American Car Collector March-April 2014

CAR COLLECTOR Volume 3 • Issue 14 • March-April 2014 The Scoop: Profiles CORVETTE 1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE L88 $3.9m / Barrett-Jackson A new record price for a Corvette sold at auction — Michael Pierce Page 48 GM 2002 CHEVROLET CAMARO ZL1 COUPE $83k / Russo and Steele A low-production street terror with rising value — Patrick Smith Page 50 FoMoCo 1968 FORD MUSTANG “BULLITT” FASTBACK $88k / Bonhams It’s McQueen’s Mustang, but it’s also a replica — Tom Glatch Page 52 MOPAR 1970 PLYMOUTH HEMI ’CUDA $170k / Gooding & Co. Top-dog Mopar muscle at a mid-level price — Tom Glatch Page 54 AMERICAN ™ Cover photo: 1968 Ford Mustang “Bullitt” fastback tribute Pawel Litwinski, courtesy of Bonhams 8 AmericanCarCollector.com Keith Martin's

HOT ROD 1929 FORD DICK FLINT ROADSTER $578k / RM Big-money vintage rod with all the right stuff — Ken Gross Page 56 AMERICANA RACE and TRUCK 1972 WINNEBAGO BRAVE CUSTOM RV $12k / Barrett-Jackson A “Brave” buy on a hot-rod Winnie — Jay Harden Page 58 THE “SNAKE & MONGOOSE” COLLECTION: 1970 PLYMOUTH BARRACUDA, 1972 PLYMOUTH DUSTER, TWO 1967 DODGE D700 HAULERS $990k / Barrett-Jackson One buyer had the chance to collect all four — John L. Stein Page 60 The “Snake & Mongoose” Collection; profile, p. 60 Jim Pickering March-April 2014 9

The Rundown EXPERTS’ COLUMNS 12 Torque Big money in the Arizona desert — Jim Pickering 42 Cheap Thrills The cheapest buys of Arizona 2014 — B. Mitchell Carlson 44 Horsepower The best American collector cars by decade — Colin Comer 46 Corvette Market The credo of do no harm — John L. Stein 122 Surfing Around Must-have automobilia — Carl Bomstead FUN RIDES 26 Good Reads American Motors Corporation: The Rise and Fall of America’s Last Independent Automaker — Mark Wigginton 28 Desktop Classics 2006 Ford GT — Marshall Buck 36 Scottsdale 2014 Making sense of Arizona auction week — Tony Piff 40 Carspotting Cool rides seen in Arizona 114 Our Cars Randy Zussman’s 2000 Dodge Viper GTS SERV DEPA 16 What’s Collector events of note 18 Crossing the Block Upcoming auctions, plus highlighted star cars 26 Parts Time Nifty parts to keep your car on the road 28 Cool Stuff A five-ton jack that fits in your hand? 32 Your Turn Lambrecht’s economics, and the Type N/W 74 Quick Take 1989 Pontiac Trans Am 20th Anniversary Edition coupe — Chad Tyson AUCTIONS 70 Barrett-Jackson — Scottsdale 2014 Scottsdale’s biggest sale gets even bigger, and 1,401 of 1,405 cars make a combined $110m — Dan Grunwald 80 Leake — Dallas 2013 Dual auction lanes lead to $9.4m total and 365/588 sold — Cody Tayloe 88 Russo and Steele — Scottsdale 2014 484 out of 735 cars find new garages, and the total breaks $21m — Joseph Seminetta 96 Silver Auctions — Fort McDowell 2014 Not far from the Scottsdale bustle, 191 out of 328 cars sell for $3.3m — B. Mitchell Carlson 104 Roundup American vehicles from coast to coast — Dan Grunwald, Joseph Seminetta, B. Mitchell Carlson, Cody Tayloe, Carl Bomstead, John Baeke, Adam Blumenthal, Michael Leven, John L. Stein, Donald Osborne 10 AmericanCarCollector.com 108 Glovebox Notes 2014 Jeep Cherokee Limited 116 The Parts Hunter Rare parts and pieces SUV on the market 118 Showcase Gallery Sell your car in ACC’s classifieds section 118 Advertiser Index 120 Resource Directory Get to know our advertisers Background photo: Usually, the raging bulls at Barrett-Jackson are just Lamborghinis, but the auction house added a rodeo this year in Arizona (see feature, p. 36) Tony Piff

Torque Jim Pickering New year, new records B THE ARIZONA AUCTIONS AGAIN KICKED OFF WITH A BANG, WITH 2,381 CARS BRINGING $253M ig money, big cars and big crowds. That’s what the Arizona auctions in January are all about. They’re some of the highest-grossing car auctions in the United States, and as they happen right at the start of the new year, they tend to set the pace for the next 12 months. This year’s numbers didn’t disappoint. In total, at Barrett-Jackson, RM, Gooding, Bonhams, Russo and Steele, and Silver, 2,381 of 2,813 cars sold for a combined $253m. Compare that with the $225m total for 2,263 cars sold last year. It’s a 12% bump, or about a $28m boost for what basically amounted to 125 more cars sold, and it was an all-time new high-water mark for these auctions. Also, for the first time in Arizona auction history, the overall average sold price per car crept past $100k. Of course, none of that should be much of a surprise to anyone who’s been following the market recently. It’s been pretty vibrant for several years now, with high buyer and seller confidence helping to bring a lot of rare and expensive cars to auction. ’67 Corvette L88s — the Holy Grails of production Corvettes — are a great example. These cars rarely sell on the open market, but two of the 20 built sold at auction over the past five months. Mecum offered one in September, which made $3.4m. The most recent sale was at Barrett-Jackson, and it set a new record price for L88s and all Corvettes in general when it sold for $3.9m (it’s profiled on p. 48). Record prices aside, simply seeing these cars offered for sale says a lot about how comfortable sellers are in the market right now. In addition to that, Arizona results also indicate that the middle market is still doing well, too. Average sold prices for lots sold under $1m were up $2k compared with 2013, which is a great sign that either confidence remains high among these more mainstream buyers or that car quality was slightly up. Actually, I think it’s a case of both — more numerous nice cars bringing better money, thanks to increased market confidence. Thinking bigger All that is great, but for me, the most in- teresting thing about this year’s Arizona sales 12 AmericanCarCollector.com Jim Pickering Crowds, cars and craziness launch the collectors’ year in Arizona wasn’t the overall totals or other sales metrics. It was the in-your-face expansion over years past, specifically at Barrett-Jackson. The company’s massive, all-new building was filled every time I was there, and The Guinness Book of World Records certified their tent as the largest nonpermanent structure in the world. I walked it a couple of times on the hunt for profile cars for this issue, and I can definitely vouch that it is almost a mile long. In addition to Barrett-Jackson’s sprawl- ing growth, their TV coverage spanned several networks this year, with a much broader reach than in years past. That, too, was big news for the industry, as it drew in a lot more eyes that otherwise may not have known a collector-car auction, let alone six, were even going on. A changing market That growth was the basis for the ques- tion we asked for our “Insider’s View” section in this issue. With this much physical expansion and hundreds of thousands of spectators either walking through the gates of auctions such as Barrett-Jackson or tuning in on TV, it’s safe to say we’re seeing a lot of new potential bidders getting exposed to the hobby. And those potential bidders are looking at this market – and the consignments available in places like Arizona — with fresh eyes. If and when these people become buyers, what will they be interested in buying? Will they prefer traditional original muscle cars, or will they be interested in modern ones? Further, will modern muscle cars ever have the same general appeal that the originals do today? Those are all tough questions to tackle, especially considering how many factors built the current muscle-car market and helped develop its love for Shelbys, Hemis and Ram Air cars. But if you ask me, I think it’s safe to say that original muscle and modern muscle share more similarities than differences, and both are just flat-out cool. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the newer cars grow in both interest and value over time, especially as old-school collectors gain more respect for them, and as a new generation of bidder — one who grew up on 5.0 Mustangs and fourth-gen Camaros — flows into the market. Realistically, I think we’re already starting to see it start on the rarest and most powerful examples of the new generation. The GM profile car in this issue, the GMMG ZL1 Camaro (p. 50), sold for $83k at Russo and Steele, is a great example. But that’s just one opinion. ACC’s read- ers had a lot to say on the subject, and you can check it out starting on p. 34. A

WHAT’SHAPPENING Spring Carlisle — you might think you can do it in a day ... Spring Carlisle Spring is finally here, and that means it’s time for Spring Carlisle, a giant swapmeet, car corral and auction in Carlisle, PA, from April 23 to 27. This is one of the biggest events of the year on the East Coast, and it’s a great way to shake off winter and start the car year. We’re talking 150 acres and more than 8,100 vendor booths, so this is The Place to find that unobtanium part. More than 2,000 cars will look for a new home in the car corral, where you can dicker with the owner for a price that makes everyone happy. The Carlisle Auction at the Carlisle Expo Center will run more than 300 cars across the block. www.carsatcarlisle.com (PA) Hot rods invade the AACA Yes, the Antique Automotive Automobile Club of America — a temple of car originality — is celebrating tireburning, highly modified hot rods and customs. Hot rods and custom cars from the Goodguys on the road Goodguys is making tracks all over the United States during March and April. The Goodguys fifth Spring Nationals takes place March 7–9 in Scottsdale, AZ, and the fourth Spring Lone Star Nationals rumbles to life in Fort Worth, TX, from March 14 to 16. The 32nd All American Get-Together is March 29–30 in Pleasanton, CA, and the Goodguys Meguiar’s 14th Del Mar Nationals is April 4–6 in Del Mar, CA. No excuses for those lucky enough to live in California during the early spring. www.good-guys.com talented hands of George Barris, Ed “Big Daddy” Roth, Boyd Coddington and other prominent names take center stage at “The Art of the Build: Rods & Kustoms” at the AACA Museum in Hershey, PA, through April 27. Don’t ask why — just go. The AACA Museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Regular admission is $10, seniors get in for $9, kids ages 4–12 are admitted for $7 and younger kids get in for free. For more information, call 1.717.566.7100 or visit www. AACAMuseum.org. (PA) Charlotte AutoFair This year’s Charlotte AutoFair — April 3–6 — will fill the giant Charlotte Motor Speedway with 10,000 vendors, an Antique Automobile Club of America National Car Show and 1,600 cars for sale in car corrals. This car-crazed event is giant — it spills out of the speedway onto the surrounding parking lots. North Carolina weather is world-class in April. www.charlotte-autofair.com (NC)A 16 AmericanCarCollector.com

CROSSINGTHE Upcoming auctions (Images are courtesy of the respective auction houses unless otherwise noted) MArCh BLOCK by Tony Piff 1965 Shelby GT350 r at rM Amelia Island 1966 Chevrolet Corvette 427/425 at Gooding Amelia Island Gooding & Company — The Amelia Island Auction Where: Amelia Island, FL When: March 7 Web: www.goodingco.com Last year: 69/71 cars sold / $28.2m Individual Custom convertible sedan by Dietrich ($900k–$1.2m); and a 1941 Packard Super Eight 180 convertible Victoria by Darrin. This upscale auction offers an assortment of blue-chip collectibles from around the world, and there are always a handful of American classics and muscle cars in the mix. Sales totaled $28.2m among just 69 cars last year, which works out to an average price per car of $408k. The American headliners for Amelia Island 2014 are a 1909 Alco; a 1957 Dual-Ghia, beautifully restored by marque specialist Joe Morgan (Gooding estimate: $350k– $450k); a 1966 Chevrolet Corvette 427/425 convertible, finished in rare Mosport Green with factory hard top and knockoff wheels ($140k–$180k); and a 1967 Shelby GT350 fastback ($100k– $125k). Hollywood Wheels — The Amelia Island Select Motorcars & More Where: Amelia Island, FL When: March 7–9 Web: www.seeyouontheblock.com For this “luxury lifestyle event and auction,” Hollywood Wheels has partnered with Festivals of Speed. Headlining the inaugural sale are two Ford GTs — a 2005 with less than 500 miles and a 2006 Gulf Heritage edition with less than 100 miles — plus a 1953 Cadillac Eldorado convertible and a 1961 Imperial Crown convertible. RM Auctions — Automobiles of Amelia Island Where: Amelia Island, FL When: March 8 Web: www.rmauctions.com Last year: 81/88 cars sold / $26.9m 2005 Ford GT at Auctions America Fort Lauderdale This is the official auction of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, and it will be RM’s 16th annual Amelia Island sale. A 1935 Duesenberg Model SJ Walker-LaGrande convertible coupe sold here was the most expensive car of Amelia Island 2013 at $4.5m. American highlights this time around include a 1965 Shelby GT350 R, referred to as the “winningest” Shelby ever (RM estimate: $900k–$1.1m); a 1934 Duesenberg Model SJ convertible sedan by LeBaron ($1.5m–$1.75m); a 1932 Packard Twin Six 18 AmericanCarCollector.com Auctions America — Fort Lauderdale 2014 When: March 14–16 Where: Fort Lauderdale, FL Web: www.auctionsamerica.com Last year: 369/515 cars sold / $17.5m AA will offer a strong selection of rare, desirable, low-mileage cars at this annual three-day sale, including a 2005 Ford GT with just 346 miles; a 2006 Ford GT Heritage Edition with 81 miles; a 1967 Chev- Specialty Auto Auctions Where: Loveland, CO When: March 8 Web: www.saaasinc.com This will be Specialty’s first sale of 2014. The sale takes place in northern Colorado at the newly remodeled Ranchway Feeds building at the Larimer County Fairgrounds — known as “The Ranch.” Memorabilia is offered first, and then the vehicle auction starts at 10 a.m. Look for a nice selection of classic drivers at affordable prices. Silver Auctions — Arizona in the Spring When: March 14–15 Where: Fort McDowell, AZ Web: www.silverauctions.com Last year: 78/162 cars sold / $1.2m Silver’s well-established Fort McDowell sale in January has gained a springtime sibling. Look for Silver’s usual strong selection of quality collectibles at four- and five-digit prices. Classic American performance cars and customs take center stage, with plenty of cool pickups and luxury cruisers, too.

CROSSINGTHEBLOCK rolet Corvette 427/435 coupe with 5,900 miles; and a 1954 Chevrolet Corvette with 1,370 miles. Also look for a 1935 Hudson Terraplane used in the 2009 Johnny Depp film “Public Enemies,” a highly original, well-documented 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429, and a freshly restored 1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1 with Super Cobra Jet 429 engine. In 2013, the auction realized $17.5m in sales, with a strong 72% of lots sold and an average price per car of $47k. AA predicts more than 400 cars this time around. Dan Kruse Classics — San Antonio 2014 Where: San Antonio, TX When: March 29 Web: www.dankruseclassics.com Last year: 90/183 cars sold / $1.8m AprIL Collector Car Productions — The Toronto Spring Classic Car Auction Where: Toronto, CAN When: April 4–6 Web: www.collectorcarproductions.com 1954 Chevrolet Bel Air custom at B-J palm Beach The star cars at this twice-annual sale are a 1969 Pontiac Trans Am Ram Air III with 4-speed and PHS documentation, offered at no reserve; a Cretors Model C Popcorn Wagon in authentic working condition; a restored 1952 Chevrolet ice-cream truck with working freezer; a restored 1969 Plymouth Barracuda “Mod Top” with build sheet, fender tag and original engine; a 1931 Packard Standard Eight five-passenger coupe (CCCA Full Classic); a 1968 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu, all original with 8,600 actual miles; and a documented 1971 Pontiac Trans Am with a 455 HO V8. Mecum Auctions — Houston 2014 Where: Houston, TX When: April 10–12 Web: www.mecum.com Last year: 738/993 cars sold / $25m A very important 1963 Corvette convertible will cross the auction block at Mecum Houston: the Bunkie Knudsen GM styling car. Last year’s sales totaled $25m among 738 cars. One thousand cars are slated for the 2014 auction. All the action will be broadcast on NBC Sports Network. Silver Auctions — Portland Spring Where: Portland, OR When: April 11–12 Web: www.silverauction.com Last year: 96/197 cars sold / $857k ACC staffers are looking forward to Silver’s spring Portland sale, which takes place just 15 minutes from our headquarters. The selection tends toward the affordable end of the spectrum, with sold cars averaging just under $9k last year. There are sure to be lots of souped-up performance and muscle cars, vintage pickups, low-mile luxury rides, and a few hot rods. The Branson Auction Where: Branson, MO When: April 11–12 20 AmericanCarCollector.com Barrett-Jackson — Palm Beach 2014 When: April 11–13 Where: West Palm Beach, FL Web: www.barrett-jackson.com Last year: 422/431 cars sold / $20.5m Web: www.bransonauction.com Last year: 118/190 cars sold / $2.5m Prices averaged about $21k at the Branson spring sale last year, and a 1960s-style Batmobile replica sold for a whopping $173k. The offerings often include such eclectic fare as well as pre-war classics, ground-pounding Detroit iron, and the occasional woodie. The auction takes place at the Hilton Branson Convention Center on the Lake Taneycomo waterfront in historic downtown Branson, MO. Prices averaged $20k per car at last year’s San Antonio sale. Expect to see a wide array of American muscle, hot rods, pickups and cruisers, from driver-grade to sparkly show-car. Notable no-reserve star cars at West Palm Beach are a nutand-bolt restored 1930 Ford Model A pickup, finished in dark maroon with black fenders; a 1954 Chevrolet Bel Air custom convertible; a 1971 Oldsmobile 442 convertible; and a 1967 Chevrolet Corvette 427/435 coupe. Mecum Auctions — Kansas City Spring Where: Kansas City, MO When: April 24–26 Web: www.mecum.com Last year: 446/699 cars sold / $9.5m Heartland American muscle reigns supreme at Mecum KC. About 750 collector cars are expected. A 1936 Ahrens-Fox BT fire truck was the most expensive lot last year at $133k, and the average sold price was $21k. Leake Auction Company — Dallas Spring 2014 Where: Dallas, TX When: April 25–26 Web: www.leakecar.com Leake builds on the popularity of their fall Dallas auction with this brand-new Dallas Spring sale. Their dual-auction-block format sells double the cars for double the auction intensity. At their November Dallas sale, sales totaled $9.5m among 365 lots, and sold cars averaged $26k, with a 2006 Ford GT on top at $218k. Specialty returns to the Adams County Regional Park Fairgrounds to celebrate its 13th year at this location and their 28th year doing auctions in Colorado. They expect 150 vehicles, with a focus on classics, antiques, uniques and muscle.A Specialty Auto Auctions Where: Brighton, CO When: April 26 Web: www.saaasinc.com

CROSSINGTHEBLOCK ST R CARS Highlighted vehicles at upcoming auctions 1963 Shelby Cobra The 23rd production Shelby Cobra built, CSX2023, will cross the block at Auctions America Fort Lauderdale. The 1963 car has 4-speed transmission and was upgraded to 289 power early in its life. Other desirable features include a Moto-Lita steering wheel, Ray Brown three-inch lap belts, an original Ford clock, wind wings and sun visors. 1958 Oldsmobile Super 88 Collector Car Productions will offer a 1958 Oldsmobile Super 88 at their April 4–6 Toronto Classic Car Auction. The exceptionally well-restored car features rare tri-carb J-2 371-ci V8, pushing 312 hp and 410 ft-lb of torque. It is finished in Festival Red and Alaskan White with matching twotone interior. It even has the rare optional Trans-Portable radio. 1954 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster A 1954 Chevrolet Corvette roadster leads the lineup at Barrett-Jackson’s April 11–13 sale in Palm Beach, FL. The car has been professionally restored to NCRS specs by Noland Adams — author of the definitive The Complete Corvette Restoration and Technical Guide — and is offered without reserve. 2014 Ford Mustang Super Cobra Jet At Leake’s April 25–26 sale in Dallas, the early headliner is a 2014 Ford Mustang Super Cobra Jet, equipped with 5.0 V8, Whipple supercharger, safety cage (NHRAcertified to 8.50 ET), Weld Racing Cobra Jet wheels, and Cobra graphics.A 22 AmericanCarCollector.com

Publisher’s Note Keith Martin CAR COLLECTOR Volume 3, number 2 March-April 2014 publisher Keith Martin Executive Editor Chester Allen Editor Jim Pickering Art Director Dave Tomaro Digital Media Director Jeff Stites Editor at Large Colin Comer Auctions Editor Tony Piff Associate Editor Chad Tyson Copy Editors Yael Abel, Dave Tomaro Auction Analysts B. Mitchell Carlson Kevin Coakley John Lyons Norm Mort Phil Skinner Contributors Carl Bomstead Colin Comer John Draneas Michael Pierce Jay Harden Mark Wigginton guess that 50% of the most perfectly restored cars in the world are at B-J every year. This year, during our shoot, there was one car that stole my heart: I a 1967 Firebird with a 400-ci engine. It was just a driver. It had an automatic tranny with aftermarket Hurst wheels, and was gold with a black interior. The car was straight and honest, and sold for a fairmarket $33,000 including commission. Having just gone through a nut-and-bolt restoration on our 1964 Nova, which we sold there (see more about this on page 30), I have some new insights on what I’m looking for in a car. No more show cars for me. The next ACC car will be a driver that anyone on the staff will feel comfortable jumping into and taking to lunch. It can be an automatic, with power steering, power brakes and a/c. Why punish ourselves just because we want to be in a vintage car? The Firebird was hardly the nicest, rarest or most desirable car at Barrett-Jackson. But it tugged at my heartstrings, partly because it didn’t try to take my wallet and devour it in a single gulp like a more rare variant might do. After all, here at ACC, it’s all about the driving, and a car like that Firebird would look awfully good sitting in our garage. A The car I wanted at Barrett-Jackson ’ve been going to Barrett-Jackson for 26 years, and for a car junkie, it’s as close as you get to heaven in Arizona. This year, I spent sun-up to sun-down from Wednesday through Saturday in the big tent, shooting episodes of “What’s My Car Worth,” which will air on Velocity in July. A part of Barrett-Jackson has always been about excess. I would Information Technology Brian Baker Lead Web Developer Marc Emerson SEO Consultant Michael Cottam Advertising and Events Manager Erin Olson Financial Manager Cheryl Ann Cox print Media Buyer Wendie Martin ADVErTISInG SALES Advertising Executives Randy Zussman randy.zussman@AmericanCarCollector.com 877.219.2605 x 214 Cindy Meitle cindy.meitle@AmericanCarCollector.com 877.219.2605 x 5 Steve Kittrell steve.kittrell@AmericanCarCollector.com 877.219.2605 x 5 SUBSCrIpTIOnS Subscriptions Manager Rich Coparanis Administrative Assistant Cassie Sellman 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 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 © 2014 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 24 AmericanCarCollector.com AMERICAN JOIN US Daniel Grunwald Jack Tockston Pat Campion Dale Novak B. Mitchell Carlson Ken Gross Tom Glatch John L. Stein Marshall Buck Dale Novak Keith Martin's

GOODREADS by Mark Wigginton American Motors Corporation: The Rise and Fall of America’s Last Independent Automaker by Patrick R. Foster, Motorbooks, 208 pages, $32.89, Amazon “Hi, my name is Mark, and I once owned an AMC Hornet.” “Hi, Mark.” You get the drift. Church basement, folding chairs, coffee and cookies… and a lot of people with serious regrets. I was one of those. You never think you are going to have an AMC problem. You think you can handle it. But somewhere along the way you find yourself telling total strangers that the Gremlin X design package “really gave the little Gremlin a very sporty look.” Or how the Metropolitan was going to save the company, or how the “fastest American sedan for 1957 was the fabulous Rambler Rebel.” Or at least you do if you are Patrick Foster, author of this look back at American Motors (a company born, in horse-breeding parlance, out of Nash, by Hudson). This is not his first Rambler Rodeo; Foster is prolific. He has run out of fingers to count his various AMC books, and his toes should be worried. He takes a look at AMC from the end of the Nash era, the series of mergers and marriages, from the ill-fated synergy experiment with Packard (“We’ll buy your engines, you buy sheet metal; no, really, it will be great, but only if you buy the sheet metal; come on now, buy some steel, dammit”), to the “glory” years of cross-the-pond creativity engendered by boatloads of Renault cash. Along the way, in Foster’s book every car is a winner, just held back by (plausible excuse here). Actually, once you get into the spirit of the exercise, it winds up being a sad tale, where a lot of people tried really hard to sell cars that never spoke to a large enough slice of the American consumer. It was a company constantly under-capitalized, chasing survival that remained just out of reach. And the only good memory I have of that car, an ill-handling 6-banger automatic hatchback, involves an impressive Midwest thunderstorm, a young lady and lightning both in and out of the car. “Hi, my name is Mark, and it has been 110,595 days since I owned an AMC Hornet.” PARTSTIME by Chad Tyson New products to modernize your street machine 1963–67 Buick riviera fender emblems Original Parts Group Inc. now offers ultra-high-quality, exact reproductions of the long-discontinued factory emblems used on the front fenders of the 1963–67 Buick Riviera and on the hood of the 1967 model Riviera. In keeping with the original GM factory part, each OPGI Riviera emblem is produced with a zinc alloy die-casting process that ensures a durable finished product in bright chrome plating that promotes long life. Sold individually, each emblem also features the factory-correct, GM-style studs to fit the original mounting ODREADS by Mark Wigginton American Motors Corporation: The Rise and Fall of America’s Last Indepen- dent Automaker by Patrick R. Foster, Motorbooks, 208 pages, $32.89, Amazon “Hi, my name is Mark, and I once owned an AMC Hornet.” “Hi, Mark.” You get the drift. Church basement, folding chairs, coffee and cookies… and a lot of people with serious regrets. I was one of those. You never think you are going to have an AMC problem. You think you can handle it. But somewhere along the way you find yourself telling total strangers that the Gremlin X design package “really gave the little Gremlin a very sporty look.” Or how the Metropolitan was going to save the company, or how the “fastest American sedan for 1957 was the fabulous Rambler Rebel.” Or at least you do if you are Patrick Foster, author of this look back at American Motors (a company born, in horse-breeding parlance, out of Nash, by Hudson). This is not his first Rambler Rodeo; Foster is prolific. He has run out of fingers to count his various AMC books, and his toes should be worried. He takes a look at AMC from the end of the Nash era, the series of mergers and marriages, from the ill-fated synergy ex- periment with Packard (“We’ll buy your engines, you buy sheet metal; no, really, it will be great, but only if you buy the sheet metal; come on now, buy some steel, dammit”), to the “glory” years of cross-the-pond creativity engendered by boatloads of Renault cash. Along the way, in Foster’s book every car is a winner, just held back by (plausible excuse here). Actually, once you get into the spirit of the exercise, it winds up being a sad tale, where a lot of people tried really hard to sell cars that never spoke to a large enough slice of the American consumer. It was a company constantly under-capitalized, chasing survival that remained just out of reach. And the only good memory I have of that car, an ill-handling 6-banger automatic hatchback, involves an impressive Midwest thunderstorm, a young lady and lightning both in and out of the car. “Hi, my name is Mark, and it has been 110,595 days since I owned an AMC Hornet.” PARTSTIME by Chad Tyson New products to modernize your street machine 1963–67 Buick riviera fender emblems Original Parts Group Inc. now offers ultra-high-quality, exact reproductions of the long-discontinued factory emblems used on the front fenders of the 1963–67 Buick Riviera and on the hood of the 1967 model Riviera. In keeping with the original GM factory part, each OPGI Riviera emblem is produced with a zinc alloy die-casting process that ensures a durable finished product in bright chrome plating that promotes long life. Sold individually, each emblem also features the factory-correct, GM-style studs to fit the original mounting ll ll for ODREADS by Mark Wigginton American Motors Corporation: S by Mark Wigginton American Motors Corporation: The Rise and Fall of America’s Last Indepen- dent Automaker by Patrick R. Foster, Motorbooks, 208 pages, $32.89, Amazon “Hi, my name is Mark, and I once owned an AMC Hornet.” “Hi, Mark.” You get the drift. Church basement, folding chairs, coffee and cookies… and a lot of people with serious regrets. I was one of those. You never think you are going to have an AMC problem. You think you can handle it. But somewhere along the way you find yourself telling total strangers that the Gremlin X design package “really gave the little Gremlin a very sporty look.” Or how the Metropolitan was going to save the company, or how the “fastest American sedan for 1957 was the fabulous Rambler Rebel.” Or at least you do if you are Patrick Foster, author of this look back at American Motors (a company born, in horse-breeding parlance, out of Nash, by Hudson). This is not his first Rambler Rodeo; Foster is prolific. He has run out of fingers to count his various AMC books, and his toes should be worried. He takes a look at AMC from the end of the Nash era, the series of mergers and marriages, from the ill-fated synergy ex- periment with Packard (“We’ll buy your engines, you buy sheet metal; no, really, it will be great, but only if you buy the sheet metal; come on now, buy some steel, dammit”), to the “glory” years of cross-the-pond creativity engendered by boatloads of Renault cash. Along the way, in Foster’s book every car is a winner, just held back by (plausible excuse here). Actually, once you get into the spirit of the exercise, it winds up being a sad tale, where a lot of people tried really hard to sell cars that never spoke to a large enough slice of the American consumer. It was a company constantly under-capitalized, chasing survival that remained just out of reach. And the only good memory I have of that car, an ill-handling 6-banger automatic hatchback, involves an impressive Midwest thunderstorm, a young lady and lightning both in and out of the car. “Hi, my name is Mark, and it has been 110,595 days since I owned an AMC Hornet.” PARTSTIME by Chad Tyson New products to modernize your street machine 1963–67 Buick riviera fender emblems Original Parts Group Inc. now offers ultra-high-quality, exact reproductions of the long-discontinued factory emblems used on the front fenders of the 1963–67 Buick Riviera and on the hood of the 1967 model Riviera. In keeping with the original GM factory part, each OPGI Riviera emblem is produced with a zinc alloy die-casting process that ensures a durable finished product in bright chrome plating that promotes long life. Sold individually, each emblem also features the factory-correct, GM-style studs to fit the original mounting ll for Maradyne Maradyne pacesetter 6-volt fans Just because your car runs on six volts doesn’t mean you have to put up with an insufficient, powerrobbing cooling setup. Rip out (or unbolt) that mechanical fan and replace it with a new electric fan from Maradyne. They designed these fans to operate with the vehicle’s existing 6-volt electrics and fit into smaller engine bays. You will need to install a manual toggle switch to operate the fan, unless you also purchase one of their recommended wiring harnesses. MSRP is $79.99 to $99.95 depending on the size (12-inch to 16-inch). The new fans are available wherever Maradyne products are sold. Tech service is available at 800.537.7444. Visit www. maradynehp.com for additional information.A 26 AmericanCarCollector.com Lineage: Patrick Foster knows his stuff, he is well regarded as an automotive journalist and historian, and his specialty is the independent car companies, of which AMC was the longest survivor. His collection of photographs and research helps him in creating the many titles to his name. Fit and finish: It’s a nice, simple design, well printed, and chock full of publicity photos from the era. Drivability: There are plenty of fans of the products of AMC, starting with those coming from Nash. Your mileage may vary. As a fan book, it’s just swell. But journalism is journalism, and one of the most common mistakes in automotive books is unabashed enthusiasm, while history appreciates a more, uh, nuanced look at the creations of a company and the men (mostly) who put their heart and soul in the products. This look at American Motors is filled with superlatives. And that’s not a good thing. is best

COOLSTUFF Sign language So you’re decorating your garage, and your name is Jim. How about a neon sign that says “Jim’s Garage”? Nights of Neon can fabricate anything you can imagine. How about a fullscale 3D Lincoln Continental four-door convertible? They’ve done that. They also maintain an inventory of over 10,000 pieces, available to rent or buy. www.nightsofneon.com Five-tool player Summit’s 5-in-1 Jumpstart Box is a really No m keyc The K Gold-plated It’s time to get your 2014 Bloomington Gold commemorative plates. These plates are issued by the state of Illinois and are street-legal within the state from May 2 to June 29, 2014. Any plates unsold after May 15, 2014, will be destroyed. Prices vary by number. Corvette model years, horsepower and engine-size numbers are $105. Other numbers are $55. www.bloomingtongold.com was on ite gad 2013. W the rele of version 2.0, it’s lighter, thinner, available in more colors, and they’ve brought the base price down to $29. Smaller than a Tic-Tac box, it has six slots for keys ($4.99 apiece, $25 for modern “chipped” keys), bottle opener ($5.99), memory stick ($39.99 for 32 gb), and/or flashlight ($9.99). Ordering online is surprisingly easy, or locate a dealer at www.keyport.com. handy item — it offers a jump whenever you need it, as well as an on-board air compressor, two 12-volt plugs, two USB plugs, and a lighter plug. It’s the official battery reviver of American Car Collector. In fact, I used it yesterday to jump my pickup. $139.97 from www.summitracing.com Tools for your toys Maintain your model-ca collection like a professional with these scale garage accessories from Genuine Hotrod Hardware. There’s a 1:18 4-post lift ($39.97) and a 1:24 five-ton engine hoist ($9.97), plus 1:24 accessory sets with jacks, tool cabinets, creepers, gas cans and more ($9.97). www. genuinehotrod.com DESKTOPCLASSICS by Marshall Buck 2006 Ford GT Some of my all-time favorite cars are the original Ford GT40s, and since obtaining one of those is out of the question, maybe someday I’ll be able to swing one of the 2005–06 Ford GT production cars, which would also be a lot more usable! Several years ago, HPI Racing, a hugely successful manufacturer of R/C vehicles, briefly branched out into the production of high-quality model cars. They mostly produced race cars, but they also made some sports cars. Unfortunately, HPI closed their model-car division late last year. They made highly accurate models of the production Ford GT and earlier concept cars, both in various colors. The GTs are made up of numerous parts and have a wealth of perfectly miniaturized detail. Paint finish is a flawless high-gloss job, windows are crystal-clear, and both the comprehensively detailed interior and engine can be seen through them. Look on eBay and buy one if you can. 28 AmericanCarCollector.com by Tony Piff Detailing Scale: 1:43 Available colors: Red, white, yellow, matte black, Gulf colors, and more Quantity: Unknown Price: $150 to $200-plus Production date: 2011 Web: Not on website any longer, so you’ll need to hunt eBay Ratings Detailing: Accuracy: Overall quality: Overall value: is best

SNAPSHOTS ACC’s Scottsdale Insider’s Seminar CONTRIBUTORS PICKED ONE CAR TO OWN FROM EACH GENERATION On January 15, several hundred ACC readers gathered at Barrett-Jackson in Scottsdale, AZ, for ACC’s first Scottsdale Seminar, presented by Barrett-Jackson, Mid America Motorworks, Reliable Carriers and Meguiar’s. Keynote Speaker Colin Comer kicked things off with a look at the muscle car market and how it’s changed since the financial crash of 2008, and he shared his insights on where things are headed in the future. He was joined by ACC contributors B. Mitchell Carlson, John L. Stein, and me for our panel discussion. We were each tasked with picking one car we’d like to own — just one — from each of the following generations: 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and ’90s, and 2000s to today. The idea was to select a car that would be both fun to use and a good investment, considering the current market. Picks ranged from 1953 Ford F100s through 1965 Shelby GT350s and Chevrolet Impala SS 396s, 1972 Corvette LT-1 convertibles, Chad Tyson ACC Editor at Large Colin Comer shares his insights with the crowd 1980s Saleen Mustangs, and more. The one car we all agreed upon? First-gen Dodge Vipers, both in RT/10 roadster and GTS coupe form. As production was limited and its performance was well known, it’s a great buy both in terms of fun factor and future investment potential. — Jim Pickering Wanna go? ACC will be hosting another seminar in Scottsdale 2015, and we’ll likely be hosting others throughout the year as well. Admission is always free to ACC subscribers. Watch this space for more, and sign up for ACC’s Insider’s Newsletter, published every other Wednesday, for up-to-date information as it becomes available. Find it at www.americancarcollector.com. ACC’s no-reserve project wagon finds a new home Bucket seats, a V8 rumble, and a 4-speed. All muscle car es- sentials. But it’s not something you usually find in a wagon. So that’s what ACC built. This 1964 Nova Wagon had been with the company quite a while — in fact, it had been a part of the Sports Car Market garage longer than ACC’s been around. Our publisher, Keith Martin, bought it back in 2009 as a project, but it was a good one with no rust and pretty much all of its original components, all the way down to its factory 283-ci V8 and 3-speed on the column. It was ratty from years of use, but it was a rare 400-series top-level Nova and was mechanically sound, and that made it a pretty cool starting point. The project took several years and included a complete repaint, an all-new interior with buckets out of an SS coupe, a 4-speed on the floor, and an SS gauge package with a tach. A raspy set of glasspacks, an Edelbrock intake and carb, and some polished aluminum wheels finished it off. It had a cool could-have-been-stock look in its factory white and blue, and it turned a lot of heads when we cruised it to events. It served a lot of purposes for us, from show car to booth and magazine hauler, and never gave us any trouble. But the time had come for ACC to move on to something else, so we consigned it to Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale event this January. 30 AmericanCarCollector.com Jim Pickering It sold at no reserve on January 16 for $26,400, including commission, to a bidder in the back of the room. As with most project cars, we had more money in it than we got out of it, but several other similar wagons sold in Arizona for similar money, so I’d say it brought a market price for what it was on the day it sold. It went to a good home, too. Ken Lingenfelter, a car collector and owner of Lingenfelter Performance Engineering, was that buyer in the back of the room, and the car is now a part of his unbelievable muscle and exotic car collection in Michigan. “It looks pretty good in the muscle car room,” he says, where it sits among original Z/28s, Trans Ams, big-block Corvettes, AAR ’Cudas, and more — the perfect home for a muscle wagon. — Jim Pickering

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 A Type what? I enjoyed reading the current article on the 1970 Ford Torino Type N/W recently (January-February 2014). I’m a longtime Ford enthusiast, and I thought I knew about every area-specific Ford dealer “special order” limited-edition car, but this one was new to me. I would have to say the 1970 Mustang/ The Lambrecht Collection — behind a great story was a baffling business model Tony Piff How’d he do it? For all the coverage you gave Lambrecht’s Collection (featured in the January-February 2014 issue), no one has asked the fundamental business question. How could a dealer afford to keep hun- dreds of cars on the books for decades? The economics make no sense in any dealership and he wasn’t, as far as I know, a wealthy man subsidizing his car business. I did hear one rumor that during World War II he saved the life of a man who became a GM executive. The GM exec is rumored to have simply sent Lambrecht the cars free out of gratitude. It certainly could have happened. My hunch is that in pre-computer days inventory controls could have been easily circumvented and GM was making so many cars that these just fell through the cracks. Whatever the answer, I’m surprised no one asked the question. This kind of quirky ain’t free! — Jackson Dell Weaver, Kirkland, WA Jim Pickering, ACC Editor, responds: That’s a good question, and it’s one we wrestled with when putting together our coverage of the event. B. Mitchell Carlson touched on it briefly in his truck profile of the Cameo — going any further than we did would have been pure speculation on our part, since there just wasn’t any real info out there about it beyond rumors, and Ray Lambrecht wasn’t available for comment. I hadn’t heard about the free cars from GM, and while I doubt that was the case, it probably isn’t out of the question, either. Overall, I think we can all assume that it took some clear motivation to stack 32 AmericanCarCollector.com up unsold inventory the way Lambrecht Chevrolet did for so long, and it couldn’t have made much business sense; otherwise, other dealers would have probably done the same thing, and I think we’d be seeing their collections pop up in the wake of the media blitz that surrounded the VanDerBrink sale. So far, that hasn’t happened. Lambrecht could have been building a collection for the future, as the family suggested. Or the cars could have been treated as a business expense for tax purposes. Maybe he just liked them and didn’t need to sell them to stay afloat. We simply don’t know. Whatever Ray Lambrecht’s motivations for saving the cars were, financial or otherwise, I’m just glad he did it. For us, the motivation behind the story was less important than the fact that it actually happened, and that they were for sale at a public auction that drew the world’s attention. It was probably the biggest automotive story of the decade, and I think people will be talking about it for years to come. Torino Twisters that were part of the Kansas City-area Ford dealers’ special promotion were as good as it ever got in terms of production numbers and a drivetrain that was seriously devoted to performance. With either a 428 Cobra Jet or a 351 Cleveland, it was so much more than a decal and a spoiler package, and its popularity and desirability continues to remain high, as reflected at auctions over the past five years. I’ve noticed with the Torino Type N/W, only one car actually came with the 429CJ motor. The other five that you mentioned in the article as having a 429 motor must have had the Thunderjet 429, not necessarily known for their performance prowess, and they were usually found in Thunderbirds and other large Ford products. Other than the 15 351-ci Type N/W Torinos, the remaining 374 Torinos were fitted with the standard 302-ci motor (non-Boss 302). Taking all of this in to consideration, I would venture to say that the feature car (429CJ Type N/W) in your article is the only one that would be considered highly collectible ($66k) and the remaining 394 cars, although in one sense can be considered “rare,” probably won’t be considered as serious collectibles or command big money. The other issue is that the Torino Type N/W cannot be verified per VIN, and I’m assuming any documentation used for verification purposes would have to come from the dealer at the time of the original sale. The 1969-71 big-block CJ Torinos have been underrated for years and are finally receiving the notoriety they have deserved as wellconstructed American muscle cars. — Mark DellAcqua, Millersville, MDA Courtesy of Barrett-Jackson 1970 Ford Torino 429 CJ Type n/W

INSIDER’S VIEW Is modern muscle collectible? Crowd-sourcing an answer to your queries To be on the mailing list for next month’s question, go to AmericanCarCollector.com and sign up for our biweekly newsletter. The ACC question: Muscle cars died a pretty horrible death in the mid-1970s, and the 1980s, aside from a few shining beacons such as the Grand National, 5.0, and ZR-1, weren’t much better for performance. But muscle has come back with a vengeance, with modern 400-hp Camaros, Mustangs, and Challengers again roaming the streets, just like they did back in the late ’60s and early ’70s. But will this new group of muscle cars, with their a/c and airbags, ever have the same sort of collectible appeal that their older counterparts have today? 2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Readers respond: Jim Hill, Houston, TX, via email: Although there will always be collectors, no, I don’t think today’s generation cars will have the same appeal as yesteryear’s cars. I believe it’s because of four factors: 1. The supply is much greater today due to efficiencies in manufac- turing and economies of scale. Simply put, there are many more cars available. 2. Like the baseball-card phenomenon of the ’80s, car owners have become aware of the potential value of quality, well-maintained, collector-worthy cars. As a result, there will be more available “down the road,” reducing the overall value. 3. The current generation has many more distractions available to them — cars have less interest due to the availability of technological entertainment. 4. Modern cars and their plug- © General Motors wanted one when the high-horsepower cars were introduced. Bill Hummel, Boerne, TX, via email: I do not think modern muscle cars will be as desirable 40 years from now as the ’60s and ’70s muscle cars are now. Today’s young drivers are not nearly as passionate about cars as their fathers and grandfathers were. The mystique is gone. Young men don’t work on cars after school anymore. They’d rather play with Xbox and Facebook. and-replace components do not lend themselves to as much “tinkering” as the previous generation, therefore fewer sons are working alongside their fathers in their garages, building their passion and creating memories that will be revisited later in life. “My 21- and 24-year-old sons didn’t want my old cars, but they do love their late-model 2009 ’Vette and 2013 Mustang GT” Charlton Young, Springfield, IL, via email: It will take another government/fuel/insurance “car-killing” storm similar to what happened around 1973. Sadly, people won’t miss and demand the modern cars until they’re gone. As a muscle fan, I’ve seen the modern 600-plus hp promised land, and I don’t want to give it up — although I’m still saving to buy one. Don Little, Campbellford, Ontario, Canada, via email: I think they will be to a generation now riding bicycles or tricycles. My first car was a 1949 six Oldsmobile, and then on to Fords. These were nice cars, but in the 1950s and ’60s, we never thought of them as collector cars, and what a mistake that was. I do know that youngsters coming to car shows I participate in seem to pass by our treasured ’50s and ’60s cars and stop to look at a new Mustang or Camaro that some guy has brought. Kevin McCormack, via email: Low-production new muscle cars will be as collectible as ’60s muscle cars, but it will take 20-plus years. History shows us that everyone likes to get a piece of the (their) past, so these cars will be appealing in the future to those who owned them or 34 AmericanCarCollector.com Jim Hunter, St. Petersburg, FL, via email: The modern muscle or “hot-rod” cars from various manufacturers deserve consideration in years ahead for value and collectible significance. A new Viper, or ZR1 Corvette will dust off any 1970 Duster, ’Cuda, or GTO and almost park to enjoy coffee by the time the older “muscle” finishes their run. Care to run your $300,000 Hemi ’Cuda or Boss 429 for titles? Not in any sane person’s mind. You can buy all three — a Viper, a Shelby GT500, and a ZR1 Corvette — for the same amount of money as one Boss 429 Mustang changes hands for in Scottsdale (about $300,000). “Yesterday’s muscle” is just a nice old car. In the future, how will current values hold up? Who knows for certain? But one thing is known today — a ZR1, or Z06, or Viper, or Shelby GT500, or new Z/28, is one true hot-rod muscle car. Fastback Johnny, Smyrna, GA, via email: You know, sometimes guys like me (64 years old) like to relate our girlfriends, wives or both to the old classic cars we drove. Staying with that analogy, I guess the ’55 Chevys and Chevelles and Chargers were our Natalie Woods and Ann-Margrets. The newer cars are the Madonna and Miley Cyrus cars of the future. Regardless, our old rods were extensions of our personalities and the times back then. The fins, skirts, lake pipes etc. The new stuff? They still all look like imitations to me. Dave R., BC, Canada, via email: Modern muscle cars will defi- nitely be collectors’ items in the future. They have all the essential ingredients — raw power, great styling, and they can even turn corners. Toss in all the creature comforts and low production numbers, and they

are can’t-miss collectibles. Some cars, like 1998–2002 WS6 Trans Ams, 2004–06 GTOs and 2003–04 Mach 1s, have already bottomed out on pricing and seem to be on the way up for low-mile originals. I had to sell my 2000 WS6 convertible for family reasons about five years ago, but first chance I get, I’m buying one back. Hopefully they will still be affordable. Nick Fantasia, via email: The modern muscle cars of today will absolutely be the collector cars of tomorrow. If you look at the escalating value on cars like Collectors Edition and Grand Sport Corvettes, the 1LE and SLP Camaros and Firebirds, and the Cobra Mustangs, it is clear the 30- to 45-year-old car guys are starting to spend some money on what they couldn’t buy when they were young. What I am not looking forward to is witnessing when someone drops the first $40k–$50k at an auction on a CRX-Si or 4-cam Toyota. Mike, via ACC Blog: All 2000–02 GMMG Camaros and Trans Ams, especially the ZL-1 Supercars, Dick Harrell Wide Bodies, and Pontiac Blackbirds will be collectible. Alohajohn, via ACC Blog: I think there will be buyers for both: older guys who want the cars of their youth and guys (and gals, too) who want a modern high-tech muscle car with all the latest technology as well as heaps of go! Chuck Wegman, via ACC Blog: Of course they will become collectible, but the time interval will probably be longer. It has taken at least 50 years for collecting to reach current levels. So a 2014 Corvette may start appreciating around 2044. There will be fewer cars available to collect, due to the efficiency of modern recycling. I bet the overall percentage of people interested in collecting will be considerably less. I see a large demographic now of 16- to 30-year-olds who aren’t interested in cars and are not emotionally involved with transportation like we of the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s are. Rich F., via ACC Blog: Newer cars might be collectible to the next younger generation. They will probably want the cars that they grew up with and not the ones we wanted or had when we were younger. Let’s face it — the older cars look much nicer, but they are not safe and reliable. The newer cars are. Many of the younger kids will want the “Fast & Furious” imports. Well, come to think of it, they might want Chargers and GTOs like the ones in the movie. Even my 21- and 24-year-old sons didn’t want my old cars, but they do love their late-model 2009 ’Vette and 2013 Mustang GT. Dean Prevolos, via ACC Blog: The fact that most buyers today buy off the lot rather than order their car with specific options makes a new car very generic. Prior to 1980, the car-buying experience let you choose the unique combinations of options, colors, engines when ordering a car, and that is what created the collector car, as well as the car collector. Henry Mann, Huntingdon Valley, PA, via email: I have lived through both eras. In the ’70s there were a limited number of really hot cars, and availability and dependability were a problem. Now there are so many choices, and a less-than-four-second car that does 125 in the quarter is commonplace. I say stock up! Who cares if they are collectible? We didn’t know what was collectible in the ’70s and we don’t know what’s collectible now. Buy them while you can. A March-April 2014 35

FEATUREARIZONA AUCTION WEEK Tony Piff Custom 1966 Mercury park Wagon at Barrett-Jackson Bye-bye reality THE ONLY THINGS THAT MATTER HERE ARE CARS, MONEY AND HAVING A BLAST by Tony Piff “I wanna build something like that,” says 20-year-old Cameron Ward of Scottsdale, pointing to a modified 1966 Mercury Park Wagon. The car sits long and low on modern 20-inch alloys. Under the lights of the Barrett-Jackson auction tent, the custom silver paint gleams in bold contrast against two-tone wood paneling. There’s a surfboard on the roof. Ward is digging the whole thing. Eyeing a nearby Stingray, he briefly waxes reverent, saying, “A nice Corvette like that should stay original. But something like that Ranch wagon…” He smiles. “Build it, do stupid stuff. Any car that I have will not stay stock.” Ward represents the next generation of gearheads: kids who, when they weren’t spinning wrenches in the garage, were spending thousands of hours driving the cars of their dreams — in video games. And when those real-life cars come to Arizona for one week in January, that fantasy becomes reality. “This is heaven,” he says. “I shook hands with George Barris and Don Prudhomme today.” Ward’s dream car? “A ’69 or ’70 Boss 429.” “I think it’s fun to look,” says Hailey S. (18, from Phoenix), strolling down the row with her mother, Darla. “I just want to touch everything, but you can’t do that.” Says ACCer Charlie Johnson from Denver, “It’s an event, it’s a media circus. Still, the hard- core people are here. I went to four auctions today.” Johnson owns “12 or 13 cars, something like that. They’re all either Ford hot rods or GM. I come to see what the cars are worth.” He figures the recent rise in prices is just investors “hedging against inflation.” (Spoken like an informed ACCer, Charlie. — Ed.) “We come for ideas,” says Jennifer Haroldson of San Diego. She stands nearby as her husband preps an immaculate orange ’66 Chevelle custom in the Barrett-Jackson staging lane. The couple builds custom cars to show, race, and sometimes sell. The Chevelle finds a new owner on the auction block at $105k, but Haroldson says, “We don’t sell our cars just to sell cars. This is a hobby for us. We do take our cars to shows, and we’re passionate about it. Anything we build will be perfect.” 36 AmericanCarCollector.com A 1956 Cadillac custom turned heads — and fl

“This is Heaven” Tony Piff flipped a wallet, to the tune of $132k Two black “barn-find” 1939 Fords caught the eye of B. Mitchell Carlson Kenny Forrest of roswell, nM. “I want ’em both,” he said. “If I buy ’em, they’ll never change.” he was outbid on the restored car (right) but won the original (left) at $15k Barn finds and hot rods Kenny Forrest of Roswell, NM, did not come to Arizona in search of perfection. Thirty minutes outside Scottsdale at Silver’s Fort McDowell sale, Forrest is evaluating two black “barn-find” ’39 Fords brought from Auburn, CA. One car conceals a “frame-off” mechanical restoration beneath its heavily weathered paint. The other is described as a fully original runner. “They were the main reason I came here,” Forrest says. “I want ’em both. If I buy ’em, they’ll never change. My goal is to have a museum one day.” Forrest always makes sure to get to Barrett-Jackson “for the awesomeness” (he walked 9.5 miles there in one day, according to his pedometer), but Silver’s laid-back atmosphere is more in line with his shopping habits. He ultimately loses the restored car to another bidder at $22,750, but he scores the original at $15,300. “I set my limit at $15k apiece, March-April 2014 37

Tony Piff A 1970 plymouth hemi Superbird crosses the block at Barrett-Jackson, selling for $143k “You meet people from multi levels of wealth, but everybody seems to connect” but my lovely wife talked me into the other $300 — so she wouldn’t have to listen to me complain.” Forrest’s collection includes original and restored cars, but everything is pretty much stock. “I’d like to have a street rod some day,” he says, “but I’ll have to buy one already done, ’cause I don’t have the heart to cut one up.” At Russo and Steele, Steve Kormondy spends 20 minutes razor- blading sticker residue off the windshield interior of the “Root Beer Coupe” before it crosses the auction block. The ’32 Ford boasts 600 horsepower from a bored-out 1963 Z11 Impala 427 V8, and it once graced the cover of Rodder’s Journal. “People aren’t here at Russo for the hype and circus,” says Kormondy’s friend Steve Nanny. “They’re here to buy cars.” The Root Beer Coupe ultimately sells for $160k — strong money, but nowhere near the car’s unimaginable build cost — but as Nanny puts it, “You don’t build these cars to make money.” ACCer Phil Bishop came to Russo from Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada, representing his shop, Bluenose Auto Repair. “Sold two, bought two, so we’re even,” he says, adding, “There’s a strong Canadian market. It’s just an eight-hour flight, same time zone. Lotta buyers come down here.” Supercharged connections The confluence of cars and dollars attracts not just buyers, sellers, aspirers and oglers. There are business opportunities in the margins, too. Sean Schwagler of Drew’s Garage in Phoenix mans his company’s booth at Barrett-Jackson. The garage does high-end restorations and custom builds. Schwagler is spending the week marketing his shop’s talent to anyone willing to listen. “You meet people from multi levels of wealth,” he says, “but everybody seems to connect.” Late Saturday night, the Barrett-Jackson stag- ing tent is a beehive of activity. Bidders and tirekickers swirl through the slowly advancing grid 38 AmericanCarCollector.com of cars. Heads turn as the whining blare of a supercharger drowns out the country rock soundtrack, and a yellow ’56 Cadillac emerges from the dark, its triple bird-catcher blower towering above the roofline. Everyone seems to have a beer. There are a lot of cigars. There’s a rodeo under way in the next building. The Caddy sells for $132k. Off to the side, Luba Petrovich, 35, is observing the chaos. “Oh, you don’t want to talk to me,” she says with a flirtatious smirk. “I snuck in here.” Luba says she has loved cars all her life (“I drove my ’66 Mustang into the ground”), but tonight she’s doing research. “I work in marketing and product development for men. I’m here for product inspiration.” What better place to glean insights into the human psyche than this ultimate distillation of Americana? A Tony Piff The haroldsons’ custom 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle, which sold for $105k

CAR SPOTTING by Tony Piff Interesting rides seen at the Arizona auctions 1958 Chrysler Windsor 1955 Cadillac Eldorado convertible 1930s Studebaker Indy racer 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air post 1955 Studebaker pickup custom 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air post 1951 Chevrolet 1941 Buick Special 40 AmericanCarCollector.com

1965 Chevy pickup resto-mod 1964 Dodge Dart convertible 1961 Chrysler Imperial four-door hard top 1956 Mercury Monterey convertible 1972 Jeepster March-April 2014 41

Cheap Thrills B. Mitchell Carlson CHEAP FUN Mike Maez, courtesy of Gooding & Company 1941 Cadillac Series 60 Special 4-door sedan Gooding & Company Lot 153, VIN 6341936, sold at $40,700 Not surprisingly, the most expensive of the cheapest cars was the only CCCA Full Classic and was sold at Gooding. When Cadillac introduced the Series 60 Special in 1938, it was a styling sensation. It had a well-balanced look that carried well with the overall styling themes of 1938. By 1941, when Cadillac went to a more upright and massive frontal appearance, this changed the dynamic of the Series 60 Special. It now came off as being taller and more of a formal car. Some loved it more than the previous years, some were put off by it. This is still true for enthusiasts today. In the 21st century, these cars are better appreciated if they’re equipped with the then-new option of Hydra-Matic drive automatic transmission, which this car had. When equipped this way, these cars are effortless Full Classic touring cars, and that drives their value in today’s market. Don’t let the auction estimate of $60k to $80k fool you; this was offered at no reserve, and the market spoke. Still, not bad for a car that most car guys will scoff at as having two doors too many. Cheap: Thrilling: Well-bought factor: 1959 Imperial Custom Southampton 2-door hard top RM Auctions Lot 65, VIN M617106651, sold at $33,000 From the catalog description: “This is an original California car that has received a ground-up restoration.” A bit of an oxymoron if you ask me, but regardless of whether you call it original or restored, it was still a pretty nice example of one of the rarer variants (one of 1,743 built) of Chrysler Corporation’s flagship line. The auction gods must have shined kindly on big-fin Imperials, as they seemed to be everywhere this year. While well sorted out, this one was not of AACA National Award 42 AmericanCarCollector.com Courtesy of Russo and Steele 1967 Pontiac Firebird coupe Russo and Steele Lot TH385, VIN 223377U613867, offered without reserve, sold at $16,600 Russo has a diverse enough catalog that it’s hard to pick a winner in the lowest-selling category ahead of time. Sure, this Firebird had a big honkin’ Chevy 454 under the hood (all but guaranteed to not get brownie points at a POCI National meet), but I pegged this as a $20k car. It was pretty well screwed together, with minimal and tasteful mods beyond the powertrain. in the Valley of the Sun LOW-BUCK BUYS AT THE BIG-TIME ARIZONA AUCTIONS while everyone else is looking at the top end of the market, I elected instead to look to the bottom and review the cheapest domestic-built road car sold by each of the auction houses. So here we go, from the most spent to the least ( Everyone in the collector-car world is analyzing the data from the Arizona auctions in January to figure out this year’s coming trends. But is best): Hugh Hamilton ©2013, courtesy of RM Auctions caliber, due to a few subtle mods such as a satellite stereo incorporated into a custom center console and modern air conditioning. At least it wasn’t rolling on a set of polished aluminum 24s. Still, the non-stock inconsistencies hurt this car at this auction, as it was generally surrounded by a lineup that could well be called a concours with price tags. As such, the lack of reserve on the Imp meant that it did all it was going to do here or at any other venue. This is still a great way to live large, “Mad Men”-style, with every luxo-barge styling cliché you can think of, from a fake spare tire on the trunk lid to tailfins bigger than Montana. Cheap: Thrilling: Well-bought factor:

Then again, pretty much everything built in the 1960s looks good on a set of TorqThrust wheels — even if they are plus-2-sized fitments. This selling price just confirmed what I see in Camaros versus Firebirds — or any body platform that also has a Chevy in the lineup: the Chevy will bring more money, even if it’s not necessarily the better vehicle. If this were a Camaro, it would’ve been $25k to $30k; as a Firebird, someone got a good buy to play with and not to flip. Still, you may actually come out ahead if there’s a GTO 400 V8 sitting in your garage looking for a new home and one of your Chevy buddies just tossed a rod in his ’70 Chevelle. Cheap: Thrilling: Well-bought factor: B. Mitchell Carlson that the small block under the hood has about 200k left to go before you need to be concerned about it — and then, a Gen-III LT1 all but falls off an engine stand into one of these. Put a set of 16-inch TorqThrust Ds on it (like I did on mine), dual exhaust, and you’ll have the coolest surfboard hauler around — even if it is in Kansas. This was the best buy of bottom feeders for the weekend, in my highly biased opinion — and not tainted by MGD, either. Cheap: Thrilling: Well-bought factor: B. Mitchell Carlson 1949 Crosley Hotshot roadster Bonhams Lot 169, VIN VC10131, offered without reserve, sold at $13,200 Crosleys certainly haven’t been depreciating in the market. Indeed, they are one of the few domestic cars that have pretty much defied the circa 2008 “market correction.” Sure, Gooding’s Monterey auction also had one as their lowest- selling car, but that car made almost double what this example did — even if it did have documented racing history. I’ll echo my views of these as I related them in regard to that car; they hop up well and can even have the suspension set up respectably as well, making them as much of a hoot to drive as your first go-kart. There was very hollow reference in this car’s description regarding “a competition provenance,” most likely regarding the make as a whole rather than a hidden SCCA logbook under the seat. Even the more pedestrian-body-style Crosleys have brought what this real-deal Hotshot did, so it’s hard to go wrong here. Cheap: Thrilling: 1992 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser Well-bought factor: 4-door station wagon Silver Auctions Lot 248, VIN 1G3BP8373NW300390, sold at $1,728 This one gives me a lot of satisfaction, as I used to own the evil twin to this wagon — and auction correspondent Stuart Lenzke still does and still uses it at 235k miles. Since I have personal experience here, I’ll be the first to tell you that these are sleepers in the market, plus they will haul almost as much as a Suburban with better performance and mileage. On top of that, ’92 is the best of the two years for this generation of Custom Cruiser, as they were better sorted out and had the throttle-body fuel-injected 350 V8 as an option (which this car has). Granted, I could’ve done a better job painting the right side of this car half lit on a twelvie of MGD in the dusty parking lot of the trailer park I stayed at while down here; yet the well-kept original interior is enough to not get too worried about the crappy rattle-can redo. Enjoy it for a while, reshoot it when you get a chance, and revel in the fact Courtesy of Barrett-Jackson 1981 Cadillac Seville 4-door sedan Barrett-Jackson Lot 1, VIN 1G6AS6998BE683089, sold at $1,100 Surprisingly, B-J has the bottom-up winner this year, and with their very first car out of the gate, no less. Actually, this was the first car to sell at any auction in Arizona this year — so all bidders were stone-cold sober. And when you think of cars from 1981, you might need a stiff drink since you’re looking at the low ebb of the auto industry. When it was launched in 1980, the second-generation stand-alone model Seville was a love-it-or-hate-it car with no middle ground. And it suffered from being built out of the corporate parts bins during GM’s learning-curve years of front wheel drive. While the 1980 powertrain offerings were a milquetoast Olds 350 and the smelly Olds 350-based diesel, 1981 will be forever noted as the year Cadillac pioneered variable displacement engines. Looking into the future that is today, variable displacement does work. However, that’s with modern computers. Prudent owners disconnected the system and let it run like a nor- mal V8. Over the long haul, they were the smart ones. Left to its own devices, the V-8-6-4 picked up the nickname of the V-8-6-4-2-0 and helped the Lincoln Town Car become the stellar sales success of the 1980s. It’s fitting that the car offered here has a rebuilt title. All keepers of a make’s flame tend to keep notable parts from their past — good, bad and ugly. As such, there will always be Cadillac collectors who’ll want one of these for their collection just for the sake of having one, but heaven forbid to drive. As such, they will almost always be collectible to a certain extent, but at the back of the bus. Cheap: Thrilling: Well-bought factor: A March-April 2014 43

Horsepower Colin Comer Can you pick JUST ONE? THE CHALLENGE WAS TO CHOOSE THE SINGLE COLLECTOR CAR THAT EACH PANEL MEMBER WOULD OWN, BY DECADE a hard hit (along with everything else) during the global economic crisis of 2008–10, and is now recovering quite nicely with values that are approaching, and in some cases exceeding, those of 2007 again. That said, while I strongly discourage any- body who views cars as pure investments, there are still opportunities to be had — sleepers, if you will. That led us to our panel discussion and Editor Pickering’s one question for us all: “If you could have just one American collector car, what would it be?” My picks The panel was asked to pick one car for 1957 Corvette “Airbox” — a $310k sale at Mecum Dallas in 2013 witnessed many changes. The number of auctions has multiplied considerably, as has the number of cars and the number of days they sell them. With six auctions now fighting for market share, and all of them with their own unique flavor, there truly is a venue and a car for everybody. But the one thing that has remained constant through the years F is the buzz leading up to the auctions. Which cars will fall short and which ones will ring the bell? Where will the bargains be? Big money This year’s auctions were stronger than ever, and the future contin- ues to look bright for our hobby. One big reason for this is buyers are taking every opportunity to get educated and seek out not just cars but also cars they want to own and use. In other words, the good cars are finding good homes. During auction week I was happy to be the keynote speaker for the first ACC Insider’s Seminar at Barrett-Jackson, and also be a panelist along with ACC Editor Jim Pickering and fellow ACC Contributors John L. Stein and B. Mitchell Carlson. My keynote focused on the muscle-car market, specifically the run-up that peaked in 2007, took 44 AmericanCarCollector.com ew events in the collector-car world are scrutinized more closely than the Arizona auctions every January. Considered to be the barometer of collector-car prices for the upcoming year, they are also an institution for many of us. Over a few decades of Arizona auction attendance, I’ve each of five eras. Taking the question to heart, and looking at it as truly just ONE collector car in the garage that I’d enjoy for a variety of uses (everything from hardware-store runs to tours and track days), my choices were all highperformance cars, and that should surprise nobody. 1950s I chose a 1957 Corvette “Airbox.” While they may look like any other ’57 Vette, the “Airbox” cars are all business under that striking exterior. Fuel injected with the cold-air intake after which they are named, big brakes, big wheels, big tach, quick steering, and the best sounding cam ever put in a production car — I swear at idle it says “duntov...duntov…duntov.” The best part? They only built 43 of them, so demand always outstrips supply. Cost: $350,000. 1960s My pick was a 1965 Shelby GT350. This car makes every drive seem like a bank-job getaway. It’s loud, crude, rough and simply wonderful. If driving one of these doesn’t make you smile like a kid at Chuck E. Cheese, you aren’t into cars. Shelby built 521 of these, all by hand, in an airplane hangar at LAX. Sure, there are also 36 competition versions, but the one with the carpet, windows, and a place for a passenger to sit is the one I vote for. It’s $600k less and it does everything as well as the race car with the benefit of being street-legal. Hardware store, remember? Cost: $350,000.

1970s I went with a 1970 Trans Am RAIV 4-speed, with the 1973 T/A Super Duty 4-speed being a close second. They made 29 RAIV cars and 72 SD-455s, so both are hen’s teeth. These F-bodies not only run like nothing else from the ’70s, they also steer and stop incredibly well. I’d be thrilled with either one. Cost: About $250,000 for the RAIV, and about $200,000 for the Super Duty. 1980s (Note: We were supposed to pick only one car for the 1980s and 1990s, but as a child of the ’80s I refuse to combine my decade with the 1990s, so you get two picks here.) I picked Fox-body Saleen Mustangs. Steve Saleen took 5.0L Mustangs, every kid’s dream car as it was, and made real track-ready performance cars out of them. Sound familiar? These are the 1965–66 Shelby GT350s of my generation. These are low-production cars that have more than stood the test of time, with strong club support, and real racing pedigree. They are ridiculously cheap right now. If there is a no-brainer on this list, it is one of these. Cost: $20,000. 1990s 1992 Dodge Viper. Yes, fine, they had a ton of flaws, and the later cars, especially the GTS coupes, were far better machines. But the 1992 was the first, all of them hand built in Dodge’s off-site “Team Viper” skunk works in Detroit. Just 285 were produced, and 85 of those were for export — so just 200 were sold in the U.S. At the time, they were heralded as the second coming of the Cobra, and ol’ Shel was even on the committee that got them built. There were other great performance cars in the ’90s, yes, but did any make this big of a splash or create a whole genre? Nope. As an interesting side note, every panelist picked a Viper in one form or another. Hmmm. Cost: $45,000. 2000s A 2005–06 Ford GT supercar: Ford simply nailed their homage to the original 1960s Ford GT, and in the process created an “instant collectible” that actually is. Ford built a lot of GTs (4,038), but values started around $100k over sticker when new, dropped to about 20% under sticker in 2007 or so, and have been going up ever since. The GT is again approaching $100k over its original MSRP as a used car today. So how has it defied all established collecting logic? Simple. Beyond the numbers, it’s just a fantastic car. 200-plus mph out of the box, you can drive it daily, and your local Ford dealer can fix it. Plus, it has styling that stops people in their tracks. If you want a modern supercar from Detroit, well, here it is. Cost: $225,000. So how did I do? If you had to pick just one car, what would it be? And, for those of you who were in Scottsdale this year, what tripped your trigger, and did anything follow you home? Drop me a line at colin.comer@americancarcollector.com.A March-April 2014 45

Corvette Market John L. Stein DO NO HARM CAREFUL DECISION-MAKING DURING LONG OWNERSHIP CAN EASILY ADD $5K TO $20K TO YOUR CORVETTE’S VALUE ON THE DAY YOU SELL our car’s value stalled while others soared. While owning Just a couple of quick tweaks and it’s back to original, right? you’re also traveling down life’s road with a partner. Only this time, the fidelity being tested has more to do with parts than curves. In the old days, before originality became a priority, the first things M to be swapped were the stock wheels and factory exhaust system, usually replaced by period-cool mags and glasspacks for an improved growl. Next came flared fenders and custom paint, and maybe metalflake for added dazzle. Chromed engine parts, diamond-tufted seats and maybe even wood interior trim completed thousands of streetmachine Corvettes, Mustangs, GTOs and Road Runners. Once cool, now cruel When the value pendulum swung back to originality, suddenly all these “improvements” became liabilities — and the bigger the mods, the worse the penalty. My friend Scott Young and I owned a heavily chromed, tube-axle, Butch Brinza-painted ’64 Sting Ray that proved that customizing can go too far for recovery. Although highly unique, 46 AmericanCarCollector.com arriage and Corvette ownership are a lot alike. The minute you say “I do” and slip on that gold band, every temptation that may arise during poker night with the boys becomes a test of devotion to your vows. Similarly, when you enter into Corvette ownership, and driving a classic Corvette never requires this kind of butchery, it always requires servicing and maintenance, and such work is sometimes impossible or impractical to do with NOS parts. (For instance, who’d want to drive to Key West in July with 50-yearold radiator hoses and belts?) I therefore adopted a simple operating philosophy that walks the line between purity and performance. Actually, I flat-out stole it from the physician’s Hippocratic Oath: Do no harm. No harm, no foul In the world of medicine, do no harm means just that — don’t amputate a patient’s foot when the problem is an ingrown toenail. Similarly, I believe that the same oath can correctly guide your fiberglass fidelity through however many years you will keep your car. Need new brake shoes or pads? Fine. Get nice safe ones that will slip right in. Ditto for radiator hoses, spark plugs, air filters and even master cylinders and piston rings. Buy quality parts that do the job for you. Here are a few real-life examples from friends. In one case, Jeffrey Barteet updated his ’64 300-horse coupe’s drum brakes with ’65 discs for a safer drive experience — a bolt-on operation — and saved the old parts. In another, Orwin Middleton installed a Rochester fuelinjected 350-ci small-block in his ’61 — likewise a bolt-in exchange — so he could go hunting for modern 911s, and also kept the original engine. And John Shockley replaced his ’67 327/350 roadster’s stock water pump with a lighter and higher-output Edelbrock part. Like the others, he threw the original in a box to save for the next owner. I approve because all these guys made their cars work better for them, and nothing was altered that couldn’t be undone later. Or as the movie credits might say, “No Corvettes were harmed during the making of this film.”

A few don’ts So although the do-no-harm approach is flexible, it is also cautionary. Because while normal service items can be replaced anytime with date-coded NOS bits if your ’Vette suddenly gets a Pebble Beach invitation, certain other modifications are difficult to undo. And that’s where you should take your commitment seriously. First, don’t repaint a car unless there is nothing left to save of the original paint — or unless it’s already been repainted. Lee Clark at the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum says, “Our long-term goal is conservation. We only restore something after it’s too far gone to be conserved.” And if you do repaint, you’ll benefit financially by choosing the exact original color. Second, don’t drill, cut or weld anything Bonhams sold this virginal 1963 327/340 coupe for $165k this year in Scottsdale on the body, chassis or interior — unless it’s to fix something that’s already split, torn or broken. The exception is when you’re going racing or building a resto-mod from a pile of loose bits. And finally, don’t throw out OE parts. If you have space for a Corvette in your life, you also should have space for a few boxes of takeoffs, from that original master cylinder to shabby seat covers and the original hoses, plugs and wires. I know this sounds like packrat mentality, but keeping these parts with the car improves its value by proving originality. And what would you give today for the RPO 579E airbox that someone destroyed in 1964 when they turned your future ’57 into a drag racer? Someday, genuine original C4 seat covers and door panels might be rare, too. In reality, when you finally sell your Corvette, not every buyer will care if it has a numbers-matching distributor or correctly date-coded alternator diodes. But careful decision-making during the long trajectory of ownership can easily add $5k to $20k to its value on that day. So taking an oath to do no harm now can also bring great benefits in the future. A March-April 2014 47

PROFILE CORVETTE 1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE L88 COUPE A road and auction powerhouse This car set an all-time new price record, and not just for L88s, but for any other Corvette ever sold at auction VIN: 194377S115791 by Michael Pierce optioned with the L88 427 HD engine, M22 4-speed, J56 heavy-duty brakes, J50 power brakes, F41 suspension, K66 transistor ignition, G81 4.56 Positraction and shoulder harnesses. This is the only 1967 L88 to have attained an NCRS T 48 AmericanCarCollector.com 48 AmericanCarCollector.com 98.2 Regional Top Flight award (2001), 98.4 National Top Flight (2001), a Regional Performance Verification Award, and the ultimate award for Corvette restoration or preservation, the NCRS Duntov Mark of Excellence Award (2001). Equipped just as the documentation indicates, this L88 is the best of the best. ACC Analysis This car, Lot 5035, sold for a record $3,850,000 at Barrett- Jackson’s auction in Scottsdale, AZ, on January 18, 2014. Here we go again… the continuing Corvette L88 story. In the November-December 2013 issue of American Car Collector, I wrote on the ex-Piscitello 1968 black roadster that sold for $856,000. Also mentioned in the article were a Lynndale ’67 at $3m and a maroon ’67 sidepipe roadster at Mecum that made a then-record $3.4m. But the sale of Barrett Jackson’s Lot 5035 set an all-time new record, and not just for L88s, but for any other Corvette ever sold at auction. It’s the new highwater mark. his vehicle is the only known 1967 red/red L88 produced; it has GM documentation in the form of a legible Tank Sheet (Order Copy) that has been validated by the GM/ NCRS Document Validation Service. It’s This car was the only 1967 red/red L88 coupe produced. The 12-mile ex-Judski ’67 L88 coupe was red/black and sold in a private deal for a reported $2.8 million. The ex-Herrin maroon sidepipe roadster, sold through Mecum several months ago, brought $3.4 million. These sales all seemed to be bell ringers at the time, but the cars now seem to be very well bought in a tide that’s rising. What makes an L88? First of all, GM used Regular Production Option (RPO) number-letter sequence codes for each of their specific options. In 1967, ’68 and ’69 only, the RPO L88 was offered in the Corvette line. It was the street, drag strip and road racer’s dream come true for extremely heavy-duty, high-performance, out-of-the-box American muscle. In the simplest terms, the L88 was a fire-breathing 427-ci V8 with 12.5:1 compression, aluminum heads, and a whole lot more grunt than its 430 hp rating led buyers to believe. That single option added almost 40% to the base price of the Corvette, and the cars were purpose-built with weight reduction in mind — no radios or heaters. Few were actually ordered: 20 were built in ’67; 80 in ’68, and 116 in ’69. Up and away Values of the original 216 1967–69 L88s have grown exponentially over the past 10 years. Overall, the rarer ’67s have typically maintained a 3:1 value ratio over the ’68s and ’69s, and there are a couple of good reasons for that. First, 1967 maintains its position as the greatest year in Corvette styling/ Courtesy of Barrett-Jackson

ACC Digital Bonus performance history even though that year was actually meant to be a Shark year (C3), not a mid-year. Chevrolet meant to introduce the Shark body style for ’67, but they had trouble with the fiberglass production as well as some other engineering challenges that delayed the launch. So the mid-year cars continued through ’67, but with some fantastic options not seen before, such as the L71 435-hp TriPower 427, and the top-dog L88. Second, in the world of L88s, the ’67s are simply the most scarce, and that drives value. It was not an easy task to get an order for one of these through your Chevrolet dealership, as GM wanted them to go to racers to help promote the brand. You almost had to be “known” by someone at GM to get your hands on one. That, along with their high price, kept production low. This car’s history This red L88 was ordered through Mike Savoie Chevrolet on Woodward Avenue in Birmingham, MI (Zone 44, dealer 405). With help from a well-placed GM executive, a friend of the dealership owner’s family got this car even though the dealership had been in business only one year. Immediately after getting the car (which was equipped with 4:56 gears; only five were so ordered out of 23,000 Corvettes built in ’67), it went to the local drag strips and ran unbeaten for three years. It had to run in the modified class since camshafts from the car’s sponsor, General Kinetics, were used and replaced weekly to provide and maintain its record-setting ETs and speed through the traps. After three years of running at 10/10ths of redline, the motor blew up, and the car was sold to its second owner. The third owner was Maxie Reamer, an automo- tive instructor at a vocational school in the Detroit area. At some point, the brakes became an issue, and when the dual-pin calipers were removed, he noticed they were unique. Reamer took them to his friend Werner Meier, a GM engineer. Meier suggested that Reamer drop the gas tank to view the build sheet and determine what else came on this car. He did so and discovered it to be one of the 20 L88s. It changed hands for the fourth time at about $175,000. This seller provided a next-to-impossibleto-find motor to go with the car: a complete, GM, across-the-counter, L88 long block from Chevrolet. Every casting date, casting number and date code preceded the build date of the red car. It was the perfect replacement and new in every respect. The pad Detailing Year produced: 1967–69 Number produced: 20 in 1967 Current ACC Valuation: $2,400,000–$3,300,000 Original list price: $6,600 (approximate) Tune-up: $1,000 Distributor cap: $350 (NOS original) VIN: Stamped into frame on driver’s side rear Engine #: Stamped on engine pad in front of right hand head Club: National Corvette Restorers Society (NCRS), Bloomington Gold surface was stamped “IT,” indicating the purposebuilt designation for the L88. I’ve dealt with a lot of Corvettes, and I’ve never seen a factory long block like this before or since. The VIN number of this red car (15971) was purposefully NOT stamped on the pad, as is usual and customary from the factory; it remains in that state today. At this point, the car was sold again (for the fifth time) to Gary and Ken Naber for Ray Norvell, their client from Nevada. Some of the finest, most unusual Corvettes ever built have passed though Ray’s hands. It was at this point the car was meticulously restored by the Nabers Brothers and subsequently taken to Bloomington Gold. “Corvette Mike” Vietro also counted Ray as an excellent customer, ended up acquiring the car from him and selling it to a significant Ferrari/car collector in the San Diego area (the car’s sixth owner). After a year of ownership, the San Diego collector ended up selling it for about $320,000 to a seventh owner in the Eastern U.S., where it remained until its new owner bought it at Barrett-Jackson for $3,850,000. Again, that’s a big number. But if the car had still been fitted with its factory-installed L88, it would be worth even more. Where are they going from here? This wasn’t the only L88 sold at Barrett-Jackson this year. In addition, an original well-documented and papered blue ’68 L88 convertible with less than 14,000 miles sold for $880,000 as Lot 1318. This preceded Lot 5022, a Kevin Mackay-restored full-racespec ’69, known as the #57 Rebel. It was described as one of four lightweights built, and had Daytona and Sebring race history in its provenance. It was sold at $2,860,000, the second-highest sale at B-J. The ’68 set a new record price for L88 street cars, and the ’69 did the same thing for ’69s, both street and race cars. Prices like these are tempting to long-term owners, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see more good L88s come to market in the near future in hopes of capitalizing on the trend. And while these prices may seem over the top, just like the $3.4m sale of the Mecum ’67 might have a few months ago, I’m willing to bet it won’t take long before we’re seeing them in a new light. With that, I’d call this ’67 a deal, even at its record price. (Introductory description courtesy of Barrett- Jackson.) A March-April 2014 49CC 49 1967 Chevrolet Corvette L88 convertible Lot S125, VIN 194677S109097 Condition: 1 Sold at $1,325,000 Mecum Auctions, Monterey, CA, 8/13/2010 ACC# 165709 More: www.ncrs.org; www. bloomingtongold.com Alternatives: 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 S/C, 1948 Tucker Torpedo, 1971 Plymouth Hemi ’Cuda convertible ACC Investment Grade: A Comps 1967 Chevrolet Corvette L88 convertible Lot S123, VIN: 194677S118414 Condition: 2+ Sold at $3,424,000 ACC# 227206 Mecum Auctions, Dallas, TX, 9/5/2013 Lot 270, VIN: 194677S109097 Condition: 2+ 1967 Chevrolet Corvette L88 convertible Not sold at $1,550,000 RM Auctions, Phoenix, AZ, 1/19/2007 ACC# 44077

PROFILE GM GMMG’s Cobra killer 2002 CHEVROLET CAMARO ZL1 COUPE The objective of the ZL1 Camaro was to give Cobra owners serious headaches, and it worked VIN: 2G1FP22G22156255 by Patrick Smith 1970s, GMMG quickly forged an outstanding reputation. Focusing on the fourth-generation Camaro and Firebird, GMMG created a new generation “supercar” with durability, reliability and modern technology. Clearly echoing the Baldwin-Motion, Berger, Dick Harrell, Fred Gibb, Nickey and Yenko dealer-tuned Chevy supercars of the past, the GMMG Camaro was available through selected Chevrolet dealers. Over 25 individual tweaks were made to the C 50 AmericanCarCollector.com GMMG cars, covering everything from the powertrain and performance to appearance, with the accent on performance-easy 11-second quarter-mile times with outstanding handling and braking to match. With fewer than 1,000 actual miles from new and fastidiously maintained, this 2002 GMMG ZL1 Camaro is car number 7 of the 69 produced. ACC Analysis This car, Lot S705, sold for $83,000, including buyer’s pre- mium, at Russo and Steele’s auction in Scottsdale, AZ, on January 19, 2014. reated by Matt Murphy in 1999 to build specially tuned Chevrolet high-performance cars that were emissions-compliant, modern versions of the famous dealermodified Chevys of the 1960s and early After years of carrying the pony-car torch, shrink- ing sales and the high cost of a needed redesign led GM to cancel production of the Camaro and Firebird after the 2002 model year. It was a sad loss for muscle car fans, but several special editions were created to end the run on a high note. When Camaro Brand Team member Scott Settlemire and GMMG, led by Matt Murphy, collaborated to bring back the magic of late-’60s supercar creations, they chose the ZL1 name for a special run of 69 Camaros equipped with LS6 400-horsepower engines. The ZL1 supercar was a nod to Fred Gibb Chevrolet, which had conceived the original Camaro ZL1 in ’69. Matt Murphy was no stranger to Chevy supercar creations. In 2000, he teamed up with Berger Chevrolet to produce the Special Berger Camaro, a 380-horsepower limited edition of 31 cars, which sold out instantly. This was followed by the Dale Earnhardt “Intimidator” SS Camaro, a limited run of 82 cars. So when Chevrolet decided to wind up Camaro production and word came out of Ford issuing a new Cobra R Mustang, Murphy decided Camaro needed a proper sendoff with a real warrior — a car that was emissions-compliant, dealer-friendly and fast enough to eat Mustang’s lunch. With that, the GMMG ZL1 Camaro was born. Courtesy of Russo and Steele

ACC Digital Bonus How fast do you want to go? The basic 2002-era GMMG ZL1 Camaro was a high-spec car out the door, using many GM-sourced parts. These included Corvette Z06 brakes and wheels, a high-flow airbox, 4.10:1 rear axle, and 7500-series Penske adjustable shock absorbers with drag, autocross or road settings. A billet flywheel joined a 6-speed manual transmission topped with black or white Hurst shifter ball. Inside, you got silverfaced gauges with the ZL1 logo and a plaque stating the level of tuning and horsepower. The Phase 1 package included a 400-horsepower, 5.7-liter LS6 engine. GMMG also offered a Phase 2, which added to the mix tubular coated 1¾-inch headers, extra compression, and hotter cam and tuning mods to bump horsepower to 475 and torque to 440 lb-ft. Phase 3, which is what our profile car is, delivered 600 horsepower using an aluminum CR5 race 427 block and a group of special parts, including a Callies 4340 forged-steel crank and billet steel connecting rods, JE lightweight pistons with file-fitted rings, CNC ported LS6 heads, big valves with titanium springs and retainers, numbered Wilson ZL1 intake manifold, and 1 7/8-inch headers with three-inch-diameter collectors and an electric cut-out switch. Top dog The Phase 3 GMMG ZL1 was a low-production beast, with only 37 made. It was blisteringly fast, with low 11-second ETs possible. The original objective was to give Cobra owners serious headaches, and it worked pretty well — a ZL1 can shut down a supercharged Mustang SVT Cobra “Terminator,” which was a mid- to high-12-second quarter-miler in stock form. In fact, behind the wheel of a Phase 3 car, you can confidently line up with early generation Vipers and even some entry-level exotics. When it comes to ranking fourth-gen Camaros, the Phase 3 ZL1 is near the top of the list. The Dick Harrell Edition sits on top of the pile, with more tuning tricks to squeeze 630 horsepower from its engine. The calling card of the Harrell Edition is the wide-body package, which was exclusive to the series. The widened side panels aren’t available in the aftermarket and compliment the Dick Harrell quarter-panel graphics nicely. Only 32 were made. If and when one comes up for sale, the transaction is usually into six-figure territory. Like the ZL1 Camaro, the Dick Harrell cars were distributed through Berger Chevrolet from Grand Rapids, MI, following conversion by GMMG. What’s it worth? Phase 3 ZL1 Camaros don’t appear often at auction. These cars have a strong fan base of ready buyers, so transactions tend to occur privately. A lot of these cars were bought and put away when new as instant collectibles, and while resale reality is sometimes harsh on cars pickled this way, the GMMG cars are actually doing pretty well in the market. When new, a basic Phase 3 car sold for about $80,000. Another example like our subject car sold at Mecum’s sale of the Bob McDorman Collection for $97,500 in November 2010. That car had some nice extras including houndstooth interior and custom Silver Metallic paint with red stripes. A special Nickey Edition ZL1 Camaro was also offered at Mecum’s Kissimmee event in January 2014 with pre-auction estimates in the $100,000–$125,000 range. Bidding reached $95,000 before closing as a no-sale. Looking at the big picture, we’re witnessing what appears to be an accelerated appreciation curve for GMMG-built fourth-gen Camaros. At the 12-year mark in the usual 20-year depreciation / appreciation curve, mint-condition ZL1 Phase 3 Camaros are already selling right around what they retailed for when new. How many C4 Corvette ZR-1 owners wish they could say that? But it’s important to remember that the GMMG Camaros aren’t ordinary cars — they’re limitededition state-of-the-art muscle cars with performance to match, much like the Baldwin-Motion, Yenko and Nickey cars were back in the day. What we’re seeing is the floor price being established for a good example of a Phase 3, and very likely a smooth and long ramp for future growth in value. This example is #7 of the 69 produced by GMMG. It is one of eight with the digger 4.56 gear and is dressed in Hugger Orange with houndstooth upholstery. The car was preserved rather than stored, and the engine is virtually new. In the world of GMMG cars, especially ZL1 Camaros, it doesn’t get much better than that. I’d call it well bought at a market price. A (Introductory description courtesy of Russo and Steele.) March-April 2014 51 Detailing Current ACC Valuation: $65,000–$90,000 Year produced: 2002 Number produced: 69 Original list price: $80,070 Phase 3 base package, options extra Tune-up, major service: $300 Distributor cap: N/A VIN: Base of windshield on driver’s side; special GMMG plaque inside Engine #: Special inscribed intake manifold Club: www.GMMGRegistry. com Alternatives: 2002–03 Mustang Cobra SVT, 1997–2001 Dodge Viper GTS, 2000 Ford Mustang Cobra R ACC Investment Grade: B Comps 2002 Chevrolet Camaro GMMG ZL1 Phase 3 Lot S136, VIN: 2G1FP22G122158997 Condition: 1 Not sold at $110,000 Mecum Auctions, St. Charles, IL, 10/3/2008 ACC# 117962 2002 Chevrolet Camaro GMMG ZL1 Phase 2 Lot 4588856178, VIN: 2G1FP22G422159772 Condition: 2 Sold at $65,000 eBay Motors, Henderson, NV, August 2006 ACC# 41636 2002 Chevrolet Camaro GMMG ZL1 Phase 3 Lot F19, VIN: 2G1FP22G822159239 Condition: 1 Sold at $92,400 Mecum Auctions, St Charles, IL, 10/31/2003 ACC# 36613

PROFILE FOMOCO Modern-made movie Mustang 1968 FORD MUSTANG “BULLITT” FASTBACK Pawel Litwinski, courtesy of Bonhams The engine, transmission, suspension and brakes are thoroughly modern, but this Mustang carries all of the visual cues of the original movie cars, right down to the license plate 52 AmericanCarCollector.com 52 AmericanCarCollector.com VIN: DRMVB0000157695M0 by Tom Glatch • Visually accurate re-creation with modern updates • Owned by Chad McQueen, son of Steve McQueen • Documented on “Celebrity Rides” TV show • Titled as a 1968 Ford • Ford Racing 347-ci V8 engine • 450 hp • 5-speed manual transmission • RRS front independent suspension, rear RRS three-link setup • 4-wheel RRS disc brakes • Portion of proceeds to benefit Boys Republic school ACC Analysis This “Bullitt” Mustang replica, ing buyer’s premium, at Bonhams’ auction in Scottsdale, AZ, on January 16, 2014. After all these years, Steve McQueen is still “The King of Cool.” He was just 50 years old when he died of cancer in 1980, but he left a legacy that has endured. Gearheads think instantly of the movie “Bullitt” and the famous chase scene, but Steve McQueen, and “Bullitt,” were so much more. McQueen’s tough, cool persona was no act — he spent much of his teenage years living on the street — but time spent at California’s Boys Republic reform school give him purpose, and a stint in the Marines gave him direction and discipline. He raced motorcycles on the East Coast in the early ’50s while studying acting, often with another aspiring actor, Robert Lot 101, sold for $88,000, includ- Culp. He moved back to California in 1955 to pursue his acting career, and the rest is history. “Bullitt” McQueen had a number of important leading roles, and one Academy Award nomination, before he slid behind the wheel of that green Mustang. But it was “Bullitt,” released on October 17, 1968, that cemented his stature in Hollywood. More than just a crash-’em-up action flick, “Bullitt” was a detective story with a complex storyline and carefully developed pace. Critic Roger Ebert enthused, “McQueen is great in ‘Bullitt,’ and the movie is great, because director Peter Yates understands the McQueen image and works within it. He winds up with about the best action movie of recent years.” It was the fifth-biggest box office draw in 1968, later winning the Academy Award for Best Film Editing thanks mostly to Frank P. Keller’s work on the chase scene. By 1974, Steve McQueen was the highest paid actor in the world. Making a Mustang legend But it’s the chase that defines “Bullitt” for most of us, a brilliant automotive ballet in and around San Francisco. Steve McQueen did about 10% of the driving in filming the 10-minute, 53-second chase, in only those close-up shots where he was clearly visible. Stuntman Loren Janes did the rest of the Mustang shots, while Bill Hickman drove the Charger and Bud Ekins drove some of the other vehicles. Loren Janes told The Wall Street Journal, “We

ACC Digital Bonus had three identical green 1968 Ford Mustang fastbacks and three black Dodge Chargers in the movie. Many writers have said two, but there were three of each. We needed the extra cars in case one was damaged. The movie’s shooting schedule can’t be slowed for dents and things like that.” Max Balchowsky, of “Old Yeller” race-car fame, reinforced the cars to withstand the pounding they endured. Steve McQueen told Motor Trend, “Remember that banging going down? That was about 100 mph. I was bangin’ into Bill. My car was disintegrating. Like, the door handles came off, both the shocks in the front broke, the steering armature on the right front side broke and my slack was about a foot and a half. The Mustang was really just starting to fall apart.” No wonder one of the Mustangs had to be scrapped due to structural damage caused by the leaps and landings on the San Francisco hills. Chad McQueen, Steve’s only son, was 7 years old at the time, and witnessed much of the filming of the movie. “Dad had to find a car that made sense for the movie,” Chad told the LA Times. “A really neat car for the character to drive, something a detective might afford on his salary. My dad hit that one right on the head. Still to this day, people know what that car is.” Ford recognized the power of Steve McQueen’s image and the status of “Bullitt” in automotive circles, licensing the “Bullitt” name for the 2001 and 2008–09 “Bullitt” Mustangs. As part of the agreement, Chad was given the first 2001 “Bullitt,” and also owned the first 2008 “Bullitt.” The McQueen factor The whereabouts of the actual movie Mustangs is unknown. One may have been sold to a Warner Brothers employee after filming ended, and it’s rumored to survive but has not been seen in decades. That’s too bad, because anything Steve McQueen touched commands top dollar today. Bonhams made national news in 2007 when it sold McQueen’s 1964 Ferrari 250 Lusso for $2.31 million. Motorcycles from McQueen’s collection are equally valuable, such as the 1938 Harley-Davidson WLD Solo Sport that sold at Mecum’s Anaheim sale last Detailing Years produced: 2009 Number produced: One Original list price: Unknown Current ACC Valuation: $75,000–$100,000 Tune-up/major service: $250 Distributor cap: N/A Chassis #: VIN plate on the driver’s side instrument panel behind windshield Engine #: N/A Club: Mustang Club of America More: www.mustang.org Alternatives: 1968 Dodge Charger R/T 440 (“Bullitt”), 1932 Ford 5-window Deuce coupe (“American Graffiti”), 1955 Chevrolet 150 sedan (“American Graffiti”) year for $137,500. Even McQueen’s 1952 Chevrolet 3800 camper reached $70,000 last year without selling. On a budget? In 2009, a framed monochrome photograph of McQueen with his Ferrari sold for $2,440 at a Bonhams auction. That’s right, a photograph. A real replica But our feature Mustang? It’s a nice tribute built in 2009 for Chad McQueen by Gateway Classic Mustang (GCM) of St. Louis, MO. The body shell is a new 1967 Mustang reproduction by Dynacorn, updated to 1968 trim. The engine, transmission, suspension and brakes are thoroughly modern, but the Mustang carries all of the visual cues of the original movie cars, right down to the license plate. The construction of the car was documented on TLC’s “Celebrity Rides” show. It’s a great performance car, no question, with a classic look but modern feel. But even though Chad McQueen has had a career in racing and in the movies, his connection with this car adds little celebrity value. It’s also not unique, since GCM continues to build the “1968 Steve McQueen Signature Mustang,” although the estimated price for one is $150k. Desirable? Sure. Collectible? I don’t think so. Keep in mind, while it looks the part, this is a totally modern build — even most of the sheet metal is reproduction on this particular car. Personally, I would rather own the first 2008 Ford Mustang “Bullitt” that Chad McQueen also sold at this auction. As Lot 102, it brought $49,500. Why would I want that car over the ’68? Simple. Job One always carries a certain mystique. There can only ever be one “number one,” and that’s what the 2008 car was. But all that doesn’t mean this car wasn’t a good deal at the price paid. While it may not be a real car from the movie, or even a real Ford-built car from 1968, at least the buyer got it for a fraction of its build cost at GCM, and it still carries with it one hell of a cool factor. And to top it all off, part of the sale went to Steve McQueen’s favorite charity, the Boys Republic. So with all that in mind, I think it’s safe to call this both well bought and well sold.A (Introductory description courtesy of Bonhams.) March-April 2014 53CC 53 ACC Investment Grade: C Comps 1967 Ford Mustang “Bullitt” replica Lot 188, VIN: 7T02A146296 Condition: 2 Sold at $78,270 Silverstone Auctions, Birmingham, U.K., 11/17/2012 ACC# 214619 1967 Ford Mustang “Bullitt” replica Lot 659, VIN: 7F02S138610 Condition: 2Sold at $61,940 Coys, Woodstock, U.K., 7/18/2009 ACC# 130793 1967 Ford Mustang “Bullitt” replica Lot 219, VIN: 7F02A138051 Condition: 3+ Sold at $27,030 The Branson Auction, Branson, MO, 10/19/2006 ACC# 43401

PROFILE MOPAR 1970 PLYMOUTH HEMI ’CUDA Mopar’s King of the Hill Brian Henniker, courtesy of Gooding & Company Exceptional original Hemi ’Cuda coupes are almost as rare as those sevenfigure Hemi convertibles VIN: BS23R0B146640 by Tom Glatch • The most celebrated Mopar muscle car • One of only 284 4-speed examples built for 1970 • Highly optioned and finished in classic Rallye Red • Just three California owners from new • Carefully maintained in unrestored, original condition ACC Analysis This Hemi ’Cuda, Lot 31, sold for $170,000, including buyer’s pre- mium, at the Gooding & Company auction in Scottsdale, AZ, on January 17, 2014. Pony Cars were originally based on compact cars intended to be powered by thrifty sixes or small V8s. But throughout the 1960s, the buying public was hot for horsepower, and the Big Three were tasked with cramming ever larger engines into places they were never designed to go. Chrysler was able to stuff the huge 383 and 440 “raised block” engines into the Valiant-based Barracuda, but there was no room left for power steering, power brakes, or air conditioning — all nice things to have. Then there were the truly massive engines that no assembly line could handle. When Ford forced the 429 “Blue Crescent” monster into the Boss 429 Mustang to meet NASCAR production requirements, they had to turn to one of their favorite race-car contractors, Kar Kraft, to build the heavily modified street machines. Likewise, Chrysler had to turn to Hurst Industries to build the limited-production 1968 Hemi Dart and Hemi Barracuda for NHRA Super Stock drag racing. 54 AmericanCarCollector.com 54 AmericanCarCollector.com Building it bigger The 1970 Plymouth Barracuda, and its Dodge Challenger sibling, had a different approach. Basically, Chrysler engineers took the width and height of the fabled 426 Hemi and worked around it. Instead of starting with a compact car, Chrysler engineers reworked the mid-sized “B-body” platform. The Plymouth GTX/Road Runner and Dodge Coronet/ Charger already housed the Hemi just fine, thank you, so they morphed the Barracuda/Challenger from this architecture. Nine inches from the floorpan, a few inches off the cowl, a bob of the tail, a new roof, and a whole new beast emerged — the “E-body” platform. Low and wide Wrapped around that skeleton was one of the pret- tiest bodies to come out of Detroit during the musclecar era. John Herlitz, who was only 27 years old at the time, is credited with much of the Barracuda’s style. Years later, Herlitz told Muscle Car Review magazine: “I wanted to pull the rear quarters as high as possible and spank the roof down as low as possible and just get the very high-hunched look in the rear quarters, allowing the front fenders to become the long, leading design element that ran out past the power plant to give a very dynamic thrust.” Early in the car’s development, things didn’t look quite so promising. Elwood Engel, the head of Chrysler design at the time, was notorious for walking through the design studios on weekends to view the progress of projects. Apparently Engel didn’t like the

ACC Digital Bonus Detailing Years produced: 1970–71 Number produced: 781 Original list price: $5,361.85 Current ACC Valuation: $150,000-$235,000 Tune-up/major service: $300 Distributor cap: $22.58 Chassis #: VIN plate on the driver’s side instrument panel behind windshield Engine #: Pad located on the right side of the block to the rear of the engine mount Club: Plymouth Barracuda Owners Club s of the ’70 Barracuda. “I came n a Monday morning, and there’s et in the side of the car, the ) model. And that was not a good ” Herlitz said. But by the time the cuda neared production, Engel eliever. membered,“Elwood was the first e of the early prototype cars off hird floor of Building 128. And en Hemi ’Cuda. And he got it he hallway that led down to the nd he nailed that car on this t left these two black tracks down early 500 horses under that long e him? Big-money Hemis By 1970 the performance-car market was clearly waning, yet Barracuda sales were almost double that of the previous year. Brock Yates summed it up well: “It was a breakout car for Detroit and certainly Chrysler. They were slick, fast and cute.” But the Hemi ’Cuda was an expensive car — the engine option cost $871 on top of the ’Cuda’s $3,164 base price, and that, along with being a little late to the muscle-car party, meant that few were ordered. Of course, that has only made them more desirable to today’s muscle-car collectors — especially those in the market for what’s considered to be the baddest Mopar ever built. Today, good ’Cuda 340 and 383 cars can bring $60k or more, while ’Cuda 440 cars can cross $90k, especially the Six Pack models. But the Hemi ’Cuda takes love to an extreme. Only 14 Hemi convertibles (nine automatics, five 4-speeds) were built in 1970. One sold for $2,160,000 at Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale sale in 2006 (ACC# 40279), another at Russo and Steele’s Scottsdale sale in 2011 for $1,705,000 (ACC# 168636). In total, 652 Hemi coupes were produced in 1970: 368 automatics and 284 4-speeds. Barrett-Jackson sold a high-quality restored Hemi 4-speed in prerecession 2006 for $486,000 (ACC# 40389), but as recently as 2009, Russo and Steele sold a similar Hemi, albeit with some celebrity ownership connections, for $440,000 (ACC# 119315). Originality and options Our feature Hemi ’Cuda is a heavily optioned example dressed in code FE5 Rallye Red with the preferable 4-speed gearbox. It’s also equipped with power front disc brakes, bucket seats, center console, elastomeric bumpers, Trak Pak rear end, Rallye instrument cluster, rear-window defogger, and a solid-state radio with stereo tape deck. The long list of factory options required two data plates in the engine compartment and resulted in a then-staggering $5,361.85 sticker price. It’s had just three California owners from new and showed 49,537 miles at auction time. What’s not to love about this Hemi car? Compared with other ’Cuda coupes that have sold for stratospheric prices, this car, to me, is so much more desirable. It was claimed to be unrestored and original with great documentation, and exceptional original Hemi ’Cuda coupes are almost as rare as those seven-figure Hemi convertibles. With Hemi ’Cuda clones still selling for over $100k, I think the final price of this red 4-speed car was under the money, considering its paperwork and condition. The buyer got a great deal on a piece of Mopar muscle legend with a lot of curb appeal. Call it very well courtesy of Gooding & Company.) March-April 2014 March-April 2014 55 More: www.pbcoc.com Alternatives: 1970–71 Dodge Challenger Hemi, 1974 Pontiac Firebird Super Duty, 1969–70 Ford Mustang Boss 429 ACC Investment Grade: A Comps 1970 Plymouth Hemi ’Cuda Lot S740, VIN BS23ROB146640 (Subject car) Condition: 2- Not sold at $200,000 Russo and Steele, Scottsdale, AZ, 1/20/2013 ACC# 214972 1970 Plymouth Hemi ’Cuda Lot 133, VIN: BS23R0B349154 Condition: 2 Sold at $220,000 Dragone, Westport, CT, 5/19/2012 ACC# 201654 1970 Plymouth Hemi ’Cuda Lot F198, VIN: BS23R0B292572 Condition: 2 Sold at $145,220 Mecum Auctions, Indianapolis, IN, 5/17/2011 ACC# 179364 bought.A (Introductory description

PROFILE HOT ROD & CUSTOM 1929 FORD DICK FLINT ROADSTER Best of the best defines its era Michael Furman ©2013, courtesy of RM Auctions There aren’t a lot of hot rods that have big-name builders, vintage magazine coverage, race history and fantastic looks. The Dick Flint car is one of them 56 AmericanCarCollector.com VIN: 1825841 by Ken Gross • 1952 Hot Rod magazine cover car • Clocked at 143.54 mph at El Mirage dry lake • Class winner at the Grand National Roadster Show • First in Class and Dean Batchelor Award at the 1999 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance D ick Flint and a friend stop at a crosswalk, watching a voluptuous coed pass in front of them. Dick’s friend leaps out of the car as she haughtily turns away from the boys’ arresting red roadster. This was the iconic scene captured on the cover of the May 1952 issue of Hot Rod magazine. The magazine’s founder, the late Robert E. Petersen, remembered it as “the first issue where we sold over half a million copies.” The Dick Flint roadster is an icon, not just to car guys but to the legions of young men whose imaginations it set afire. ACC Analysis This car, Lot 125, sold for $577,500, including buyer’s pre- mium, at RM Auctions’ Art of the Automobile sale in New York City on November 21, 2013. Provenance in the vintage hot rod world mostly depends on a car’s original builder, its looks, engineering, racing history, authenticity and major features in period publications. And when it comes to valuing these cars, all those factors are vital in bringing top-market prices. There aren’t a lot of hot rods that tick all of those boxes, but the Dick Flint car is one of them. The history Dick Flint worked at Alex Xydias’ original So-Cal Speed Shop in Burbank. A member of the SCTA racing Glendale Sidewinders, he attended the first Bonneville meet in 1949, with the So-Cal Speed Shop team. For this car, Flint salvaged the best parts of three Model A roadster bodies to make one. He then channeled the basic body shell over a considerably modified Model A frame, and commissioned a local man to weld the chassis. The Z-framing, done to further lower the car, was poorly finished, but with a limited budget, Flint went with what he had. The car then went to Valley Custom in Burbank, CA, run by partners Neil Emory and Clay Jensen. They fabricated most of the body with advice from Dean Batchelor, a dry-lakes racer and noted author who later became the Editor of Road & Track. Besides a full belly pan, Valley Custom fabricated the sleek race-car-style nose and hood, complete with inverse louvers, and a generator-clearing side blister. Flint bored and stroked the flathead to 286 cubic inches. He then installed a Winfield Super 1A camshaft. Internal mods included Johnson adjustable tappets, three-ring racing pistons, a full balance job,

ACC Digital Bonus plus port, polish and relief work. The original engine finish wasn’t pretty, but it worked — on the dash is A timing tag attesting to an El Mirage run of mph. From spotlight to project t ran his ’29 at the lakes in 1951 in both a Timing Association and SCTA meets before mbling it for plating and paint. The completed s featured in the original pocket-sized Hop Up ne in the November 1951 issue, and again as r car in Hop Up (now full-sized) in June 1953. esented the NHRA at several events, and won s at the Oakland Roadster Show and Petersen’s d Los Angeles Motorama. Although some think oadster depicted on the initial NHRA badge s the Bill Niekamp ’29, it’s generally believed to be Dick Flint’s roadster. Dick Flint kept the car until 1961. Duane Kofoed, a member of the LA Roadsters, acquired it in the early 1960s. It was photographed and filmed at shows and rod runs. But the weak frame became weaker; Duane says the doors would pring open if the car traversed a steep curb. When Kofoed disasmbled the ’29 to rebuild it, he was dismayed at the condition of the frame, and stymied by the extensive work required to make the roadster right. So it sat, in pieces, for years. Making it new again Thirty years later, Don Orosco, a vintage racer and hot-rodder, was on the hunt for a vintage ’32 hot rod. Former Rod & Custom Editor Neal East suggested there might be a significant ’29 roadster available for restoration. Orosco contacted Kofoed, and after several years of talks, he was finally able to buy the car. Unfortunately, Kofoed had swapped the original flathead and the Ford driveline for a small-block Chevrolet and an Olds rear in the 1960s, and the original frame had bowed and sagged. It was unusable. So Orosco had a new flathead and a new chassis built using construction techniques and materials that could have been available in 1950–51. “We looked at the work of a number of period guys, including Frank Kurtis,” Orosco recalls. “We wanted to encapsulate the construction methods of that era into something Detailing VIN: N/A Engine #: On bellhousing Clubs: Goodguys, National Street Rod Association (NSRA), Early Ford V-8 Club of America Year produced: 1929 / 1950 Number produced: One Original list price: N/A Current ACC Valuation: $500,000–$700,000 Tune-up / major service: $300 that could have been done back then, if the builder had the requisite skills.” The new frame was strong and func- tional — and “legal” according to Pebble Beach restoration rules at the time the car was shown, which permitted some judicious re-engineering, if the work could have been done when the car was built. Orosco insists it would have been cheaper to build the car from scratch than restore it. Dick Flint confirmed, “It was the way I would have done it, if I could have done it over.” Accolades and dollars The Dick Flint ’29 was one of nine road- sters present for the historic hot rod class at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 1999. With Don Orosco and Dick Flint aboard, the slick roadster blasted up the ramp to receive First in Class, along with the Ford Motor Company-sponsored Dean Batchelor Memorial Trophy for the most significant hot rod present. Iconic hot rods are just beginning to seriously appreciate, with a core group of buyers willing to pay solid prices for the right cars with the right histories. Among these cars is the ex-Tom McMullen ’32 Ford roadster, which sold at Mecum in Anaheim for $742,000 in November 2012 (ACC# 213966). For what it’s worth, that car had a replacement chassis as well. RM’s lavish $62 million New York City sale last November presented a star-studded cast of cars and was the most successful Gotham sale ever. This ’29 was the perfect car to represent the historic-hot-rod genre alongside vintage Ferraris, Gullwing Mercedes, and other top-level collectibles. Pennsylvania-based collector Don Bernstein was the buyer. “I’ve always wanted a hot rod,” he said, “and the numbers seemed reasonable on this car.” Kirk F. White, who has bought and sold historic hot rods for decades, noted, “The Dick Flint ’29, a car made legendary by that Hot Rod magazine cover, was sold right on the money for today’s market. Cars like this are entering solid collections, and few will return with any haste to the secondary market.” Beautifully restored, with great history and prove- nance, the Dick Flint ’29 is one of the most influential hot rods ever built, and this sale was an unrepeatable opportunity. Call it a market price, but I’d also say it was very well bought, too. A (Introductory description courtesy of RM Auctions.) March-April 2014 57 1932 Ford Highboy, ex-Tom McMullen Lot S109, VIN: 18152025 Condition: 1Sold at $742,000 1932 Ford Highboy, ex-Walker Morrison Lot 132, VIN: 1874450 Condition: 1 Sold at $225,000 Bonhams, Carmel, CA, 8/16/2013 ACC# 227288 More: www.good-guys.com, www.nsra-usa.com Alternatives: Most periodbuilt Ford hot rods with both race history and magazine coverage — examples include the Tom McMullen ’32 roadster and the Jim Khougaz ’32 roadster ACC Investment Grade: B Comps Mecum Auctions, Anaheim, CA, 11/14/2012 ACC# 213966 1932 Ford roadster, ex-Jim Khougaz Lot 241, VIN: 18155453 Condition: 1Sold at $385,000 RM Auctions, Monterey, CA, 8/17/2007 ACC# 46256

PROFILE AMERICANA 1972 WINNEBAGO BRAVE CUSTOM RV A hot-rod Winnie, bought bravely It may not be destined for any national parks, but anywhere potbellied men shave the number 3 into their chest hair, it will be welcome 58 AmericanCarCollector.com 58 AmericanCarCollector.com VIN: M39CG2S530969 by Jay Harden I f there is such a thing as a Hot Rod RV, this is it. Mother Nature has provided “just the right patina” on this unit’s original exterior, with the builder’s unique imagination performing the rest. This RV is powered by Mopar’s 318 V8 with Sanderson custom headers, Flowmasters and dual exhaust with an automatic transmission. The customfabricated suspension places the unit lower than Winnebago engineers ever dreamed possible, making it handle like no other. All-new, hand-crafted cedar wood interior is deco- rated appropriately, including re-upholstered old theater seating, new futon bed, plaid driver’s and passenger’s seats and no shortage of wall art. ACC Analysis This 1972 Winnebago Brave, Lot 81, sold at Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale auction for $12,100, including buyer’s premium, on January 14, 2014. Crazy awesome Where am I supposed to start with this one? With the builder? What type of person thinks gutting and lowering a used-up old Winnie is a meaningful use of their time, money or talent? A crazy person? Maybe. A genius? Perhaps. A party animal? Most definitely. Crazy-genius party animals rank high on my list of favorite personas, and whoever built this thing was definitely speaking my language. With a face only Mad Max’s mother could love, this Winnie has character for days. That upturned nose, the crumpled brow, the “chalky” exterior... It’s enough to get any true grease monkey a little hot and bothered. The exterior is just the beginning, though, because, as Momma said, it’s what’s on the inside that counts. In this case, all of the original Winnebago appointments have been exorcised in favor of what may best be described as a local-watering-hole-style remodel. Although that means the new owner will have to live without the original Apple Green appliances, Antique Avocado drapes, and 40-year-old plumbing, it also means there is simply less, uh, crap to deal with. Hot-rod Winnie? I’m sure some will argue that an RV without a cook- top or a toilet is as purposeful as a screen door on a Courtesy of Barrett-Jackson

ACC Digital Bonus submarine, but there is purpose aplenty here. It may not be destined for any national parks or yacht-club shindigs, but anywhere potbellied men shave the number 3 into their chest hair, it will be welcome. Anywhere brats are rolled over hot coals, and anywhere the sweet aroma of race gas and burnt rubber hangs in the air, it will make friends. In fact, anyone who has ever ventured to any of the great shrines of automotive bravado knows that strutting around the pits behind the wheel of a vehicle like this one is surely the next best thing to being on the track. The thought of guiding this great beast into the infield at the Daytona 500, or onto the salt at Bonneville, with a giant cooler full of tall boys and an interior packed with buddies, makes my palms sweaty. Overall, there’s not much here that I can find to complain about. The only real gripe I have is that the auction literature touts the Winnie as a “hot-rod RV.” This Pooh bear’s stance is great and it has serious curb appeal, but any self-respecting hot-rodder knows a stocker 318 simply will not abide, especially in something this big. But in this case, I’m almost willing to look the other way. The hot-rodder label gets thrown around a little too carelessly these days, but I think it was tacked on here because the seller knew we hot-rodders are probably the only ones crazy enough to shell out the cash and dedicate the parking space to a tubby brick on wheels. Ringing the bell So what about the buyer? What kind of person shells out big bucks (relatively speaking) for a slightly askew motorhome? Well, shortly after the sale, rumors quickly began to swirl that Mike and Jim Ring of Ringbrothers fame were the unlikely duo that plunked down the cash necessary to take the Winnie home. If you haven’t heard of the Ringbrothers, then you haven’t been paying attention. They build cars with industry-shaping creativity and detail, and are absolutely deserving of the hype. I’ve picked through more high-end hot rods and muscle cars than I care to remember, and the work of the Ringbrothers is up there with the best of ’em. With that knowledge in mind, I simply could not resist the temptation of giving them a call to get a bit more insight on their motivation to land this Winnie. Mike and Jim were happy to share their story. We bought that? So what was it that motivated a couple of guys with an eerily acute — some might call it Hannibal Lecterlike — attention to detail to shell out 12 grand on a wonky motorhome with no porta-potty? These guys are true motorheads, who, as they told me, just “love old stuff,” and buying the Winnebago was a decision fueled by impulse, not investment. Sometimes, that’s all the reason one needs. The Winnebago was first pointed out to them by a friend who thought the old RV would be right up their alley. As predicted, their interest was piqued, but the Winnebago was selling on Tuesday, and they weren’t arriving in Scottsdale until Wednesday. A second friend was contacted and asked to bid on Lot 81 if the Detailing Year produced: 1972 Number produced: About 15,000 (total production for the year) Original list price: $6,995 Current ACC Valuation: $3,500–$10,000 VIN: On the frame facing outside, above right front leaf spring Engine #: Stamped pad on front of engine, above water pump housing Club: Classic Winnebago Club More: www.classicwinnebagos.com Alternatives: Any early ’70s RV from Winnebago, Pace Arrow, Travco, GMC, etc. ACC Investment Grade: D Winnie looked decent and “was going cheap.” When Mike and Jim finally made it to Scottsdale, they found themselves $12k in the hole and heavy one old RV. Climbing behind the wheel of the stubby coach left them with two distinct impressions: fear for their lives and an instant case of buyer’s remorse. That’s what a brake pedal that goes straight to the floor will do to you. It’s fitting that the word “Brave” is plastered in faded text, right on the side. However, this Winnie seems to simply have a way with people, and the overwhelmingly positive response they received convinced the brothers to steel their commitment. As Mike and Jim explained to me, “We’ve won the Mothers Shine Award several times, but we’ve already gotten more recognition for buying that old Winnebago! It’s just crazy!” Now that they have it home in Spring Green, WI, work is already under way to fulfill the promise of that “hot-rod RV” moniker. An LS3/Bowler transmission combo is on the way, and, in typical Ringbrothers fashion, they are already getting a little carried away with the details. They promise, however, that the exterior will remain untouched. Chalky billboard At first glance, $12k may seem like a lot of scratch for something like this, but that’s awfully cheap to drive home a rolling party. It is particularly cheap when you consider that the Ringbrothers now have an unmistakable rolling business card that provides an unexpected glimpse into the characters of the men behind the wheel. There aren’t many vehicles out there that you can line up beside the Winnie and analyze apples to apples. This was an unusual sale in unusual circumstances, and is a perfect example of an individual oddball vehicle taking on a personality all its own. A stock Winnebago Brave of the same make and model in your local Craigslist will likely cost you about 25% of the price paid here, but Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale sale does funny things to people. Considering just how much buzz this old tank has created, it’s awfully difficult to argue that it wasn’t worth the money. It sounds like the Ringbrothers are planning to drive the wheels off this ol’ Pooh bear, and I’m willing to bet they’ll enjoy every mile along the way. I know I sure would. A (Introductory description courtesy of Barrett- Jackson.) March-April 2014 59CC 59 Comps 1968 Ultra Van Lot 310.1, VIN: 368 Condition: 4Sold at $1,375 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ, 1/15/2012 ACC# 191467 1964 Crown Super Coach conversion Lot U154, VIN: 34852 Condition: 3- Not sold at $60,000 Mecum Auctions, Belvidere, IL, 5/23/2007 ACC# 45422 1976 GMC Palm Beach Lot 641, VIN: TZE166V103096 Condition: 3 Sold at $13,515 The Branson Auction, Branson, MO, 10/19/2006 ACC# 43433

THE “SNAKE & MONGOOSE” COLLECTION 1967 DODGE D700 HAULER and 1972 PLYMOUTH DUSTER Collector pulls in quite a haul For the price of one Cobra 427, the new owner has enough hardware to fill a drag-racing museum 1970 Plymouth ’Cuda VIN: 1190020 1972 Plymouth Duster VIN: 10016 1967 Dodge D700 “Snake” truck VIN: 1781751293 1967 Dodge D700 “Mongoose” truck VIN: 1781731248 by John L. Stein ACC Analysis These four lots, the ’70 configured and painted to match. In a time when most cars arrived at the track on flatbed trailers, these transporters were the height of professionalism. That the big Dodges also offered four doors, a sleeper compartment and room for a spare engine, transmission and other essentials was a valuable bonus. Painting one yellow to match Prudhomme’s ’Cuda and the other red to match McEwen’s Duster made the program even more spectacular. Naturally, Mattel immortalized the cars with die- Barracuda and ’72 Duster drag cars and the two ’67 Dodge D700 ramp trucks, were sold together for $990,000 as lots 5040–5043 at Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale sale on January 18, 2014. Next to Don Garlits in “Swamp Rat,” “TV” Tommy Ivo in his four-engine rail or Wild Willie Borsch onehanding his winged Fuel Altered, for me there’s no more exciting drag-racing history than the epic Don “The Snake” Prudhomme vs. Tom “The Mongoose” McEwen wars of 1970–72. Sponsored by Hot Wheels, these duels pitted Prudhomme’s Plymouth Barracuda and McEwen’s Plymouth Duster Funny Cars against each other on dragstrips nationwide. They also made hundreds of appearances at toy stores and other retailers. It was a publicity juggernaut previously unheard of in racing. Prudhomme and McEwen had one Funny Car apiece (with an additional “Snake” ’Cuda built for Plymouth Rapid Transit dealership tours), and each had a crew-cab 1967 Dodge D700 car hauler 60 AmericanCarCollector.com cast Hot Wheels miniatures for kids to sling along the now-iconic orange track. Unquestionably, “Mongoose & Snake” was sheer marketing brilliance, and for a couple of years the entire product line — including the Funny Cars, fuel dragsters, transporters, track sets and even animated models with sound effects — was among Mattel’s most successful. “There were certainly hundreds of thousands, and maybe even millions, of Mongoose and Snake toys made,” said former Mattel executive Tony Miller. “And along the way, Mongoose and Snake helped Hot Wheels become the undisputed most successful boys’ toy of all time, with more than five billion sold to date.” Lost, found and sold Once Mattel’s Mongoose & Snake program ended in 1972, the cars and transporters scattered in the winds, with the Dodge trucks sold to other racers and two of the three cars destroyed by other teams. In fact, the yellow Barracuda seen here is not Prudhomme’s

n Grunwald actual race car, but Plymouth’ Dan Grunwald actual race car, but Plymouth’s Rapid Transit System tour car, while the red McEwen Duster is a more recently built display car. However, the trucks are real, as Prudhomme located both of them in Southern California, and then bought and restored them over several years. The rigs even retain their old California black-and-yellow plates. On January 18, at primetime on Saturday at the Barrett-Jackson auction at WestWorld in Scottsdale, AZ, the whole group went under the hammer as one lot (despite being individually cataloged as Lots 5040–43). The reserve for the package was set at a reported $1 million, and it was surprising that bidding didn’t quite get there. After all, at the same auction last year, the original George Barris-built Batmobile fetched $4.62m (ACC# 214858). Granted, way more folks probably know Batman than Mongoose and Snake — but for most car guys, I would wager the twin Funny Cars have more pull. 1970 PLYMOUTH BARRACUDA and 1967 DODGE D700 HAULER Nonetheless, no one stepped up to meet the reserve, and as the hammer dropped, the cars and trucks were a no-sale. Afterward, they did sell for $990,000 backstage — a tidy $247,500 each when the total is chunked into four pieces. For the price of one Cobra 427, new owner Rick Hendrick now has enough hardware to fill a drag-racing museum. Slicing and dicing This Drag Racer’s combo of one running Funny Car, one static Funny Car and two real transporters is so varied that BarrettJackson’s breakout of exactly $247,500 apiece isn’t how anyone would value the individual vehicles. So how would you value them to total $990k? Here’s my assessment: The Don Prudhomme ’70 ’Cuda Funny Car: $450,000. This is the most valuable piece in the collection because it’s one of the three original Ronnie Scrima-built cars from the Mongoose & Snake program, and as such it has true historical value. Even if it never raced, it was there. The display Mongoose Funny Car: $90,000. This number is a guesstimate for a tube frame and running gear, a ’glass body, dummy engine and the rest. Absent any historical status, I’d value the Mongoose Duster replica at a bit over the sum of its parts and labor — in short, about one-fifth the value of the period Snake tour car. The Prudhomme Snake transporter: $240,000. This is Prudhomme’s real-deal truck from back in the day, found and restored by his team. It’s unquestionably authentic, and is also drivable and useful as a car hauler today — as long as you like attracting crowds. The McEwen Mongoose transporter: $210,000. Nearly the same pedigree here, except that the McEwen and Mongoose names aren’t quite as famous as Prudhomme and Snake. Considering all that, I think $990k was right on the money for this Jim Pickering group in today’s market — especially for a collector who grew up watching the cars race, played with the Hot Wheels set, and simply wanted to collect all four. A March-April 2014 61

Straight from The Snake’s mouth “We never staged a race. It was dog-eat-dog.” ACC had a chat with The Snake himself, Don Prudhomme. Here’s what he had to say about the “Snake & Mongoose” days: ACC: Was the “Mongoose & Snake” program your inspiration or Mattel’s? Prudhomme: The concept began by Tom and me both having nicknames, although I had mine first. We had become pals at Lions Drag Strip and started racing together, and before long, a local paper said, “Snake and Mongoose are coming.” So the names already existed when we took it to Mattel. Tom said, “I am going to Mattel and take them this idea.” We went and sat with them, the two of us, and all it took was about one meeting. All Tom and I cared about was one year; we just wanted a sponsorship. We didn’t know about rights and residuals or anything like that, and Mattel didn’t know much about racing. But Art Spear at Mattel said, “Let’s do it.” And right away the design guys had the cars all drawn up. SNAKE ACC: Where did the cars come from? Prudhomme: There were different guys building dragsters — I ran Don Long, Kent Fuller and other chassis. But when it came to Funny Cars, it was different. Ronnie Scrima was the guy, and that’s how we got introduced. He built all three of the Hot Wheels cars. They were state of the art at the time. ACC: Were the trucks part of the original tour idea? Prudhomme: The trucks came in because Tom and I were aware that we needed a nice setup — ramp trucks like the Pettys, Sox & Martin and the Landys used. The most natural thing to do was paint them in the same colors as the cars. So the very first time we ran the cars they were on the trucks. Courtesy of Barrett-Jackson Lot 5040 Don “The Snake” Prudhomme’s 1970 Plymouth Barracuda Funny Car This restored yellow 1970 Plymouth Barracuda Mattel Hot Wheels “Snake I” Funny Car is the only one remaining from the original two ever produced. The car made appearances on Plymouth’s 1971 Rapid Transit Tour. Many years later, Prudhomme acquired the car and began an extensive in-house restoration (personally overseen by Prudhomme and with longtime employee Willie Wolter as project manager), which was finally completed in 2008. Originally built by Ronnie Scrima at Exhibition Engineering in Van Nuys, CA, the restoration features the original 446-cid motor (running on 85% nitromethane), original body and original rolling chassis. It also includes an original 6-71 blower, original front Cragar and rear Halibrand wheels. Additional equipment includes a B&Mequipped TorqueFlite automatic transmission, Dana 60 3.90:1 rear axle, and Hurst-Airheart disc brakes. Lot 5042 Don Prudhomme’s 1967 Dodge D700 Hot Wheels Transporter This is Don Prudhomme’s frame-off and fully restored 1967 Hot 62 Wheels ramp truck, which famously transported his Funny Cars during the 1970s match-racing era. Prudhomme purchased the 1967 Dodge D700 crew cab Hot Wheels cab and chassis from the Greensboro, NC, dealership where previous owner Richard Petty had traded it in 1969. The ramp truck went into service beginning in 1970 as an integral part of Mattel’s legendary Hot Wheels Mongoose & Snake promotion. In 1970–72, photos of the ramp truck appeared in many magazine articles, news stories and packaging for Hot Wheels toys, models and track sets. Prudhomme sold the ramp truck to a buyer in California upon conclusion of the Hot Wheels promotion at the end of the 1972 season. Thirty-five years later, Prudhomme wanted to locate, purchase and restore the ramp truck in order to have a complete original touring package. Using the original VIN and some assistance from local law enforcement, Prudhomme tracked down the truck in early 2008. Prudhomme personally oversaw its complete, frame-off restora- tion over a period of two years. Also included with the sale are the original bill of sale from the dealership to Prudhomme, the original work order for ramp modifications, an original spare 1966 426-cid stock Hemi cast-iron motor, and Prudhomme’s original driving suit, helmet and uniform. (Descriptions courtesy of Barrett-Jackson)

MONGOOSE Lot 5041 Tom “The Mongoose” McEwen’s 1972 Plymouth Duster Funny Car replica In 2005, Mattel celebrated the 35th anniversary of its Hot Wheels brand’s Mongoose & Snake promotion, which began in 1970 and continued through the 1972 season. With the original Mongoose car no longer in existence, Mattel commissioned the build of this show car. Lot 5043 Tom McEwens’s 1967 Dodge D700 Hot Wheels Transporter In 1967, Plymouth ordered MONGOOSE MONGOOSE MONGOOSE Lot 5041 Tom “The Mongoose” McEwen’s 1972 Plymouth Duster Funny Car replica In 2005, Mattel celebrated the 35th anniversary of its Hot Wheel E Lot 5041 Tom “The Mongoose” McEwen’s 1972 Plymouth Duster Funny Car replica In 2005, Mattel celebrated the 35th anniversary of its Hot Wheels brand’s Mongoose & Snake promotion, which began in 1970 and continued through the 1972 season. With the original Mongoose car no longer in existence, Mattel commissioned the build of this show car. Lot 5043 Tom McEwens’s 1967 Dodge D700 Hot Wheels Transporter In 1967, Plymouth ordered Martin. Martin. After this team finished with it, the truck was sold to Tom “Mongoose” McEwen in 1970 and modified to match Don Prudhomme’s own yellow ‘67 D700 for the beginning of Mattel’s Hot Wheels Mongoose & Snake promotion. Forty years later, after completing the restoration of his own yellow D700 ramp truck, Prudhomme searched for and ultimately located the Mongoose truck as well. After a lengthy search it was found in a backyard in Riverside, CA, where it had been neglected for several years. Although the Dodge had been repainted from red to yellow, Prudhomme was still able to verify its identity by an original Chrysler vehicle-identification Certicard naming Sox & Martin that was in the glovebox. He then oversaw its framey MONGOOSE GOOSE Lot 5041 Tom “The Mongoose” McEwen’s 1972 Plymouth Dus t 5041 Tom “The Mongoose” McEwen’s 1972 Plymouth Duster Funny Car replica In 2005, Mattel celebrated the 35th anniversary of its Hot Wheels brand’s Mongoose & Snake promotion, which began in 1970 and continued through the 1972 season. With the original Mongoose car no longer in existence, Mattel commissioned the build of this show car. Lot 5043 Tom McEwens’s 1967 Dodge D700 Hot Wheels Transporter In 1967, Plymouth ordered Martin. After this team finished with it, the truck was sold to Tom “Mongoose” McEwen in 1970 and modified to match Don Prudhomme’s own yellow ‘67 D700 for the beginning of Mattel’s Hot Wheels Mongoose & Snake promotion. Forty years later, after completing the restoration of his own yellow D700 ramp truck, Prudhomme searched for and ultimately located the Mongoose truck as well. After a lengthy search it was found in a backyard in Riverside, CA, where it had been neglected for several years. Although the Dodge had been repainted from red to yellow, Prudhomme was still able to verify its identity by an original Chrysler vehicle-identification Certicard naming Sox & Martin that was in the glovebox. He then oversaw its frame- y Distributor Distributor cap: N/A VIN: N/A Engine #: None Years built: 1970, 1972 Number built: Three were built for Snake & Mongoose, but many others were built in-period Original list price: N/A Current ACC Valuation: $50,000-plus, depending on history and condition Tune-up / major service: $5,000 Detailing Funny Cars Club: Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum More: www.cacklefest.com Alternatives: Slingshot dragsters, multiple-engine dragsters, Fuel Altered cars ACC Investment Grade: C D700 Trucks Years built: 1962–77 Number built: N/A Original list price: N/A Current ACC Valuation: $10,000–$240,000, depending on history and condition Distributor cap: $10 VIN: Plate on driver’s side door lock pillar Tune-up / major service: $250 Engine #: Stamped on pad at front of block Club: Antique Truck Club of America ACC: Were the transporters self contained with fuel, tires, tools, spares, or did you have additional vehicles? Prudhomme: My yellow transporter was all trimmed out. It carried a spare engine and transmission, and it had nitro tanks built under the ramp. The only thing we didn’t have was a tow truck. We’d get to a dragstrip and say, “Does anyone have a tow truck?” There were always lots of people willing to help. ACC: How many Mongoose & Snake matchups were there? Prudhomme: I would say hundreds, and there were times we’d race three places on a weekend. It was coast to coast — that’s how we made our living, barnstorming across the country. ACC: Did you and Tom share wins, or was it always anybody’s race? Prudhomme: We never staged a race. It was dog- eat-dog, and there were some very hard feelings from time to time. “We’re going to kick your ass when we get to the next strip,” that kind of thing. Sometimes we would not even caravan down the road together because we weren’t even talking. We were like two brothers who wouldn’t talk to each other because we were pissed off. ACC: What eventually happened to the cars? Prudhomme: There were three cars total — one Barracuda and one Duster that we raced, and another show ’Cuda that went on the Rapid Transit System tour. We never raced that car, but I later drove it in the Mongoose & Snake movie. When the program ended, we sold the race cars off and they got scrapped. The one we did manage to get back was the show car. ACC: How long did it take you to assemble this group of four vehicles? Prudhomme: I found the yellow Rapid Transit car in Ohio about 10 years ago. It had a Chevy in it. Then I found my yellow truck about five or six years ago. What got us excited about building Tom’s car was the Mongoose & Snake 35th anniversary. That was about 2½ years ago, and the Mongoose car was built about the same time as the red truck was found and restored. ACC: What was the most unusual thing that hapJim Pickering pened during the Hot Wheels program? Prudhomme: Mongoose beat me once! — John L. Stein A 2007 Tommy Ivo “Showboat” replica dragster Lot 260, VIN: N/A Condition: 2 Sold at $176,000 RM Auctions, Los Angeles, CA, 9/26/2009 ACC# 143231 63 1966 Ford SC500 Super Duty truck Lot 153, VIN: N50CU906509 Condition: 4 Sold at $66,000 RM Auctions, Phoenix, AZ, 1/18/2008 ACC# 48644 More: www.antiquetruckclubofamerica.com Alternatives: 1967–72 Chevrolet C-70 & GMC 70, 1967–72 Ford F-750, 1962–78 International Loadstar 1700 ACC Investment Grade: C Comps Courtesy of Barrett-Jackson

MArKET OVERVIEW For complete results of each auction covered in this issue, scan this code or go to http://bit.ly/YLyfw2 TOP 10 sales this issue 1. 1967 Chevrolet Corvette coupe, $3,850,000—B-J, p. 74 2. 1969 Chevrolet Corvette racer, $2,860,000—B-J, p. 76 3. 1963 Shelby King Cobra racer, $1,650,000—B-J, p. 76 4. 1968 Chevrolet Corvette convertible, $880,000— B-J, p. 74 5. 1953 Chevrolet Corvette roadster, $660,000—B-J, p. 72 6. 1970 plymouth Superbird hemi 2-dr hard top, $550,000—B-J, p. 78 7. 1971 Chevrolet Corvette Zr2 coupe, $495,000— B-J, p. 76 8. 1920 Stutz Series h Bearcat roadster, $341,000—Bon, p. 104 9. 1968 Shelby GT500 Kr convertible, $308,000— B-J, p. 78 10. 1965 McKee Mk IV Can-Am racer, $260,000—r&S, p. 94 BEST BUYS 1. 1970 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 coupe, $52,000— AA, p. 107 2. 1956 Chevrolet nomad wagon, $50,050—Lke, p. 82 3. 1959 Chevrolet 3100 Apache nApCO 4x4 pickup, $36,575—Lke, p. 82 4. 1966 Chevrolet Impala SS 2-dr hard top, $13,910—Mec, p. 107 5. 1954 pontiac Chieftain Eight 2-dr sedan, $3,780—Sil, p. 98 66 AmericanCarCollector.com Buy and sell cars and get your bull-riding fix at Barrett-Jackson in Scottsdale by Tony Piff equates to overall growth in sales of 12% over last year’s $225m. The overall average price per car was $106k. Over half of those 2,381 cars sold at Barrett- O Jackson. Barrett sent 1,401 of 1,405 consignments home to new garages and hit its usual 99.7% sales rate. Average price per car nosed up to $79k from $77k, and sales grew by 8% from $102m last year to $110m — eclipsing their record $107m achieved in 2007. Five American cars surpassed $1m, with two important Corvettes taking the high-sale spots: a 1967 L88 at $3.9m, and the 1969 L88 “Rebel” racer at $2.9m. n n n Growth at Russo and Steele was even better than the week’s overall growth of 12%. Russo’s totals shot forward by 19% to $21.2m, up from $17.8m last year. The auction house sold 484 out of 735 cars (66%). Strong growth and an average price of $44k (up from $39k last year) shows that the middle of the market is doing just fine. A 1963 Pontiac LeMans Super Duty Lightweight was the top American car at Russo at $336k, and a 1971 Dodge Hemi Challenger (profiled on p. 54) was close behind at $317k. ver the course of a single week in January, 2,381 collector cars found new owners. Those cars and dollars were spread among six auctions in the vicinity of Scottsdale, AZ, for a combined $253m. That total n n n At Silver’s Arizona sale, held just outside of Scottsdale in Fort McDowell, prices have held steady at about $17k since 2009, and totals tend to hover between $3m and $4m. This year, Silver sold 191 out of 328 cars (58%), and sales totaled $3.3m. The top three American lots were a 1948 Cadillac Series 62 convertible at $76k, a 2009 Dodge Viper coupe at $71k, and a 1958 Chevrolet 283/245 Corvette at $70k. n n n In this issue, we also take a close look at Leake’s year-end sale in Dallas, TX. Leake saw their totals grow by a formidable 43% this year, to $9.4m from 2012’s $6.6m. Of 588 consignments, 365 changed hands (62%). Average price was $26k, up from $20k. The top two high sales were both American: a 2006 Ford GT at $218k and a 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham at $193k. n n n In the Roundup, you’ll find American highlights from the other three Arizona auctions — Gooding, RM, and Bonhams — as well as McCormick’s in Palm Springs, CA; Branson in Branson, MO; RM in Hershey, PA; Auctions America in Carlisle, PA; and Mecum in Anaheim, CA, and Kansas City, MO. A Steady as she goes ONE WEEK IN ARIZONA, 2,822 CARS, $253M ACC 1-6 scale condition rating 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: Salvagable for parts

Anatomy of an ACC Market Report A HANDY GUIDE TO HOW WE RATE CARS AT AUCTION By B. Mitchell Carlson They say a picture is worth 1,000 words. To give a better appreciation of what our auction analysts look for when they cover cars for ACC, we like to take a specific example and give you visuals of the details. This time, we’ll take a look at one of the untouched Lambrecht dealership cars in Pierce, NE, from the VanDerBrink sale in September 2013. Lot number assigned by auction house. General description of vehicle as observed by reporter, with VIN number, color and mechanical specifications listed first. A price listed in green indicates that the vehicle sold. A price in red denotes a no-sale. Commentary in which reporter sums up factors that may have affected the sale and notes whether it was a good buy. #1L-1964 CHEVROLET IMPALA 2-dr hard top. S/N 41847S267633. Ermine White/red vinyl. Odo: 4 miles. 327-ci V8, 4-bbl, 3-sp. Per the window sticker still attached 49 years later, equipped with 250horse 327, standard 3-on-the-tree, tinted windshield, full wheelcovers and whitewall tires. Covered with a half-century of dust, dirt, and grime. Paint and chrome very well preserved, thanks to ambient oil mist in the shop. Nobody makes a reproduction interior that looks as good as this one. Under the slight mustiness, you can dectect a hint of new-car smell inside. Full complement of new owner paperwork in glovebox. Chassis untouched and not rusty, showing some undercoating. On MSO. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $78,750. If there was one car that really deserved to be cleaned up out here, it was this one. Having spent the past 49 years exclusively in the dealership— with Ray Lambrecht constantly declining offers to buy it—this was one of the finest cars here. The famous collector who picked it up has the resources and good taste to give it the care it deserves. And no, it wasn’t Leno. This symbol indicates vehicles noted by the reporter as exceptionally well bought. Five are called out per issue. CONDITION RATINGS Condition: ACC uses a numerical scale of 1 to 6 to assess a vehicle’s overall condition: 1. Perfect: National show standard 2. Excellent: Club show-worthy, some small flaws 3. Average: Daily driver in decent condition 68 AmericanCarCollector.com 4. Meh: Still a driver, but with visible flaws 5. Questionable: A problem-plagued beast that somehow manages to run 6. Lost cause: Salvagable for parts BEST BUY

BARRETT-JACKSON // Scottsdale, AZ Barrett-Jackson — Scottsdale THE TOP TWO CARS HERE WERE BOTH CORVETTES: $3.9M FOR A 1967 L88 COUPE AND $2.9M FOR THE 1969 “REBEL” RACE CAR Report and photos by Dan Grunwald Market opinions in italics A s the line from “Field of Dreams” goes, “If you build it, they will come.” Well, Craig Jackson built it, and they came in droves. The WestWorld complex in Scottsdale has been completely redesigned, with the auction podium and main entry area now housed in a permanent building. In total, it was almost a mile’s walk from the front to the back of the new building and auction tents that made up this year’s event. Barrett-Jackson even hosted a rodeo under the same roof on Friday and Saturday night. Outside, the sprawling acreage of tents, food carts and promo booths is now paved. I saw more and better food vendors this year to keep the crowds energized. Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale, AZ January 12–19, 2014 Auctioneers: Assiter & Associates: Tom “Spanky” Assiter, lead auctioneer Automotive lots sold/offered: 1,401/1,405 Sales rate: 99.7% Sales total: $110,439,505 high American sale: 1967 Chevrolet Corvette L88 coupe, sold at $3,850,000 Buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold prices 1967 Chevrolet Corvette L88 coupe, sold at $3,850,000 And to match the improved and expanded space, the crowds themselves seemed endless. An estimated 300,000 attendees passed through the Barrett-Jackson gates this year — that’s 82,000 more than the entire population of Scottsdale. The logistics of putting this event on are incredible, and through it all the parking shuttles moved smoothly and efficiently in both directions with little waiting even at peak periods. Kudos to the BarrettJackson organization for their efforts. While this year’s sale offered a huge selec- tion of muscle cars, many of the top-level headliners from the “Salon Collection” were pre-war classics from makes such as Packard, Duesenberg and Cord. While these cars have remained in style for nearly a century and still command six- and seven-digit price tags today, their overall market appeal is relatively narrow. So it’s great to see them making a comeback at a venue like Barrett-Jackson. Presenting these cars alongside muscle cars and hot rods is a great way to introduce them to collectors who might never have considered putting a Big Classic in the garage. A 1929 Duesenberg Model SJ LeBaron dual-cowl phaeton was the most expensive pre-1955 car at $1.4m, but Barrett-Jackson’s top two selling cars here were both Corvettes: $3.85m for a 1967 L88 coupe (see the profile, p. 48) and $2.86m for the 1969 “Rebel” race car. Another Corvette, a 1968 L88, seemed to fly under the radar until bidding started and soared to $800k ($880k with commission). The highly anticipated “Snake & Mongoose” drag cars, offered with their transport trucks as a set of four, initially failed to sell on the podium at the milliondollar level, but were later listed “sold” at $990k (see the profile, p. 60). Lot 5063 was a 1963 Shelby Cooper Monaco King Cobra with extensive documentation and a recent quality restoration. It sold for $1.65m, and just looking at it would quicken the pulse of any Shelby fan. If you still haven’t been to a Barrett- 1969 Chevrolet Corvette “rebel” racer, sold at $2,860,000 70 AmericanCarCollector.com Jackson Scottsdale auction but have always wanted to go, now is the time. Reservations are made up to a year in advance, so get on VRBO and lock in a nice condo for next year. It will be a week you’ll never forget. A

BARRETT-JACKSON // Scottsdale, AZ CLASSICS #5016-1931 MARMON V16 HOT ROD roadster. VIN: 16654. Maroon/black cloth/ tan leather. Odo: 8 miles. Immaculate build by John and Hayden Groendyke. Freshly built with only 8 miles on the odometer. Golf-club door on passenger’s side. V16 topped by three deuces with chrome bellshaped intakes protruding through the top of the hood. Some yellowing starting on chrome header pipes. Cond: 1. both A-pillars. All chrome and trim show excellent. Some door gaps look a bit wide and variable. Front bucket seats in new interior and 4-speed with Hurst shifter. New carpets, drum brakes all around and SS gauges. Cond: 2. at Mecum Indy in May 2013 (ACC# 223971). My guess would be that the odometer has rolled over once, but the car still has nice colors and looks very clean. From the era when 442 was a Cutlass option package rather than a stand-alone model. Well bought and well sold. Everyone should be smiling. NOT SOLD AT $275,000. Huge wheelbase for a hot rod and 16-cylinder engine. Not a normal hot rod and not a normal classic car left this car searching for a rare pair of bidders today. A quality build that failed to attract the desired money and went back home with its owner. GM #359-1963 CHEVROLET CORVAIR Greenbrier van. VIN: 3R126S114184. Turquoise & white/turquoise cloth & vinyl. Odo: 80,247 miles. 145-ci I6, 2x1-bbl, auto. New recent mid-level paint. The camper optional benchseat interior looks pretty good. The dashboard top surface needs paint. Some visible surface rust on right side vent pane frame. Dull hubcaps. No visible oil drips under the engine. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $26,400. Nicely done and looks to be a reliable and fun driver with familyhauling capabilities. The buyer—famed collector Ken Lingenfelter—got a nice car with all of the work done at a very reasonable cost. Well bought, and a great addition to the collection. #1002-1967 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE Malibu SS 396 2-dr hard top. VIN: 138177K198773. Yellow/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 23,783 miles. 396-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. New yellow paint with black lower belt-line stripes and a new vinyl top. The passenger’s door gap is a bit wide. Tinted glass all around, with one chip on the right-side window. Power brakes, steering, windows and tilt column. Cond: 1-. #1044-1969 PONTIAC GTO Judge 2-dr hard top. VIN: 242379Z120520. Orange/ white vinyl. Odo: 32,199 miles. 400-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Passenger’s door fits wide at rear. Rechromed rear bumper shows some pits. Side glass scratches. No trim rings on the wheels. Hurst shifter. Hood tach. Includes build sheet and PHS docs. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $107,800. Last seen at Mecum Indy 2010, where it sold for $30k (ACC# 164380). This was a well-done and documented Ram Air III Judge, and it sold above market. Well sold. CORVETTE 5 SOLD AT $66,000. Well restored with title history and sales documents included. Sold fairly. SOLD AT $16,500. Who needs a VW bus? Buy this, save money (lots of it), go faster and be different. Sold at the top end of the market, but you will look long and hard to find another one as nice. #684-1964 CHEVROLET NOVA 400 wagon. VIN: 40435N212167. White/blue vinyl. Odo: 68,380 miles. 283-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. The ACC hauler. Recently restored with logo stickers on the glass. Decent newer paint is ground bare on the front edge of the driver’s door. Cracks in paint on 72 AmericanCarCollector.com #117-1967 OLDSMOBILE 442 2-dr sedan. VIN: 338077M351351. Yellow/black. Odo: 14,964 miles. 400-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. New paint with visible mask lines on some trim. Good chrome and trim. Tinted glass all around with a couple of light stone chips on windshield. Wide fender-to-door gaps on both sides. Redline tires. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $660,000. Sold as a pair with #5039, a 2003 Corvette with the matching VIN #181. The ACC Price Guide pegs a good #2 ’53 at $173k–$301k, but this car will always set the bar, and the 2003 that is thrown in may have helped a bit. I still call it well sold. SOLD AT $31,900. Recently sold for $31k #5024-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE “Asteroid” coupe. VIN: 30837S111775. Copper flake/white & orange leather. Odo: #5038-1953 CHEVROLET CORVETTE roadster. VIN: E53F001181. White/red vinyl. Odo: 7,262 miles. 235-ci 150-hp I6, 3x1-bbl, auto. The Chip Miller Corvette, probably the most original ’53 on the planet. Some age showing on paint with edge chips and cracks visible. The dash top shows cracks as well. The chrome looks very good, as do the seats and steering wheel. Displayed in the Bloomington Gold Special Collection. AACA Senior award. Cond: 3. TOP 10

BARRETT-JACKSON // Scottsdale, AZ QUICKTAKE 1989 Pontiac Trans Am 20th Anniversary Edition coupe SOLD at $31,350 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ, January 14–19, 2014, Lot 111 1989. But don’t discount the ’89 T/A as a boring commuter car without any real performance because it didn’t have that V8. No, this version got the boosted heart of its blacked-out Buick cousin. That’s right — the Grand National’s Turbo 3.8 V6. Pontiac made a few changes Pontiac built the Trans Am without V8 power for one year only: to that V6. They cross-drilled the crankshaft, fitted different heads (to help squeeze the unit into the Firebird’s engine bay) and added stainless headers and the GNX intercooler. When they were done, the 3.8-liter SFI, turbocharged V6 was rated (conservatively) at 250 hp at 4,400 rpm and 340 lb/ft at 2,800 rpm. It ran 0–60 in 5.5 seconds, had a quarter-mile ET of 13.5 seconds at 103 mph, and pulled 0.86 g on the skid pad — not exactly typical 1980s numbers. In total, Pontiac made 1,555 1989 TTAs, five of which were pilot cars. It isn’t difficult to find these in remarkable condition. There were two other 20th Anniversary Trans Ams at B-J during Arizona auction week. Lot 700 sold for $27,500 and had only 677 miles. Lot 689 sold at $29,700 with less than 7k miles. All three at the sale were minty fresh — they all looked like they could have just been unloaded of the GM dealership delivery truck in 1989. The seller said this car comes from the Pontiac Historical Society Collection — noted in the Pontiac Division log as car number 80. It was also one of the cars actually used on the track of the 1989 Indianapolis 500 Festival. And that little V6? Well, for the first time in history, this pace car didn’t need any performance modifications to perform its duties. When the hubbub finally dies over the ’70s Bandit Trans the top of the market. But I don’t think it will be too long before I’ll be calling it well bought. A — Chad Tyson Ams, I think these cars will take over as the penultimate T/A model. For right now, consider this one well sold at a price near SOLD AT $3,850,000. Last appears in the ACC Premium Auction Database in 2000, when it no-saled at $320k at RM Phoenix (ACC# 2758). Comes with lots of history, judging sheets and documentation, plus NCRS Mark of Excellence award. A new record price for a ’67. (See profile p. 48) S414479. Blue/black canvas/blue vinyl. Odo: 13,658 miles. 427-ci 430-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Visible paint chip and nicks, and what looks like a couple of battery-acid drips that ate the paint on the top of the left fender. Some light pitting on the front bumper and heavy pitting on the door-handle flaps. Heavy and large delamination spots on windshield. Said to be a original-mile survivor L88, complete with the Bill of Sale, tank sticker, and Protect-O-Plate. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $880,000. Last sold at BarrettJackson’s 2003 Scottsdale sale for $135k 4 #1318-1968 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 194678- 74 AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $187,000. Built as a Barris custom using a brand-new Corvette in 1963 for Bob Nordskog, who was a boat racer. George Barris was on the podium with the auctioneers when the selling took place, and he is still a bundle of energy and marketing. Well bought and sold. #5035-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE coupe. VIN: 194377S115791. Red/red vinyl. Odo: 11,808 miles. 427-ci 430-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. A couple of light scratches on the rear window. Originally ordered with J56 big brakes, off-road exhaust, power brakes, heater- and radiodelete, L88, transistor ignition and F41 suspension. One of only 20 L88s built in 1967, and this is the only known one that is red/ red. A faultless restoration. Cond: 1-. 1 12,565 miles. 352-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Full-on Barris custom with super copper metal-flake paint, custom interior, sidepipes and wheels different on each side of the car: chrome wires on right side and mags on left; full sidepipes on right and shorty on left. Cond: 1-. TOP 10 TOP 10

BARRETT-JACKSON // Scottsdale, AZ $968 option in 1970. Inside rear-view mirror losing silver. One of 25 built in 1970. Cond: 1-. from the SEMA suppliers. Should be a joy to own and drive. Bought at a fraction of the build cost, which is to be expected nearly a decade later. (ACC# 30054). A pretty amazing car that brought a pretty amazing price here. Looks very original with possibly some paint touchup and just maybe some work done on the exhaust system, but if so it was very well done. The vast majority of it looked completely original, and the paint exhibits good gloss and very little cracking or aging. Watch for the Keith Martin evaluation on TV’s “What’s My Car Worth” and see if we agree. Strong price, but there were a lot of expensive C3s here. #5022-1969 CHEVROLET CORVETTE racer. VIN: 194679S713635. Red, white and blue/red hard top/ black vinyl. 427-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Recordholding #57 “Rebel” racer impeccably restored to its 1972 Sebring trim. Originally purchased (in Daytona Yellow) through the GM “buyer’s key” program in 1969 by Tampa businessman Or Costanzo. With open chamber heads, radio delete, M22 trans, J56 HD brakes, transistor ignition, F41 suspension and an MA6 HD clutch. Great history from Daytona, Sebring and Watkins Glen. Iron-clad history, documentation, Bloomington Gold Special Collection status, American Heritage Award. Displayed at National Corvette Museum. Cond: 1-. 2 SOLD AT $220,000. Originally delivered to Ontario, Canada, as documented in the original warranty book. ZR1 supposedly stands for “Zora Racer One.” The “Zora” option with documentation makes this particular car worth about three times a standard LT-1. #5018-1971 CHEVROLET CORVETTE ZR2 coupe. VIN: 194371S118181. Green/green vinyl. Odo: 5 miles. 454-ci 425-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Looks factory-fresh everywhere, with some weak silvering on the “egg crate” side louvers. LS6 engine with 425 hp and 475 ft-lbs of torque when a base Corvette was listed at only 270 hp. Originally delivered to Toronto, Canada. Cond: 1-. 7 white/black vinyl. 289-ci V8, 4x2-bbl, 5-sp. A beautiful and correct restoration of a truly historic and rare Shelby race car, recently completed by noted Shelby collector and restorer Rand E. Bailey. A very impressive documented history and timeline including personally signed letters from Shelby attesting to its authenticity. The aluminum body looks smooth and straight—much more so than when it was raced. It’s not easy to grade the condition of race cars because there was so much variation when new, but I really need to call this a #1-. Cond: 1-. 3 #5063-1963 SHELBY KING COBRA racer. VIN: CM363. Blue & SOLD AT $495,000. Last of the Zora ArkusDuntov “Z” cars. Said to be one of only 12 built. Another Corvette within a breath of the half-million-dollar mark. Well sold. FOMOCO SOLD AT $2,860,000. In 1969, GM was in the midst of the car manufacturer’s official ban on motor racing. However, much like in a spy novel, if you owned and raced an L88 Corvette in that time, you might find a plainclothes GM engineer at your door with a very special part (camshaft, carb or whatever) that you might like to “evaluate” in your next race. This car may still have some of those one-off parts installed. An amazing car with an amazing story, and an amazing record price. #5009-1970 CHEVROLET CORVETTE ZR1 coupe. VIN: 194370S413942. Red/ black vinyl. Odo: 81,385 miles. 350-ci 370hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Good paint, chrome and interior. LT1 350/370 with ZR1, which was a 76 AmericanCarCollector.com #1124-1932 FORD MODEL B SEMA roadster. VIN: DMV52553NV. Red & black/black leather. Odo: 258 miles. All-steel Dearborn Deuce body built to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the SEMA Show in 2006. Lightly used since. Still shows as-new with the exception of heavy bluing on the chrome SOLD AT $1,650,000. Shelby ordered six Cooper Monacos, sold two to Comstock Racing, fitted V8 Ford engines and 4-speed gearboxes to his remaining four cars, and went racing. Dave MacDonald captured the U.S. Road Racing Championship in this car in 1964 in Kent, WA. It was also driven by Kent Miles, Parnelli Jones and others before Shelby sold the car after the 1964 season. Price seems market-correct for an impossibly rare and important Shelby. #374-1966 FORD BRONCO roadster. VIN: V13FL748881. Turquoise/silver vinyl. Odo: 360 miles. 170-ci I6, 1-bbl, 3-sp. New paint inside and out. New chrome bumpers. Locking hubs and three-on-the-tree. New interior with rubber floor mats. Some rewelding is visible at the rear of the door panel. Cond: 2+. headers. SEMA logo on seats, gauges and hubcaps. 302 V8 with a/c. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $121,000. Built with all the best stuff SOLD AT $33,000. Not a hard restoration: Pull the seats and paint everything; no doors or windows to worry about or align. This truck appeared well built and very attractive. No a/c, but no doors either. Might be the perfect Arizona car. Sold very, very well. TOP 10 TOP 10 TOP 10

BARRETT-JACKSON // Scottsdale, AZ 9 Yellow/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 20,672 miles. 428-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. “As-new” paint, chrome, and interior. Chrome windshield header trim is misfit in the center. Trunk lid gap appears a bit wide. Said to have a verified odometer reading. Cond: 1-. #5010-1968 SHELBY GT500 KR convertible. VIN: 8T03R206115. documentation, factory build sheet, dogdishes and Redlines. What’s not to like? Well bought and sold. #5017-1968 PLYMOUTH HEMI BARRACUDA Lightweight fastback. VIN: B029M8B390659. Red, white, & blue/black vinyl. 426-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. This factory lightweight was originally sold to Bill Vanwey in Ohio. Eventually, Ronnie Sox purchased the car and campaigned it on the drag circuit. Chips, cracks, prep flaws, rub-through and some quick bodywork are all evident. Poorly fitted body panels and trim also visible. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $308,000. One of 517 GT500 KR convertibles. Comes with a Marti Report and original build sheet. Another Shelby “well sold.” MOPAR #1344-1933 PLYMOUTH SPEEDSTER racer. VIN: PC4503. Cream & green/tan vinyl. Odo: 2,110 miles. #33 from Campbell Taggart Racing. Flathead 6 and 3-speed manual transmission. Wire wheels and hydraulic brakes. Looks like it was built yesterday. Some age shows on the leather sidemount straps. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $198,000. Yes, it has flaws, but it’s a documented Sox & Martin drag car! What else can I say? Well bought and sold. #1069.1-1970 PLYMOUTH HEMI ’CUDA replica convertible. VIN: BS27N0B298882. Yellow/black cloth/black leather. Odo: 65,645 miles. 426-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Rotisserie-restored with newer 426 Hemi and shaker hood on an original 383 ’Cuda with 4-speed. Leather interior. Steering wheel shows some scratches. Cond: 2+. pear wide (although that doesn’t seem so unusual on these cars). Good paint, chrome and interior. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $550,000. A custom Superbird “tribute” car sold for charity at Barrett-Jackson’s 2009 Scottsdale sale for $551k (ACC# 125415). That was technically $1,000 more expensive than this one, but for a non-charity car, this is a world record. Expensive, but this would be the car to do it. #327-1979 DODGE 150 LI’L RED EXPRESS pickup. VIN: D13JS9S210211. Red/black vinyl. Odo: 92,322 miles. 360-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Mid-level paint has prep flaws and orange peel. Good chrome and nice refinish on all of the oak-wood trim. New oak bed wood. Wide door gaps and a large star crack on the windshield. Heavy wrinkles on the driver’s seat. Power steering and a/c. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $19,040. Second year of the Li’l Red Express truck. In 1979 these trucks would eat up stock Z/28s. Sold quite fairly for both sides. Maybe just slightly bargainish. AMERICANA SOLD AT $41,800. From the John Hendricks Collection at The Gateway Colorado Auto Museum. Lots of interest, and this car always had a crowd around it admiring it. I will call it a fair sale to both parties. #5028-1968 DODGE HEMI CORONET R/T convertible. VIN: WS27J8G212214. Blue/ black vinyl/blue vinyl. Odo: 51,147 miles. 426-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. Looks to be a recent high-level restoration. Zero visible flaws other than some discoloration on the top of the dashboard. All-new paint, top, interior, and all-new weatherstripping. Much attention to detail. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $79,200. With just 18 Hemi ’Cuda convertibles built for 1970, price for a real one starts around the million-dollar mark. That certainly puts this strong price in context. Well sold, but should be a blast. RM23ROA162319. White/black vinyl/black & silver vinyl. Odo: 44,457 miles. 426-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. Galen Govier-documented to have a numbers-matching engine and transmission with original VIN tag and fender tag. Listed in his registry as #25 of 78. The inside mirror silver is chipping at the 6 #5029-1970 PLYMOUTH HEMI SUPERBIRD 2-dr hard top. VIN: SOLD AT $154,000. Hemi engine, Govier 78 AmericanCarCollector.com top edge. The door and front end gaps ap- SOLD AT $100,000. A really neat ride that was sold to benefit Cox Charities in Arizona. There are always a few of these ridiculous high-quality builds here at Barrett-Jackson. Seems like the charity factor did not push this one over the top. Well bought. A #3003-1963 JEEP FJ-6A Fleetvan. VIN: 17460. Red, white, & blue/gray & black leather. Odo: 14,417 miles. 350-ci supercharged V8, auto. Good paint and great chrome to replicate the stock mail Fleetvan used by the USPS. Also fitted with a supercharged 350 V8 with dual quads. Look closely and you can see the blower-type butterfly intake INSIDE THE CAB and the huge exhaust dumps by the rear wheelwell. Cond: 1-. TOP 10 TOP 10

LEAKE // Dallas, TX Leake — Dallas 2013 POSSIBLY THE MOST WELL-BOUGHT CAR WAS THE “WEST VIRGINIA HEMI”— A 1968 PLYMOUTH BARRACUDA FACTORY DRAGSTER THAT SOLD FOR $116K Report and photos by Cody Tayloe Market opinions in italics W ith more than four decades of experience, Leake knows a thing or two about how to work a crowd. As a wintry front arrived in the area in late November, the spectators and participants flooded the Dallas Market Hall. Once inside the front doors, attendees stepped directly into the action of the auction block, with most consignments on display behind the stage and in the adjoining hall. Premium offerings are scattered around the block on display. Leake runs two lanes simultaneously on most days, which keeps the energy up, and both auctioneers do a good job promoting the cars and spending time to work the crowd for top dollar. And with two lanes, Leake moves a lot Leake Auction Company Dallas, TX November 22–24, 2013 Auctioneers: Jim Richie, Tony Langdon, Bob Ehlert, Brian Marshall Automotive lots sold/offered: 365/588 Sales rate: 62% Sales total: $9,434,370 high American sale: 2006 Ford GT, sold at $217,800 Buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold prices 1968 plymouth Barracuda “West Virginia hemi” drag car, sold at $115,500 of cars in a shorter amount of time. In total, 588 lots were offered over the course of three days. The sell-through rate was 62%, with total sales of $9.4m. The top sellers included a 2006 Ford GT in Tungsten Gray, which sold for $218k, a 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham for $193k, and a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro for $112k. Notable no-sales included a well-documented Candy Apple Red 1969 Boss 429 with a fair offer of $230,000, and a 1967 Shelby GT500 bid up to $143k. Possibly the most well-bought car was a 1968 Plymouth Barracuda Hemi factory-built drag car — the last one of 55 made and with lengthy race history. Previously known as the “West Virginia Hemi,” the car was originally raced by Eddie Smith and won several Super Stock Hemi shootouts over its active career. With unconfirmed speculation of a former $225k asking price, the seller turned down a bid of $190k at Leake’s Dallas auction just last year. This go-round it sold for $116k — quite a bargain. While the threat of severe winter weather may have kept some away, the pre-event promotion and presence of the newly famous Richard Rawlings — the big personality behind Gas Monkey Garage and Discovery’s ratings darling “Fast N’ Loud” — brought quite a few people to the auction despite the weather. In fact, there were automotive reality stars from two other different cable network shows here as well: CNBC Prime’s “The Car Chasers,” and Velocity’s “Dallas Car Sharks,” both of which have home bases in Texas (as does “Fast N’ Loud”). Capitalizing on the sizzling Texas car market, Leake has added a spring auction in Dallas to its 2014 calendar. The auction house previously partnered with Dan Kruse Classics to host a San Antonio auction, but current market conditions are proving strong enough to support independent sales. Mecum recently announced an event in Austin for 2014 to supplement its current Houston and Dallas auctions, and Vicari’s Cruisin’ Nocona event is growing into a two-day sale. With strong consignments, lots of buyers, 2006 Ford GT, sold at $217,800 80 AmericanCarCollector.com and plenty of metal changing hands, the future for Texas looks hot. A

LEAKE // Dallas, TX GM white/red & cream cloth and vinyl. Odo: 95,588 miles. 350-cc V8, 4-bbl, auto. Recent paint, chrome and stainless. Respray is good quality with few issues. Rear window-surround is pitted. Glass is clear. Rubber is recent. Factory-correct panel fit. Interior is clean and recently restored. Plastic still covers the carpets. Stock-appearing engine compartment with later 350 SBC. New exhaust system underneath. Cond: 2+. #481-1956 CHEVROLET NOMAD wagon. VIN: VC56N147822. Red & able smaller rear window, the NAPCO factor more than makes up for it. Pristine examples should reach well over $50k, and this one was not far off. Well bought at a wholesale price. #2508-1960 PONTIAC CATALINA convertible. VIN: 160P47051. Blue/white vinyl/ white vinyl. Odo: 87,465 miles. 389-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, auto. Factory a/c. Power brakes. Older high-quality restoration. Paint in very good condition with some minor flaws throughout. Chrome shiny; early pitting on door handles. Great panel fit. Slightly discolored white seats. Dash brightwork is minimally dull. Engine shows use and wear but is very nice overall. Cond: 2. and a 4-speed is the perfect recipe for a good time (but the lack of a/c will limit the fun to the cooler months if the car is to stay in Texas). A lot of muscle for a relatively small investment. Well bought. #445-1972 OLDSMOBILE HURST/OLDS Pace Car 2-dr hard top. VIN: 3J57U2M204112. Cameo White & gold/black vinyl. Odo: 60,429 miles. 455-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Hurst dual-gate shifter. Includes original literature, dealer info, original spare. Glossy paint but older with some flaws. Fading decals on the trunk and hood. Driver’s door tight at front and shows evidence of rubbing. Glass in good condition, other than hard-water staining. Rubber shows early signs of cracking. Stainless has a few small dings; chrome lightly pitted in places. Interior is a little tired with worn seats and carpets. Gauges are clear. Engine is presentable. A/C has been upgraded to R-134A. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $50,050. Nomad prices have been pretty level over the past few years, and one in this condition is a $60k-plus vehicle all day long. This was kept mostly stock, down to the single master cylinder. Subtle upgrades included the 350 V8 and vintage-appearing modern radio. Despite being the only example of this desirable model in the auction, the bidder got lucky. Very well bought. K3A59F103646. Blue & white/gray vinyl. Odo: 92,687 miles. 235-ci I6, 1-bbl, 4-sp. Frame-off restoration completed in 2013. Fresh paint with some chipping on driver’s door at front fender. Passenger’s door out at beltline. Light scratches on rear bumper. Missing wiper arm on passenger’s side. Rubber recently replaced. Chrome and trim appear new. Small pockets of windshield delamination. Tidy interior shows little wear. Clear gauges. Clean engine compartment. Cond: 1-. #492-1959 CHEVROLET 3100 APACHE NAPCO 4x4 pickup. VIN: SOLD AT $28,050. As with other stablemates from the Ed Ewing Collection, interested parties could bid with confidence knowing that these cars were well cared for. This well-optioned Catalina was no exception. Showing signs of careful post-restoration use and enjoyment, there is still a lot of life left in this car. Pristine examples will cost you more than double what this one sold for, and this one is not too far away from excellent. Well bought. #2544-1970 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE 2-dr hard top. VIN: 136370B161632. Blue & white/black vinyl. Odo: 8,181 miles. 454-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Recent restoration. Paint is glossy and fresh with a few prep issues, such as mask lines in the door sills, a few areas with trash in the paint, and small fisheyes here and there. Small air bubbles in vinyl stripes. Worn areas and smudging on stainless. Lightly pitted chrome. Rear window has light scratches. Hard-water stains on glass. Dry rubber on driver’s door vent window. Trunk lid slightly high, otherwise good panel fit. Fresh interior; light fading on gauges. Tidy engine. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $35,200. One of the more runof-the-mill configurations, as a non-sunroof hard top, and not equipped with the highperformance W-30 package. Obviously the convertibles and W-30-optioned cars can command much higher prices. While not a bargain, the price paid seemed about right, allowing the new owner to get into a bona fide Hurst/Olds Pace Car for little more than a standard 442. #2503-1987 BUICK GNX coupe. VIN: 1G4GJ1179HP446465. Black/black & gray cloth. Odo: 8,083 miles. 3.8-L turbocharged V6, auto. Original window sticker, GNX jacket, manuals and records included. Photographs of dealership delivery from 1987. Like-new, low-mileage, pampered original with factory paint. Small area on hood where paint is starting to fail. Minor delamination on windshield. Factory-correct panel fit. Blacked-out trim in good condition. Seats and interior show little wear. Engine compartment highly detailed and all original. One of only 547 built. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $36,575. The NAPCO 4x4 setup was a factory option until GM redesigned their front suspension in 1960. The premium paid then translates into collectible value today. Although this one had the less-desir- 82 AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $33,550. Not an LS6 or anything spectacular, but a nicely restored example that isn’t too nice to drive. Big-block power BEST BUY BEST BUY

LEAKE // Dallas, TX SOLD AT $69,300. Someone had the premonition to preserve this one from the beginning, going so far as photographing the dealership delivery. Unfortunately, many others had “instant collectible” ambitions, too. Sure, there are probably one or two tucked away somewhere with no miles and factory plastic on the seats—but they don’t get much better than this, condition-wise. Well bought, slightly under the market. #1143-2001 PONTIAC AZTEK SUV. VIN: 3G7DA03E41S500001. Black/gray cloth. Odo: 7,751 miles. 3.4-L fuel-injected V6, auto. The first production Aztek. Originally from the GM Collection. Factory-fresh appearance. Lustrous paint. Some discoloration on acres of exterior plastic. Deep tread on dry original tires. Rubber seals in good condition. Glass is near perfect. Handling wear on interior driver’s door pull. Driver’s position carpets slightly worn. Cloth interior otherwise clean. Cond: 2+. only minor scratches. Panel fit is factorycorrect. Interior seats, carpet and console show little use. Factory Wonderbar radio and optional clock. Restored engine showing some age but still well above average. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $82,500. Offered at Auction America’s Fall Auburn sale earlier this year, it did not sell with a top offer of $80k. A hammer price of $5k less was accepted here, confirming the value for a second time. For the NCRS-recognized quality, this one seems like a good deal. #476-1965 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 194675S114997. Black/black vinyl/red leather. Odo: 36,419 miles. 5.7-L fuel-injected V8, auto. Recent build only a few years old. Modern LS1 engine; 5-speed auto. Deep black paint looks good overall with a few touch-ups here and there. Driver’s door out slightly at bottom rear. Stainless has some rubs and dull spots. One-inch tear in top above driver’s door. Tidy interior. Tach resting in incorrect “off” position. Steering wheel seems oddly small. Engine bay is nicely detailed. Cond: 2. here and there. Small area of delamination on windshield at driver’s position. Consignor says new interior but carpets are dirty and show age. Good seats in above-average condition. Worn horn ring. Mostly original engine with dress-up pieces. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $61,600. E-codes have been teetering over the century mark for the past couple of years—territory once reserved exclusively for the supercharged F-code. This one has $100k potential without dumping a lot of money into it. Even as it sits, this Baby Bird is a $70k-plus car all day long. Very well bought. #2444-1963 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL convertible limousine. VIN: 3Y82N413762. Blue/blue vinyl. Odo: 13,441 miles. 430-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Actual movie car used in “Parkland” and “Killing Kennedy.” Custom built from two Continental donor sedans. Older build with thick paint and flaws throughout. Drying rubber. Filler on driver’s rear door. Trim is scratched and worn. Decent panel fit considering the fabrication going into the build and weight of the doors, etc. Carpets are decent and seats are average. Dash is unrestored and worn. Piecemeal interior trim is poor. Engine is weathered and showing age. Cond: 4+. NOT SOLD AT $4,200. Few cars are as fun to hate as the Aztek, which could make this historically significant example a worthwhile museum piece in a few decades—note that GM doesn’t want to keep the first one they built. “Breaking Bad” even featured the Aztek as a symbol of all the pitiful lameness of Walter White’s “straight” life. A recent Web search shows a Texas dealer asking roughly $17k for this car. Market-correct offer today. CORVETTE #2512-1961 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 10867S103188. Red & white/white vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 85,846 miles. 283-ci 275-hp fuel-injected V8, 4-sp. Three-time NCRS Top Flight winner. Factory fuel injection. Older frame-off restoration in excellent condition. Only notable paint flaws are light scratches in clearcoat. Chrome in superior condition again with SOLD AT $79,200. A clean resto-mod with factory exterior appearance, except for larger-diameter wheels. A glance under the hood reveals a modern powerplant that looks at home. The consignor said he had $160k in build costs, and the result was quite nice without being too in-your-face. Well bought at a market-correct price. FOMOCO #534-1957 FORD THUNDERBIRD E-code convertible. VIN: E7FH240214. Bronze/ white vinyl/brown leather. Odo: 11,522 miles. 312-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. Rare E-code with optional a/c, power steering, power brakes. Port-hole hard top, soft top, and tonneau included. Repaint in 2003 in factory-correct color with touch-ups and a few fisheyes. Few dull areas on chrome SOLD AT $27,500. The right car for a history buff or movie-car collector. Aside from the condition of the paint, trim, glass and such, the quality of the fabrication is pretty good. Market-correct for a one-off. #2447-1966 FORD MUSTANG convertible. VIN: 6R08C112241. Gold/black vinyl/ tan vinyl. Odo: 36,017 miles. 289-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Said to be all-original with a new top. Factory a/c. Original paint is very dull and stressed. Stainless is lackluster. If bumpers are indeed original, then they are in very good condition. Trunk rubs when opened. Interior tired. Seats worn and stained from years of use. Steering wheel 84 AmericanCarCollector.com

LEAKE // Dallas, TX has hairline cracks throughout but is not separating. Engine compartment is dirty. Paint chipping from the valve covers. Cond: 4+. SOLD AT $15,730. Although said to be all original, there was no mention of documentation or limited ownership history that might help strengthen its value. Judging from the condition, especially the interior, it is likely that the clock has surpassed the century mark a time or two. Adorned with a “Mecum” license-plate tag on the front, although I could find no history of this car crossing the block previously. Originality did not demand a premium here, and the car was well bought just under current value. #2515-1969 SHELBY GT500 fastback. VIN: 9F02R482383. White/black vinyl. Odo: 309 miles. 428-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Factory air and power brakes. Older high-quality restoration with little use. Some minor paint flaws and cracks beginning to show. Panels line up well. Light scratches on rear glass. Good chrome with no wear. Tear in driver’s door armrest. Wear on console at common touch points. Restored engine is tidy and clean. Includes restoration album and copies of original invoice and Shelby American order sheet. Cond: 2-. nicely restored. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $67,100. A freshly restored lowmileage California car, which begs the question, what was the pre-restoration condition? Maybe this was not its first restoration, but I wonder if the recent restoration helped the value at all, unless this one was pretty poor going into it. At the end of the day, the price was low for such a desirable car. Well bought. MOPAR #2431-1968 PLYMOUTH BARRACUDA “West Virginia Hemi” drag car. VIN: B029M8B390378. White & red/white vinyl. 426-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. Last of 55 factory racers. Never-ending list of performance enhancements and modifications. Highquality restoration. Passenger’s door out slightly. Glass, rubber and chrome are all restored. Driver’s seat shows wear. Engine rebuilt by famed NHRA drag racer Jim Hale. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $69,300. The Dart GTS was built for the drag strip. One of about 650 1968– 69 Dart GTS 440s built, and of an estimated 30–40 thought to still exist. When new, a 383 Dart would be shipped from the factory separate from its numbers-matching 440, to be mated together by an aftermarket company and reinspected by Dodge engineers. There was no factory warranty, and these were built primarily for drag racing, as this much power in a Dart chassis was only good for straight-line performance. This was a bargain. AMERICANA #455-1941 WILLYS AMERICAR 441 coupe. VIN: W278233. Rio Red/tan leather. miles. Very little left original. High-quality deep red paint. Excellent panel fit. Glass and rubber appear new. Custom full interior. Over-the-top chrome engine. Tidy undercarriage. Mustang front end. Brushed aluminum mirrors and wiper arms appear out of place with all the chrome. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $107,800. Recently offered at Auction’s America’s 2013 Fall Auburn event, where it no-saled at $90k. The red-hot Shelby market of a few years ago has cooled off but seems to be heating up once again. Now could be the time to buy. This was a fair deal here but will likely look like a bargain in years to come. #470-1970 FORD MUSTANG Boss 302 fastback. VIN: 0F02G119233. Medium Red/black vinyl. Odo: 33,454 miles. 302-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Believed to be actual mileage, but no proof. Original build sheet. Marti Report. Fresh quality restoration. Small paint run on front of hood. Slight pitting on driver’s rear quarter-window surround. Other brightwork good overall. Windshield shows period-correct stickers from various events. Slight scratches in glass. Good panel fit. New interior. No wear on threshold at driver’s door. Clean, detailed engine recently rebuilt. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $115,500. Gained notoriety as the “West Virginia Hemi,” raced by Eddie Smith. Said to be authentic, although some thought the paint scheme looked more ’80s than ’60s or ’70s. This car did not sell last year at Leake’s Dallas auction at a high bid of $190k, which we thought was light (ACC# 214474). Very well bought. #457-1969 DODGE DART GTS 2-dr hard top. VIN: LS23M9B300686. Blue/black vinyl. Odo: 58,462 miles. 440-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. True factory M-code GTS. Correct stampings and markings. Recent restoration. Replated chrome. Clear glass with no apparent scratches or streaking. Correct panel fit. Reupholstered seats in correct pattern show little wear. Detailed engine NOT SOLD AT $45,000. This same car failed to sell at Kruse’s Chicago auction in 2005 (ACC# 37636) for $60,000. While the collector market has changed since we last saw this one, the build cost certainly exceeded the high bid here. Willys hot rods have a loyal following, but the modern touches on this one may turn off purists looking for the old-gasser or vintage-dragster vibe. Although it is almost impossible to recoup the cost invested in the build, the bidding fell short of comparable sales. A 86 AmericanCarCollector.com

RUSSO AND STEELE // Scottsdale, AZ Russo and Steele — Scottsdale 2014 RUSSO CONSIGNED AND SOLD MORE CARS THAN EVER, AND THEIR OVERALL TOTAL SURPASSED $21M Report and photos by Joseph Seminetta Market opinions in italics A t Russo and Steele’s latest Scottsdale sale, the auction house proved once again that it has what it takes to attract new segments of buyers while still pleasing its middle-market faithful. While still sporting their trademark auction-ring theatrics and state-fair-style food vendors, Russo has also upgraded their amenities to include valet parking, expanded bidder amenities and a more sophisticated beverage service for all attendees. Will there be sushi and champagne in 2015? Russo and Steele Scottsdale, AZ January 15–19, 2014 Auctioneers: Jeff Stokes, Dan Schorno, Rob Row, Frank Bizzarro Automotive lots sold/offered: 484/735 Sales rate: 66% Sales total: $21,178,532 high American sale: 1963 Pontiac LeMans Super Duty Lightweight, sold at $335,630 Buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold prices 1965 McKee Mk IV Can-Am sports racer, sold post-block at $260,000 Lookers and bidders were out in full force, as Russo reported attendance up 35% over last year. To my eyes, the quality of the average Russo car has increased over the past several years. Parked between the highvolume muscle are an increasing number of rare collectibles and exotic supercars. The tents were filled with something for everybody, from average drivers to award-winning show cars. Notable American sales included the highly anticipated 1963 Pontiac Tempest LeMans Super Duty drag racing car, which set the market at $336k and was the biggest American sale of the day. A 1971 Dodge Hemi Challenger followed at a strong $317k. The 1965 McKee Mk IV sports racer reached a no-sale high bid of $220k but sold postblock for $260k, including commission. This was Russo’s biggest Scottsdale sale to date, with more cars consigned and sold than ever (484 out of 735), and their strongest sales rate (66%) since 2007. The overall total surpassed $21m for the first time. Compared with last year’s $17.8m, the final figure represents growth of nearly 20%. While Russo’s average price per car of Samples of American iron waiting to take their turn at the auction-in-the-round 88 AmericanCarCollector.com $43k was lower than Arizona auction week’s overall average of $106k, Russo’s 20% sales growth beat the week’s cumulative 12% growth by a wide margin. These numbers show that the collector-car market is hot, not just at the top end of the market, but at every level.A

RUSSO AND STEELE // Scottsdale, AZ CLASSICS #S692-1933 AUBURN 8-105 Boattail Speedster. VIN: GC1607. Periwinkle Blue/white leather. Odo: 3,995 miles. “Original body restyled from the cowl on back by Glenn Pray.” Vacuum 2-speed rear axle. Wooden-spoked artillery wheels. Bijur central lubrication system. A very attractive color but with excessive orange peel on the front fenders. Some rubber deteriorating. Cond: 2. gaps. Tidy interior with attractive houndstooth seats. Protect-O-Plate. Detailed undercarriage. Cond: 2. #TH307-1972 OLDSMOBILE HURST/ OLDS Indy Pace Car 2-dr hard top. VIN: 3J57U2M196999. Cameo White/tan vinyl 1/2 top/black vinyl. Odo: 568 miles. 455-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Said to be one of 220 nonsunroof hard-top cars. With 8-track and a/c. Bizarre, incorrect, poorly executed vinyl top added. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $32,030. Inconsistent chrome and aftermarket exhaust held this car back from a higher sales price—a good example of how to get a lot of car for the money. Well bought. NOT SOLD AT $92,500. The owner was very enthusiastic about his car, answering questions for several days. The car nosaled at $76k at Worldwide in 2009 (ACC# 142488), and then sold for $95k at Russo and Steele’s 2010 Scottsdale sale (ACC# 159083), which suggests that this offer may be correct for the market. GM #TH353-1957 CHEVROLET BEL AIR 2-dr hard top. VIN: AB457513. Red & white/red & black leather. Odo: 6,149 miles. 454-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Originally a Canadian-spec car, now highly customized with a Camaro Z/28 subframe and newly rebuilt custom engine with forged nitrided steel crank, roller rockers, Edelbrock aluminum intake and jet-coated headers. Power steering and brakes. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $50,700. Price paid was fair given the overall condition and period upgrades. Well bought and sold. #S689-1970 OLDSMOBILE 442 W-30 2-dr hard top. VIN: 344870M236136. Rally Red/ black vinyl. Odo: 90,544 miles. 455-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. 20-year-old frame-off restoration with a recent refresh. 8-track. Original window sticker and warranty card. Correct W-30 fiberglass hood with distinctive air intakes. This example has been featured in Hemmings Muscle Machines magazine and has been successful on the show circuit. Cond: 2. #TH316-1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO coupe. VIN: 123379L522448. Dusk Blue/ blue vinyl. Odo: 282 miles. 427-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Dealer conversion. L88 engine, M22 “Rock Crusher” 4-speed, HD 12-bolt Posi rear end, 4.10 gears. Older restoration showing normal wear. Nice brightwork. Some panel waves in paint. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $28,730. In 1972 it was Hurst Performance and not Oldsmobile who developed the Hurst Pace Car. (Due to a Dodge pace car accident in 1971, no manufacturer wanted the 1972 sponsorship.) A desirable model in average condition. The roof issue caused a lot of questioning faces during the preview and likely held back the bidding. CORVETTE #S753-1953 CHEVROLET CORVETTE roadster. VIN: E53F001273. Polo White/ black cloth/red leather. Odo: 29 miles. 235ci 150-hp I6, 3x1-bbl, auto. The 273rd Corvette produced. Authentically restored some years ago, still presents nicely, some paint wear. Strong chrome and excellent panel gaps. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $47,430. Some paint imperfections, but generally a nicely finished custom. Beautifully detailed engine bay. Excellent brightwork. Well bought. #F412-1968 CHEVROLET CAMARO coupe. VIN: 124378L316953. Tuxedo Black/houndstooth. Odo: 64,875 miles. 327ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Los Angeles-built Camaro with recently rebuilt L30 327/275 motor. Very straight, original panels with correct 90 AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $121,130. Older restorations show the quality of their work when they stand the test of time. This car looked as if it had been restored in the past five years. This was huge money for a W-30 coupe, however. Well sold. NOT SOLD AT $205,000. Previously nosaled at $170k at Worldwide’s 2011 Auburn sale (ACC# 184432). Hand-built in relatively low volumes, early C1s were crude, roughriding (solid-axle) cars that did not sell quickly when new, but the are now coveted by collectors for their historical significance and icon status. Prices have been firming for these, but the seller should have accepted the high bid in today’s market. #S706-1962 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 20867S107889. Fawn Beige/beige/fawn leather. Odo: 53,910 miles. 327-ci 360-hp fuel-injected V8, 4-sp. California black-plate car with high-quality paint and chrome. Incorrect carpet and front speakers. Wonderbar. 4.11 Posi. Reworked fuel injection. Previous NCRS Top Flight

RUSSO AND STEELE // Scottsdale, AZ winner. Matching numbers. Cond: 2-. Bonhams’ 2009 Greenwich sale (ACC# 120802). Price paid shows that the right car with the right documentation still commands a strong price. SOLD AT $79,300. Previously an $80k nosale when offered at Mecum Indy in May 2013 (ACC# 223050). Concours-condition 327 Fuelies can bring $150k-plus. This was an average car with only minor issues that should bring years of enjoyment. Well bought. #S703-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE coupe. VIN: 30837S114850. Black/black vinyl. Odo: 39,226 miles. 327-ci 360-hp fuelinjected V8, 4-sp. Two-year, 2,000-hour, frame-off, nut-and-bolt restoration in 2009. Correct date codes for engine and transmission. NCRS Top Flight 98.9/100. Excellent paint and chrome. Correct tar-top battery. Correct bolts and ignition shielding. Cond: 2+. #F554-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 194677S117861. Rally Red/black vinyl/red leather. Odo: 24,412 miles. 454-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Originally a 427/435 car, now fitted with NOM 454. Nicely optioned with Posi, power steering and brakes, sidepipes and auxiliary hard top. Reproduction bolt-on aluminum wheels. High-quality paint and chrome. Nicely presented interior including restored instrument cluster. Cond: 2. NOT SOLD AT $82,500. It is always difficult to value highly modified customs. This car oozed quality, but not enough bidders liked the modification to hit the seller’s reserve. According to the ACC Premium Auction Database, the car sold for $130k at Russo’s Newport Beach sale in June 2013 (ACC# 225746), which helps explain why the seller is holding out for more. SOLD AT $63,930. This is a lot of Corvette for the money, due to the NOM motor. Drive it like you stole it, because you practically did at the final bid price. Well bought. SOLD AT $132,100. It was difficult to fault this car. Split-Window coupes offer dramatic styling with coupe rigidity and continue to bring big money (Fuelies in particular). Well bought and sold. #S758-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 194676S120140. Nassau Blue/white vinyl/white leather. Odo: 32,439 miles. 427-ci 425-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Multiple-show-winning Corvette with Top Flight, Bloomington Gold, and Gold Spinner certifications earned in 2011. Highly optioned L72 with Posi, power steering and brakes, teak steering wheel. Complete ownership history, warranty book, Protect-O-Plate. Excellent paint, interior and chrome, only showing minor signs of wear. Correct and tidy details throughout. This car could be driven or successfully shown for many years. Cond: 2. #S734-1971 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 194671S112263. Red/red vinyl. Odo: 55,602 454-ci 425-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. A very collectible, rare (one of 12 known to still exist, apparently), well documented, matching-numbers LS6. Body-off restoration by NCRS Master Judge. Triple Crown winner (NCRS Top Flight, Bloomington Gold, and Gold Spinner). Exceptional paint and interior. Only minor and even signs of use. Cond: 1-. #TH243-1957 FORD THUNDERBIRD convertible. VIN: D7FH157127. Goldenrod Yellow/black cloth/tan leather. Odo: 97,200 miles. 312-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Pitted chrome. Scratched paint. Whitewalls. Worn interior. Poor door fit on both sides. Hard-top color is several shades lighter than rest of car. Cond: 3. Vintage Air. ’41 Ford dash, ’37 Ford taillights, Mustang II front end. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $32,305. A driver-level car sold for not much money. A good buy if the new owner does not feel compelled to ever restore it. Well bought and sold. NOT SOLD AT $227,500. I am surprised that the bidding stalled at this level. It was a prime-time slot and the right venue. The auctioneer started taking smaller increases, leading me to believe the high bid was close to the reserve. The seller was right to hold out for more money. FOMOCO SOLD AT $165,130. Last sold for $111k at 92 AmericanCarCollector.com #S699-1948 FORD DELUXE woodie wagon. VIN: 899A2352886. Black & wood/ black Haartz cloth/chocolate leather. Odo: 1,742 miles. 1,500 miles since “Teddy Z” restoration and modification. New GM crate 350 motor. Exceptional wood and paint. Subtle and attractive interior customization. #TH357-1965 FORD MUSTANG convertible. VIN: 5F08D150686. Red/white vinyl/ red vinyl. Odo: 15,989 miles. 289-ci V8, 4-bbl, manual. D-code factory 1964½. Power top. Original generator (but missing its cover). Correctly detailed engine bay. New interior and top. Engine claimed to be original and recently rebuilt. Missing hood

RUSSO AND STEELE // Scottsdale, AZ cowling rubber. Reading from paint-thickness gauge changes like a slot machine from panel to panel. Passenger’s door is TSA-friendly (as it would not set off any metal detector). Cond: 2. SOLD AT $27,080. Correctly restored, early Mustangs are selling well. They are fun, simple to fix and have a fairly robust parts supply. This car has some nice features, but the obvious sheet-metal issues made it well sold. #S715-1968 SHELBY GT500 KR convertible. VIN: 8T03R203121. Dark green/black vinyl/black leather. Odo: 48,742 miles. 428ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Said to be one of only 267 4-speed 1968 KR convertibles, which got bigger brakes, suspension bracing, and staggered rear shocks. Body-on restoration by Conover Racing & Restoration. Detailed engine bay and undercarriage. High-quality paintwork, but poor trunk fit and inconsistent brightwork. Elite Marti Report. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $140,130. ’Cudas are starting to climb again, but the big bids seem to be chasing 4-speed cars with complete matching original equipment. This lot was slightly held back by the non-matching automatic transmission. (See the profile on p. 54). SOLD AT $110,100. A very nice car with only minor changes needed to hit the show circuit. There was no shortage of ’68 Shelbys for sale in Arizona this weekend. The best are bringing six figures, and this one deserved it. Well bought. MOPAR #F560-1970 DODGE CHALLENGER T/A 2-dr hard top. VIN: JH23J0B296413. Red & black/red vinyl. Odo: 85,692 miles. 340V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Beautiful paint on a rotisserie restoration. Tidy engine bay. Excellent panel gaps. Claimed to be one of seven red/red 4-speed cars made. Trophy-winning car featured in numerous car magazines. Cond: 2+. AMERICANA 10 white/black racing bucket. Mid-engine, tubeframe Hemi racer. Retired from racing in 1969, and sat for 35 years before an extensive restoration in 2004. Following a NASCAR ban on Hemi-powered cars in 1965, the McKee was developed for the sports racing series of the day. Very enthusiastic owner has raced the car at Goodwood, Laguna Seca and Road America. Cond: 2+. #S738-1965 MCKEE MK IV Can Am racer. VIN: MKIV. Blue & #S716-1970 PLYMOUTH HEMI ’CUDA 2-dr hard top. VIN: BS23R0B184339. Tor Red/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 79,362 miles. 426-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. One of only 652 Hemi ’Cudas for 1970. Authenticated and documented by Galen Govier. Matching engine but non-original A-727 transmission. Nicely optioned (with black stripes, Music Master Radio, and Rallye instruments) and well restored. Cond: 2. NOT SOLD AT $57,500. This car never looked this good in the showroom in 1970. High bid was just over the low side of the ACC Price Guide range. The seller was smart to hold out for more, given the excellent condition. 94 AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $260,000. Richard Petty was slotted to drive the McKee, but the constructor could not finish the car in time for the Can-Am season, so Petty drag-raced that year and returned to NASCAR in 1966. This is a significant car because of the racing politics of the day. The new owner will be welcome at vintage-racing venues around the planet. A TOP 10

SILVER AUCTIONS // Fort McDowell, AZ Silver Auctions — Fort McDowell A 1963 CHEVY IMPALA WITH WINDOW STICKER CONFIRMING ITS ORIGINAL 425-HORSE 409 SOLD FOR A VERY REASONABLE $70K Report and photos by B. Mitchell Carlson Market opinions in italics S ilver Auctions continued the tradition of being a successful part of the Scottsdale-area auction scene in January. Their 17th annual sale was once again held on the grounds of the Fort McDowell Casino near the town of Fountain Hills. The auction takes place on the two busiest days of auction week — Friday and Saturday — and to get there, it’s a half-hour drive from most of the other auctions taking place. But crowds were nonetheless heavy on both days. Silver Auctions Fort McDowell, AZ January 17–18, 2014 Auctioneers: Mitch Silver, Bob Graham, Matt Backs Automotive lots sold/offered: 191/328 Sales rate: 58% Sales total: $3,312,630 high American sale: 1948 Cadillac Series 62 convertible, sold at $75,600 Buyer’s premium: 8%, included in sold prices A factory 409 1963 Chevrolet Impala 2-door hard top sold at $69,660 Continuing the same two-day auction for- mat, Silver pretty much held the course compared with last year. With 23 fewer cars and 22 fewer sales, one might assume that overall sales would be down. However, the total take was $302k stronger, generally indicating that the cars were bringing more money. While a 1972 Jaguar E-type convertible was the top sale of the weekend, American cars otherwise dominated the top 10 sales. Next highest was a 1948 Cadillac Series 62 convertible, selling for $76k. Caddys proved to be popular out here, with a full 13 cars changing hands. Traditional muscle cars were less well represented, and Mopars were in especially short supply. The best-selling performance car from the Muscle Era was an immaculate 1963 Chevy Impala two-door hard top. With well-documented provenance since it was ordered new, the 425-horse 409-powered Beach Boys dream car sold for a very reasonable $70k. Between this and the ’48 Cadillac were a 2009 Dodge Viper SRT10 coupe selling for $71k and a 345-hp 1958 Chevrolet Corvette at $70k. Rounding out the top 10 were post-war cruisers. Given that fact and the number of Cadillacs on offer, I came away with the impression that for these aging collectors, a comfy ride is simply more appealing than a mean muscle machine. Silver’s Fort McDowell auction has always pickups are still a key feature at any auction, and Silver Auctions is no exception 96 AmericanCarCollector.com been an affordable alternative to some of the other high-end auctions taking place in the Valley of the Sun in January, and this year’s event didn’t disappoint. A

SILVER AUCTIONS // Fort McDowell, AZ GM #280-1947 OLDSMOBILE SPECIAL woodie wagon. VIN: 66140532. Light beige & wood/black leatherette/brown vinyl. Odo: 45,302 miles. 238-ci I6, 1-bbl, auto. Cosmetic redo and mechanical tending-to within past 10 years. Better-quality repaint. Wood shows some joint separation and is due for revarnishing. Cheesy plastic turn signals front and rear. Bumpers replated, but Oldsmobile inset lettering not repainted. Period-accessory rocket hood ornament, with red plastic fins, in good shape. Interior wood still in very good condition. Reupholstered seats, with modern seatbelts up front. Cond: 3. nance, perhaps the deal of the weekend. #316-1958 PONTIAC SUPER CHIEF 2-dr hard top. VIN: C858H3143. White & red/red & black nylon & white vinyl. Odo: 4,789 miles. 370-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, auto. Pop-riveted s/n tag. Optional Tri-Power induction. Good older repaint with masking lines; few body joint cracks starting to show. Hood sits slightly high at cowl. Most of the larger chrome has been replated. Solid door fit. Noticeable interior fading. Repainted dashboard and newer carpeting. Older light detailing under the hood is now dusty. Cond: 3+. #91-1962 GMC K1000 Custom 4x4 Suburban. VIN: K10010J1094A. Two-tone green/ multi-green vinyl. Odo: 59,009 miles. 305-ci V6, 2-bbl, 3-sp. Generally original aside from modern steel wheels and radial tires. Claimed original miles. Wears its original paint, including the vestiges of the name of the surveying company in Daly City, CA, that owned it for most of its existence. Heavier surface rust on upper surfaces and a plethora of dents and dings throughout. Original chrome still has a lot of its brilliance. Excellent original three-row seats, although the last row is just lying folded up in the back. Heavy steering-wheel wear; pedal pads are gone. Cond: 4+. SOLD AT $59,400. Last seen at Mecum’s 2013 Monterey auction, then declared sold for $54k (ACC# 227427). Considering that diddly squat was done to the car in six months (apart from shipping it here), it sold rather well. gray cloth & vinyl. Odo: 83,006 miles. 268-ci I8, 2-bbl, auto. California black-plate car, with a stack of registration cards going back at least 40 years, all around the Stockton area. Scruffy old repaint. Dull original brightwork. Broken antenna mast. Original upholstery, although it’s pretty rough up front and covered by a Mexican blanket. Heavier water staining on the headliner. Older bias-ply wide whites. Old engine repaint, with barely-keep-it-running maintenance components. It must work, as the car runs out well. Cond: 4. #70-1954 PONTIAC CHIEFTAIN Eight 2-dr sedan. VIN: P8ZH53041. White/ SOLD AT $32,400. In 1958, for the first time, any Pontiac could be ordered with either Tri-Power or fuel injection. Initially ran on Friday as Lot 124, leaving the block as a no-sale at $28k. Ran again on Saturday as Lot 316, doing just enough better to reach the $30k reserve that was mentioned on Friday. #257-1961 CHEVROLET IMPALA 2-dr hard top. VIN: 11837S247260. Ermine White & red/red & white vinyl. Odo: 52,257 miles. 283-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Has a couple of years on a restoration, but not to showstandards. Good paint, with correct red primer on undercarriage. Replated major brightwork plus dealer-accessory fender ornaments, dual rear antenna, and doorhandle paint guards added during the restoration. Poorly reglued door seals coming loose. Fully restored interior shows minimal wear. Very tidy engine bay. Converted from a generator to a one-wire GM alternator; modern belts, hoses, lamps. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $10,368. Initially offered as Lot 91, a $9,250 no-sale late on Friday evening. Offered again the next night as Lot 334, where it sold. When I showed it to Auctions Editor Tony Piff, I nearly had to set out drool pans to protect the truck, as this was easily his favorite vehicle of the auction—of the entire Arizona auction week, in fact. I rather liked it too, for its unassuming originality (even if there are some rust issues to keep in check). Well bought and sold. #293-1963 CHEVROLET IMPALA 2-dr hard top. VIN: 31847F305172. Red/red vinyl. Odo: 14,824 miles. 409-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Retains most of the original documentation. Original window sticker, equipped with optional 425-hp 409 and 4-speed. Stated to be all original aside from a repaint and consumables. Also claimed to retain original finishes under the hood, but has been cleaned and detailed to a limited extent. Mostly original interior in excellent condition. Light steering wheel wear and aging. Mostly glossy black painted undercarriage, with light detailing. Runs well enough, but a bit rich. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $3,780. Pontiac and Packard were the last two holdouts offering inline eights in ’54. Not only would it be the final year for both, but both were also flatheads, as Buick was the last OHV inline eight in ’53. Sure, this example is a bit rough-andtumble, but so am I most of the time, so I rather liked this. It’s also far and between that you’ll see the base-line Poncho of this era with the eight, since it was optional in the bare-bones Chieftain. Bought very well, and especially with its California prove- 98 AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $25,380. Somehow, the consignor got the half-baked idea that only 600 two-door hard-top 1961 Impalas were built. In fact, the body tag even states that this was the 25,795th one built at St. Louis alone—and this was in the fourth week of June, with about a month left of production. Not that rare and not all that well screwed back together, it sold about right. Last seen here two years ago, then selling for $32k (ACC# 192424), so they either must have used it and gotten it out of their system or just didn’t want to spend any more on it. SOLD AT $69,660. Mitch Silver claimed that the car sold in 2010 for $78k. Bidding started to peter out past $60, but the reserve was lifted at the end. Not a bad deal on a verifiable real-deal 425-horse. BEST BUY

SILVER AUCTIONS // Fort McDowell, AZ #106-1965 PONTIAC GTO 2-dr hard top. VIN: 237375Z108533. Dark aquamarine/ black vinyl. Odo: 43,928 miles. 389-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Claimed that PHS documentation proves this to be a real GTO, but said documentation not presented. Decent repaint done in recent years. Generally uniform, wide panel gaps. Older bumper replate, good original trim. Halogen headlights. Plus-one-sized TorqThrust wheels on modern radials. Thrown-together engine bay. Aftermarket steering wheel and Hurst shifter. Two-pod aftermarket gauge bracket beneath the dash, with single temperature gauge fitted. Reproduction seats and door panels expertly installed. Cond: 3. #122-1967 CHEVROLET NOVA 2-dr hard top. VIN: 115377W159807. Gold & yellow/ black vinyl. Odo: 96,670 miles. 250-ci I6, 1-bbl, auto. Restored in mid-1990s, judged an AACA National First Place winner at Hershey in 1999, then Grand National award winner in 2000. Original invoice confirms that it was equipped from the factory as today, with two-tone paint and power steering. Superb repaint, with trim removed and reconditioned. Light interior wear and fading consistent with careful long-term ownership. Original steel wheels with wheel covers have given way to reproduction Rallye wheels on Redline radials. Very well detailed under the hood. Cond: 2. ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. NOM MO-code engine block from a Norwood-built car. Aftermarket carburetor and valve covers. Stated to have dealer-installed Stahl headers. Otherwise clean and tidy under the non-original induction hood. Early 1968 302 fender emblems on hood’s power bulge. Good repaint and striping. Front suspension rides high. Most brightwork is reproduction or replated. Driver’s door gaps uneven, passenger’s side pretty decent. All-reproduction interior soft trim. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $28,080. While Pontiac did have an Aquamarine paint in 1965, what’s sprayed here is a bit dark and has more green in it. Reserve lifted at $22k, making a good sale of this driver-grade cruiser. #116-1967 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE Malibu convertible. VIN: 136677Z154575. Madera Maroon/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 48,439 miles. 383-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Rather throaty exhaust note confirms that grandma’s 283 isn’t under the hood. NOM crate 383 and TH350 automatic, dolled up to look like the original 210-hp 327. Good body prep and repaint, although overspray in places such as the door-lock plungers. Good panel gaps overall, but not perfect. Malibu emblem on right rear flank is crooked. Fitted with SS wheel covers and radial Redline tires. Could well be the original top and interior as loosely claimed, even if the seats look too good to be 47 years old. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $28,350. It took awhile to get there, as there was quite a bit of interest in the car, but the reserve was eventually lifted at $26k. While it may be very tempting to do an engine swap such as the Lot 116 Malibu, leave this one alone (apart from detailing it back into show condition). This should show that it doesn’t pay to mess with originality. #219-1968 CHEVROLET C-10 CST pickup. VIN: CE148Z162157. Gold & Ivory/ Parchment vinyl. Odo: 20,792 miles. 327-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Stated to be a generally original truck, traded in by the original owner at a local Toyota dealer in October. Buffedout original paint, which already had heavier fade and buff-through on the hood. Dull but generally damage-free alloy trim. Modern Western-motif seat cover on the somewhat tired original upholstery. Modern radial tires, trim rings, and 1970s dog-dish hubcaps on stock rims. Cleaned-up original engine bay. With a/c, power steering, power brakes. Period aftermarket dual rear auxiliary fuel tanks. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $41,040. Originally a no-sale across the block at $34k. Stated by Mitch that it was “on the sheet for $42,000,” but ended up as a post-block sale for a fair amount less. And rightfully so for this collection of Z/28 parts. CORVETTE #203-1990 CHEVROLET CORVETTE ZR-1 coupe. VIN: 1G1YZ23J6L5800813. Polo Green/tan leather. Odo: 48,964 miles. 350ci 375-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. Fitted with roll bar and fire-suppression equipment as required to run in the Silver State Classic, but stated that it never actually competed. Subdued graphics on rear hatch. Otherwise, a cared-for original-mile car. Good original GM paint. Tires almost down to the wear bars. Cleaned up, generally stock engine bay. Heaviest interior wear is the usual outboard driver’s seat side bolsters, with the power adjustment bezel broken off and seams just starting to split. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $26,190. Previously no-saled at Silver’s June 2012 Coeur d’Alene auction at $34k (ACC# 202122) and at Silver’s August 2012 Carson City sale at $28k (ACC# 213178). Interesting twist to make the 383 look like a bone-stock 283, complete with stock air cleaner. This time across the block, the consignor realized that the NOM status under the hood, while tasteful, isn’t going to bring any more money, so it got cut loose, and someone got a decent deal (assuming he knows what he bought). 100 AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $10,584. It makes one wonder, after keeping this truck for 36 years and 120k miles, what prompted the owner to trade it in—for a Toyota, no less. I’m actually more surprised they took it in trade, as most dealers look at anything over a decade old as Kryptonite. No-saled at $9,700, but a deal came together by the end of the day. At this price, it’s a keeper. #68-1968 CHEVROLET CAMARO Z/28 coupe. VIN: 124378L345018. Light green metallic/black vinyl. Odo: 19,834 miles. 302- SOLD AT $15,660. The safety equipment put off a lot of prospective buyers for the car. Logical, as even a C5 Z06 can run circles around it. Still, that leaves plenty of room for those of us who can’t afford a C6 ZR1 and like the mechanical music of the Oklahoma Ferrari under the hood. The reserve was off at $14k, generating one more bid. Bought well, even if $1k in tires is in the new owner’s future, as this is late-generation C4 drop-top money.

SILVER AUCTIONS // Fort McDowell, AZ FOMOCO #463-1932 FORD MODEL 18 highboy. VIN: 0350151F55F. Maroon/white vinyl/ maroon vinyl with green & red plaid. Odo: 1,227 miles. High-quality build on an allsteel body. Excellent paint on all components, including frame, rear suspension, and motor. Said motor is a Chevy 327, tricked out like a typical ’60s rod. Super Bell front axle with Vega steering geometry. Widened steelies with Mercury hubcaps. Good but not perfect door and trunk fit. Custom engine-turned center pod dashboard with all Stewart Warner gauges. 1940 Ford steering wheel. Like-new door panels and seats. Non-original serial number. Cond: 2-. reverse-slanting rear window, they also introduced the 368-ci version of the Y-block V8. There was also a convertible, but it was strictly an Indy Pace Car edition. Reserve off at $25k, yielding a pretty decent buy. #281-1964 FORD GALAXIE 500 4-dr hard top. VIN: 4P64X174757. White/red vinyl. Odo: 49,224 miles. 352-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Stated to be an original car with original miles. Mostly original paint, with some panel touch-up. Left rear roof pillar contours are off, scrape on the top of the left rear fender. Chrome “FORD ROD” spelled out on rear. Excellent door fit, panel fit okay. Well-preserved original interior, helped to some extent by a period clean vinyl front seat cover. Half-hearted engine detail. Dealer-installed a/c, but no belt connected to compressor; dealer-accessory twin rear radio antennas and stainless steel mud guards. Cond: 3. #353-1946 INTERNATIONAL K-1 woodie wagon. VIN: K111573. Green & wood/black leatherette/brown vinyl. Odo: 72,884 miles. 213-ci I6, 1-bbl, 3-sp. Montana title issued on New Hampshire VIN, but frame number is present—and indicates 1941 production, being the 11,573rd K-1 built. Restored in 1979, and not professionally then, either. Paint is presentable. Mostly original wood, dry-rot at several joints. Somewhat weathered roof. Missing second-row seating. School-bus-grade upholstery work with moderate wear. Dead mouse fell from grimy undercarriage. Sold with matching 1939-style reproduction wood teardrop trailer. Cond: 3-. NOT SOLD AT $52,000. Everyone at ACC was smitten with this one—including yours truly. Of all the mods and rods at all of the venues this week, this was my favorite. It really looked like it jumped out of a 1965 edition of Hot Rod magazine. I also liked the fact that it was a clean build and not loaded up with chrome bits or over-the-top pinstriping. High bid would be worth serious consideration, but I can also see why the seller kept it. #37-1957 MERCURY TURNPIKE CRUISER 2-dr hard top. VIN: 165AK57609599. White & red/white, red & black vinyl. Odo: 11,887 miles. 368-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Product of Ford of Canada. Older, better-quality amateur restoration. Rather good repaint. Doors need an assertive slam to latch properly, but then have good, even gaps. Sloppy door-seal glue application. Rechromed bumpers and polished trim in recent years. Crazing plastic inserts on hood and trunk ornaments. Authentically reupholstered seats show minimal wear or fading. Light overspray on chassis. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $14,580. I rather liked this car, but then again I also have a Country Sedan station wagon that uses this same interior and is five days younger and built at the same plant as this one. A lot of other folks must have liked it also, as it sold well for having two doors too many for most dealers. AMERICANA #85-1940 PACKARD 110 Series 1800 sedan. VIN: C19718B. Centennial Blue/blue broadcloth. Odo: 6,434 miles. In recent years owned by the late Jim Hollingsworth, author of the definitive book on 1940 Packard restoration. He restored the car well enough that it earned a PAC Senior National award. While generally holding up well, it is starting to show some wear and use—most pronounced under the hood. High-quality repaint is still excellent. Slightly muted rechrome. Superb door panel, headliner and seat upholstery work, recently cleaned and detailed. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $36,180. Ran in line with a high idle, and then died going off the block. IH used different vendors for their cataloged woodie wagons but downplayed them, as they didn’t want customers to specify a builder when ordering. Brochures from the era used generic renderings to blend builder-specific features. They were all three-doors, as the fuel filler was located where the left rear door would’ve gone. This wasn’t the greatest example ever, but as cheap as you’ll find for a runner—partly due to potential title issues. #83-1978 CHECKER A-11 Marathon replica sedan. VIN: 274381997F. Red/black vinyl/black & white Holstein cow hide. Odo: 17,313 miles. 250-ci I6, 2-bbl, auto. Originally an A-11 Taxi, not an A-12 Marathon, per the consignor’s description, and confirmed by the yellow paint visible beneath the lousy repaint. The pièce de résistance, however, is the interior, made from the hides of a small herd of Holsteins. Not leather—hides with hair. Rear quarter-window is covered with a vinyl top like a Marathon on the outside and filled with hides inside. Cond: 4+. SOLD AT $28,890. The Turnpike Cruiser was introduced mid-1957, in two- and fourdoor hard-top bodies. In addition to George Jetson styling touches and the Breezeway 102 AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $29,700. Seen right here last year selling at $30k (ACC# 215079), then at the spring Branson auction, no-sale at $23k. The reserve was lifted here at $26k. Once the pride and joy of late 1940s Packard expert Jim Hollingsworth, this really deserves to go to a long-term enthusiast’s collection rather than bouncing between car flippers. SOLD AT $6,156. The consignor must not have had much at stake, as he didn’t milk the bidding and just let it go to pasture at $5,100. Someone else’s pasture, that is. A

GLOBAL ROUNDUP Selected Sales Combined in One Comprehensive Report American highlights at nine auctions McCormick’s palm Springs Collector Car Auctions palm Springs, CA — november 22–24, 2013 Auctioneer: Frank Bizzarro, Jeff Stokes, Rob Ross Automotive lots sold/offered: 370/533 Sales rate: 69% Sales total: $6,163,585 high sale: 1931 Packard Eight Model 833 convertible, sold at $115,500 Buyer’s premium: 5%, included in sold prices Report and photos by Carl Bomstead The Branson Auction Branson, MO — October 18–19, 2013 Auctioneers: Tom “Spanky” Assiter, Wade Cunningham, Jim Nichols Automotive lots sold/offered: 103/215 Sales rate: 48% Sales total: $2,294,852 high sale: 1955 Chevrolet Corvette 265/195 roadster, sold at $98,280 Buyer’s premium: 8%, included in sold prices Report and photos by B. Mitchell Carlson RM Auctions hershey 2013 hershey, pA — October 10–11, 2013 Auctioneer: Max Girardo Automotive lots sold/offered: 104/115 Sales rate: 90% Sales total: $9,656,200 high sale: 1933 Chrysler CL Imperial roadster, sold at $704,000 Buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold prices Report and photos by John Baeke Auctions America Fall Carlisle Carlisle, pA — October 3–4, 2013 Auctioneers: Brent Earlywine, Ben DeBruhl Automotive lots sold/offered: 147/256 Sales rate: 57% Sales total: $2,835,103 high sale: 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz convertible, sold at $181,500 Buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold prices Report and photos by Adam Blumenthal Mecum Auctions Anaheim 2013 Anaheim, CA — november 21–23, 2013 Auctioneers: Mark Delzell, Jim Landis, Mike Hagerman, Matt Moravec Automotive lots sold/offered: 412/785 Sales rate: 52% 104 AmericanCarCollector.com Sales total: $13,606,424 high sale: 2006 Ford GT, sold at $246,100 Buyer’s premium: 7%, minimum $500, included in sold prices Report and photos by Michael Leven Bonhams Scottsdale 2014 Scottsdale, AZ — January 16, 2014 Auctioneers: Malcolm Barber, Rupert Banner Automotive lots sold/offered: 87/101 Sales rate: 86% Sales total: $23,380,500 high American sale: 1935 Auburn 851 Supercharged Boattail Speedster, sold at $467,500 Buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold prices Report and photos by John L. Stein Gooding & Company The Scottsdale Auction Scottsdale, AZ — January 17–18, 2013 Auctioneer: Charlie Ross Automotive lots sold/offered: 110/118 Sales rate: 93% Sales total: $49,461,550 high American sale: 1929 Duesenberg Model J dual-cowl phaeton, sold at $2,090,000 Buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold prices Report and photos by Donald Osborne RM Auctions phoenix 2014 phoenix, AZ — January 16–17, 2014 Auctioneer: Max Girardo Automotive lots sold/offered: 108/126 Sales rate: 86% Sales total: $45,563,450 high American sale: 1930 Duesenberg Model J convertible, sold at $2,200,000 Buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold prices Report and photos by Carl Bomstead Mecum Auctions Kansas City 2013 Kansas City, MO — December 5–7, 2013 Auctioneers: Mark Delzell, Mike Hagerman, Jim Landis, Matt Moravec, Bobby McGlothlen Automotive lots sold/offered: 490/725 Sales rate: 68% Sales total: $11,475,703 high sale: 1931 Cadillac V12 convertible coupe, sold at $189,000 Buyer’s premium: 7%, $500 minimum, included in sold prices Report and photos by B. Mitchell Carlson SOLD AT $341,000. Clearly a no-expensespared restoration, said to have taken nearly two decades. The Bearcat was perhaps akin to the Mustang K-code convert- SOLD AT $49,500. “Sturdy as an Oak” was the Oakland slogan of the day, and this car was worthy of its name. Had it been featured under bright sun rather than under shelter away from the rain, with the owner conducting several more encore performances of its flawless L-head, I think the car might have scored even higher bids. Market-correct. RM Auctions, Hershey, PA, 10/13. # 5122. Yellow/ tan fabric/brown leather. RHD. Odo: 982 miles. Presents as good as or better than new, with excellent panel prep and paint. Modern-looking machinestitching on tonneau. Giant Goodrich 33x5 tires are detailed on outside surfaces but not inside. Some road grit on steering knuckles and front leaf springs suggest this car is a viable runner, confirming catalog claim. Newer-appearing fuel lines and fittings. Carefully restored and reasonably well presented, but detailing stops short of perfect. Cond: 1-. 8 #200-1920 STUTZ SERIES H Bearcat roadster. VIN: 5067. Eng. CLASSICS #221-1912 OAKLAND MODEL 30 tourer. VIN: 7500. Green & black/black canvas/ black leather. RHD. So pleasing to the senses that the few paint chips and cracks in the leather hardly seem to matter. Seller on hand provided a nice show as he opened the hood, filled the fuel cups and fired up the car. There was little hesitation in the well-maintained motor, which ran for possibly 10 minutes at RPMs at times surely close to redline. Cond: 2-. TOP 10

ROUNDUP GLOBAL ible of its day, and the chance to acquire an example this good motivated bidders to surpass the high estimate by over $91k or 36%. With a diminishing set of interested and able buyers, the value of such faraway classics remains guesswork. This one did great, so congrats to the seller. Bonhams, Scottsdale, AZ, 01/14. #9-1928 STUTZ MODEL BB four-passenger speedster. VIN: BBC4BB270. Eng. # 91470. Green/beige canvas/brown leather. Odo: 1,973 miles. Very good panel fit. Nice paint showing a number of small stress cracks. Very good bright trim. Seats are in good shape, showing small rubs. Excellent dashboard and instruments. 1999, 2011 Pebble Beach Concours class wins. Overdrive fitted for touring. Cond: 2-. of “assembled” cars in America. None operate today. Gardner utilized straight-8 power from E.L. Cord’s Lycoming Co. Exceedingly few survive, let alone a roadster. Considering the historical significance, this was well bought. RM Auctions, Hershey, PA, 10/13. GM #54-1938 BUICK SPECIAL 40C phaeton. VIN: 13290457. Titian Maroon/tan fabric/red leather. Odo: 37 miles. Fresh restoration with limited use since completion. Equipped with the semi-automatic Safety transmission, which was an $80 option. Found where stored for over 30 years. Attractive colors; new top with contrasting piping. New leather interior. One of but a few surviving Buicks with semi-automatic transmission. Cond: 1-. correcting this car’s cosmetic flaws should pay off in the end. Seller should be pleased, and buyer should not fret. RM Auctions, Hershey, PA, 10/13. #205-1947 CHEVROLET 3100 DELUXE pickup. VIN: 6ESK1375. Forester Green/ tan fabric. Odo: 81,596 miles. 235-ci I6, 1-bbl, 3-sp. Five-window 1/2-ton pickup restored to a very presentable standard. It features the “Unisteel” styling with stronger frames and a new interior. Powered by Thriftmaster six. Dual fog-lights added. Steering wheel cracked. Converted to 12V. Whitewalls on a pickup a bit much, however. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $258,500. Previously a no-sale in 1991 at Kruse, Topsfield, MA, at $51k (ACC# 4785). A great combination of cosmetic finish and driveability. Interest in Stutz cars has been steadily rising, with an emphasis on the sportier varieties. This was a very good result for a touring car, no doubt because of its fine restoration and sensible updates for driving. Market-correct and a lot of car for the money. Gooding & Co., Scottsdale, AZ, 01/14. #258-1929 GARDNER MODEL 120 roadster. VIN: GT18913. Tan & beige/beige canvas/brown leather. Odo: 41,875 miles. Appears to have been restored in the ‘60s when beige was all the rage. Has nice Art Nouveau touches like designs on dash and even the trunk lining. Amateurish paint touch-ups abound. Nylon carpet? Engine painted orange rather than Lycoming Green (over rust). Cond: 3. SOLD AT $60,500. The quality of the restoration deserved a few more dollars, but the car has limited prospects, as it is not a Full Classic. Dropping the top is a major project and requires three men and a child. Well bought if your have a use for it. RM Auctions, Phoenix, AZ, 01/14. #246-1947 BUICK ROADMASTER coupe. VIN: 14787169. Cream/black canvas/ maroon leather & cream cloth. Odo: 5,101 miles. 320-ci I8, 2-bbl, 3-sp. Top-of-the-line Roadmaster, bejeweled with cloisonné galore, Buick coat-of-arms fore and aft, rocket side lamps and hood ornament, beautiful copper-tone gauges. But many issues detract: paint chips, wide gaps, old rubber, dull chrome, cracked indicator lens, fallen inside door handle, etc. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $93,500. Buyer possibly overpaid for this car, but Roadmaster convertibles should continue to appreciate. Investing in SOLD AT $24,150. Quality pickups continue to be popular, and this example sold for the current market-correct number. Well bought and well sold, so all should be happy here. McCormick’s, Palm Springs, CA, 11/13. #143-1947 CHEVROLET STYLEMASTER sedan. VIN: 5J13621. Purple/tan velour & cloth. Odo: 5,014 miles. 350-ci V8, auto. Powered by late-model 350-ci Chevy engine and Turbo 400 3-sp auto. Older restoration holding up nicely. Repainted three years ago, still smooth and shiny. Bright work good, with large scuffed area on front bum- SOLD AT $49,500. Previously no-saled at an undisclosed high bid at Bonhams Carmel 2011 (ACC# 184571). Prior to 1930, there were nearly 3,000 different manufacturers March-April 2014 105

GLOBAL ROUNDUP per, some chips. Two-piece windshield. Fuel-filler door moved to left side of car. Spotless interior looks all-new with new gauge package, tilt wheel, Sony tape deck, a/c. Tidy engine bay. Front disc brakes, power steering and brakes. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $15,500. A tastefully done custom with a mix of old and new that looked like it was just driven out of the shop. Well bought. Auctions America, Carlisle, PA, 10/13. #244-1950 CADILLAC SERIES 62 convertible. VIN: 506244820. White/black canvas/red leather. Odo: 27,296 miles. 331ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Recent repaint reportedly the only thing not original. Some wide gaps, occasional paint chips and cracks, stainless with swirls, carpet pulling away, some electrical wiring fraying. Red leather better than expected if truly original. Engine bay and chassis clean and consistent with rest of unrestored original condition. Cond: 3. detail to bring it up a notch or two” (ACC# 120021). Clearly, work has been done, but signs of use offset the effect somewhat. Skylark prices have covered a wide range the last few years. The consignor representative on site was very helpful and spurred confident bidding and a healthy, but fair, result. Mecum Auctions, Anaheim, CA, 11/13. #379-1957 CADILLAC ELDORADO Biarritz convertible. VIN: 5762002192. Black/ black vinyl/red leather. Odo: 74,528 miles. 365-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. Superb restoration reportedly to original spec. Stunning color combination. Excellent paint, chrome, glass. Autronic Eye. Standard power top, windows, and six-way seat. Factory Sabre-Spoke wheels. Sumptuous interior. Show-quality engine compartment. Power steering, brakes. Cond: 1-. as they once were. A few years back, this would have pushed $50k. Extra 4-barrel a big plus. New owner has a very desirable driver that will turn a few heads. McCormick’s, Palm Springs, CA, 11/13. #413-1957 PONTIAC SAFARI wagon. VIN: P757H8903. Pink/white leather. Odo: 1,418 miles. 400-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. A Pontiac wagon that is hard to miss. Powered by 1969 Bonneville V8 with Corvette 4-speed manual transmission. Has Camaro front clip with air suspension. Crisp white leather seating. Vintage Air. Well built once you get past the color. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $46,200. Can’t help but look at this as a Mary Kaye promotional car. Price paid was up there, as the build was well done. Color, however, is an acquired taste. Well sold. McCormick’s, Palm Springs, CA, 11/13. SOLD AT $126,500. Regarded by some as Harley Earl’s finest and most understated design, showing the first generation of Cadillac fins. Price was way higher than expected, and difficult to explain based just on originality and a few accessories. Well sold. RM Auctions, Hershey, PA, 10/13. #S115-1954 BUICK SKYLARK convertible. VIN: A1047340. Metallic burgundy/ white vinyl/red leather. Odo: 65,793 miles. 322-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Very nice older restoration just starting to lose its edge. Trim and chrome very good. Paint done prior to 2008 to concours quality, now with miscellaneous chips from use. One modern headlight, one T3. White fender wells. Wide whitewalls on Kelsey-Hayes wires. Red leather somewhat out of sync with burgundy paint. Very nice underhood but not detailed. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $139,100. Purchased 496 miles ago for $106,700 in 3+ condition at Worldwide’s 2009 Escondido sale, where our reporter said, “Needs some attention to 106 AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $181,500. The top sale of the auction. One of the larger gems to grace the Expo Center. Recently sold at Mecum’s Dallas sale in October 2011 for $138k (ACC# 190493). In two years, it found a new home at over 30% more. I’d say this is the new normal for examples in this condition. Well bought and sold. Auctions America, Carlisle, PA, 10/13. #408-1957 CHEVROLET BEL AIR 2-dr hard top. VIN: VC57B172152. Onyx Black/ red vinyl & black fabric. Odo: 17,591 miles. 283-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, 3-sp. Nice Bel Air with optional dual 4-barrels that boosts hp to 245. Attractive Onyx black paint shows some minor swirls in finish and a few touchups. Add-on Moon tach. Hood fit off a touch. A quality driver. Cond: 2+. #S79-1962 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX 2-dr hard top. VIN: 962K2058. Light blue/white vinyl. Odo: 85,268 miles. 389-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Good repaint in recent years. Windshield is taking on a yellow tint, although it’s a modern non-OEM replacement. Older bumper replate. “421” fender badges and valve-cover decals. Some modern aftermarket items also. Better seat reupholstery work with generic pleats. Later-era Hurst shifter, plus electronic FM tuner and analog voltmeter mounted beneath dash. Fitted with optional Tri-Power, a/c, 4-speed, and eight-lug wheels, now shod with modern radials. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $25,380. This was the first year of Pontiac’s longest-running nameplate, lasting continuously until Pontiac got whacked by GM. Well sold. Mecum Auctions, Kansas City, MO, 12/13. SOLD AT $38,850. Tri-Fives are not as hot #S20-1964 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX 2-dr hard top. VIN: 894K6782. Nocturne Blue/ white vinyl. 421-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Rare powertrain, 29 factory options. The big engine/manual transmission combo alone was reportedly a $635 extra on a car that based at only $3,499! Original owner’s manual, Protect-O-Plate, two build sheets, PHS

ROUNDUP GLOBAL documented. Hurst shifter, eight-lug wheels. Body never off frame. Bare-metal repaint very good, with only minor bubbling. Good chrome; trim mostly very good. Interior looks original and slightly dingy. An awful lot of car and very handsome in dark blue. Cond: 2-. protecting. Replated bumpers, some older reproduction brightwork. Door gaps less tastic paint. Excellent chrome, glass. Z/28specific five-spoke factory wheels. Front black spoiler unscathed. Dual exhaust. Goodyear Polyglas tires. Driver’s door liner is loose. Clock in dash isn’t working. AM radio. Highly detailed engine compartment with shiny chromed air cleaner and goldanodized brake-fluid cover. Power brakes. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $58,850. Perhaps longing for a GTO, but needing more room to fit the whole family, the original buyer dutifully went for the full-size Grand Prix and then ticked all the “fun” boxes on the order form. Clearly, whoever ordered this car was swinging for the fence. Still, this sale is completely off the price charts, the result of a very determined buyer and a very cool, unusual car. Well sold, post-block, after bidding stalled at $52k. Mecum Auctions, Anaheim, CA, 11/13. #F49-1966 CHEVROLET IMPALA SS 2-dr hard top. VIN: 1683760100359. Light metallic blue/blue vinyl. Odo: 68,578 miles. 327-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. An almost entirely original, black-plate California car, as delivered with power steering, power brakes and a/c. Paint is smooth but thin throughout, and buffed within an inch of its life, with primer peeking through in places. Poorly rechromed rear bumper the only sign of restoration. Interior still very nice. Engine bay dirty but correct. Cond: 3-. than perfect. Minimal wear on the repro seats, door panels and carpeting. Highgloss dashboard repaint. Lackluster engine bay, now showing two decades of age and light use. Optional a/c, interior décor group and hood tach. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $25,650. Offered at no reserve. Proof once again that a Firebird will almost always be a better buy against a Camaro, as a lowhorse 396 Camaro would bring at least $5k more in commensurate condition. This is market pricing for a 400 Firebird, even factoring in the 4-speed and air. Branson, Branson, MO, 10/13. #376-1970 CHEVROLET CAMARO Z/28 coupe. VIN: 124870L510160. Cranberry Red/black vinyl. Odo: 71,203 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Newer frameoff rotisserie restoration done to original factory specs. Flawless inside and out. Fan- SOLD AT $52,000. A spectacular car, and rightfully chosen by the auction company to be displayed on the main floor of the Expo Center where the auction took place. The ’70 Z/28s don’t have the same lust factor as 1967–69, but values are edging up. Last sold at Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale sale in January 2012 for a stratospheric $74,800 (ACC# 193226). The seller took a hit here, while the buyer set the new market price for a ’70 Z/28 just shy of #1 condition. Well bought. Auctions America, Carlisle, PA, 10/13. SOLD AT $13,910. The paint was the only weak point, and it had been very well preserved with clear coat—I would not touch it. But a respray would not clash with the good condition of everything else. The 275-hp SBC has plenty of grunt, and this looked an honest and fun cruiser. Well bought. Mecum Auctions, Anaheim, CA, 11/13. #534-1967 PONTIAC FIREBIRD 400 convertible. VIN: 223677U113255. Dark blue metallic/light blue vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 1,923 miles. 400-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Restored in 1990 to then-higher-quality driver condition. Pretty decent prep work for the somewhat average masked-off repaint. Stainless steel door edge guards are chewing up the paint on the edges rather than March-April 2014 107 BEST BUY BEST BUY

GLOVEBOXNOTES GLOBAL ROUNDUP By Jim Pickering 2014 Jeep Cherokee Limited SUV GLOBAL ROUNDUP price as tested: $37,425 Equipment: 3.2-liter 24-valve V6, 9-speed automatic transmission, Jeep Active Drive I, Customer Preferred Package 26G includes Technology Group, Luxury Group, Navigation, etc. EpA mileage: 19/27 Likes: Small exterior size with plenty of room inside. Comfortable seating position, good visibility, fantastic amount of tech features. Chrysler’s navigation and stereo interface is the best in the business — especially when combined with SiriusXM. Several terrain options, selected with a knob on the center console, give you control over four-wheel-drive settings, including a Sport mode. Dislikes: The 9-speed transmission in our tester had a wiggle in second gear. Nose styling is an acquired taste, and as part of that, the high beams aren’t much brighter than the regular beams. Engine could use more power. Power liftgate is slow, and for something so simple, had a steep learning curve — it shut halfway through opening at least once for everyone who used it. Did we bump the open button twice? Still not sure. Verdict: This Jeep is the perfect offroader for someone who only needs the capability occasionally. And around town, it’s a great driver with a really good selection of tech features — our tester had heated seats and wheel, XM, navigation, blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise, collision warning, remote start, and even the ability to see sports scores and the local (or national) weather forcast via the stereo. With that 9-speed trans, the V6 returned 19 mpg city and 27 highway, which is pretty good considering it’s a small SUV. I have a hard time getting past that nose styling — but hey, at least it isn’t boring. And overall, that’s a small issue on an otherwise tight package. Fun to drive: Fun to look at: ½ Overall experience: 108 AmericanCarCollector.com ½ SOLD AT $104,500. Second-highest sale of the auction. The right colors and loving restoration made this car something really spe- SOLD AT $68,480. Sold post-block after bidding stalled at $55k. This highly desirable, very well-restored, no-questions car was a $65k no-sale in 2011 at Mecum St. Charles (ACC# 189330), then recently sold for $71k at Mecum Schaumburg in October (ACC# 228264). Selling price is marketcorrect, and the new owner got himself a good value. Mecum Auctions, Anaheim, CA, 11/13. CORVETTE #383-1957 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: E57S104181. Onyx Black/ black hard top/black vinyl soft top/beige leather. Odo: 770 miles. 283-ci 270-hp V8, 2x4-bbl, 3-sp. Nut-and-bolt, frame-off restoration done to concours standard. Original and correct color scheme draws a crowd. Brightwork superb. Original panels with good gaps. Wears spinner wheel covers and blackwall bias-ply tires. Interior invites superlatives. Has parking brake alarm, windshield washers, Wonderbar radio, cabin heater and courtesy lamps. Clock not working. Tidy trunk. Detailed underhood. 1997 NCRS National Top Flight ribbon and plaque in car. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $74,250. Price paid was slightly under the money for a 283/245 Corvette in very acceptable condition. Another five grand or so would have not been unreasonable. As such, put this one in the wellbought column. RM Auctions, Phoenix, AZ, 01/14. #92-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE coupe. VIN: 30837S108615. Daytona Blue/ blue vinyl. Odo: 81,686 miles. 327-ci 360-hp fuel-injected V8, 4-sp. The one-year-only Split-Window. One of only 2,610 Fuelies built for 1963. Equipped with L84 Rochester Ramjet mechanical fuel injection, Positraction, metallic brakes, off-road exhaust and correct T-3 headlamps. Restored to perfection with correct chalk markings and tape holding shims on the frame. Fully documented with NCRS Top Flight. Cond: 1. #S83.1-1970 PONTIAC GTO Judge 2-dr hard top. VIN: 2423701115425. Palladium Silver/black vinyl. Odo: 39,617 miles. 400-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. One of 288 Judges built in Oshawa, Canada. Matching numbers. Frame-off resto with very good paint; some blemishes on roof. Bodywork around upper corners of windshield quite rough. Trim with polishing scratches. Repop interior with slight fit issues. Hurst shifter, M20, Ram Air III. Described as “Perhaps the World’s BestDocumented GTO” and hard to argue with original sticker, Protect-O-Plate, warranty book, PHS docs and GM of Canada Heritage Certificate. Cond: 2+. cial. Well bought and sold. Auctions America, Carlisle, PA, 10/13. #123-1958 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: J58S107999. Snowcrest White & red/white vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 15,253 miles. 283-ci 245-hp V8, 2x4-bbl, 3-sp. A very original example with Vintage Air added. Equipped with desirable RPO 469 motor with two 4-bbls. Usual issue with headlight bucket trim matching fender strip. Fitted with small-hubcap RPO 276 rather than standard wheel discs. There are a few issues with paint and trim, but that’s to be expected with such an original example. Very presentable interior. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $236,500. Strong money for an L84 Split-Window, but this was a very strong car. Restored to highest standard, with books and records. Best of the best, and new owner has the bragging rights to it. RM Auctions, Phoenix, AZ, 01/14. #53-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE coupe. VIN: 194377S122032. Marlboro Maroon/black leather. Odo: 13 miles. 427-ci 390-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Very good panel fit, to factory standard. Excellent paint. Very good chrome, with light scratches on windshield trim and door handles. Excellent interior. With a/c. Cond: 2-.

ROUNDUP GLOBAL SOLD AT $110,000. Well-presented ’67 Corvette, with 427/390 engine installed by dealer. Extensive documentation and ownership history. Most recently in static museum display, the car will now require some recommissioning. Offered at no reserve, and the price was appropriate. Gooding & Co., Scottsdale, AZ, 01/14. #S82-1969 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 194679S722221. Maroon metallic/maroon hard top/black vinyl soft top/black vinyl. Odo: 78,676 miles. 427-ci 390-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Several years on the repaint; presents well, generally. Mostly original brightwork. Door gaps pretty decent, but not stock or perfect. Recent minimaleffort underhood detailing, looking stock at ten paces. Interior either a good original or older replacement, showing moderate wear. Equipped with both tops and sidepipes. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $45,360. Last seen at Mecum’s Spring Classic two years ago, declared sold for $22,260 (ACC# 205011). This time around, the consigning dealer’s showroom card indicated an asking price of $44,900. Well sold. Mecum Auctions, Kansas City, MO, 12/13. #537-1987 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Callaway Twin Turbo convertible. VIN: 1G1YY3188H5119309. Black/black cloth/ tan leather. Odo: 27,229 miles. 350-ci 345hp twin-turbocharged V8, manual. Callaway number 87-115. Awarded Bloomington Silver and Survivor status. Generally clean, tidy and original, but without show sparkle. March-April 2014 109

GLOBAL ROUNDUP Full documentation going back to when it was sold new. Buffed-out original paint with a few light scratches and nicks. Old replacement tires starting to look chalky. Original top with cloudy backlight. Light wrinkling and wear on driver’s seat. Discolored console lid. Built-in radar detector mounted in extreme right front corner under the hood. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $30,240. The Callaway Twin Turbo was something of an offsite test bed for GM, on what route to take with the proposed future ZR-1. It also helped that Callaway had a car ready to go and itching to be offered through GM’s dealer network as an authorized upfitter. Good provenance, being sold new by a well-known Corvette dealer, lower miles, and originality make this well bought—even for the less-than-mint condition. Branson, Branson, MO, 10/13. FOMOCO #S115-1927 FORD MODEL T roadster. VIN: 14463908. Maroon/black leatherette/ black leatherette. Restored to stock in 2003. Not a show-quality repaint, but a lot better than what’s usually found on these. Light chipping where the butterfly hood hit surrounding panels. Likely repro or heavily reworked fenders, as there is no rolled edging along the inner lips. Nickel work is pretty good except for the radiator shell. Vinyl seat upholstery more plain than original. Door and kick panels, along with the modern top, are more like it. Rear-mount spare. Generally authentic engine restoration. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $16,740. Cliché time: You can have it in any color as long as it’s... maroon, gray, or green. Color options came back to Model Ts in 1926, and by the time it went out of production in 1927, all-black was a special-order color. The maroon on this roadster comes off well as an attempt to make it look sporting. Another one of those cars whose values were stagnant to rotting up until the last couple of years, but now are trading at five-digit prices on a regular basis (if barely). Not a bargain, but not at all outrageous, either. Mecum Auctions, Kansas City, MO, 12/13. #234-1934 FORD MODEL 40 Deluxe 3-window coupe. VIN: 18814502. Black/ beige broadcloth. Odo: 51,160 miles. Lightly rodded ’34 Ford with ’36 Ford V8 power. Black paint with red trim shows a scattered few flaws, mostly at wear points. Interior is superb and true to its school, with Ford gauges and hardware. Nice rear window shade. Buried treasure beneath the hood in the form of Eddie Meyer heads and intake manifold topped by twin Stromberg 97s. Add to this a Lincoln tranny and a Columbia 2-speed rear. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $99,000. No purist will get heartburn seeing the incredibly tasteful hot-rod treatment on this original coupe. No external cues betrayed its performance personality. What modifications were done used vintage speed equipment and resulted in no significant or permanent changes to the original car. It could easily be returned to 100% stock, not that anybody would want to. Add a crate motor, flames and aftermarket mags, and you have just another $40k street rod. Truly an occasion where “less is more.” Well bought. RM Auctions, Hershey, PA, 10/13. #33-1940 MERCURY SERIES 99A convertible. VIN: 99A121762. Green metallic/ white fabric/green & white leather. 276-ci 110 AmericanCarCollector.com

ROUNDUP GLOBAL V8, 2x1-bbl, 3-sp. Built in 1940 by Charles Marr and Gerry Huth as part of the “kustom kulture.” Restoration completed in 2009. Original motor bored and stroked. 1940 Buick steering wheel and 1937 DeSoto bumpers. Carson top. Transmission with Zephyr gears. Driven only 40 miles since restoration. A documented ’40s custom with the clean period look. Cond: 1-. Some imperfections also to gold side trim. Dirty under pickup bed pad. All in all, a very attractive piece. Cond: 2. driver’s side consistent with someone holding a cigarette in his left hand. Inside door handles and window cranks are now dull white. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $107,250. This was last seen at Bonhams’ August 2010 Carmel sale, where it realized $167k (ACC# 165804). I think this slipped through the cracks, as another $30k would have not been unreasonable. Extremely well bought. RM Auctions, Phoenix, AZ, 01/14. #97-1957 FORD THUNDERBIRD F-code convertible. VIN: F7FH351668. Flame Red/black fabric/white vinyl. Odo: 55 miles. 312-ci V8, supercharger, 3-sp. Fully documented “F-bird” with copy of invoice showing $340 cost of optional supercharger. Recent restoration to high standard and driven few miles since. Blackwalls and dogdish covers complete the look. One of an estimated 200 1957 Thunderbirds equipped with F-code motor. Few finished in Flame Red. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $60,500. Rare to see an early Ranchero this nice—and especially one with all these options. Fully restored and well equipped, this has the potential to be a fun daily driver, or you could even haul your old Matchless desert sled to the vintage races and be the star of the pits. If someone gave you a free ’57 Ranchero in as-found condition, you probably couldn’t restore it for what this car sold for. The full roster of options makes it an even better buy. Bonhams, Scottsdale, AZ, 01/14. #207-1960 EDSEL RANGER 2-dr hard top. VIN: OU13Y702008. Sea Foam Green/ green vinyl/tan pebble cloth. Odo: 45,142 miles. 352-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Last year for the Edsel, and they went out in style. They were lower and longer and the famed horse-collar grille was gone. Only 243 twodoor hard tops produced. Equipped with Y-code “Super Express” 352 V8 and “Dual Power” transmission. Air cleaner and valve covers painted turquoise. Trim attached with sheet metal screws. Kelsey-Hayes wires and skirts. Attractive paint and striking interior in excellent condition. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $16,200. Since 2014 will be the final year of the Econoline van, here’s an example from the first year of that successful series. Introduced at the same time as the Chevy Corvair Rampside/Loadside in response to the VW minibus, the Econoline soon became a best-seller. This example was also well sold for condition. Mecum Auctions, Kansas City, MO, 12/13. #6-1963 FORD THUNDERBIRD M-code Sports Roadster. VIN: 3Y89M106625. Corinthian White/black Haartz cloth/red vinyl. Odo: 99,916 miles. 390-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, auto. One of only 37 1963 Sports Roadsters with M-code V8. Documented with M in the VIN and with three Holley 2-barrels underhood. Complete with air, power windows, seats and Swing-Away steering wheel. Also has engine dress-up option. Recently freshened up but has pitting on gauges and a few other nits. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $200,000. A stunning T-bird with the desirable supercharger. Couple this with a quality restoration, and you have an attractive package that is well worth the price paid. A touch under the money if anything, so we’ll call this well bought. RM Auctions, Phoenix, AZ, 01/14. #129-1957 FORD RANCHERO Custom 300 pickup. VIN: C7KF174433. Flame Red & Colonial White/red & white vinyl. Odo: 958 miles. 292-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Except for a few easily correctable faults, presents as good as or better than new. Faults include a big chip on right front fender. Many options including a/c, chromed wire wheels, power windows, and power brakes. Fishtail exhaust finishers tart up the rear view. Door panels don’t align with the front fenders perfectly, but this is probably as good as stock. SOLD AT $25,500. One of the best-looking Edsels. Total production for the model year was only 2,846 cars, but it this case rare does not do much for the value. Price paid here was about right for an unusual but attractive Edsel. McCormick’s, Palm Springs, CA, 11/13. #T108-1961 FORD ECONOLINE COE pickup. VIN: E10SH145492. Red/red vinyl. Odo: 64,351 miles. 144-ci I6, 1-bbl, 3-sp. Retains original owner’s manual and warranty information. Recent economy exterior repaint, spraying over the exposed wiring harnesses in the pickup box. Modern radial tires with replica sport wheel covers. Good bumper repaint. Sagging original cardboard headliner, moderately worn original floor mat. Old economy re-covering of bucket seats. Heavy paint wear and damage on SOLD AT $85,250. This M-code T-bird was last seen at RM’s 2008 Rochester sale where it realized $85k (ACC# 117390). Only driven about 330 miles since. With fees and other expenses, the seller was upside-down a few thousand, so I hope he enjoyed the limited use. A rare and desirable T-bird that should appreciate over time. RM Auctions, Phoenix, AZ, 01/14. #179-1963 FORD GALAXIE 500 R-code Factory Lightweight 2-dr hard top. VIN: 3N66R144637. Corinthian White/red vinyl. Odo: 23 miles. 427-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Fresh restoration. Overall good paint application with minor chips showing along various edges. Hood and passenger’s door fit slightly off. Cloudy-looking chrome on rear bumper. Matching white steel wheels with dog-dish hubcaps. Simple lightweight front bucket seats with steel frames. No tachometer. Wrinkled headliner inside C-pillar. NASCAR 427 engine and Borg-Warner March-April 2014 111

GLOBAL ROUNDUP T-10 gearbox were MIA when the car was discovered in the mid-2000s, but a correct replacement engine and gearbox were fitted. Cond: 2+. resto within past five years. Paint well done over good prep. Trim, gaps mostly good; some scratching around windshield. Bumper chrome good but marked. Wire hubcaps, rear skirts. Interior replaced at some point. 347-hp crate 302 replaces original V8; aluminum radiator and custom shrouding. In consignor’s family for over 20 years. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $134,200. Predating the Mustang by a year, Ford’s factory R-code lightweight Galaxies were used in a variety of events, including drag racing, road racing and ovaltrack—and also overseas. This one is said to be one of 212 such cars built for drag racing. Previously offered but not sold at Bonhams’ August sale in Carmel, CA, at a high bid of $135k (ACC# 227369). Lack of information about its history may have dissuaded bidding. Bonhams, Scottsdale, AZ, 01/14. #F52-1964 FORD F-250 4x4 pickup. VIN: F26CK492257. Bengal Tan/black vinyl. Odo: 3,451 miles. 292-ci V8, 2-bbl, 4-sp. Original powertrain. Lifted two inches to clear modern off-road tires on widened stock rims. Wyoming truck; faded NRA sticker in windshield. Recent low-effort repaint; dents and dings in box and tailgate. Exceptionally solid, with no sign of rust or rust repair. Spray-in bedliner, rubber cargo mat on floor. Very dull door handles—pretty much the only chrome. Bare-bones interior, without a radio but with period dealer-accessory zippered door-panel pockets. Recent seat re-covering. Cond: 3. #101-1968 FORD MUSTANG “Bullitt” replica fastback. VIN: DRMVB0000157695M0. Highland Green/black vinyl. Odo: 2,437 miles. 347-ci V8, 4-bbl, 5-sp. Nice paint with some minor chips evident in various places. BF Goodrich radial tires, disc brakes front and rear with rusty centers. Good interior overall. California black plate JJZ 109 was too early a sequence to have been on this car in the day, and rear plate has no registration stickers. Big exhaust outlets with later aluminized-type tubing. Rear-view mirror unglued from windshield and resting on floor. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $30,495. Previously no-saled at Russo and Steele’s Scottsdale 2012 sale at an undisclosed high bid (ACC# 194690). The consignor/restorer stood with car all day telling and retelling stories about the car, including its long-past years with his son at college and the “accessory” he found in the back seat ashtray during restoration! Top dollar for condition, but a real-deal Sprint convertible with more than enough grunt to keep the driver entertained. Slight nod to the seller. Mecum Auctions, Anaheim, CA, 11/13. #T26-1966 FORD F-100 pickup. VIN: F10AN789757. Light blue/blue vinyl. Odo: 18,273 miles. 240-ci I6, 1-bbl, 3-sp. Clean, base-model truck with straight body and thick, newish paint. Painted bumpers and wheels. Spray-in bed liner. Repop upholstery in original pattern; three-on-the-tree, no power steering or brakes, speedo-only dash. Freshly tuned, new tires. Underside tidy, frame painted with POR-15 or equivalent to entomb surface rust; no structural corrosion detected. A simple, unadorned tool, decently presented. Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $7,830. I remember these used during winter growing up in the Salt Belt, and I always liked them, but they had all but dissolved by the mid-1970s. I really liked this truck, too, and with the lackluster redo, you can still go check cows out in the back acreage with it and not worry. Bought well, since trucks—especially vintage four-wheelers—continue to sell well. Reserve met at $6,250, and the bidding kept trudging along. Mecum Auctions, Kansas City, MO, 12/13. #T138-1964 FORD FALCON Sprint convertible. VIN: 4H14F145736. Wimbledon White/black vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 33,049 miles. 302-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Rust-free Arizona car. Well-documented, driver-level 112 AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $88,000. Built in four months for Chad McQueen at the behest of the “Overhaulin’” TV show producer, this movie-car replica features an authentic look with modernized components to make it a better driver. It’s truly a ground-up build, too, starting with a re-pop 1967 Mustang fastback body shell and continuing from there. The end result is subtle and focused—just like Steve McQueen would have wanted. The $88k price was 10% above the low estimate, and you probably couldn’t build this car for much less if you had to write the checks yourself.(See the profile, p. 52.) Bonhams, Scottsdale, AZ, 01/14. #S199-1969 MERCURY COUGAR Eliminator coupe. VIN: 9F91R568219. White/ black vinyl. Odo: 63,642 miles. 428-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Per the Marti Report displayed, sold new by Canoga Park Lincoln-Mercury and restored in recent years. Ram Air, power front discs, interior décor group, full tinted glass. Better-quality bare-body repaint. Original trim and glass have some SOLD AT $10,700. The very definition of a work truck: one gauge, no power accessories and without those two unnecessary cylinders. Could also double as means of serious upper-body workouts. Refreshing to see an old truck free of upgrades it never had in the day. Previously sold for $10,500 at Mecum KC in 2011 (ACC# 196555) and fairly sold today. Mecum Auctions, Anaheim, CA, 11/13. light scratching. Mixed panel fit. Older bumper replate. All-new door and glass seals. Mostly reproduction interior with some yellowing original trim. Overall minimal wear inside. Recent engine fluff-up on a basically authentic restoration. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $64,800. My kiss of death strikes again. Just when I called these under the market in my January-February 2014 “Cheap Thrills”

ROUNDUP GLOBAL column, one sells for respectable money. I get the impression that this will be the new normal—even if these are far from being normal at most auctions. Mecum Auctions, Kansas City, MO, 12/13. MOPAR #599-1958 DODGE D-100 Sweptside pickup. VIN: 18D1107021. Apple green & ivory/white vinyl & green nylon. Odo: 72,261 miles. 315-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Optional pushbutton automatic transmission and that’s it—doesn’t even have a heater. Higherquality frame-off restoration completed in recent years. Better-than-factory build quality paint and panel fit. All chrome has been replated, but the stainless trim could have been buffed out better. Unblemished aftermarket high-gloss wood floor kit with polished stainless-steel strips. Fully restored interior with period-style clear vinyl seat cover. Crease in center of headliner. Engine repainted poorly. Cond: 2+. fabric & vinyl. Odo: 69,147 miles. 383-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Next-to-last year for DeSoto and final year for the Adventurer. Attractive blue paint. Very stylish interior with a split seam. Dash loose. Brightwork decent. Cond: 2. 4-ply bias-plys. Optional power steering, power brakes, and bucket seats with center console and floor shift. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $21,600. The full-size Dodge Monaco shared the same body structure as the Chryslers, also getting the new-for-1967 reverse-slant rear quarter-window roof. Monacos from the late ’60s don’t turn up much any more, as most were 4-doors that were used to death. Can’t play the “Survivor” card, but if the miles are actual, not a bad price at all for a car that’s likely to be the only one like it at any show or meet. Mecum Auctions, Kansas City, MO, 12/13. SOLD AT $14,175. Not a lot of money for a stylish run-around-town car. Fun to take to the local show-and-shine and show off to your buddies. No issue with price paid. McCormick’s, Palm Springs, CA, 11/13. #F142-1967 DODGE MONACO 2-dr hard top. VIN: DH23H79355162. Teal metallic/ black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 3,462 miles. 383-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Mileage believed original. Aside from one newer better-quality repaint with pinstriping, engine bay detailing, and a 1980s in-dash tape deck, the car is original. Solid door fit, good panel gaps. Minimal fade and aging to the vinyl roof, door panels tops, and seat-bottoms. Light yellowing of some plastic interior trim. The tires even seem to be the original 8.50-14 SOLD AT $49,140. It seems like the majority of these that I run across are ’58s, with most of the remainder being ’57s and a rare few ’59s. This one traded right at market value. Branson, Branson, MO, 10/13. #65-1959 IMPERIAL CUSTOM Southampton 2-dr hard top. VIN: M617106651. Sandstone/brown leather. Odo: 189 miles. 413-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. A very presentable example of a limited-production elegant American luxury car. Only 1,743 two-door Customs produced 1959, and this one with optional full-leather interior, air and Landau roof. Minor touch-up on trunk. Minor wear on interior. Overall a very nice presentation. Cond: 2+. #F241-1968 DODGE DART convertible. VIN: LP27D8B397375. Sublime/white vinyl/white vinyl. Odo: 993 miles. 340-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. This stock-appearing Dart was anything but, the body being the only major original component. Numbers code out to a 273 V8 GT car; now with a 340, Edelbrock manifold and electronic ignition. Custom chassis with Mustang II front suspension, steering. All custom inner panels. Interior tired and dingy; custom dash with new AutoMeter guages. Trim scratched, rear fascia worn. Paint well applied over poor prep. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $23,540. Reserve lifted at $22k. A few questions come to mind: 1) Why ruin a perfectly good Dart convertible? 2) Why SOLD AT $33,000. At most every auction, a car or two will slip through the cracks, and this one certainly did. A well-restored example of a powerful freeway cruiser. Worth twice what buyer paid. RM Auctions, Phoenix, AZ, 01/14. #417-1960 DESOTO ADVENTURER sedan. VIN: 7206100762. Two-tone blue/blue March-April 2014 113

OURCARS GLOBAL ROUNDUP 2000 DODGE Viper GTS coupe Owner: Randy Zussman, Senior Account Executive, ACC and SCM purchase date: September 1, 2013 price: $45,000 Mileage since purchase: 1,200 recent Work: New battery, a/c valve repair. GLOBAL ROUNDUP build this car when you can have a real Dart 340 GTS convertible in similar condition for just a little more money? 3) Why purchase this car when you can have a real Dart 340 GTS in similar condition for just a little more money? 4) Why can’t I meet buyers like these when I’m selling a car? Mecum Auctions, Anaheim, CA, 11/13. #S119-1969 DODGE SUPER BEE 2-dr hard top. VIN: WM23M9A255790. Metallic green/black vinyl. Odo: 39,716 miles. 440-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. First-rate, bare-metal, body-off, nut-and-bolt resto done 2004–05. Stripe delete, no hubcaps, power steering or power brakes. Hurst shifter. Specs confirmed by Govier. Paint very well done in a great color; only polishing scratches noted. Chrome mostly very good; some pieces lightly pitted. Modern headlights. Cond: 1-. GTS. In September of last year, I finally bought one. Normally I prefer open cars, but when I have always wanted a Viper it comes to Vipers, the coupe is the one to have. I bought the car from an ACC/SCMer who just bought a new Viper. This one had only 3,900 miles on the clock when I got it. In short, I love the car. The V10 belts out a full race-car soundtrack from the starter to its redline, and the whole experience is very analog: there’s no traction control, ABS or other assists, and that keeps the driver really involved. It gets way more attention than a Corvette and is very rare, especially in understated graphite. The license plate BRUTE4S sums it up. Its performance is phenomenal, but the reputation of it trying to kill the driver is very over-done. The car is very easy to drive. I have never stalled it, spun it or had a “moment.” But there are a few downsides. First, the car is not up to Corvette standards in build quality. Door shuts are a task performed in triplicate, the lack of cruise control or any other power options are a minus, as the GTS was meant to be driven distances. The ingress/egress are predictably best left to someone in Cirque du Soleil. Once you are inside, the car is very comfortable, but the seats lack a recline function. I take the car to shows and to rural towns outside of Las Vegas. The low mileage and fact that I do not want to diminish its value means it will stay a garage queen (KING) for the foreseeable future. A but this deal came together within the next five lots. Signs of life from the Hemi camp, but not where they were even a decade ago. Mecum Auctions, Kansas City, MO, 12/13. AMERICANA #240-1947 STUDEBAKER COMMANDER Regal Deluxe convertible. VIN: 4280834. Cream/black canvas/red vinyl. Odo: 1,175 miles. 226-ci I6, 1-bbl, 3-sp. Nice restoration showing some signs of age. Paint has several chips, gaps are uneven, weatherstripping showing age. Engine and compartment not concours, but look ready for reliable touring. Upholstery reportedly original, which if true is remarkable. Snazzy optional hood ornament and fender turn indicators. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $80,250. Reserve came off at the hammer price. This bare-bones car was ordered for maximum performance. That there was no claim of matching numbers might indicate it was driven accordingly and the engine was replaced. In today’s discounted muscle-car market, that matters more than ever. If the engine is a replacement, well sold. If it’s original, this sale looks pretty well on the money, if not a touch light. Mecum Auctions, Anaheim, CA, 11/13. #S137-1970 PLYMOUTH HEMI ’CUDA 2-dr hard top. VIN: BS23R0B217918. Alpine White/black vinyl. Odo: 18,996 miles. 426-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. Restored to original configuration within last few years. Miles claimed actual. Excellent repaint with an authentic sheen. Good original trim. Bumpers may have been replated, but not to over-the-top show finish. Repop door sills still have the protective plastic on them. Excellent door fit and actuation. Could well be original carpeting. Authentically detailed, concours-ready engine bay. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $38,500. Previously no-saled at Collector Car Productions’ 2012 Toronto auction at $54k (ACC# 201382) and at Worldwide Atlantic City 2011 at an undisclosed high bid (ACC# 169035). Of all Raymond Loewy’s post-war designs, this was perhaps one of the more sedate. Rare when new means most today will be unable to identify it without reading the emblems. Well sold. RM Auctions, Hershey, PA, 10/13. #390-1956 NASH AMBASSADOR SUPER 90 sedan. VIN: V14485. Yellow & green/ green vinyl/gray fabric. Odo: 25,600 miles. 352-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. A very original example that has been properly maintained. Trim pitted and paint worn in places. Restyled in 1956 with wrap-around windshield, quad headlights and new rear-end treatment. Powered by Packard 352 V8 with Ultramatic transmission. “Airliner” reclining seat. Cond: 3+. 114 AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $172,800. My guess would be that this generated the vast majority of those almost 19k miles a quarter mile at a time. This was very sparse on equipment, down to the utilitarian white with black guts. When it no-saled on the block at $150k, they said it would take $200k to get it done, AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $16,538. The Nash with the reclining seat was the high-school guy’s dream car back then, but I don’t know anyone who actually got the keys to one. Price paid was certainly reasonable enough—just don’t take my granddaughter out in it. McCormick’s, Palm Springs, CA, 11/13. A

ROUNDUP GLOBAL March-April 2014 115

The Parts Hunter Chad Tyson Big-money parts and accessories from around the country #1275.4—1964 Chevrolet L84 327-ci, 375hp, fuel-injected V8. 2 photos. Item condition: Used. Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ. “This fuel-injected 327/375-hp engine comes out of the Floyd Garrett Muscle Car Museum. This motor has been recently completely rebuilt including the fuel-injection unit. It features date-code-correct parts as well as some NOS parts.” Sold at $38,500. This setup made the trip all the way from Sevierville, TN. Barrett-Jackson sold 502 cars for less than the price of this engine. It looks almost ready to go in a car, but it would only be date-correct, right? The ACC Price Guide puts a ’64 Fuelie ’Vette in the $60k–$100k range; is the engine really 40%–65% of the value? It’s a pricey replacement or a ridiculously expensive paper weight. Well sold. #181245424552—1955 Chevrolet Nomad Eyebrow, Fender and Door Trim Set. 12 photos. Item condition: New Old Stock. eBay, Orange, CA. “This set of ’55 Chevy Nomad eyebrow trim has never been used. Found in two heavy-duty cardboard tubes and an unmarked box containing the set of eyebrows. Not sure if tubes are original packaging. Everything wrapped carefully in white cotton/poly sheets. The part numbers: 3717002, 3717001, 3716998, 3716997, 4658513 and 4658514. Excellent condition for their age and show very little signs of every being out of their boxes—near mint. Scuff on the paint and the chrome chip on the back of the fender molding are worst of defects. Could be factory flaws, as I have seen in other NOS parts for sale. Rest of the trim very shiny and factory finished.” 1 bid. Sold at $5,500. So I’m late to this party. I picked this because at first glance it was an outrageous amount to spend on six pieces of trim for a car of which they made 6,103. (I know there aren’t that many anymore.) But I’ll be damned if this wasn’t one of the cheaper sets I found. There were two other sets I found offered online at the time of this writing. Well bought, apparently. It shouldn’t take much to polish up this supercharger. Not that the seller should have done anything after finding it in a barn—that usually seems to add a healthy premium. But in this instance, it does pay a bit more to keep these in proper working order. I saw a repaired, functional VS-57 unit sell for $1,900 in mid-January. Well sold. 116 AmericanCarCollector.com #360702652738—1954–55 Kaiser McCulloch Supercharger. 8 photos. Item condition: Used. eBay, East Earl, PA. “You are bidding on a 1954–55 Kaiser McCulloch supercharger. Correct for Manhattans and Darrins, all with 6-cylinder engine. Stamped VS57B 5278, bracket 736500, tensioner 37091 FG15164A. Supercharger turns. Found in storage, where it had been for decades. Sold as-is, as I have never seen it work. Overall clean.” Buy It Now. Sold at $1,499. #93—1932 Cadillac V12. 4 photos. Item condition: Used. Bonhams, Scottsdale, AZ. “A circa-1932 Cadillac 12-cylinder engine, suitable for a Series 370B, appears complete in restored condition with gear box, transmission parts, exhaust manifolds, electrical wiring and more, previously garage-kept.” Sold at $1,250. Catalog copy says “appears complete in restored condition.” To me, “restored” means painted and ready to go. But perhaps it is ready to put in your 82-year-old Cadillac. At this price I’d use it as a new base for a coffee table, à la “Top Gear.” #251378852901—1909 Veeder Brass Liquid Speedometer. 12 photos. Item condition: Used. eBay, Marshall, NC. “Veeder Mfg. Co. Hartford, CT. This is a liquid-type speedometer. Liquid moves in indicator glass tube. Curtis Hussey Veeder patented this speedometer in 1909. Patent Number 937,015. Patented October 12, 1909. Measuring or indicating instrument. Application filed June 30, 1906. On oil cap reads: The Winkley Company, Detroit. Measures: Approx. 8.5” long; 4 lb, 7.5 oz.” 23 bids. Sold at $1,060.89. Too many inventive pieces are lost to time. On first viewing, I think, “What the hell is this thing?” Then, “How does it work?” I’m still not satisfied with the little information I found. Veeder was one of the first to advertise an automobile accessory. That was 1903. Veeder-Root exists today as a fuel-tank gauge, point-of-sale and pumpingsystem company under the Danaher corporate umbrella. Even money for buyer and seller as it hit reserve to sell. A

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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 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 1955 Chevrolet 3100 pickup 2011 Chevrolet Cruze LT w/1FL 4-dr sedan Blue/white. 63,000 miles. I6, 3-spd manual. This is a 1955 rare 5-window 3100 pickup. stored in my a/c garage for years. It is a pristine example, every nut and bolt, hinge, spring, etc. has been replaced with new. This is a 9.5-condition truck. All original except a/c has been added. $35,000 OBO. Contact Chris, 718.753.1455, Email: cdowhie@usa.net (NY) Advertisers Index AuctionAZ.com .....................................99 Auctions America ................................4-5 Barrett-Jackson ....................................19 Bennett Law Office .............................109 Blue Bars ............................................110 Camaro Central ....................................91 Car Art by David Snyder .......................99 Carlisle Events .....................................6-7 Charlotte AutoFair ................................85 Chevs of the 40’s ...............................105 Chubb Personal Insurance ...................21 Collector Car Price Tracker ................117 Corvette America ..................................45 Corvette Expo Inc .................................75 Corvette Repair Inc. .............................11 County Corvette .....................................2 118 AmericanCarCollector.com Dealer Accelerate .................................79 Full House Motorsports LLC ................13 Genuine HotRod Hardware ..................29 Grundy Worldwide ................................97 Hagerty Insurance Agency, Inc. ...........89 Hiprides.com ......................................115 Hot August Nights ..............................115 Hyman, LTD ..........................................69 Infinity Insurance Companies .............124 Iowa Auto Outlet ..............................64-65 Islay Events ..........................................33 JC Taylor ..............................................71 Jim Meyer Racing Products Inc. ........109 Kozak ....................................................14 La Jolla Concours D’ Elegance ............87 Law Offices of Bruce Shaw ..................93 Leake Auction Company ......................17 Lutty’s Chevy Warehouse ..................101 Mac Neil Automotive Products Ltd ....107 Manheim Auto Auction .........................31 Michael Irvine Studios ..........................83 Mid America Motorworks .....................25 Mustangs Unlimited ...........................103 National Corvette Museum .................117 National Corvette Restorers Society ..103 National Parts Depot ............................27 Nights of Neon, Inc. ............................113 Original Parts Group .............................23 Park Place LTD .....................................73 Passport Transport ...............................81 Performance Suspension Technology .95 Petersen Collector Car Auction ..........117 Portland Swap Meet .............................94 Putnam Leasing ......................................3 Reliable Carriers ...................................67 Silver Collector Car Auctions ...............39 Specialty Auto Auctions, Inc ..............117 Sports Car Market ..............................121 St Bernard Church..............................109 Street Shop, Inc....................................97 The Chevy Store Inc ...........................101 Thomas C Sunday Inc ........................110 TYCTA ..................................................77 Vicari Auctions ......................................35 Volo Auto Museum ...............................15 Watchworks ........................................117 ZClip ...................................................123 Zip Products .........................................47 S/N 1G1PE5S92B7307052. Gold Mist Metallic/Jet Black cloth. 144,360 miles. V4, automatic. Stunning Gold Mist Metallic color; high-quality sound system; anti-theft alarm system; spacious interior and much more. $12,996. Contact Michael, European Motorsport Inc., 978.681.0070, Email: sales@europeanmotorsports. co Web: www.europeanmotorsports.co (MA) S/N 20867S100362. Red/red. 72,000 miles. V8, 4-spd manual. Two tops, 327/360 motor which looks to be the original, non-FI unit, 3.70 posi, solid frame, excellent chrome, nice paint. $52,500. Contact Willard, 207.242.8619, Email: wemillis@gail.com (ME) 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray coupe Riverside Red/red. 0 miles. Green/tan. 55,000 miles. V8, 4-spd manual. 327/350-hp, matching numbers, essentially original in very good driver condition, indicated 55k-mile car, PS, repro knockoffs, Teak S/N E54S004098. I6, 2-spd automatic. Fastidious restoration overseen by NCRS judge. Mechanically sorted. Very correct and well-detailed car. Runs and drives very well. Excellent basis for NCRS entrant/competitor. $98,500. Fantasy Junction, 510.653.7555, Email: sales@ fantasyjunction.com Web: www. fantasyjunction.com (CA) 1962 Chevrolet Corvette convertible CORVETTE r1954 Chevrolet Corvette oadster V8, 4-spd manual. 1972 IMSA GTO Champion; F.I.A. Daytona 6-hour; 1973 Sebring 12-hour. SVRA Medallion; Monterey 2002; Bloomington Gold 1993; Sebring Legends Honoree 2013. Full restoration 1993. Unquestionable documentation (pictures, home movies, receipts, race records, original race notes. $275,000. Contact Phil, 352.378.4761, Email: fastphilcurrin@cox.net (FL) 1964 Chevrolet Corvette L76 convertible S/N 40867S121926. Silver Blue/dark blue. 1,400 miles. V8, 4-spd manual. Beautiful frame-off restoration done by retiree with perfection in mind. All work done with NCRS detail and will not disappoint. Rebuilt 327/365-hp with side exhaust. Correct knockoff wheels, power steering, working AM/FM radio. Black soft top completes this beauty. $69,500. Contact Jim, Email: qbflyr@aol.com (FL) 1965 Chevrolet Corvette convertible

Showcase Gallery wheel. Sell or ’Vette trade. Contact K. A., 248.626.5500, Email: kal@thepdmgroup.com (MI) 2007 Chevrolet Corvette convertible 90,000 miles. V8, 6-spd automatic. ”Retro ’58” classic look, comfort & reliability, power top, navigation, original owner, never damaged, 90k pampered miles, health forces sale. $30,000. Contact Dennis, Email: dofrazier@hotmail.com (AL) FOMOCO 1967 Ford Mustang coupe 3-spd automatic. Solid Oregon car. 2010 “barn find” w/95k on odo. Now daily driver w/110k. Everything works! Upgraded 5-lug w/SSBC disc brakes & 8-inch rear end. New rims, BFGs & more. Have receipts since 2010, including gas receipts. Delivery on West Coast possible. $6,000 OBO. Contact Shawn, 503.796.0858, Email: pdxjeep@live.com (OR) 1970 Ford Torino GT 429 convertible MOPAR 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A 2-dr hard top 25-year storage. Stripped, refinished in Jewel Red. Perfect tan leather, new tires, new chrome. Full accessories and they all work. $21,500. Contact Sam, 518.356.3516, Email: sws@ nycap.rr.com (NY) RACE Satin black/V8, 5-spd manual. Custom-designed for ultimate performance, cruising and show, with satin black paint and fabricated carbon-fiber interior. Nearing completion. Eco-friendly E-85 aluminum Hemi, one of one. View build online. Contact 715.828.3837. (WI) Green/black. 110,600 miles. I6, Blue/light gray. 74,614 miles. V8, 4-spd automatic. 429 that is in stunning condition. Restored to original specifications and today better than new! Selling far below cost. Located in Sweden. Inquire for additional pictures. $56,000 OBO. Contact Michael, Classix by Schiebler, +46707658904, Email: tel0707658904@hotmail.com (Sweden) AMERICANA 1980 Avanti II coupe 1952 Cunningham C-3 West Palm Beach coupe S/N 5206X. One-off constructed on C-2 competition chassis. 220-hp Chrysler Hemi, aluminum body. Well documented, known ownership. $750,000. Fantasy Junction, 510.653.7555, Email: sales@ fantasyjunction.com Web: www. fantasyjunction.com (CA) S/N RQB3069. Jewel Red Effect/tan. 48,000 miles. Out of AUTOMOBILIA Custom Neon Garage sign 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 New, 10-foot neon double-sided “Garage” sign. Show-room condition, Fire Engine Red powdercoated aluminum letters, white neon. $9,800 plus crating, shipping and taxes. Custom neon signs/fabrication available. Contact Lisa, Nights of Neon Inc., 818.535.5419, Email: lisa@nightsofneon.com (CA) A March-April 2014 119

RESOURCE DIRECTORY Put your company in the ACC Resource Directory. Call 877.219.2605 Ext. 211, or email advert@americancarcollector.com Auction Companies Auctions America, 877.906.2437, 5540 CR llA Auburn, IN 46706. Home of the 480-acre Auction Park in Auburn, IN, where the annual Labor Day Auction is held in conjunction with the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival. www.auctionsamerica.com. (IN) Russo and Steele Collector Automobiles. 602.252.2697, 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) Leake Auctions. 800.722.9942, Join Leake Auction Company as they celebrate 40 years in the collector car auction industry. Their unsurpassed customer service and fast-paced two-lane auction ring makes them a leader in the business. Leake currently operates auctions in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Dallas and San Antonio. Visit them online at www.leakecar.com or call 800.722.9942. Worldwide Auctioneers. 866.273.6394. Established by John Kruse and Rod C. Egan, The Worldwide Group—Auctioneers, Appraisers and Brokers—is one of the world’s premier auction houses, specializing in the procurement and sale of the world’s finest automobiles and vintage watercraft. www. worldwide-auctioneers.com. (IN) Classic Car Transport 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) L.A. Prep. 562.997.0170, L.A. Prep brings its 30 years of experience transporting vehicles for the automotive industry’s top manufacturers to discriminating luxury and exotic car owners and collectors across the United States. Its highly-skilled and experienced staff delivers an unsurpassed level of service and takes care of your car with the highest quality equipment available in trucks and trailers that are as clean and well maintained as the valuable assets that they carry. www.LAPrepTransport.com Intercity Lines, Inc. 800.221.3936, 413.436.9422. Rapid, hassle-free, coast-to-coast service. Insured enclosed transport for your valuable car at affordable prices. State-of-the-art satellite transport tracking. Complete service for vintage races, auctions, relocations. www.intercitylines.com. (MA) premium service it deserves. We share your appreciation for fine automobiles, and it shows. www.PassportTransport.com. Reliable Carriers, Inc. 877.744.7889, As the country’s largest enclosed-auto transport company, Reliable Carriers faithfully serves all 48 contiguous United States and Canada. Whether you’ve entered 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 Corvette Parts & Restoration AutoBahn Power. Performance + Looks + Durability + Comfort = Autobahn Power! Autobahn Power is a veteran of vehicle modifications, parts and accessories. Our specialty has been to carry products that are better than original equipment in performance, safety and quality. Our warehouse, service shop and retail store are located in the Midwest for good access to all parts of the USA. We have completed literally hundreds of project cars. These performance vehicles are in enthusiasts’ hands across the USA. Many of the cars are in daily use, proving the durability of our workmanship and products. Check us out at www.autobahnpower.com. Palm Springs Auctions, Inc. Keith McCormick. 760.320.3290. Family owned & operated for 28 years. Producing 2 large classic car auctions per year in Palm Springs, California. Each auction features over 500 cars. Held in November & February every year. www.classic-carauction.com 120 AmericanCarCollector.com Passport Transport. 800.736.0575, Since our founding in 1970, we have shipped thousands of treasured vehicles doorto-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 Corvette Central. Parts and accessories for all Corvettes. Corvette Central has been a leading manufacturer and distributor of Corvette parts and accessories since 1975. We offer the most comprehensive and detailed parts catalogs on the market today and produce a different catalog for each Corvette generation. All catalogs are also online with full search and order features. From Blue Flame 6 to the C6, only Corvette Central has it all. www.corvettecentral.com. (MI) County Corvette. 610.696.7888. Sales, service, parts and restoration. When it must be right. www.countycorvette.com. (PA) 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) Corvette Repair. The Leader and most recognized NCRS, Bloomington Gold & Triple Diamond Award winning Corvette repair shop in America. Breathtaking state of the art restorations, with the highest attention to detail and workmanship to any C1, C2 or C3 Corvettes. Compare our hourly rate and be surprised... or shocked. Contact Kevin J. Mackay at 516.568.1959 www.corvetterepair.com (NY) Mid America Motorworks. 800.500.1500. America’s leader in 1953–2008 Corvette parts and accessories. Request a free catalog at www.mamotorworks.com. (IL) Street Shop, Inc. 256.233.5809. Custom 1953–1982 Corvette replacement chassis and driveline components. www.streetshopinc.com. (AL) Corvettes for Sale County Corvette. 610.696.7888. The most modern and bestequipped Corvette-only facility in the nation. www.countycorvette.com. (PA)

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! 503.256.5384(p) 503.256.4767(f) www.thechevystore.com. (OR) Insurance 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. 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 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) Legal Law Offices of Bruce Shaw, Collector Car Fraud Specialists, www.shawlaws.com. A motorhead law firm with real practical knowledge and experience in the Collector Car Field. Experience: Chain of speed shops, Body Shops, Car Dealerships, former NCRS judge as well as licensed attorneys. Estate planning and divorce settlements concerning Collector Cars. 50 State Representation. 215.657.2377 Museums Grundy Worldwide. 888.647.8639, Grundy Worldwide offers agreed value insurance with no mileage limitations, zero deductible*, and high liability limits. Our coverages are specifically designed for collectible-car owners. From classic cars to muscle cars, Grundy Worldwide has you covered. (*Zero deductible available in most states.) 888.6GRUNDY (888.647.8639). www.grundyworldwide.com. (PA) 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) Leasing Putnam Leasing. 866.90.LEASE. For over 25 years, Putnam SUBSCRIBE TO SCM 877.219.2605 Ext. 1 SportsCarMarket.com/subscribe March-April 2014 121 Cosmopolitan Motors, LLC. 206.467.6531, 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) expectations. Visit during the 37th annual open house along with 13,000 other enthusiasts. 253.272.2336 www.lemaymarymount.org 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 “in stock” selection of parts. Visit us online at www.mustangsunlimited.com or join us on Facebook or Twitter for the latest buzz in all things Mustang. Customer Satisfaction is goal #1. Phone: Connecticut 888.398.9898, Georgia 888.229.2929. National Parts Depot. 800.874.7585, 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 1948–29 and 1980–96 F-Series Ford Truck 1966–96 Bronco 1955–57 Thunderbird Delivery of your parts averages just 1–3 days! www.nationalpartsdepot.com 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, world-class art exhibits, and assorted ephemera, consider your next event here. Weddings, swap meets, conventions, auctions. The facility can likely exceed your Mustangs Unlimited. Since 1976, Mustangs Unlimited is YOUR best source for 1965–present Mustang, 1965–70 Shelby, and 1967–73 Mercury Cougar Parts. Call or visit our website to receive a full-color catalog full of the parts you need with the best prices in the industry. With two fully stocked warehouses, we have the largest Keith Martin’s 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.A Sports Car Market The Insider’s Guide to Collecting, Investing, Values, and Trends ™

Surfing Around Carl Bomstead Automobilia on eBay and beyond Carl’s thought: Profiles in History, at their December 18, 2013, auction, offered a varied collection of rock ’n’ roll memorabilia. Included were the handwritten lyrics of “Riders on the Storm” by Jim Morrison of The Doors. Morrison died in 1971 at the age of 27. His notebook, with random musings and poems, realized $200,000, while the lyrics for the song sold for $55,000. He’s been gone for over 40 years, but the song still sticks in our mind. Here are a few others that stuck with me, but the memory won’t last that long: MORFORD AUCTIONS. LOT 269—PIONEER MOTOR OIL ONE-QUART CAN. SOLD AT: $2,645. Date sold: 12/6/2013. The Pioneer Oil and Refining Company was headquartered in San Antonio, TX, and their covered-wagon logo was certainly appropriate. Picture cans have been making a comeback after a few years in the doldrums, and the price paid for an interesting can in this condition, while strong, is not out of line with other recent sales. EBAY #221312112574—EDSEL DEALER NEON PORCELAIN SIGN. Number of bids: 11. SOLD AT: $11,000. Date sold: 11/16/2013. This double-sided porcelain sign was fitted with neon and was in acceptable condition. It was huge, measuring 91 by 81 inches, and at first glance, the price was up there. However, at the June 2012 RM Dingman sale, a smaller Edsel dealer sign that was simply neon mounted on a frame sold for $5,750, making this, in comparison, a screaming deal. EBAY #1511438255825—GRIZZLY GASOLINE DECAL. Number of bids: 3. SOLD AT: $21.89. Date sold: 10/21/2013. Grizzly Gasoline was operated by the NW Refining Company, having been founded in 1938 and acquired by Standard Oil in the ’40s. It was a dominant player in Montana, and these little travel decals with various city names were given out at the stations. Anything from the Montana gas and oil industry has a certain mystique and usually is rather pricey. This decal was reasonable enough at this price and will make a cute little display piece. EBAY# 251395398999—1967 CORVETTE DEALER PROMOTIONAL MODEL. Number of bids: 15. SOLD AT: $511.90. Date sold: 12/10/2013. This molded plastic 1967 Corvette was highly detailed and was finished in Lynndale Blue. The chrome pieces had a few blems and the glass was scratched, but otherwise 122 AmericanCarCollector.com it was very presentable. 1967 was, of course, the last year for the C2s, and a touch fewer than 23,000 Corvettes were built that year. Rare dealer promos have a following, and this one sold for strong but not unreasonable money. EBAY #19099314150—1909 LITTLE ROCK MOTORCYCLE LICENSE PLATE #1. Number of bids: 21. SOLD AT: $5,688.80. Date sold: 12/9/2013. This porcelain license plate was from the estate of the original owner, who is pictured with his bride on their 1907 Curtis Cycle. The plate has some rough edges but is the first motorcycle plate issued in Little Rock and, with the supporting documentation, is a piece of history. Expensive, but considering the backstory, what the heck? EBAY #261347029529—CHRYSLER PLYMOUTH APPROVED SERVICE 42-INCH PORCELAIN SIGN. Number of bids: 20. SOLD AT: $2,650. Date sold: 12/14/2013. This 42-inch porcelain dealer sign dated to the ’40s and was in acceptable condition with a chip at the bottom and minor scratching throughout. It retained good gloss and the colors were bright and vibrant. The sign was lacking dramatic graphics, thus the price paid was not what others often bring. Fair price for what it was. EBAY #271340099809—LES PAUL 50TH ANNIVERSARY CORVETTE GIBSON GUITAR. Number of bids: 15. SOLD AT: $8,100. Date sold: 12/19/2013. This was one of 50 guitars custom-built to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Corvette. It had the Corvette emblem inlaid in the fingerboard, and the side body vent was re-created to replicate the Corvette. It was painted in Shale to match the Corvette interior color. It’s a unique Corvette collectible, and the proceeds benefited the American Cancer Society, so kudos all around on this one. A