4 miles. 283-ci 283-hp fuel-injected V8, 4-sp. Wears an attractive color scheme and sits with a high stance. The car is an undocumented Fuelie. The paint is well applied over a body that has been properly prepared. There are panel-fit issues that one expects to see on these early fiberglass cars and it is in the areas where panels come together that one sees chipping and wear to the painted finish. The glass and trim are all in good condition on both the car and the hard top. The engine compartment needs attention, both cleaning and painting. Inside, the interior is finished in a pleasant light beige. There are places 76 AmericanCarCollector.com #681-1961 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 10867S109937. Tuxedo Black/red vinyl. Odo: 42,001 miles. 283-ci 315-hp fuel-injected V8, 4-sp. This blackon-red Corvette includes the hard top. A fuel-injected motor rated at 315 horsepower has been added to the car. The paint is very well applied, and combined with the black sidewalls and poverty caps on steel wheels, the car has a mildly sinister appearance. Under the hood, the fuel-injection assembly adds to the street-racer look. The interior is finished to a very high standard. This car was the subject of a $100,000 build, and the receipts and documentation are included with the car. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $58,300. Well bought and sold at less than two-thirds of the current priceguide value. As with Lot 697 (another converted Fuelie Corvette), the modified cars rarely achieve the value of factory-built cars. This buyer received a very attractive Corvette that will draw admirers wherever it goes. If the car was bought to enjoy, the owner will be very pleased. #717-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 194677S115763. Rally Red w/black stinger/black vinyl/black leather. Odo: 57,412 miles. 427-ci 435-hp V8, 3x2bbl, 4-sp. This is a very well-presented bigblock Corvette. The paint is high quality; the panel fit is a bit off but appears factory-correct. The trim is in good condition and the aluminum wheels and sidepipes complete the look. Under the hood, the intake manifold is the only item that shows evidence of TOP 10 BEST BUY

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BARRETT-JACKSON // Las Vegas, NV use, but more detailing could have been done. Inside, the interior is in good condition. Cond: 2+. factory-air car has a good interior with little to detract visually. Cond: 2. has some wear evident and the windowcrank handle should be picked up from the floor and properly attached. This is a heavily optioned car in good period colors. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $82,500. Well bought at significantly less than the current price-guide market value. Previously seen at Mecum’s Dallas auction in September 2017, the car did not sell at a high bid of $80,000 (ACC# 6849692). Whether the seller got tired of waiting or just decided that the similarity of the back-to-back auction bids was more reflective of the market, the buyer obtained a collectible car with great marketability, all for a price that ensures a good profit. #700-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE custom coupe. VIN: 194377S115790. Silver/ black leather. Odo: 1,173 miles. 6.2-L 430hp fuel-injected V8, 5-sp. This very goodlooking ’67 coupe is sort of a resto-mod. The claimed-original drivetrain is included in the sale, but the drivetrain installed is a modern LS3 motor and 5-speed transmission. The suspension has been upgraded as well. Quality paint has been applied to a body with very good panel fit. Trim is asnew and all of the glass has been replaced. The car sits on modern aluminum rims that appear as original alloys. Under the hood, the modern motor is surprising at first, but it fits well inside the engine bay. Inside, this SOLD AT $148,500. Very well sold. The sale price is double the current price-guide market value. The seller likely was able to make a profit and the buyer received a more modern driving experience in a very desirable classic. It would be surprising if the buyer could recapture the full price if the car were to be sold in the near future. However, it is likely that the car was purchased to be driven and enjoyed. The performance combined with the look should keep the new owner happy. FOMOCO #425-1956 FORD CROWN VICTORIA Skyliner custom 2-dr sedan. VIN: P6DW197060. Pink & black/pink & white vinyl. Odo: 1,352 miles. 312-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. This car was converted from a hard top to a Skyliner with the green-tinted plexiglass roof that was available. The paint is finished to a good standard. The body fits together well, but there is a hole through the rear of the hood. There are some issues with the alignment of the very extended Continental kit at the rear. Some of the chrome trim is pitting and should be addressed. The engine compartment needs a heavy detailing. Inside, the interior SOLD AT $34,100. Well bought for considerably less than a factory-built car. There are plenty of Crown Victoria enthusiasts, and the color scheme on the car, combined with the numerous options, make it marketable. The new owner can enjoy cruising and likely will recover most of the purchase price and may be able to make a small profit. #457.1-1957 FORD THUNDERBIRD convertible. VIN: D7FH248054. Red/red leather. Odo: 39,104 miles. 312-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. This is a well-put-together car. The paint has been well applied to a properly prepped body with well-fitted panels. The engine compartment is correct. Inside, the very attractive interior is done correctly. There is some staining to the headliner in the hard top that should have been addressed and makes one wonder where the water is coming in from. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $51,700. This car was well sold and the seller should be pleased. It was previously sold at Leake’s Tulsa sale in 2014, where it changed hands for $44,000 (ACC# 6715656). I spoke with the buyers and they were extremely happy with their purchase. They intend to drive and enjoy the car—the perfect plan. #792-1962 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL 4-dr convertible. VIN: 2Y86H419488. Presidential Black/black cloth/red leather. Odo: 42,790 miles. 430-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. This is a very attractive Continental. Claimed to be a low-mileage vehicle that was restored in 2012 and stored since. The paint is very good and the trim and grille gleam. There are some dings in the trim and a piece of trim missing from the chrome emblem across the trunk. The glass is good, but the left rear window is a bit loose. Under the hood, the engine compartment is detailed but could use a bit of attention. The interior 78 AmericanCarCollector.com

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BARRETT-JACKSON // Las Vegas, NV is also finished to a good standard, with some wear showing. Cond: 2+. some evidence of aging and pitting. Under the hood, the engine compartment is completely correct and well detailed. Inside, the car has some evidence of aging. The rearseat armrest side panels are fading. The original Autolite carburetor has been rebuilt and is included, but the car is currently utilizing a Holley. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $67,100. Very well sold at a price half again over the current price-guide value. This car was sold at the Russo and Steele Scottsdale auction in 2012 for $55,000 (ACC# 4775754). It seems some of the concerns have been addressed since then. These cars will always be popular, as their look is unique and easy on the eye. This buyer may have been able to find a slightly better car, but over time, there is a good chance for a profit. #435-1965 FORD MUSTANG convertible. VIN: 5F08A728546. Silver blue/white vinyl/ Palomino vinyl. Odo: 44,146 miles. 289-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. This is a great-looking and full-optioned Mustang in a sharp color combination. The paint is well done and the body panels fit together nicely. Inside the engine compartment, there is some evidence of use, and detailing is in order. There is a fit issue at the right rear of the convertible top. The interior is also well finished and the only option that seems to be missing is the console. The right-rear-window felt needs to be addressed and there is one wire running a bit low under the dash. One solid morning of attention is all this car really needs. Cond: 2+. a reserve that was not met. The price guide puts the current value of a Heritage GT at nearly $400,000. The seller should eventually get the price sought. There is almost always a GT at any major auction, but the edition offered here is rarely seen. SOLD AT $49,500. Well bought; this sold right at the current market value. The buyer received a very nice example of a car that will always be collectible. There is little to do here to make the car 100% correct, and it should provide good value in the future. During the wait, there is no reason not to drive and enjoy the car, as it will bring plenty of smiles and compliments. #747-1970 SHELBY GT500 convertible. VIN: 0F03R482603. Grabber Yellow & black/white vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 93,161 miles. 428-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Restored to factory specs. An attractive Shelby GT500 convertible. Extensive paperwork documents that this is one of six finished in this color. The paint is fault-free and the panels fit very well. The hood reveals an engine compartment with a few areas that should be addressed and repainted. Inside, there are some indicators of wear at the driver’s seat and on the console, where some of the wood-grained vinyl is coming up. Cond: 1. S375200007. Blue w/white stripes/black leather. Odo: 900 miles. 5.4-L supercharged V8, 6-sp. This is essentially a new GT500 that has been given the Super Snake upgrade by Shelby. The paint is unblemished and the trim is excellent. The white stripes are claimed to be the only ones authorized by Carroll Shelby. Under the hood, the supercharged motor fills the engine bay, which looks like it was just built. The interior is also excellent, with Super Snake embroidery and badges on every surface. The car was originally a Ford development vehicle that was used by Shelby to develop the 40th Anniversary package, which is documented in a book that is included in the sale. Barrett-Jackson President Steve Davis acquired the car in 2008. He announced just days after the mass shooting in Las Vegas that he was going to sell the car and 100% of the proceeds are going to Las Vegas first responders to show support. Cond: 1. 2 #3004-2007 SHELBY GT500 Super Snake coupe. VIN: 1ZVHT88- SOLD AT $50,600. Well sold at a price almost twice as high as the current priceguide value. This car is an example of what can happen when the right buyers find an eye-catching car. While a bit more than top dollar was paid, the car may still be able to turn a profit in the future. The car was something other than red, and it presented so well that it has appeal for more than just Mustang buyers. #801-1968 FORD MUSTANG GT fastback. VIN: 8F02J187866. Candy Apple Red/dark red vinyl. Odo: 90,661 miles. 302-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. This is a fully restored GT in an attractive red-on-red color combination. The car is an MCA Gold winner, earning 693 out of 700 points. The paint has been finished to an excellent standard and the body panels are all correctly aligned. The trim has 80 AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $137,500. Well bought at a price well below the current price-guide value. The rarity and condition will allow for a good sale at any time the new owner desires. The collectibility of these cars in this condition is very high. Good buy. #749-2006 FORD GT Heritage Edition coupe. VIN: 1FAFP90S56Y401765. Gulf Blue & Orange/black leather. Odo: 1,909 miles. 5.4-L supercharged V8, 6-sp. A very low-mileage Heritage GT. Finished in the same fashion as the GT40 that beat Ferrari in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the 1969 race, the car is complete down to the stickers. The paint and panel fit are factoryfresh. The rear tips up to reveal an as-built engine compartment. Inside, the somewhat retro interior is free from flaws. Cond: 1-. NOT SOLD AT $350,000. This car carried SOLD AT $1,000,000. Extemely well sold. The unique Shelby history and documentation included with the charity car would allow investors to make a similar purchase with confidence of a future return. The seven-figure sales price attained is only explained by the response to the madness of the Las Vegas shooting. The purchaser stated that they really wanted to display their support for Las Vegas and the first responders. #676-2016 FORD MUSTANG GT Neiman Marcus Edition convertible. VIN: 1FATP8FF0G5253888. Blue & gray/gray vinyl/ black leather. Odo: 73 miles. 5.0-L supercharged V8, 6-sp. This is an unusual—but good-looking—custom Mustang. It has been BEST BUY TOP 10

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BARRETT-JACKSON // Las Vegas, NV given a supercharged Roush motor generating 727 horsepower. The car has a hard tonneau cover over the rear seat that combines with the body cladding to give the car a muscular appearance. This car is new. It is difficult to find any flaws or concerns on either the outside of the car or in the interior. The suspension has been upgraded to accept the additional power from the revised powerplant. Cond: 1-. #766-1970 PLYMOUTH SUPERBIRD 2-dr hard top. VIN: RM23V0A172636. White/ black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 77,339 miles. 426-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. This Superbird has good paint. There are a number of areas where panel fit is an issue, but this is not uncommon. The trim is in good condition, but there are fit issues at the rear bumper and the tailpipes are uneven. The weatherstripping is tired and torn in places. Under the hood, the original 440 Six Pack has been replaced with a 426 Hemi which sits in less than the sum of its parts. Superbird buyers expect their cars to be correct, and this was likely top money for an altered car. #687-1970 DODGE CHALLENGER T/A 2-dr hard top. VIN: JH23J0B291213. Banana Yellow/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 183 miles. 340-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, auto. This is a good-looking Challenger T/A. The paint is finished to a high standard and the body panels fit together well. The hood, however, needs to be adjusted. The glass and chrome look very good. Under the hood, the Six Pack-topped 340 sits inside of a welldetailed engine compartment. The interior has some general wear but looks very nice. The colors and condition of this car draw you in. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $58,300. Well bought at a price that the buyer clearly felt was right. The value acquired is well in excess of the high bid, but it will be challenging to recoup the purchase price. The question is, now what? Store it away for the future or drive and enjoy a very entertaining vehicle? To my mind, the latter is the only option that makes sense. MOPAR 9 #770-1970 DODGE CHARGER custom 2-dr hard top. VIN: XS29U0G159815. Metallic Charcoal/black leather. 6.1-L fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. This is a stunning custom Charger build. The former SEMA show car is a combination of the classic Charger shape with updated features and styling cues from the modern Challenger. In addition to flush-mount glass, there is a late-model Challenger taillight panel at the rear. The chrome is all painted in the body color and makes for a sinister appearance. The paint is well applied over a very straight body. The engine compartment is spotless, with the Hemi motor nestled neatly inside. The suspension is from a C6 Corvette. The interior is fully updated and fresh. The car proudly wears the stated investment of $380,000. Cond: 1. an engine compartment that has areas where the paint is missing or tired. The interior is presentable, with a Tic-Toc-Tach in the dash. There is some fading and scuffing on seat from rubbing the door. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $132,000. Well sold at a price that may be hard to duplicate. This is below the current market value for a 440 Six Pack car and less than half of the current priceguide value for a true Hemi. It is unusual to find a Superbird without issues, and the car sold was a presentable example. The engine exchange resulted in a car worth a bit SOLD AT $71,500. Well sold at a price 10% above the current price-guide value. Previously seen at Barrett-Jackson’s Las Vegas auction in 2015, where the car sold for $40,700 (ACC# 6788741). The increase in price is remarkable. It would likely be attributed to the bidders in the room as opposed to any real market shift. A SOLD AT $176,000. This car was well bought and sold. Well below the amount invested—this is an excellent return on a custom car. The buyer also managed to obtain one of the most iconic silhouettes of the muscle car era combined with a thoroughly modern look, drivetrain and suspension. It is unlikely that the buyer will be able to make a profit, but the driving enjoyment and curb appeal will be hard to match. January–February 2018 81 TOP 10

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RM SOTHEBY’S // Hershey, PA RM Sotheby’s — Hershey With a boost from the impressive Derro Collection, RM Sotheby’s has one of their best Hershey sales yet RM Sotheby’s Hershey, PA October 5, 2017 Auctioneer: Brent Earlywine Automotive lots sold/ offered: 129/136 Sales rate: 95% Sales total: $15,719,650 High sale: 1933 Pierce-Arrow Silver Arrow sedan, sold at $2,310,000 buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold prices one of the vehicles offered from the Derro Collection — 1932 Duesenberg Model J Town Car sedan, sold at $594,000 Report and photos by Larry Trepel Market opinions in italics ACC 1-6 scale condition rating for vehicles in Market Reports 1. Perfect: National show standard 2. excellent: Club show-worthy, some small flaws 3. Average: Daily driver in decent condition 4. Meh: Still a driver, with some visible flaws 5. Questionable: A problem-plagued beast that somehow manages to run 6. Lost cause: Salvageable for parts 82 AmericanCarCollector.com mix of hot rod and drag cars from the estate of Ralph Whitworth, and a collection of six moderately valued but meticulously restored and preserved Fords from the estate of Don Gibson. Focusing on pre-war-era cars, there were impressive Packards, Pierce-Arrows, Locomobiles, Cadillacs, Cords and other American icons. While there were plenty of pre-war American auc- R tion staples, there were also many cars over a century old not often seen at today’s auctions. These included a beautiful 1910 Stanley sold at $121k, a 1916 PierceArrow 38-C4 at $154k and a fantastic 1904 Holsman “High-Wheel” that sold for $35k. The challenge of maintaining and driving these turn-of-the-20th-century pioneers likely keeps their prices modest, but it’s good to see there are still enough dedicated collectors willing to own them for fun and not much profit. Then there was the grand finale: the Derro Collection. Derro’s 12 cars ranged from fairly common to the pinnacle of American design, most of them perfectly preserved older restorations in spectacular condition. The collection featured ’40s convertibles, M Sotheby’s annual Hershey auction was exceptionally exciting this year, with the highly anticipated no-reserve sale of the Thomas J. Derro Collection. There were also two other interesting collections — a woodie wagons, ’50s icons and two unusual and stunning Duesenbergs. Usually, a Duesenberg is the star of a collection, but in this case everyone was waiting for the 1933 Pierce-Arrow Silver Arrow to descend onstage. All were wondering, would this example — with an even newer restoration than the Silver Arrow that sold at RM Sotheby’s in 2015 for $3.7m — top the $3m high estimate? In my opinion, the Silver Arrow deserves to be among the most highly recognized designs of all time. At one time, the three that remain were all in the Blackhawk Collection, but future access to the public is unknown. It will certainly be a shame if they are now all out of reach. The car sold at $2.3m. With sales totaling $15.7m, this year’s number was significantly up from last year’s $11.5m. In 2015, sales were also impressive at just under $16m (13 more lots offered, and 14 more sold). It will be a challenge for RM Sotheby’s to keep this sales level going, and to find such a remarkable collection as the one amassed by Derro. But each year, this auction stands as a testament to the remarkable pre-war cars designed and built in America. They are different than their European competitors, but just as ingenious, innovative and artistically built as the iconic cars from Europe that are sometimes admired (and often purchased) at a higher level. A

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RM SOTHEBY’S // Hershey, PA CLASSICS #163-1919 APPERSON 8-19 Anniversary tourer. VIN: 19686. Eng. # 22035. Red/ black vinyl/red leather. Odo: 17,115 miles. Very presentable overall. Mid-quality paintwork, no peeling or crackling on body or fenders, but inconsistent texture with a few scuffs. Some body panels a bit wavy. Much elbow grease spent to bring brass parts up to maximum auction shine. Wheels appear recently repainted, tires all in good shape. Interior very livable with beautiful, comfortable-looking seats that I believe are faithful to original configuration. Dash simple and in decent condition, steering wheel patinated. Engine has some crudely repainted pieces, but overall tidy. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $132,000. Very impressive to view, and while rebody may limit its value a bit, the workmanship and level of restoration were something to be admired. I did drive behind it one afternoon, and noticed a fair amount of gray smoke, so let’s hope it was a temporary situation. If so, then I’d say it was well bought. 2514. Eng. # J497. Metallic aqua/gray leather & brocade cloth. Odo: 55,042 miles. Another superb car from the Derro Collection. Body by J. Gerald Kirchoff. Older restoration from the 1980s, purchased by Derro in 1999, and still appearing in near-flawless condition today. Rear interior fabric faithful reproduction of original. Body, paint and chrome all top-tier. One spot of paint peeling behind spare tire, and one rear tire has yellowing whitewall. Cond: 1. 3 #259-1932 DUESENBERG MODEL J Town Car sedan. VIN: choice, it was a pleasure to view. Selling slightly below the low estimate, it seemed well bought considering provenance and restoration cost. GM SOLD AT $24,750. Going to Hershey means you’ll always see some pre-war brands you’ve never heard of. Obscurity can add value for some bidders. With just a few of these remaining, it’s unlikely you’ll ever lose first place in the Apperson Class at a concours. The V8 engine adds an extra element of exotica, as does the Apperson Jackrabbit grille badge. At just under $25k, I’d call this Apperson well bought. #266-1929 STEARNS-KNIGHT J-8-90 tourer. VIN: J11926. Red & black/black cloth/black leather. Odo: 12,999 miles. Striking red and black paint scheme. Complete restoration not many years ago, with original sedan body replaced by a re-created touring body. Some sections of original body purportedly used to build new body. Paint and panel work beautifully done. Superb wood everywhere, with running boards exceptionally striking. Perhaps a bit heavy with the lacquer on dashboard wood and steering wheel. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $594,000. Stately, massive Duesenberg from an era when your car designer could then become your chauffeur. They toured together in this Duesenberg throughout Europe. Nimble it is not, but it will make a fine piece to display at automotive concours and fabric shows. Purchased at Christie’s 1999 auction for $277k (ACC# 1535413), it sold below low estimate here, but still, a sale price of $594k is an appropriate profit. My guess is it may be up for auction again when the excitement of buying it wears off and owner is faced with reality of maintaining and preserving it. Well bought, though. Eng. # J519. Two-tone blue/blue cloth/blue leather. Odo: 72,838 miles. Second restoration late-’90s by previous owner, acquired by Derro in 2000. Perfect in and out, featuring magnificent Belgian coachwork by D’Ieteren. Could not find a single flaw to complain about. Driver’s seat displays just a hint of breaking-in—a plus, not a flaw. The engine is just as stunning as the car, with perfect polishing and paintwork. Maybe should have been auctioned separately. Cond: 1. SOLD AT $1,485,000. The backup star in the Derro Collection, this Duesenberg was notable for more subtle and graceful styling than one often sees in Duesenbergs. Combined with the striking color 1 #262-1935 DUESENBERG MODEL J cabriolet. VIN: 2548. 84 AmericanCarCollector.com #144-1955 CHEVROLET BEL AIR Nomad wagon. VIN: VC55L031515. Coral & Shadow Gray Metallic/coral & black vinyl. Odo: 782,399 miles. 265-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Beautiful, painstaking restoration done in early 2000s. Paint and chrome showing little wear since restoration. I only see a few tiny bubbles on the roof and slight corrosion on wheel edges. Passenger’s door and rear hatch panel gaps slightly off. Engine compartment tidy but not Pebble Beach-clean. An afternoon would take care of that. Transmission stated as recently rebuilt. Underbody as good as expected; a little dirt means actual use. Inside as impressive as the outside, with worn paint on steering wheel more evidence of some miles since restoration. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $60,500. As good as it gets restoration-wise, this ’55 Chevy wagon was one of the most enjoyable lots to view. Great color choice, no expense spared on restoration, a bit of use evident, which opens the door for the new owner to use it even more. At this price level there isn’t much money to lose by racking up some miles. Sold at present market value, but as a wagon worshipper, I rate it an excellent buy compared to many other cars out there going for far more. FOMOCO 8 9005. Blue metallic/ white cloth/blue leather. Odo: 18,525 miles. From the collection of the late Ralph Whitworth. Restored twice, once by previous owner, and then by Whitworth to purportedly as close as possible to #173-1932 FORD V8 Pete Henderson Hot Rod roadster. VIN: DRF9- TOP 10 TOP 10 TOP 10

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RM SOTHEBY’S // Hershey, PA the original ’40s hot rod build. Paint finish superb, wire wheels and other elements all look virtually new. Appropriately simple interior, with everything in just-restored condition. Chrome-ring steering wheel, bench seat and white cloth top. Cond: 1-. 468 miles. 312-ci supercharged V8, 3-sp. Restored in the 1980s. Just 468 miles on the odometer, and stunning condition supports mileage as accurate. Paint and body panels as good as it gets on a Thunderbird of this era. Door fit—often problematic—is excellent. Top fabric looks new, and is fitted perfectly. Front bumper appeared slightly angled on passenger’s side. Interior perfect. Undercarriage shows no road use at all. Surprisingly, no hard top included, normally a staple with high-end Thunderbirds. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $77,000. I was 20 years off guessing when it was restored. As a later Town & Country, not as valuable as earlier models because of faux-wood mixed with real wood framing. These have become a bit of an auction staple, perhaps more sellers than buyers, but the wood on many examples will have aging flaws. Here was a chance to buy perfection for a reasonable price. Well bought. SOLD AT $192,500. Historic hot rod linked to Pete Henderson, this Ford deuce is most famous for winning a quarter-mile race against a horse. Photo taken of this race illustrates the power one image can have (I thought the horse won by a hoof, but too late to challenge). Enough to make this neat Highboy sell for $192.5k. Well sold. (See profile, p. 58.) #229-1947 FORD SUPER DELUXE Club convertible. VIN: 043H47207395. Yellow/ black cloth/red vinyl & beige cloth. Odo: 1,066 miles. 239-ci V8, 2-bbl, 3-sp. Complete older restoration early 1980s. Just 1,066 miles since restoration. Body and paint still immaculate. Panel, doors and hood fit all good, trunk fit slightly off. Dash, steering wheel, seats all appear near new. Underbody perfect, every chassis and mechanical piece appears new. Engine compartment almost as good, with just the slightest evidence of use. Cond: 1-. #257-1957 DESOTO ADVENTURER convertible. VIN: 50417133. Eng. # S26A2127. Black & Gold/black cloth/Adventurer Gold Poly. Odo: 66,728 miles. 375-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. First-class restoration, completed in 1998. Mostly holding up well, with rich paint and chrome—interior still dazzling. But there is some paint micro-bubbling on rear fenders, a few cracks in the steering wheel, imperfections in the dashpad and whitewalls turning yellow. Engine is near new-looking, as is underbody. Factory a/c a big plus. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $148,500. When I first looked at this Thunderbird, I assumed it was recently restored. I was shocked to learn it was restored in the ’80s. Even with little use, restorations that old often start to show some aging in the paint, interior materials and chrome. This car has ignored that, and indeed looked better than many T-birds with restorations just a few years old. No-reserve bidding stalled early, but a couple of people must have realized what a tremendous steal it would be and picked it back up. At just under $150k, I’d call it well bought—assuming it runs as good as it looks. MOPAR SOLD AT $42,900. One of six Fords offered from the collection of the late Don Gibson, all stunning restorations at no reserve. Almost hard to believe this Super Deluxe was restored back in the ’80s; I could find no wear from the hands of time. Perhaps Don stored it in his living room. While the market has declined a bit on these recently, it still sold below the slightly conservative estimate of $50k–$60k. I’d call it very well bought. #267-1957 FORD THUNDERBIRD F-code convertible. VIN: F7FH347632. Starmist Blue/dark blue cloth/blue & white vinyl. Odo: 86 AmericanCarCollector.com #260-1949 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY convertible. VIN: 7410951. Eng. # C2623190. Indian Maroon/burgundy vinyl/ red leather & beige cloth. Odo: 9,873 miles. 324-ci I8, 1-bbl, auto. Another time-capsule from the Derro Collection. Appears recently restored, but description states work done in 1991. Purchased by Derro in 2006, postAmelia Concours appearance. Paint, body, wood, chrome and glass are all near perfection. Undercarriage appears as-new. Only flaw I found was slight pitting on chrome instrument surrounds. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $126,500. As stunning as 99% of this car is, the problems noted above meant I had to assign it a 2+ instead of a 1-. Still, they are minor flaws (depending on the extent of the paint problem) compared to the outstanding restoration work and overall condition of this rare DeSoto. I’d call it well bought, an exciting convertible for the new owner. (See profile, p. 56.) #258-1961 CHRYSLER 300G convertible. VIN: 8413114289. Mardi Gras Red/black cloth/tan leather. Odo: 7,557 miles. 413-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. Spectacular all around. Paint perfect, no blemishes or crackling. Chrome as good as paint. Interior—with those countless chrome dash pieces—is near perfection. Driver’s seat bottom showing some minor signs of use. Engine and undercarriage are also basically new-looking. Cond: 1. SOLD AT $148,500. With just 57 miles on odometer, appears that Mr. Derro basically

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RM SOTHEBY’S // Hershey, PA never drove this 300G since buying it restored in 2009. Maybe he just sat in it in his garage a lot, which would explain the look of the driver’s seat. These are difficult cars to get perfectly right—this must be among the very best Chrysler 300s in the world today. Sold close to the high end of the estimate, but I’d still call it well bought. AMERICANA #152-1916 PIERCE-ARROW MODEL 38 C-4 tourer. VIN: 36793. Eng. # 2402. Red & black/black cloth/tan leather. RHD. Odo: 49,704 miles. Excellent older restoration, still holding up well. Paint on body and fenders very nicely done. Dash, interior, gauges all as they should be. Top cloth excellent. Undercarriage still clean. A few cracks in wheel spokes and surface corrosion on exhaust system were the only things my picky side could come up with. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $407,000. First up from the Derro Collection, this Packard Darrin had striking stage presence. Perhaps it was the fact that it appeared in the “Banacek” television series back in the ’70s. Whatever the reason, it sold for what seemed like an appropriate price. Remarkable that an almost 30-yearold restoration can still appear this good. #113-1946 DIVCO DELIVERY TRUCK Model U utility. VIN: UM36546. Yellow/ black vinyl seat & white paint. Odo: 33,686 miles. I4, 1-bbl, manual. Classic old-world milk-delivery truck, restored at some point. Paint as nice as it needs to be, with “Rosenberger’s Dairies” nicely scripted. Body straight and no evidence of rust. Interior just a metal compartment with original storage cabinet up front. Engine dreary but not terrible. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $154,000. This beautiful PierceArrow 38 has the innovative air-spring system, with imposing black cylinders sitting fore and aft. One of the most magnificent cars of this era, in my eyes. If you’re willing to not have the largest Pierce-Arrow in the neighborhood, the sale price of $154k is a relative bargain compared to the monstrous Model 66. An older restoration that continues to shine. Fairly bought and sold. 014. Eng. # D508239B. Burgundy/tan cloth/ tan leather. Odo: 8,892 miles. Meticulous older restoration finished early ’90s. Paint, chrome, interior, everything still appears recently restored. Engine has a few paint chips. The clock was also not working correctly. Cond: 1. 4 #254-1941 PACKARD SUPER EIGHT convertible. VIN: 14292- SOLD AT $25,300. This nostalgic truck had as many viewers as the Silver Arrow. That’s as much attention for $2,285,000 less cash. I considered buying it to deliver almond milk—one of mankind’s great advancements. Fairly bought and sold. cloth/red & white leather. Odo: 57 miles. 315-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Restored around 2006. Shows just 57 miles on odometer. Paint and bodywork up to high Derro standards. Glass, chrome, interior fittings all superb. Undercarriage as new as expected. Engine new. Flaws were passenger’s door fit slightly off, and door top pad was loose. Hubcap center logos delaminating. Cond: 1-. 5 #264-1957 DUAL-GHIA D-500 convertible. VIN: 125. Red/black SOLD AT $341,000. One of the few cars in Derro’s collection restored under his ownership, but has rarely been driven over the past decade, based on the mileage. Sold well above the estimate of $200k–$250k, with buyer getting a 10-year-old new restoration. A 88 AmericanCarCollector.com TOP 10 TOP 10

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THE BRANSON AUCTION // Branson, MO The Branson Auction — Fall 2017 The Branson Auction targets bidders new and old with a variety of American examples The Branson Auction Branson, MO October 20, 2017 Auctioneers: Brent Earlywine, Jeff Knosp Automotive lots sold/ offered: 187/249 Sales rate: 75% Sales total: $3,340,695 High American sale: 1969 Plymouth GTX Hemi 2-door hard top, sold at $82,500 buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold prices 1963 Studebaker hawk GT 2-door hard top, sold at $13,200 ACC 1-6 scale condition rating for vehicles in Market Reports 1. Perfect: National show standard 2. excellent: Club show-worthy, some small flaws 3. Average: Daily driver in decent condition 4. Meh: Still a driver, with some visible flaws 5. Questionable: A problem-plagued beast that somehow manages to run 6. Lost cause: Salvageable for parts 90 AmericanCarCollector.com Report and photos by Andy Staugaard Market opinions in italics 10th anniversary, and the auction included a 1956 Thunderbird that raised $27k for the Vintage Car Rally Association — an organization that benefits autism awareness and educational programs. The Branson Auction did a great job assembling I a variety of cars in a multitude of states. Most of the venue consisted of American muscle from the golden years of the ’50s and ’60s. There were also over 60 cars offered at no reserve, including a Chevy collection. Another collection offered at no reserve consisted of 12 cars including a 1970 Mustang Boss 302 that was sold for $62.7k and a 1923 Franklin Racer that found its way to a buyer for $6.6k. t was a great weekend for Jim and Kathy Cox, owners of the Branson Auction, as the 10th year of the Fall auction at the Branson Convention Center closed with 75% of 249 cars sold. They had a pre-sale reception to celebrate the Branson works hard to attract younger bidders. Jim and Kathy have a long-term goal of listing several “gateway cars” in their auction that can be purchased at reasonable prices and restored. This is a great way to attract new bidders wanting to get into the market without getting in over their heads. In addition, Jim has done YouTube videos of the cars at auction, explaining their history and features. This has attracted a large number of younger bidders internationally, with one live stream receiving 76,000 viewers. Another interesting service offered by Branson is for those who want to liquidate their collections. Branson Auction offers a program that picks up your car, services it to get it running and road worthy, and then sells it at the auction. Many older collectors have taken advantage of this hassle-free program. If you want to get in on the action, the next Branson auction will be April 21–22. A

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THE BRANSON AUCTION // Branson, MO GM #539-1958 CHEVROLET IMPALA convertible. VIN: F58J110476. Copper/tan vinyl/ copper & gold vinyl. Odo: 17,879 miles. 283-ci V8, 4-bbl, 3-sp. Older repaint showing numerous scratches, chips and dents. Fit is generally good, but the trunk appears to be a bit high. Chrome and trim are poor, with lots of pitting. Engine bay is very poor and needs a lot of TLC detailing. Underside is about the same and shows some rust. Interior shows its age and needs a full restoration. The glass window cranks are hard to operate, and handle is missing on right wing vent. Cond: 3-. where around $30k. With the aftermarket parts added onto it, I think the hammered price is fair, but a nod goes to the buyer. #240-1964 CHEVROLET IMPALA custom 2-dr hard top. VIN: 41847S263122. Blue & white/tan vinyl. Odo: 95,730 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. A very nice metallic blueand-white repaint. Chrome is good and shiny—trim is dull. Aftermarket mags need detailing and tires show wear. Engine bay is clean but needs more detailing. Underside is dirty. Interior is good, except the dash needs to be restored and the carpet needs replacement. Glass is good all around. Cond: 3. nice and new repaint. Fit is good. Chrome and trim are very good. Engine bay is excellent, showing off the big-block 396. Underside matches the topside quality. Interior and glass are good. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $45,650. This is one nice automobile, with an original big-block 396-ci 350-hp V8. Auction listing states that the 396 block is original to the car and that the original factory build sheet is included. The L34 and X22 options indicate a real RS/SS 396 Camaro. Optioned like it is, this car should sell for about $60k. Great buy! SOLD AT $48,400. This car is barely a driver if it runs well. However, the bids were coming in hot and heavy on this relatively rare 3-speed no-reserve Impala. At a median market value of $91k, the sold price of $46.6k was a real bargain, although the car is in need of a full restoration to realize its maximum upside market potential. At this price it is definitely a full-restoration candidate. Good buy. #243-1963 CHEVROLET IMPALA SS 2-dr hard top. VIN: 31847S279066. Red/black vinyl. Odo: 49,562 miles. 327-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Restored within the past 200 miles. New paint, chrome and trim are done very well. Fit is good. Aftermarket mags are very good and set the car off nicely. Engine bay is just fair and needs a cosmetic restoration. Underside is clean but could use detailing. The interior is nice, but the dashboard and gauges need to be restored. A rare factory tachometer is built into the dash, just above the steering wheel. Glass is good all around. Auction listing states that “air ride has been added.” Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $12,000. Good-looking car at 20 feet, but the devil is in the details. This one is nothing more than a driver, assuming it runs well. Median market value is around $22k, but considering the condition of this one, the hammered price is fair. Both buyer and seller should be happy. #242-1967 CHEVROLET CAMARO coupe. VIN: 124377L134015. Yellow/black vinyl. Odo: 26,668 miles. 327-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. New repaint done well. Chrome and trim match quality of the repaint. Right door fit is off. Aftermarket mags really look great. Engine bay and underside are spiffy. Original interior looks good but is starting to show its age. Lower windshield seal needs to be replaced. Cond: 3+. #600-1970 PONTIAC GTO coupe. VIN: 242370P289477. White/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 98,565 miles. 400-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Nice repaint is very well done. Fit, chrome and trim are all very good and show-worthy. Original spoked wheels with chrome rings really set it off. Engine bay and underside are clean but could use a good cosmetic restoration. Interior is very good and looks to be restored. Glass is very good all around and the windows crank effortlessly. Lots of restoration documentation. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $21,175. Not a bad first-year Camaro. Just above driver-level, mostly due to its new paint job. This car would make a nice local show car and has good investment potential. The only thing that might hold it back is its automatic transmission. Otherwise, a good buy on a nice muscle car. SOLD AT $21,175. I am not sure about the originality of this car, but an original one in this condition has a market value some- 92 AmericanCarCollector.com Yellow & black/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 70,081 miles. 396-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Very #234-1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO RS/SS 396 coupe. VIN: 124379N4311. SOLD AT $23,650. There were many options for muscle cars in 1970. However, by then Chevrolet, Dodge and Plymouth had caught up to the GTO, the one that started it all, and were offering bigger muscle. This was a nice example of an early ’70s GTO and sold well below its median market value of $30k. I am guessing that its automatic transmission and high mileage held it back. Great buy. #529-1971 CHEVROLET BLAZER SUV. VIN: KE1815613370. Red & white/white vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 25,529 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. A new repaint done very well. Chrome and trim match the quality of the paint job. Steel wheels with chrome hubs and trim carry new rubber which enhances the appearance of the entire vehicle. Engine bay is very good. Underside, interior and glass are good. Cond: 3+. BEST BUY

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THE BRANSON AUCTION // Branson, MO ing off the original L76 engine. Underside could be done better to match the topside quality. Interior is nice, consistent with its mileage. Glass is good all around. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $27,500. An exceptional restoration and presentation of this Blazer. The hot SUV market right now demanded the hammered price. Good deal for both buyer and seller. CORVETTE #247-1962 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 20867S102362. Honduras Maroon/black vinyl/black leather. Odo: 15,810 miles. 327-ci 250-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Nicely restored Honduras Maroon Corvette with just a few minor scratches and chips. Fit is very good, as are as the chrome and trim. Wheels are factory steel with original hubcaps. Engine bay is nice. Underside is very good and matches the topside quality. Interior is very good and complements the exterior nicely. Dash is slightly melted on the right side and needs to be repaired. Small tear in the front center of the convertible top. Glass is good all around. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $39,500. This car should sell somewhere in the low-$50k range. The things that probably held it back were its non-original flared fenders and lack of a soft top. To bring it up to its market value, the new owner will need to spend at least $10k to add a new top and replace the flared fenders with correct reproductions. Of course, the owner would then have spent just about what the car would bring at auction. Fair deal for both buyer and seller. FOMOCO #611-1926 FORD MODEL T Frontenac replica roadster. VIN: 14697163. Black/red leather. MHD. Odo: 26,015 miles. New paint very good to excellent, with minor scratches. Fit is good, except that the right door will not open. Chrome on headlights is very good. Wheels are spoke and in very good condition with new tires. Engine bay is fair, showing open overhead valves, but needs detailing. Underside is very good and matches the topside quality. Not much interior to judge here, only seats and dash, which are in very good condition. No glass to judge. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $46,000. According to the auction listing, this Corvette is powered by its original numbers-matching 327/250 engine. It appears that this car has had TLC most of its life. Except for a couple of imperfections mentioned above, it would make a good collector as long as it runs out well. However, it sold at Leake Tulsa in February for $47.3k (ACC# 6830963). So why would the seller take a loss here in Branson just six months later? If the car doesn’t have any hidden problems, it was a good buy, as the median market value is around $47k. #581-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 30867S110411. White/tan vinyl/tan leather. Odo: 48,582 miles. 327-ci 340-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Recent cosmetic restoration very well done. Paint, chrome and trim are very good to excellent. Aftermarket mags are very nice and really set the car off. Engine bay is very good, show- 94 AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $16,225. Louis Chevrolet was a co-founder of the Chevrolet Motor Car Company in 1911. In 1914, Louis and his younger brothers Gaston and Arthur started the Frontenac Motor Corporation to build race cars based on Ford’s Model T chassis. In 1920, Gaston Chevrolet died racing a Frontenac in Los Angeles and in 1921 Louis Chevrolet won the Indianapolis 500 in a Frontenac. Although the history is interesting, it is hard to place a value on this Frontenac replica. The only thing that can be said is that it must have been a fair deal for both buyer and seller or the hammer would not have dropped. #270-1948 FORD F-1 pickup. VIN: 87HY94181. Red/gray cloth. Odo: 2,425 miles. V8, 2x1-bbl, 4-sp. Very nicely restored Ford F1 pickup. Body and paint are very good. No chrome or trim to worry about. Factory steel wheels with chrome dog-dish hubcaps and chrome rims really set this one off. Could not open the hood to inspect the engine bay; however, the underside is very good. The interior is simple but very nice. Glass is good all around. The only flaw I see is that the fit of both doors seems to be off slightly from top to bottom. Also, the wood in the bed is slightly weathered. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $16,500. An exceptional old Ford pickup. These old F-1 Fords are rare, and as long as it runs out right, the price was fair. Both buyer and seller should be happy with this deal. #622-1957 FORD RANCHERO pickup. VIN: C7RF214103. Red/gray vinyl. Odo: 17,875 miles. 351-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Recent repaint done very well. Fit is good. Chrome and trim are just fair. Chrome has scratches and pits. Trim is dull. Wheels are old, and dirty mags need detail or replacement. Engine bay, underside and interior are old and dirty and need restoration. Glass has chips “ This car should sell somewhere in the low-$50k range. The things that probably held it back were its non-original flared fenders and lack of a soft top. 1963 Chevrolet Corvette convertible ”

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THE BRANSON AUCTION // Branson, MO in the left window. Bed is painted same color as the body of the vehicle. Cond: 3-. would be a good driver that could be restored as you go as long as the price is right. Cond: 3-. good but shows some rust. Interior and glass are very good. Bed has been sprayed with a protective coating. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $19,250. Everything but the paint needs to be restored on this car. With that in mind, the price paid is much too high. Seller should go home very happy. #602-1958 EDSEL PACER convertible. VIN: W8UF719490. Peach/white vinyl/ peach & white vinyl. Odo: 95,340 miles. 361-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Newer repaint done very well. Fit is good. Chrome and trim have lots of pits and scratches. Wheels are factory steel with original spinner hubcaps in good condition. Wide whitewalls are stained and need a good whitewashing. Engine bay is good but engine itself needs to be detailed. Underside is dirty and showing some rust. Interior looks to be original but needs restoration and a new carpet. Vent glass is bubbled and will not open. Window seals need to be replaced. Sold at no reserve. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $7,500. It seems like the price was right for one bidder. The price paid here gives the buyer plenty of room to restore as they go down the road. Good buy. #523-1963 FORD FALCON Ranchero pickup. VIN: 3R27F182770. Purple metallic/ black vinyl. Odo: 5,570 miles. 289-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Looks to be totally restored with high-performance equipment. Body and paint are very good, with a custom purple metallic paint job throughout—including the bed. Fit is good all around. Chrome is good, trim is dull. Nice mags that need to be detailed. Engine bay is good. Underside is just fair and needs to be detailed. Interior is just fair, showing a lot of wear. Glass is good all around. Includes a cloth bed cover in good condition. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $18,700. Auction listing states that this is a rare model known as the “Spring Special” and that less than 300 were built with automatic transmissions— like this one. The market for these is questionable, but for this condition the buyer paid a fair price. Both buyer and seller should be happy. #550-1970 FORD MUSTANG Boss 302 fastback. VIN: 0F02G162587. Yellow & black/black leather. Odo: 29,120 miles. 302ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Body and paint are good, with minor scratches and chips. Fit is very good. Chrome and trim are very good. Factory mags are nice and show well on the car. Engine bay is very good, showing the 302 nicely. The underside is just fair and needs a protective coating and detail. It looks to have seen some water damage. Interior is nice, reflecting its relatively low mileage. Glass is good all around. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $20,625. This car would make a novelty driver and local show car as long as it runs out well. It is actually in pretty good shape—considering its age and mileage. Auction listing states it was part of a private collection for many years and never offered for sale until today. Both buyer and seller should be happy with this deal. #266-1963 FORD FALCON convertible. VIN: 3H15F235003A. Black/black vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 10,034 miles. 260-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Body and paint are just fair, with numerous scratches and chips. Convertible top is poor and needs to be replaced. Fit is poor, with a bouncy right door and a left door that will not open. Chrome is good, trim is dull. Engine bay is clean, with lots of spray paint and needs professional detailing. Interior is dirty and shows a lot of use. Glass is clear except for the convertible-top window that needs replacement. This car 96 AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $12,100. Not a bad driver-quality vehicle, assuming that it runs out okay. This car appeared in Branson last spring and was a no-sale with a high bid of $11.5k (ACC# 6836353). Looks to me like the market has spoken and the owner saw the light. With commission, the amount realized here was about the same as it would have been last spring. The median market value for these cars is only about $9k, so the seller was right to take the high bid this time. Well sold. #224-1965 FORD ECONOLINE pickup. VIN: E10TH686333. Red/red & black vinyl. Odo: 84,894 miles. 240-ci I6, 1-bbl, auto. New repaint done very well but has some chips throughout. Doors are bouncy. No chrome to speak of, but trim has some dents. Aftermarket mags have been repainted and are just in fair condition. Engine bay needs detailing. Underside is generally SOLD AT $62,700. These cars are rated an “A” investment grade in the Pocket Price Guide. Currently, their median market value is about $74k. My concern with this one is water damage. Besides evidence of such on the underside, the car had a musty smell inside. With all the hurricanes we had this year, I am concerned that many of the water-damaged cars will find their way into the auction circuit. Let’s hope that this is not the case with this car. Assuming it is not, the hammered price was several thousand less than market value for this low-mileage car. Good buy. MOPAR #544-1969 PLYMOUTH GTX Hemi 2-dr hard top. VIN: RS23J9G252603. Metallic

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THE BRANSON AUCTION // Branson, MO green/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 50,150 miles. 426-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Body and paint very good, with minor polishing scratches. Very good fit all around. Chrome and trim are excellent. Factory steel wheels with original dog-bowl hubcaps really look nice. Engine bay is excellent, showing off the big 426 Hemi. Underside matches the top-side quality. Interior is super-nice. Rearwindow glass has some noticeable scratches. Lots of documentation. Cond: 2. #245-1950 WILLYS JEEPSTER roadster. VIN: VJ3610910. Red/black cloth/gray leather. Odo: 10 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Excellent restoration from top to bottom that looks great. Body, paint, chrome, trim, engine bay, underside and interior are all excellent. Windshield and wing vents could be better. Also, the left door does not latch properly. This Jeepster has been fitted with an Olds 350 V8 and a Powerglide automatic transmission. Cond: 2-. Odo: 31,800 miles. 289-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Recent repaint in good condition, with minor scratches and chips. Fit is good. Chrome and trim are very good. Aftermarket Keystone mags are just fair, with some flaws and rust. Engine bay is good, but engine block needs new paint and cosmetic restoration. Underside is dirty and shows some rust. Interior is good for its age, with new seats. Right wing vent is loose, otherwise the glass is good all around. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $82,500. There were only 198 of these Hemi GTXs built in 1969. This one is all original and documented with its original build sheet. According to the owner, he purchased this one from a museum in California that was going out of business. It is still a museum-quality car. Its median market value is about $84k, so the hammered price of $75k was just a bit off the money. Both buyer and seller should go home happy with this deal. AMERICANA #597-1941 PACKARD 120 4-dr sedan. VIN: 149210959. Gray/gray cloth. Odo: 48,411 miles. Very good repaint still shows well. Fit, chrome and trim are all very good. Original steel wheels with dog-bowl hubcaps and wide whitewalls really look good on this big car. Engine bay and underside are very good. The carpet needs to be replaced and distracts from an otherwise very good interior. Glass is good and clean all around. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $36,300. This Jeepster looks great and hopefully runs as good as it looks. The market is hot for these vehicles right now, so the seller hit it just right. The hammered price is testimony to that, because the median market value is only about $20k. Well sold! #221-1963 STUDEBAKER HAWK GT 2-dr hard top. VIN: 63V17670. Red/white vinyl. SOLD AT $13,200. Auction sheet states that the same family has owned this car for 40 years. This one could use some TLC and a good cosmetic restoration. Its market value is around $20k, so at a hammered price of $13k, the buyer has some money to work with. It was a no-sale here at Branson in 2015 with a high bid of $15k (ACC# 6852344), so the seller should have taken the bait two years ago. Good buy. A SOLD AT $28,600. Not a great investment but a very nice car. According to the price guide, the median value for this car is $32.5k, so the hammered price certainly made the buyer happy. Good buy. January–February 2018 97

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WORLDWIDE AUCTIONEERS // Auburn, IN Worldwide Auctioneers — The Auburn Auction Pre-war Classics dominate the block at Worldwide’s 10th Auburn auction Worldwide Auctioneers Auburn, IN September 2, 2017 Auctioneer: Rod Egan Automotive lots sold/ offered: 82/85 Sales rate: 96% Sales total: $2,749,010 High American sale: 1955 Cadillac Die Valkyrie concept coupe, sold at $209,000 buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold prices high seller accolades — 1955 Cadillac Die Valkyrie Concept convertible, sold at $209,000 Report and photos by B. Mitchell Carlson Market opinions in italics ACC 1-6 scale condition rating for vehicles in Market Reports 1. Perfect: National show standard 2. excellent: Club show-worthy, some small flaws 3. Average: Daily driver in decent condition 4. Meh: Still a driver, with some visible flaws 5. Questionable: A problem-plagued beast that somehow manages to run 6. Lost cause: Salvageable for parts 98 AmericanCarCollector.com W ith their 10th annual auction during the Labor Day-weekend Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival, one would think that Worldwide could run the sale on cruise control by now. However, it’s a never-ending task to come up with consignments to put on the floor of the National Auto & Truck Museum, and any consignment specialist worth their salt will tell you that it’s been tough sledding to get them in recent years. Worldwide had several high-quality cars that would be featured consignments at any global auction house, but they also had a mixed bag of three collections they were consigned to sell. Although they were no-reserve cars, unfortunately, several were off-grade compared to what I would usually expect from a catalog auction house. However, sometimes when taking on selling an estate car collection, they have to take all or none. One good thing with those is that the clientele for them — which was over at Auctions America by RM’s competing Auburn event — would have no excuse other than not wanting to work past the 6 p.m. start time, as AA was done for the day before Worldwide started. An interesting twist was that quite a few of the consignments were from the Roaring ’20s. At a typical collector-car auction, you are bound to get a few Ford Model As and maybe a car or two from the 1920s, but here almost a fourth of all consigned cars were built before 1930. With all of those no-reserve cars, Worldwide did have a personal-best Auburn sell-through rate of 96.5% — yet because of the lesser-grade lots, the gross sales were down from last year by $300k. Leading all domestic-car sales was the one-off Die Valkyrie concept that went for $209k. Following that was the 1907 Stoddard-Dayton Model K. The recently restored open speedster changed hands for $118,800. Unlike last year, the vast majority of the muscle cars here were either modified or made-up poseurs. Case in point was the 1968 Camaro. Originally built with a 6-cylinder and Powerglide automatic, it now had a big block backed up by a TH400 automatic. As something that never really was, it essentially sold for the cost of the parts at $19,250. Hopefully, Worldwide will be able to consign a A few more high-quality cars akin to years past at their future Auburn sales — but either way, this is still an enjoyable way of spending Labor Day Saturday near downtown Auburn, regardless of the cars on the block.

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WORLDWIDE AUCTIONEERS // Auburn, IN GM #56-1908 HOLSMAN MODEL 10 Runabout. VIN: 2560V. Black/black leatherette/ black leather. RHD. Discovered in a dairy farm’s milking parlor in 2007, subsequently professionally restored to the level of earning an AACA Junior First Place award this spring. Configured to run either with the original style of rope-chain drive or modern V-belts. Superb paint quality, both on the wood bodywork and steel chassis. Patentleather fenders. Brass trim and four kerosene lamps resplendent with a recent polishing. Centrally mounted horizontally opposed 2-cylinder engine shows minimal discoloration and lubrication weeping. Adapted to use four modern spark plugs. Correct style of cloth-covered wiring used throughout. Well-fitted surrey top. Goodquality upholstery work on the seat. No speedometer/odometer—just a coil box on the toe board. New period-authentic floorboard rubber. Reproduction patent plate. Cond: 2+. top, with heavier weathering. 2003 West Virginia inspection sticker on the windshield, porcelain 1914 Michigan license plate up front. Recently refinished wood steeringwheel rim. Newer seat upholstery. Handbrake lever has heavy paint wear and chipping, while the gear-shift lever is like new. Generally stock and generally clean under the hood. The right rear canvas rebound shock strap broke off from the shockabsorber unit and is dangling from the rear axle. Cond: 3+. the hood, now showing some light discoloration from limited use. Older chassis paint shows some road spray, plus the rear spring grease boots and exhaust pipes have a heavier coat of surface rust. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $99,000. To me, it’s a bit gaudy with the current color combination. I think it would look a lot sharper in the original two-tone blue. However, considering that it won the Lion Award at the Meadow Brook concours in 2002, it’s not all that shabby. While it could use some detailing before hitting the next concours, it’s more at the point of putting it in a CCCA Grand Caravan. Regardless of intended use, a presentable first-year V16—even with an enclosed 4-door body—is a good buy for under $100k. SOLD AT $14,300. 1914 was the year that Buick transitioned from right-hand drive to left. As one of the most popular cars sold in the U.S., this was a major step in cementing left-hand drive as the standard in America. However, it was Ford with the Model T’s left-hand steering that essentially made it the de-facto law of the land. Unlike a lot of the teens and ’20s cars from this no-reserve collection, this Buick seems to have been generally kept up, if just cosmetically. As such, it’s a little better than most of its stablemates, but still sold market-correct. SOLD AT $66,000. Holsman was the preeminent maker of high-wheel horseless carriages during the first decade of the 20th century. Founded by Chicago architect Henry K. Holsman and C.H. Bryan in 1903, the company only made it to 1910, when more conventional automobiles began to handle the unimproved rural trails that the highwheelers excelled upon. With the restoration completed and the car a proven runner, it can either be tidied up more and aim for an AACA Senior award or be welcomed at vintage events. While it seems like a lot to some, I say it was at least a market-correct sale. #14-1914 BUICK MODEL B-25 tourer. VIN: B16112. Eng. # B16112. Dark blue & black/black canvas/black leatherette. Odo: 11,191 miles. Very presentable older repaint, with minimal edge wear. Muted nickel-plated trim, with minimal pitting. Period-accessory Jones speedometer and Buick-branded Moto Meter. Older repaint on the wood-spoke wheels, with patches of corrosion on the clincher rims and yellowed lettering on the reproduction Firestone tires. Newer tan composite running board and interior floor material. Older replacement 100 AmericanCarCollector.com #54-1930 CADILLAC V16 Imperial limousine. VIN: 700859. Silver & black/black leather & gray cloth. Odo: 67,852 miles. Displays a copy of the original build sheet, when it was ordered new by the Cadillac agency in Portland, OR. Originally painted Deep River Blue and Embassy Blue, with dual sidemount spares. Fitted with periodaccessory Trippe lights. Good-quality colorchange repaint, done as part of a showquality restoration performed on it in the early 1990s. Paint on the wire wheels shows some yellowing. Good but not excessively brilliant replated chrome. Excellent rear compartment cloth upholstery. Equipped with an integral umbrella holder in the rear divide (further proof it was a Portland car). Good older detailing under #58-1933 CADILLAC V12 sedan. VIN: 4000109. Maroon & black/maroon broadcloth. Odo: 403 miles. Equipped with Heron hood ornament, dual sidemounts with steel covers and trunk rack with painted steel trunk. Restored during the 1990s, and shortly after its completion it was awarded third place in its class at Pebble Beach. The two-decade-old paint still presents well, although some dullness can be detected along the base of the body character spear where recent mechanical buffing didn’t quite catch. Most chrome is still resplendent. Cadillac LaSalle Club decal in the windshield. Minimal wear on the fully reupholstered interior. Very presentable and stock under the hood. Mostly gloss-black undercarriage, with the sheet-metal grease boots over the leaf springs starting to shift out of place. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $60,500. Notice that I said the Heron was a hood ornament, not radiator cap, as this was the first year that the radiator cap was enclosed under the hood for Cadillac. With the Great Depression still having a grasp on the world, it’s not too surprising that only 953 V12 Caddys were made in this third year of production. Even more so considering that this wasn’t the top-line car—that was still the Series 452 V16. As the catalog also mentioned that it was in a few other concours but did not mention how it did, its salad days as a lawn ornament are fading, yet it would be a potent and competent tour car. Offered at no reserve for a market-correct price, if not a touch low.

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WORLDWIDE AUCTIONEERS // Auburn, IN MARKETMOMENT 1976 Ford Pinto Pony MPG Edition Hatchback SOLD at $4,500 Mecum Auctions, Chicago, IL, October 5, 2017, Lot T157.1 VIN: 6X10Y131060 VIN: 556078063. Black & white/black leather. Odo: 36,996 miles. 331-ci V8, 2x4bbl, auto. Stated by the consignor (the second owner) that the car is built on a 1954 Eldorado chassis, but has a VIN for a 1955 Series 60—which may be the engine number, although it has Eldorado dual 4-barrel induction. Fitted with a lift-off hard top only. Mostly original paint, or at least topical panel resprays back in the days it was a show car. Heavier paint crazing on the tops of the doors, hood and at the cowl. Some brush painting evident in the door edges, especially around a 1956-dated oil-change sticker. Large pieces of chrome are very wavy. Original wrinkled seating-surface leather, with some seam splitting and heavier wear on the outboard top corner of the seat back. Dashboard is essentially a stock Cadillac unit grafted in. Cond: 3. 6 #47-1955 CADILLAC DIE VALKYRIE Concept convertible. Dan Duckworth, courtesy of Mecum Auctions lately. Think about all the Fox-body Mustangs and Buick Grand Nationals you’ve seen over the past year or so. But what about the post-muscle-car 1970s? There are certainly iconic cars from that era, too. The Chevy Vega, AMC Pacer and There have been a lot of ’80s-era autos hitting the auction circuit Gremlin, and Ford Pinto come to mind, but not for good reasons. But a car’s reputation when new doesn’t always matter when determining if it’s collectible. Are these ’70s classics finally having their moment? Will they ever? Well, we’ve seen a few really nice examples of those cars cross the block lately, too. This 1976 Ford Pinto Pony MPG Edition was part of the Ken Triplett Collection that sold at Mecum’s Chicago sale in October 2017. The collection varied widely, with cars from the 1950s to the early 2000s. It contained full-sized pickups, muscle and luxury cruisers. One theme remained consistent, however: quality — including this little Pinto. Claimed to be original with only 52,000 miles, the car is clean, with only minor imperfections. It sold for just $4,500, including buyer’s premium. The ACC Premium Auction Database shows a varied range of prices for Pintos, the highest being a wagon for $27,500. From there, values drop quickly, all the way down to $142. The current median price is $4,725. That means our Pony MPG is in line with previous sales, though certainly nowhere near the high-water mark, but I can’t imagine finding a much nicer car than this one. So are these not-so-hot hatches heating up? No. Will they ever? Probably not. If you find the right crowd, maybe a couple of bidders will want to spend $20k on a catalyst to take them back to their glory days. To many, though, scrounging up a memory is all a Ford Pinto is worth. The only thrill to be had driving and owning one of these is hoping 102 AmericanCarCollector.com 102 AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $209,000. Built more as a calling card of Brooks Stevens’ design talents rather than with any possibility of limited production, it comes off as a large 1953 Studebaker Commander Starliner with a removable hard top and, to be polite, an unmistakable (to be less polite, chromed locomotive cow-catcher) front end. After the shows, Brooks bought the car for his wife to use for a few years before retiring it into his auto museum until it was dispersed in 1997. Bid to $240k across the block, with the consignor not dropping the reserve. Later shown to have sold at $209k. you don’t get rear-ended in stop-and-go traffic. A — Chad Taylor #70-1956 PONTIAC STAR CHIEF 2-dr hard top. VIN: P856H9001. Sun Beige & Sandalwood Tan/beige & white vinyl. Odo: 22,175 miles. 317-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Stated that the 22,175 indicated miles are actual since new, and that the car is original enough to attain an AACA Historical Preservation Original Features plaque—which is crudely attached on the front license-plate mount. The right rear quarter panel was partially repainted and not blended into the original paint. Masked-off section below the windshield frame on the driver’s side has a light topical respray starting to flake off. The left and right headlight rings are different hues. The rest of the paint on the car presents well. Original chrome is dulling, especially on the rear bumper. Washed-off engine bay, with some engine paint overspray on the cowl. New battery with quick disconnect on the negative cable. 1971 Pennsylvania inspection sticker on the TOP 10

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WORLDWIDE AUCTIONEERS // Auburn, IN windshield. Nicely preserved original interior, with light seat and carpet wear. Glovebox lid and radio-speaker grille paint are off shade from the dash. Cond: 3. tually quite practical on a Model T, as the parking-brake lever on the left of the pedals made a front-mounted door impractical to impossible. Not very popular when new and with few surviving the war of attrition (especially due to the aluminum in it), they defy the “top goes down, price goes up” old-car marketing mantra. While it may not seem it, this was actually fairly well bought. SOLD AT $23,650. Aside from the interior, there’s not really a lot that’s still original after 61 years that I’d give an award for. I’ll give you that credit is due that it wasn’t taken apart, being kept up rather than being redone. Yet anyone thinking that this is a time-machine template for restoring their ’56 Poncho will be disappointed. Award or not, being offered at no reserve, the price realized was fair. FOMOCO #61-1921 FORD MODEL T Center Door sedan. VIN: 4924360. Black/gray cloth. Restored not all that many years ago, with a repaint that’s vastly better than ol’ Henry would’ve slathered onto it. Almost all of the steel body parts were replaced by NOS Ford pieces. Workmanship on the alloy body is quite good. The nickel plating on the few pieces of brightwork is somewhat muted. Stated that the natural zinc-finished rims are NOS. While the powertrain was stated to have been redone at the same time as the rest of the car, the engine block and head have miscellaneous light surface rust. Mostly brush-painted undercarriage, but neatly done and still rather clean. Highquality authentic upholstery work, using material intended for men’s suits, but holding up very well with minimal discernible wear. Cond: 3+. #76-1926 FORD MODEL T Tudor 2-dr sedan. VIN: 13287017. Eng. # 13287017. Fawn Gray & black/gray cloth. Odo: 24,314 miles. Period-accessory Ford-logo Boyce MotoMeter, later-day retro-look alloy running-board step plates. Correctly repainted not all that many years ago. Paint chipping on the driver’s side center hinge area, which has become rusty. Good door fit for the era. Dull, yet likely original, nickel plating on the radiator shell. Clear varnish on the woodspoke wheels is starting to weather, although the wheel-rim paint is commensurate with the body paint, along with newer period-correct reproduction tires. Dealer inventory sticker on the driver’s side of the windshield. Chrome-plated hubcaps. Period-accessory Stewart-Warner speedometer pop-riveted to the dashboard. Finely upholstered interior, with minimal wear since completion. Reproduction rubber floormat. Steering-wheel rim refinished in hard rubber. Cleaned up under the hood, but not necessarily detailed. Brush-painted chassis and axles. Cond: 3+. fair, one can dismiss it as effects of the fuel filler there. Panel-edge chipping becomes more prevalent—on both colors—the further you go back on the truck. Dents and dings painted over in the box, plus has several deeper scratches and weathered wood flooring (my goodness, they used it as a truck). Nicely repainted wire wheels, with all five shod with reproduction Firestone tires. Some wrinkles on the edges of the leatherette windshield visor and roof cap. No headliner fitted inside the cab. Neatly installed seat and door-panel vinyl, although the former is a bit lumpy from settled padding. Reproduction full-sized rubber floormat. Heavier paint wear and rather dingy undercarriage. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $12,650. This Model A was from the same consignor as Lot 27—another Model A. I wouldn’t have been surprised to see these trucks sold as a set—they complement each other, as the two cab styles are in the same colors from the same years. They both look the part for being parked in front of the feed store in 1933 to listen to FDR’s inauguration address on the radio by the counter. This one’s higher selling price says more about its condition than the roadster cab’s desirability. Yet continued interest in all eras of vintage pickups made both trucks decently bought. SOLD AT $16,500. Another one from the “the only new news is the history you don’t know” file. Ford’s first 2-door sedans from 1915 through 1922 had aluminum bodies. They were also unique with centrally mounted doors on each side, hence the common term “center door.” They were ac- SOLD AT $7,700. So much for “any color you want as long as it’s black.” By 1926, bowing to public pressure via his son Edsel, Henry Ford finally relented to having colors available on his beloved Model T. By then, it was more of a case of trying to play catchup with the rest of the industry. Of the five colors available for closed cars and two different colors only for open cars, none of them were all black. With only a handful of personalization touches, this late T would be an excellent way for the money to enter the unique world of Model T ownership. Well bought. #73-1929 FORD MODEL A Closed Cab pickup. VIN: 3170072. Moss green & black/ black vinyl. Odo: 35,180 miles. Older authentic restoration—not overdone, yet with a few corners cut. The repaint has some crazing on the top of the cowl, although to be #57-1931 FORD MODEL A Rumble-Seat roadster. VIN: A4523980. Tan, dark green & black/tan cloth/beige leather. Odo: 3,804 miles. Fitted with rumble seat, dual sidemount spare tires, grille guard and quail radiator cap. Aftermarket jeweled headlight visors, marble shift knob, running-board step plates, trunk rack with removable trunk, vent-wing windows and clamp-on windshield-post mirrors. Better-quality older repaint, with some polishing scratches and occasional panel-edge chipping. Most of the brightwork is rather good, as most of the brightwork is latter-day reproduction—although the mounting posts for the cowl lamps are exceptionally dull. Doors protrude slightly out from the bodywork, yet not more so than a typical A roadster. Older wrinkled seat upholstery—for both seats—which is slightly off color from the door panels and the kick panels. Light-to-moderate soiling on the carpeting around the pedals. Light January–February 2018 103 BEST BUY

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WORLDWIDE AUCTIONEERS // Auburn, IN weathering on the top. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $22,550. Rather typical for the genre, this roadster has its share of latterday add-on shiny bits. However, they didn’t go over the top, and the black-and-tan color combo (the green accents coming off as black from 20 feet) suits it for being periodcorrect. While there’s been some upward movement in the Model A market, this example was still fully sold. #68-1947 FORD SUPER DELUXE convertible. VIN: 799A1622497. Maroon/tan cloth/maroon vinyl & tan cloth. Odo: 5,970 miles. 239-ci V8, 2-bbl, 3-sp. Older repaint, with maroon overspray on portions of the even older top and beige interior trim. Top shows moderate wear and weathering. Decent older chrome starting to dull slightly, with a few smaller trim pieces showing light pitting. Period-accessory spotlight, fog lights and backup light. Like-new dealer-accessory bumper extensions, with dull bumper guards. Doors rattle slightly when closed, but have decent gaps. Light water staining on the cloth-seat inserts. Fitted with modern seat belts and Signal Stat turn-signal controller. Light crazing and chipping of the steering-wheel paint. Washed-off undercarriage, with a newer fuel tank. Old bias-ply wide whitewall tires. Cond: 3. hard top. VIN: U4AV125436. Light blue & white/blue nylon. Odo: 97,952 miles. 239-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Older average partial trimoff repaint, mellowing to come off as original. Pot-metal chrome is generally pitted; dull bumpers and stainless trim. Aftermarket spring-base antenna. Wheel covers range from all the printed paint has flaked off to what’s on there is faded. Stock wheels also wear older radial tires with yellowing whitewalls. Faded plastic-emblem inserts throughout the car. Decent door fit, with a few rattles. Repainted dashboard, with evident masking lines, and the trim piece across the top of the glovebox door is missing. Original upholstery with general medium fading, worn-in moderate dinginess, light water staining on the door panels and splitting on the tops of the seat backs. Several steering-wheel cracks. Unimpressive engine bay and undercarriage, but generally original. Cond: 3-. soft trim, plus aftermarket retro-look AM/FM/ cassette and carpeted floor mats. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $27,500. This ’Stang gives me no warm fuzzies. If anything, it leaves me cold as another example of spending more money in a Mustang restoration parts catalog on bling rather than substance. If I had a bidder’s number and an interest in this, if the auction company couldn’t provide me proof of having verified the VIN, I’d be going at the driver’s side hood-channel trim with a Torx wrench to lift that hokey trim and check numbers. Or better yet, passing this one up. Plenty paid. MOPAR SOLD AT $11,550. After 22 years of flathead V8s, this was the first year of the new Y-block replacement. For this one year before the introduction of the famed smallblock Chevy V8, this was king of the hill in the low-cost market. As the market for these is gravitating away from those who had one or grew up with one to “my (fill-in-the-blank deceased relative) had one,” even the 2-door hard tops are going nowhere but down in value, yet this one was reasonably bought at no reserve. A keeper to futz with and drive, rather than one to flip. SOLD AT $27,500. Stated in the auction catalog that “the Antique Automobile Club of America awarded it a National First Prize in Class at an AACA National Meet.” What decade was that in? Certainly not in the current one—or even this millennium. Even with a grille badge and documentation from past glory (neither of which was present with the car), this has now unwound to the point that any show awards—apart from best maroon Ford convertible at the local Tasty-Freeze cruise-in—seem unlikely. Enough paid for driver grade. #75-1954 FORD CRESTLINE Victoria 2-dr 104 AmericanCarCollector.com #52-1966 FORD MUSTANG convertible. VIN: 6R08C201530. Red/white vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 30,295 miles. 289-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Originally Springtime Yellow with Parchment and black interior, per the body tag—which has been partially mediablasted, then masked for the repaint. Colorchange repaint was actually pretty well done. Good door fit. Modern replacement windshield. Replated bumpers with otherwise mostly reproduction trim and emblems. That is, where installed, as the left side “MUSTANG” lettering is missing. Added aftermarket brightwork around the hood perimeter, which does a lovely job of hiding the primary VIN number (coincidence?). The repainted engine also features aftermarket crinkle-finish alloy valve covers and oval air-cleaner assembly. Motor is also getting dusty and has coolant pooling in the recesses below the distributor. Plenty of modern wire added and spliced into the original harnesses. All-reproduction interior #46-1935 DESOTO AIRFLOW SG 2-dr sedan. VIN: SG5751. Envoy Red/light tan leather. Odo: 612 miles. Recently completed restoration. Excellent paintwork, with some light polishing scratches. Roof-insert leatherette is lumpy along the edges. All chrome has been replated, inside and out. New door and glass rubber. Good door-shut lines and well-fitted fender skirts. Cowl vents don’t shut completely flush to the body. Stated that the car was originally optioned with leather seating and door panels, so that’s how is was reupholstered. Headliner also redone well, in cloth. Original-type process used for redoing the woodgraining. Clean and authentically detailed engine compartment. Generally glossy-black undercarriage, with light surface rust on the leaf springs and driveshaft. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $60,500. With only 418 of these fastback sedans made, the catalog statement that only 12 are known to survive today doesn’t seem too far off the mark. If anything, it seems generous. Some may think this no-reserve sale was more than generous, but it seems more market-correct—in addition to not being able to restore any of the other 11 any cheaper.

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WORLDWIDE AUCTIONEERS // Auburn, IN #49-1955 DODGE ROYAL LANCER custom 2-dr hard top. VIN: 348335524. Pink & black/white vinyl & black nylon. Odo: 33,959 miles. 270-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Optional power steering, power brakes, full-tinted glass and AM radio. Stated that the 33,959 indicated miles are correct from new and that all three hues of paint are factory applied. Paint crazing on the black on the tops of the doors, cowl and vent scuttle, but not on the hood immediately ahead of them. The crazing also appears to have a topical layer over it. Good door and panel gaps. All chrome and stainless trim has a congruent lightly dulled finish. Vent-window frames have some light pitting. Well-cared-for alloriginal interior, with a very faint—not quite musty, but definitive—old-car smell to it. Yellowed steering-wheel rim, but without any cracking. Period-accessory rubber and carpeted full-length front floor mat. Light wrinkling on the ends of the headliner and passenger’s side courtesy-light lens is missing. Lightly detailed under the hood and generally clean. Fresh coat of glossy black paint over the undercoating. Cond: 3+. most glaring exception being a pair of aftermarket black alloy valve covers. Newer interior soft trim. Gauges have varying degrees of yellowing. Reproduction Magnum 500 wheels on economy-grade radials. Cond: 3+. to yellow. Undercarriage rather greasy and dingy. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $29,700. In the pre-war era, Packard prided themselves on distinctive heritage styling that they felt didn’t need badges to tell the great unwashed that it was a Packard. They should know just by looking at the car. So, festooning Packard emblems on this car is something that was likely done after the company ceased to exist and the great unwashed didn’t have a clue what a Packard was. While it’s the entry-level model for 1929, every single 1929 Packard is a CCCA Full Classic, so this is about as inexpensive an entry point as you could find into that exclusive group while still having a car worthy to show. SOLD AT $25,300. While the Road Runner was intended to be a muscle car on the cheap when new, that doesn’t mean it has to be restored that way. Still, this represents an economical turn-key way to get into a real muscle car (as one would be hard pressed to call the standard Magnum 383 in this example wimpy—unless compared to a 440 or a Hemi) that you can enjoy and not worry much about it being out in the real world. If that was the final bidder’s intent, they did all right here. Bought as an investment… maybe not so much. AMERICANA SOLD AT $24,200. The top-end example from Dodge’s version of the Chrysler Corporation’s then all-new company-wide Forward Look generation. And, no, despite this example having pink as a color, it is not the limited-production La Femme package aimed at the mid-1950s idea of a female car buyer. While essentially a Grandma and Grandpa car, it’s not quite an unmolested as one would be led to believe. Well cared for, yes; minty virgin, no. As such, this was a market-correct price. #48-1970 PLYMOUTH ROAD RUNNER 2-dr sedan. VIN: RM21N0G194077. Orange/ black vinyl. Odo: 51,886 miles. 383-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Restored a few years ago to driver-grade condition. Easy trim-off but otherwise masked-off repaint, with sanding scratches evident in the body prep. Lessthan-accurate masking around the ventwindow rubber. Said vent-window frames also have heavy pitting, although most of the rest of the brightwork is either an older replate or modern repop. Dull and heavily scuffed rear bumper. Radio antenna shaft removed from the base. Modern non-OEM windshield. Doors don’t have the best alignment, but they fit and shut. Clean and generally stock-looking engine bay, with the #45-1929 PACKARD EIGHT 626 sedan. VIN: 264882. Tan & black/beige broadcloth. Odo: 2,656 miles. Equipped with dual sidemount spare tires, doughnut-pusher hood ornament, trunk rack with removable trunk, Lorraine spotlight and Trippe driving lights. Older repaint, some time before the centennial celebration of the Packard Motor Car in 1999, as it has a participation plaque from there. Also has a Historic Preservation AACA plaque on the dashboard. Good plating on all chrome brightwork. Body-tofender welting showing heavier wear to the point of fraying in a few places. Interior is in very good condition if original, and the light congruent wear makes this seem reasonable. Kick-panel carpet edging getting threadbare, and the door pockets sag and have a couple of moth holes. Excellent refinished rear wood trim and original woodgraining. Wide whitewall tires are starting #42-1963 STUDEBAKER AVANTI 2-dr hard top. VIN: 63R2075. Avanti Gold/ Parchment vinyl. Odo: 64,491 miles. 289-ci supercharged V8, 4-sp. Invoice shows it was sold new by Greenfield Motors of Greenfield, IN, with optional supercharger, 4-speed, 4.55-ratio Twin Traction differential, whitewall tires and AM radio. However, the original dashpad did not feature an opening for the radio. Mostly original paint, with some cracking on the left rear quarter panel. Minimal chrome frosting. Rear suspension sits high. Cleaned up and largely original under the hood. Period-replacement voltage regulator, aftermarket tin can in-line fuel filter and new battery of the correct fitment. Newer radial tires on the stock rims and wheel covers. Tidy original interior, with light wear and some yellowing from age. Period-accessory Hurst shifter. Blah usedcar undercarriage. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $46,200. Part of the documentation that is available from the Studebaker museum is the factory car inspection report. This car had myriad nit-noidy fit-and-finish issues that were found and fixed before it left South Bend—and somehow I don’t think this was out of the ordinary. What is getting out of the ordinary is Stude-built Avanti prices—especially on R2s like this. Granted, these cars have been priced low for entirely too long, but within the past four months, they have started making up for four decades of being under the money. Last year, $30k would’ve been top money in a room full of inebriated bidders, today this almost looks cheap. A January–February 2018 105

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SMITH AUCTIONS LLC // Overland Park, KS Smith Auctions LLC — Overland Park, Kansas Thompson Collection sets foundation for Smith Auctions’ first Overland Park event Smith Auctions LLC Overland Park, KS October 21, 2017 Auctioneer: Robert Row Automotive lots sold/ offered: 59/134 Sales rate: 44% Sales total: $1,141,678 High sale: 1970 Plymouth GTX Hemi 2-door hard top, sold at $95,400 buyer’s premium: 6%, included in sold prices 1970 plymouth GTX hemi 2-door hard top, sold at $95,400 Report and photos by B. Mitchell Carlson Market opinions in italics ACC 1-6 scale condition rating for vehicles in Market Reports 1. Perfect: National show standard 2. excellent: Club show-worthy, some small flaws 3. Average: Daily driver in decent condition 4. Meh: Still a driver, with some visible flaws 5. Questionable: A problem-plagued beast that somehow manages to run 6. Lost cause: Salvageable for parts 106 AmericanCarCollector.com mericanCarCollector.com S mith Auctions’ inaugural sale at the Overland Park Convention Center is all due to one man: Frank Thompson. The local car dealer and his wife decided to sell a portion of his collection and donate the proceeds to St. Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City. While Mecum conducts a sale twice a year in downtown Kansas City, Thompson consulted several auction houses and was most comfortable with Smith Auctions. A major reason why the Overland Park-based car dealer chose to sell with Smith was that they were keen on Thompson’s insistence that they conduct the auction at the Overland Park Convention Center. This was a requirement for him because as he stated in his opening remarks before his cars were sold, “I made my money in Overland Park, not Bartle Hall” (Mecum’s downtown location). In addition to the core 28 cars of the Thompson Collection, an additional 106 consignments made for a full day of selling cars — or at least offering cars for sale, as the overall sales rate was 44%. Those 59 sales garnered nearly $1.5m in sales. Twenty-four of those sales were Thompson’s cars, which brought in $531k for the hospital. On the surface, it appeared that one of the Thompson cars was the top sale of the day. His well- restored and highly judged 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible was stated to have had the reserve lifted at $91,000, where it hammered sold. However, the auction company website shows the car as a no-sale, with data provided to American Car Collector showing that it was actually a no-sale at $90,000. Despite that, several cars from his collection that were no-sales on the block had deals put together to get them sold post-block. The top sale of the day proved to be a 1970 Plymouth GTX. The Hemi-powered hard top, consigned from a local dealer, changed hands at $95,400. This was one of the few cars to hammer sold after the Thompson Collection was completed. All things considered, Smith made a good effort in a new location for a collector-car auction. There was plenty of room in this venue for the auction, and unlike Mecum’s use of the Kansas City Convention Center, parking wasn’t an issue and lodging was far more reasonably priced. Additionally, the 6% buyer’s premium was much appreciated, as the industry norm is now firmly at 10%. Company president Sherman Smith hinted that this may become a regular event, and I think the strong local and regional collector-car market should be able to support another auction. A

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SMITH AUCTIONS LLC // Overland Park, KS GM #219-1936 CHEVROLET STANDARD sedan. VIN: 14FC112905. Kingswood Gray/ beige cloth. Odo: 90,057 miles. Early production model with wire wheels, as mid-year they changed to solid steel. No trunk, fitted with a rear-mounted spare tire. Restored to bone-stock in recent years, after being stored as a good original for 25 years. A few dealer-installed-type accessories have been added, such as the fender skirts, AM radio, lighter and rotating-ball ashtray, plus clock in the glove-box door. Decent bare-panel repaint. Body welting starting to come loose on the ends. Replated bumpers show heavier pitting on their backs. Good engine detailing, after it was rebuilt. Well-fitted reproduction interior upholstery kit. Generally clean undercarriage, with a new gas tank, while the carbon-steel tailpipe is already rusty. Cond: 2-. masked-off repaint done a few years ago. They really should’ve pulled the trim off of it, as the original pitted and scuffed pieces really look out of place. There was an attempt to buff some pieces by hand, but they have polish residue embedded into them rather than getting shiny. Lightly crazed original hood-emblem plastic inserts. NonOEM modern windshield. Bits of the door window seals have torn off on both sides. Engine repainted a few years back, now starting to get dingy and with some lifting near the exhaust manifolds. Nicely repainted air cleaner. Universal flex-fit radiator hoses. New battery and cables. Seats reupholstered faithfully to the original pattern, although not spot-on authentic. Pronouncedly bright-white seat vinyl in contrast to the lightly yellowed original door panels. Moderately worn and soiled carpeting. Cond: 3. engine repaint, now getting dingy. Has been converted to power brakes, and the a/c system has modern fittings. Stated that the carburetor has recently been rebuilt, starter has been replaced and it got a tune-up. Older replaced seat cloth, with some fading and soiling. New steering wheel, with aftermarket wrap cover. Center console ahead of the seat with speakers built into the sides. Newer radial tires. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $18,285. While all Chevrolets now featured “Turret Top” all-steel bodies, the Master Deluxe FA was still the only series which had “Knee-Action” independent front suspension that was introduced in 1934. Although ’36 Fords are relatively common, stock ’36 Chevys are few and far between. And as I mentioned to the consignor (who readily agreed), restoring a prewar 4-door sedan to any level of quality is a thankless job, since you’ll always hear, “Nice car; too bad it ain’t a coupe or convertible” (been there, done that on a ’39 Packard). At least when the reserve was passed at $11k, the bidding picked up markedly until hammered sold. #252-1956 PONTIAC CHIEFTAIN 2-dr hard top. VIN: K756H19945. Light yellow & white/black & white vinyl. Odo: 99,926 miles. 317-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Pretty decent “ SOLD AT $11,395. The Chieftain was the lowest-level two-door hard top that came from the Tin Indian in 1956. It was also joined this year by a 4-door hard top, which nobody really seems to love. It’s not that this 2-door hard top wasn’t getting any love, it’s just that it was bid appropriately for being the off-grade driver that it is. #225-1972 CHEVROLET C10 Custom Deluxe pickup. VIN: CCE142S124330. Medium Blue & silver/blue vinyl & gray cloth. Odo: 860 miles. 350-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Per the build tag, was built in solid Medium Blue with optional a/c, power steering, full-gauge dashboard, full tinted glass, heavy-duty rear springs and AM radio. Now, the radio is an electronic AM/FM/auxiliary unit, original mirrors changed to swing-out units and chrome dog-dish hubcaps have yielded to mid1970s-era full-wheel covers. Silver center section paint added a few years ago, while the blue is original and is getting thin. Light scuffing and dullness on all-alloy trim. Older While all Chevrolets now featured “Turret Top” all-steel bodies, the Master Deluxe FA was still the only series which had “Knee-Action” independent front suspension that was introduced in 1934. 1936 Chevrolet Standard sedan 108 AmericanCarCollector.com NOT SOLD AT $10,500. The lack of a wide black line within the grille-frame border is one of the only ways to differentiate a 1972 Chevy light-duty from a 1971. While fetching, the dark silver center was not a factory combination, although the possibility does exist that a dealer had it painted that way for a customer (as I know of a few 1970s and ’80s Chevy pickups that happened to). Neither markedly modified nor astutely preserved, more just kept running and personalized on occasion. However, at least it wasn’t worked into the ground. As such, while a tad light, it’s not too far from where it should be selling. #222-1985 CHEVROLET EL CAMINO Conquista pickup. VIN: 3GCCW80Z0FS905445. Dark burgundy metallic & silver/ burgundy velour. Odo: 71,742 miles. 4.3-L fuel-injected V6, auto. Optional a/c, power windows, power seats, cruise control, tilt steering column and AM/FM/cassette stereo. Aftermarket box side rails. Both colors have been resprayed, to include good masking in the door jambs, although a professional buff-out would benefit it due to light fade and light scuffing of the maroon. Good door fit. Dull bumper chrome. Cargobox perimeter trim is heavily scuffed, other trim shows light-to-moderate weathering. Styled steel wheels fitted with older radials. Light fading of the seat backs, otherwise the interior trim is in good original condition—to include the original carpeted floormats. Recent cleanup in the engine compartment, ” with all stock components. New economygrade battery. Muffler and tailpipe have re

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SMITH AUCTIONS LLC // Overland Park, KS cently been replaced. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $7,420. This was the first year that El Camino production for sale in the U.S. was exclusively from Mexico. It was also the first year of production with the fuel-injected 4.3-liter V6, becoming the standard El Cow engine. The reserve was lifted when the bidding quit, yielding a generally marketcorrect price on a non-V8. CORVETTE #237-1970 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 19460S414947. Monza Red/ black vinyl/black leather. Odo: 90,171 miles. 454-ci 390-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Options include a/c, power steering, power brakes, tilt/ tele steering column, Interior Décor group, AM/FM radio and both types of tops. Repainted a few years back to look presentable. Front wheelwell inner lips shaved for full turn-to-turn tire clearance and all wheelwells have some amount of additional bracing added. Soft top replaced in recent years; hard-top vinyl covering is in good shape. Good door fit and decent shut lines. Bottom corners of the windshield trim are missing. Seats have either been exceptionally well cared for since 1970 or older replacements that now show light wrinkling and wear from use. Heavier wear on the leather shift boot than the seats. Motor isn’t unduly ugly, but could benefit from detailing and sorting out four-and-a-half decades of on-the-fly fixes. Retains all stock ignition shielding. Modern replacement alternator. Cold-blooded when started, with a rather beefy aftermarket cam. Cond: 3+. rusted. Wiring is a mix of old and new. Instrumentation is a solitary ammeter. Wears an older presentable repaint. Rearmounted spare tire aft of the bustle-back body with trunk. Fitted with a Howe combination spotlight/mirror, replica step plates on the running boards and Boyce MotoMeter atop a brass dog bone. Seat reupholstered in recent years, with an older replacement top and upholstered upperbody edges. Reproduction rubber flooring. All-black undercarriage, which was recently washed off. Cond: 3. relays on the front fender apron. Adhesivebacked rubber seal between the hood and the front fascia. Reupholstered seat shows minimal wear. New reproduction cardboard headliner. A small tachometer plus triplegauge pack added below the dashboard. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $15,000. Ford got lazy for 1950 as far as truck serial numbers were concerned, as they simply continued 1949 production—down to the same year prefix (first digit) staying a 9. However, being the 306,192nd 6-cylinder half-ton pickup made puts this into 1950-vintage production. Even with a strong post-war pickup market continuing on, this 6-banger driver was sufficiently bid. SOLD AT $7,950. A Model T is one car that really doesn’t cut it with wide whitewall tires. Not that the bright yellow wheels help matters—to me, at least, they almost make the car come off as cartoonish. It was no laughing matter when it came across the block, as one of the first cars from the Thompson Collection, in this case selling for serious money considering all factors—not the least of which is that it may not even be a 1927. NOT SOLD AT $33,000. 1970 was something of an anti-climatic year for Corvettes. While there were several flavors of Mark IV big-block for 1969—from potent to wild (sorry, no mild), the dawn of the 1970s saw only one state of tune for the 454 that replaced the 427—the 390-hp hydraulic lifter LS5. Sure, this one is real-deal red with black leather big-block 4-speed drop-top, but since it’s driver grade, this was bid to a reasonable amount. FOMOCO #250-1927 FORD MODEL T roadster. VIN: 11576752. Eng. # 11576752. Black/black leatherette/black vinyl. Titled by the engine serial number, which actually dates to April 1925. Converted from magneto ignition to a distributor with points. Most unpainted surfaces under the hood are now surface- #243-1950 FORD F-1 pickup. VIN: 97HC306192. Dark green & black/black vinyl. Odo: 13,413 miles. 226-ci I6, 1-bbl, 3-sp. Competent repaint done in the past few years. Rust leaching out from the doorhinge pins. Fitted with all-stainless body trim, plus repro chrome bumpers front and rear. While looking bone-stock on the outside with just the tailgate script logo painted cream, they got a bit carried away with pinstriping inside the cab—especially on the doors. Aftermarket clamp-on door mirror and running-board step plates. Varnished cargo-bed wood is heavily weathered. Older spray-can repaint of the motor and several of the bits that attach to it. Additional wiring added, and not in a very professional manner, either. Also has a few added small #216-1954 LINCOLN CAPRI sedan. VIN: 54WA19394H. Light blue/dark blue metallic paint/blue vinyl & nylon. Odo: 33,205 miles. 317-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Optional power windows and power seat. Tired old topical repaint, but has now matured to the point of coming off as original, if it wasn’t for the occasional masking line on trim and seals. Rust blisters starting to peek out from the rocker-molding trim. While the basic bumpers are still halfway decent (well, at least they are congruent with the paint), the bits added to them are heavily surface-rusted. Solid door fit. Flag and National Motor Club decals on both vent windows. Heavier surface rust on most of the engine-bay components. Heavier discoloring of the seat-back tops and door panels, occasional tears and seam separations on the cloth-seat inserts. Heavier carpeting soiling. Battery tray in the front passenger’s footwell kept open, as the car needed a jump start every so often. Shod with older radial tires. Cond: 4. SOLD AT $3,710. Throughout the 1952–54 years of the “road race” Lincolns (due to their dominance in the Panamericana Mexican road races), the Capri was the top model line. They were also the favored cars, when new, of “Uncle” Tom McCahill, the noted automotive writer for Mechanix Illustrated magazine. All of the above is listed for the benefit of younger generations who weren’t around at that time—who, come to think of it, generally don’t give two hoots about a frumpy 1950s Lincoln anyway. Which sums up why this selling price was all the money in the world for it. #227-1960 EDSEL RANGER sedan. VIN: U12W700267. Beige/beige vinyl & cloth. Odo: 42,899 miles. 292-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. January–February 2018 109

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SMITH AUCTIONS LLC // Overland Park, KS Old repaint, with minimal effort towards prep work. Rust blisters on the ends of the rear valance panel, outboard of the taillights. Also has poor filler work on the lower front fenders and bottoms of the doors, in addition to curb scrapes on the rockers. Dull bumper chrome, various dents and dings on the stainless body character trim. Good solid door fit. 2010 Missouri inspection decal on the windshield. Stated that it has the original interior, but it appears the seats have been redone on the cheap several decades ago. Water staining on what actually are the original door panels. Fresh rattle-can repaint on the engine, to include spraying over snapped exhaust-manifold studs. Undercarriage looks like it has spent a fair amount of time on dirt roads. Old biasply tires. Cond: 4+. into just the components, this had to be a loss leader for the consignor, but a decent buy for the new owner on an introductoryyear base-level Cougar that’s no longer so basic. SOLD AT $4,876. One of 1,288 1960 Edsel Ranger 4-door sedans built in the 1960 model year that didn’t even make it to the 1960 calendar year. If this was a ’60 Ford, it would’ve been scrap iron by now—or a fake ’60 Edsel. In addition to being an iffy example, this was one of those “sold on an if” cars, but beat the odds and actually did get sold. #305-1967 MERCURY COUGAR custom 2-dr hard top. VIN: 7F91C527290. Light blue metallic/white vinyl/white leather. Odo: 8,145 miles. 347-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Originally Sage Gold, with a Parchment and Ivy Gold accented interior. Originally powered by a 2-barrel 289, now has a crate Ford small-block that makes no apologies for not appearing stock. Car now has modern a/c with a rotary compressor, plus aluminum radiator and overflow tank. All workmanship under the hood is quite good and neatly done, even with some light soiling from minimal road time. Equally good workmanship on the color-change repaint and replacement roof vinyl. All-reproduction brightwork. New non-OEM replacement windshield. Interior redone in leather rather than vinyl— to include the door panels. Stitching done in a matching light blue to the paint, as a nice detailing touch. Aftermarket wood-rim steering wheel. With 17-inch alloy wheels on modern performance rubber. Big-bore aftermarket exhaust system. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $31,800. Just barely creeping into restomod territory; nobody seemed to pay much attention to it across the block, until the reserve was dropped at $12,500 when the bidding action started. With a stated $35k 110 AmericanCarCollector.com #242-1968 FORD GALAXIE 500 XL convertible. VIN: 8U61Y161217. Red/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 23,593 miles. 390-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Originally Diamond Blue, but with the correct black bucket seats with center console and U-shaped shifter. Factory-optional a/c and AM/FM stereo radio. Rather average, mostly-trim-off colorchange repaint. Driver’s door sits a touch low, as the central-body character line is misaligned with the body. Original chrome and trim looks off-condition compared to the repaint. Engine was repainted a few years ago, and still is presentable, although the ancillaries are mostly original and looking a bit dingy and surface-rusted. Aftermarket coolant-recovery plastic jug. Newer upper radiator hose, with tag still on it and partially covered by the clamp facing the thermostat housing. Dashboard, steering wheel and door panel original Mylar trim is heavily yellowed. Gas tank taken out and painted bright silver while the rest of the chassis was sprayed matte black. Older radial tires. Cond: 3+. trunk. Older higher-quality restoration, starting to show some degradation. Good barebody repaint, but not spectacular. Decent door fit and shut lines. All of the chrome has been replated a few years ago to average quality; the stainless is presentable. Dull windshield trim. Dashboard and interior door-panel trim—which is usually woodgrained—is in brown paint. Seats, door panels and headliner are all in different shades and textures of tan cloth. Dull chrome on the front seat rail. Modern door-edge clampon mirrors. Clean and stock under the hood, not detailed. Modern electric pusher fan ahead of the radiator. New wide whitewall bias-ply tires on the stock artillery-type wheels. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $69,960. The 4-window, blindrear-quarter Town Sedan is a very rare variant, with only 125 made. That said, it’s still a 4-door, or as plenty of other folks would freely state, it has two doors too many. This one was last seen selling for $45,100 at Worldwide’s 2012 Auburn auction (ACC# 6744414), so it did well enough here—especially after the reserve was lifted at $66k. SOLD AT $8,745. Per the X transmission code on the body tag, this car was equipped with an FMX transmission. These were supplied by Borg-Warner, as needed by Ford to supplement their C6s. The “sporty” XL package had a few more years to go, but by ’68 Ford offered several other cars that better suited the performance set, especially the Mustang, so sales were low and its days numbered. The reserve here was lifted at eight grand, garnering one more bid to get it bought. MOPAR #274-1934 CHRYSLER AIRFLOW series CU sedan. VIN: 6599117. Light yellow/light brown cloth. Odo: 467 miles. Rear-mounted spare tire with a full metal cover, with no #279-1969 PLYMOUTH GTX 2-dr hard top. VIN: RS23L9G155745. Ivy Green Metallic/white vinyl/green vinyl. Odo: 4,803 miles. 440-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Data plate decodes matching the car’s configuration. Options include Light Group, Track Pack, center console and vinyl roof. Restored not too many years ago, and now starting to see some minor deterioration from use. Decent repaint, with some masking lines present on the dull door handles. Bumpers replated to average quality, mostly repop emblems. Undercarriage was also painted with the rest of the body. Stated that the roof vinyl is original, and it does show a slight bit of yellowing. Good reproduction seats and carpeting, the latter showing modest wear. Modern oil-pressure and water-temp gauges. Aftermarket ignition wiring and Mopar performance alloy-valve covers, but the rest of the engine bay comes off as stock. Clean and well laid out, too. New silver cad master-cylinder cover and battery. Reproduction Magnum 500 wheels on radials. Cond: 3+.

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SMITH AUCTIONS LLC // Overland Park, KS SOLD AT $40,810. In its third year of production, the GTX was becoming more of a fancy Road Runner than staying true to being the top-shelf Belvedere. A pretty decent restoration, but it’s starting to show use since then and has a few things that are not quite on the button. As such, it’s not quite number 2 condition, but at the top echelon of being a 3+. Therefore, the final price was fairly strong but not in silly money territory. Call it signs of life in the Mopar market. #280-1970 PLYMOUTH GTX Hemi 2-dr hard top. VIN: RS23R0G236813. Bright blue metallic/black vinyl/white vinyl. Odo: 82,456 miles. 426-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. A Mopar provenance-verification service confirms the car to be correct as restored. Optional power steering, Air Grabber hood, center console, hood and side stripes, plus push-button AM radio. Rallye wheels with reproduction Polyglas tires. Restored approximately 15 years ago. Good body prep and application of blue, although the matte black on the hood is not to that level. Older replacement windshield. Good door and panel gaps. Well-fitted roof vinyl. Reproduction seats, but they are already starting to show some light yellowing. Armrests and door panels have heavier yellowing. Dash wood is original and doesn’t fit well. Yellowed gauge lettering. Older engine detailing recently cleaned up but showing corrosion on fasteners. Aftermarket ignition wiring and newer economy battery. Cond: 2-. though the bumper guards were not done. Light scuffing on the window trim. Doors sag a bit and latch properly only if they are lifted while closing. Reproduction 1956 Texas inspection sticker in the windshield. Authentically detailed under the hood a few years back, with a recent fluff-up. New economy-grade battery. Newer authentic seats and door panels. Carpet is also new, but a heavier pile modern synthetic. New seat belts for all front-seat passengers, with correct-style lift-up latches and repop Studebaker logo. New aftermarket dualexhaust system. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $26,765. Last seen at Leake’s Tulsa auction, then selling at no reserve for $18,150 (ACC# 6839127). The dealer who consigned it here did a reasonable amount of work to step it up a bit, but still was willing to let it go when the bidding hit $25k. All things considered, he probably made a couple of bucks on the car, but it also wouldn’t surprise me either if he lost a bit to move it out. Wise move, whatever the rationale, as this was fully bid. At least it left his stewardship a better car. SOLD AT $95,400. Last seen at Mecum’s Spring Kansas City auction in March 2016, then a no-sale at $90k (ACC# 6799172). Aside from three more miles on the odometer (proving it’s a trailer queen, as Bartle Hall is about five times as far from the Overland Park Convention Center), not much has changed. After it was bid to the exact same spot and sat at the specialty dealer for a year and a half, this time the seller wisely cut it loose, allowing it to become the top sale here. AMERICANA #290.1-1956 STUDEBAKER SKY HAWK 2-dr hard top. VIN: 7811391. Blue & white/ blue cloth & white vinyl. Odo: 55,021 miles. 289-ci V8, 4-bbl, 3-sp. Factory-optional backup lights, full tinted glass, wire-wheel covers and Hill Holder. Repainted 16 years ago, and still presents generally well. Recent panel touch-up, to address some paint aging issues. Fresh bumper replate, al- January–February 2018 111 #210-1969 AMC AMBASSADOR wagon. VIN: A9A885S138721. Green/green vinyl. Odo: 24,486 miles. 343-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Optional a/c, tilt steering column, power steering, power brakes and AM/FM radio. Period aftermarket 8-track tape deck, CB radio, and front fog lamps. While there’s some evidence of older panel touch-up or respray, by and large it wears faded original paint. The heaviest area of cracking is on the tops of the front fenders. All-original chrome and trim, generally congruent with the level of distress of the paint. Heaviest of the light dents and dings is on the right rear door. 1980 Kansas inspection sticker on the original windshield, along with a Topeka PD Operation ID decal—and if that didn’t work, there’s several faded NRA decals on other windows. The original selling dealer’s decal on the tailgate. Good original interior vinyl.

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SMITH AUCTIONS LLC // Overland Park, KS ONETO WATCH $25,000 $20,250 $20,000 $15,900 $15,000 $10,000 $5,000 $0 $11,205 $15,930 $20,350 A Focus on Cars That are Showing Some Financial Upside Median Sold Price By Year Carpeting, on the other hand, is heavily faded, soiled and rolling up on the edges. Light clean-up and minimal detail under the hood. New fuel-filler hose to the original tank. Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $3,922. The DPL series was actually the lower of the two model ranges for Ambassador station wagons, as the SST trim was the top-shelf line. Actually, the only trim lower than the DPL for any style of body was the basic Ambassador 4-door sedan. With general allusions cast that the miles may be original, it would have to be of a car that sat disused outside when not in service. The reserve was wisely cut loose at $3,500—since it’s needy, you shouldn’t get greedy—garnering two more bids before being hammered sold. 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 1971–80 International Scout II T he recent surge in popularity of classic SUVs and utility vehicles is at an all-time high. One of the less-talked-about vehicles to fit these criteria is the 1971 to 1980 International Scout II. Production of the Scout II began in April of 1971. The new styling was focused on making the Scout unique, and revisions were made to make entry to the cabin easier. There were longer springs for better ride quality and an updated transfer case. Together with many new safety features to comply with changing regulations, the II became slightly less utilitarian than the earlier models. Multiple engine choices were available throughout the production run. Standard was the 196-ci 4-cylinder with 6- and 8-cylinder powerplants as options. Top engine choice was the 345-ci OHV V8 that IH knew they must offer in order to compete with the Chevrolet Blazer. When paired with the 3- or 4-speed manual, that makes the ultimate stump-puller or muddin’ machine. While other names currently dominate the vintage SUV mar- Detailing Years built: 1971–80 Number produced: Number sold at auction in the past 12 248,792 Average price of those cars: $16,130 months: 5 Number listed in the ACC Premium Current ACC Median Valuation: $20,350 Database: 34 ket, such as the Blazer or Bronco, there could be an upside going with the sometimes-overlooked IH. The current ACC median for a Ford Bronco of the same year range is hovering right around $31k. For an average price of $21k, you can get a solid Scout — which is up about $3k from the last time we talked Scout IIs in this space in 2015. Yes, the K5 and Bronco might always be worth more, but just as their values increase, so will those of the International. If uniqueness is what you are after, go with a Scout. In stock or fully custom form, you will see far fewer of them and get just as much truck for less money.A 112 AmericanCarCollector.comAmericanCarCollector.com #290-1978 INTERNATIONAL SCOUT II replica SS-II utility. VIN: H0062HGD17192. Omaha Orange w/ gold & black graphics/ black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 20,798 miles. 345-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Replica SS-II built from a regular Scout II (even the consignor admits it once in the description). Build was completed earlier this year, and shows essentially no use since that time. Repaint is technically better than possible in 1978. Floorboards have modern consumer-grade floormats, so even the floors aren’t scratched. Aftermarket steering wheel, nonstock front seats. Factory-optional-type power steering, power brakes and tilt steering column. Replacement-style soft top, with typical iffy fit. Very clean under the hood, but there are a few tagged wiring-harness connectors that are swinging in the breeze (so maybe it’s not really completed). Cleanas-a-whistle undercarriage. Cond: 1-. — Chad Taylor SOLD AT $43,990. In addition to the VIN prefix being wrong for an SS-II (should be H0052…), other signs that this is a bogus ’binder are the lack of snaps for the original defroster-duct covers, VIN and capacity plate tags in the wrong places, plus real SS-IIs were never factory-equipped with a tilt steering column. And a Line Setting Ticket (build sheet) is not even mentioned— despite being readily available for $20. With the reserve off at $40k here, the seller had better be one happy camper. I hope the phone bidder knew exactly what they bought. Even though vintage SUVs are still a hot commodity, this was still silly money for a wannabe—even if it’s superbly built. A

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VANDERBRINK AUCTIONS // Hutchinson, MN VanDerBrink — “A Fabulous Collection of GTO Cars and Parts” VanDerBrink turns over 15 Pontiac projects to hopeful buyers VanDerBrink Hutchinson, MN September 30, 2017 Auctioneers: Yvette VanDerBrink, Aaron Williamson Automotive lots sold/ offered: 15/15 Sales rate: 100% Sales total: $78,436 High sale: 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge 2-door hard top, sold at $19,240 buyer’s premium: 4% onsite, 12% online, included in sold prices GTo enthusiasts from around the Midwest ventured to this sleepy town in central Minnesota on a cool early fall morning to hunt for parts, cars and parts cars Report and photos by B. Mitchell Carlson Market opinions in italics ACC 1-6 scale condition rating for vehicles in Market Reports 1. Perfect: National show standard 2. excellent: Club show-worthy, some small flaws 3. Average: Daily driver in decent condition 4. Meh: Still a driver, with some visible flaws 5. Questionable: A problem-plagued beast that somehow manages to run 6. Lost cause: Salvageable for parts 114 AmericanCarCollector.com mericanCarCollector.com Collection of GTO Cars and Parts” sale she conducted at the McLeod County Fairgrounds in Hutchinson, MN, things were a little different. First, everything here was focused on 1964–72 Y Pontiac A-body cars — primarily GTOs. Yvette and her crew did yeoman’s work filling the largest building on the fairgrounds with parts from several 20-foot shipping crates. As such, GTO enthusiasts from around the Midwest ventured to this sleepy town in central Minnesota on a cool early fall morning that became a splendid day, in search of a car, parts, or all of the above. Also unlike the usual VanDerBrink sale, there wasn’t a field full of cars — there were only 15. Most of the Judges were bought out of a Texas junkyard about a decade ago and shipped north, under the expectation of being worked on later. Although all 15 cars were 2-door hard tops that had titles, only one was complete and in running condition — and that was a little old lady LeMans from Oregon. Of the remaining 14, only three didn’t have vette VanDerBrink has made herself known as one of the preeminent auctioneers of large and attainable car collections in the lower half of the market. For the private collection that made up the “Fabulous powertrains removed, and of those, two were missing transmissions. This even included what proved to be the top sale of the day — a 1969 Judge that was in the process of being restored. With the bodywork essentially done and a group of boxes full of parts to go back into it, this sold for $19,240 to someone on site. While VanDerBrink conducted a portion of the auction online via Proxibid, this was only on the 15 titled cars and some of the higher-profile parts — such as Tri-Power induction systems. If you were on site, you could look though the complete and torn-down engines in an attempt to find ones that would match the cars outside (and a few bidders were). If you were one of the successful bidders of the two cars that sold online, you pretty much wrote off any hope of reuniting the engine with your car. While the typical collector-car auction seems almost like it’s on a tape loop for being like every other one, with VanDerBrink, they’re never the same. As such, this GTO collection sale was just another twist on the unpredictable types of cars and venues that keep VanDerBrink sales interesting. And while everyone talks about how the hobby is continually changing, this is one example where ground zero is still Yvette’s type of auction — with enthusiasts getting together to divvy up a gathering of cars and parts to feed the hobby and the market. A

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VANDERBRINK AUCTIONS // Hutchinson, MN GM #6-1965 PONTIAC GTO 2-dr hard top. VIN: 237375K133780. Montero Red/black vinyl. Odo: 53,852 miles. 389-ci V8. PHS documentation for the car. Equipped with optional M20 4-speed, 3.55-ratio Safe-TTrack rear axle, center console, dual-speed windshield wipers with washer, backup lamps and AM radio. Has a replacement 389 under the hood with stock chrome valve covers, but missing the 4-barrel carburetor and all ancillaries. Does not have a bellhousing or transmission. The radiator, manual brake master cylinder and wiper motor are the only other things sharing space in there. Heavier paint fade, with some sloppy body filler slathered on the right rear quarter panel. Various dents and scrapes throughout the body. Doors still shut well, although the gaps are off up front. Most trim is still on it, yet the bumpers are both gone—along the valance panels. Carpet has been removed from the interior, showing that the floor is well ventilated. Dingy seats and dashboard still in place. 1970s-era aftermarket steering wheel. Steel rims on bias-ply tires up front; the right rear mag wheel has a section broken off of the rim, but the tire is still seated and inflated somehow. Cond: 5. Dented original bumpers; a lot of the trim and emblems are gone. Missing the rear window. Very dingy interior, lacking door panels, but does have a moldy stick-shift console in black and three pedals. Sold on a recent Texas title in a previous owner’s name. Cond: 5-. is, then I guess the final price is what a VIN tag, title and PHS report are worth. SOLD AT $1,352. A real-deal GTO that’s going to need some big-time restoration work. Yet of all the Goats here, it can be argued that this was the best deal, above and beyond selling for the least amount of money for one. Just assume that everything needs to be done to it and run with it from there. SOLD AT $4,480. There were decals and a pit pass from one of the now long-departed local drag strips, so the car was being described as having local history. It’s more like as a local car, it’s now history. For what was paid here, someone on Proxibid in Kansas seems to think it can live again. I bid you good luck. #13-1965 PONTIAC GTO 2-dr hard top. VIN: 237375K143946. White/red vinyl. Odo: 2,055 miles. 389-ci V8, 4-bbl. Old light coat of rattle-can primer on the outside, with some areas of more recent attempts at bodywork. Passenger’s door shuts well; driver’s side is stuck due to dents. Replacement front clip from a red car that might be even rustier than the body, as the ends of the hood and bottoms of the fenders have rust-out. Mouth of the hood scoop is missing. Has an engine sitting under the hood, more literally than figuratively speaking. Missing the water pump, radiator, distributor, exhaust manifolds and all ancillaries up front; no transmission behind it. Steering geometry is in place, with plugs in the power-steering box and no brake cylinder. 116 AmericanCarCollector.com #14-1965 PONTIAC GTO 2-dr hard top. VIN: 237375K136800. Burgundy/black vinyl. Odo: 76,096 miles. Originally a Tri-Power with 4-speed, via Pontiac Historical Services. Does not have a motor and transmission in it, with only the brake-master cylinder and steering components left under the hood. Can still read the original chalkinspection marks on the cowl. Difficult to discern between the faded paint and light surface rust. 1970s-era groovy tape stripes all but faded away. Poor door fit. Banged-up bumpers. Most of the trim and emblems are still on the car, but the windshield and backlight moldings have been pulled. Multiple cracks in the windshield. Rust-out on every lower body panel—let alone the floors—in addition to a few places on the crusty frame. Door panels and carpeting removed, front seats tossed back in. Bare aqua steering wheel. Partially disassembled dashboard, with a dash plaque on the glovebox door from the 1975 Brainerd International Drag Weekend. Mix-master wheels and tires. Cond: 5-. #15-1965 PONTIAC TEMPEST 2-dr hard top. VIN: 237375P203956. Maroon/black vinyl. Sold on an open South Dakota title in the previous owner’s name. Does not have an engine or transmission, with only the power-steering linkage and box (with all hoses cut off) plus brake master cylinder in place. Very solid body, without rust-out even in the floors. Hood cut out for latching pins. A few light dents, but most should pop out. Rear window broken out, cracks and delamination on the windshield, all side glass is gone. A take-off replacement driver’s door is included with the car. Dashpad is still in place, front seats tossed in, heavily cracked bare steering wheel, and remnants of the manual transmission boot and base, but otherwise bare inside the cabin and the trunk. Mix-and-don’t-match wheels and tires. Cond: 5. SOLD AT $3,120. I saw a 1965 High Output 326 V8 (or at least it was tagged as that) in the complete engine aisle inside the arena building where the parts portion of the auction took place. I’m fairly certain that it could be the original engine in this car (or at least the one that was in it), or at the very least the final bidder here was hopefully prudent enough to stick around long enough after the cars sold to bid on it. In a stray puppy sort of way, I’d like to see this restored back as an original LeMans, if just to thumb one’s nose (or lift a middle finger) at all the fakeydoo GTOs. It’s solid enough to make it worth the effort, although cost-effective is another story. SOLD AT $3,744. I think some bidders saw and heard “original three-deuces car” and put on blinders to the fact that nothing below the tops of the wheelwells can be saved. If they actually were cognizant of how rusty this thrashed Salt-Belt Goat really #7-1966 PONTIAC GTO 2-dr hard top. VIN: 242176K134387. Faded silver/black vinyl. Odo: 55,587 miles. Data presented from PHS shows that it was optioned with Tri-Power, M20 4-speed, 3.55-ratio Safe-TTrack rear axle, power steering, full tinted glass, black vinyl roof, and AM radio with rear speaker. Does not have or include an engine or transmission. Heavily faded paint, which is rusty where it has weathered away—mostly on panel edges and most of the trunk lid. A few rust blisters are poking out from the wheelwell and rocker-panel trim, but it is overall quite structurally sound. Crease going diagonally across the front half of the left front fender is the worst of the dents and dings. Most of the rest of the trim

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VANDERBRINK AUCTIONS // Hutchinson, MN is still on the car. Carpet and door panels removed, the latter now residing on the bottom of the parts pile in the trunk. What’s left of the interior is very dingy, but items such as the dashboard and its top pad may be restorable. Windshield has several cracks, but the rest of the glass may be salvageable. Cond: 5. SOLD AT $6,720. Being a car from Minnesota, the tin worm has dined on this (and hasn’t missed too many meals, either), so while it doesn’t seem like it would be all that much of a challenge to restore, it will be. That’s not even factoring two significant lumps of iron missing from the driveline. Well sold. SOLD AT $9,360. The combination of being a Tri-Power car with an unusual color scheme and being fairly sound to restore makes this a fairly hot commodity here for bidders with boots on the ground, but no interest online. It was one of the few cars to have an opening bid ($3k) from the crowd, and just kept going with two guys past $5,500 to be the second-highest sale here. If done right, the high bidder may actually do okay on this one, if he does his own work and places a low value on his time. Yet if that’s your thing to put another GTO back into circulation, have at it. #3-1967 PONTIAC GTO 2-dr hard top. VIN: 242177K126518. Fathom Blue/blue vinyl. Odo: 80,711 miles. Despite the LeMans grilles, PHS documentation shows it to be a real GTO. Originally optioned with M20 4-speed, 3:55 Safe-T-Track rear axle, power steering, power brakes, wood-rim steering wheel, Rally gauge package, center console, custom seat belts and Deluxe wheel covers. The first two items and the last item are now gone. Front wheels are 1980s-era alloys and radials. Has seen at least one repaint that was lightly sprayed. Driver’s door fit is decent, passenger’s side needs to be yanked hard once unlatched from the inside. Body filler peeling from the front valance, so the grilles may have been swapped as part of an economy collision repair. Also has previous rust repaint on the tops of the fenders and around the rear wheelwells that’s now blowing out, plus paint is flaking off the A-pillars. Heavily soiled and moldy interior, with various bits taken off and tossed in. Complete dashboard, apart from the radio. Cond: 5. #1-1969 PONTIAC GTO The Judge 2-dr hard top. VIN: 242379A132174. Cameo White & black/black vinyl. Odo: 46,705 miles. Per the PHS documentation provided with the car, it was originally built as a Judge with an automatic transmission, 3.55 Safe-T-Track rear axle, Rally gauge package, power front-disc brakes, tinted windshield and AM radio. Stated that the frame-off restoration was started in 2011 and car was recently painted and striped in the correct color combination. Does not include a motor or transmission, but most of the other loose parts external to the car. Dusty seats with reproduction vinyl are sitting loose in the car, with no carpeting. Chassis has been painted, but most of the rear suspension and the rear axle are raw originals. Longer sections of brake and fuel lines ran, but not completed. Body tag not attached. Engine bay coming along nicely, but exposed bolts have flash rust. Correct restored wheels. Cond: 2-. Plenty of surface rust from where the paint has baked completely off, but only has some rot-out behind the rear wheels. Doors still fit fairly well. Most of the emblems and trim are still on the car. All four original wheels, with a mix of tires. Interior is very disheveled from decades of sitting outside; few components are restorable, but will provide a template for replacements. Cond: 5. SOLD AT $7,280. With a color combination not often seen, a bevy of factory options and a rather solid body to restore upon, there may be a long road to recovery on this Judge, but it can be healed. Thing is, going into it for this much money—and needing to get an engine and transmission—makes this a purchase for love, not money. Bought over the phone by a marque specialist, so at least he knows what he’s getting into (and might even have a Ram Air III looking for a new home). SOLD AT $19,240. Condition rating applied to what was presented only (if there’s one thing I hate doing, it’s writing up partially completed project cars). Depending upon if you are a body and paint person or a “finisher,” either the hard work is done and you just have to put it all together, or the easy part is done and it needs the arduous task of actually completing the full-sized threedimensional puzzle and making it work. Regardless of point of view, plenty was paid—unless you have a Ram Air III with a TH400 as garage art. #2-1969 PONTIAC GTO Judge 2-dr hard top. VIN: 242379R187628. Palladium Silver/ blue vinyl/blue vinyl. PHS documentation supplied with the car shows it was a real-deal Judge sold new in Midland, TX, with optional TH400 automatic, 3:23 Safe-TTrack rear axle, a/c, power steering, power front-disc brakes, center console with Hurst Dual Gate shifter, tinted windshield, radio and vinyl roof. Consignor bought this out of a junkyard in Dallas, TX, in 2005. Engine and transmission have been removed, plus some interior components and all the glass. 118 AmericanCarCollector.com #5-1969 PONTIAC GTO Judge 2-dr hard top. VIN: 242379B154767. Black primer/ none. Per the PHS documentation presented with the vehicle, it’s a Judge in Carousel Red with Parchment interior. Options are M20 4-speed, 3.55-ratio Safe-T-Track rear axle, power steering, power front-disc brakes, center console, full-tinted glass, Rally gauge package, hood-mounted tachometer, remote outside mirror, deluxe seat belts and push-button AM radio. None of which are still present on this chassis with body shell strapped to it. Stated that the “restoration was started using a donor body and frame.” Chassis in semi-gloss black. Bodywork is not completed, despite being coated entirely in black primer. Also has several replacement panels tucked into the car (such as the floor pans that need to be cut and welded in) along with some exhaust piping. Brake lines have been run in and front disc set-up installed, along with rear shocks. Also has a power-steering box mounted to the detailed drag link. Latemodel steel wheels up front, old steel rims out back—all on mixed radials. Cond: 6+.

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VANDERBRINK AUCTIONS // Hutchinson, MN SOLD AT $4,420. This was one of the first 2,000 “pattern” Judges built. Or rather, the VIN is for one. Essentially, someone paid $4,420 for a VIN; the car will evolve later. I guess it makes no difference if it’s a Ferrari or a Pontiac; if it’s a GTO, all you need is the rights to the serial number and the rest of the car can be re-created. #8-1969 PONTIAC GTO Ram Air IV 2-dr hard top. VIN: 242379R171354. Red & Verdoro Green/Parchment vinyl. Odo: 35,662 miles. Made into a wannabe Judge decades ago, but per the PHS documentation, was optioned with a Ram Air IV engine. Also built with optional M21 4-speed, 3.90-ratio Safe-T-Track differential, power front-disc brakes, Ride and Handling package, Rally II wheels, Sport steering wheel, Rally gauge package, tinted windshield and AM radio. Sold new by Olin & Ayres in Brodhead, WI, so it’s rustier than all get-out. Rust holes in the front fenders, bottoms of the rear quarters are flapping in the breeze, and has what we in the Salt Belt call “Barney Rubble floors.” Essentially, the carpet is keeping the seats from falling out. The color-change repaint to orange as part of the ersatz Judge redo is now coming off in sheets, revealing the original Verdoro Green. Body tag popped off. Temporary spare and a Rally II wheel up front, with solid-steel wheels on snow tires on the rears. Very dirty and moldy, but complete interior. Like every real Judge on this auction, it doesn’t have an engine and transmission. Cond: 5-. SOLD AT $5,720. If you were going to build a fakey-doo Judge back before PHS could call it B.S., this would be the car to do it with. It was essentially built just like one when new, except for having trim rings on the Rally II wheels and no pop-art decals. Now, this is best appreciated by those of us who live in the Salt Belt and raid the junkyards from Texas to Arizona for rust-free cars. I can all but guarantee that this VIN will live on like George Washington’s hatchet. #10-1969 PONTIAC LEMANS 2-dr hard top. VIN: 237379B121755. Verdoro Green/ black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 15,141 miles. Does not have an engine or transmission, but has enough components to confirm it had a floor-shift automatic. Consignor states that it had a 4-barrel 400-ci V8 under the now-vacant hood. Power-steering box and power brake booster plus some wiring is all that’s left in the engine bay. Also missing the front grille/bumper assembly, lower valances, rear bumper/taillights, side glass, seats, door panels, kick panels and carpeting. Front fender loosely fitted, radiator-support bracket leaning against the car. Used repair panel for a 1970 right rear quarter is included loose with the car (they might want to think that through again). Vinyl roof has been entirely stripped off, but the moldings are still on the body. Dashboard with all instruments and a cracked pad is still in the car, along with a sun-baked steering wheel on the tilt steering column. Three of the four wheels and tires match. Sold on an Oklahoma title. Cond: 5-. SOLD AT $780. Once we get past the GTOs and Judges at this auction, the LeMans that were sold went for far more realistic prices. Yet I have few doubts that at least one of these is bound to surface as a “numbers-matching” GTO or even Judge January–February 2018 119

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VANDERBRINK AUCTIONS // Hutchinson, MN MARKETMOMENT 1996 Chevrolet Camaro Ram Air IV. And it damn sure won’t become reincarnated as a replica Sprint. Custom Convertible SOLD at $16,500 Barrett-Jackson, Las Vegas, NV, October 19–21, 2017, Lot 613.1 VIN: 2C1FP32P9T2151691 #11-1969 PONTIAC LEMANS 2-dr hard top. VIN: 237379R154354. Gray primer & Verdoro Green/gold vinyl. 350-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Sold on a formerly bonded Minnesota title, signed over by the previous owner in 2011. Front valance, bumper and grille assembly is missing, as are taillights, hood, all glass, the dashboard, door panels, carpeting and all trim aft of the cowl. Most of the bodywork is in gray primer, aside from original paint on the front fenders. Rust-out at the base of the windshield and floor seams. Floor-shift tilt steering column with dingy stock three-spoke steering wheel. Passenger’s front seat is folded forward and all of the interior wiring harnesses are balled up onto it. Rear-seat vinyl might clean up and be usable, but the fronts are definitely shot. Still has the original powertrain in it, and looks to be complete down to the air cleaner. Radiator and power-steering pump are in place and connected, brake master cylinder is gone. Older painted chassis is actually fairly clean and rust-free. Period air shocks on the rear axle. Rally II wheels with matching Comp T/A radials on all four corners. Cond: 5-. Courtesy of Mecum Auctions the new, bringing modern drivability to classic looks. Some of these exercises were more successful than others — this is ultimately what started the industry-leading Pro-Touring trend, but it also created the orange combination of Camaro eras we see here. See, while some thought it was smart to bring modern performance to old cars, others As soon as classic American cars started to take off in value in the 1990s, enterprising individuals found ways to blend the old with thought it was just smarter to bring old-car looks to modern performance. But this car is about as close to a nicely done Pro-Touring Camaro as having ketchup with your fries is to having fries with your ketchup. The fourth-gen Camaro underneath those grafted-on 1968 panels means this thing should be reliable, but it’s not exactly pretty. The gaps are better than you might expect considering the parts had to be made to fit, but I wonder what you’d do if you got hit in this thing. This car has appeared at auction twice in the past few months, first selling for $13,750 at Mecum Louisville as Lot T68. Then a month later, we have this result out of Barrett-Jackson, Las Vegas. If I had to guess, this was an expensive conversion when it was first done, and I’ve seen other similar versions of the same thing sell for bigger money than this in the past. But that was before the 2010 Camaro came out — complete with professional designers on the task of making new look old — and made this hodgepodge irrelevant. At the end of the day, this was market money for a stock, low-miles SS Camaro from 1996. As a curiosity, this wasn’t badly bought. But the stocker will have more upside in the future, and you won’t have to explain it. Well sold. A 120 AmericanCarCollector.comAmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $1,040. With the powertrain still in the car, this one stands a chance of staying a LeMans—provided that it doesn’t get parted out. Realistically priced, if not a decent deal, simply because the final price is about equal to the core charges. Still, it will be a very taxing project at this price. — Jim Pickering #12-1969 PONTIAC LEMANS 2-dr hard top. VIN: 237379172516. Limelight Green/ dark green vinyl. Odo: 59,179 miles. 350-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Factory-optional power steering, full tinted glass and push-button AM radio. Sold on an open Oregon title in the previous owner’s name. Complete running car, although I wouldn’t assume that driving it back to Oregon would be prudent (unless you’re ACC’s publisher). Odometer shows 59,179 miles, but oil-change stickers in the door jambs show servicing at 94,140 miles in 1990 and 40,033 miles in February 1997. Faded older repaint. Various light dents on the rear corners and over the left front wheel. Nicks and scratches have surface rust on them. Right side of the front bumper has pulled out from the body, but the original chrome is decent. Very dingy and greasy under the hood, but generally kept up to stock. Newer battery plus upper radiator and heater hoses. Seam splitting

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VANDERBRINK AUCTIONS // Hutchinson, MN on the outboard sides of the passenger’s seat, plus a tear on the outboard bolster, but otherwise the interior is in pretty decent shape and should clean up. Starts right up, but does run a tad rich and has some lifter tick. Cond: 4+. SOLD AT $5,720. If I were the top bidder on this car, I’d start by buffing out the paint, stitch up the seams on the driver’s seat, and spend a week or so cleaning and detailing it to put the sparkle back into Grandma’s grocery getter. If it cleans up well, then update the 30-plus-year-old radial tires and do a fluid exchange, and then just run it. Bidding opened with $2k online, and Aaron had no trouble getting bids from folks on site thereon in. #9-1970 PONTIAC GTO Judge 2-dr hard top. VIN: 242370R125585. Granada Gold/ Sandalwood vinyl. Odo: 89,832 miles. Sold new by Bob Milken Pontiac of Lubbock, TX, with optional two-tone paint, M20 4-speed, power steering, console, tinted windshield, wheel moldings and AM radio. All verified from PHS documentation presented with the car, as you’d be hard pressed to tell otherwise. Heavily faded and surface-rusted paint camouflages most of the Granada Gold, except in the door jambs and trunk channels. The Endura nose has shrunk from sitting in the sun to the point that it now doesn’t really fit on the car and is best served as garage art. Hood paint is significantly better. Decals are gone, as is most body trim. Seats and door panels had an overlay diamond-pleated vinyl redo, which is now heavily deteriorated, showing the originals still attached below. No horn-center button on the sun-baked steering wheel. Interior is otherwise generally complete, but the term that comes to mind is “roached.” Rusted-out trunk floor. To nobody’s surprise… wait for it… there’s no engine and transmission. Cond: 5-. #4-1971 PONTIAC GTO 2-dr hard top. VIN: 242371Z112884. Black primer/ none. Per the PHS documentation presented with the vehicle, it was sold new by Pew’s Pontiac of Le Mars, IA, in all black with optional M22 4-speed, 3.55-ratio Safe-T-Track rear axle, sport mirrors, full tinted glass, bodyside moldings, and AM radio with rear speaker. You wouldn’t be able to tell any of that looking at the car now, as it’s a body shell sitting loose on a rolling chassis only (with a cargo strap keeping the two united). Stated that a “donor body was used.” Said body is now mostly in black primer, shot over gray primer, as any repair work has been completed but has been sitting for awhile outside as it’s also dirty in low areas. Body tag is removed. New brake lines have been run up front, but fittings have heavier flash rust. Front wheels are space-saver spares; rears are rusty original Rally IIs on old radials. Sold on an open Minnesota title dated 1980 in a previous owner’s name. Cond: 6+. CAR COLLECTOR SOLD AT $1,820. Of all the Ponchos here, this was likely the one to have the most potential versus what was spent to get it. Granted, your $1,820 essentially buys just a frame, a body, plus title with that VIN on a frame and dashboard, but the new owner paid less than everyone else who will have just as much work to do—if not more in a few cases. However, a ’71 GTO—even in black on black—will still be worth less than any of the 1969s when completed. A decent buy—if you’re up for the challenge and spent the rest of the day here bidding on parts (some of which may have been on the car originally). A SUBSCRIBE TO ACC AMERICAN ™ AmericanCarCollector.com/subscribe 877.219.2605 Ext. 1 SOLD AT $3,640. I would have to think this has to be a one-of-one color scheme, or darn close to it. Just think how many (or rather, how few) two-tone Judges are out there. Crazier people have paid more for cars that needed more work and were less valuable when completed, so it was probably bought it for the sport of restoration. January–February 2018 121 Keith Martin’s

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GLOBAL ROUNDUP Selected Sales Combined in One Comprehensive Report American Highlights at Two Auctions GM #247-1953 CHEVROLET 3100 pickup. VIN: H53K037626. Green/brown vinyl. Odo: 8,787 miles. 216-ci I6, 1-bbl, 3-sp. Older repaint with minor scratches and chips but noticeable orange peel. Chrome bumper has been painted white but still shows well. Windshield, headlight and front trim in good condition, with minor scratches. Fit is very good for its age. Engine bay is clean and presentable. Underside is clean but needs restoration to match the top-side quality. Interior is nice. Glass is good. Original steel wheels with dog-bowl hubcaps and wide whitewall tires really look nice. Cond: 3+. not far behind the top seller, this 1968 Ford Mustang GT custom fastback sold for $41,250, at Dan Kruse Classics in Austin, TX Dan Kruse Austin, TX — September 16, 2017 Auctioneer: Dan Kruse Automotive lots sold/offered: 42/123 Sales rate: 34% Sales total: 819,060 High American sale: 2014 Ford F-150 SVT Velociraptor 600 pickup, sold at $55,000 buyer’s premium: 10% Report and photos by Cody Tayloe Smith Auctions LLC Springfield, Mo — September 30, 2017 Auctioneers: Robert Row, Tom Rhoads Automotive lots sold/offered: 64/110 Sales rate: 58% Sales total: $729,651 High sale: 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air custom 2-door sedan, sold at $41,340 buyer’s premium: 6% Report and photos by Andy Staugaard NOT SOLD AT $15,200. This is an older restoration that still looks good and appears to be mostly original. It appeared at Mecum, Louisville, KY, earlier this month and received a high bid of $19k (ACC# 6850691). There was no more money here and the seller needs to move on to a bigger venue. Smith Auctions LLC, Springfield, MO, 09/17. #219-1956 PONTIAC SAFARI wagon. VIN: K756H27309. Metallic green & gold/beige leather. Odo: 76,939 miles. 316ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. A fully restored, showworthy station wagon. Body, paint, chrome and trim are all excellent. Fit is very good except that the rear gate is difficult to open. Very nice chrome mags really set off this older car. Engine bay and underside are very good and match top-side quality. Interior is excellent. Glass is good all around, but window vents and side windows are stiff and hard to crank. Cond: 2-. A daily-driver, fix-up-as-you-go parts hauler — 1972 Chevrolet Cheyenne pickup, sold for $20,140 at Smith Auctions LLC, Springfield, Mo 122 AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $36,040. This is one gorgeous station wagon. The market is getting good for these older wagons, and this one is in show condition. A bit pricey, but over time the buyer should reap a reward. A fair price BEST BUY

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GLOBAL that should make both buyer and seller happy. Smith Auctions LLC, Springfield, MO, 09/17. #239-1957 CHEVROLET BEL AIR custom 2-dr sedan. VIN: B57J276802. Turquoise & white/turquoise vinyl. Odo: 211 miles. 427-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. This car is almost perfect in every way, showing off a new restoration. Body, paint, chrome, trim all excellent. Engine bay is gorgeous with a big 427 block. You could turn it over and eat off the underside. The spoked mag wheels with new lowprofile tires are excellent. Glass is excellent all around. The interior is like new. Cond: 2+. If one is a fan of this era of Cadillac sedans, the Series 62 is a more budget-friendly option to consider. The Eldorado Brougham is where the big bucks are, but this would still be welcome at any Cadillac & LaSalle outing. The high bid here is reflective of soft values of the late 2000s, but prices have rebounded, and this one would be closer in line with recent sales of around $20,000. Dan Kruse Classics, Austin, TX, 09/17. #226-1962 CHEVROLET IMPALA 2-dr hard top. VIN: 21847J302528. Silver/red vinyl. Odo: 48,736 miles. 409-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. A NOM bubble top in fairly good condition. The paint, chrome and trim are all good, with minor scratches and bubbles. Wheels are aftermarket mags in good condition with new rubber. The engine bay needs to be detailed to better show off the big 409. Underside is clean and looks good with the add-on sidepipes. Interior is very nice and the glass is clear all around. I do not understand the aftermarket a/c under the dash because I cannot find any associated compressor under the hood. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $41,340. What a beautiful car! The only thing that I can think of that held it back was that it wasn’t a convertible. The hammered price—with commission—was spot-on its market value. Both buyer and seller should go home happy with this one. Smith Auctions LLC, Springfield, MO, 09/17. #120-1957 CADILLAC SERIES 62 4-dr hard top. VIN: 5762139265. Gray/white leather & gray cloth. Odo: 24,879 miles. 360-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Plenty of light scratches and fading throughout. Dull hood. A few areas of buffer burn. Heavy scratch on the roof. Occasional dry spray throughout, with orange peel on the trunk. Brightwork is faded with light scratching. Panel alignment is off on the passenger’s door. Rear glass is slightly cloudy. Other glass is clean and clear. Hood ornament is faded and lightly pitted. Interior is tired. Leather upholstery shows some heavy cracking but not open. Carpets are in decent condition for the age. Interior common touch points show wear, but screen printing is all intact. Gauge cluster is clean and clear. Headliner is in good condition. Cond: 3-. NOT SOLD AT $30,000. This is a goodlooking bubble top at 20 feet, but a closer examination reveals its imperfections. It has been extensively modified under the hood to showcase a NOM 409, but the rest of the car needs improvement. Seller should have taken the money and ran. Smith Auctions LLC, Springfield, MO, 09/17. #240-1963 CHEVROLET IMPALA SS 2-dr hard top. VIN: 31847J139456. Red/black vinyl. Odo: 14,558 miles. 327-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Older restoration that still shows very well. Body, paint, chrome and trim are all very good to excellent, with minor imperfections. Aftermarket mags with new low-profile rubber really set it off. You could eat off the engine and underside. Interior and glass are both excellent everywhere you look. The only flaw I could find was right-side dash wrinkle due to sun exposure. Cond: 2. NOT SOLD AT $14,000. This example marked the fifth generation of the Series 62. January–February 2018 123

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GLOBAL ROUNDUP SOLD AT $26,500. What a nice car! Looked to be mostly original except for the aftermarket mags. A classic ’63 Chevy Impala that will always get some attention on the auction circuit. Hammered sold just a couple of thousand less than mean market value. This was a fair deal for both buyer and seller. Smith Auctions LLC, Springfield, MO, 09/17. #248-1967 CHEVROLET EL CAMINO pickup. VIN: 136807Z123488. Blue/black vinyl. Odo: 83,638 miles. 396-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Older repaint still shows well. Chrome and trim just fair with lots of scratches. Fit is good. Engine bay is excellent. Underside is nice and matches the top-side quality. Mags with Redline tires need some detailing. Interior is good for its age. Glass is good all around. Cond: 3+. #265-1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO SS 396 coupe. VIN: 124379N560526. Green/black vinyl. Odo: 69,994 miles. 396-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Body and paint are very good, with minor scratches and chips. Left door sticks a bit. Chrome and trim are very good, with minor scratches. Engine bay and underside are excellent. Interior is very good. Windshield bottom seal on the left side is bad and needs to be replaced. Cond: 2-. signor correctly shied away from using the term “restored” as so many would be tempted to do. Flat paint is said by many experienced sellers to hold back the value, and this was no exception. The right number should have been in the teens. Dan Kruse Classics, Austin, TX, 09/17. #210-1972 CHEVROLET C-10 Cheyenne pickup. VIN: CCE142J118749. Burnt Orange/ black & white vinyl. Odo: 38,266 miles. 400-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Big-block V8 with older repaint that shows well at 20 feet, but reveals scratches and small bubbles at five. Chrome and trim are good. Engine bay needs to be detailed. Underside is clean. Windshield comes with wiper rash. Interior bench seat and door panels are very good, but under-dash metal needs restoration. Cond: 3. NOT SOLD AT $12,500. This is a goodlooking El Camino with a big 396-ci engine that got no respect on the block. Even with the NOM engine, it should have bid in the upper teens. The seller was right not to take the bait and move on with this one. Smith Auctions LLC, Springfield, MO, 09/17. #229-1969 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE SS coupe. VIN: 134279A322692. Maroon/black vinyl. Odo: 30,949 miles. 454-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Originally a rare SS 396, now with a NOM 454. Recent repaint shows several scratches on the hood. The fit is poor and I cannot open the right door. Chrome and trim need to be restored. The engine bay needs to be detailed to show off the bigblock 454. Underside is clean. Interior is good and consistent with mileage. Glass is clear all around, with minor scratches. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $38,160. This car was a no-sale at Leake Tulsa in June with a high bid of $35.5k (ACC# 6840242). The auction listing states Muncie 4-speed, 3:73 12-bolt rear end, and factory tach with gauge package. The listing also states that it is a “factory X66 big block SS car” and with a “non original engine.” So I guess this means that the engine is period-correct but not original to the car. If this car were totally correct with its original engine, it would be worth in excess of $80k. Given its current non-original but period-correct condition, the hammered price is about right. Well bought and sold. Smith Auctions LLC, Springfield, MO, 09/17. #071-1969 CHEVROLET EL CAMINO custom pickup. VIN: 136809B332993. Flat black/black vinyl. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Digital odometer. Lowered stance with oversize wheels and tires. Front disc brakes. Flat-black paint with chips here and there. Bed floor has spray-in liner peeling up. Tailgate fits poorly and is misaligned on the driver’s side. Custom pinstriping. Brightwork appears to be original other than the newer front bumper. Dash cover is lifting and visible from the outside. Description claims all-new interior. Seats and carpets appear to be replaced. Underdash a/c. Door panels original and show age. Digital gauges replace the analog units. Recently replaced alternator, engine fan and radiator. Cond: 3. NOT SOLD AT $17,000. Badged as an SS 396, but the NOM 454 reveals its true identity. Needs some TLC all around to reach its full market potential. A correct 1969 Chevelle SS 396 is worth about $37k, so hopefully the owner got the message and will come back to the auction circuit with a winner. Smith Auctions LLC, Springfield, MO, 09/17. 124 AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $20,140. Not much more than a good driver—assuming that it runs out well. However, I am concerned about the condition of the metal under the dashboard. There is extensive rusting that might be evidence of exposure to excessive moisture as in flooding. Buyer beware, especially with the recent rash of hurricanes and flooding in the country. I am afraid that many of the flood-damaged vehicles will be dumped on the auction market. Smith Auctions LLC, Springfield, MO, 09/17. CORVETTE #130-1986 CHEVROLET CORVETTE coupe. VIN: 1G1YY0782G5102882. Black/ red leather. Odo: 83,462 miles. 350-ci fuelinjected V8, auto. Paint is worn and faded throughout. Early signs of crazing, with many rock chips on the nose. Deep scratches throughout. Front has likely been repainted some time ago, with evidence of dry spray. Aftermarket exhaust. Passenger’s headlight is too recessed into the nose; otherwise, panel alignment is good. Rubber is cracking and brittle all around the doors. Interior is in sad original shape. NOT SOLD AT $8,300. While not an SS, the engine and transmission do make for a desirable combo. There is a laundry list of “new” parts and refreshening, but the con

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GLOBAL ROUNDUP Screen printing is all in good order. Dash has lost its shine. Parking-brake leather has become unstitched. Cond: 4+. SOLD AT $5,720. Offered at no reserve; the factory a/c is said to have benefited from a recent recharge. Not much else is mentioned in terms of history or maintenance, with everything appearing stock other than the exhaust. This one crossed the block at Mecum’s Kissimmee sale in January 2015, where it sold for $6,000 (ACC# 6775065). The draw here would be the relatively low mileage. C4s are a good entry point into Corvette ownership, and sales price was double the wholesale value. Well sold. Dan Kruse Classics, Austin, TX, 09/17. FOMOCO #006-1940 FORD DELUXE custom coupe. VIN: 185331664. Black & silver/gray leather. Power brakes and windows, tilt column and a/c. Mustang II front end. Attractive older build showing signs of use. Paint is high quality but showing some prep issues. Shaved door handles. Doors slightly out at the rear. Vinyl-wrapped running boards. Stainless is in good condition. Rubber has been replaced. Glass is clean and clear. Reupholstered interior finished in leather showing some wear. Lots of billet-aluminum dress-up pieces. Gauges are clean and clear. Aluminum components under the hood could use a polish. Cond: 2-. NOT SOLD AT $12,500. Great color combo with period-accessory Continental kit, bumper guards and dual Wagner spotlights. Last sold at Mecum’s Houston sale in 2014, where it traded hands at $18,360 (ACC# 6714918). It returned a year later to the same venue, where it went unsold for $17,500. Here, it was offered by a Texas dealer but not visible on their website. No mention in the description of the previous restoration or when it was done, but it is unwound to driver quality while still holding up nicely. The offer here was the low side of wholesale. Dan Kruse Classics, Austin, TX, 09/17. NOT SOLD AT $43,000. Tasteful modifications show that this one was built to be used and enjoyed. The restoration was old enough for guilt-free enjoyment, and one would assume it has covered enough ground to be well sorted. It could be found for sale online in the Houston area with an asking price of $59,900, or best offer. The build costs likely meet or exceed that figure, but it’s extremely difficult to recoup those costs on one of nice driver quality. The buyers in this market are limited, and the high bid here was about right if not slightly high. Dan Kruse Classics, Austin, TX, 09/17. #121-1953 FORD CRESTLINE Victoria 2-dr hard top. VIN: B3FV232187. Flamingo Red & Sungate Ivory/Sungate Ivory & Flamingo Red vinyl. Odo: 37,213 miles. 239-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Power steering and power brakes. Older restoration in very good drivable condition. Chip at the front of the pas- 126 AmericanCarCollector.com #253-1963 FORD THUNDERBIRD Sports roadster. VIN: 3Y85Z151450. Red/cream leather. Odo: 42,461 miles. 390-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Older repaint with minor scratches and chips. Chrome and trim are very good for its age. Trunk fit is a bit off—probably due to drop-top mechanism. Engine bay is very nice and well detailed. Underside needs detailing. Spoke wheels are supernice and really set it off. Interior is just fair but good for its age. All glass is clear. Cond: 3+. senger’s door. A few spots are faded. Trunk lid is tight on the left side. Three small dents and rear beltline. Scratches on door down to the paint. Few chips around the hood. Brightwork is good. Panel alignment is very nice. Carpets are bunching and look like they were cut to fit. Stitching is stressed on the bench seat and starting to open. Rear interior lights are not functioning. Cond: 3. #004-1968 FORD MUSTANG coupe. VIN: AF07HC27422. Red/black vinyl. Odo: 91,156 km. 302-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Older repaint showing lots of age. Many imperfections throughout. Small blisters in the paint and tree-dropping stains. Paint is faded and lackluster overall. Brightwork is dull and pitted. Glass is cloudy. Passenger’s door alignment is off. Rubber is old and shows age. Door panels slightly wavy. Seat upholstery is in good shape. Older carpets are decent. Shift pattern drawn on center console with a Sharpie. Bare metal and empty holes exposed where radio and ventilation controls are located. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $9,075. What makes this otherwise-ordinary Mustang unique is that it was assembled at the “La Villa” Ford factory in Mexico City. These were produced in much smaller numbers than their U.S. counterparts, and this one still retains the original speedometer in kilometers. Single-family ownership also gives it unique appeal, although none of these things translated into much of a premium when it hit the auction block. This was good driver with a story to tell at the next Mustang meet. Well bought. Dan Kruse Classics, Austin, TX, 09/17. #015-1968 FORD COUNTRY SEDAN 500 wagon. VIN: 8D73Y156108. Black & gray/ red vinyl. Odo: 57,956 miles. 390-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Power disc brakes. Paint well applied but showing age. Rock chips and scratches throughout. Trim is lackluster, with a small dent on the driver’s side grille. Small chips at the front of the hood. Side trim is removed and replaced with airbrushed graphics. “D” missing in “FORD” on the hood, with holes exposed. Deep-tinted glass hides any glass imperfections. Little modifications to the tired interior. Auxiliary gauges added below the dash. Carpets are worn at the driver’s and passenger’s position. Seats are dirty and show age. Speakers are missing covers. Cond: 3-. NOT SOLD AT $28,750. A rare (only 1,427 were made) Thunderbird Sports Roadster loaded with options, including a Continental kit and spotlights. It is mostly original with low mileage and shows well. However, it had no respect here and needs to go to a bigger venue. Bidding should have been somewhere around $40k to take this one home. Smith Auctions LLC, Springfield, MO, 09/17.

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ROUNDUP GLOBAL NOT SOLD AT $6,250. Last seen at Leake’s Spring Dallas sale in 2014, where it did not sell for almost $11k (ACC# 6709026). At that sale, we commented that the bidding was below market given the popularity of wagons. Nearly 1,500 miles have been added to the odometer since that sale. To say it is aging gracefully would be a stretch. Prior to the sale, the car was listed by the consignor—a restoration shop—with a Buy It Now of $10k on eBay. It was a nosale there at a slightly light but fair $8k. Dan Kruse Classics, Austin, TX, 09/17. #099-1968 FORD MUSTANG GT custom fastback. VIN: 8R02J151685. Viper Blue/ black leather. Odo: 33,177 miles. 351-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Marti Report. Original J-code 302 replaced with a Windsor 351-ci. Paint pops from far away but up close has many flaws. Lots of prep issues. Rub-marks throughout. Buffer burn on the hood. Wavy body kit. Fiberglass texture visible in fender flares. Poor flare fit not flush with body; otherwise, panels line up nicely. Brightwork is minimal but what is there is in good condition. Interior kept mostly original. Gauges are in good condition. Door panels are holding up well. Cond: 3-. ket steel wheels with chrome hubs and rims really look nice. The engine bay and undercarriage are dirty and need to be professionally detailed. Interior looks to be original and has been well kept but is beginning to show its age. Glass is clear all around. Cond: 3+. Silver/black cloth/black leather. Odo: 185,286 miles. 3.9-L fuel-injected V8, auto. No hard top included. Signs of prior paint throughout, but some panels original. Touch-ups here and there. Bubble on windscreen surround at the passenger’s position. Glass backlight is sagging; otherwise, soft top is in good condition. Panels lined up nicely. Rubber is original and good overall. Excessive wear on driver’s seat. Lots of cracks in the leather. Screen printing is all intact and steering-wheel leather has yet to be worn smooth. Engine nicely detailed. Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $30,210. Broncos are hot on the auction circuit right now, but this one needs some TLC. The price paid was too much for the condition of this vehicle. Well sold. Smith Auctions LLC, Springfield, MO, 09/17. SOLD AT $41,250. Referring to this very car, a fellow colleague and ACCer commented that these are the most duplicated cars that never existed. Well, never existed until the 2000 Jerry Bruckheimer version of “Gone In 60 Seconds” featuring a heavily customized 1967 Shelby Mustang GT500 that is now regularly copied. Some of the really well-executed Eleanor tributes have brought $50k and up, and the consignor here did achieve a premium for this example. Appropriate money here. Dan Kruse Classics, Austin, TX, 09/17. #223-1973 FORD BRONCO utility. VIN: U15GLR56457. Red & white/red vinyl. Odo: 80,908 miles. 302-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. An older repaint now dulling with scratches and chips. Overspray observed in several areas. Fit, chrome and trim are all good. Aftermar- “ #234-1973 FORD MUSTANG Mach I fastback. VIN: 3S05F228532. Yellow & black/ black vinyl. Odo: 60,136 miles. 302-ci V8, 2-bbl, 4-sp. Older repaint still shows well. Numerous scratches, dents and pits within the chrome and trim. Engine bay looks like it was painted with a spray can and needs a professional detail. Underside is clean but could use a good professional detailing. Interior shows its age and is begging for a restoration. Glass is just fair, with numerous scratches. Window rubber needs to be replaced. Cond: 3. NOT SOLD AT $8,000. Eleventh-gen Tbirds tend to pop up on the auction circuit pretty regularly—from examples still covered in delivery plastic to the other end of the spectrum seen here. This one was high mileage and well worn. Ford expected 25,000 units per year, but only 68,098 were produced in the four-year run. The high bid was more than fair, but the consignor—a dealer asking $10k—decided to hold out. Dan Kruse Classics, Austin, TX, 09/17. AMERICANA #211-1978 JEEP CJ-5 SUV. VIN: J8F83EH061605. White/brown cloth/black & beige vinyl. Odo: 95,993 miles. 304-ci V8, 2-bbl, 3-sp. Older repaint needs to be redone. Fit is good. Wheels look nice with chrome trim and new off-road tires. Both the engine bay and underside are good but could be better. Windshield-wiper rash. Interior is just fair, reflecting its age and mileage. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $13,780. At this price it is a good candidate for a lot of TLC and possibly a full restoration, assuming the drivetrain is original. Good buy. Smith Auctions LLC, Springfield, MO, 09/17. #005-2004 FORD THUNDERBIRD convertible. VIN: 1FAHP60A14Y102284. Referring to this very car, a fellow colleague and ACCer commented that these are the most duplicated cars that never existed. 1968 Ford Mustang GT custom fastback ” SOLD AT $9,540. This vehicle was a nosale at Leake Tulsa in June 2016 for $9,750 (ACC# 6807992). It looks like the market has spoken and that a fair price was paid. Good deal for both buyer and seller. Smith Auctions LLC, Springfield, MO, 09/17. A January–February 2018 127

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The Parts Hunter Pat Smith Big-Money Manifolds and a Top-Dollar Radiator Repro or original? Sometimes the part makes the choice for you plate. Wagoneers and Honchos are getting hot in the vintage truck market but we won’t be seeing a reproduction radio with the AMC logo anytime soon. Price paid was appropriate for what you’re getting. About the same price only gets you the 8-track player for a GM car. A fair deal. #132325120844 OEM factory AMC Jeep AM/FM cassette radio. Item condition: Used. 8 photos. eBay. Midvale, UT. 9/14/2017. “AM/FM radio cassette player out of Jeep Wagoneer. Should fit other vintage Jeep AMC vehicles. Has all connectors, two knobs (I do not have the small knobs), please see pics. The bezel is also included. Radio portion bench tested and it works great. Picked up a station in stereo even without working antenna. I did not have a cassette to test the player.” Sold at $195. AMC frequently contracted Clarion radio to make their car stereos in the 1970s, going back to the Gremlin days. This unit has all the goodies packed into it and includes the Wagoneer trim #391861169601 1969–70 Ford Boss 302 Mustang/Cougar exhaust-manifold pair with new bolts. Item condition: Used. 12 photos. eBay. Trenton, NJ. 8/23/2017. “A clean pair of exhaust manifolds for a 1969 1970 Mustang or Mercury Cougar with a Boss 302 V8. They are very clean and have the Ford logo with ID numbers C9ZE-9428-A and C9ZE-9431-A. Also included is a new set of concours-correct exhaust-manifold-to-cylinder-head bolts with the ramp-lock washers. These would make a great addition to your BOSS.” Sold at $985.55. With shipping, this is over the $1k mark, but it still isn’t a bad deal. These are genuine Ford parts in excellent condition and free of the pitting I’ve seen on some of the reproduction manifolds. Price is about the same as the repros. A numbers-matching Boss 302 car is likely a show car when it’s done being restored, so it makes sense to get the correct parts if available. “Cheap” is a relative term when it comes to restoration — the Boss 302 Mustang is still an affordable car to restore IF your driveline is still complete. 128 AmericanCarCollector.com #372072094985 1969–74 Ford Econoline van grille 3-piece. Item condition: Used. 8 photos. eBay. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, CAN. 9/10/2017. “An original grille with side moldings, headlight bezels and signal-light lens for a 1969–74 Ford Econoline van. Grille is in nice driver condition with no major dings, just some scratches, missing paint, oxidation and a few rust stains. These are getting very hard to find with additional side trim.” Sold at $425. The 1970s van craze blitzed a bunch of these grilles for custom pieces. Road wear ruined most of the others. Ironically, the 1961–67 and 1975-and-later Econolines have sources for grilles, but the 1969–74 grille isn’t available yet. Looking at prices for new F-100 grilles from the same era will give your wallet a jolt. Considering the size and number of pieces offered, this looks more like a deal with every passing second. The vintage pickup market is doing well, and new pieces are becoming available every month. With that in mind, this was well sold and fairly bought. numbers-matching Mopar big block all original.” Sold at $1,199. A look at the 1971 Mopar Chassis Parts catalog reveals this radiator was used on the models listed in the ad for 1970. The 1969 and 1971 radiators had different numbers. The cooling fins are decent, but unless you’re going for patina, the radiator should be recored. In my opinion, the buyer paid for the tanks, core stamping and date code. Reproductions are about the same price and you can get them date-stamped. A fair deal for an original high-demand part. A #322708478195 1970 Mopar radiator original 2998956 440 Six Pack 426 Hemi, B- and E-body. Item condition: Used. 8 photos. eBay. Upper Marlboro, MD. 9/11/2017. “1970 Mopar radiator 2998956 factory original that came on B- and E-body big-block 426 Hemi, 440 six pack, 440 and 383 with option N51 MAX COOL and B-bodies with option A13 Superbird. Radiator tanks are in good condition and will show well. Great for unmolested condition to make your fully restored,

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SHIFT UP TO ACC PREMIUM! www.americancarcollector.com/premium The Insider’s Authority on Collector Car Values Auction results on over 297,000 vehicles compiled over 30 years Graphs, price trends, photos and more Special pricing for ACC subscribers January–February 2018 129

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JUNKYARDTREASURES Friesen Salvage: Not Your Average Parts Yard Trucks are popular in Liberal, KS, such as this 1960 Chevrolet Viking 60 stake bed with its hard-to-find hood intact Frank Friesen has a story for each of the cars in his yard, and if you’ve got the time, he’ll share them all Story and photos by Phil Skinner metal that has been salvaged, and if that metal is in the form of an automobile part, he is ready to sell. Cash is preferred, and he likes to deal face-to-face. He calls himself the “Dean of Old School.” Friesen does do things the old-school way. It is best to call ahead F and see if he has the parts you are interested in. Frank doesn’t mind telling it like it is. He says there is a story for each of the vehicles in his yard, and if you bring a 12-pack of cold ones with you, he will tell you as many as you would like to hear. A Detailing What: Friesen Salvage Where: Rt. 2 Salvage Road, Liberal, KS 67901 Hours: Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Saturdays by appointment Phone: 316-624-2388 Kansas is the Sunflower State, and they have pretty much surrounded this solid and complete 1949 plymouth sedan 130 AmericanCarCollector.com Jeep Wagoneers are still popular today, and this example is available in complete condition for restoration or parts-donor duties or a little over 45 years, Frank Friesen has run a salvage yard in Liberal, KS. It is loaded with lots of old metal, most of it on automobiles. And while he has made a decent living buying and selling scrap, he does not consider his operation to be a parts yard for old vehicles. If someone wants to buy some This 1966 Ford Thunderbird Town Landau hard top has plenty of good parts for the restorer who needs them

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Showcase Gallery Sell Your Car Here! Includes ACC website listing. Showcase Gallery color photo ad just $66/month ($88 non-subscribers) Text-Only Classified ad just $15/month ($25 non-subscribers) Three ways to submit your ad: Web: Visit americancarcollector.com/classifieds/place-ad to upload your photo (300 dpi jpg) and text, or text only. Secure online VISA/MC payments. Email: Send photo (300 dpi jpg) and text, or text only, to classifieds@ americancarcollector.com. We will contact you for payment information. Snail mail: ACC Showcase, PO Box 4797, Portland, OR 97208-4797, with VISA/MC or check. 25 words max, subject to editing. Deadline: 1st of each month, one month prior to publication. Advertisers assume all liability for the content of their advertisements. The publisher of American Car Collector Magazine is not responsible for any omissions, erroneous, false and/or misleading statements of its advertisers. GM 1948 Buick Super convertible 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 convertible Seafoam Green/tan leather. 69,500 miles. Beautiful interior with matching canvas soft top and tonneau boot, stunning body-off restoration, equipped with 3-speed transmission, power seats, power windows and power top and original AM radio. Complete with handbook and manual. Runs and drives beautifully. $69,500. Heritage Classics Motorcar Company. Ph: 310.657.9699, email: sales@heritageclassics.com. Website: www. heritageclassics.com. (CA) 1967 Chevrolet Camaro SS/RS custom coupe S/N 124377L109731. BMW Glacier Silver Pearl/black leather & vinyl. 300 miles. V8, 6-spd automatic. Price lowered every seven days until sold. $124,800 spent on frame-off custom. Numerous OE options. LS3 430 hp, 6-speed automatic transmission, upgraded and modernized interior with new leather. Suspension, electrical, brake, cooling, fuel, and exhaust systems to modern new condition. PS, PW, PB, Corvette vinyl power seats. 3.07 12-bolt rear. Every part, bolt and nut disassembled, restored to better than original, or replaced with new. All original steel body, no rust. New hood. Show-quality paint. $56,500. CAMVETTE. Contact Jim, Ph: 559.353.4637, email: jim_ish@yahoo. com. (CA) 132 AmericanCarCollector.com Black/Black Houndstooth. 2,000 miles. V8, 5-spd manual. An accurate presentation of the only black-with-gold-stripe manual-transmission ZL1 ever made. A rotisserie restoration, period-correct parts and an all aluminum 427 ZL1 motor. $89,000. Contact David, Ph: 850.572.3551, email: dlschwartz411@yahoo. com. (FL) 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Yenko coupe WANTED FOR SERIOUS PRIVATE COLLECTOR: 1969 Chevrolet Yenko Camaro. Preferably LeMans Blue or Daytona Yellow, with 4-speed. Must be 100% real car with matching numbers, known history and professional restoration or original condition. Ph: 860.690.9630,email: cars@jonathansierakowski.com. (MA) Ermine White & blue-gray/red. 62,989 miles. New interior and white soft top, gorgeous matching-numbers example equipped with a 4-speed transmission, CQ-code 283/230hp engine. Runs and drives great. $78,500. Heritage Classics Motorcar Company. Ph: 310.657.9699, email: sales@heritageclassics.com. Website: www.heritageclassics. com. (CA) Black/gray. V8, automatic. New paint. Black with gray body accents. Good tires, original, new dual exhaust and headers. Nice car. $11,900. Contact Barry, Ph: 469.628.2360, email: barry@bloomingcolorsnursery.com. (TX) CORVETTE 1961 Chevrolet Corvette convertible Red/black. V8, 4-spd manual. Rare L78 numbers-matching, frame-off restoration with history to 1986. 4-speed, PS, PDB, blinker tach. Out of 63,000 1967 Super Sports, there were only 3,300 convertibles and 613 total L78s. $84,000. Contact Jay, email: bernste5@aol.com. 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 replica coupe S/N CCE142B107376. Turquoise & white/ black & turquoise. 49,351 miles. V8, automatic. 350 V8, long box w/cover, sunroof, power steering/brakes, air conditioning, new interior, sport wheels, dual exhaust, AM/FM cassette, rare side toolbox. $16,995. Jack’s Auto Sales and Service. Contact Mike, Ph: 231.947.1242, email: jacksautoservice@ gmail.com. (MI) 1985 Oldsmobile 442 2-dr hard top S/N 194379S722158. LeMans Blue/Bright Blue. 73,800 miles. V8, automatic. Matchingnumbers 350 with automatic, factory a/c, power steering, brakes and windows, tilt column and fender louver trim. $20,900 OBO. Car Care Center. Contact Jeff, Ph: 309.837.7575, email: ccvettes@macomb. com. Website: www.carcarecorvettes.com. (IL) 1990 Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 coupe 1971 Oldsmobile 442 convertible 1963 Chevrolet Corvette convertible S/N 344671M104959. Nordic Blue/blue. 105,000 miles. V8, automatic. complete nut-and-bolt restoration in 2012, complete numbers-matching drivetrain, including carb, starter, distributor, etc., less than 2,000 miles on rebuilt engine. Air conditioning converted to R134a, suspension (original springs with stamped part numbers). All sheet metal is original to car and floor pans, car was an Arizona car its entire life. Recently scored 987 at Olds nationals. One of 1,096 automatic convertibles built in 1971, Protect-OPlate and a broadcast sheet. $70,000 OBO. Contact Maurice, Ph: 414.737.4588, email: m.brown.sr@sbcglobal.net. (WI) 1972 Chevrolet Cheyenne Super pickup S/N 30837S107118. Riverside Red/red. V8, 4-spd manual. 1972 IMSA GTO Champion and 1972 FIA Daytona 6-Hour; 1973 Sebring 12-Hour. 1993 SVRA Medallion, 1993 Bloomington Gold, 2002 Monterey, 2013 Sebring Legends Honoree, and 2014 Amelia “Spirit of Road Racing” award. Full restoration 1993. Unquestionable documentation. $275,000. Contact Phil, Ph: 352.378.4761, email: fastphilcurrin@cox.net. 1969 Chevroelt Corvette coupe S/N 30867S109861. White/Saddle. V8, 4-spd manual. White with saddle interior and top. 340-hp original engine. Paint is decent. Car is a nice driver. Additional pictures available upon request. Serious inquiries only, please. $40,000. Contact Richard, email: skwerly1@ msn.com. (MA) 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Split-Window coupe S/N 1G1YZ23J2L5803031. Torch Red/red. 11,010 miles. V8, 6-spd manual. 375hp DOHC LT5 engine, 6-speed manual transmission, Posi rear end. This ZR-1 is in concours condition, with just low original miles, and VERY well documented with plenty of factory and dealer literature as well as service records since new. Highly recognized by the National Corvette Restoration Society (NCRS) as the first ZR-1 to achieve the 4 Star Cross Flag Award, along with Top Flight 3 times, Performance Verification and the Dave McLellan Mark of Excellence. The McLellan Award recognizes individuals for the restoration and preservation of 1975–92 Corvettes. $33,495. Contact Sam, Ph: 912.604.9553, email: samgallagher82nd@ comcast.net. (GA)

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Showcase Gallery 2004 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 coupe OEM Ford parts. One of 25 SC cars from ’90/’91 and ’93. Have factory Ford and Saleen sticker. All SC parts in place. Prices on the way up. Email for more info. $44,950. Contact Chris, email: bcmustang@verizon. net. (VA) S/N 1G1YY12S645104770. Torch Red/black. 11,200 miles. V8, 6-spd automatic. This extremely low-mileage car is flawless. It is in hard-to-find original condition with no modifications. OEM Goodyear Eagle tires are practically brand new with less than 2k miles on them. Hard to find a better original Z06! $27,500. Contact Rod, Ph: 405.245.8929, email: insuremeokc@yahoo. com. (OK) FOMOCO 1954 Ford Customline 2-dr sedan 2011 Ford Mustang GT/CS Daytona Pace Car coupe original Hemi, dual 4-barrel carbs, automatic transmission. Completely restored, over $130k invested. $90,000. The Wilson Collection. Contact Dave, Ph: 910.639.2576, email: dpolny@wilson-collection.com. (FL) 1956 Chrysler Imperial sedan Interior just redone. Power steering, brakes and windows. AM/FM stereo. Newer tires, lots of new parts. Florida truck. $10,995 OBO. Contact Greg, Ph: 269.271.4724, email: greg.gorzelanny@yahoo.com. (MI) RACE 1934 Gilmore Special Van Blerck Midget race car Race Red/charcoal leather. 5,800 miles. V8, 6-spd manual. Low garage-kept miles. Rare glass roof option. Window sticker. Special edition 19-inch wheels. 3.73 limitedslip rear axle. Sync voice activated system. Shaker audio system. Completely stock and original. $30,000 OBO. Contact Kevin, Ph: 504.273.8838, email: carnut60@aol. com. (LA) MOPAR 1953 Chrysler New Yorker Deluxe convertible Black & white/blue. 70,000 miles. V8, 3-spd automatic. Old-school custom with many 1950s accessories. Chevy 327 engine with Edelbrock carburetor, Turbo 350 transmission, Mustang II front suspension, power 11-inch disc brakes with GM calipers. Interior in excellent condition with new headliner, radio converted to AM-FM stereo with CD player and iPod connection plus all new speakers. New KYB front shocks, 1,500 miles on new tires. Great highway cruiser, just get in and go. Appraised for $24,500, but only asking $18k. $18,000. Contact Allen, Ph: 516.770.0365, email: amlipp@yahoo.com. (NY) 1991 Ford Mustang Saleen SC coupe S/N C566944. Sand Dune Beige/Coral leather. 81,558 miles. V8, 3-spd automatic. A special-order 1956 Imperial, originally owned by a Texas rancher. A true survivor machine that just came out of long-term storage. Although it runs and drives, it will need to be inspected and serviced before any use. Should be very competitive in preservation class. $17,500. Contact Don, Ph: 785.633.9926, email: dmoler009@gmail.com. (KS) AMERICANA 1984 Jeep Grand Wagoneer SUV Red/black. Inline 4, manual. Early frame-rail midget! Believed to be built by Leo “Pop” Faulkner, sponsored by Earl Gilmore, driven by Carl Rosenthal and others. Documented part of Bill Harrah Collection. 1928 Van Blerck aluminum-block marine engine. Complete 10-year-old restoration. Not raced since. Amelia award winner. $43,000. Contact Jeff, Ph: 615.438.1063, email: jeff.brock. music@gmail.com. (TN)A S/N 7238633. Pimento Red/Red Highlander Plaid. 56,850 miles. V8, automatic. Model C56-2. Stunning, rare, multiple concours winning, top-of-the-line Chrysler with all options including rare Moparmatic steering wheel clock and all brochures. FirePower 331 cubic inch Hemi with 180 horsepower. $110,000. Contact Loren, Ph: 610.216.9540, email: lhulber@ptd.net. (PA) 1955 Chrysler C-300 2-dr hard top FOLLOW ACC Burgundy/tan. V8, automatic. 360-ci engine. Bright Red/gray leather. 64,721 miles. V8, manual. SC #09 with special-ordered color combo. Fresh cosmetic restoration with S/N 3N552201. Yellow/yellow. 33,526 miles. V8, 4-spd automatic. Limited production, It’s so easy! We’ve made uploading your Showcase Gallery listings online easier. As an added bonus, we now feature multiple images for our web listings. www.AmericanCarCollector.com/classifieds January–February 2018 133

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RESOURCE DIRECTORY Put your company in the ACC Resource Directory. Call 877.219.2605 Ext. 218, or email advert@americancarcollector.com Auction Companies Auctions America. 877-906-2437. Auctions America specializes in the sale of American Classics, European sports cars, Detroit muscle, hot rods, customs and automobilia. Headquartered at the historic Auburn Auction Park in Indiana, Auctions America boasts an expert team of full-time specialists who offer 190 years’ combined experience, making them uniquely qualified to advise on all aspects of the hobby. www.auctionsamerica.com. (IN) Barrett-Jackson Auction. 480421-6694. 480-421-6697. For over four decades, the Barrett-Jackson Auction Company has been recognized throughout the world for offering only the finest selection of quality collector vehicles, outstanding professional service and an unrivaled sales success. From classic and one-of-a-kind cars to exotics and muscle cars, BarrettJackson attracts only the best. Our auctions have captured the true essence of a passionate obsession with cars that extends to collectors and enthusiasts throughout the world. A television audience of millions watches unique and select vehicles while attendees enjoy a lifestyle experience featuring fine art, fashion and gourmet cuisine. In every way, the legend is unsurpassed. N. Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85251. info@barrett-jackson.com. www.barrett-jackson.com. (AZ) Bonhams is the largest auction house to hold scheduled sales of classic and vintage motorcars, motorcycles and car memorabilia, with auctions held globally in conjunction with internationally renowned motoring events. Bonhams holds the world-record price for any motorcar sold at auction, as well as for many premier marques. San Francisco: 415-391-4000 New York: 212-644-9001 Los Angeles: 323-850-7500 London: +44 20 7447-7447 Paris: +33 1 42 61 10 10 www.bonhams.com/motors 134 AmericanCarCollector.com Douglas County Fairgrounds, Roseburg, OR; September— Oregon State Fairgrounds, Salem, OR. On the I-5 corridor. We offer knowledgeable, fast, friendly “hassle-free” transactions. Oregon’s #1 Collector Car Auction. www.petersencollectorcars.com (OR) Leake Auctions. 800-722-9942. Leake Auction Company was established in 1972 as one of the first car auctions in the country. More than 40 years later, Leake has sold over 34,000 cars and currently operates auctions in Tulsa, Oklahoma City and Dallas. Recently they have been featured on several episodes of three different reality TV series — “Fast N Loud” on Discovery, “Dallas Car Sharks” on Velocity and “The Car Chasers” on CNBC Prime. www.leakecar.com. (OK) RM Sotheby’s, Inc. 800-2114371. RM Sotheby’s is the world’s largest collector car auction house for investment-quality automobiles. With 35 years’ experience, RM Sotheby’s vertically integrated range of services, from restoration to private-treaty sales and auctions, coupled with an expert team of car specialists and an international footprint, provide an unsurpassed level of service to the global collector car market. www.RMSothebys.com. (CAN) houses, specializing in the procurement and sale of the world’s finest automobiles and vintage watercraft. www. worldwide-auctioneers.com. (IN) Buy/Sell/General California Car Cover Company. 800-423-5525. More than just custom-fit car covers, California Car Cover is the home of complete car care and automotive lifestyle products. Offering the best in car accessories, garage items, detailing products, nostalgic collectibles, apparel and more! Call 1-800-4235525 or visit Calcarcover.com for a free catalog. Lucky Collector Car Auctions. 888-672-0020. Lucky Collector Car Auctions is aptly named after Harold “Lucky” Lemay. Based in the majestic, pastoral ground of Marymount, home to the Lemay Family Collection Foundation near Tacoma, WA, the collection, formerly the biggest in the world according to Guinness, now hosts an unrivaled event center, art collection and charitable foundation, which features two exceptional collector car auctions a year. www.luckyoldcar.com (WA) Palm Springs Auctions Inc. Keith McCormick. 760-320-3290. Family owned and operated for 28 years. Producing two large classic car auctions per year in Palm Springs, CA. Each auction features over 500 cars. Held in November and February every year. www.classic-carauction.com Russo and Steele Collector Automobiles. 602-252-2697. Specializing in the finest American muscle, hot rods and custom automobiles and European sports; Russo and Steele hosts three record-breaking auctions per year; Newport Beach in June; Monterey, CA, every August; and Scottsdale, AZ, every January. As one of the premier auction events in the United States, Russo and Steele has developed a reputation for its superior customer service and for having the most experienced and informed experts in the industry. Fax: 602.252.6260. 5230 South 39th St., Phoenix, AZ 85040. info@russoandsteele.com, www.russoandsteele.com. (AZ) Silver Auctions. 800-255-4485. 2020 N. Monroe, Spokane, WA 99205. silver@silverauctions.com. www.silverauctions.com. (WA) Petersen Auction Group of Oregon. 541-689-6824. Hosting car auctions in Oregon since 1962. We have three annual Auctions: February—Oregon State Fairgrounds, Salem, OR; July— Worldwide Auctioneers. 866273-6394. Established by John Kruse and Rod C. Egan, The Worldwide Group—Auctioneers, Appraisers and Brokers—is one of the world’s premier auction Ideal Classic Cars. 855-324-0394. Our goal as a company is to showcase the highest investment-quality, restored classic cars to the world; while offering these vehicles at a fair market price. Our attention to detail is Classic Car Dashes. Sales@ClassicCarDashes.com. Specializing in reproduction and replacement dash pads for many of your favorite cars, trucks and SUVs. Each pad is manufactured as close as possible to original specs. All dash pads offer quality in both fit and appearance and are manufactured in the U.S. www.ClassicCarDashes.com (PA) Classic Fit Covers. sales@ClassicFitCovers.com. Welcome to Classic Fit Covers. We specialize in custom fit car covers and seat protectors for classic and modern vehicles. At Classic Fit Covers you get quality materials, superior craftsmanship and fast delivery...all at a great price. We have you covered! www.ClassicFitCovers.com (PA)

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unsurpassed. If you are looking for a true investment car that will go up in value...contact us. We have a full sales and service department. We also provide shipping worldwide. We are in business simply because of our love and passion for classic cars, trucks and motorcycles. Let us share that with you. www.idealclassiccars. net (FL) tered a concours event, need a relocation, are attending a corporate event or shipping the car of your dreams from one location to another, one American transportation company does it all. www.reliablecarriers.com Mustang America. 844-249-5135. Mustang America is a new company initially specializing in first generation (1965–1973) Mustang parts, interiors and accessories. Launched by Corvette America, Mustang America provides the same level of world-class customer service, product quality and fast delivery. We look forward to serving the vintage Mustang enthusiast. www.MustangAmerica.com (PA) Park Place LTD. 425-562-1000. Founded in 1987 in Bellevue, WA, our dealership is locally owned and independently operated. The fouracre Park Place Center features an Aston Martin sales and service center, a Lotus dealership, and we have one of the largest selections of collector & exotic cars available in the Northwest. We consign, buy and sell all types of vehicles. We also have an in-house service center and high-end Auto Salon. www.ParkPlaceLtd.com (WA) Classic Car Transport Direct Connect Auto Transport. 800-668-3227. “The driver was friendly and helped our son feel comfortable about moving his lowered ’59 Volkswagen Beetle classic auto. The driver communicated well during pick up and delivery. It was fast, too. We spent two days in Phoenix after the car was picked up and it beat us back to the East Coast.” 5-Star Reviews Let Us Earn Yours directconnectautotransport.com Intercity Lines Inc. 800-221-3936. Gripping the wheel of your dream car and starting the engine for the first time is a high point for any enthusiast. We are the premier enclosed auto transport company that will ensure your car arrives safely for that experience. For over 35 years our standards for excellence have clients returning time and time again. Trust the Best. Trust Intercity Lines. www.Intercitylines.com. Thomas C. Sunday Inc. 800541-6601. Established in 1970, Thomas C. Sunday Inc. provides clients with fully enclosed, crosscountry, door-to-door service. Thomas C. Sunday Inc. are well-seasoned experts in the field of automobile transportation, hiring only Grade-A drivers, and offering clients the best possible service at competitive pricing. Fully licensed, insured and bonded. Call 1-800541-6601 or 717-697-0939, Fax 717-697-0727, email: McCollister’s Auto Transport. 800-748-3160. We have transported thousands of collector vehicles over the past 35 years all across the United States, whether they are moving an exotic, street rod, vintage racer or muscle car. With our experienced drivers trained to ensure the finest protection and our customized, lift-gated, air-ride trailers, we make sure your vehicle safely arrives on time. www.McCollisters.com/ AutoTransport info@sundayautotransport.com Collection Management Passport Transport. 800-7360575. Since our founding in 1970, we have shipped thousands of treasured vehicles door-to-door with our fully enclosed auto transporters. Whether your prized possession is your daily driver, a vintage race car, a classic, a ’60s muscle car or a modern exotic, you can depend on Passport Transport to give you the premium service it deserves. We share your appreciation for fine automobiles, and it shows. www.PassportTransport.com. RideCache – Organize, Manage, Preserve your Collection. Your documentation represents 5% or more of your vehicle’s value — yet it is fading away in folders and binders susceptible to loss or damage. Let our professionals take those binders and turn them into organized, protected, transferable digital resources — all for less than the cost of a high-end detailing service. Learn more at ridecache.com/ACC. Corvette Parts & Restoration Mid America Motorworks. 800-500-1500. America’s leader in 1953–2016 Corvette parts and accessories. Request a free catalog at www.mamotorworks. com. (IL) Reliable Carriers Inc. 877-7447889. As the country’s largest enclosed-auto transport company, Reliable Carriers faithfully serves all 48 contiguous United States and Canada. Whether you’ve en- Paragon Corvette Reproductions. 800-882-4688. At Paragon, you’ll receive the finest quality of 1953–96 Corvette parts and experience in the industry. Our catalogs and website are filled with hundreds of helpful schemat- Zip Products. 800-962-9632. Zip customers know that the voice on the other end of the phone is a true enthusiast. Someone who, in minutes, can hold in their hands any item in stock. Further, someone with knowledge of, experience with, and genuine affection for, the car we hold so dear: Corvette. www.zip-corvette.com (VA) Corvettes for Sale The Chevy Store. At The Chevy Store, you will find only the highest-grade, investment-quality Corvette and specialty Chevrolet automobiles. We take pride in providing our clients with the finest selection anywhere. Offering investment-quality Corvettes and Chevrolets for over 30 years! 503256-5384 (p), 503-256-4767 (f) www.thechevystore.com (OR) ics, photos and tech-tips. Our Vintage Department has a treasure chest of NOS and used parts. Look up our Stick With Us Discount Program and our firstonline-order savings. Call us or visit www.paragoncorvette.com to order today. (MI) Volunteer Vette Products. 865521-9100. 1963–2004 Corvette Parts and Accessories. Supplying Corvette restoration parts and accessories for 30 years. Visit our website at www.volvette.com and take advantage of the Free Shipping offer on orders over $150. You can also speak with us directly by calling 865-521-9100. New parts are added daily, so if you can’t find it, give us a call. (TN) FOLLOW ACC January–February 2018 135

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RESOURCE DIRECTORY Put your company in the ACC Resource Directory. Call 877.219.2605 Ext. 218, or email advert@americancarcollector.com Events—Concours, Car Shows Insurance money. For leases ranging from $50,000 to more than $1 million, with terms extending up to 84 months, visit www.putnamleasing. com or call 1-866-90-LEASE. (CT) Museums Concours d’Elegance of America. 2018 marks the 40th Annual Concours d’Elegance of America, July 27th–29th, at the Inn at St. John’s in Plymouth, Michigan. We continue to be one of the most recognized automotive events in the world. A weekend filled with over 15 events for automobile enthusiasts of all ages. Sunday’s field will host 300 spectacular automobiles from around the world. www.concoursusa.org (MI) American Collectors Insurance. 1-866-887-8354. The nation’s leading provider of specialty insurance for collectors. We offer affordable, agreed-value coverage for all years, makes, and models of collector vehicles. Since 1976, we have provided superior service and broad, flexible coverage. Experience our quick quoting and application process, as well as our “Real Person” Guarantee every time you call. Email: Info@ AmericanCollectors.com www.AmericanCollectors.com (NJ) Chubb Collector Car Insurance. 1-866-CAR-9648. The Chubb Collector Car Insurance program provides flexibility by allowing you to choose the agreed value and restoration shop. Broad coverage includes no mileage restrictions and special pricing for large schedules. For more information, contact us at 1-866-CAR-9648 or www.chubbcollectorcar.com. The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering. 831-620-8879. A prominent component of Monterey Car Week, The Quail is a world-renowned motorsports event featuring one of the world’s finest and rarest collections of vintage automobiles and motorcycles. The Quail maintains its intimacy and exclusivity by limiting admission through lottery ticket allocations. Admission is inclusive of six gourmet culinary pavilions, caviar, oysters, fine wines, specialty cocktails, champagne, and more. Web: signatureevents. peninsula.com. (CA) J.C. Taylor Insurance. 800-3458290. Antique, classic, muscle or modified — J.C. Taylor Insurance has provided dependable, dynamic, affordable protection for your collector vehicle for over 50 years. Agreed Value Coverage in the continental U.S., and Alaska. Drive Through Time With Peace of Mind with J.C. Taylor Insurance. Get a FREE instant quote online at www.JCTaylor.com. (PA) Leasing-Finance J.J. BEST BANC & CO. provides financing on classic cars ranging from 1900 to today. Visit our website at www.jjbest.com or call 1-800-USA-1965 and get a loan approval in as little as five minutes! Grundy Insurance. 888-6478639. James A. Grundy invented Agreed Value Insurance in 1947; no one knows more about insuring collector cars than Grundy! With no mileage limitations, zero deductible*, low rates, and high liability limits, our coverages are specifically designed for collector car owners. Grundy can also insure your daily drivers, pickup trucks, trailers, motorhomes and more — all on one policy and all at their Agreed Value. www.grundy.com (PA) pionsandheroes.com (CA) 136 AmericanCarCollector.com Riverside Military Academy Champions and Heroes. 404-237-2633. June 1–3, 2018 A 3-day hijinx competitive rally, 1-mile driver time trial and juried Contest of Elegance for Champions and Heroes (race cars through 1974) from the Carmel Concours on the Avenue producer. info@rmachampionsandheroes.com, www.rmacham- Hagerty Collector Car Insurance. 800-922-4050. Collector cars aren’t like their latemodel counterparts. These classics actually appreciate in value, so standard market policies that cost significantly more won’t do the job. We’ll agree on a fair value and cover you for the full amount. No prorated claims, no hassles, no games. www.hagerty.com (MI) Premier Financial Services. 877973-7700. Since 1997, renowned customer service and honest leasing practices have made Premier the nation’s leading lessor of luxury and performance motorcars. We are small enough to ensure your business gets the attention it deserves, and large enough to finance any new, used, or vintage car over $50,000. Contact Premier at 877-973-7700 or info@pfsllc. com. www.premierfinancialservices.com (CT) LeMay Family Collection Foundation. LeMay Family Collection Foundation at Marymount Events Center near Tacoma, WA, hosts an epic backdrop for your next event. Home to 500 fabulous collector cars, worldclass art exhibits, and assorted ephemera, consider your next event here. Weddings, swapmeets, conventions, auctions. The facility can likely exceed your expectations. Visit during the 37th annual open house along with 13,000 other enthusiasts. 253272-2336 www.lemaymarymount.org. (WA) National Corvette Museum. 80053-VETTE. The National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY, was established as a 501(c)3 notfor-profit foundation with a mission of celebrating the invention of the Corvette and preserving its past, present and future. www.corvettemuseum.com. (KY) Parts—General Putnam Leasing. 866-90-LEASE. For over 25 years, Putnam Leasing has been the leader in exotic, luxury, and collector car leasing. This honor comes from Putnam’s unique ability to match the car of your dreams with a lease designed just for you. Every Putnam Lease is written to provide maximum flexibility while conserving capital, lowering monthly payments, and maximizing tax advantages. It’s Putnam’s way of letting you drive more car for less Custom Autosound Manufacturing. 800-888-8637. Since 1977 providing audio solutions for classic car and trucks. Covering over 400 application our radios and speakers fit the original location without modification. Keep the classic look of your vehicle while enjoying state-of-the-art audio. Check out all of our products at www.customautosound. com. Or if you’d like a free catalog, call 800-888-8637 (CA) Evans Waterless Coolant is the solution to running too hot. With a boiling point of 375°F, our revolutionary liquid formulation is a superior alternative to water-based coolants. Evans eliminates water

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vapor, hotspots and boil-over, resulting in a less pressurized, more efficient cooling system and preventing corrosion, electrolysis and pump cavitation. Evans also protects down to -40°F and lasts the lifetime of the engine. See how it works at www.evanscoolant.com (CT) Evapo-Rust® 888-329-9877. Evapo-Rust® rust remover is safe on skin and all materials except rust! It’s also biodegradable and earth-friendly. Water soluble and pH-neutral, Evapo-Rust® is nontoxic, non-corrosive, non-flammable, and contains no acids, bases or solvents. Evapo-Rust® is simply the safest rust remover. www.evapo-rust.com info@evapo-rust.com (AR) Original Parts Group Inc. With over 30 years’ experience, OPGI manufactures and stocks over 75,000 of the finest restoration parts and accessories for GM classics, at the best prices anywhere. The largest selection of Chevelle, El Camino, Monte Carlo, GTO, Le Mans, Tempest, Gran Prix, Bonneville, Catalina, Cutlass, 442, Skylark, GS, Riviera and Cadillac classic parts anywhere. Visit www.OPGI.com or call 800-243-8355. (CA) National Parts Depot. 800-8747595. We stock huge inventories of concours-correct restoration parts for: 1965–73 and 1979–93 Mustang 1967–81 Camaro & Firebird 1964–72 GTO, Tempest & LeMans 1964–87 Chevelle, Malibu & El Camino 1948–96 F-Series Ford Truck 1947–98 C/K 1/2-ton Chevy Truck 1966–96 Bronco 1955–57 Thunderbird www.nationalpartsdepot.com Super Chevrolet Parts Co. 503-256-0098. Restoring Classic Chevrolets Since 1980. Serving the Chevrolet enthusiast for over 25 years. Since 1980, we have provided the highest quality restoration parts and accessories for: 1967–1981 Camaro 1964–1972 Chevelle & El Camino 1962–1972 Nova Store Hours: Tuesday–Friday 9:00 am–5:00 pm, Saturday 10:00 am–3:00 pm. Closed Sunday and Monday. 8705 SE Stark St, Portland OR 97216. sales@superchev.com www.superchev.com (OR) Restoration—General Classic Garage Automobile Restoration. 208.755.3334. Classic Garage is a full service, Advertisers Index Autosport Groups ..............................89 Barrett-Jackson ..........................6-7, 66 Camaro Central .................................93 CarCapsule USA ...............................43 Carlisle Events ...................................69 Charlotte AutoFair .............................99 Chevs of the 40’s ............................123 Concours d’ Elegance of America ..101 Corvette America .................................4 Corvette Expo Inc ..............................77 Corvette Specialties ..........................78 CoverCar Concepts .........................107 Custom Autosound Mfg., Inc ............81 EMS Automotive ..............................113 Evapo-Rust ........................................35 Factory Five Racing ...........................71 Greensboro Auto Auction ..................83 Grundy Insurance ..............................19 GT Motor Cars LLC .........................115 Hendrick Motorsports .......................17 Holley Performance Products, Inc. ...41 JC Taylor ...........................................95 Jim Meyer Racing Products Inc. .....121 JJ Best Banc & Co ..........................125 JJ Rods .............................................75 Law Offices of Bruce Shaw ...............42 Leake Auction Company .....................3 Lucas Oil Products, Inc. ....................79 Lutty’s Chevy Warehouse ...............113 classic car shop offering full-restoration and partial-restoration work, including custom builds. Our specialty is high-end, show-quality body and paint work. We work with many reputable shops around the country that send us their projects for bodywork and paint. We also offer classic car collection management, storage, consulting and classic car valuations. www.classicgaragellc.com (ID) Corvette America. 800-458-3475. The No. 1 manufacturer and supplier of interiors, parts and wheels for all generations of Corvettes. Our Pennsylvania manufacturing facility produces the finest quality Corvette interiors and our distribution center is stocked with thousands of additional Corvetterelated products. Corvette America is a member of the RPUI family of companies. Visit www.CorvetteAmerica.com (PA) Cosmopolitan Motors LLC. 206467-6531. Experts in worldwide acquisition, collection management, disposition and appraisal. For more than a quarter century, Cosmopolitan Motors has lived by its motto, “We covet the rare and unusual, whether pedigreed or proletarian.” Absurdly eclectic and proud of it. Find your treasure here, or pass it along to the next generation. www.cosmopolitanmotors.com (WA) McCollister’s Auto Transport...........140 Metal Rescue ...................................131 Metron Garage ................................117 Michael Irvine Studios .....................139 Mid America Motorworks ..................13 Mosing Motorcars .............................47 Motorcar Classics ...........................111 Mustang America ................................5 National Corvette Museum ..............133 National Parts Depot .........................67 New England Auto Auction ...............85 Obsolete & Classic Auto Parts, Inc. 117 Original Parts Group ..........................21 Palm Springs Exotic Car Auctions ....29 Park Place LTD ..................................91 Passport Transport ............................39 Mercedes-Benz Classic Center. 1-866-MB-CLASSIC. (1-866-6225277). The trusted center of competence for all classic Mercedes-Benz enthusiasts. Located in Irvine, CA, the Classic Center is the only sales and restoration facility in the U.S. exclusively operated by Mercedes-Benz. Over 50,000 Genuine Mercedes-Benz Classic Parts in its assortment. From small services to full groundup restorations, work is always true to original. Ever-changing showcase of for-sale vehicles. We are your trusted source. www.mbclassiccenter.com. (CA) Park Place LTD. 425-562-1000. Founded in 1987 in Bellevue, WA, our dealership is locally owned and independently operated. Our restoration department works full time to restore vehicles of every year, make and model to provide an award-winning finish. We consign, buy and sell all types of vehicles. We also have an in-house service center and high-end Auto Salon. www.ParkPlaceLtd.com A Performance Racing Oils ...................88 Petersen Collector Car Auction .........97 Pilkington Classics Automotive Glass .2 Plycar Automotive Logistics ..............73 POR-15 ..............................................23 RM Sotheby’s ....................................11 Russo and Steele LLC .......................15 Speed Digital .....................................25 Steve’s Auto Restorations Inc. ..........45 Summit Racing Equipment ................87 The Chevy Store Inc ........................115 The WheelSmith ..............................119 Thomas C Sunday Inc .....................121 Volunteer Vette Products ..................37 Zip Products, Inc. ..............................49 zMAX ...............................................107 January–February 2018 137

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Surfing Around Carl Bomstead Automobilia at Auction Carl’s thought: Julien’s Auctions, at their November 3, 2017, “Icons & Idols — Rock ’n sale, sold a teal-blue Cloud guitar from Prince’s estate for $700,000. It was one of 31 Cloud g tars that Andy Beech made for Prince, who died in April 2016 from an apparent drug overd He played the guitar in the late ’80s into the ’90s. It was estimated to sell for $60,000–$80 so the seller was certainly pleased. Here are a few more items I found that had nothing to do with Prince: MECUM ELKHORN AUCTION— LOT F-42. MUSGO GASOLINE 48-INCH PORCELAIN SIGN. Estimate: $60,000–$80,000. SOLD AT $21,000. Date sold: 9/20/2017. There were a number of these colorful signs that had been used as sewer covers, and as such, one side was trashed. One of these signs, in excellent condition, sold for over $250k a year or so ago and since then they have been coming out of the woodwork. As more surface, the prices have been on a sharp descent, as noted here. Still, a wonderful sign. EBAY #162605051730— JOHN DEERE FARM IMPLEMENTS PORCELAIN SIGN. Number of bids: 54. SOLD AT $4,309. Date sold: 10/26/2017. There are at least four versions of this sign, with the one with the green background being the least common. The three-legged variety, sold here, is more difficult to find than the four-legged one and usually commands a premium, but the price paid here was a bit of a bargain considering the condition and rarity. EBAY #112609841940—CORVETTE RACING MOBIL 1 COMMEMORATIVE AWARD. Number of bids: 92. SOLD AT $12,100. Date sold: 9/1/2017. The C7R #4 Corvette swept the 2016 IMSA GTLM championship, and Mobil made 12 trophies from the oil that had been removed from the Corvette after each race for testing. This was the eighth of 12 produced and they were presented to key members of the team. This one was presented to the Corvette Museum to be used for fundraising. Pricey, but for a good cause. EBAY #292229556725— DALLAS, TEXAS, PRESTATE LICENSE PLATE. Number of bids: 22. SOLD AT $1,807.22. Date sold: 9/3/2017. From 1907 until 1916, Texas vehicle registration was left to the counties, and they 138 AmericanCarCollector.com issued the num a plate to displa numbers and a metal frame. It was produced by Strafford Auto Illuminating Company and was in exceptional condition, thus the aggressive price. EBAY #182852496140— 1916 MICHELIN TIRE CO. “BIBENDUM” MASCOT. Number of bids: 14. SOLD AT $1,780. Date sold: 11/3/2017. This is one of a number of mascots featuring Bibendum, and several had him smoking a big cigar. The logo is still in use, although he has cleaned up his act and slimmed down a bit. This is a desirable mascot, and one sold a few years back for about twice what we see here. Someone got a screaming deal. EBAY #332372485931— 1958 TIN PLYMOUTH BELVEDERE. Number of bids: 32. SOLD AT $2,600. Date sold: 9/17/2017. This highly detailed Plymouth Belvedere was over 21 inches in length and was in exceptional condition. The doors and hood opened and the front wheels turned. The interior was constructed with several fabrics, and the dash was tinplate. It was stated the engine needed a rebuild, which was an understatement as it was a bag of pieces and parts. There was no manufacturer noted, so it may not have been made in Japan. No doubt whoever made it was certainly talented. EBAY #253187770365— 1947 INDIANAPOLIS 500 PIT PASS PIN. Number of bids: 5. SOLD AT $431.89. Date sold: 10/15/2017. This was the first year for this pin design, and it featured the #2 Novi that won the 1946 race driven by Ralph Hepburn. Price seemed about right until I looked a bit deeper and found that another sold a week or so later for $188 after five bids. Every now and then it pays to be patient! A