March-April 2015 - American Car Collector

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CAR COLLECTOR Volume 4 • Issue 20 • March-April 2015 The Scoop: Profiles CORVETTE 1961 CHEVROLET CORVETTE CONVERTIBLE $56k / Barrett-Jackson A dual-carb Corvette in a great color. But is it original? — Carl Bomstead Page 40 GM 1967 CHEVROLET YENKO SUPER CAMARO $358k / Gooding & Co. Rare tuner Camaro reinforces the Yenko market — Tom Glatch Page 42 FoMoCo 1969 FORD TORINO TALLADEGA 428 CJ $39k / Barrett-Jackson A best buy in NASCAR homologation specials — Patrick Smith Page 44 MOPAR 1969 PLYMOUTH A12 ROAD RUNNER $165k / Barrett-Jackson As Hemi cars move up, so do their comparables — Tom Glatch Page 46 AMERICAN ™ 6 AmericanCarCollector.com Keith Martin's

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CUSTOM 1939 LINCOLN-ZEPHYR COUPE CUSTOM $253k / RM Pinning the value on a cost-is-no-object build — Ken Gross Page 48 AMERICANA RACE 1955 CHEVROLET CUSTOM “TWO-LANE BLACKTOP” $160k / Barrett-Jackson Cult-film star car screams to a market price — Jim Pickering Page 50 1970 FORD MUSTANG BOSS 302 TRANS AM $200k / RM Pricing a Trans Am racer that never raced Trans Am — Sam Stockham Page 52 TRUCK 1976 CHEVROLET C10 CUSTOM PICKUP $45k / Barrett-Jackson Pricing on big pickups moves up a generation — Jay Harden Page 54 Cover photo: 1976 Chevrolet C10 custom pickup Courtesy of Barrett-Jackson 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Trans Am, p. 52 Patrick Ernzen ©2015, courtesy of RM Auctions March-April 2015 7

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The Rundown EXPERTS’ COLUMNS 10 Torque The power of legend on the market — Jim Pickering 34 Cheap Thrills The cheapest buys in Arizona — B. Mitchell Carlson 36 Horsepower A car guy’s New Year — Colin Comer 38 Corvette Market All the fun for a fraction of the price — John L. Stein 114 Surfing Around Automobilia from the Ron Pratte Collection — Carl Bomstead AUCTIONS 58 Barrett-Jackson — Scottsdale 2015 99% of 1,631 cars hammer sold, including the $5.1m 1966 Shelby Cobra Super Snake, for $131m in total sales — Dan Grunwald 68 Leake Auction Company — Dallas Fall 2014 375 cars sell out of 555 offered for $10.2m, and a Duesenberg built in 1978 makes $283k — Phil Skinner and Elise Levy 76 Russo and Steele — Scottsdale 2015 403 of 603 cars hammer sold to the jingle of nearly $17m total — John Boyle 86 Silver Auctions — Fort McDowell A 1956 DeSoto Firedome convertible sells for $85k, sales total $3.6m, and 219 of 316 cars change hands — B. Mitchell Carlson 94 Roundup American vehicles from coast to coast — B. Mitchell Carlson, Joe Seminetta, Carl Bomstead, Jack Tockston 8 AmericanCarCollector.com FUN RIDES 20 Good Reads Art of the Corvette — Mark Wigginton 22 Desktop Classics 1971 Buick Riviera — Marshall Buck 24 Snapshots The Pratte Collection sells — Sam Stockham 26 ACC’s eighth annual Scottsdale Insider’s Seminar — Jim Pickering 30 Feature Buying low and selling high in Arizona — Tony Piff SERV DEPA 12 What’s Car events of note 14 Crossing the Block Upcoming auctions and highlighted star cars 20 Parts Time Cool parts to keep your car on the road 22 Cool Stuff Diapers, magnets and rat repellent 28 Insider’s View How do you know if it’s time to buy or time to sell? 62 Quick Take 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake — Jim Pickering 84 Glovebox Notes 2015 Chrysler 200S sedan 98 One to Watch 1991 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 1LE — Chad Tyson 106 The Parts Hunter Rare parts and pieces on the market 108 Showcase Gallery Sell your car in ACC’s classifieds section 108 Advertiser Index 110 Resource Directory Get to know our advertisers

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Torque Jim Pickering The power of legend O ver a thousand miles and just a few days past the big tents of Scottsdale, I sat in my parents’ house with my daughter as my dad ka-chunked slides into his ’60s-era projector. Blurry images of the past reflected off the eggshell-textured wall — familiar faces unencumbered by age, the family house a different color, the old fir tree as a sapling. Somewhere in the reams of slides featuring the family, the house, and foxholes in Vietnam hid a grainy shot of the neighbor’s house taken on the day it burned. That house was rebuilt years back. Recently, it sold to a developer, and it’s slated to be flattened to become four modern row houses. All this business of change in the neighborhood has the longtime residents bothered, and it drove Dad to find that old picture. While he hunted, past the 1965 prom, hand-built go-carts, long-gone swingsets and troop-loaded Hueys, Katie tried to identify Grandpa among the young faces and I looked for old cars. Eventually, he landed on a shot of the house in question, circa 1963 or so, but minus the flames. In the foreground was a car I’ve heard a lot about over the years but have only rarely seen. “There’s my old ’56 Chevy around the time I bought it. Cost $100,” said Dad. “Had no engine. Was an old cop car.” As a kid, I’d heard about him building a 265 for it, over-revving it in a drag race with a buddy and pulling all the rocker studs out of the heads, and driving around slowly in the rain on slicks because they were cool and that’s what you did. To me, it was the stuff of car-guy legend. Its image always conjured burger joints, drag races and cruising in my mind. It’s the kind of car culture I wanted to live but only experienced either in film or as some sort of grown-up-sanctioned throwback event — 25 mph please, ending at dark. But there it sat, an icon of its era in muted tones on the wall, close enough to touch. Modern performance This year’s Arizona auctions were the biggest ever, with over $291m in sales over the week. In total, 2,525 of 2,880 cars sold at six auctions. Compare that with last year’s $253m, which was also a record, and you’ve got a good model of a growing market. Beyond the big-money Pratte Collection, 10 AmericanCarCollector.com Courtesy Barrett-Jackson Auction Company The “Two-Lane Blacktop” ’55 Chevrolet high-dollar restored Hemi ’Cudas and ultrarare race Corvettes, there were some interesting trends this year. First, trucks, specifically custom trucks, have seen more upward movement. This was especially true at BarrettJackson, where a bunch of bagged Chevys brought prices in the $30k range. Second, and more important, the ’80s, ’90s, and 2000s have come on strong as well. Reference a ’91 Camaro 1LE that brought more than $25k at Barrett (see “One to Watch” on p. 98), or the 2000 Mustang Cobra R that made $41,800 at Russo and Steele. There’s a shift in the market that’s re- ally come into focus, and that’s a greater number of younger buyers buying the cars they always wanted. These are the guys driving up prices on Fox-body Mustangs, and throwing down money on square-body Chevrolet trucks. I can’t say cars from these generations were instrumental in driving this year’s prices up significantly, but I will say that they seemed to have more of an impact this year than ever before. Shifting interests The thing is, while one part of the market can see growth, another section can experience slowing. It’s only natural. One of the biggest topics of discussion during this year’s ACC seminar Q&A session was the role of the younger audience in today’s collector car world. From where I stood, the room seemed split between forecasting a continued healthy market and a prediction of doom for values of traditional collector cars — cars such as Tri-Five Chevrolets — as younger interests take hold. I thought about this a lot, especially later that afternoon as I was searching BarrettJackson’s tents for the one car I really wanted to see: the “Two Lane Blacktop” ’55 Chevrolet (profiled on p. 50). Like Dad’s old ’56, this car has always been an icon for me, and I couldn’t resist the chance to see it up close. The “Two-Lane” car had a crowd around it when I got there, including people like myself, who were too young to have been around when these cars were cheap. In general, Tri-Fives have been priced out of the realm of affordability for young collectors for quite some time, but that’s starting to change, and it seems like it’s happening at the same rate our 5.0 Mustangs are seeing appreciation. This year, we saw the median price on Tri-Fives drop $10k in Scottsdale compared with last year, meaning more cheaper cars sold. Values for cars like Dad’s old ’56, sitting proud on a pair of pie-crust slicks, are starting to come down. Eventually, they’ll be priced at a rate close enough for the next gen to touch. But I don’t think that means they’ll ever bottom out. The one thing you can always count on, be it in the car market or anywhere else, is change. And while houses are built, burned, knocked down, and replaced with new ones, so too do tastes and icons shift. But a car guy’s hot ticket doesn’t always go cold — especially if “Two-Lane,” “American Graffiti,” and the power of lesser legends like Dad’s old ’55 Chev have anything to do with it. I know I’ll own one someday, and someday may be sooner than I think. A MARKET INTERESTS ARE SHIFTING, BUT ICONS ARE FOREVER

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WHAT’SHAPPENING Let us know about your events Do you know of American-car-related events or happenings that we should publicize? Contact us at: American Car Collector, P.O. Box 4797, Portland, OR 97208 or online at comments@ americancarcollector.com. Courtesy of the LeMay—America’s Car Museum Ford F-series and Route 66 at LeMay Two icons of America — the Ford F-series truck and Route 66 — take over the LeMay—America’s Car Museum this spring. “Ford F-Series: The Truck That Grew Up with America” marks 13 generations of Ford trucks from 1948 to 2015. The exhibition shows how a truck that was designed as a work tool also became a family vehicle. Plenty of great trucks are on display at the museum in Tacoma, WA. On March 27, the “Route 66: Dream of the Mother Road” exhibit will shift to vintage station wagons. “The station wagon is the ultimate roadtrip car, which makes it appropriate to highlight in our exhibit dedicated to the most famous highway in the United States,” said Scot Keller, chief curator. The station wagons will take center stage until June 30. For more information on LeMay—America’s Car Museum, log onto www.lemaymuseum.org 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 22 to 26. This is one of the biggest events of the year on the East Coast, and it’s a great way to shake off winter. 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 be on sale in the car corral. If those offerings aren’t enough, the Carlisle Auction at the Carlisle Expo Center will run more than 300 cars across the block. www.carsatcarlisle.com 12 AmericanCarCollector.com Goodguys on the road Goodguys burns rubber all over the map during March and April. The Goodguys Sixth Spring Nationals takes place March 13–15 at WestWorld in Scottsdale, AZ, and the fifth Spring Lone Star Nationals rumbles to life in Fort Worth, TX, from March 20 to 22. The 33rd All American Get-Together is March 28–29 in Pleasanton, CA, and the Goodguys Meguiar’s 15th Del Mar Nationals is April 10–12 in Del Mar, CA. No excuses for those lucky enough to live in California during the early spring! www.good-guys.com Pomona Swap Meet Picture 30,000 people, 15 miles of car parts, and hundreds of American hot rods, muscle cars and Detroit Iron behemoths gleaming under the Southern California sun. The massive Pomona Swap Meet brings our version of paradise to life on March 1 and April 19 at the Fairplex in Pomona, CA. This is one of the best swapmeets on the planet, and it all takes place in the cradle of American hot-rodding. www.pomonaswapmeet.comA

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CROSSINGTHE Upcoming auctions (Images are courtesy of the respective auction houses unless otherwise noted) BLOCK Vicari — Chattanooga 2015 Where: Chattanooga, TN When: March 13–14 by Tony Piff Featured cars: • 1974 Plymouth Duster with built 440-ci V8, 727 automatic with manual valve body, 3.55 Posi rear end • 1968 Plymouth Fury III convertible Star Car: 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1, with one owner until June of 2014 More: www.vicariauction.com Star Car: 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302 with Marti report offered at GAA Greensboro, NC MArCh GAA — Classic Cars at the Palace Where: Greensboro, NC When: March 5–7 Featured cars: • 1940 Ford Deluxe opera coupe. Early Ford V8 Club Dearborn Award winner More: www.gaaclassiccars.com Star Car: 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302 with Marti Report • 1956 Chevrolet Nomad. 500 miles since $150k nut-and-bolt restoration Smith’s Auction Company Where: Cape Girardeau, MO When: March 6–7 More: www.smithsauctioncompany.com Specialty Auto Auctions — Spring 2015 Loveland Colorado Where: Loveland, CO When: March 7 More: www.saaasinc.com Bonhams — The Amelia Island Auction Where: Amelia Island, FL When: March 12 Hollywood Wheels — The Amelia Island Select Where: Amelia Island, FL When: March 12–15 Silver Auctions — Arizona in the Spring When: March 13–14 Where: Fort McDowell, AZ More: www.silverauctions.com Featured cars: • 1954 Buick Skylark convertible • 1947 Mercury custom convertible by George Barris More: www.theelectricgarage.com Electric Garage — Red Deer Collector Car Auction & Speed Show Where: Red Deer, AB, CAN When: March 13–15 Featured cars: Star car: 2009 Shelby GT500 Super Snake Prudhomme Edition • 1968 Mercury Cougar XR-7 RM Auctions — Automobiles of Amelia Island When: March 14 Where: Amelia Island, FL Last year: 88/91 cars sold / $36m More: www.seeyouontheblock.com Star Car: 1965 Chevrolet Corvette 327/300 “Big Tank” coupe. Leather interior, teak steering wheel, matching numbers Gooding & Company — The Amelia Island Auction Where: Amelia Island, FL When: March 13 Last year: 78/88 cars sold / $31m Featured cars: • 1912 Peerless Model 60 Runabout, ex-Craven Collection More: www.bonhams.com 14 AmericanCarCollector.com Featured cars: • 1948 Kurtis Kraft midget racer (Gooding estimate: $45k–$65k) • 1911 EMF Model “30” Factory Racer Star Car: 1932 Stutz DV-32 Super Bearcat with coachwork by Weymann, ex-Fred Simeone More: www.goodingco.com ($200k–$300k) Star Car: 1925 Ahrens-Fox NS4 fire truck ($250k–$350k) • 1932 Ford roadster, formerly the property of Jack Kukura Featured cars: • 1958 Pontiac Bonneville sport coupe, highly optioned with Tri-Power 300-ci V8 and Trans-Portable radio, formerly part of the Milhous Collection • 1954 Chevrolet Corvette, highly original, numbers-matching More: www.rmauctions.com Star Car: 1953 Chevrolet Corvette, #27 of 300 first-year cars, restored by Corvette expert Mecum — 25th Annual Antique Motorcycle Auction Where: Las Vegas, NV When: March 20–21 More: www.mecum.com

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CROSSINGTHEBLOCK Star Cars: 1969 Dodge hemi Daytona and 1970 plymouth hemi Superbird at Mecum houston Southern Classic — 41st Semi-Annual Music City Spring Classic Where: Murfreesboro, TN When: March 21 Last year: 81/157 cars sold / $1.4m More: www.dankruseclassics.com AprIL • 1960 Chevrolet Impala convertible More: www.southernclassicauctions.com Featured cars: • 1969 Dodge Dart 440 • 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Indy Pace Car convertible Auctions America — Collector Cars of Fort Lauderdale Where: Fort Lauderdale, FL When: March 27–29 Last year: 355/493 cars sold / $20.8m Featured cars: • 1966 Shelby GT350, offered from more than four decades of single ownership; equipped with factory 4-speed, a/c, radio, power brakes, original engine, factory sheet metal and Shelby/Cragar wheels (Auctions America estimate: $150k–$200k) Mecum — Houston 2015 Where: Houston, TX When: April 9–12 Last year: 682/967 cars sold / $33.6m Star Cars: 1969 Dodge Hemi Daytona and 1970 Plymouth Hemi Superbird More: www.mecum.com Electric Garage Where: Edmonton, AB, CAN When: April 10–12 More: www.theelectricgarage.com The Branson Auction Where: Branson, MO When: April 17–18 Last year: 118/207 cars sold / $2.2m More: www.bransonauction.com • “Shorty,” a one-of-a-kind 1964½ Ford Mustang III factory prototype, offered from 47 years of ownership ($400k– $600k) Barrett-Jackson — Palm Beach 2015 Where: Palm Beach, FL When: April 17–19 Last year: 511/514 cars sold / $24.6m Featured cars: • 1957 Ford Thunderbird E-code convertible More: www.barrett-jackson.com More: www.auctionsamerica.com Star Car: 1968 Chevrolet Corvette L71 427/435 convertible, repainted in period-correct lacquer Rally Red, with rebuilt numbers-matching drivetrain, matching date codes throughout and tank sticker ($90k–$110k) Dan Kruse Classics — San Antonio 2015 Where: San Antonio, TX When: March 28 16 AmericanCarCollector.com • 1966 Chevrolet Corvette 427 coupe Star Car: 1961 Chevrolet Corvette Leake — Dallas Spring 2015 Where: Dallas, TX When: April 17–19 Last year: 248/385 cars sold / $5.5m More: www.leakecar.com Mecum — Kansas City 2015 Where: Kansas City, MO When: April 23–25 Last year: 359/578 cars sold / $8.3m Featured cars: • 1972 Chevrolet Corvette coupe, 9,919 miles • 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air hard top Star Car: 1968 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396, with factory build sheet and matching numbers; possibly the most highly optioned L78 built More: www.mecum.com Silver — Portland Spring 2015 Where: Portland, OR When: April 24–25 Last year: 73/111 cars sold / $918k More: www.silverauctions.com Worldwide Auctioneers — The Houston Classic Where: Montgomery, TX When: April 25 Last year: 74/94 cars sold / $6.6m Featured cars: • 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Fuelie “pilot car” convertible, featuring many pre-production prototype parts and hand-laid fiberglass • 1967 Shelby GT350 Supercharged fastback, fully documented convertible, frame-off restored to factory specs with $30k paint job More: www.worldwide-auctioneers.com Star Car: 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, with original, numbers-matching drivetrain and all-original sheet metal, restored to national show level Specialty Auto Auctions — Denver in the Spring 2015 Where: Brighton, CO Where: April 25 More: www.saaasinc.com Southern Classic — Inaugural Louisville Classic Where: Jeffersonville, IN When: April 25 More: www.southernclassicauctions.comA

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Publisher’s Note Keith Martin A Gearing up for a fantasy collection t Barrett-Jackson, we shot 32 cars for upcoming episodes of “What’s My Car Worth.” I got a chance to drive a mouth-watering selection of American supercars, which included a 1969 Yenko Camaro, a 1970 Chevelle LS6, a 1970 Shelby GT500, a 1968 GT500 KR, a 1969 Camaro 396/375 convertible, a 1969 Trans Am, a 1969 Corvette L89 and a 1968 Corvette L88. All those cars in one garage would make a pretty nice collection. As I went from one car to the next, I began to understand the similarities and the differences between them. The two things that I noticed immediately with each car were the rear-axle ratio, and the size of the cockpit and the seating position. As these were muscle cars and designed for straight-line perfor- mance, the installed gears were either 4.11s or 3.73s. While the 4.11s had superior off-the-line performance, they just made the cars too buzzy for casual use. Getting to many cruise-ins requires 50 or 100 miles of freeway travel. The 3.73 is just a much better ratio for general all-around driving, while still providing some grunt at launch. I found that I much preferred the feeling of the cockpits of the Camaros, Mustangs and Firebirds to the feeing of the A-body Chevelles. Granted, the Chevelle is a much larger car, but I felt lost inside of it. The pony cars had a more intimate feeling, providing the combination of a small car with a big engine. My choice at the end of the day? Well, it was close. Both the 1969 Camaro 396/375 convertible and the ’68 Shelby GT500 KR convertible ticked all the boxes. But if I had to pick just one, put the Shelby in my driveway. Those big scoops on the hood will get me every time. A CAR COLLECTOR Volume 4, Number 2 March-April 2015 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 Senior Associate Editor Chad Tyson Copy Editors Yael Abel, Dave Tomaro Auction Analysts B. Mitchell Carlson Kevin Coakley Pat Campion Dale Novak Adam Blumenthal Michael Leven Cody Tayloe Contributors Carl Bomstead Colin Comer John Draneas Michael Pierce Jay Harden Mark Wigginton Information Technology Brian Baker Lead Web Developer Scott Correy SEO Consultant Michael Cottam Advertising and Events Manager Erin Olson Financial Manager Cheryl Ann Cox print Media Buyer Wendie Martin ADVErTISING SALES Advertising Executives Darren Frank darren.frank@AmericanCarCollector.com 877.219.2605 x 214 Cindy Meitle cindy.meitle@AmericanCarCollector.com 877.219.2605 x 213 Steve Kittrell steve.kittrell@AmericanCarCollector.com 877.219.2605 x 211 SuBSCrIpTIONS Subscriptions Manager Sarah Willis 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 A difficult choice: 1969 Chevrolet Camaro 396/375 ... Email help@AmericanCarCollector.com Feedback comments@AmericanCarCollector.com Web www.AmericanCarCollector.com Daniel Grunwald Jack Tockston Norm Mort Phil Skinner John Boyle Doug Schultz B. Mitchell Carlson Ken Gross Tom Glatch John L. Stein Marshall Buck Dale Novak AMERICAN JOIN US ... but the 1968 Shelby GT500 Kr wins by a nose 18 AmericanCarCollector.com American Car Collector magazine (ISSN# 2164-1323) is published bimonthly by Automotive Investor Media Group, 401 NE 19th Street, Suite 100, Portland, OR 97232. pOSTMASTEr: Send address changes to American Car Collector, PO Box 4797, Portland, OR 97208. The information in American Car Collector magazine is compiled from a variety of reliable sources. However, we disclaim and deny any responsibility or liability for the timeliness, use, interpretation, accuracy and completeness of the information presented. All material, data, formats, and intellectual concepts in this issue © 2015 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 Keith Martin's

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GOODREADS by Mark Wigginton Art of the Corvette by Randy Leffingwell and Tom Loeser, Motorbooks, 224 pages, $36.07 (Amazon) Seven generations of Corvettes, beautifully photographed, beautifully printed. You had me at “hello.” Randy Leffingwell and co-conspirator Tom Loeser focus their talents this time on the bestdamned sports car GM could make, and some of them were and are quite good. (We should admit that some were just awful as well.) In this collection of images of the history of Corvette (supported by a dusting of text), Art of the Corvette treats them all as if they were belles of the ball — even the ugly stepsisters. Leffingwell uses the technique of “light painting” to create stunning images of 24 different cars, spanning 60 years of design, from the 1953 C1 Corvette through to the 2014 C7 Stingray coupe. Each of the cars is shot in full side profile, three-quarter front and rear views, plus some details of interior and engine compartments. Layering multiple discrete shots created each printed image. The results are stunning. Beautiful highlights showcase the lovely lines, the flow of a fender, the subtle design cues that translated from pen to clay to final car. Of course, they also reveal some hideous, factory-direct fit-and-finish issues, such as door gaps a small child could fall through. But it’s hard to complain about little things when presented with page after page of wonderful cars. The 1953 gives way to the ’55 V8, the ’57 Fuelie, the ’63 Sting Ray and on and on and on. With only 24 cars, some fans will quibble over which cars were included and which were left out. For instance, the images are all street cars, and several of the included cars were once Zora Arkus-Duntov’s personal kit. They have history, sure, but may not be the best examples of the specific model. And ignoring the rich racing heritage of Corvette was clearly a specific choice, opening the door for a sequel. I can’t wait. PARTSTIME by Chad Tyson Lineage: Plenty of Corvettes have gone before Randy Leffingwell’s cameras, and here he had access to some of the finest examples of the brand. Fit and finish: The text is short and sweet, but hardly groundbreaking. But this is a coffee-table book, not history, and the images show real mastery of technique. The printing, on quality paper, is beautiful and rich, and the design supports rather than distracts from the images. Drivability: Two careers ago, I managed newspaper photographers. Or, rather, they managed me. I learned how exacting and exhausting studio work is compared with the “f/8 and be there” school of six-assignments-aday newspaper work. And I learned about artistry. Randy Leffingwell is an artist working at a high level, painting with light rather than a brush. You may come to Art of the Corvette for the cars, but you will be rewarded by much more. is best New products to modernize your street machine royal purple Max Atomizer Fuel Injector Cleaner More and more later-model 1968 Dodge Dart headlamp bezels Completing the finishing details is often the hardest part of the job, whether it’s molding on the gazebo or finding the last bit of trim for your ’68 Dodge Dart’s restoration. Let Classic Industries fill the gap around your headlamps with these Mopar Authentic Restoration® bezels. They’re offered in right-hand and left-hand sides, formed out of stamped aluminum with painted black accents, just as they originally came from the factory. They’re inexpensive, too, at $74.99 per side. Click over to classicindustries.com or call 800-854-1280. 20 AmericanCarCollector.com fuel-injected cars are starting to see collector status in the market, and those cars have special needs that your old carbureted truck doesn’t. Royal Purple is here to help. Their new Max Atomizer™ Fuel-Injector Cleaner is designed for today’s direct-injection engines, but works with any type of fuel injection, be it gasoline or diesel. The second-mostimportant aspect is that Max Atomizer is the only fuel cleaner that stabilizes ethanol, which helps save your engine from a multitude of ailments. Available at your nearest Royal Purple products dealer. Learn more online at www.royalpurpleconsumer.com.A

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COOLSTUFF Diaper for your engine These premium-quality engine diapers from Stroud keep fluids and loose parts contained, protecting the drag strip, your car, and your life. For sportsman racers, the ballistic nylon diaper ($535) is SFI7.1-approved. For pros, the Kevlar version ($1,045) is SFI7.2-approved. Available to fit a variety of engine and oil-pan configurations. www. summitracing.com Engine for the diapered driver Get them started young! This play set features remov air filter, spark plugs, tires, rad tor, struts, dipstick, brakes, a tools to get it a done. Turn the k and the machin roars to life wi electronic soun flip-up headlig and blinking tu signals. $100 f www.genuin hotrod.com. by Tony Piff Magnet clip Need to secure some floppy cables and dangling wires? Mag Daddy’s cable holder secures them and magne cally attaches to any me surface (well, not alumi without drilling. Installa is instant. $13 for a four rated to 15 pounds each summitracing.com No more mice Fresh Cab Rodent Repellent keeps pests away from your collector car. The pouch contains a blend of botanical material with a fragrance that mice and rats do not like. That means no more chewed wires, mouse nests or stinky, bloody carcasses to clean up. Have a barn full of cars? Place one pouch every 125 square feet, and replace every 90 days. You can even sign up for auto-shipments. $59 for a 12-pack, $179 for a 36-pack. www. earthkind.com DESKTOPCLASSICS by Marshall Buck 1971 Buick riviera boattail Redesigned for 1971, the Boattail Riv is another car that fits into the “polarizing design” category. You either love it or hate it. True Scale Models brings us this Riviera. Lots of chrome, most fitted well, and interior detailing along with overall fit and finish is good. The three available color combinations each highlight various good and bad points of the model. The all-critical body shape is somewhat off in all areas, but most noticeable when viewing the profile. Wheels and tires look great, but unfortunately are too small. TSM makes so many different models, and not enough attention was given to this one. It should have been better, but it does come supplied in a nice display case. 22 AmericanCarCollector.com Detailing Scale: 1:43 Available colors: Regal Black; Stratomist Blue with white roof; Vintage Red with white roof Quantity: Many, perhaps 3,000 (1,000 of each color or more) Price: $75 Production date: 2011–13 Web: www.tsm-models.com Ratings Detailing: Accuracy: Overall quality: Overall value: is best

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SNAPSHOTS The pratte Collection brings over $40.4m at Barrett-Jackson BLUE-CHIP AMERICANA real-estate developer ron pratte amassed more than 100 pieces of exemplary American iron for his collection by Sam Stockham photos by Jim Pickering European works of art that bring headline money, it was instead made up of blue-chip Americana, bookended by the high-profile purchases of the Futurliner bus and the Shelby Super Snake. Between those two cars was a middle ground made up of the likes of Yenko, Shelby and Coddington. I The big buzz The Saturday night capacity crowd at Barrett-Jackson was there to witness history. Thousands of bidders and spectators counted down the lot numbers until the celebrity vehicles everyone came to see took center stage. Price speculation was all over the board, with some expressing opinions of lofty numbers nearing eight figures for the Super Snake. Since the proceeds from the sale of the Futurliner had been designated for Mr. Pratte’s favorite charity, many thought that might bring nearly double the $3.2m that he paid back in 2006, as think we can all agree that the sale of the Ron Pratte Collection was the highlight of this auction season in Scottsdale. I was fortunate enough to tour the collection prior to its being transported to the tents of the Barrett-Jackson auction, and it was impressive. While this collection easily could have been full of top-dollar generosity could play a part. The stars took the stage and bidding started feverishly, almost as if many just wanted bragging rights to say that they placed a bid. As the bids started nearing the price paid by Mr. Pratte, the Futurliner and the Super Snake seemed to inexplicably fall flat. Everyone on stage took turns chiming in to reignite the bidding crowd, but to no avail. In the end, the Futurliner managed $4m for charity, while the Super Snake ended in a lackluster high bid of $4.7m against a higher reserve. About 15 minutes later, Craig Jackson announced that the Super Snake had in fact sold post-block and found a new home in Texas. Many of Pratte’s other cars found new homes this year — and at top dollar. Case in point, the black 1970 Boss 429 offered as Lot 2518. A bid of $550,000 took it home, and while it was a beautiful car, that was a lot of money in today’s market. Pratte’s Shelby Mustangs were hot too, and most had personal connections to the man himself, which helped boost their value even further. When all was said and done, Pratte’s collection of cars and automobilia totaled just over $40.4m in sales, again underlining a well-known trend of boosted values in the market for cars that are dispersed from well-known and well-thought-out collections. Whether you agree with the prices paid here or not, this was one heck of a show, and it’s not something we’ll see again anytime soon. A 1966 Shelby Cobra Super Snake, a $5.1m sale 24 AmericanCarCollector.com The Futurliner brought $4m for charity

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SNAPSHOTS ACC writers and readers talk cars at Scottsdale Seminar INSIDERS’ INSIGHTS The ACC brain trust: B. Mitchell Carlson (from left), Carl Bomstead, Colin Comer and Jim pickering Tony Piff by Jim Pickering the Santangelo Group at Merrill Lynch, this year’s seminar consisted of all ACC contributors, including Colin Comer, Carl Bomstead, B. Mitchell Carlson, and yours truly. Comer’s keynote, “When to Restore, When to Modify,” dug into O the nuts and bolts of how to make informed decisions about making changes to classic American cars. “You only restore a car when it’s absolutely necessary,” Comer said. “There’s just something about the history of a good unrestored car. You kinda have to wait until you have to erase that.” But Comer thinks it’s okay to make your car suit your needs. “If you’re going to drive a car, there are things you can do… hidden tweaks and modern components that can be used inside of a restoration that won’t be detectable, but will certainly make the car a lot more fun.” His examples included speed-rated radial tires, balanced aluminum driveshafts, electronic ignitions and more. But as important as original cars and restorations are, a lot of n Wednesday morning of Arizona Auction week, about 100 ACC readers made their way through BarrettJackson’s expanse of tents and out to the Monterra restaurant for the eighth annual American Car Collector Insider’s Seminar. Sponsored by Barrett-Jackson, Meguiar’s, Reliable Carriers, and guys are embracing modifications, specifically Day Two upgrades. “It’s not a sin to do Day Two modifications if that’s what you like,” Comer said. “Day Two refers to… if you bought the car, on the second day you had the thing home, you’re taking the smog system off and putting on a 3-barrel Holley and an open air cleaner. Yenkos, Nickey Chicago, Baldwin-Motion cars… they all had Day Two modifications. We didn’t drive stock muscle cars. Guys want [these cars] now the way they were then.” Overall, the key, Comer said, is to buy what you like, as financial appreciation in the market is never a sure thing. The five to buy This year’s panel was tasked with picking the five cars to buy right now at five price points: $10k, $20k, $50k, $100k and $200k-plus. Our choices ranged from $10k 1980s Ford F-series 4x4 pickups and Broncos through $20k Fox-body Saleen Mustangs, $50k 1965 Buick Rivieras, $100k Hemi Road Runners, and $200k-plus ’65 Shelby GT350s. One of the more popular picks was B. Mitchell Carlson’s choice of a $50k 2012–13 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca Edition. “This will be the last solid-axle performance car,” Carlson said. “Everything else is four-wheel independent suspension. And the Boss 302 had it tuned to as good as you’ll ever have it. As I was researching it, I wasn’t able to find any for sale today under $50k. While they may dip in value, they’ll probably parallel the C4 ZR-1 Corvettes. Twenty years from now, they’ll be lined up out here [at the auction], still in the wrap, getting bid $50k to $60k perhaps… or maybe tanking at $20k. But I really think it’s one of those cars that… everybody laughed at the Ford GTs. Nobody’s laughing now.” From there, Comer held up his keys to show the room that he’d driven one in that morning, and agreed with all of Carlson’s points — adding that the 302 has actual race heritage, while a lot of other modern muscle does not. Later, we held an expanded Q&A session, and had an interesting discussion about the future of values, the hobby, and what the next generation is going to be interested in buying. A See what you missed Subscribers can go online to view our video of the presentation at www.americancar- collector.com. We’ll also be hosting another seminar next year, with dates, location and topic to be announced. Admission is always free to ACC subscribers. Watch this space for more, and sign up for the ACC Insider’s Newsletter, published every other Wednesday, for more information as it becomes available. Find it at www.americancarcollector.com. 26 AmericanCarCollector.com

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INSIDER’S VIEW Timing the market The ACC question: Scottsdale 2015 is in the books, and with $291.3m in sales out of this year’s six auctions, it was a record-breaker. By far the biggest news of the week was the sale of the Ron Pratte Collection, which totaled $40.4m. And from that very public sale came the biggest question of the week — is it time to buy or time to sell? Ron Pratte has been a longtime Barrett- Jackson buyer, and for the past few years, he’s been the man behind some of the company’s highest profile and most expensive sales. To see all these cars come back to sale again caused a lot of bidders to wonder if Mr. Pratte knows something about the market that they don’t. Say you’ve got a nice ’70 Hemi ’Cuda that you’d like to sell. Is now the time to move it down the road, or would you hold it for a while longer to see if the market level rises higher? On the other hand, say you want to buy a Hemi ’Cuda. Would you act right now or wait six months? Why? What if the car in question was a base- level ’68 Firebird or low-mile ’75 Chevrolet pickup? Would you treat those differently? Is it time to buy or time to sell? Readers respond: Wayne Graefen, via ACC Blog: Taking Pratte at his word as reported elsewhere, he has had fun with collector cars and enjoys the challenge of creating a new collection of something different. There are always huge collections coming up for sale. They make a blip in the long-term market. We thought selling off Harrah’s would destroy our world. It didn’t. Slugo, in reply to Graefen, via ACC Blog: I agree, and although Pratte may have been one of the highest-profile collectors in the last few years, he also appears to be the type of person that moves on from whatever he’s doing after fulfilling his goals. He did the same with his highly suc- through the gloomy shadows over the past five to seven years, then yes! It’s a good time to sell. If you are in a position to purchase your dream car, it’s a good time to pick out a well-documented, recentlyrestored example and enjoy it while the market continues to rebound. The sale of Ron Pratte’s collection was no surprise and most likely cessful business. He built it up, sold it and moved on. Was it a fluke he sold his business before real estate crashed? Who knows, maybe he has a sixth sense, or most likely it just worked out that way. I don’t see car collecting taking a nosedive, and who cares if it “With record-setting sales and sell-through ratios coming out of Arizona, we may be looking at one of the best seasons for both sellers and smart buyers in many years” does? Worst case is collectors would be stuck with some nice cars, or else you’ll now be able to jump in and buy some nice ones for reduced prices. What could be better? Danny May, via ACC Blog: If you held off selling and weathered 28 AmericanCarCollector.com had nothing to do with the current economy and was certainly not influenced by any notion that the collector car market has hit a plateau. With record-setting sales and sell-through ratios coming out of Arizona, we may be looking at one of the best seasons for both sellers and smart buyers in many years. Bill Davis, via email: The market is cresting, but I don’t expect any significant downward correction. I own numerous collectible vintage cars and am considering slimming down due to age and energy, but don’t have any economic pressure to do so. So in reality I am holding onto my collector-car assets because I don’t expect any loss in value. This is sort of easy for me to say because most of what I own has experienced significant appreciation over the past five years and I expect it to continue, albeit at a slower pace. I anticipate that the only segment to continue to significantly appreciate is the “best of the best.” I’m not in that category. Everything Crowdsourcing 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. Jim Pickering

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else I expect will either hold steady or appreciate at less-thanspectacular levels. Todd Duhnke, Wichita, KS: I don’t think it’s either time to sell or time to buy unless you have a personal reason or desire to do so. Going forward, growth in values may not be as meteoric as in the past few years, but there is still plenty of demand out there, as evidenced by recent auction results. We Baby Boomers still have many car hobby enjoyment years left, and I was impressed by watching Barrett-Jackson on TV as to how many Generation X and Generation Y “kids” were buying cars. I’m 62 and have no inclination to sell my five collector cars anytime soon, three of which I’ve owned since the mid-’70s. Jay Parrish, via email: I am led to believe now is the time to thin out some of the cars in collections. I hope that with low fuel prices and a gaining interest of new collectors, the market will allow for some entry and enjoyment. I hope that if that happens, it will continue to add breath to this hobby that I love so much. Yes, if you have an L88 Corvette, you should still be able to buy that vacation home in Florida with the sale — but maybe not a Brownstone in Manhattan. Bob Cox, via email: No matter what the commodity or market one is invested in, it is almost impossible to predict what the high or low point of the market will be. There are two factors that an investor has to consider when decid- ing if this is a good time to sell or hold: 1. The cost of the item when it was acquired is a very important part of the equation. If an investor has a commodity that was really purchased “right,” then the question becomes, “How much do I want to make?” 2. If the asset in question is producing a return on that invest- ment, i.e. rent, royalties, dividends etc., then the investor can ponder whether he wants to give up that cash flow. Cars have NO cash flow, only expenses such as storage, insurance, batteries, tires, potential rodent damage, keeping powertrains running periodically, etc. A “collection” of older vehicles can be a royal pain in the ass, not to mention expensive to maintain. If the owner has no personal identity or ties to a vehicle, the decision is much easier to make. I am a former Chrysler dealer. In 1970, as the youngest franchised Chrysler-Plymouth dealer in the U.S., my personal demonstrator was a red/black Hemi ’Cuda with 4-speed, 4.10 Track Pack, etc. I sold it Tony Piff for invoice to get it out the door. I later regretted not keeping it, but if one uses the value of that $4,800 for the past 45 years at compound interest, I could buy multiple Hemi ’Cudas today with the money. Even though I own eight collector cars today, I NEVER consider them an investment. I own them because I like them, have fun driving them and want them. Mike, via email: It is my opinion that it is time to buy. It must be a good-quality original car/truck from 1955 through 1972 and you will not get hurt (no resto-rods). Make sure you know the market/ price for the car you are buying. With money earning zero percent interest and more Baby Boomers retiring, now is the time to buy. Hard assets will always be a good bet if you know what you are buying. As the old man once told me, they aren’t making any more. Dave Mahoning, northeast Ohio: I’ve only been in the “game” for 50-plus years, as a collector, restorer and dealer. I foresee values maintaining, with occasional adjustments, in a positive way, especially with lower gas prices, lower dollar value and lack of luster in bank rates, and a stock market that is unpredictable! Having a hard asset that you can enjoy and not pay yearly tax on its (hopeful) appreciation is a GOOD thing! Route 66 Pub Co., via ACC Blog: We can’t predict prices of cars or stocks. But good-quality classics will always be in demand. Buy smart and without emotion, and you’ll come out ahead. A Comments with your subscription renewals We love to hear from our readers, and here’s what some of you had to say when you re-upped your subscriptions. Thank you! This is the best collector car magazine I have ever read! Keep up the great work! — Brian Griffiths, Lancaster, CA Would like 12 issues/year. Cover more car shows/swapmeets. — Adam Harden, McConnellsville, NY Like your magazine. Would like to see even more coverage on authentic hot rods, not street rods. — Dennis Le Kander, Coeur D’Alene, ID Jim Pickering responds: You’re in luck, Dennis. We’re working on one for the next issue. Evaluate late-model collect- ible cars in guide, e.g. Shelby GT500. — Anthony Klein, Charlotte, NC You’re doing a fine job on auction coverage and vehicle info. Lots of good work. — Joe Rino, San Bernardino, CA Please make ACC a monthly publication. Why do we play second to SCM? I’m sure most ACC subscribers would welcome more timely and just more coverage. — Todd Sallay, Tinley Park, IL Thank you for your hard work and dedication. — Jerry McGrann, Hayden, ID More on Shelby Mustangs! — H.R. Herrmann, Tulsa, OK What about some stories on salvage-yard cars and trucks, $500–$4,000 range, things that can still be saved? We are not all rich! I have to work for a living. Thank you. — Stephen Benedict, Newport, VT Crack wise like the old days! — Dru Diesner, Libertyville, IL Comment most on the muscle cars most of us have; the common ’Cudas, Challengers, Camaros, Corvettes, Chevelles, and AMXs. It’s great to hear about that portion of the market that is in the stratosphere once in awhile, but honestly, I wonder what my #3 gear is worth…. Thanks for a wellthought-out magazine. — Mark Hoffman, Black River Falls, WI Please include more content directed at younger collectors… if you want the hobby to continue for years to come, we need to feel included. — Michael Casson, Hinsdale, IL Jim Pickering responds: We hear you, Michael, and we’re working on it. Look for more profiles of lessexpensive cars and ’80s and ’90s performance models. March-April 2015 29

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FEATUREARIZONA AUCTION WEEK BUY SELL LOW, HIGH, FUN “W HAVE SAVVY SHOPPERS FIND THE PROFIT MARGIN AT EVERY PRICE POINT Story and photos by Tony Piff e know what we’re doing. We’re tryin’ to steal something,” said Jim Best of Chicago, IL, scrutinizing a gleaming yellow Shelby GT500 replica in the Barrett-Jackson staging lanes. Buyers, sellers and wide-eyed tire-kickers swarmed past, and a boozy, country-rock soundtrack filtered through the evening air. “When you get emotionally attached to something, it’s hard to get out from under it.” What was Best shopping for? His son Joe answered, “Whatever makes money.” Whether your price point has three zeros or six, the principle doesn’t change: You have to buy low and sell high. At Arizona Auction Week 2015, thousands of smart bidders shopped hard, and sellers came out ahead when they rolled the dice at the right venue. Rob Avati from Long Island, NY, crawled underneath a purple 1970 Dodge Challenger 440 with a palm-sized flashlight. “I’d probably bid $40k for it,” he said, standing up. “It’ll probably bring $60k. I buy it, usually keep it for a year, sell it. I always buy ’em done. It doesn’t pay to restore.” He pointed to a blue 1970 Challenger R/T 440 Six Pack. “I’d pay $50k for that one.” 30 AmericanCarCollector.com Barrett-Jackson’s near-endless supply of eye-grabbers included this 1957 Chevrolet Bel 1970 Dodge Challenger 440 and 1970 Challenger r/T 440 Six pack at Barrett-Jackson

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Air resto-mod An array of offerings at Silver glint in the desert sun March-April 2015 31

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FEATUREARIZONA AUCTION WEEK Silver always has its fair share of head-turners, such as this 1978 pontiac Trans Am Twenty minutes later, the purple car hammered sold at $66k, and the blue car went for $83k. “Too much money,” Avati said. “I hate to overpay. Can’t sleep for days if that happens.” Darrel Henderson of Randall, IA, spent the past year restoring a 1967 Chevrolet Camaro. “I build one every couple years,” he said. “It’s what we do in the winter. Bring it out here ’cause there’s more money. I’m hoping to get $30ish.” Henderson and his wife, Linda, accompanied their no-reserve Camaro onstage before a crowd of thousands. When bidding finished at $40k, the couple shared a euphoric embrace. “That was my number,” Henderson said. “I didn’t want to say. There’s a little money to be made if you buy ’em right. I paid $17k, worked on it for a year. More labor than money. It’s kind of a second job for me. But it is fun.” Silver and gold A blazing sunset silhouetted the low, mountainous horizon of Saguaro cacti 15 miles east of town at Silver’s Fort McDowell auction. Silver felt a world away from the Scottsdale bustle, but inside the tent, the atmosphere was electric. Lights flashed on a spinning disco ball each time the reserve came off. A hot-rodded 1972 Chevelle wagon rumbled slowly toward the tent. Mike Manning from Oakland, CA, hoped to get $25k for it. “We love Silver,” he said. “Silver treats us like gold. They get a ton of buyers.” Bidding for the muscle wagon petered out at $16,750, but Manning stuck to his reserve. He knows the car will find a buyer soon. “I like to come here ’cause the cars are a little more reasonably priced,” said Bill Hendry from Scottsdale. “At Barrett-Jackson, you’re gonna pay more, in my opinion. This is a good place for the entrylevel buyer to not have to pay the big money to get into the car. I’m looking for a deal.” Tom Souter from Lubbock, TX, hadn’t seen many deals. He’d been watching the sale for two days. “So far prices have seemed a little rich,” he said. Upscale elegance Across town inside the Gooding & Company auction tent, well- heeled international collectors sipped cocktails and strolled the 126 carefully arranged consignments. The domestic iron stood proud amid million-dollar European sports cars. “David Gooding has a reputation for independent vetting,” said Bill Scheffler of Palm Springs, CA. He hovered near his 1966 Shelby GT350 H. “You can buy with some faith that what you see is what you get. If you’ve got a good car, it’s a great place to sell.” The crowd at Gooding may be more into vintage Ferraris and Porsches than American muscle, but Scheffler clearly made a good call bringing his car there. Saturday afternoon, his Shelby sold for $176k, beating its $140k–$160k estimate.A Jim Pickering 1967 Dodge Coronet 440 r/T at Gooding & Company 32 AmericanCarCollector.com 1967 and ’68 Yenko Super Camaros at Gooding & Company

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Cheap Thrills B. Mitchell Carlson HOT DEALS is best): Photos by B. Mitchell Carlson except where noted 1956 Studebaker Sky Hawk coupe rM Lot 165, VIN 7811411, sold for $19,250 I expected this car to do much better. Granted, it’s not the top of the pecking order of Hawks, but it’s second only to the Golden Hawk for ’56 and does have a V8 under the hood — unlike the bottom-rung Flight Hawk with a Champion flathead six. In comparison, Silver sold a 1956 Golden Hawk with dual-quad induction for $32,670. Sure, this wasn’t a stellar show car, but RM doesn’t tend to offer clunkers, either. Part of the Art Astor Collection for a while, it was recently touched up but retains the essence of not having been taken apart. I’d say this one was very well bought. Cheap: Thrilling: (especially if you’re a Life Member of the Studebaker Drivers Club) Well-bought factor: 108 ½-ton passenger van Gooding Lot 150, VIN GS168p127275, sold for $9,900 Who are we trying to kid? It’s an old work van. Granted, it was used at the local Phoenix Dragways back in the day as a crew van, but it’s not like it was owned by a famous racer or race team — or not famous racer or race team. Once you get beyond Indy Pace Cars, track-support vehicles take a pretty steep decline in value. In general, we’re talking maybe a 10% kick beyond the standard value as a regular-issue vintage truck. And these second-generation Chevy vans are — and will always be — second fiddle to the first-generation vans based on the Corvair. Had this been a 1961–65 Greenbrier, this would have been a better buy. As a Nova-based box with windows and seats, this was all the money. 34 AmericanCarCollector.com 1968 Chevrolet SportVan The market speaketh, silly $30k to $40k pre-sale estimate be damned. Cheap: Thrilling: (unless you’ve always aspired to be a shuttle bus driver) Well-bought factor: 1948 International KB-8 semi tractor with circa 1950 horse trailer Bonhams Lot 100B, VIN KBS812425, sold for $6,050 Prior to the sale, I figured the only other cheap contender here was the other old truck — a 1948 Peterbilt with a Hall-Scott gasoline engine, which eventually fetched $37,400 — more than several cars. Thing was, while the IH was driven off the transport when it was delivered, the Peterbilt was dead as a smelt due to flat batteries. A pair of 6-volts delivered from the local NAPA and draining standing water out of the twin-ignition distributor on the 1,096-cubic-inch Hall-Scott was enough to get it lit off, and the sound of that 1,096-ci engine running likely boosted its bottom line. The Red Diamond 361 six in the KB-8 (actually, it is really a in the desert THE THIRD ANNUAL BOTTOM-LOOKING-UP REVIEW OF THE ARIZONA AUCTIONS Everyone in the collector car world is analyzing the data from the Arizona auctions in January to figure out this year’s rising stars. Everyone except cheapskates like me. As such, I present the third-annual review of the cheapest domestic-built road car sold at each one of the Arizona Auctions. As in previous years, I’ll rate each on if they were actually cheap, thrilling, and a good combination of all factors. Or just cheap, scary, and a money pit. So, here we go, from the most spent to the least (

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KBS-8, due to the 2-speed rear axle) was at least up and running, even if the rest of the truck was scruffy. Hailing from California, the rig was generally rust-free, but the tractor was definitely the better of the two units. It would be a relatively easy restoration — that is, if you know big trucks and know that it would have to pass a DOT inspection, as it’s rated at 30,000 GCVW. Too bad I was at the Silver auction when this was offered. Being an IH truck loony, this was so up my street it’s scary. Then again, I probably dodged a bullet here, since a set of six 10 x 20 tires costs at least half what was paid for the whole truck… let alone shipping it halfway across the country. Cheap: Thrilling: (especially if you are trying to learn how to split-shift the rear axle in traffic) Well-bought factor: Courtesy of Russo and Steele While these Big Birds were the antithesis of the original two- seaters, at least they aren’t the mechanical and electrical nightmares built from 1980 to 1983. Occasionally these will bring five-digit prices, but those cars’ odometer readings usually have four digits or less. This one is also helped in having the optional power-operated hole in the roof. The fan base for something like this may be far and few between, but in the long run, these should catch up with the rest of the predownsizing Luxobarges from the ’70s and start moving up in value. As such, I’ll call this one of the better buys of the weekend. Heck, if all else fails, yank the 460 V8 and C6 automatic and you’ll get your money back across the scale. Cheap: Thrilling: Well-bought factor: 1952 Dodge M-37 ¾-ton military truck Barrett-Jackson Lot 68, VIN 80024724, sold for $4,950 Truth be told, there was a three-way tie for the bottom at B-J — all selling on the first day — with the second and third cars sold also realizing this amount. One was Lot 2, a 1984 Cadillac Seville, and right behind was Lot 2.1, a 1981 AMC Concord coupe. Since both are sort of low-hanging fruit — and since I talked about early-’80s Sevilles a year ago — I’ll evoke editorial license and look at the milspec Dodge. Having owned a 1953 M-37 before, I know from experience that these make a 10-penny nail look complex and fragile. They were the most idiot-proof, rugged, cost-effective light combat truck in the history of U.S. armed forces. Sure, they are lousy on the highway, but off of it, they make mountain goats look clumsy. Ignoring a lot of the consignor’s creative lot description, this was a generally original truck that crosses into several different genres of collectibility: original “barn find,” solid candidate for a restoration, good trail-ride mount, and even a piece of Cold War-era militaria. Cost wise, this was in the range between reasonable and under the money. Cheap: Thrilling: (unless you tire of the local VFW post asking you to use it in Memorial Day and Veterans Day parades) Well-bought factor: 1974 Ford Thunderbird russo and Steele Lot SN804, VIN 4J87A133990, sold for $3,300 Russo has a diverse enough catalog that it’s hard to pick a winner in the least-selling category ahead of time. This time, I was blindsided by a two-way tie with a pair of Fords at $3,300: Lot SN808 was a 1962 Falcon sedan, and Lot SN804 was a 1974 T-bird. (unless you try to autocross it) Of the two, I’d pick the ’Bird, even if it does have an oh-so-1970s multi-blue striped cloth interior. Scarier yet, it even matches the suit I wore to my high school prom. 1991 Cadillac Brougham 4-door sedan Silver Lot 248, VIN 1G6CB51E0Mr501294, sold for $1,700 Silver is the value leader of the Arizona auctions. It also has the most diverse selection of them all. Selling as the last “fresh” car on Saturday night, this one goes to show that sometimes the best and the least go to those who wait. In this case, maybe not the best. While it ran well, this car was not prepped in any way. It wasn’t even run through the local car wash — and boy did it need it! Coated with a layer of dust on all surfaces, it looked like it just came out of impound. Maybe it did. It had a Luke AFB NCO-grade gate sticker on the windshield with a USMC decal beside it, so I’d guess that a Marine retiree had it. The paint wasn’t all that badly baked, and would be worth trying to buff out after getting a bath. All the trim had that fake 24-karat gold plating on it, which was heavily faded and worn. The seats were starting to show some splits, so it was far from being a pristine vessel for future preservation. While there is something of a following for these final big square rear-drive GMs, it’s akin to that ’74 T-bird: Loyalists are far and few between, and they are frugal. At least it wasn’t rollin’ on a set of 24s with spinners, but at this price, that’s a very likely future outcome. for you) Well-bought factor: A Cheap: Thrilling: (unless simulated velour is a turn-on March-April 2015 35

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Horsepower Colin Comer NEW YEAR A car guy’s THE CAR-COLLECTING HOBBY IS ALIVE AND WELL, AND 2015 PROMISES TO BE EVEN MORE EXCITING THAN 2014 with emcees Publisher Martin and SCM Contributing Editor Donald Osborne. Now in its second year, the concours, held at the Arizona Biltmore, remains one of the finest shows I have attended. The variety of the cars displayed, the venue and, most importantly, the people, make it a truly world-class event. What made it even better for me was being able to spend Sunday hanging out with my good friends Peter and Gayle Brock while we signed books and shared numerous tall tales. All true, of course. It was then on to Barrett-Jackson to witness people eating turkey legs the size of Pintos and most of the Ron Pratte Collection crossing the block on Tuesday. The house was packed and bidding was quite spirited. One interesting phenomenon I’ve been Don’t get any ideas, kid! Colin’s daughter remington takes a shine to Ford’s upcoming GT350 r on display at Barrett-Jackson W hile many people celebrate the New Year by wearing a ridiculous hat and consuming enough alcohol to kill a small horse, I think I can safely speak for all car collectors by saying we enjoy ringing in the New Year a little differently — by looking to the Arizona auctions for our own kind of celebration. For me, this particular January was even more of a car party than usual thanks to some events within the Scottsdale scene and beyond. From Vegas to Arizona It all started on January 9, the Friday before Auction Week. I was invited to a special media event at Shelby American in Las Vegas, where we were the first to see their new 50th Anniversary 427 Cobras and the new 627-horsepower 2015 Shelby GT. Both are impressive products, but more importantly, I am thrilled to see the continued enthusiasm for the Shelby brand and how relevant it continues to be in today’s high-performance car world. I’m also amazed at what the Shelby American team is doing in their impressive 135,000-squarefoot facility off the Las Vegas strip. It’s just a little different than that small first shop Ol’ Shel opened in Venice over five decades ago. If you’re in Vegas, do yourself a favor and take the tour. I then hustled my way back to Scottsdale for the Arizona Concours, where I was proud to be one of their honored guests, along 36 AmericanCarCollector.com watching is the prices of resto-mods and pro touring cars far exceeding those of many original examples of the cars they emulate. For example, within a few lot numbers of each other at Barrett-Jackson, I watched a bright yellow 1966 Mustang resto-mod sell for almost twice what a concours-restored 1968 Shelby GT500 Mustang convertible (a 4-speed, no less) sold for. Of course there were also record prices realized on other “stock” muscle cars, so it is clear there is more than one demographic clamoring for vintage muscle. Seminars and auctions Our American Car Collector seminar was again held at B-J on Wednesday morning, and once again I was happy to offer the keynote address and be a part of the panel, which also consisted of Editor Jim Pickering, B. Mitchell Carlson and Carl Bomstead. We had a lively discussion surrounding the cars each panelist picked as the car they’d want at various price points. I, of course, picked all Ford products, and not just because I like to stock just one type of oil filter for all of my cars. It is always great to be a part of these seminars, meet so many of our subscribers, and engage in some solid car talk. If you haven’t joined us yet, please consider doing so next year. Thursday morning brought the Sports Car Market seminar, held at Gooding & Company’s posh compound in Old Town Scottsdale. Moderated by Donald Osborne, the panel consisted of three reasonably well-behaved SCM Contributors Steve Serio, Carl Bomstead, Simon Kidston, and, of course, yours truly (after all, somebody had to pick some American cars to talk about). The same comments apply

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here; if you haven’t taken advantage of joining us for one of these seminars, you should. It is a great way to keep up on what is happening in the market and get the insider’s views on where we are heading. I spent the balance of the week, for about 15 hours a day, attending all of the auctions and carefully observing the proceedings. I was even able to purchase a few cars I had my eye on, including a very original 1963 Studebaker R2 (supercharged) Avanti. I’ve worked on my fair share of these over the years and have always wanted one. Maybe it is because I have a thing for Paxton Superchargers or those magic words “289 cubic inches,” but that’s probably as close as I’ll come to justifying my actions. In spite of these purchases, I still retain my crown as the world’s most successful under-bidder, having finished second place (or worse) in many trips to the block. A solid market Total Scottsdale auction sales for the week exceeded $290 million — a significant increase from even 2014’s $253m record sales. The market appears as strong as ever, but also shows clear signs of having stabilized over the past year, with prices becoming more predictable and returning to logical levels of steady appreciation rather than some of these huge jumps we’ve witnessed recently. And that’s a good thing. There are a few exceptions, such as rare Mopar muscle, especially Hemi-powered cars, coming back strong. They were the first, and the hardest, hit when the market adjusted in 2008–09, so it makes sense that they would be the last to recover. Also, great cars with airtight documented histories, and especially unrestored ones, are really coming into their own. Witness the 1962 fuel-injected/ Big Brake Corvette with documents to prove it that sold at RM’s auction for $220k. Without those documents, the same car would have struggled to achieve half that amount. Colin’s 1963 Avanti r2. The hideous rolling stock has already been replaced with vintage halibrand 7011 mags To wrap January 2015 up, we should also discuss Mecum Auctions’ 3,000-car juggernaut Kissimmee, FL, sale that has just concluded as I write this. It was a real barn-burner, with over $68m in sales. To further cement my thoughts above, Mecum sold a one-owner 1971 Hemi Challenger for a whopping $691,200, a 1969 Hemi Daytona for $972,000, and an unrestored 1970 Boss 429 for $459,000. And it was all done within days and over 2,000 miles from Scottsdale’s record-setting auctions. It all proves one thing: The carcollecting hobby is alive and well, and 2015 promises be even more exciting than 2014. But the big question remains. How the hell do I tell my wife about that Avanti? A March-April 2015 37

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Corvette Market John L. Stein GET EVEN Don’t get sad, AS VALUES ADVANCE, OUR CHANCES OF OWNING A TRULY ICONIC CORVETTE BECOME MORE FLEETING. SO, FIND A SURROGATE The new C7 Z06 gives you top-level performance and more comfort than a race-spec C5-r, C6.r or C7.r that — a dream. See you later, 1963 Grand Sport. Goodbye, 1967 L88. It was good meeting you, SR-2. So what to do? All Corvettes were built to drive, and so I figure the healthiest therapy is to hook up with an alternative that offers the same basic driving experience. But before you email Editor Pickering, please note I’m emphatically not promoting building clones here, but rather suggesting that much of the same driving experience of the Greatest Generation of Corvettes can be had at a price most can afford. So herewith, hereupon, whereof and wherefore, here’s my mad-hatter surrogate list for some of the greatest Corvettes in history that most of us, sniff, won’t ever have. Images courtesy of GM If you can’t finance a birth-year 1953 model, you can find near-identical looks in the more affordable 1954 units ing, as they represent the cruise ship steaming away from us while we’re standing onshore. Not only are we not on board today, we ain’t going to be on board in this lifetime. The ship on the really unique Corvettes, compadre, has truly sailed. And so with every thousand, ten thousand, hundred thousand, or I million-dollar advance in values, the chances of ever owning the dream cars we’ve held in our heads since childhood increasingly become just 38 AmericanCarCollector.com t’s kind of fun watching seven-figure numbers flash onto the monitors for a rare Corvette at a car auction. They validate our love of these cars, provide reassurance that the hobby is healthy, and sometimes — if we’ve chosen our stable wisely and well — promise future profits. On the other hand, for many of us, those same numbers can be sober- 1953 Motorama prototype Spinning slowly on the turntable at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York on January 17, 1953, the Corvette EX 122 prototype ushered in a new era for American sports cars. And the 300 1953 models that followed, hand-built in Flint, MI, are worth upwards of $300,000 each today. If that car’s not in the cards, a great solution is to find a bone-stock, Polo White 1954. More than 12 times more of them were made — 3,640 in all — and in general it’s visually and essentially the same car. For about $70,000 to $120,000, you can enjoy the fledgling Corvette all over again. And if you find that your mojo ever disagrees with 1953, the prices on ’54 cars are stable, so you can always resell and then transport yourself to 1963 or 1973 later on. 1956 SR-2 roadster An exercise in styling as well as performance, with its toothsome grille and Buck Rogers tailfin, the SR-2 immediately became an iconic member of the growing Corvette lineage. Underneath were various

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technical upgrades of the period, including a racing-brake package. With history as both a styling exercise and a road racer, today the three SR-2s built are well and truly seven-figure cars. The easy answer: any 1956–57 Corvette, because all used the same underpinnings as the SR-2. Short of Sharknado-ing the nose and glassing on a tailfin (please don’t), adding the same high-performance tweaks the SR-2 received will create much the same driving flavor as this hallowed hall-of-famer. 1967 L88 coupe With only 20 built, you could hardly touch an L88 in 1967, and most of us sure can’t touch one now, with prices in the millions. Of course, RPO L88 was a production race car option that came down the St. Louis assembly line ready for a fight. Its big-block 427 engine was competition-spec, as evidenced by special heads, high-compression pistons, camshaft and carb. The L88 option lived in the midyear body for one year only, making it extraordinarily rare. But with the plethora of big-inch crate motors available today, any midyear car can be turned into something just about as hairy as an L88. There were over 22,000 big-block midyears built, so somewhere out there is an engineless donor ready for you to enjoy pumping up for less than five cents on the L88 dollar. 1990 ZR-1 convertible Yes, Chevrolet made one of these engineering mules — an iridescent ZR-1 convertible called the DR-1 (for Chevy chief engineer Don Runkle) made for the ultimate gentleman’s express at the time. I saw it at Riverside in 1988, and it appeared at auction, along with a bunch of other GM prototypes, at Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale sale in 2009. It sold there for $286,000 (ACC# 119171). To obtain similar performance to this elusive unicorn Corvette of the Late Big Hair Epoch, just waltz yourself into a 1996 Grand Sport convertible. With 330 hp, it is nearly as powerful and potent as that oneoff Skunkworks prototype from the late ’80s. An easy $30,000–$50,000 should get you one today. C5-R, C6.R, C7.R racer Even if you could buy a modern-era factory Corvette racer, you might not want to. That’s because they were so specialized, they’d take a fully operational race shop just to enjoy, not to mention special fuel, computers, racing slicks, and all the rest. However, having been allowed a few track laps in the original C5-R a few years back, I can tell you that the dynamics are simply unbelievable. With such downforce and grip, that car took me to a land of g-forces I had never visited before. Make it easy on yourself: For $78,000-plus, go order a new C7 Z06 instead. The early drive reports say that this car is pure race-car spec, right off the dealer’s floor. Just to be sure, though, I called former C5-R and C6.R driver and current Cadillac factory shoe Andy Pilgrim, who recently tested the C7 Z06 at Road Atlanta. “First, the screaming racecar noise is truly amazing — it’s just a ripping exhaust note,” Pilgrim says. “Then you’ve got the acceleration, which is equally tremendous. And the way the car corners with the Z07 Performance Package is on another level; I have never experienced a street car that delivers the lateral g’s of this car. And finally, the braking points are the same as I’d be looking at in a race car. At Road Atlanta, right out of the box this car would take the pole in the IMSA Continental series.” Works for me. A March-April 2015 39

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PROFILE CORVETTE 1961 CHEVROLET CORVETTE CONVERTIBLE Under-the-money ’Vette This Corvette sold at the bottom of the current market level. But was it really a good buy at that price? VIN: 10867S104004 by Carl Bomstead with white side coves, this Corvette features a white soft top and red interior throughout. All the trim looks great, and it has the spinner hubcaps and wide whitewall tires. It is also equipped with a Wonderbar radio. T 40 AmericanCarCollector.com 40 AmericanCarCollector.com ACC Analysis This car, Lot 861, sold for $56,100, including buyer’s pre- mium, at Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale, AZ, auction, held January 10–18, 2015. In 2014, Chevrolet sold 34,839 Corvettes. But back in 1955 — Corvette’s third year of production — the company was ready to pull the plug on the car due to poor sales and a demanding manufacturing process. Debut excitement, and teething pains The Corvette debuted at the 1953 Motorama in New York’s Waldorf Astoria Hotel, and it was an instant success. The public’s excitement over the car reinforced the decision that GM President Harlow Curtice had already made to proceed with a production model. Initially, 300 fiberglass-bodied Corvettes were his beautifully restored 1961 Corvette is powered by its 283/270-hp engine with two 4-barrel carburetors and a 4-speed manual transmission and its original shifter. This car was built with performance in mind. Painted in Roman Red to be built in the last half of 1953, and then production would switch to traditional steel bodies. Production was planned for 10,000 units in 1954, and with support from the plastic industry, the steel plan was dropped and fiberglass continued, and a production line was developed to build the cars in St. Louis. But after that initial excitement, the demand for the Corvette quickly waned. Production was reduced to just over 3,600 units in 1954, and even that proved to be optimistic, as over 1,000 remained unsold at the end of the year. The average Corvette buyer had experienced European sports cars during the war, and a car powered by an anemic Stovebolt six and a 2-speed automatic transmission was not their idea of a true sports car. In 1955, a V8 was offered as an option; however, the Powerglide automatic was required with the V8 until after the midpoint of the year. Only 700 roadsters were built. In addition, the Ford Thunderbird had been introduced that year, and 16,155 of them were sold, stealing the Corvette’s market. Production issues further clouded the Corvette. Fiberglass car bodies offered several advantages over steel ones, but no one had ever mass-produced them. The 62 body pieces — which were outsourced — had to be bonded together with a quick-drying resin, and they did not shrink uniformly, resulting in imperfections that only Bloomington Gold judges appreciate. Courtesy of Barrett-Jackson Auction Co.

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COLLECTOr’S rESOurCE: You can easily track a car’s value over time with the ACC premium Auction Database, featuring more than 125,000 American cars searchable by year, model, VIN and more. Sign up for just $59 at www.AmericanCarCollector.com! Detailing Current ACC Valuation: $56,000–$99,000 Tune-up cost: $250 Distributor cap: $25 VIN location: Plate attached to steering column in engine compartment Engine # location: Top rear on driver’s side of block Year produced: 1961 Number produced: 10,939 (all engines) Clubs: NCRS, Bloomington Gold The performance ’Vette Zora Arkus-Duntov was there to see that first Corvette at the Waldorf, and after getting hired on at GM, he was the one who saved the project. He envisioned the Corvette as a high-performance car, and he knew that the publicity that racing would garner would attract a younger buyer. He received approval for the gradual performance-oriented transformation of the Corvette, with the availability of special performance items via RPOs, or Regular Production Options. The 1956 Corvette offered several RPOs, including the “Duntov High-Lift Camshaft” at $188. It was only available with the $172 dual 4-barrel motor. Racing success followed, and in 1960, Briggs Cunningham, with a three-car team, finished a remarkable 8th overall at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. By the turn of the decade, the Corvette was due for a facelift, but General Motors was in need of an answer to the Ford Falcon and funds were directed to the Chevy II. The Corvette’s big restyle waited a couple of years, but 1961 models featured a clean-lined redesign. Design chief Bill Mitchell lifted the rear from his Sting Ray race car that had also been seen on the XP-700 show car, and it mated well with the front-end design. As a bonus, the “ducktail” added 20% more luggage room and the grille was revised with horizontal-mesh and painted headlamp bezels. Two fuel-injected motors were offered, and these were ordered on 1,580 cars. This was also the last year for contrasting color coves. By all accounts, the 1961 Corvette was a success, and a record 10,939 left dealer showrooms. A good driver The 1961 Corvette sold by Barrett-Jackson ap- peared to be a solid example. It was finished in Roman Red, the second-most-popular color in 1961, with white coves, the only option available. It had the 4-speed manual, ordered on over 70% of the ’61 Corvettes, and it had the ubiquitous AM Wonderbar radio. The interior appeared to be in good order and the engine clean and tidy. Without the benefit of a close inspection, it appeared to be a solid #2 car and a quality driver. The ACC Pocket Price Guide places this car with these options in the $56,000– March-April 2015 41CC 41 $99,000 range, and other recent sales support that number. Here, this one sold at the low end, being hammered at $56,100 including the buyer’s premium. What does that mean about this car and its condi- tion? Well, Corvette values are driven by a car’s originality, meaning that untouched cars, even in rough shape, can and do bring more money at auction than cars that have had an engine swap, color changes, or other modifications over the years. While our subject car looks great overall and had been restored in the not-too-distant past, what we don’t know is just how true to original the car still is. Was it red from the factory? How many components had been replaced? Did the restorer understand how to restore this car properly with regard to paint lines, overspray, etc.? For guys looking to get their Corvettes shown and judged at the NCRS and Bloomington Gold level, that’s all critical stuff. If this was an original 270-hp car in red, a lack of info about it in the auction description probably cost the seller some money here. But for the buyer who just wants a nice solid-axle driver and local-show Corvette in a great color combination, it’s really hard to beat something like this. For the money spent here, it would be hard to reproduce what the buyer got. Those dual fours will turn some heads when the hood’s popped, and they’ll make a good howl when the new owner puts his foot into it. If go is the purpose rather than strictly show, I’d say this was a very nice buy on a great-looking car at the current market level. And if it turns out that all was factory with regard to the numbers, colors, and documentation, then it was a fantastic buy at under the money. Either way, the new owner should be pleased. A (Introductory description courtesy of Barrett- Jackson.) More: www.ncrs.org, www. bloomingtongold.com Alternatives: 1955 Chevrolet Corvette V8 roadster, 1963 Chevrolet Corvette 327/340 coupe, 1957 Ford Thunderbird E-code ACC Investment Grade: B Comps 1961 Chevrolet Corvette 283/270 Lot 255, VIN: 10867S107751 Condition: 1Sold at $71,500 Auctions America by RM, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 3/16/2012 ACC# 197105 1961 Chevrolet Corvette 283/270 Not sold at $52,000 Lot S61, VIN: 10867S104771 Condition: 2 Mecum Auctions, St. Charles, IL, 6/22/2011 ACC# 179608 1961 Chevrolet Corvette 283/270 Lot F100, VIN: 10867S104604 Condition: 2 Sold at $40,280 Mecum Auctions, St. Charles, IL, 6/22/2011 ACC# 179631

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PROFILE GM Yenko’s tuner rocket rides high 1967 CHEVROLET YENKO SUPER CAMARO Chip Riegel, courtesy of Gooding & Company Considering that a factory 396 Camaro was over 1.5 seconds and 9 mph slower, the Yenko Super Camaro made sense for anyone with the need for extreme speed VIN: 124377N241474 Yenko number: YS-725 by Tom Glatch Norwood, OH, plant in June 1967, this car was delivered to Yenko’s dealership later that month, and a copy of the original handwritten Yenko service invoice lists the conversions undertaken on July 18. Modifications included replacing the engine block, installing a fiberglass hood with pins, a multi-gauge instrument package, exhaust headers and flanges, and a carburetor linkage for the revised manifold. According to the COPO Connection, the car was also equipped with dual exhaust, heavy-duty suspension and clutch, and a Positraction rear axle with a 3.73:1 drive ratio. A copy of the original dealer’s invoice shows the T 42 AmericanCarCollector.com Camaro was delivered to Jay Kline Chevrolet in Minnesota in late July 1967 and, according to a signed letter from the original owner, subsequently purchased by its first owner in spring 1968. More recently restored by Camaro Specialties of East Aurora, NY, this Yenko Camaro has been authenticated by a Yenko Vehicle Verification Certificate from the COPO Connection, and an NCRS Shipping Date Report (which join copies of the original dealer and sales invoices, and the Yenko modification sheets). ACC Analysis This car, Lot 146, sold for mium, at the Gooding & Company auction in Scottsdale, AZ, on January 17, 2015. $357,500, including buyer’s pre- his finely restored Yenko Camaro is one of the approximately 54 examples modified for the 1967 model year, as per the copies of the original Yenko inventory sheets. Starting life as a 396-ci Super Sport model built at GM’s Don Yenko was truly a Renaissance man. He possessed a 140 IQ, was an accomplished sculptor and jazz pianist, and learned to fly at age 16. He also served in the Air Force as a meteorologist, then earned a degree in Business Administration from Penn State University, where he was president of the school’s debate club. But it wasn’t until he was 30 years old that Don Yenko returned to his father’s business, Yenko Chevrolet in Canonsburg, PA, and began to make history. First came SCCA A-Production national cham- pionships in 1961 and 1962 racing Corvettes. Then, after he “got tired of looking at the rear bumper of Mark Donohue’s Mustang,” he developed the “Yenko Stinger” Corvair. In an interview that took place just weeks before he was killed in a crash while landing in his Cessna 210, Yenko told Muscle Car Review magazine, “I was racing when Carroll Shelby came out with his cars. I was pretty much a GM devotee as well as a Chevrolet dealer, so I got to thinking I’d like to be Shelby’s counterpart in Chevrolet.” During 1966 and 1967, Yenko built about 185 of the modified Corvairs, which dominated D-Production racing for many years. But with the introduction of Chevy’s Mustang fighter, the 1967 Camaro, Don Yenko could now battle his friend Carroll Shelby on his own turf. The Yenko treatment More than 220,000 Camaros were produced that first year, but just 54 received the Yenko treatment. When introduced, the Camaro’s top powerplant was

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COLLECTOr’S rESOurCE: You can easily track a car’s value over time with the ACC premium Auction Database, featuring more than 125,000 American cars searchable by year, model, VIN and more. Sign up for just $59 at www.AmericanCarCollector.com! Detailing the 295-hp 350 V8, while the 325-hp 396 big-block V8 was available after November ’66. Working with famed drag racer Dick Harrell, Yenko developed a 427 conversion package for the Camaro. Whether a 350 or 396 car, Yenko replaced the origi- nal engine with a 427-ci L72 crate engine — the same fabled powerplant optional on the 1966 Corvette. The L72 was originally rated at a staggering 450 hp and is considered by some to be the most powerful Corvette engine from the ’60s, although by October 1966 the engine was downgraded to 425 hp, probably to placate the insurance companies. Dyno tests reveal the 450-hp number was probably correct. With this much power on tap, Yenko also upgraded the suspension and brakes to match, and added his own styling touches, such as Yenko graphics and the unique fiberglass “stinger” hood. So how fast was Yenko’s missile? We have a pretty good idea. A Chevrolet engineer, Doug Roe, invited Car Life magazine to take his 427 Camaro development car for a blast. “That’s my pet,” Roe said. Why would a Chevy engineer build such a beast when corporate edicts prevented them from ever manufacturing one? “We want to keep abreast of what some of our customers are doing,” he told the magazine. Those customers with reputations for performance included Dana Chevrolet in Los Angeles, Nickey Chevrolet in Chicago, Berger Chevrolet in Michigan, and of course, Yenko Chevrolet. With 4.88:1 gears, headers, open exhaust, and Goodyear slicks, Roe was able to crack a 13.5 second quarter at around 100 mph, and thought he could get in the 12s with a little work. Ringing the bell So what price glory? Yenko documents show our feature Camaro cost $4,115.20 — over $1,330 more than a basic SS 350. To put it in perspective, a new VW Beetle cost $1,758 in 1967. Also, since this was a dealer conversion, the factory warranty was null and void. “In 1967 and 1968, I had to cover the cars with my own warranty, with no backing from the factory at all,” Yenko told Muscle Car Review. Considering that a factory 396 Camaro was over 1.5 seconds and 9 mph slower, the Yenko Super Camaro made sense for anyone with the need for extreme speed. It’s believed that just 10 of the 54 Yenko Camaros built in 1967 still exist. That makes them exceedingly rare, yet there have been a few sales in recent years. In March of 2013, Gooding & Co. sold one for $350,000 (ACC# 215565), and Mecum sold another for $344,500 in May of 2012 (ACC# 210882). Before the Great Recession, ’67 Yenkos were selling for about the same price — I think their rarity and performance potential has helped keep them stable in the market. But a few Nickey Chevrolet 427 conversions built in 1967 have sold for as much as $90k more, which seems odd as I would think the Yenko name and reputation should at least be on a par with Nickey’s. Still, the sale of this Yenko Super Camaro is right on the money in today’s market compared with the previous sales we’ve seen, and both the seller and buyer should be very happy with the result. A (Introductory description courtesy of Gooding & Company.) 1967 Chevrolet Camaro Nickey SS Club: The Supercar Registry More: www.yenko.net Alternatives: 1967 Shelby GT 500, 1967 Nickey 427 Camaro, 1968 BaldwinMotion Phase III Camaro ACC Investment Grade: A Engine # location: Pad on the right side of the block to the rear of the engine mount Comps Year produced: 1967 Number produced: 54 Original list price: $4,115.20 Current ACC Valuation: $300,000–$350,000 Tune-up/major service: $250 Distributor cap: $22.58 VIN location: Driver’s side door pillar 1967 Chevrolet Yenko Super Camaro Lot 14, VIN: 124377N229158 Condition: 1Sold at $350,000 Gooding & Co., Amelia Island, FL, 3/8/2013 ACC# 215565 1967 Chevrolet Yenko Super Camaro Lot S134, VIN: 124377N185034 Condition: 2+ Sold at $344,500 Mecum Auctions, Indianapolis, IN, 5/15/2012 ACC# 210882 Lot 261, VIN: 124377N249460 Condition: 1Sold at $385,000 RM Auctions, Phoenix, AZ, 1/19/2012 ACC# 192675 March-April 2015 43

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PROFILE FOMOCO Ford’s slippery best buy 1969 FORD TORINO TALLADEGA 428 CJ FASTBACK Ford wasn’t messing around. A Talladega was military-spec speedway ordnance with one job: wipe out Mopar VIN: 9A46Q189813 by Patrick Smith E 44 AmericanCarCollector.com 44 AmericanCarCollector.com quipped with 428 CJ and C6 transmission. Competition Suspension and AM radio. Fully documented with original window sticker and Marti Report with Talladega package. ACC Analysis This car, Lot 559, sold for $38,500, including buyer’s pre- mium, at Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale, AZ, auction on January 14, 2015. Aero tricks to win As NASCAR grew into the 1950s and 1960s, winning became more than just a game of endurance. The tracks were gaining longer and bigger banks to allow the cars to go flat-out safely, and as engine technology developed to the point where cars were able to run 500 miles without grenading, race winners needed better top-end speed to help ensure a win. One of the new weapons in racing was the science of aerodynamics, but in the 1960s, for car manufacturers, it was more of a black art. Dodge got involved with aerodynamics out of neces- sity. Their 1966 Charger looked fast but was very dicey at speed. The rear end would lift and the car acted unstable, so engineers came up with a thin curved lip for the trunk lid that helped settle the car down. A restyle in 1968 helped matters, but as the Hemi gained power, the new body’s design limitations showed up as well. A sleeker Ford Ford’s Fairlane Torino was new for 1968, too, but Ford’s engineers knew streamlining was needed to keep the lead in racing. Holman & Moody collaborated with Ford and they came up with clever ideas to make the Torino fastback even faster. For this project, the team flush-mounted the grille. Then, they built a special front bumper by cutting a rear Torino bumper into three pieces, making a vee in the center, and filling in the rear quarter-panel recesses so it could be flush mounted against a custom hand-fabricated front end. About two inches past the wheelwell, they cut off the front fender, and on went a hand-made extension, including a hood header panel. The Talladega nose has a 30-degree rake and extends 15½ inches farther than a stock Torino. Other special touches included rolling the rocker panel sheet metal an inch under height, which left a Grand National car builder an extra inch to spank the car lower for better center of gravity without deviating from NASCAR’s profile template check. Every builder just sawed off the extra inch, then lowered the car. Courtesy of Barrett-Jackson Auction Co.

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COLLECTOr’S rESOurCE: You can easily track a car’s value over time with the ACC premium Auction Database, featuring more than 125,000 American cars searchable by year, model, VIN and more. Sign up for just $59 at www.AmericanCarCollector.com! Detailing Year produced: 1969 Number produced: 754 (includes nine prototypes and five pilot cars) Original list price: $3,456 Current ACC Valuation: $28,000–$42,500 Tune-up/major service: $150 Distributor cap: $14.41 VIN location: Plate on driver’s side dashboard, plate on driver’s side door Engine # location: Partial VIN stamped below driver’s side cylinder head on block Job one: wipe out Mopar Ford was stretched thin with other race projects, so the Talladega had to be built on the assembly line without outside help. All were built in Atlanta. NASCAR demanded 500 cars to be made available for sale to qualify for racing, and Ford complied, making 748 available all across America. In addition, Mercury built 519 examples of a similar car called the Cyclone Spoiler II. To make it work, the Talladega became a package car. Only three colors were offered: Presidential Blue, Royal Maroon and Wimbledon White. They all had black bench seat interiors and matte black competition hoods. All wore GT wheels with whitewall tires. The only engine was a 428 Cobra Jet 335-horsepower Q-code backed with the C6 automatic transmission. Talladegas also got engine oil coolers and staggered rear shocks. The only option was an AM radio. For visual identification, Ford gave the Talladega special “T” door handle escutcheons, a “T” gas cap, “Talladega” door panel emblems, and that was it. Ford wasn’t messing around — a Talladega was military-spec speedway ordnance with one job: wipe out Mopar. This car and its Mercury cousin were the game changers that forced Chrysler to get serious about aerodynamics. Dodge came up with a flush grille and rear window concept for the 1969 Charger 500. The Fords were still faster, so Dodge developed the Charger Daytona, complete with a wing and nose cone that helped it hit 200 miles per hour. Plymouth followed suit with the Superbird in 1970. But those wings and extended noses were a hard sell out on the street. Alternatively, the Talladega and Cyclone Spoiler II proved race cars could be aerodynamic without resorting to tall wings. They were fast without looking crazy. Ford took the Manufacturers Cup for 1969, David Pearson was the season championship winner and Richard Petty took second place. Petty bagged his 100th win with a Talladega and his first win at notoriously tough Riverside International Raceway. Entry-level aero warrior Today, the Talladega and Cyclone Spoiler II are the most affordable NASCAR homologation specials available, standing in stark contrast to the now more valuable Mopars they battled during the ’69 and ’70 seasons. Ironically, the overstated wings and noses that made the Mopars hard to sell in period have made them more attractive in the more-is-better collector car world. However, although the Daytona and Superbird have more flash with optional engines and features, they’re less practical drivers. They also had to share the winner’s circle with the Fords more times than Mopar guys might care to admit. The Talladega runs well on the street without the high maintenance a solid-cam Hemi requires. For the enthusiast driver, a Talladega or Cyclone Spoiler II is a great choice with plenty of upside for future growth. Condition, description and value During the last market peak in 2006, Talladegas in very good condition went for prices in the high $40k range, while cars needing work sold for around half that value. Show cars, by contrast, were commanding upwards of $60k when they sold. Since the market slump from 2008 to 2013, prices have risen and then stabilized. Presently, we’ve seen a few sales crest $100k, but the majority of good drivers tend to bring bids ranging from the $40k range to the $60k range. Our example is a decent driver-quality car with small issues. For example, these cars shipped from the factory with a padded vinyl steering wheel wrap, which is missing here. The camera-case dashboard also shows some scuff marks. But overall the car is solid and appears to be in good condition. The catalog description is unusually brief and gives no clue as to whether the car is numbers matching, which, if it was an oversight, could have been an expensive one for the seller. I’ve seen Talladegas sell for less, but that doesn’t make this a poor buy. The items mentioned are easily fixed, and I’d say the sold price is fair considering the recent rise in values for NASCAR homologation specials. Provided the drivetrain is in good order, it should provide thrills for the new owner and a modest return when it comes time to sell. Call this one a good deal for both the buyer and seller.A (Introductory description courtesy of Barrett-Jackson.) March-April 2015 45CC 45 Club: Talladega/Spoiler Registry More: www.talladegaspoilerregistry.com Alternatives: 1969 Dodge Daytona, 1970 Plymouth Superbird, 1969 Dodge Charger 500 ACC Investment Grade: C Comps 1969 Ford Talladega 428 fastback Lot F105.1, VIN: 9A46Q207094 Condition: 3 Sold at $31,000 Mecum Auctions, Indianapolis, IN, 5/18/2014 ACC# 243827 1969 Ford Talladega 428 fastback Lot 415, VIN: 9A46Q189831 Condition: 3 Sold at $44,000 Barrett Jackson, Palm Beach, FL, 4/12/2014 ACC# 243175 1969 Ford Talladega 428 fastback Worldwide Auctioneers, Auburn, IN, 9/1/2012 ACC# 213262 Lot 29, VIN: 9A46Q192001 Condition: 2 Sold at $44,000

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PROFILE MOPAR 1969 PLYMOUTH A12 ROAD RUNNER Six-barrel price acceleration Few things appreciate 84% in just two years, but you can call that the “Hemi factor” VIN: RM23M9A262515 by Tom Glatch car. One of 422 4-speed M-code 440 6-barrel cars produced and number 34 of 195 accounted for in the Chrysler Registry. Authenticated by Galen Govier with documentation that supports VIN number, fender tag, body stamps, matching-numbers 440 6-barrel engine, 4-speed transmission and factory warranty booklet. T 46 AmericanCarCollector.com 46 AmericanCarCollector.com ACC Analysis This car, Lot 1031, sold for $165,000, including buyer’s pre- mium, at Barrett-Jackson’s auction in Scottsdale, AZ, on January 16, 2015. It’s one of those irrefutable laws of nature: Speed costs money. Today’s Hellcat Challenger and Charger, LT1 Camaro and Shelby GT500 are unbelievably quick, but they all cost around double their basemodel brethren — and more than the annual income of many Americans. You can also buy a pretty nice home in some parts of the United States for the cost of a new his car has undergone a meticulous rotisserie restoration and is finished in R6 Scorch Red. Ranked third-fastest muscle car ever produced and track-tested at 12.91 at 111 mph quarter-mile by Ronnie Sox in stock trim. Documented original A12 M-code lift-off hood Z06 Corvette. So how fast do you want to go? It was no different in the ’60s. Years back, Muscle Car Review magazine compiled a list of the 50 fastest cars from the ’60s, based on vintage road tests. Of course, the usual suspects were there. It’s no surprise that the lightweight 1966 427 Cobra, which cost a cool $7,000 when new, topped the list. Then came the fastest street Corvette of the era, the 1966 L72 427 coupe, which could sell for over $5,000. Keep in mind the average price for a home in 1966 was $14,200, and the average annual income was $6,900. Yes, serious speed cost serious coin back then, just as it does now. But wait, what was that at number three on the list? A lowly Plymouth? And it cost just $3,545.80? The car was the 1969½ Road Runner 440 “Six-Barrel,” and it indeed defied the very laws of nature. Six barrels of fury The first 440 “Six-Barrel” Road Runner — option code A12 — was built on March 11, 1969. Although the A12 was a spartan vehicle, nothing about it was cheap. Just look under the lift-off fiberglass hood at the beautiful triple 2-barrel carburetor setup. “Three deuces” had been around since the mid-’50s, but by 1969 only five cars still had them — the A12 Road Runner and its sibling, the Dodge Coronet 440 “Six Courtesy of Barrett-Jackson Auction Co.

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COLLECTOr’S rESOurCE: You can easily track a car’s value over time with the ACC premium Auction Database, featuring more than 125,000 American cars searchable by year, model, VIN and more. Sign up for just $59 at www.AmericanCarCollector.com! Detailing Pack,” along with three Corvettes: the $5,106 400-hp L68, the $5,218 435-hp L71, and the $5,613 435-hp aluminum-head L89. Beyond that, every performance part on this 440 was top rate. That included the Edelbrock aluminum intake manifold packed with 2300-series Holley 2-barrel carburetors, dual-breaker distributor, special camshaft, heavy-duty valve springs, chrome-flashed valve stems, moly-filled rings, Hemi oil pump and Magnafluxed connecting rods. Chrysler said the A12 option was good for 390 horsepower at 4,700 rpm and 390 foot-pounds of torque at 3,600 rpm, but the NHRA factored it at a more realistic 410 hp. But the good times didn’t end under the hood. Slick- shifting heavy-duty manual and automatic transmissions were borrowed from the Hemi cars, spinning the rugged Dana 60 Sure-Grip differential with 4.10:1 gears. Keeping things somewhat under control was the Belvedere’s S15 Police Handling package. This package was more than capable of mixing it up with cars costing thousands more. Real-deal performance Of course, the famous 12.91-second quarter-mile time quoted in Super Stock magazine just happened to come at the hands of “Mr. 4-Speed” himself, the legendary Ronnie Sox. “In order to get into the twelves, nothing more was necessary than to remove the air-cleaner element,” Super Stock reported. “In three runs Sox was able to go 12.98-111.52, 12.92-111.66, 12.91-111.80.” Granted, Ronnie Sox was an amazing driver capable of wringing the last fractions of a second out of a car, but the magazine’s authors were also able to run a best of 13.24 at 110.70 mph. Yet on the street, the A12 was a joy to drive, as Super Stock reported: “... our first visit with the car was interstate highways at high speeds. We were impressed. The tires made it ride and handle beautifully, and the carbs — well, when they came in at about 4,000 rpm, it was a whole new ball game.” No, you couldn’t order air conditioning, cruise control, fancy wheels, or get the “Six Barrel” in a convertible, but those options didn’t belong on a strippeddown street fighter like this anyway. Clearly, Chrysler spent the money on just the “good stuff” and kept the cost low and the performance high by eliminating the frills. Market movement The last time we reviewed an A12 sale was in ACC #8 (March-April 2013, p. 50), where Russo and Steele’s Scottsdale 2013 auction sold a comparable A12 for $90,200. At that time I commented, “That’s not inexpensive, but it’s not inflated Hemi prices either” when compared with the $200k-plus a true Hemi car can bring. Yet just two years later, this A12 sold for $165,000 in Scottsdale. Few things appreciate almost 84% in just two years, but you can call that the “Hemi factor.” Granted, while these two cars were comparable, they weren’t the same car in the same condition. This car was claimed to have its original matchingnumbers engine and sheet metal — a claim that the Russo car did not make. That does explain some of the difference in price between the two cars. However, I don’t think it tells the whole story. Not by a long shot. The general rule seems to be this: As Hemi cars continue to move farther beyond the reach of most collectors, other high-performance Mopars such as the A12 Road Runner become much more attractive. That’s another irrefutable law of nature — since supply is limited, as demand increases, so does the price. This time, the A12 Road Runner won’t defy the laws of nature. It’s rapidly moving from the bargain basement into the boutique, so if you’ve ever wanted affordable Hemi-like performance, I think you’d better act soon. I’d call this one very well sold for now, but it may not look that way for long. A (Introductory description courtesy of Barrett- Jackson.) Club: A12 Registry More: www.sixpacksixbbl. homestead.com Alternatives: 1969 Dodge Coronet Super Bee, 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge, 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle SS396 ACC Investment Grade: A Comps Year produced: 1969 Number produced: 1,412 Original list price: $3,545.80 Current ACC Valuation: $75,000–$110,000 Tune-up/major service: $250 Distributor cap: $22.58 VIN location: Plate on the driver’s side instrument panel behind windshield Engine # location: Pad on the right side of the block to the rear of the engine mount 1969 Plymouth Road Runner A12 2-door hard top Lot 550, VIN: RM23M9A286668 Condition: 2 Sold at $100,000 Auctions America, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 3/14/2014 ACC# 239292 1969 Plymouth Road Runner A12 2-door sedan Lot S74, VIN: RM21M9A260924 Condition: 3Sold at $72,080 Mecum Auctions, Kissimmee, FL, 1/24/2012 ACC# 192838 1969 Plymouth Road Runner A12 2-door hard top Lot 356.2, VIN: RM23M9A294942 Condition: 1Sold at $121,000 Barrett-Jackson, Orange County, CA, 6/25/2011 ACC# 182232 March-April 2015 March-April 2015 47

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PROFILE HOT ROD & CUSTOM 1939 LINCOLN-ZEPHYR COUPE CUSTOM Benchmark custom If you’ve always wanted a righteous LincolnZephyr coupe, this was a turn-key proposition VIN: H75869 by Ken Gross • Built by Regal Roadsters, Madison, WI • 6-liter, 600-hp Aston Martin/Cosworth V12 • 4-speed overdrive GM Hydramatic transmission • Original steel body, custom-built chassis • Independent front suspension, 4-wheel power disc brakes ACC Analysis This car, Lot 172, sold for $258,000, including buyer’s pre- mium, at RM’s Sam Pack Collection sale in Dallas, TX, on November 14–15, 2014. The late ’30s Lincoln-Zephyr coupe is arguably one of the loveliest pre-war American closed cars. A timeless ’38 model starred in the movie “Speed To Spare” in 1948. New York’s Museum of Modern Art honored the Lincoln-Zephyr in the catalog for its seminal 1951 exhibition, “8 Automobiles,” calling it “the most successful streamlined car in America,” and a slinky, Art Deco Zephyr coupe was featured in “Curves of Steel” at the Phoenix Art Museum in 2007. Designed by Eugene T. “Bob” Gregorie, under the auspices of Edsel Ford, the sleek Zephyr 3-window was a stunner. An impossibly long hood concealed a flathead V12 — the only 12-cylinder in its class. A curvaceous cabin and a gorgeous waterfall roofline flowed into what was arguably the longest deck lid on a ’30s-era American car. Building on the masterpiece Considered strikingly beautiful in stock form, Lincoln-Zephyrs were seldom customized. That all HOT ROD & CUSTOM 1939 LINCOLN-ZEPHYR COUPE CUSTOM Benchmark custom If you’ve always wanted a righteous Lincoln- Zephyr coupe, this HOT ROD & CUSTOM 1939 LINCOLN-ZEPHYR COUPE CUSTOM Benchmark custom If you’ve always wanted a righteous Lincoln- Zephyr coupe, this was a turn-key proposition VIN: H75869 by Ken Gross • Built by Regal Roadsters, Madison, WI • 6-liter, 600-hp Aston Martin/Cosworth V12 • 4-speed overdrive GM Hydramatic transmission • Original steel body, custom-built chassis • Independent front suspension, 4-wheel power disc brakes ACC Analysis This car, Lot 172, sold for $258,000, including buyer’s pre- mium, at RM’s Sam Pack Collection sale in Dallas, TX, on November 14–15, 2014. The late ’30s Lincoln-Zephyr coupe is arguably one of the loveliest pre-war American closed cars. A time- less ’38 model starred in the movie “Speed To Spare” in 1948. New York’s Museum of Modern Art honored the Lincoln-Zephyr in the catalog for its seminal 1951 exhibition, “8 Automobiles,” calling it “the most suc- cessful streamlined car in America,” and a slinky, Art Deco Zephyr coupe was featured in “Curves of Steel” at the Phoenix Art Museum in 2007. Designed by Eugene T. “Bob” Gregorie, under the auspices of Edsel Ford, the sleek Zephyr 3-window was a stunner. An impossibly long hood concealed a flathead V12 — the only 12-cylinder in its class. A curvaceous cabin and a gorgeous waterfall roofline flowed into what was arguably the longest deck lid on a ’30s-era American car. Building on the masterpiece Considered strikingly beautiful in stock form, Lincoln-Zephyrs were seldom customized. That all changed changed when the irrepressible Terry Cook, founder of Lead East, the nostalgic ’50s car and music festival, created the definitive L-Z custom kemp. Cook bought his 1938 coupe under slightly less-than-honorable pretenses, assuring the seller that he wouldn’t hot-rod it. He immediately yanked the body and retained Ramsey Mosher to build a milestone custom that took 4½ years and 4,000-plus hours to construct. The L-Z’s chassis was axed in favor of a sturdy 1978 Caprice wagon frame, and a stock Chevy 350 replaced the flathead V12. The steel shell was artfully sliced and diced, with a serious chop and other mods to accentuate its already swoopy shape. Hydraulics dropped the coupe into the weeds and Cook appropriately named it “Scrape.” Sold sold sold After features in many rodding magazines, Cook sold Scrape at an RM auction in Monterey in 2000 (ACC# 10273). The buyer was Robert E. Petersen, represented by yours truly. The price was a thenincredible $275,000. Pete and I thought it was the best-looking custom car of the 1990s, and simply one of the best ever. Cook was ecstatic until he learned that we had been prepared to go even higher. Carl Bomstead summed up our sentiment well, writ- ing about the car in Sports Car Market’s November 2000 issue: “[Scrape is] the most recognizable, and arguably the most attractive, custom car ever built.” It was easy to see it as a trend-setter. Suitably inspired by Scrape, Mike Shiflet built a chopped Zephyr coupe with a modified Lincoln V12 and sold it at Barrett-Jackson in 2004 for an Teddy Pieper ©2014, courtesy of RM Auctions

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COLLECTOr’S rESOurCE: You can easily track a car’s value over time with the ACC premium Auction Database, featuring more than 125,000 American cars searchable by year, model, VIN and more. Sign up for just $59 at www.AmericanCarCollector.com! Detailing Year produced: 2011 Number produced: One Original list price: Unknown Current ACC Valuation: $200k–$300k Clubs: Goodguys, National Street Rodd Association (NSRA), Lincoln-Zephyr Owners Club astounding $432,000 — more than a 300SL Gullwing in the same sale (ACC# 31999). Egged on by Terry Cook, Boyd Coddington built his take on an L-Z — a fastback 2-door sedan eponymously called “Lead Zephyr.” But some of the magic was gone. That car sold at the 2006 RM Monterey auction for $189,000 (ACC# 42800). Bring a checkbook Several other modified Zephyrs have popped up over the past few years, but none of them have come close to Sam Pack’s concept for a dramatic L-Z custom rod with all the mod cons. Pack retained Regal Roadsters in Madison, WI, builders of 2-seat Thunderbird replicas, to put this car together. For an oh-so-low look without a cabin chop, the shop channeled a’39 Zephyr coupe body three inches over a completely custom frame. For a slammed silhouette, independent tubular A-arms in front are complemented by a four-link rear and Ride Pro fully adjustable air suspension. Enormous Wilwood disc brakes (14-inch rotors in front; 12-inch rotors in the rear) and power rackand-pinion steering are a few of this car’s impressive mechanicals. The pièce de résistance, in keeping with the Zephyr’s heritage, is a 6-liter Cosworth-developed DOHC V12, like the engine in an Aston-Martin Vanquish. It’s tuned for a claimed 600 hp, and it’s backed by a GM 4L60E four-speed Hydramatic with an Edge Racing heavy-duty torque converter. Out back is a nine-inch Ford rear end with Moser 4.30 gears and 31-spline axles. Inland Empire supplied the aluminum driveshaft, and the 2.5-inch stainless-steel exhaust system is fitted with Borla mufflers. Ka-ching! Pack’s spare-no-expense build was finished in Carbon Gray Metallic, then clear-coated. Inside, soft red Wollsdorf leather, German wool carpeting and a wool broadcloth headliner combine to provide an elegant cabin that retains the original L-Z’s central console style binnacle, enhanced with a JL/Kenwood audio system, and fully integrated HVAC controls. No item was overlooked, from the leather-wrapped steering wheel to modern Michelin Pilot P235/70ZR18 tires on 18x8 Colorado Custom billet aluminum wheels with hidden valve stems. The unique coupe even has an extensive operation and maintenance manual with every system detailed for its future owner. Does it all add up? I’d hesitate to guess this car’s construction bill, but surely the $258,000 winning bid was less than the build cost. And that’s the problem with contemporary high-zoot custom rods. Executed to a fare-thee-well, this superb car is seriously drivable (you can see it perform on YouTube) and a beauty to behold. If you’ve always wanted a righteous Lincoln-Zephyr coupe, this was a turn-key proposition. But even if more than a quarter of a million dollars was spent on its build, something like this is just not a good place to spend beaucoup bucks, unless you’re like megadealer and primo collector Sam Pack and the money simply doesn’t matter. Looking back, the Mike Shiflet $432,000 sale price at B-J seems to be an anomaly. Curiously, Terry Cook’s “Scrape” was resold in a subsequent 2013 Auctions America sale for just $66,000, when the Petersen Museum divested itself of some cars thought to be superfluous (ACC# 229954). Now that was a real bargain, but with its humble underpinnings, “Scrape” may no longer be a fair comparison. This Zephyr Package is the new benchmark for custom pre-war Lincolns. I’d call it fairly sold, and Tune-up, major service: $450 (estimated) Distributor cap: N/A VIN location: Custom plate on the left frame rail More: www.good-guys.com, www.nsra.com, www.lzoc.com Alternatives: Any high-dollar Lincoln-Zephyr custom rod ACC Investment Grade: C Comps 1938 Lincoln-Zephyr custom “Lead Zephyr” Lot 143, VIN: 2990564 Condition: 1Sold at $189,200 RM Auctions, Monterey, CA, 8/18/2006 ACC# 42800 1938 Lincoln-Zephyr custom Lot 682, VIN: H50487 Condition: 1Sold at $432,000 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ, 1/22/2004 ACC# 31999 comparatively well bought.A (Introductory description courtesy of RM Auctions.) 1939 Lincoln-Zephyr custom “Scrape” Lot 430, VIN: N/A Condition: 1Sold at $275,000 RM Auctions, Monterey, CA, 8/18/2000 ACC# 10273 March-April 2015 49

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PROFILE AMERICANA 1955 CHEVROLET CUSTOM “TWO-LANE BLACKTOP” Cult-classic Chevy The ’55s were reportedly seriously capable racers. James Taylor, in a reunion with our subject car, discussed how they really hooked up, and remembered launching at 6,000 rpm 50 AmericanCarCollector.com 50 AmericanCarCollector.com VIN: VC550041466 by Jim Pickering D ocumented, authentic, original 1955 Chevy movie car driven by singer James Taylor and Beach Boy Dennis Wilson in the iconic 1971 movie “Two-Lane Blacktop.” This ’55 is one of the three built by Richard Ruth for Universal Studios (two identical straight-axle ’55s and one stunt car) for “Two-Lane Blacktop.” This particular ’55 was used to film scenes inside the car, and brackets for some of the camera and recording gear used during filming are still visible on the car today. Only used in “Two-Lane Blacktop,” it was sold to a studio mechanic shortly after filming was completed. The car passed through several owners before it was located in Canada in 2000. The ’55 was authenticated by Richard Ruth before it was brought back to the U.S. by “Two-Lane Blacktop” historian Walt Bailey for a combination restoration and preservation project with the help of Ruth. The car features the correct Ruth-built straight axle with coil-overs, a tunnel-rammed 454, M22 Muncie Rock Crusher 4-speed, ’60s Olds Positraction rear, a no-nonsense gasser-style black interior and still wears its custom-built fiberglass front end, fiberglass doors with sliding windows and fiberglass trunk lid. ACC Analysis This car, Lot 7003, sold at Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale, AZ, auction for $159,500, including buyer’s premium, on January 17, 2015. In 1970, director Monte Hellman filmed “Two-Lane Blacktop” — a street racing movie shot on the road from California to Tennessee. James Taylor starred as The Driver, backed up by Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys as his Mechanic, Laurie Bird as The Girl, and Warren Oates as the driver of the GTO. A cult classic “Two-Lane Blacktop” isn’t what you might call a great film, but it is a great car film. It has become a cult classic, and I think it’s one of the all-time best car movies ever made. It was recently selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant,” and Brock Yates cites it as partial inspiration in his creation of the first Cannonball Baker trophy dash across the U.S. — better known as the Cannonball Run. If you’ve never seen it, the basic rundown is this: James Taylor and Dennis Wilson drift across the country on money they make street racing their ’55 Chevy. At one point they pick up a hitchhiker — The Girl — and they end up in a long-distance race for pinks with the driver of a ’70 GTO (Oates). Wilson doesn’t talk much, but when he does it’s usually about changing the jets in the carburetors, and Taylor, when not banging gears, sits around brooding most of the time. Why? Because of life? Women? It’s not really clear. The race with the GTO fizzles out when The Girl takes off with some guy on a motorcycle. There’s another race with a big-block El Camino on an airstrip, then the film melts. Roll credits. On the plus side, the film is beautifully shot, and it Courtesy of Barrett-Jackson Auction Co.

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COLLECTOr’S rESOurCE: You can easily track a car’s value over time with the ACC premium Auction Database, featuring more than 125,000 American cars searchable by year, model, VIN and more. Sign up for just $59 at www.AmericanCarCollector.com! hood in “Graffiti,” it’s because there was a monster big block in there which couldn’t have existed on the streets of Modesto in 1962. One of these two cars was crushed in the late 1970s, while the other remains, today restored to its “Graffiti” appearance. Movie star value So this is a legit survivor from the movie — in fact, it’s the only one, since the other is now better known as a “Graffiti” car. So what’s it worth? The market for movie cars can be tough to nail down — just look at this sale price compared with a screen-used Eleanor from 2000’s “Gone in 60 Seconds” which sold for more than $1m at a Mecum auction just a few years ago (ACC# 216486). “TwoLane Blacktop” may not be an Oscar winner, but is the Nicolas Cage CGI remake of H.B. Halicki’s classic really that much better? Sure, the market for something like this ’55 is shows a lot of old Route 66 before the interstate system killed it off. Throughout the movie, the characters are completely immersed in their obsession — specifically Taylor and Wilson — without trivial stuff like dialogue or even names to cloud things up. For those of us unapologetically obsessed with cars — the kind of guys who’ve caused themselves domestic strife by spending an entire weekend under the hood, oblivious to the hours passed or dates missed, the world this film depicts is a distraction-free dream. It’s a place I’d like to live sometimes — where all that matters is how the carbs are running. Above all, the biggest star of the show here is the primer-gray 454-powered ’55 Chevy with its tunnel ram, flip front end, sliding side windows, and whiny M22. That’s the car that sold here at Barrett-Jackson for a buck sixty. From “Two-Lane” to “Graffiti” Originally, Richard Ruth of Competition Engineering in California built three cars for the film. Special components included tube-axle front ends, fiberglass doors, trunks, and tilt noses, sliding Plexi side windows, and more. One of the three cars got a crate L88 427, while the other two cars were fitted with then-new 454s. By its VIN, our subject car was originally a Bel Air with a V8 — although it, like the others, appeared to be more like a basic 150 sedan in the film. The three cars were all business — reportedly seriously capable of the part they were playing. James Taylor, in a reunion with our subject car, discussed how well the cars’ rear suspension hooked up, and talked about launching at 6,000 rpm. Our subject car was used for most of the interior shots, and it had special brackets welded to the chassis to support the camera equipment and operators. It survived the movie in the best condition of the three, and after spending some time on the studio back lot, it sold to a studio mechanic, who in turn gave it to his kid to drive to high school. Reportedly, it later lent its engine sounds to Burt Reynolds’ Trans Am in “Smokey and the Bandit.” The other two cars? They were eventually painted black, fitted with front bumpers, different hood scoops, and chrome smoothie wheels in preparation for their next role as Bob Falfa’s Chevy in “American Graffiti” — if you’ve ever wondered why Falfa never opens his March-April 2015 51CC 51 smaller than what you might expect for an Eleanor or the “Graffiti” car — it’s just not as glossy and fewer guys have seen it in action, even if it left a huge imprint on those of us who recognize or remember it. Now, if the “Graffiti” ’55 ever came to auction, I think we’d be seeing a much bigger result than this — likely several multiples of this money — but it’s a bigger car-guy icon with double the film credit. I’d suggest this price was right on the market for what the car was, and here’s why. Just a few dozen feet away from where this car lurked was a red and white ’58 Plymouth — you might remember it as “Christine” from the John Carpenter film — being sold out of the Pratte Collection. I spent some time talking with the new owner of that car, who was beaming over his purchase at $198k. Again, that car was one of several made for filming, and again, it had a great impact on a certain subset of car guys — although probably a slightly larger selection of the population than the “Two-Lane” ’55 Chevy. On that day, $198k was the reasonable market price for Christine, and it seemed like the buyer felt it was a great buy. So, considering that car and its result, I’d say $159,500 was a market price for this ’55 in Scottsdale, but I still think it was also a fantastic deal at that money. The new owner now has title to a piece of American film history and a legitimate car-guy icon, and it’s hard to pin a number on that. A (Introductory description courtesy of Barrett- Jackson.) Detailing Year produced: 1970 Number produced: Three, two of which went on to “American Graffiti” Original sales price: N/A Current ACC Valuation: $150,000–$200,000 Tune-up, major service: $400 Engine # location: Stamped in block pad in front of passenger’s side cylinder head VIN location: On stainless plate spot-welded to driver’s side front door jamb Clubs: Goodguys, in addition to being welcome anywhere car guys gather More: www.good-guys.com Alternatives: 1958 Plymouth Fury “Christine,” 1967 Shelby GT500 E “Eleanor,” 1977 Pontiac Trans Am “Smokey and the Bandit” ACC Investment Grade: B Comps 1966 Batmobile Lot 5037, VIN: X15007365G Condition: 3 Sold at $4,620,000 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ, 1/15/2013 ACC# 214858 1967 Shelby GT500 E “Eleanor” Sold at $1,070,000 Lot S135, VIN: 7R02C179710 Condition: 3 Mecum Auctions, Indianapolis, IN, 5/18/2013 ACC# 216486 1969 Dodge Charger “General Lee” Lot 1321, VIN: XP29G9B279159 Condition: 2 Sold at $495,000 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ, 1/12/2008 ACC# 48758

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PROFILE RACE 1970 FORD MUSTANG BOSS 302 TRANS AM Bench-warmer Boss Although the car’s history is complete, there’s no actual race history in there, so value becomes a huge question 52 AmericanCarCollector.com VIN: 41971 (BME number 4) by Sam Stockham • The final Kar Kraft Bud Moore Boss 302 Trans Am racer • Completed under the supervision of Bud Moore and sons to 1971 BME specifications • Certificate of Authenticity signed by Bud Moore • Eligible for HSR/SVRA events and a FIA Historic Technical Passport ACC Analysis This car, Lot 127, sold for $200,000, including buyer’s pre- mium, at RM’s Arizona sale in Phoenix, AZ, on January 15 and 16, 2015. Trans Am racing was a big deal back in the late ’60s, but only briefly. It was a simple format that really appealed to the American audience and brought out record numbers of spectators. For a short period, the over-2-liter class was a dramatic showcase for American manufacturers to display the pony cars they wanted to sell on Monday. Trans Am was always an entertaining series to watch, but the 1969 through 1971 seasons were really the golden era. All the American manufacturers were represented during that period, with Mopar contributing efforts from both Dodge and Plymouth. AMC was in the game as well, and their Javelin proved hard to beat in 1971 with Mark Donohue at the helm. But let’s back up a second. The glory days of the Ford Mustang really came during the 1970 season. The legendary Parnelli Jones and hot-shoe George Follmer piloted the Bud Moore Racing (BME) Mustang that season. Together they won an impressive six out of 11 races and the overall championship. This racing success helped establish the Boss 302 Mustang as the street machine to have in 1970, and it continues to spark Boss 302 values today. The power of history In general, car collectors tend to place a lot of value on their cars’ history and stories. A car can have all the rarity in the world, but without provenance, it’s often shunned by the large mass of collectors — and they’re the ones who drive prices in the market. It goes without saying that the cars that actually performed the duties in racing combat have the best stories and thus will have the highest values, and that’s what we have here… well, sort of. Patrick Ernzen ©2015, courtesy of RM Auctions

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COLLECTOr’S rESOurCE: You can easily track a car’s value over time with the ACC premium Auction Database, featuring more than 125,000 American cars searchable by year, model, VIN and more. Sign up for just $59 at www.AmericanCarCollector.com! Detailing Years produced: 1970, 2011 Number produced: 11 Original list price: N/A Current ACC Valuation: $200,000–$350,000 (depending on history) Tune-up cost: $500 VIN location: N/A Engine # location: N/A Club: www.historictransam. com Alternatives: Any in-period Trans Am racer, including Chevrolet Camaro Z/28, Dodge Challenger T/A, and AMC Javelin The abbreviated version of the story goes like this: In 1969, Ford provided Bud Moore Racing four Kar Kraft-built Boss 302 cars for the 1969 season and three more for the 1970 season. All cars were built by BME and raced through the 1970 season, driven by Jones and Follmer. Despite the championship success of the 1970 season, Ford saw the writing on the wall and pulled factory support out of the series. As a consolation prize, they left Bud Moore Racing with four more blank-slate 1970 Mustang chassis-in-white for BME to build for the upcoming 1971 season. Three of these final four cars were completed. Chassis #4, which happens to be our subject car, remained unfinished until 2011, when the seller here decided to finish the car to period standards. Authenticity without glory days The seller of Chassis #4 went to great lengths to complete the car as authentically as possible, and even enlisted the aid of Bud Moore himself, along with Moore’s son Greg and other members of the crew from 1970. This extensive consultation and blessing by Bud Moore Racing was fully documented and presented with the car for sale, as was a well-documented history of the car prior to its acquisition by the seller. There is no doubt that this car is chassis #4 presented by Ford, and it therefore goes down in the history books as a piece of Bud Moore Racing history. And obviously, this was a high-quality build, with many pieces sourced directly from Bud Moore Racing. If you were to put this car on the track today, it would give the new owner an experience nearly identical to what Jones and Follmer would have had in 1970. It is said to be eligible for many historic events, and it should have just enough provenance to earn respect on the paddock. Finally, if the new owner decides to vintage-race the car, there is no risk of undoing the elements of history if the car gets stuffed into the wall. But, on the flip side, it never saw any track action. There are no period pictures. There is no road rash. No battle scars. There is no essence of the race in it, and that’s a driving force for most collectors today. With that in mind, trying to pin a value on our subject car is tough. While all of the other chassis were out there having all of the fun, chassis #4 was warming the bench, waiting to be put into the game. What’s it really worth? Looking at some comparable sales inside ACC’s Premium Auction Database sheds some light on this car’s value. Mecum managed a high bid of $300,000 at its Monterey auction in 2012 for one of the other 1971 BME entrants driven by Peter Gregg (ACC# 209471). That car had three podium finishes, but all were in a year that did not see the championship. This resulted in a no-sale, and it was reported that it would have taken around $400,000 to get it sold at that time. The 1971 Championship-winning AMC Javelin, driven by Mark Donohue, sold five years ago at Russo and Steele’s Monterey auction for $847,000 (ACC# 165836). That car has history. It won the championship. The new owner of that car paid handsomely for it, but no other car has that history, at least not for the 1971 season. Remember, the better the story, the more money it will get. Racing purists might consider our subject car the runt of the litter because of its limited story. Personally, I think that is the story. Find another race-ready car from a legendary team in a legendary series at a legendary time that never actually raced. You couldn’t acquire and build this car for the price spent here, especially when you factor in the consultation time put in by the Bud Moore Racing brain trust. All things considered, I’d say the price paid here was ACC Investment Grade: C Comps 1967 Shelby Mustang Trans Am Lot 3116, VIN: 7R01K218307 Condition: 1- Not sold at $190,000 Auctions America, Burbank, CA, 8/1/2014 ACC# 244563 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Trans Am Lot S134, VIN: 18159 Condition: 2+ ACC# 209471 Not sold at $300,000 Mecum Auctions, Monterey, CA, 8/16/2012 money darn well spent. A (Introductory description courtesy of RM Auctions.) 1971 AMC Javelin Trans Am Lot S660, VIN: N/A Condition: 1Sold at $847,000 Russo and Steele, Monterey, CA, 8/12/2010 ACC# 165836 March-April 2015 53

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PROFILE TRUCK 1976 CHEVROLET C10 CUSTOM PICKUP The next big thing is already here Muscular and well defined, this era of hauler strikes a square-jawed silhouette when compared with the bubbly lines of today’s waxed and manicured pickups 54 AmericanCarCollector.com 54 AmericanCarCollector.com VIN: CCL146Z142937 by Jay Harden T his pickup was built by Gas Monkey Garage on Discovery’s hit show “Fast N’ Loud.” It has a fresh new paint job using the factory colors with a factory two-tone paint scheme. The low stance of the truck was achieved using air-ride products from Porterbuilt Fabrication and AccuAir Suspension. Under the hood is a GM Performance crate LS7 with a host of parts that produce an estimated 600 hp. Backing up the motor is a heavy-duty 4L85E auto transmission. Inside the truck is a fully custom interior done by Hix Designs and LeatherSeats.com. ACC Analysis This truck, Lot 1282, sold for $45,100, including buyer’s pre- mium, at Barrett-Jackson’s annual Scottsdale, AZ, auction on January 17, 2015. A couple of years ago I decided it was time to find myself a nice old Chevy half-ton pickup. I was looking for a solid, turn-key and relatively rust-free truck that I could fluff up and throw shiny bits at between plywood runs and dirt-road shenanigans. Unfortunately, the longer I scoured the local clas- sifieds, the more painfully obvious it became that: 1) I had clearly missed the boat on the ’67-’72 C and K10s, and 2) that the average seller and I had very different definitions of the word “driveable.” My options in trucks from that era were limited to too little a truck at too high a price, so I simply moved my search criteria up an era and began sifting through ’73 to ’87 GMs. Going square Although the square Chevys have been popular in the lowrider and mud-slinger circles for years, those are two very niche crews that the mainstream has long kept at arm’s length. As a consequence, I was expecting to snag a quality rig on the cheap that, as far as I was concerned, was about as collectible as bellybutton lint. I wasn’t quite prepared for what I found. Unbeknownst to me, all the square-body owners must’ve gotten together sometime in the past four or five years and decided their trucks were classics, too. Asking prices were easily double and triple what I was expecting to find, and, as a result, weren’t much cheaper than their muscle-car-era cousins. All I could think was, “In what world does this make any sense?” Then came the fully restored 1978 Silverado K10 that Chevrolet debuted at 2013’s SEMA show. It was all cleaned up and dressed in Tuxedo Black and Scarlet Red in the stock scheme — just a simple, straightforward truck with all-new technology discreetly hidden under the hood. That truck was a show-stopper that no one saw coming. A little over a year later, we have this truck’s sale to deal with. Towing the market Muscular and well defined, this era of hauler strikes a square-jawed silhouette when compared with the bubbly lines of today’s waxed and manicured pickups. Although I’m sure there’s a few in this crowd grum- Courtesy of Barrett-Jackson Auction Co.

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COLLECTOr’S rESOurCE: The easiest way to track a car’s value over time is the ACC premium Auction Database, featuring more than 125,000 American cars searchable by year, make, model, VIN and more. Sign up at www.AmericanCarCollector.com. bit as relevant as the ’32 roadster, and perhaps even more so. This seems like a good time to remind ourselves that our subject truck will be 40 years old next year. Rolling back the clock Another important factor to consider is that there bling about this green-and-white beauty’s enormous rollers and weed-eater stance, it’s hard to deny that this is anything but one handsome devil of a pickup. But $45,000 is a heck of a lot of money to spend on an old truck that few would dare to classify as worth the effort. To be fair, the components list does consist of some high-dollar items, most notably that LS7, those 22-inch wheels, and the custom interior. But I still don’t see this as a parts-are-greater-than-the-sum scenario. The price paid here is simply too high for that. Something else is happening. You might assume this buyer simply watches too much television and, as a result, got a bit carried away with the celebrity status of the builder. However, I’m not sure this truck’s 15 minutes of fame had much to do with the price, if anything at all. Looking outside the bubble of this particular sale, it quickly becomes apparent that the money spent here isn’t as far out of line as I may have initially thought. For example, take a look at Lot 47 from the same B-J Scottsdale event. A bone-stock, completely unadulterated ’77 C10 longbed that sold for — brace yourself — $35,200. Holy moly. That truck is a lowmile survivor, but is it collectible? Certainly not from a performance or historically significant standpoint. By my calculations, somewhere around a bazillion of these trucks were built, so we can rule out exclusivity as well. So what then? Timing is everything Well, I may be oversimplifying a bit, but the truth may be as simple as the fact that we ain’t gettin’ any younger. I know that sounds ridiculous, but hear me out. The explosion of interest in the cars and trucks from the late ’60s and early ’70s perfectly coincided with an equally dramatic wane in the street-rod market. Why? Well, it really all comes down to the timing. Back in the 1980s, the vast majority of high-dollar builds and restorations were all of pre-war vintage. Why? Because the guys who could afford to build them were also the same guys who grew up with them, and, in many cases, had waited their entire lives to park one in the garage. By the time the early 2000s rolled around, the muscle car era had been dead for nearly three decades, and those who lived through it were somewhere deep into their 40s or 50s. Not so coincidentally, and almost overnight, the first-gen Camaro became every January-February 2015 55 March-April 2015 55CC really wasn’t much excitement from Detroit in the decade after the oil crunch. The bar for Americanmade, V8-powered, rear-wheel-driven goodness was set painfully low. At least the pickups had some utility about them, and they were workhorses that easily transitioned from the cornfields to the high-school parking lot. They were sturdy if not exhilarating, and most of us can recount at least one youthful ride in the bed of a pickup back before lawyers ruled the land. Remember? You probably almost fell out. And it was awesome. I’d bet the memory brings a smile to your face. The point is that we crave what we know. We want to relish those moments that defined our youth while slowly reimagining them through the oh-so-pleasant lens of nostalgia. In some cases, it’s the opportunity to relive an open-highway moment behind the wheel of a hot rod that only existed in the droopy-eyed slumber of a school kid waiting for the day’s final bell. In others, we want to take the wheel again with the memory of grandpa staring lazily out the passenger’s side window as the mile markers zip by on a quiet country road. The easiest way to ride with that memory is to put him in the right seat. ACC has been asserting that trucks and SUVs from the ’70s and ’80s will be the next big thing for a while now, but if you look around, you’ll notice that they already are. I’ll stop short of encouraging you to trade that ’32 roadster or ’69 Camaro for a truck, but don’t be surprised if this sale, which may seem like an outlier, turns commonplace. This truck was expensive, but I don’t think I can really call it well sold — there’s just too much money sunk in it already. It still may be a little early to call this truck well bought at this price, too, but it’s still cheaper than buying a new one and replicating the customizations. We may just need to accept that the market has spoken and the inevitable is here. I should have bought mine cheap when I had the chance. Looks like I’ll just have to pay to play. Like I said, we ain’t gettin’ any younger. A (Introductory description courtesy of Barrett- Jackson.) 1978 Chevrolet C10 custom pickup Lot 718, VIN: CCL448Z201491 Condition: 1Sold at $31,900 Barrett-Jackson, Reno, NV, 8/2/2014 ACC# 244983 Detailing Current ACC Valuation: $10,000–$20,000 (stock) VIN location: Inside of lefthand door pillar Engine # location: Pad on engine block, passenger’s side, ahead of cylinder head Years produced: 1973–87 Number produced: 458,424 (all 1976 C10 and K10) Original list price: $3,863 (short bed) Alternatives: 1967–72 Chevrolet C10, 1960–66 Chevrolet C-10, 1967–72 Ford F-series ACC Investment Grade: D Comps Club: www.67-72chevytrucks. com 1977 Chevrolet K20 Scottsdale pickup Lot T120, VIN: CKL247F442630 Condition: 3+ Not sold at $15,500 ACC# 256604 Mecum Auctions, Kansas City, MO, 12/5/2014 1972 Chevrolet C10 Cheyenne Super pickup Lot S174, VIN: CCE142S148014 Condition: 2 Sold at $20,520 ACC# 255985 Mecum Auctions, Chicago, IL, 10/10/2014

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MArKET OVERVIEW Customs climb STREET RODS, MODDED PICKUPS AND RIDICULOUS RESTO-MODS BRING THE MONEY by Tony Piff TOP 10 sales this issue 1. 1966 Shelby Cobra Super Snake, $5,115,000— Barrett-Jackson, p. 66 2. 1950 GM Futurliner bus, $4,000,000—BarrettJackson, p. 60 3. 1954 pontiac Bonneville concept convertible, $3,300,000—BarrettJackson, p. 60 4. 1932 packard 904 phaeton, $1,045,000—rM, p. 104 5. 1966 Shelby Cobra 427, $990,000—rM, p. 102 6. 1969 Shelby GT500 convertible, $550,000— Barrett-Jackson, p. 66 7. 2007 Blastolene B-702 roadster, $550,000— Barrett-Jackson, p. 67 8. 1934 Cadillac resto-mod convertible, $440,000— Barrett-Jackson, p. 60 9. 1941 Chrysler royal Town & Country wagon, $440,000—rM, p. 102 10. 1931 Chrysler CG Imperial dual-cowl phaeton, $412,500—rM, p. 102 BEST BUYS 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS LS6 convertible, $225,500—rM, p. 96 56 AmericanCarCollector.com 1953 Buick roadmaster sedan, $110,000—Barrett-Jackson, p. 60 1962 Chevrolet Corvette convertible, $108,900—Leake, p. 72 1936 Ford Model 68 roadster, $93,500—rM, p. 100 1971 Chevrolet Corvette coupe, $28,600—russo and Steele, p. 82 2 014 finished strong, and 2015 shows no sign of slowing. Leake’s November Dallas sale hit a record sales total of $10.2m, up from $9.4m a year ago. Leake consigned 33 fewer cars (555, down from 588), but sold more (375, up from 365), and average price crept up to $27k from $26k. A Duesenberg Glenn Pray sport phaeton built in 1978 was the big money at $283k. Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale sales surged forward to $131m from $110m last year. They consigned and sold more cars than ever (1,609/1,628, compared with 1,401/1,405 at Scottsdale 2014), and average price climbed to $82k from $79k. Ron Pratte’s 1966 Shelby Cobra “Super Snake” took high-sale honors at $5.1m. At Russo and Steele’s Scottsdale auction, fewer cars crossed the block than last year (603, down from 735), but sell-through bumped up to 67% from 66%. Total sales declined to $16.8m from $21m, and average price dipped to $42k from $44k. The most expensive American car here was a 1966 Shelby 427 Cobra, sold at $440k. Silver consigned fewer cars than usual (316, down from 328) but sold 219 cars for a stronger-than-usual 69% sell-through rate. Sales increased to $3.6m from $3.3m last year, and average price held about flat at $16k. A1956 DeSoto Firedome convertible came out on top at $85k. Tony’s Market Moment: Modified pickups sold strong at Barrett-Jackson, bringing $30k–$40k when just a year ago they were $20k all day long. Fullcustom street rods did fine as well — such as a 1932 Ford Model B roadster and “Alumatub”, a 1929 Ford Model A convertible, sold at $154k and $187k, respectively. But the custom segment that caught my eye was resto-mods. A 1962 Chevrolet Corvette convertible in “Cinnamon Candy Orange” with 525-hp LS3 and custom 20-inch wheels sold for $220k, and a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible on a GT Sport Chassis with 480-hp crate V8 sold for $264k — far bigger money than you’d pay for a stock example of either. Each of the winning bidders got a slick new ride that’s iconic yet unique, and built to drive. I certainly think that’s worth paying for.A unusual mods and customs are attracting increasing attention — and money GAA, Greensboro, NC November 6–8, 2014 Leake, Dallas, TX November 21–23, 2014 Mecum, Kansas City, MO December 4–7, 2014 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ January 10–18 russo and Steele, Scottsdale, AZ January 14–18 Bonhams, Scottsdale, AZ January 15 rM, phoenix, AZ January 15–16 Silver, Fort McDowell, AZ January 15–17 Gooding & Co., Scottsdale, AZ January 16–17 $0 $30m $3.6m $51.1m $60m $90m $120m $150m $63.6m $16.8m $24.9m Auctions in this issue $7m $10.2m $8.3m $131m

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BARRETT-JACKSON // Scottsdale, AZ Barrett-Jackson — Scottsdale 2015 ALL TOLD, RON PRATTE’S COLLECTION OF CARS AND AUTOMOBILIA NETTED A TOTAL OF $40M BarrettJackson Scottsdale, AZ January 10–18, 2015 Auctioneers: Assiter & Associates — Tom “Spanky” Assiter, lead auctioneer Automotive lots sold/ offered: 1,609/1,628 Sales rate: 99% Sales total: $131,246,800 high sale: 1966 Shelby Super Snake, sold at $5,115,000 Buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold prices ACC 1–6 scale condition rating for vehicles in Market Reports 1. perfect: National show standard 2. Excellent: Club show-worthy, some small flaws 3. Average: Daily driver in decent condition 4. Meh: Still a driver, with some visible flaws 5. Questionable: A problem-plagued beast that somehow manages to run 6. Lost cause: Salvageable for parts Jim Pickering This year’s auction added an extra dose of adrenalin with the ron pratte Collection Report and photos by Daniel Grunwald Market opinions in italics B 58 AmericanCarCollector.com arrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale sale in January is always an “event” as much as an auction. It starts the year for car collectors and tends to suggest trends for the next 12 months. This year’s auction added an extra dose of adren- alin with the Ron Pratte Collection. Pratte was a realestate developer in the Phoenix area who amassed his car collection over the past 12 years almost exclusively at Barrett-Jackson auctions. This year he decided to sell off the collection. The first group of Pratte cars crossed the block on Tuesday. This group of 110 automotive lots (2000–2109), along with 74 warm-up lots, set a new early weekday auction record for Barrett-Jackson with a total of $13m in sales. The remainder of the Pratte Collection (lots 2500– 2530) sold at prime time on Saturday. The top-selling car this year came as no surprise: the 1966 Shelby Super Snake, at $5.1m. Next up was the 1950 GM Futurliner Bus, which sold for $4m (to benefit charity). Next in line was the 1954 Pontiac Bonneville concept car, at $3.3m. All told, Pratte’s cars and automobilia netted a total of $40.4m. One apparent trend that I noticed was an increased number of resto-mods on offer and bigger prices paid for them. A 1957 Buick Caballero wagon looked pretty much stock with a subtle retro-modern vibe, 364-ci crate engine under the hood, and 700R4 automatic transmission. It sold for $110k. Even more ridiculous was a 1934 Cadillac convertible equipped with 4.6-L fuel-injected Northstar V8 and Vintage Air. It sold for $440k — a strong price for a one-off custom with no comps, but arguably worth it, considering the build quality. Barrett-Jackson once again sold more cars and took in more dollars than any of the other players in this busy auction week. They sold 1,609 cars out of 1,628 for total sales of $131m. That works out to a 98.8% sell-through rate and an average price per car of $82k. Eight cars sold for over $1m. That is what you call “moving the metal.”A 1966 Shelby Super Snake, sold at $5,115,000

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BARRETT-JACKSON // Scottsdale, AZ GM #5034-1934 CADILLAC resto-mod convertible. VIN: 3103793. White/ black cloth/red leather. Odo: 3,215 miles. 4.6-L fuel-injected V8, auto. A wonderful resto-mod built with all-original Cadillac steel body parts. The engine is a Northstar V8 with a 700R4 automatic transmission and Vintage Air. It has beautiful paint and chrome with all-chrome 5-mph custom bumpers. The suspension is independent front and rear. The interior is red leather with a banjo steering wheel. Dual sidemounts and full fender skirts with great chrome pod headlights and taillights add to the look. Cond: 1-. 8 over the driver (a great help in preventing heat exhaustion). Factory drivetrain mods helped push Futurliner #10 to a 41-second quarter-mile at 28 mph at the 2011 Pontiac Nationals. Well sold, even $400k under what Pratte paid in 2006. blue & gray plaid cloth. Odo: 5,539 miles. 322-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. The Howard Hughes Buick. Said to be 100% original as when Hughes drove it. Modifications in engine compartment and trunk to accommodate custom a/c system with dust and bacteria filters, powered by a 24-volt aircraft power system. Cabin completely sealed except driver’s window to prevent air leakage. Original paint is showing its age with lots of pinholes, scrapes, chips, and worn-through areas. Both front fenders fit wide at the hood and doors. The front chrome shows micro-scratches and wear. Cond: 3-. #2503-1953 BUICK ROADMASTER sedan. VIN: V1317897. Blue & green/ Futurliner. Sold in 2006 at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale for $3m (ACC# 40464). Well bought and sold today. A great piece of history that will always bring the big dollars. #2072-1956 CHEVROLET BEL AIR convertible. VIN: VC56J137126. Two-tone blue/blue canvas/two-tone blue cloth & vinyl. Odo: 33 miles. 265-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. Looks much better than when it left the factory. The paint is concours-quality, and the chrome all looks a foot deep and smooth as glass. The cloth and vinyl stock-look interior is spotless. Optioned with power steering, brakes and windows, Wonderbar radio, Continental spare tire and bumper overriders. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $440,000. A really classy restomod in the old Hollywood style that has the ability to cruise in comfort all day long. I loved this car. No comps for reference, but two people liked it a lot, so it was worth $440k today. #2501-1950 GM FUTURLINER bus. VIN: 011. Red & white/green cloth & vinyl. MHD. Odo: 9,607 miles. 400-ci I6, 1-bbl, 4-sp. Fully restored since Ron Pratte purchased it in 2006 for $4.4m (ACC# 40076). Has 16-foot center display area with hinged door opening and a roof section that raises up for lighting. Single driver’s seat sits 10 feet in the air in the center cockpit. The tires alone (including duals on the front axle) had to be custom made with new custom molds to replicate the originals, with “General Motors Parade of Progress” script on the whitewalls. One of 12 built. Cond: 2. 2 SOLD AT $167,200. As near perfect as possible in a shoebox Chevy. The bidders recognized the quality here and were willing to spend whatever it took to take it home. SOLD AT $110,000. Purchased by Ron Pratte at the Palm Beach Barrett-Jackson auction in 2005 for $1.6m (ACC# 37712). Not one of his better investments. Price here seems realistic. Call it well bought. #2500-1954 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE concept convertible. VIN: 50175932.Green/green leather. Odo: 808 miles. 268-ci I6, 4x1-bbl, auto. Still shows as well as it did when it was built and when it was last sold in 2006. A beautiful restoration that is hard to fault. Every design element on this car is specific to it, with nothing that appears to be cribbed from any production-car parts bin. Cond: 1. 3 #1085-1957 BUICK CABALLERO wagon. VIN: 6D8026175. Tan & bronze/tan vinyl. Odo: 600 miles. 364-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Allnew chrome and paint with custom bench seats, ’59 Chevy steering wheel and tinted glass all around. Lowered tubular A-arm suspension with coil-overs and power front disc brakes. Wide whitewalls on chrome wire wheels. Powered by a 364-ci crate engine and 700R4 auto trans. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $4,000,000. At 33 feet long, 7.9 feet wide, 11.5 feet high and 30,000 pounds, it could not be driven across the podium, but it was driven partially up the ramp during the sale. These Futurliners received a GM makeover in 1953 when the original canopy was replaced with a roof 60 AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $3,300,000. One of two Bonneville concept cars built by GM for the 1954 auto-show circuit. The other one was brown and went to the East Coast. This one went to the West Coast auto-show circuit. It was displayed with the Futurliner when it toured the country for General Motors in the 1950s, and it crossed the block here just before the SOLD AT $110,000. One of the best-looking and most unusual station-wagon styles of the 1950s. The pillarless hard-top fourdoor bodies were constructed by an independent contractor, the Ionia Body Co. in Flint, MI. This example might be called a light resto-mod, as it has just enough comfort and light custom features to modernize it without losing the original look. Big money. #249-1957 CHEVROLET 3100 pickup. VIN: L57L100553. Red & white/red & white vinyl. Odo: 1,543 miles. 283-ci V8, 4-bbl, 3-sp. Not quite concours-quality paint, but TOP 10 TOP 10 TOP 10 BEST BUY

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BARRETT-JACKSON // Scottsdale, AZ QUICKTAKE 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake SOLD at $5,115,000 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ, January 10–18, 2015, Lot 2509 VIN: CSX3015 SOLD AT $41,800. A well done nut-andbolt restoration of a Colorado truck. Sold well, but worth the price for the quality and the strength of the truck market. #2514-1957 CHEVROLET BEL AIR “Chezoom” 2-dr hard top. VIN: VC57S329. Teal/cream leather. Odo: 4,138 miles. 350ci fuel-injected V8, auto. Originally built by Boyd Coddington for the owner of “Mr. Gasket,” Joe Hrudka. Still sports the original paint. Built with a modified 1957 body on a tube chassis with 1985 Corvette suspension and a 350-hp LT-1 and 700R4 automatic transmission. Cond: 1. quite good, with very few flaws and very good colors. All-new high-quality chrome. A few trim dents on upper right side trim. New tinted glass all around. Well detailed under the hood with new wiring. Non-conforming VIN tag in door jamb. Cond: 2+. courtesy of Barrett-Jackson such thing as too much power. But if there is in fact a limit, Carroll Shelby must have found it with the Super Snake. The whole point of the Super Snake was to see how fast a Cobra would go. Two were built Most hot rod and muscle car guys will tell you that there’s no — this car, which Shelby built for himself, and another, CSX3303, which was delivered new to comedian Bill Cosby. As the story goes, Cosby only had his car for about a month, returning it to Shelby because the power scared him. A later owner reportedly got a speeding ticket from the California Highway Patrol in it, before eventually losing control of the car and launching it off a cliff into Half Moon Bay. Why were the Super Snakes so scary? They started life as 427 comp cars, which were each fitted with a special Edelbrock XF8 cross-ram intake, twin Holley carbs, and twin Paxton superchargers. That’s right, two of them, hanging side-by-side off the front of the block. A C6 auto rounded out the package. Shelby estimated each car put out about 800 horses. As for speed, these cars ran to 60 in just 3.8 seconds or so on their way to an 11.8-second quarter-mile time, likely with a lot of tire smoke. While that’s not a lot compared with a 707-hp Hellcat in today’s world, the Cobra weighed next to nothing, and we’re talking about ’60s carbs here — not smooth tool-around-town electronic fuel injection. These cars were brutal. For Cobra guys, this is the ultimate version of the 427, and this is the only remaining example of the two. That makes this car especially desirable to collectors. I was at Barrett-Jackson when this car sold to Ron Pratte for $5.5m in January 2007 (ACC# 44047), and I think it’s safe to say there was just as much buzz about the car at this year’s Barrett-Jackson sale, too. While this price was below what it sold for last time, that last sale happened right at the high-water mark of muscle pricing before the economic crash pulled the rug out from under muscle car values, and the recovery, even years later, is still ongoing. As such, as this is really the ultimate Shelby, I think it was a pretty shrewd buy at this price. After all, there’s only one. A 62 AmericanCarCollector.com AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $352,000. Modified by Boyd Coddington in 2004 with a new interior, a/c, new sound system and some engine compartment mods. Possibly the most famous custom shoebox Chevy ever. Ron Pratte bought it at Barrett-Jackson in 2005 for $372,600 (ACC# 37047). I am going to call this car fairly bought and sold. I am sure we will see it again in the future, and it will still bring around this money. Some things are simply timeless. #667-1967 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE SS 396 2-dr hard top. VIN: 138177B178627. Yellow/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 3,575 miles. 396-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. The bumpers and trim are beginning to show some age, dents, and dullness. Most of the glass is — Jim Pickering

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BARRETT-JACKSON // Scottsdale, AZ scratched, including the outside rear-view mirror. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $36,300. Not really a show car, but it should be a nice driver-quality SS. The ACC Premium Auction Database shows a previous sale at Russo and Steele Scottsdale last January for $39,100 (ACC# 242254), which would seem to confirm the correctness of this price. #376-1967 CHEVROLET NOVA 2-dr hard top. VIN: 115377W146242. Butternut/black vinyl. Odo: 90,102 miles. 188-ci I6, 1-bbl, auto. A very original car from California; looks rust-free. It looks to have all-original paint, with lots of crackling and checking as expected, but it also shines and shows no chips or peeling. The chrome and trim all show extremely well for their age, with no dents even in the long side trim. The original bench-seat interior has some seam stretching in places but appears intact. Cond: 3. ko’s showroom. ACC Premium Auction Database shows it no-saled in 1992 at a Kruse auction at $56k (ACC# 15300). Well bought and sold here. #2035-1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO Z/28 coupe. VIN: 124379N509335. Green/black vinyl. Odo: 20 miles. 302-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. The paint is very good. The door gaps seem just a bit wide, and the right headlight door could use a little adjustment. Options include 4:10 rear, 2x4 Cross Ram, Endura bumper, headlight washers and deluxe seat belts. Cond: 1-. general are hot. El Caminos still have some catch-up room, and it isn’t easy to find clean ones that haven’t been overworked. Bought fair considering the condition. #2073-1970 OLDSMOBILE 442 convertible. VIN: 344670E123003. Green/tan cloth/ tan vinyl. Odo: 3,519 miles. 455-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Restored with a powder-coated frame, aluminum radiator, disc brakes, and new wheels and tires. Still has original underdash 8-track tape player. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $148,500. Well restored, with documentation including window sticker, Protect-O-Plate and original keys. Last sold at Barrett Jackson Las Vegas in 2008 for $137,500 (ACC# 122395). Very well sold, again. SOLD AT $22,000. There are always a few of these really nice survivors here at Barrett. You have to look hard, as they don’t stand out in the crowd, but surviving originality like this cannot be replicated. I wasn’t the only one who noticed this one, though. A premium was paid here for this well-preserved little Nova. #5063-1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO Yenko coupe. VIN: 124379N579518. Orange/black vinyl. Odo: 24,552 miles. 427ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. One of the first 50 Yenko COPO Camaros ordered, and this one was specifically built for drag racing. Spotless paint and interior. Both door gaps appear wide at the front. Still has the smog system and original cowl induction. Bulletproof documentation. Class winner at Meadow Brook in 2007. Cond: 1-. #1072-1969 PONTIAC TRANS AM coupe. VIN: 223379N108102. White & blue/blue vinyl. Odo: 63,748 miles. 400-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. A few light trim scratches and some age showing on the grille/bumper chrome. The plating is light on the left rear bumper. Ram Air III engine with Ram Air induction. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $115,500. This car sold at Mecum Monterey in August 2011 for $63,600 (ACC# 183932) and again at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2012 for $66,000 as a #3 car with some needs (ACC# 193970). For this sale it was beautifully restored with light driver comfort upgrades. Now it looks better than factory-new everywhere. Very well sold. SOLD AT $110,000. Said to be one of 520 Trans Ams built in ’69 with both 4-speed and Ram Air. Sold at Barrett-Jackson here in Scottsdale 2011 for $89k with 63,699 miles on the odometer (ACC# 168482). Seventy-nine miles have been driven in the past three years. Still sold fair to both buyer and seller. SOLD AT $264,000. Low miles were likely put on a quarter-mile at a time when new. A quality restoration was done in 2007, and the car was likely driven less than a quarter mile since. Still looks like it did in Don Yen- #224-1970 CHEVROLET EL CAMINO pickup. VIN: 136800K178780. Gold/tan vinyl. Odo: 80,000 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Looks to be freshly painted, smooth and shiny. The passenger’s door gap looks a little wide. The interior is clean and has an aftermarket radio in the dash. Fitted with American Torq-Thrust alloy wheels and an SS hood. Factory air conditioning. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $23,650. It’s no secret I like El Caminos. This one cost less than an SS model and looked nearly as good. Probably not a mistake to buy it now, as trucks in #93-1972 CHEVROLET C10 Cheyenne Super pickup. VIN: CCE142F349289. White & orange/black & white vinyl. Odo: 19 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Fresh, goodquality paint and new chrome bumpers. Tinted glass, a/c, power disc brakes, automatic transmission, and AM/FM radio. Some light scratches on the left side window and light pitting on the vent-window frames. The bed has been reworked lightly for smoothness. The gauges are said to be new and look original to the truck. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $32,450. A good-looking Cheyenne Super ready for the road or local show. My guess is that most of these refurbished pickup trucks are purchased to be driven rather than just displayed. At least March-April 2015 63

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BARRETT-JACKSON // Scottsdale, AZ two bidders really, really liked this truck and paid dearly for the pleasure of owning it. CORVETTE #814-1954 CHEVROLET CORVETTE roadster. VIN: E54S002408. Red/white cloth/red vinyl. Odo: 4,843 miles. 235-ci 150-hp I6, 3x1-bbl, auto. The factory panel fit was marginal on these cars, but this one seems a bit more marginal than most. There is also a wavy area at the front of the right door. The chrome all shows very well, as does the factory-quality paint. The wide whitewalls could use a scrubbing. Cond: 2. 4-bbl, auto. New metallic blue paint and all-new chrome. Auto transmission and a/c, AM/FM, power steering, power brakes and tinted glass from the factory. The alloy wheels are a later addition. Beautifully restored in all areas. Cond: 1-. shifter arm. Comes with factory a/c, power windows, and the 400-hp Tri-Power engine option. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $140,800. The 427/400 is less tempermental than the solid-lifter 435-hp version, and the a/c has to be nice in Arizona. Well restored and unique option package. The edge goes to the seller here, but just barely. FOMOCO SOLD AT $174,900. This Split-Window Corvette has air conditioning and an automatic transmission, so you can buy it and tell your wife you bought it with her in mind. She will love you more for thinking of her, unless you actually spend $175k for it. Way over the top. SOLD AT $97,900. The display showed copies of numerous awards, including NCRS Top Flight in 2005 and performance verification in 2004 as well as Bloomington Gold, Triple Crown and Gold Spinner in 2000. Previously sold in 2009 at Bloomington Gold for $75k (ACC# 255451) and nosaled last June at Mecum Seattle with a bid of $65k. The third time is the charm, as I would put it solidly into the “well-sold” column today. #5001-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE coupe. VIN: 30837S119595. Blue/blue vinyl. Odo: 88,339 miles. 327-ci 250-hp V8, #5008-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 194677S105309. Yellow/ yellow hard top/black leather. Odo: 84,820 miles. 427-ci 400-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. The paint on the hard top is weak, with some ill-fitting trim that is also dented. There are a couple of paint chips on the body. The leather seats show light wear, and the interior chrome is weak on some knobs and the #2516-1929 FORD MODEL A “Alumatub” custom convertible. VIN: 29A00037. Natural aluminum/silver hard top/silver leather. A couple of light dents in the radiator fins. The original body-panel welds are visible, but those are original to the body, and all are smooth and well finished. The full aluminum body sits on an aluminum frame with an aluminum dropped axle in the front. Powered by a 350 small-block engine with 3 deuces and an auto trans with a Mooneyes electric shifter. The minimalist interior features a bench seat, steering wheel, three gauges, two pedals, and that’s it. The handformed aluminum top is removable. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $187,000. Since this was built on the “American Hot Rod” TV show, most attribute it to Boyd Coddington alone. The hand-formed body was actually built by Marcel DeLay. The aluminum chassis and assembly were done by Boyd. Previously sold in January 2005 here at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale for $167k (ACC# 36951). Well sold, but an exceptional car. #2011-1932 FORD MODEL B custom roadster. VIN: 1827371007. Black & white/ red & white leather. Odo: 194 miles. Built by Boyd Coddington on the “American Hot Rod” TV show. All-steel body with a 350 64 AmericanCarCollector.com

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BARRETT-JACKSON // Scottsdale, AZ V8 with fuel injection that looks like three Strombergs. Disc brakes on the front look like Buick finned drums. Engine-turned firewall. Chromed dropped front axle, Moon Tank and S&W gauges. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $154,000. “Old school” rod by one of the great builders with no expense spared. Last sold in 2008 at Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas for $132k with 11 fewer miles on it (ACC# 118354). Own, enjoy and drive for six years (okay, they didn’t drive it), and come out ahead. Well sold, but not a bad buy. #1002.1-1932 FORD MODEL B custom roadster. VIN: 181252667. Silver & red/ black vinyl. Odo: 616 miles. Fiberglass ’32 roadster with all-custom chromed suspension. Double A-arms in front and Halibrand quick-change rear with inboard discs and independent rear suspension. Twenty-twoinch rear wheels. Hidden headlights and pillarless windshield. 350 SBC V8 with twin turbos that are chromed and show on the sides of the cut-out hood with shorty chromed exhaust pipes. Great paint and very nice interior. Cond: 1-. and looks factory-new. All structural wood is said to be original. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $139,700. This car was reportedly a wedding gift from Henry Ford to a Mrs. Kales. Doug Delorme, a 30-year veteran of the Ford design department, acquired the car from Mrs. Kales’ family and undertook a seven-year restoration to make it look as it does today. This has to be one of the best ’40 woodies on the planet. Well bought and sold. #746-1957 FORD THUNDERBIRD convertible. VIN: D7FH194718. Green/green hard top/green vinyl. Odo: 92,693 miles. 312-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. The left front fender looks somewhat wavy at the top of the wheelwell opening, and the driver’s side door fits a bit wide. The paint on the body is respectable, but the porthole hard-top paint shows lots of prep flaws. There are visible wear areas on the front bumper chrome. The seat covers look new. Cond: 2-. auto. Originally built on September 7, 1965, as a Cobra Competition roadster and invoiced to Ford in England for a promotional tour. In 1967 it was transformed into a Super Snake and classed as an SC (Semi Competition). Lots of history and documentation as one of two Super Snakes built. Still shows better than factory-new in all areas, with only minor paint chips on the alloy wheels. Said to have its original date-coded engine and aluminum hood. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $75,900. A smooth and sanitary hot rod that rides on big wheels with a low four-inch front clearance. As-new, with only 616 miles from birth. Sold at many previous Barrett sales: $83k at Palm Beach 2007; $55k at Vegas 2008; $47k at Russo Scottsdale 2009; $110k at Barrett Scottsdale 2010; and $53k at Scottsdale 2014 (ACC# 240895). It reappeared with current color combo in 2014 at Barrett Vegas and sold for $85k. A roller-coaster frequent flier that may never find a long-term home. #2021-1940 FORD DELUXE woodie wagon. VIN: 185790743. Brown/brown vinyl/tan leather. Odo: 234 miles. A few wrinkles in the driver’s seat and some roughness under the vinyl top covering. Allnew birch paneling done extremely well SOLD AT $49,500. The car card made this ’57 sound really great, but I thought the bodywork really let it down. More like a 20-footer to me. There were many better ’57 T-birds here to choose, and this one found a fair price for condition. #645-1966 FORD MUSTANG convertible. VIN: 6R08A214626. Red/white canvas/red vinyl. Odo: 12,866 miles. 289-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Recent quickie paint is shiny but shows lots of orange peel and poor SOLD AT $5,115,000. The top seller at this auction. Why was it modified into a Super Snake SC? A competition Cobra could not be driven on public roads due to a lack of mufflers, windshield, bumpers and other parts. The SC title allowed it to be titled and driven on the road, and it could then be used by Shelby American as a PR car. The only other Super Snake (CSX3033) was destroyed when it was driven off a cliff into the Pacific Ocean. This car sold previously at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale in 2007 for $5.5m (ACC# 44047). Well bought and sold today. See the Quick Take on p. 62. #2511-1969 SHELBY GT500 convertible. VIN: 9F03R482847. Red/ white canvas/white vinyl. Odo: 69,733 miles. 428-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Restored in 2007. The hood fits wide and high in the center, and the front of hood moulding is scratched. The steering wheel has a leather lace-on cover. Cond: 1-. 6 masking. Visible edge chips on the driver’s door. New carpets and seats. The trunk lid looks a bit wavy, and the new rear bumper has missing chrome plating around the bolt heads. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $30,800. A bit of a fluff-and-buff look here to get it ready for auction on a budget. Might still make a nice driver, but I would not like it at this price considering the condition. Fully priced and then some. 3015. Blue/black cloth/black leather. Odo: 17,449 miles. 427-ci supercharged V8, 1 66 AmericanCarCollector.com #2509-1966 SHELBY COBRA Super Snake roadster. VIN: CSX- SOLD AT $550,000. Owned by Carroll Shelby for over 30 years. Purchased new by him. Sold previously at Barrett-Jackson in 2008 for $743k (ACC# 48530). Truly a one-off vehicle that has much more to do with the provenance than the vehicle itself. #1284-1999 SHELBY SERIES 1 convertible. VIN: 5CXSA1817XL000123. Silver & blue/silver leather. Odo: 925 miles. 4-L fuelinjected V8, 6-sp. “As new” Series 1 with 925 miles on the odo. Carbon-fiber body on an aluminum frame with Oldsmobile DOHC Aurora L47 V8. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $117,700. These cars were a case study TOP 10 TOP 10

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BARRETT-JACKSON // Scottsdale, AZ in the difficulty of building a limited-edition automobile in our modern world. Cost overruns, missed production dates, quality control issues, and upset customers doomed the car to a very limited run, even with the Shelby name behind it and a good sports car body style. Market-priced. Compare with Lot 1141 with maroon stripes. #1141-1999 SHELBY SERIES 1 convertible. VIN: 5CSXA1810XL. Silver & maroon/ black & gray leather. Odo: 2,140 miles. 4-L fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. A couple of chips in the lower front paint and a couple of paint scratches where the top rubs on the body behind the seats. Cond: 1-. #5058-1966 PLYMOUTH BARRACUDA “Fireball 500” Barris movie car. VIN: BP29D65131501. White & orange/black vinyl. Odo: 6,254 miles. 273-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Lots of scratches, cracks, and flaws show in the original body and paint. The colored Plexiglas windscreens have age crackling. The interior shows lots of age and wear, as well as splits in the driver’s seat bottom. Started life as a pretty basic 273-ci automatic Barracuda. Built by George Barris for the movie “Fireball 500” starring Annette, Frankie and Fabian, and has their signatures on the dash. Cond: 3-. #5024-1970 PLYMOUTH HEMI ’CUDA 2-dr hard top. VIN: BS23R0B178823. Red/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 63,272 miles. 426-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. Equipped with rim-blow steering wheel, six-way power seat, power steering, Elastomeric bumpers and a Shaker hood. Good paint, trim and interior. Said to be Galen Govier-documented as a one-of-one options combination, but not explicitly stated to be numbers-matching. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $137,500. If the movie had been better, this car would have been restored long ago, and the money would be much stronger. If you don’t know Annette, Frankie and Fabian, you are far too young to care about this car anyway. SOLD AT $108,900. Same basic car as Lot 1141, except this one has maroon racing stripes rather than blue. This one also has 2,140 miles showing on the odometer rather than the 925 on the blue-stripe car. $9k savings for stripe color and another 1,000 or so miles on the odo seems worth it. MOPAR #5103-1957 DESOTO ADVENTURER convertible. VIN: 50414922. White/tan cloth/ cream leather. Odo: 82,494 miles. 345-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. Very good paint and interior, with most chrome looking factory-new. Some pitting is visible on the exhaust surrounds above the rear bumper. Both door fits are wide in places. A few windshield chips on the tinted glass. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $181,500. It was never a real 440 car, but it is nicely done, and if you want to look good and hang out at the local show, the idea is that you can do that for less money than a real one. In this case, you can throw that idea out the window, as this one sold for the same money for which you could buy a real one. SOLD AT $198,000. Said to be one of only 10 known examples left. Long and low with lots of chrome, and the top goes down. What more could you ask for? Fairly priced. CAR COLLECTOR AMERICAN SOLD AT $550,000. The Barrett-Jackson cover car in 2007, when it sold for $522,500. Our reporter wrote then, “I doubt if the builders made much here” (ACC# 48531). Customs are hard to value, but the market has spoken twice on this one. Well bought and sold. A ™ AmericanCarCollector.com/subscribe March-April 2015 67 SUBSCRIBE TO ACC 877.219.2605 Ext. 1 #1043-1970 PLYMOUTH ’CUDA 440 Six Pack replica convertible. VIN: BH27G0B236060. Red & black/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 2,969 miles. 440-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, auto. Started as a base 318-ci G-code car; built with a 1971 440 to look like a real 440 Six Pack ’Cuda. Good panel fit, 440 billboards, shaker hood, vinyl soft top, and plastic bumpers. Comes with cruise control and rimblow steering wheel that shows some age. Some of the plastic chrome trim on the console shows wear. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $176,000. A fresh-looking rotisserie restoration on this Hemi with options that match the original fender tag. Fair sale for both buyer and seller. AMERICANA 7 #2507-2007 BLASTOLENE B-702 roadster. VIN: OR821122. Blue/ maroon leather. Odo: 2 miles. 702-ci V12, 2x2-bbl, auto. A one-off hand-built giant, reminiscent of the great French classics. Built by the Blastolene Brothers, Randy Grubb and Michael Leeds. Aluminum handbuilt sweeping fenders and body panels and Woodlite headlights, a Lincoln-Zephyr speedometer and 12 side-exhaust pipes. Over 19 feet long, 94 inches wide and 4,800 pounds. Some flaws show in the plastic inserts in the rear fender wingtips. There are rough welds on the header collectors, which undoubtedly were there when it was built. Cond: 1-. TOP 10 Keith Martin’s

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LEAKE // Dallas, TX Leake — Dallas Fall 2014 A 1968 SHELBY GT350 SOLD STRONG AT $72K, AND A 1971 DODGE DEMON RESTORED AT A COST OF $75K CHANGED HANDS FOR $36K Leake Auction Company Dallas, TX November 21–23, 2014 Auctioneers: Brian Marshall, Tony Langdon, Bobby Ehlert Automotive lots sold/ offered: 375/555 Sales rate: 68% Sales total: $10,222,080 high sale: 1978 Pray-Duesenberg sport phaeton, sold at $282,500 Buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold prices ACC 1–6 scale condition rating for vehicles in Market Reports 1. perfect: National show standard 2. Excellent: Club show-worthy, some small flaws 3. Average: Daily driver in decent condition 4. Meh: Still a driver, with some visible flaws 5. Questionable: A problem-plagued beast that somehow manages to run 6. Lost cause: Salvageable for parts A bargain six months or a year from now? 1968 Shelby GT350 fastback, sold at $71,500 Report and photos by Phil Skinner and Elise Levy Market opinions in italics W 68 AmericanCarCollector.com hen James C. Leake first established an auction in cooperation with Sotheby’s in 1964, he focused on pre-war classics and early Brass Era vehicles. In the 50 years since, the car collecting world has changed dramatically, and at Leake’s 2014 Dallas fall sale, nearly 70% of the 555 entries had not even been built when that first auction took place. But a number of significant cars, including the high seller, took the auction back to its roots. A sharp 1937 Cord 812 phaeton sold for $143k, an unusual 1939 Packard 120 Rollston town car sold for $36k, and a rare 1932 Pontiac Series 402 cabriolet sold for $54k. The Duesenberg that took high-sale honors will never qualify as a Full Classic, although it certainly looked the part. Built in 1978 with a fiberglass body using molds pulled from a Le Grand Sport phaeton, this was the last Duesenberg built by the A-C-D Company, and it sold here for $283k. It was a most unusual vehicle, to say the least, garnished with a number of original Model J parts and powered by an Auburn-derived American LaFrance V12 engine. The rest of the offerings lined up with this sale’s regional market flavor. Pickup trucks did quite well on the block, such as a 1958 Chevrolet Apache Cameo that went for $33k. The selection of American muscle included a few appealing Mopars. A 1969 Plymouth Road Runner was well bought at $25k, a 1965 Dodge Coronet 440 Six Pack replica sold for a fair $26k, and a 1971 Dodge Demon, restored at a cost of $75k, changed hands at $36k. A 1968 Shelby GT350 sold strong at $72k, and a 1965 Ford Mustang coupe sold for $9,900. Rounding out the highlights from the Big Three was a 1962 Chevrolet Corvette Fuelie convertible. It had been professionally restored to NCRS standards, and at $109k, it looked like one of the smartest buys of the auction.A

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LEAKE // Dallas, TX CLASSICS #463-1937 CORD 812 phaeton. VIN: 1821H. Eng. # FB2457. Cigarette Cream/tan canvas/black leather. Odo: 13,712 miles. Older restoration circa 1964 has held up well. Some recent underhood freshening. Interior is serviceable. Beautiful instrument cluster with later-model temp gauge and vacuum gauge installed where radio would have been. Paint shows a few chips and has a little patina. Brightwork aging but no major blemishes. Doors, hood and deck all well aligned. Not a concours car, but a tour car as long as the pre-selector keeps working. Cond: 2. GM #2423-1955 PONTIAC STAR CHIEF convertible. VIN: K855H17884. Black & white/ black vinyl/black & white vinyl. Odo: 97,726 miles. 287-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Older professional-level restoration starting to go downhill. Decent paint has a few chips near hood and driver’s door. Interior is tight, smells dry, claimed to be original, but materials are not from 1955. Solid car, decent body. Not a contender for Best of Show where there is serious competition, but it could be. With factory AM radio, heater, dash clock, power steering, power brakes, power top, factory wire wheelcovers, and illuminated hood ornament. Cond: 2. 2x4-bbl, 3-sp. Rotisserie restoration with no detail overlooked, down to red oxide primer, as shown on the undersides. Superb body and paintwork. Engine rattles a bit, but that is to be expected with solid lifters. Engine ran out smooth when driven into the auditorium. With heater-defroster and AM radio, and not much else. Basic hubcaps and blackwalls. First two numbers of the odometer difficult to read—an odd detail to overlook in a full restoration. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $143,000. Big Classics have been kind of soft, but these “coffin-nose” Cords remain strong. While the big money goes to the supercharged Sportsman twoseaters, this was a very good price for a car that needs TLC. It would be worthwhile to find an original radio and temp gauge and freshen the rest of the car to the condition seen under the hood. Well bought and sold. #466-1978 DUESENBERG GLENN PRAY sport phaeton. VIN: 2615. Red & burgundy/ black canvas/red leather. Odo: 16,490 miles. A one-off built by the man who invented the “Neo-Classic,” Glenn Pray. Parts were gathered from several sources. Fiberglass body. One expert says chassis is from a Duesenberg II, another claims it’s a real-deal Model J. Dash is reportedly from a real Model J, as are many of the gauges. American LaFrance engine (same design as the Auburn V12). Transmission from unknown source. Lights, grille, trim from Duesenberg II. Runs out well. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $60,500. Previous celebrity owner was Dennis Franz (claim to fame: his bare bottom on the show “NYPD Blue”), but I don’t think that added to the price. Big chrome-laden convertibles of the 1950s are making a comeback, and this car did better than some expected. Well bought and sold. #2474-1957 CADILLAC ELDORADO Biarritz convertible. VIN: 5762049672. Kiowa Red/white vinyl/red & white leather. Odo: 39,939 miles. 365-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. Restored several years ago. Stunning car, but not perfect. Underhood needs attention. Parade boot ill-fitting. Paint excellent with no scratches or chips, chrome deep and reflective. Windshield has faint wiper marks. Power everything. Smooth runner, sits level. A beauty. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $47,300. Still one of the most popular American cars from the 1950s, but this example’s high performance and sinister looks gave it a meaner personality that might have limited some of its market appeal. Still, for the purist, it was well done, even if there were no claims of the powertrain being original to the car. Really very little for the new owner to do except turn the key and enjoy the open road. #2527-1958 CHEVROLET APACHE Cameo pickup. VIN: V3A58K114707. Turquoise & black/gray vinyl. Odo: 579 miles. 283-ci V8, 2-bbl, 4-sp. I’ll bet there are more 1958 Cameos in this color combo now than when they were new. Very nice bodywork. Interior done in authentic materials. Has factory radio and heater-defroster. Glass is good. Refinished bed wood showing just a bit of age. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $282,500. If this had been a real Model J phaeton in this condition, price would have been well into seven figures, and the seller hoped for something close to $500k. Bidding went to $245k on the block, and the post-block team worked to bring the parties together for this more realistic price. Still have to call it well sold. 70 AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $106,700. Of the two of these at this sale, this attracted the most attention, and bidding was hot, with at least three players. Seller was looking for $110k, but at $90k lifted the reserve. Car does need a little freshening and in the right light could do even better. I heard there were post-sale offers made to new owner, proving it was well bought. #2496-1957 CHEVROLET BEL AIR 2-dr hard top. VIN: VC57N123745. Onyx Black/ red vinyl. Odo: 13,381 miles. 283-ci V8, SOLD AT $33,275. As the art of pickup restoration grows, so do the values. At the fabled Lambrecht sale in September 2013, a sister to this truck with just five miles on it brought $147k (ACC# 227824), and lesser examples can easily break $35k. Considering those prices, this looks like a great buy, and it was a real factory V8 truck as a bonus. #409-1969 OLDSMOBILE TORONADO 2-dr hard top. VIN: 394879M602447. Topaz Metallic/saddle vinyl. Odo: 6,444 miles. 455-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Mileage not claimed to be from new, but car looks generally original. Original paint, some micro scratches

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LEAKE // Dallas, TX and bubbling. Well appointed with full power, a/c, factory AM/FM. Original wheels and interior are like new, including intricate stitching pattern on seats. Underhood and undercarriage need some detailing. Cond: 3+. decent, interior looks close to stock. A fair amount has been invested in this car, and it shows. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $28,325. With plenty of these on the market, the prices are kept in check. This one looked stock, but the more powerful engine and modern upgrades pushed it to the next level. The reserve was lifted and only one more bid came in, showing the seller knew what he was doing. CORVETTE SOLD AT $6,710. A potential preservation winner that ran out well. Lots of eye appeal, but dealers in the audience were a little hesitant to step up. In the proper light I thought this car might just break the $10k mark, and the ACC Premium Auction Database shows that it sold at Leake’s Tulsa sale in June for $13k (ACC# 252208); six months earlier, it no-saled at $11k at Silver Fort McDowell (ACC# 232195). Seller was happy to let it go. I think the buyer made money when he bought it. #2455-1970 PONTIAC GTO Judge 2-dr hard top. VIN: 242370R122004. Red/black vinyl. Odo: 65,430 miles. 400-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. PHS documents and reproduction window sticker. Factory engine. Workmanship good all around. Sheet-metal body panels line up well, but Endura front is offcenter, and rear plastic bits have noticeable warping. Windshield has wiper marks. Wheels clean with no issues, tires look fresh. Gauge cluster complete with Sun tach as bonus. Cond: 2-. #481-1962 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 20867S109639. Tuxedo Black/black hard top/black vinyl. Odo: 21,255 miles. 327-ci 360-hp fuel-injected V8, auto. Professional-grade restoration on a very well-presented and-documented factory Fuelie. Paint near flawless, chrome in excellent condition all around. Unable to inspect soft top due to mounted hard top. Car looks better than factory. Never had a radio or heater but did have off-road exhaust, metallic-lined brakes and Positraction, as stated on a reproduction of the window sticker. NCRS material in every way, ready for action or for show. Cond: 1-. carriage soiling from transportation. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $146,300. This car had it all: right color, right engine, right interior and right body style—the only year these Corvette coupes outpace their roadster brothers. Well bought and sold. #2418-1977 CHEVROLET CORVETTE coupe. VIN: 1Z37L7S426536. Corvette Tan/tan vinyl. Odo: 51,252 miles. 350-ci 180-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Run-of-the-mill laterproduction C3 in an uninspiring color with matching trim. Original engine complete with tattered underhood insulation. Upgraded Pioneer stereo. 1978 alloy wheels. Some panels lighter-colored than others. Interior looks stock. Has a couple of dimples on headlight doors and other smaller panels. Engine runs out well. No signs of major trauma. Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $7,260. These later C3s and early C4s in driver condition are cheap and easy to find. That makes them a great entry into the world of Corvettes. And you can always paint this one red. FOMOCO SOLD AT $43,450. This car was well documented, and the forms probably added 30%–40%. No word on the other history of the car or how much was invested. New owner got an enjoyable ride and paid a market-correct price. #2516-1978 PONTIAC TRANS AM coupe. VIN: 2W87Z8N153607. Gold metallic/tan fabric. Odo: 63,136 miles. 461-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Looks perfectly restored. W72 400-ci now altered and punched out. Well appointed with proper exterior finish, including Snowflake wheels. Has cruise, a/c, upgraded Kenwood stereo. Workmanship is SOLD AT $108,900. You couldn’t re-create this for the price, which makes it a fantastic buy. Seller wasn’t desperate. He just wanted it to go to a new home. There were three hot bidders on the car up to $90k, the reserve lifted, and then just two took it home in $1k jumps. Very well bought. #493-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE coupe. VIN: 30837S110792. Riverside Red/red vinyl. Odo: 60,612 miles. 327-ci 360-hp fuel-injected V8, 4-sp. Beautiful restoration of original car to original configuration. Proper spinner wheelcovers, AM radio, full instrumentation with clean, clear faces. Former NCRS Top Flight award. Underhood neat and tidy. Body shows no issues. Car runs out exceptionally well. Only minor issue is front bumper alignment and under- #765-1965 FORD MUSTANG coupe. VIN: 5F07C337454. Blue metallic/dark blue vinyl. Odo: 37,027 miles. 289-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Repaint is close approximation of the original light blue metallic. Economy interior also close. Underhood original and needs a full re-do. Wears original wheels with proper “spinner” wheelcovers. Factory AM radio and heater. Some evidence of bodywork. A real quickie in every sense. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $9,900. Mustangs are hot, and as a result, some coming to market are looking a little tired under the paint. This was a solid vehicle that will make a daily driver or even a weekender, but for an investment car, it needs more love. With a little elbow grease and skill, it could even be a show car that makes a few dollars when it sells or at least breaks even. Seller was very pleased, as it far exceeded his $6k reserve, and buyer should have no complaints. 72 AmericanCarCollector.com #453-1968 SHELBY GT350 fastback. VIN: 8T02J16537001958. Dark blue/black vinyl. BEST BUY

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LEAKE // Dallas, TX Odo: 38,639 miles. 302-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. According to data plate and buck tag, this was originally a Raven Black car. Interior shows no detail efforts. Looks original with wear and patina on instrument cluster. Driver’s seat has some sagging. Underhood neat and trim with proper parts. Wheels and tires clean. Glass, chrome and sheet metal all in presentable and usable condition. But not a show car. Cond: 3. hood would also help. I could call this one a draw: both seller and buyer were happy and did well. #2435-1965 DODGE CORONET 2-dr hard top. VIN: W351102668. Red/red vinyl & cloth. Odo: 24,178 miles. 440-ci V8, 3x2bbl, 4-sp. Sharp workmanship on a slightly modified car. Despite the “Coronet 440” series name, the 440-ci V8 was not available until 1966. Engine fits nicely under the hood, though. Overall fit and finish is pretty good. AM radio, pushbutton heater controls. Clean, tight fabric and floor covering. Bodywork at or above factory standard. Doors open and close easily, same with hood. Glass shows some adhesive on the edges but is clean. Driver struggled getting the car onto the block; engine kept stalling. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $71,500. Shelby Mustang prices seem to finally be rebounding, which will make the purchase of this car seem like a bargain six months or a year from now. I was surprised it did this well on the block. Seller was looking for $100k, Leake team convinced him that this was real money, and he finally had to admit it was time to let it go. If new owner takes it back to original configuration, it will be a while before a profit is realized, but this is a real-deal Shelby, so it should be owned and enjoyed, even with no a/c and an AM radio. MOPAR #534-1956 CHRYSLER WINDSOR convertible. VIN: W5652703. Stardust Blue/ white vinyl/two-tone blue vinyl. Odo: 77,278 miles. 331-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Cosmetic makeover with proper color. Economy reupholstery. Top not raised but appears to be a few years old. Engine starts easily with some smoke. Pitting on grille and lenses. Fitted with base heater, clock and radio; some of the buttons are askew. Underhood has been treated to an econo-repaint. Pushbutton transmission shifts well, and yeah—it has a Hemi. Cond: 3. might even make a few bucks down the road. #2436-1971 DODGE DEMON 2-dr hard top. VIN: LL29B1E110647. Red/black vinyl. Odo: 89,373 miles. 340-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Expert paintwork, decent chrome, done a few years ago and now starting to unwind. Cracks in weatherstripping, warped trim near windshield. Built engine claimed to make over 450 hp. Underhood and undercarriage both clean. Soft trim was tidy and clean, no radio, no exposed wires, only a heater and Hurst shifter. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $26,400. Faltering mechanicals when a car hits the block are never good. This car appeared to run out well, so I think it was probably driver error. Recently sold for $21,600 at Dan Kruse Austin in late September (ACC# 252408), which we called a “fair deal.” Still, this ride had at least $40k invested. Well bought and sold today. #2420-1969 PLYMOUTH ROAD RUNNER 2-dr hard top. VIN: RM23H9J168082. Scorch Red/black vinyl. Odo: 84,173 miles. 383-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Economy re-do. Paint has minor flaws. Trim is decent for a driver. Sloppy windshield replacement with glue residue all around. Interior sparsely appointed; buckets without a console or floor shift. Base AM radio, heater-defroster, one aftermarket gauge under the dash. Underhood neat and tidy and numbersmatching. Two copies of build sheet displayed. Magnum 500 wheels with modern rubber mounted. Car runs out easy, sits level. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $36,300. Starting life with a modest inline six, this built-up Demon roared to the auction block, while the simple, stock wheels gave it that serious “sleeper” look. With over $75k reportedly invested in the build, there’s no way the owner was going to get his money back. Price paid was fair. Well sold, decent buy. AMERICANA #461-1939 PACKARD ONE-TWENTY town car. VIN: 17012037. Black/black canvas/black leather. Odo: 91,407 miles. Older repaint with red highlights added. Distinctive Rudy Creteur bodywork. Driver’s compartment looks like it has been re-covered, but interior looks mostly original; musty mildew smell. Bodywork is solid. Doors open and close easily. Underhood needs detailing. Engine starts and runs out well. Glass shows some milkiness. Pitted chrome. Heater and clock in driver’s area. Microphone for communicating between compartments. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $25,300. Seller knew where the market was on this car, as his reserve was right at the selling price. The buyer got a good weekend cruiser, and these cars do ride well. If maintained, the car should hold its value. As time and budgets permit, I would look into upgrading the bad chrome and stainless. A proper detailing under the 74 AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $24,750. Base-level muscle cars in this condition are plentiful. Seller was realistic with a $30k reserve on paper, but when real money hit $21,500, it was for sale and brought another grand in the follow-up bidding. If the new owner spends wisely and drives carefully, he’ll enjoy his ride and SOLD AT $36,300. Though not a Full Classic, many consider the 120 road car a superior performer, and custom bodies such as this one certainly deserve recognition. Custom coaches were no longer in vogue by 1939, which makes this surviving example all the more significant. Price paid was fair for the buyer, and seller shouldn’t complain considering the presentation. A

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RUSSO AND STEELE // Scottsdale, AZ Russo and Steele – Scottsdale 2015 A 1969 CAMARO ZL1 SOLD AT $335K, A 1970 BOSS 429 MADE $330K, AND A 1970 HEMI ’CUDA CAME IN AT A HEALTHY $248K Russo and Steele Scottsdale, AZ January 16–19, 2015 Auctioneers: Rob Row, Jeff Stokes, Dan Schorno, Frank Bizzarro Automotive lots sold/ offered: 403/603 Sales rate: 67% Total sales: $16,777,750 high American sale: 1966 Shelby 427 Cobra, sold at $440,000 Buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold prices ACC 1–6 scale condition rating for vehicles in Market Reports 1. perfect: National show standard 2. Excellent: Club show-worthy, some small flaws 3. Average: Daily driver in decent condition 4. Meh: Still a driver, with some visible flaws 5. Questionable: A problem-plagued beast that somehow manages to run 6. Lost cause: Salvageable for parts One of 652 hemi-powered hard-top cars in 1970 — 1970 plymouth hemi ’Cuda, sold at $247,500 “C 76 AmericanCarCollector.com Report and photos by John Boyle Market opinions in italics ar collecting is supposed to be fun,” says Russo and Steele founder Drew Alcazar. “It’s supposed to be emotional. You’re supposed to get excited about it.” This year, the firm’s 15th anniversary, it looks like he succeeded, selling a whole lot of American iron (the “Steele” in the company’s name) for good prices. Although the overall sales total was down from last year, the sell-through rate was up. Consignments were down, but quality continued to improve. Top sales for the Big Three were a 1969 Chevrolet COPO Camaro ZL1 former national record-holder, sold at $335k; an immaculate 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 429 at $330k; and a 1970 Plymouth Hemi ’Cuda at a healthy $248k. Topping them all was a 1966 Shelby 427 Cobra that sold for $440k. My personal favorites included a very nice, very custom 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge, sold at a reasonable $55k, and a 1966 Imperial convertible — one of only 500 made that year, and absolutely huge — unsold at a high bid of $41k. The other half of the auction is the European exotics (the “Russo”). A 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster was Russo’s top sale overall at $1.4m. The mix of tastes is no accident. Russo’s goal is to offer its diverse clients a wide range of cars in an intimate environment. “Our core client is a guy with a small collection of cars,” Alcazar says. “He has a GT350 or some other muscle car he bought from us, and decides he’d like to own a 365 Ferrari or an E-type Jag to get his feet wet in European cars.” At an average price per car of $41k, this is just the kind of place for a collector to explore something new for his stable. A

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RUSSO AND STEELE // Scottsdale, AZ GM #S698-1957 CHEVROLET BEL AIR convertible. VIN: VC57J287304. Red/white vinyl/orange, red, & silver vinyl. Odo: 58,220 miles. 283-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. Fresh restoration with new everything. Paint had dry area on lower driver’s door and minor variations in panel lines. Glass and chrome/ stainless like new. Nice interior with small crack on driver’s armrest and minor fit issues to some of the vinyl. Well equipped with power steering and brakes, Wonderbar radio, and Continental kit. Spotless underhood. Cond: 2. miles. 348-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, auto. Great paint over a super-straight body and panel lines. Very minor scratches on stainless trim. Bumpers excellent. New interior very well installed in factory tri-color scheme. Underhood excellent with factory tags, decals and original-style battery. Cond: 1-. except for scratch on A-pillar paint. Fresh window rubber and tires. Underhood nice and correct except for modern battery. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $55,000. A PHS-verified real GTO. Non-numbers-matching but date-coded replacement engine. Fresh off a frame-off restoration, this convertible sold for a bit more than hard-top money, probably due to the lack of matching numbers. If you can live without the originality (and future appreciation), it’s a great way to buy a car. Well bought. SOLD AT $82,500. Seller says it’s a fresh rebuild on correct date-coded engine and dual-quad carb setup. This was the lesser of the ’57 convertibles sitting next to each other here. The slightly nicer white car (Lot S696) brought a few thousand more. That sale helps confirm this sold right for the quality. Both the seller and buyer should be pleased. #F538-1957 CHEVROLET NOMAD wagon. VIN: VC57F108929. Rose & white/silver & black cloth. Odo: 680 miles. 283-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Very good paint with exceptional bodywork. Owner states no filler used in 700 hours worth of bare-metal bodywork, and it’s believable. Very straight sides. New glass and original stainless restored to perfection. New interior with correct vinyl in load area. Underhood clean and detailed with correct period hose clamps backed up by modern screw-on units. Correct-style battery. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $93,500. For a long time, ’58 Chevys were in the shadow of their older siblings. That’s been changing over the past few years, and this sale confirms it, outselling an equally nice ’57 at this sale. A great car at a fair price, and perhaps a bit of a deal for the buyer. #TH298-1965 CHEVROLET K20 4x4 pickup. VIN: 5Z150366. Blue/tan vinyl. Odo: 42,619 miles. 230-ci I6, 1-bbl, 4-sp. Nice recent paint with a few touch-ups; overspray on window rubber. Body straight, with good panel gaps. Bed surprisingly straight and dent-free with new wood. Interior fresh, but fawn interior paint looks too glossy. Engine bay dusty, otherwise average. Chips on firewall. Plastic tape is coming loose from wiring. Cond: 2. #S734-1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO ZL1 coupe. VIN: 124379N643779. Fathom Green/black vinyl. Odo: 39 miles. 427-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. COPO Camaro modified when new for drag racing and said to be a former national record-holder. Straight body said to consist of mostly original sheet metal. Great paint, chrome and glass. Roll cage over stock-looking interior; aftermarket racing shifter and gauges added. Huge slicks in back, wheelie bars. Engine bay detailed and factory assembly marks replicated. Paint and details redone to period race appearance. Cond: 1. SOLD AT $335,500. One of 69 ZL1s, and said to be one of three with added COPO 9737 “Sports Car Conversion Package,” which upgraded suspension, gauges and wheels. The ZL1 option added $4,160 to the Camaro’s $2,700 base price. The car brought huge money, and it would have brought even more in its original configuration. Still, COPO fans and the new owner wrote on an Internet forum that it was a great buy. If they’re happy, I’m happy. SOLD AT $18,700. A rare (for the time) factory 4wd ¾-ton, said to be one of 1,364 produced. Another nice-but-not-overly-restored truck. Fairly sold and bought. SOLD AT $85,800. What will get a crowd more excited than a ’57 Chevy convertible? A perfect Nomad in a great period color. Correctly sold and perhaps a bit of a bargain. Bid to $80k but not sold last year at R&S’s Newport Beach auction (ACC# 244409), so seller was correct to wait for a few thousand more. #S694-1958 CHEVROLET IMPALA convertible. VIN: F58L171687. Rio Red/white vinyl/red, silver & black vinyl. Odo: 63,325 78 AmericanCarCollector.com #S643-1965 PONTIAC GTO convertible. VIN: 237675P126621. Red/white vinyl/white vinyl. Odo: 15,803 miles. 389-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, auto. Fresh paint on 300-mile restoration. Small paint run on rear panel, chips on front of driver’s door edge. Interior very nice #S688-1970 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE SS 454 LS6 replica convertible. VIN: 136670B151895. Blue/white vinyl/white vinyl. Odo: 1,185 miles. 454-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Nice paint over straight sides. Driver’s door sits slightly out. Trunk gaps a bit off. Some wear to white stock interior. Underhood is stock and clean but with some signs of use. Period-correct Wide Oval tires add to the look. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $64,900. Originally a 307/200 car but nicely done. Owner was very up-front

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RUSSO AND STEELE // Scottsdale, AZ about powerplant change and displayed original build documents. A nice car bought for less than half of what a matching-numbers car would go for, and thus well bought. #F499-1972 OLDSMOBILE 442 W-30 2-dr hard top. VIN: 3G87X2M189960. Yellow/tan vinyl. Odo: 17,295 miles. 455-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Nice paint with chips on door edge and other wear you’d expect on a decade-old restoration. Trunk gaps variable, others okay. Front bumper wavy, stainless good except for scratches on lower window trim. Well-equipped interior is still nice, complete with factory Hurst shifter and 8-track tape unit. Speakers cut into trim. Correct underhood but now only to driver standard, with dirt and wear visible. Cond: 2-. orange peel over straight body. Clear parts of Pace Car decals discoloring. Wear on right bumper, rear window gasket wavy. Mirror T-top has some delamination. Interior stock and clean. Engine bay stock and clean but not overly detailed. Original MSRP of $10,309 was a lot of money in 1980. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $15,675. Seller claims a full restoration on a Phoenix-area car. Everything new or restored, with $36k in restoration receipts. Sold slightly under market for condition. CORVETTE SOLD AT $24,750. A real 442 W-30 originally sold in Canada. The W-30 was Olds’ top offering in the last year of GM’s highperformance A-bodies. Loaded with appearance and convenience features and rare, these often bring a bit more money than their GM cousins. This car, no longer fresh, was a fair deal for both parties and a lot of car for the money. #TH240-1974 OLDSMOBILE DELTA 88 convertible. VIN: 3N67U4M187074. Red/ white vinyl. Odo: 99,542 miles. 455-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Thick respray with scratches and a dimple in rear quarter-panel. Chrome and stainless okay. Soft plastic trim piece in back of front bumper cracked. Original interior has few issues other than huge speaker cut-outs in rear and aftermarket CD hanging from dash. Aftermarket tonneau cover. Hood not open for inspection. Cond: 3-. #S725-1960 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 101940. Eng. # 00867S1001940. Tasco Turquoise/black vinyl/ turquoise vinyl. Odo: 20 miles. 283-ci 270-hp V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Fresh from a body-off restoration. Paint and panel fit far better than original. New paint, interior, glass, top. Excellent NOS or replated chrome and stainless. Interior features racer/aircraftstyle seat belts. MP3/aux updated radio. Correct underhood with Delco generator and tags. Cond: 1. SOLD AT $7,700. Olds’ last big convertible and one of 3,716 that year. A driver that would be great for taking the crew out for ice cream. Slightly well bought considering its condition. #TH275-1980 PONTIAC TRANS AM Turbo Pace Car coupe. VIN: 2X87TAL145064. White/white vinyl. Odo: 84,464 miles. 301-ci turbocharged V8, auto. Newer paint has 80 AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $134,750. I liked this car, and so did the crowd. The 283 with dual quads, 4-speed, and Positraction helped this Corvette stand out from most 1960s. Most everything under the hood was restored original. Sold slightly high, but given the quality of the car, it’s a case of buying too soon rather than too much. Seller told me he was hoping for at least $80k, so he’s very happy. #S667-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE coupe. VIN: 30837S102202. Silver/black leather. Odo: 115,267 miles. 327-ci 340-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Nice paint over straight body. Good chrome, but stainless shows scratches around rear window. Interior nice but not new, with wear to door jambs, driver’s armrest, instrument cluster, and con

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RUSSO AND STEELE // Scottsdale, AZ sole stainless. Older door rubber. Underhood clean, with proper stainless shields, modern battery. Recent Nova Scotia safety inspection sticker. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $79,200. At first look, this seems like a deal for a car with the desirable 340hp L76. But lack of matching numbers drops this very nice driver into fairly-bought-andsold status. #S709-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 194677S108483. Sunfire Yellow/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 22,600 miles. 427-ci 400-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. A numbers-matching big-block car. Restoration finished in 2008 and still showing very well. Repaint over straight body with good gaps. Interior said to be original and in better shape than you’d expect. Simulated wood steering wheel shows some wear. Miles said to be original. NCRS Top Flight Award winner with Protect-O-Plate, owner’s manual and tank sticker. Both tops. Cond: 1-. some age, since they’re originals. Car has less than 150 miles since restoration. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $28,600. A six-owner car with known history from new. One Oregon owner for more then 20 years. Comes with documents, restoration photo book and Protect-O-Plate. Seller says it’s a couple of weekends worth of detailing away from being ready for NCRS judging, and I can believe it. This looked like a great car, but bidding came up short. Either the bidders know something I don’t, or someone got a very good deal. Sold here at R&S Scottsdale 2012 with fresh restoration for $41k (ACC# 191627). #S620-1978 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Pace Car coupe. VIN: 1Z8748S900080. Black & silver/silver leather. Odo: 3,300 miles. 350-ci 220-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Alloriginal with build quality no better or worse than GM made it 37 years ago. Original unworn tires. Paint has held up well. Rubber bumpers look a bit dull, but they did when new. Pace Car decals still in box. Interior still has cardboard protectors on door sills. Mirror T-tops in fine shape with no delamination. Underhood has some minor age issues, with surface rust on brake reservoir. Equipped with top-dog L82, the “big” engine with 220 hp, up from 185 in the base unit. Equipped with all options. Cond: 2+. tion. Underside looks used but clean. Said to be based on a 1913 car with assigned Arizona title. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $16,500. The Model T speedster is arguably America’s first hot rod. In the days when Ts were still new, it didn’t take long for youths to buy a used T and ditch the factory body, replacing it with bucket seats and a cylindrical fuel tank, making a poor man’s Stutz Bearcat. The aftermarket supported these and offered performance upgrades like the Rajo OHV engine and 3-speed transmission, as seen on this car. The speedster was never a factory body style, so no two are alike. This one sold slightly well for condition. No odo. SOLD AT $126,500. A big-block ’67 is considered the best of the C2s, and this L68 car had it all (though it was bettered in horsepower by the L71 and L88). Sold slightly over the reserve and a notch below the ACC Pocket Price Guide valuation of $90,500–$154,500 for a #2 car. Well bought. A car that will always be collectible. #S615-1971 CHEVROLET CORVETTE coupe. VIN: 194371S117052. Brands Hatch Green/tan vinyl. Odo: 97,956 miles. 454-ci 365-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Nice paint and bodywork from 2012 restoration. Nice panel fit, especially around headlights. Interior presents as nearly new. A well-equipped car with AM/FM and a/c, converted to ecofriendly R134a. Underhood has been detailed to NCRS standards with correct hoses, clamps and belts. Other items show SOLD AT $23,100. Pace Cars and the Silver Anniversary Corvettes (of the same year) were the first Corvette “instant collectibles.” The Pace Car is the rarer of the two (6,502 compared with 15,283) and more valuable. Many were put away when new, so they’re not hard to find today. Originally ordered by a GM dealer in rural Minnesota, this became a winter car in Scottsdale, driven primarily to church. He left it in 2009 to his now-retired son, who is donating 100% of the sale to a Minnesota Christian youth camp. Sold below market. Great buy. FOMOCO #TH296-1910 FORD MODEL T speedster. VIN: AZ334797. Yellow/black vinyl. Old paint with plenty of dimples, scratches and orange peel. Brass radiator and lights presentable but far from perfect. Side lights display worn black paint. Homemade trunk has severe cracks. Seats and rubber floor covering look newer than rest of car. Painted wire wheels have ancient Wards Riverside tires on rear, fronts look newer. Hood not open for inspec- 82 AmericanCarCollector.com #F412-1929 FORD MODEL A coupe. VIN: A1934194. Gray/gray cloth. Odo: 64,744 miles. An older restoration of unstated vintage. Body paint has some minor orange peel, fenders show age with scratches. Dark green trim around windows unevenly applied; fading around windshield. Radiator has wear but should polish up well. Glass and stainless is good. Interior stock and clean, with minor waviness to seat seam. Rumble seat looks unused. Ancient tires with yellow whitewalls. Engine looks clean and correct. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $15,950. A nice coupe that was clearly well restored and loved in the past. A great entry-level pre-war collectible. Price seems slightly high for a coupe in this condition, but no huge harm done. #F509-1941 FORD SUPER DELUXE convertible. VIN: 186259998. Yellow/tan canvas/tan leather. Odo: 38,865 miles. 221ci V8, 1-bbl, 3-sp. Very nice paint comes across as neither new nor old. Stainless is dull. New tires with wide whites. Top well fitted. Good fender welts and running boards. Interior doesn’t look stock to me, BEST BUY

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GLOVEBOXNOTES RUSSO AND STEELE // Scottsdale, AZ 2015 Chrysler 200S sedan By Tony Piff but it fits car. Steering wheel is wrapped with aftermarket leather cover. Door cap screws scratched, with a couple missing. Trunk immaculate. Engine bay not detailed but clean and correct with cloth wires and new-looking battery. Cond: 2. Ford under-dash a/c still present. Underhood is dirty and worn, original paint on cowl still there, chipped, and worn. Plenty of auto-parts-store items, a/c parts look new. Cond: 4+. price as tested: $29,170 Equipment: 2.4-L I4, 9-speed 948TE automatic, Comfort Group, Navigation and Sound Group, Premium Lighting Group, Blind Spot and Cross Path Detection. Mileage: 23 city/36 highway Likes: Reasonably sized for the modern American road and modern American human. Not too big and not too small. Lots of glass, decent visibility. Roomy trunk. 2.4-L 4-banger wants to spin. Car gets going quick, but that’s due more to the responsive 9-speed gearbox than horsepower. Comfortable, supportive seats with nice seat heaters. I usually don’t care for heated steering wheels, but this one changed my mind. 23/36 mpg seems reasonable. Optional blindspot monitor is unobtrusive and effective. Nice ride as optioned for under $30k. Dislikes: Bland styling, bland identity. Too-black interior offsets the brightness of all the glass and creates a coffin-like atmosphere. Lighter-colored headliner and pillars would brighten the cabin. The paddle-shifted Sport mode feels like a silly affectation on such an un-sporty car, but it’s well executed for what it is. Verdict: The 2015 Chrysler 200S blends right in on the freeway and in the parking lot, and the buyer for this car will think that’s just great. Same goes for the performance and handling, which won’t distract you with greatness or incompetence. The car feels safe and comfortable and goes where you point it. Fun to drive: Eye appeal: Overall experience: SOLD AT $28,600. Seller didn’t provide any details on the restoration or mechanical condition of the car. It sold at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2013 for $37,400. If there are no surprises for the new owner, very well bought. #F571-1956 FORD THUNDERBIRD convertible. VIN: P6FH203180. Sage Green/ white vinyl/green vinyl. Odo: 508 miles. 312ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Fresh repaint on fiveyear-old body-off restoration. Generally straight body with minor ripples on front fender. Good body gaps. Excellent new glass, chrome and stainless. Interior like new but some rather dark discoloration to dashpad. Underhood looks fresh and correct. Said to be a three-owner car, same owner since 2009. Equipped with power steering and brakes, automatic transmission, T&C radio, original wire wheel covers, factory engine dress-up and Continental kits. No hard top. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $4,400. Purists may scoff, but this is an entry-level car for less than some guys spent on their Scottsdale hotel and bar bill. Since it was generally sound, it might be rescued by someone new to the hobby and, given its rarity, be a hit as a cruiser. Or it might go back to being a high-school kid’s car. Fairly bought. #S750-1968 MERCURY COUGAR GT-E 427 coupe. VIN: 8F91W536157. Cardinal Red/white vinyl/dark red vinyl. Odo: 13,646 miles. 427-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Ten-year-old restoration/rebuild still holding up well with recent cosmetic freshening. Paint very good, chrome and trim nice, and hideaway lights on grille fit well. Interior well appointed and correct with factory 8-track and tilt wheel. Underhood unmarked, clean, and correct with OEM battery. Comes with photo book of restoration and Marti Report. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $66,000. With only 300 miles since restoration, the car came across as new. The only major point noted was the lack of a hard top. Sold slightly above similar cars, despite the unusual color and lack of top. #SN820-1966 FORD RANCHERO pickup. VIN: 6K27T151062. White/gray cloth & vinyl. Odo: 84,487 miles. 200-ci I6, 1-bbl, manual. Average two-year-old repaint done by trade-school students. Stainless scratched, rear bumper and taillight trim dented. Grille unmarked but could use a polish. Spray-in black bedliner. Seats replaced by modern aftermarket buckets. Shifter moved from column to floor. Original 84 AmericanCarCollector.com AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $38,500. The GT-E was the rare high-performance version of Mercury’s upscale pony car. Only 357 were produced with the famed 427 side-oiler. Why did it sell for a fraction of what a similar Mustang would bring? Seller states the original body, found in Canada, was too far gone to save, so a donor car provided its shell, which was restamped with the GT-E’s numbers. That would put off investors, but as it sits, the car still fills a spot in a Ford collection. Sold for this exact amount in September at Russo’s Las Vegas sale (ACC# 228550). #SN804-1974 FORD THUNDERBIRD coupe. VIN: 4J87A133990. Blue/white vinyl/blue cloth. Odo: 120,000 miles. 460-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. A lifelong Phoenix-area car with single repaint beginning to show its

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RUSSO AND STEELE // Scottsdale, AZ age. Thunderbird letters on nose not reapplied after paint. Good chrome bumpers, worn stainless. Vinyl top looks thin in places with either welds or rust beginning to stretch the vinyl. Interior nice and clean for its age. Seller says seats were re-covered in correct NOS material (in a pattern that could have only come from the 1970s). Underhood is dirty, worn. Simply an old car. Cond: 3-. has minor two-tone masking issues. Radio antenna missing, with factory hole on fender. Front bumper shows waves, stainless has light scratches. Interior fresh. Glass and rubber good. Underhood area clean, but brush touch-ups in a few areas. Modernstyle battery. Engine is “period-correct,” as catalog says, but not truck-correct, since Mopar’s 1958 325 V8 was only used in cars. Locked; unable to read odo. Cond: 2-. #S728-1970 PLYMOUTH HEMI ’CUDA 2-dr hard top. VIN: BS23R0B159416. Limelight Green/black vinyl/black vinyl. 426ci V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. Recent restoration in its original color. Excellent paint, straight body with good gaps. Shaker hood looks great in correct argent silver. Much of spotless interior said to be original. Engine bay clean and correct. Period-correct battery. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $3,300. An estate sale car. Ford was building nearly 60,000 T-birds a year at this time, but when was the last time you saw one? This looked like exactly like what it is: a well-cared-for grandpa’s car that could use some more care. Fairly sold considering its condition. MOPAR #F494-1958 DODGE SWEPTSIDE pickup. VIN: 10127021. Turquoise & white/turquoise & white vinyl. 325-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Very fresh paint over very straight body. Paint NOT SOLD AT $40,700. To compete with the Chevy Cameo and other stylish pickups, Dodge used station wagon quarter-panels to make the D-100 Sweptside. They built 1,260 from 1957 to 1959, and it’s estimated that only 60 ’58s remain. This was a nice restoration, but not over the top. Considering these usually have asking prices closer to $60k, I don’t fault the owner for taking this one back to the ranch. SOLD AT $247,500. One of 652 Hemi-powered hard-top cars in 1970, the next-to-last year for the big motor in Mopar’s pony car. This was a lightly equipped model without power-sapping options. The Mopar market is still down from pre-recession heights, but this one sold just a bit over the ACC Pocket Price Guide valuation ($145k–$230k). A fair deal for all concerned, with a nod to the buyer. A March-April 2015 85

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SILVER AUCTIONS // Fort McDowell, AZ Silver Auctions — Fort McDowell AN EXCEPTIONALLY WELL-RESTORED 1956 DESOTO FIREDOME CONVERTIBLE FOUND A NEW HOME AT $85K Silver Auctions Fort McDowell, AZ January 16–17, 2015 Auctioneers: Mitch Silver, Bob Graham, Matt Backs Automotive lots sold/ offered: 219/316 Sales rate: 69% Sales total: $3,591,878 high sale: 1956 DeSoto Firedome convertible, sold at $85,320 Buyer’s premium: 8%, included in sold prices ACC 1–6 scale condition rating for vehicles in Market Reports 1. perfect: National show standard 2. Excellent: Club show-worthy, some small flaws 3. Average: Daily driver in decent condition 4. Meh: Still a driver, with some visible flaws 5. Questionable: A problem-plagued beast that somehow manages to run 6. Lost cause: Salvageable for parts With the few choice options and superb restoration: 1956 DeSoto Firedome convertible, sold at $85,320 Report and photos by B. Mitchell Carlson Market opinions in italics S 86 AmericanCarCollector.com ilver’s auction in Fort McDowell has a reputation as a great place to go to find affordable American iron in the desert. Over its 18-year run, this sale has traditionally seen some of the best buys for cars in the four- and five-figure level — all the way up to Full Classics and premium muscle cars. This year, for the first time, Mitch Silver and his crew opened up on Thursday evening with 29 cars crossing the block. On one hand, it did conflict with three of the auctions that also started on Thursday night, but on the other hand, it made things run a little smoother on Silver’s other two days of sales. And sell they did. With the exception of total lots of- fered (316 versus 328 in 2014), all their numbers were up this year. Some of those figures were quite a bit higher than last year. In selling 28 more cars than last year, their sell-through rate moved up markedly, from 58% to 69%. Total sales also grew notably, up by nearly $300k from last year. Of those sales, the largest one was an exceptionally well-restored 1956 DeSoto Firedome convertible, finding a new home at $85k. This was four grand more than last A sea of affordable classics year’s top-selling Jaguar. Indeed, American cars were the big thing this year, with all but two filling the top 10 sales. Even with a stronger American presence, Silver has one of the better mixes of vehicles offered, and the cars are the most attainable by far when you look at the sold prices. And when it all boils down, that is what this week in Arizona is all about. A Tony Piff

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SILVER AUCTIONS // Fort McDowell, AZ GM #266-1956 CHEVROLET BEL AIR 2-dr hard top. VIN: VC56K012776. Dusk Plum & India Ivory/white vinyl & black Nylon. Odo: 97,441 miles. 265-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Optional power steering, basket wire wheel covers, dashpad, clock, and Wonderbar AM radio with rear speaker. Dealer-accessorytype grille guard and hockey-stick rocker panel trim. Original warranty paperwork. Better-quality repaint in early 1980s, recently buffed out. Mostly replated or replacement brightwork. Original foggy mirrors. Good door fit. Polished aluminum Corvette valve covers on otherwise stock motor. New gas tank and dual exhaust. Selectively restored interior; heavily yellowing door panels. Cond: 2-. #476-1959 OLDSMOBILE 98 2-dr hard top. VIN: 599M33016. Red & white/gray nylon & white vinyl. Odo: 89,469 miles. 394ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Optional power steering, brakes, windows, seat, and antenna for the Wonderbar radio. Good repaint, although masking lines are evident. Replated front bumper; light pitting on taillight bezels and rear bumper. Missing most door-stop bumpers, so while the door fits well, it rattles. Good original interior; some pieces re-dyed. Seats are nice since they are encased in dealer-accessory vinyl covers. Good paint detail under the hood, even if the carburetor was not all that cooperative about starting up. Cond: 3+. #330-1965 CHEVROLET CORVAIR Corsa convertible. VIN: 107675L102703. Maroon/ black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 10,598 miles. 164-ci H6, 4x1-bbl, 4-sp. Optional telescopic steering column with wood-rimmed steering wheel, power top, rear-mounted power antenna, and wire wheel covers. CD sound system cut into dash. Better-quality older repaint presents well. Non-stock vinyl pinstriping. Decent door and panel fit. Not the best fit for the replacement top. Older reproduction seats (slathered with silicone protectant), carpeting, door panels; new dashpad. Generally tidy and stock engine bay. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $42,660. This example was kept in the original owner’s family until last year. On the block, it took quite a bit of back-andforth to get the deal done here, as the consignor originally had a $50k reserve on it. If the new owner sells off the valve covers to pay for a set of door and kick panels, he will be sitting pretty with this car—both aesthetically and financially. #212-1957 CHEVROLET 3100 pickup. VIN: 3A57L110480. Gunmetal gray/gray vinyl. Odo: 87,945 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, 5-sp. Washington state-assigned VIN tag, using original frame number. Repowered with 350 from something else mated to a transmission from an S-10, including the S-10 shifter (and probably the S-10 steering wheel). Rattle-can repaint; evidence suggets it left the factory in light brown. Cargobox floor has a sheet of plywood painted black. Newer radial tires with 1970s hubcaps. Newer shorty dual exhaust system, exiting on both sides ahead of the rear wheels. Aftermarket sisal seat cover over original upholstery. Cond: 4. SOLD AT $24,000. I didn’t locate the Body by Fisher tag, so I can’t vouch for this being a proper color combo from new—although I’ll guess that the red is far brighter than 1959 spec. I also thought it looked odd with the dog-dish hubcaps, being a top-line Ninety Eight. Well bought against a $30k reserve. #408-1964 CHEVROLET C10 pickup. VIN: 4C154J121949. Bright blue metallic/tan cloth. Odo: 64,716 miles. 230-ci I6, 1-bbl, 4-sp. Frame-off redo a few years ago. Excellent prep work and paint application in non-stock hue. Buffed-out original or new reproduction bodyside trim. Doors take some effort to close, due to new seals. Light crease in the body character line and trim, likely a miscue when fitting the door, as they are in a vertical line. Polished stainlesssteel hubcaps instead of painted—like the bumpers, grille, and West Coast mirrors. Modern cloth seat reupholstery with good workmanship. Authentically detailed under the hood. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $12,420. This was truly a California car, as it was built at the Van Nuys assembly plant and was licensed for use in CA, up until the time it was sold here on the block. The reserve came off at the final bid, confirming that this price is the new normal. #258-1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO Z/28 coupe. VIN: 124379N567615. Fathom Green/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 67,224 miles. 302-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Optional power brakes, vinyl roof, and gauge pack center console. Cowl Induction hood has the previous year’s 302 emblem on both sides. Very good bare-body repaint, including stripes. Door and panel fit to original standard. Generally well detailed under the hood. Windshield washer hose not connected. Reproduction seats, dashpad, and door panels. Original, faded carpeting. Period Hurst shifter. Clean and minimally detailed undercarriage with one repro inspection sticker. Radial tires. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $8,748. I kinda liked it as an unpretentious working-man’s resto-mod and thought it was worth the $7k reserve, but the bids just kept coming. Sold well, even factoring in the current popularity of pickups. 88 AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $10,530. The workmanship was quite good on this truck, but I certainly wouldn’t call it a restoration. Reinterpretation in the restorer’s tastes, yes; authentically restored to original condition and finishes as originally built, no. The sixbanger under the hood was the biggest factor explaining why this didn’t sell better. SOLD AT $48,640. The “302” fender callout emblems were a popular Chevy dealer parts-counter piece even after they were deleted from factory production mid-1968. The reserve was lifted when bidding stopped at this amount, for a market-correct sale. #312-1970 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE SS 454 replica convertible. VIN: 136670L157560. Cranberry Red/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 79,685 miles. 454-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Malibu-turned-SS 454 with a built-up 454 from unknown source. Has headers, after

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SILVER AUCTIONS // Fort McDowell, AZ market induction, cast-aluminum valve covers, and MSD ignition. Fitted with power 4-wheel disc brakes, aluminum radiator, and cowl-induction hood. Nice eight-yearold bare-body repaint. All brightwork replated or replaced. Panel fit no better or worse than original. Reproduction door panels and seats. Reproduction Rally wheels on modern radials. Cond: 2-. replacement roof vinyl. Good seat upholstery, replaced or re-dyed dashpad. Aftermarket under-dash gauge pack and Hurst shifter. Stereo cut into stock radio location. Aftermarket intake manifold, carburetor, fuel-handling system, ignition system, and air cleaner. No belt on the a/c compressor. Tie wraps keep the added wiring in place. Older radial tires on stock wheels. Cond: 3+. block, but a six-banger was even available. This one was a bit rough around the edges, so it sold well enough. SOLD AT $31,860. A rather well-put-together clone in its original colors. But it’s still a replica at the end of the day, and it will still be one when it comes time to sell again. Sold well enough to recoup the cost of the car, the parts, and a chunk of the labor. #281-1972 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS 2-dr hard top. VIN: 3F87H2Z120541. Red/white vinyl. Odo: 31,507 miles. 350-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Trim-off color-change repaint; sloppy masking around side window seals. Wavy bumper replating. Most trim original and dull. Okay door fit, but the window alignment could use some work. New door seals, but not all the rubber door checks were put back in. New seats, door panels, headliner, and carpet. Aftermarket triple gauge beneath the dash; unprofessional wiring under the hood. Repainted motor fitted with HEI distributor and aftermarket ignition wires. On aftermarket alloy wheels with radials. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $16,200. This final-year Chevelle SS with optional 454 (not to be confused with the SS 454, which went away after 1971) would have impressed me more without the go-fast equipment—especially the Hurst shifter, which just looked contrived. Still, interest in 1973–77 A-bodies has been waking up, so this was a pretty realistic selling price, with the consignor dropping the reserve once the bidding ended. FOMOCO #286-1959 EDSEL RANGER 2-dr hard top. VIN: C9UG715481. Beige & light brown/multi-tan vinyl. Odo: 67,811 miles. 292-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Optional power brakes and remote trunk release. Old, presentable repaint, with some scuffing along the edges. Side glass edges starting to yellow and delaminate. Economy-grade bumper replate, poorly replated vent window frames. Good original interior, with the seats under a clear poly waffle-butt seat covering. Light warping of the door panels. Soiled carpeting. Beyond soiled engine bay. Fitted with aftermarket 15-inch wheels on economy radials. New exhaust system with a rather robust report. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $15,660. Final year for the hardtop Cutlass. (Subsequent generations were sedans, coupes or pillared coupes only— plus a convertible in the 1990s.) By this point the model had become a good-selling mid-size personal luxury cruiser, with performance a fading memory. This attempt at a wannabe 442 sold well enough. #427-1973 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE SS coupe. VIN: 1D37Y3K469487. Gunmetal metallic & black/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 36,324 miles. 454-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Optional swivel bucket seats, rear window defogger, and a/c. Good repaint and 90 AmericanCarCollector.com #210-1961 FORD RANCHERO pickup. VIN: 1K27U192643. Light blue/black & white vinyl. Odo: 39,592 miles. 144-ci I6, 1-bbl, 3-sp. Dealer-installed a/c. Decent repaint when the truck was refurbished in 2000; heavier trim—such as along the top of the box—was masked rather than removed. Doors require a robust slam to latch properly. Newer gas tank, exhaust system, and undercoating. Reupholstered seat and door panels, sympathetic to original pattern. Yellowed plastic dash knobs, but repainted steering wheel. Generally tidy under the hood. Modern three-core radiator, with the repainted original included along with a set of Foxcraft fender skirts. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $19,170. I got a kick out of the consignor’s attitude. On Silver’s windshield card, he wrote, “Radio doesn’t work, neither does the owner.” I also liked that he cut the reserve loose at $17,500, garnering one more bid. #271-1962 FORD FALCON wagon. VIN: 2R22U113077. White/red & white vinyl. Odo: 51,616 miles. 170-ci I6, 1-bbl, 4-sp. Recent cosmetic redo. Decent trim-off repaint; trim professionally buffed out or replated as appropriate. Pop-riveted body tag on the door, but matches the VIN. New door seals. Fitted with plus-2-sized alloy wheels on modern radials. Tidy under the hood with minor modifications; modern Daytona carburetor. Light overspray on door panels. New seat upholstery and vinyl door panels, done in a generic pleat. New carpeting. Cleanly painted undercarriage in gloss black. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $8,640. Mercury-Edsel-Lincoln division knew they were in trouble early on in the 1958 model year, and the 1959 redo as an even more lightly disguised Ford certainly didn’t help. In addition, they also now shared identical powertrains with Ford (the 1958s used unique-displacement F-E series engines). Now it not only had a dated Y- SOLD AT $13,500. This was the Year of the Falcon in Arizona, with plenty to choose from. This one was perhaps the most unusual, as a wagon with the rare Ford of England Dagenham 4-speed. Not much problem getting it past the $10,500 reserve, showing that maybe the reason there were so many offered is that these economy

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SILVER AUCTIONS // Fort McDowell, AZ Fords are finding a toehold in the market— despite $1.79/gallon Arizona gas prices. #296-1968 FORD MUSTANG GT/CS coupe. VIN: 8R01C168021. Brittany Blue/ white vinyl/two-tone blue vinyl. Odo: 74,453 miles. 289-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Deluxe Marti Report on display confirms it is a real-deal California Special. Originally with black top and interior. Excellent repaint but with some touch-up on the edge of the headlight bucket from rubbing. All brightwork replated or replaced; vent-window pivots are pitted. Good door and panel fit. Reproduction interior soft trim; modern kick panels added for speakers. Engine cleanly dressed up with Motorcraft and aftermarket trim bits. Consignor believes block and heads are original. On modern alloy wheels. Cond: 2-. expertly reupholstered in stock pattern, but in vinyl rather than original leather (retained on arm rests). Power antenna and power vent window both dead. Not much to brag about under the hood. Temp light stays on, then or now (except for the few Sled Savants out there like me), the consignor wisely elected to cut the reserve loose after bidding ceased. and heater doesn’t seem to work. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $14,850. The 1961–69 slab-side Lincolns defy the usual valuation rules, in that the 2-door hard tops bring less money than the 4-door sedans. Simply put, it’s because of the suicide doors. Not all that long ago, this car’s greatest value would have been as a donor to keep a 1966–67 convertible going. Price today wasn’t silly. SOLD AT $29,592. The California Special was a West Coast-market car only, made at the San Jose assembly plant with Shelby American doing the engineering work, using GT350/500 styling cues such as the Lucas driving lights and taillights. Mitch Silver and company told the crowd they were “taking extra time” to get it sold. And they certainly milked it out, eventually getting the reserve lifted at $27,100—plenty, considering the liberties taken. #253-1968 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL sedan. VIN: 8Y82G818539. Black/black vinyl. Odo: 16,340 miles. 462-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Optional power front seat and a/c. Good trim-off repaint in recent years with minimal gravel chips up front. Replated bumpers and select larger trim, with buffed-out stainless trim. Driver’s door fit a bit shaky, with loose mirror. Aftermarket window tint. Seats #453-1969 MERCURY MARAUDER 2-dr hard top. VIN: 9Z60K568959. White/ maroon vinyl. Odo: 39,059 miles. 429-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Optional 429 V8, a/c, and styled alloy wheels. Claimed actual miles with alloriginal interior. California blue plates with 2014 tabs. Healthy scrape on front bumper, and rear quarter-window trim has some pitting, but the rest of the brightwork is original and in good shape. Ding on driver’s door sport mirror. Decent repaint on the outside with some light overspray on the body tag and door seals. Excellent interior with minimal wear or fading. Lightly detailed under the hood. Cond: 3+. #29-1979 FORD F-250 Ranger XLT Super Cab Trailer Special pickup. VIN: X25JKDG2572. Copper & light tan/tan vinyl. Odo: 82,555 miles. 460-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Options include power steering, power brakes, a/c, snooze control, sliding rear window and dual gas tanks (handy for a thirsty 460). Aftermarket push bar and rear step bumper. Generally original one-owner truck from California with current tabs on the original blue plates. Buffed-out and faded original paint. Heavy wear inside the box. Dry-rotted window seals, rock-hard door seals, newer radial tires. Dull alloy trim with a few dings. Dingy engine bay. Good original interior with modest wear. Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $6,372. I’ve seen a few of these Camper/Trailer Specials pop up at auction over the past year or two—vastly more from Ford than GM or Dodge. Since resale value wasn’t so hot in the 1970s and ’80s, they tended to be kept around and only got used when someone needed a serious hauler. Besides, who can afford the fuel cost of putting big miles on a 460 V8 with a 4.11 rear end? After dawdling on the block for a while, the reserve lifted at $5,800, prompting one more bid. MOPAR SOLD AT $15,390. When the Marauder made its second return to the Mercury lineup for 1969, there were two series. The base model (which this one is) had a 390 V8 as standard, while the X-100 had the 429. Since these never really caught on #477-1956 DESOTO FIREDOME convertible. VIN: 55279292. Silver & gunmetal/ black vinyl/red vinyl & gray nylon. Odo: 67,226 miles. 330-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Professionally restored and authentic in all respects except for a modern battery, generic hoses, hose clamps and belts. Better-thanoriginal paint, chrome, and body panel fit. Engine gaskets look like they were installed yesterday. Flawless interior. Glossy black undercarriage. With power steering, brakes and top, dash-top clock and dual rear antennas. Fitted with reproduction dealer-accessory real wire wheels shod with reproduction bias-ply wide whitewall tires. One of 646 1956 Firedome convertibles. Cond: 1-. 92 AmericanCarCollector.com

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SILVER AUCTIONS // Fort McDowell, AZ SOLD AT $85,320. Even the entry-level Firedome was a well-equipped car right out of the box. With the few choice options on this one and the superb restoration, this not only was the top sale of the weekend here, but was actually a pretty good buy for the money. The only thing that bugged me is that if you take a car this far, why scrimp on the battery and hoses? AMERICANA #259-1962 STUDEBAKER LARK Daytona 2-dr hard top. VIN: 62V2I865. Black/red & white vinyl. Odo: 88,604 miles. 289-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Optional 4-speed, Twin-Traction differential, and small center console. Modern plus-2-sized alloys on performance radials. Better-quality restoration in recent years, but not quite a show car. Good repaint showing some miscues in the prep work. Replated bumpers and larger trim, plus buffed-out stainless. All-new interior soft trim, including a color-coordinated shift boot on the modern aftermarket Hurst shifter. Tidy engine bay with correct engine paint detailing, but modern service replacement parts abound. Cond: 2-. NOT SOLD AT $22,000. This was Stude’s sleeper during the 1960s, especially set up like this. The Studebaker 289 in a Lark body could do a good job holding its own against whatever Ford put their 289 into—be it Falcon, Fairlane, or Mustang. Nice to see one of these done up fairly well like this. In order to sell one at this money, the devil is in the details, but this one came close. #229-1976 JEEP CJ-5 Levi’s Edition SUV. VIN: J6M83AA066051. Blue metallic/blue cloth/blue vinyl & cloth. Odo: 30,768 miles. 232-ci I6, 2-bbl, 4-sp. Older repaint somewhat faithful to original hue, with minimal prep. Dry-rotted aftermarket rubber wheelwell extensions. Five period aftermarket wheels on old mud-and-snow radials. Older replacement Levi’s-style top and front seats; original Levi’s back seat and visors are still pretty decent. Aftermarket roll bars. Wires dangling beneath dash. CD player with two speakers cut into dash. Newer brake master cylinder and battery. Seems to run out well. Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $7,290. The Levi’s interior package was available on a number of AMC products in the mid-1970s, including the Gremlin, Pacer, Hornet, and J-series pickups. The seat upholstery wasn’t pure denim—it was more of a denim-embossed vinyl. With the reserve cut loose when the bidding quit, the new owner told me his plans for it. First: Find a set of Levi’s decals. Second: Flip it on eBay. We both believe that there’s money to be made, although I think less than he’s hoping for. A March-April 2015 93

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GLOBAL ROUNDUP Selected Sales Combined in One Comprehensive Report American highlights at five auctions GM #264-1927 CHEVROLET CUSTOM pickup. VIN: 4558093. Maroon/brown vinyl. Known as the “Barbecued Stove Bolt.” Built in 1951 from pieces and parts from 16 cars, two motorcycles and an airplane. Has a 1927 Chevy chassis and 1921 Dodge cockpit. Powered by 1927 Chevy “Stove Bolt” block. Shown at 1952 National Roadster Show and appeared in first issue of Honk magazine. Unique, but what the heck do you do with it? Cond: 5. SOLD AT $49,500. Has history, but after 45 years of neglect, it looks a bit forlorn. I can’t see restoring it, so where do you go from here? Would love to ask the new owner. RM Auctions, Phoenix, AZ, 01/15. An array of American iron awaits new homes at GAA Greensboro Greensboro Auto Auctions Greensboro, NC — November 6–8, 2014 Auctioneers: Mike Anderson, Eli Detweiler, Ricky Parks Automotive lots sold/offered: 326/497 Sales rate: 66% Sales total: $7,083,437 high sale: 1969 Shelby GT500, sold at $88,510 Buyer’s premium: $500 up to $8,000; 6% thereafter, included in sold prices Report and photos by James Grosslight Mecum Auctions Kansas City, MO — December 4–6, 2014 Auctioneers: Mark Delzell, Mike Hagerman, Jim Landis, Matt Moravec, Bobby McGlothlen Automotive lots sold/offered: 383/577 Sales rate: 66% Sales total: $8,252,184 high sale: 2005 Ford GT, sold at $313,200 Buyer’s premium: 8%, included in sold prices, $500 minimum Report and photos by B. Mitchell Carlson Gooding & Company Scottsdale, AZ — January 16–17, 2015 Auctioneer: Charlie Ross Automotive lots sold/offered: 114/126 94 AmericanCarCollector.com Sales rate: 90% Sales total: $63,605,500 high American sale: 1964 Shelby Cobra 289 roadster $1,155,000 Buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold prices Report and photos by Joe Seminetta RM Auctions phoenix, AZ — January 15–16, 2015 Auctioneers: Max Girardo Automotive lots sold/offered: 110/123 Sales rate: 89% Sales total: $63,605,500 high sale: 1932 Packard Deluxe Eight Individual Custom sport phaeton $1,045,000 Buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold prices Report and photos by Carl Bomstead Bonhams Scottsdale, AZ — January 15, 2015 Auctioneers: Malcolm Barber, Rupert Banner Automotive lot sold/offered: 74/84 Sales rate: 88% Sales total: $24,909,250 high American sale: 1964 Shelby Cobra 289 roadster $1,017,500 Buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold prices Report and photos by Jack Tockston #104-1946 CADILLAC SERIES 62 convertible. VIN: 8409520. Eng. # 8409520. Dark blue metallic/tan cloth/tan leather. Odo: 117 miles. 346-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. No reserve. Excellent paint, mint grille and bumpers, stainless polished. Factory steel wheels, small hubcaps, period-correct wide whitewall tires. Excellent glass, working spotlight on driver’s side, new tan convertible top stowed and not seen. Passenger’s door hard to open, rubber stop bumper missing. Interior fresh with new leather seating, mint dash with clear instruments, factory radio. Power top, windows, antenna and front seat were high-tech in ’46. Underhood clean, stock, ready for touring. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $88,000. This was the first offering displayed in front of the venue, and it looked both classy and inviting in the desert sun. Fewer than 1,400 of these were built in 1946, largely attributed to the car industry reorganizing after war-production duties. This example is a recognized contender, having been awarded CCCA badge number 2315, and the new owner will find it ready for concours trophies. Price paid was just under the $90k low estimate, making this look like a smart investment. Bonhams, Scottsdale, AZ, 01/15.

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GLOBAL ROUNDUP #129-1964 PONTIAC GTO convertible. VIN: 824F38361. Black/black vinyl/red leather. Odo: 390 miles. 389-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Lustrous black paint. Excellent interior showing almost no wear. Loaded with options, such as custom a/c, power steering, power brakes, power windows, instrument panel pad, full floor mats, door edge guards, center console, windshield washer with dual-speed wipers, inside tilt mirror, and six different accessory lamps. The car’s third owner had it restored with Scott Tiemann’s Supercar Specialties. Cond: 1-. 161703. Turquoise metallic/white vinyl/ Parchment leather. Odo: 50,348 miles. 454ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. A true 4-speed LS6 with broadcast sheet for documentation. Said to be one of fewer than 200 built in 1970 with Turbo-jet 454 and 450 horses under the hood. Equipped with Muncie M22 4-speed transmission. Also equipped with optional Strato bucket seats. Ordered with stripe and Cowl-Induction delete. Properly restored and well maintained. A rare and desirable muscle car. Cond: 1-. #148-1970 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE SS LS6 convertible. VIN: 139670B- black vinyl. Odo: 54,000 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Older full restoration. Good and straight with nice gaps all around. Non-factory wheels with a blue tint. Cond: 2+. NOT SOLD AT $26,000. Great color yellow with a black interior and the Z/28 rear. Everything stands out nicely, and if you like blue-gray gunmetal rims, this was for you. Seller was smart not to sell. $30k would be more in line for this one. GAA, Greensboro, NC, 11/14. SOLD AT $330,000. Better than new in every way. Extraordinary price for an extraordinary car. Gooding & Co., Scottsdale, AZ, 01/15. #F112-1970 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE SS 396 2-dr hard top. VIN: 136370B165108. Dark green metallic/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 18,822 miles. 396-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Copy of original build sheet shows it was restored to original specs. Optional power steering, power front disc brakes 3.31 ratio open differential, F41 suspension and AM/ FM radio. Owner-restored approximately a decade ago. Good bare-body repaint, including the rally stripes. New roof vinyl and replacement windshield. All-original powertrain; generally authentically restored under the hood. Hurst shifter fitted, but otherwise well restored to stock interior with minimal wear. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $225,500. This was a no-questions LS6 that sold for #2 money. Based on condition and documentation, it could have sold for an additional $25k without a question. I could only guess that the color perhaps held it back a bit. RM Auctions, Phoenix, AZ, 01/15. #F93-1970 GMC 1500 Sierra Grande Custom pickup. VIN: CE134SZ75011. Green metallic & white/green vinyl. Odo: 39,352 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Factory-optional 350 V8, Hydra-Matic, 3.73 open differential, power brakes and steering, a/c, gauge package and push-button AM radio. Rides on repop Rally wheels. Modern tonneau cover and door window shades. Miles claimed original, but also stated that the frame was swapped at restoration. Nicely prepped and repainted. Firewall still has original paint and assembly-line markings. Repainted motor. A/C system has R134A fitting on it. Original interior was put back in and shows light wear. Cond: 3+. CORVETTE #222-1962 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 208675103900. Tuxedo Black/black vinyl/fawn vinyl. Odo: 16,005 miles. 327-ci 360-hp fuel-injected V8, 4-sp. Multiple NCRS Top Flight awards. Numbers-matching and offered with both hard and soft top. Presented with original shipping invoice. One of fewer than 2,000 1962s built with fuel injection, which was a $484 option. Equipped with RPO 687 Heavy Duty Brakes and Special Steering package. Recent respray to high standard. Dog-dish hubcaps and blackwalls complete the look. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $34,020. Stated by the owner’s wife that he restored it with the help of their eight children (one wonders when he had time to work on a car). Since they were downsizing, they figured that selling it was the most equitable way of divvying up the fruits of their labor. Reserve lifted at $27,500, with plenty of bids left in it. That must have given the new owner the idea to try to flip it on Saturday as Lot S175, but to a no-sale bid of $30k. Mecum Auctions, Kansas City, MO, 12/14. 96 AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $17,820. I liked this Jimmy until I got to the “original miles” with “frame swapped” parts. Sounds like an oxymoron to me. Just goes to show that there’s plenty of these trucks out there, so focus on the good ones with no stories. Price paid would be reasonable... for a better example than this. Well sold. Mecum Auctions, Kansas City, MO, 12/14. #FR143-1971 CHEVROLET CAMARO Z/28 coupe. VIN: 12487IN589340. Yellow/ SOLD AT $220,000. Strong money, but a very strong car. Only 246 1962 Corvettes produced with RPO 687 option. When a unique and desirable car is restored to this standard, estimates and price guides go out the window. If you want the best, you need to step up to the plate. RM Auctions, Phoenix, AZ, 01/15. #29-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE coupe. VIN: 30837S119672. Ermine White/ Saddle Tan leather. Odo: 14,067 miles. 327-ci 340-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Inconsistent paint with orange peel. Nice interior patina. Undetailed engine bay. Some surface rust on the frame probably due to its Ohio home. L76 engine, Muncie M20 4-speed manual transmission, G80 Positraction rear axle with 4.11:1 ring-and-pinion. Drum brakes, independent rear suspension with trans- BEST BUY

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GLOBAL ROUNDUP ONETO WATCH verse leaf spring. Claimed to have only four owners. Well documented with owner’s card and corresponding title. Cond: 3+. A focus on cars that are showing some financial upside SOLD AT $242,000. Split-Windows are high on my list of “could have/should have bought ones” when they were cheap. An expensive ping-pong match between two bidders in the room resulted in a huge price for a low-mileage-but-average-condition car. Sold a year ago at Bonhams’ 2014 Scottsdale sale for $165k (ACC# 232084). Very well sold here. Gooding & Co., Scottsdale, AZ, 01/15. 1991 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 1LE W hen Editor Pickering suggested this ’91 Z/28 1LE Camaro for this month’s One to Watch — sold as Lot 222 at Barrett-Jackson’s 2015 Scottsdale auction — I chuckled at the idea. Another ’80s or ’90s GM car? But then he made note of the price — $25,300. That price is nearly triple the $8,945 average price for all 1991 Camaros as tracked by ACC’s Premium Auction Database. So what was so special about this one at Barrett-Jackson? Well, this particularly clean Z/28 had just 100 miles on the odometer. The other important contribution to this car’s remarkable selling price is its rare equip- ment package — Regular Production Option 1LE. The 1LE basically was the Special Performance Components Package. In order to get it, buyers first had to select RPO G92 (performance rear axle, Z/28 coupe only). Then came the engine/transmission combo (205-hp LB9 305 with 5-speed manual or the 245-hp BL2 350 with 4-speed automatic). The next choice was air-conditioning — stay cool or go faster? With a/c, RPO G92 came with an engine-oil cooler, four-wheel discs and dual-convertor exhaust. Cars without a/c automatically got the 1LE package, which included heavy-duty brakes, special shocks, aluminum driveshaft and baffling in the fuel tank. Easy to spot the one specified for club racing, eh? The crux of the 1LE package is the front brakes, which Detailing Years built: 1988–99 Number produced: 478 (1991 1LEs, out of 12,452 Z/28 coupes) Number sold at auction in the past 12 months: Three Average price of those cars: $18,717 Current ACC Valuation: $13,500–$18,500 combined the Caprice’s 12-inch discs and the Corvette’s calipers. This combination proved to be so good that midway through 1991 Chevrolet listed the 1LE as an option for their police-package Camaros. In 1988, when GM made the 1LE package convolutedly available to the public, they sold four cars. Production grew after that, peaking at 705 1LEequipped Camaros in 1992, but 589 of those were B4C police-package cars with a/c. The 478 1LE-equipped cars produced in 1991 also included many B4C service vehicles. 1LE production continued in small numbers, ending in the 1999 model year. While the tracking of these vehicles dives into muddy waters in ’91, the easiest way is proper documentation indicating the correct options present or not present. Air-conditioning 98 AmericanCarCollector.com AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $31,860. Before you Chevyophiles begin building an altar for this Yenkosold Corvette, remember that Don needed to sell cars and trucks to pay the bills before he could go race. There was no special attention paid to this car; just more inventory moved out the door. But it probably explains why someone paid over book for a decentbut-unspectacular chrome-bumper C3. Mecum Auctions, Kansas City, MO, 12/14. FOMOCO is a dead giveaway that car was never meant to be on a track trading bumper paint. A — Chad Tyson #117-1936 FORD MODEL 68 roadster. VIN: 182250662. Black/tan fabric/ brown leather. Odo: 160 miles. A very early ‘36 Ford roadster finished in black with Ap- #F172-1970 CHEVROLET CORVETTE coupe. VIN: 194370S401605. Mulsanne Blue/blue vinyl. Odo: 3,580 miles. 350-ci 300-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Optional power steering, power windows, tilt/tele steering column and AM/FM radio. Copy of MSO and build sheet show it was sold new at Yenko Chevrolet of Canonsburg, PA. Newer repaint over decent prep work. Better-thanstock door fit. Mostly original brightwork, some reproduction. Modern replacement windshield. Good interior upholstery is loose fitting from compressed padding. Stained original carpeting. Aftermarket tape deck. Newer suspension hardware and exhaust system, but not hung on last weekend. Cond: 2-. BEST BUY

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GLOBAL ROUNDUP ple Green pin-striping. Winner of three Dearborn Awards. Recent LeBaron Bonney top and interior. Equipped with radio, side curtains and original tools. Presents in highpoint condition. One of only 3,862 built. Cond: 1-. was not a surprise. The Columbia rear end makes touring a delightful experience, and the streamlined styling brings the thumbsups. A quality offering. Last sold at RM Monterey for $151k (ACC# 46463). RM Auctions, Phoenix, AZ, 01/15. SOLD AT $93,500. Even at the major auctions, a car can slip through, and this one sold under the money. A V8 roadster in this condition for under $100k is a very nice buy. Use and enjoy, and it’s money in the bank. RM Auctions, Phoenix, AZ, 01/15. #215-1937 LINCOLN MODEL K two-window sedan. VIN: K7816. Eng. # K7816. Brewster Green/tan fabric. Odo: 88,596 miles. In 1937 Lincoln offered a long list of body options, and only 48 cars were built using style number 354-A—the two-window sedan. One of only two to survive. Museum car for many years. Original paint has a few nicks and scratches but presents remarkably well. Window rubbers badly worn. High-speed rear end installed for touring. Trippe lights. Has been used in multiple CCCA events, including CARavans. Cond: 2. #105-1949 MERCURY CUSTOM convertible. VIN: 9CM202772. Burgundy/white fabric/white & burgundy vinyl. Odo: 2,309 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Built in early 1990s by Dick Dean with Carson top, frenched headlights and 1953 Chevrolet grille. Powered by small-block V8 with Turbo 350 automatic. Featured in Custom Rodder. Paint very nice, with minor signs of age. Strong interior. A well-preserved custom. Cond: 2. #224-1956 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL MARK II coupe. VIN: C56E2989. Dark red/white & maroon leather. Odo: 15,751 miles. 368-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. One of the most elegant cars of the 1950s, and restored to within an inch of its life. These are quality automobiles, and as they were mostly handmade, they are difficult and expensive to restore. Absolutely the finest Mark II I have observed, with a minor swirl the only flaw accented in the bright Arizona sunshine. Cond: 1. SOLD AT $247,500. This was last seen at Russo and Steele’s 2014 Monterey sale, where it realized $112,500, which we said “broke new ground for a Continental Mark II” (ACC# 227648). Well, less than a year later, it shattered new ground for a Mark II. Are they now going to get the respect they deserve? Next sale will tell the tale. RM Auctions, Phoenix, AZ, 01/15. #FR137-1957 FORD FAIRLANE 500 Skyliner retractable hard top. VIN: DFW37336. Black & gold/retractable hard top/black & white vinyl. 312-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Presents as excellent in every department: paint, chrome, glass, interior, engine, top motor... The list goes on. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $71,500. This was last seen at the Seattle Mecum sale in June of 2014, where it was a no-sale at $60,000 (ACC# 255724). Prior to that, it sold at RM’s 2002 sale in Monterey for $60,500 (ACC# 28839). Not a lot of movement in 12 years, but customs are a tough sell. Market-correct price. RM Auctions, Phoenix, AZ, 01/15. SOLD AT $49,500. This one slipped through the cracks. A rare Full Classic that would be a perfect tour car and should have sold closer to the $70k low estimate. Closed Full Classics are becoming a tougher sell, but this one had interesting styling and a powerful V12 under the hood. Well bought. RM Auctions, Phoenix, AZ, 01/15. #245-1938 LINCOLN-ZEPHYR convertible. VIN: H64271. Washington Blue/tan fabric/brown leather. Odo: 3,188 miles. Streamlined styling credited to John Tjaarda and Bob Gregorie. Powered by small V12. Equipped with radio and Columbia 2-speed rear axle. Older restoration by Tom Sparks and scored 99.5 points at LZOC National Meet. Still shows well and has been properly maintained. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $180,000. Prices of well-restored Zephyrs continue to escalate, so the result here 100AmericanCarCollector.com #FR183-1956 FORD THUNDERBIRD convertible. VIN: P6FH312221. Orange/black vinyl/white vinyl. 312-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Very nice paint. Factory-perfect interior, engine and compartment. Interior quality matches the rest of the car. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $29,150. The quality of all the shiny stainless and chrome made the biggest difference on this car, and the paint, interior and top all matched the quality. Bought at a steal. GAA, Greensboro, NC, 11/14. SOLD AT $37,100. Excellent in every way, and purchased a little under top value. Good buy. GAA, Greensboro, NC, 11/14. #138-1958 EDSEL CITATION convertible. VIN: X8WY700406. Red/white vinyl/red & white vinyl. Odo: 63,897 miles. 410-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Mid-1990s paint still exemplary. Yards of chrome excellent, steel wheels, full caps, three-inch whitewalls, fender skirts. Mint windshield; white convertible top has unusual wrap-around plastic window unavoidably wrinkled in corners. Interior very good in original patterns, demerit for corroded radio bezel. Push buttons in wheelhub-control automatic transmission. Engine bay in showroom condition. Stunning car, appropriate for parades and sunny-day jaunts. Cond: 1-.

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GLOBAL ROUNDUP interior, aside from an aftermarket trailer brake. Heaviest interior wear is the paint on the shift lever. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $71,500. Derided in period as a “Ford sucking on a lemon,” this top-of-theline Citation got lots of attention here, especially from those unaware of the marque’s failure in the marketplace. The distinctive “horse collar” grille looks modern today, although it was considered an affectation by car-mag writers in the 1950s. This was a well-bought result for one of the best examples on the planet. Bonhams, Scottsdale, AZ, 01/15. #126-1966 SHELBY COBRA 427 roadster. VIN: CSX3102. Red/ black leather. Odo: 17,524 miles. 427-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Second street 427 produced; received Le Mans-style body from CSX3005 after car rolled. Has unbraced roll bar, street seats and 289-style nose. Number of stories and number of different parts. Well preserved but never restored. Owned by Bill and Bud Jones, owners of “Mr. Formal Wear” and featured in famous promotional posters alongside statuesque blonde wearing just a tuxedo shirt, bowtie and heels. Cond: 3. 5 SOLD AT $17,280. The original owner’s statement displayed with the truck underscores why a lot of ¾-ton pickups seem to crop up from the mid-1970s. He bought a ¾-ton because it was exempt from emissions controls and only used it to haul hay for his two horses. I’ll admit to being a sucker for this era of Ford pickups since I grew up around them, but still say that it was well sold for a 2wd ¾-ton. Mecum Auctions, Kansas City, MO, 12/14. MOPAR 10 #221-1931 CHRYSLER CG IMPERIAL dual-cowl phaeton. VIN: CG2737. Eng. # CG2737. Red/black fabric/ dark red leather. Odo: 39 miles. An authentic example of a desirable dual-cowl phaeton. Discovered in early ’80s and properly restored. Complete with original build sheet. Correct detailing on gas cap. The older restoration has held up well and still appears fresh, which speaks to the quality of the workmanship. Stunning Full Classsic. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $440,000. It is thought that only 22 of these have survived. They are difficult to restore, and when offered for sale, they bring what was paid here. Buyer paid a slight and well justified premium for this rare 6-passenger example. RM Auctions, Phoenix, AZ, 01/15. #134-1954 CHRYSLER NEW YORKER Town & Country wagon. VIN: 76603716. Cordovan Brown & Tahitian Tan/brown & white vinyl. Odo: 37,870 miles. 331-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. A well-restored T&C wagon fitted with the 331 Hemi. Only 1,100 produced. This example fitted with 1956 4-barrel carb and 1957 air cleaner. Thought to have appeared in 1954 movie “White Christmas” with Bing Crosby. Has original build tag and Chrysler Historical Services documentation. Recent restoration with original panels and wood retained. Fitted with original wires and radial tires. Unusual aftermarket roof rack. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $990,000. This was last seen at Mecum’s August 2010 Monterey sale, where it realized $689k (ACC# 165753). A well used and properly preserved Cobra with an interesting history. Would be a shame to restore it. Has to be displayed with the Mr. Formal Wear posters. Well sold, but in today’s hot Cobra market, a fair transaction. RM Auctions, Phoenix, AZ, 01/15. #F102-1976 FORD F-250 Custom pickup. VIN: F25MPB50237. Red/red vinyl. Odo: 15,158 miles. 390-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Oneowner truck until consigning dealer bought it earlier this year. Statement from original owner claims original miles and unrestored. Hood, wheels and hubcaps have all been recently repainted. Still shod with original tires. Paint wear on cargo box. Some corrosion under the hood, but retains all original finishes. Cleaned up and detailed all-original 102AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $412,500. This sold at RM’s McMullen Collection sale in 2007 for $572k (ACC# 45555). More recently, it sold at Gooding’s Monterey 2011 sale for $407k (ACC# 184673). Price paid here was market-correct and in line with the Gooding sale. An elegant Chrysler CG Imperial. RM Auctions, Phoenix, AZ, 01/15. 113. Eng. # C2826398. Blue/tan leather. Odo: 56,691 miles. 242-ci I6, 2-bbl, auto. Said to be one of only about 200 6-passenger examples built. The vast majority were 9-passenger models. One of about four surviving with blind rear quarter. Restored in 2006, and the wood is exceptional. The red plastic on the dash and steering wheel is very accurate and difficult to source. Underpowered, but nonetheless a rare and desirable example. Cond: 2+. 9 #232-1941 CHRYSLER ROYAL Town & Country wagon. VIN: 770- SOLD AT $66,000. Period station wagons continue to be popular, so it’s surprising that this well-documented example did not fare better. It has the Hemi and a bunch of desirable options, so perhaps the brown paint held things back. RM Auctions, Phoenix, AZ, 01/15. #145-1955 CHRYSLER C-300 2-dr hard top. VIN: 3N552584. Tango Red/tan leather. Odo: 184 miles. 331-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. Often called the “banker’s hot rod,” as the C-300 was the NASCAR Grand National Champion for 1955. Only 1,725 built and fewer than 200 survive. This example finished to high standard, with Amelia Award in 2008. Minor signs of age now evident. TOP 10 TOP 10 TOP 10

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GLOBAL ROUNDUP Equipped with power windows and seats. Hemi motor with bat-wing air cleaner. Finished in the right colors. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $126,500. This C-300 has it all—performance, styling and a quality restoration. Price paid was for a #1 car. This was not quite there, but still no issue with the hammer price. RM Auctions, Phoenix, AZ, 01/15. #120-1956 DESOTO ADVENTURER 2-dr hard top. VIN: 50385933. Gold & black/gold vinyl brocade. Odo: 57,448 miles. 341-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. The “Golden Adventurer” was used as the pace car for the 1956 Pikes Peak Hill Climb. Loaded with options, including Highway Hi-Fi and self-winding clock in steering wheel. Recent restoration to high standard by known marque specialists. Equipped with air, power seats and twin rear aerials. A very cool car. Cond: 1-. ern pop rivets. High-quality bare-body repaint. Excellent door and panel fit. All chrome replated, all stainless trim buffed out. Generally authentic engine bay. All reproduction interior soft trim. Original Mopar floor mat now sitting in the trunk. Modern wide whitewall radial tires. With power steering. Cond: 2+. Three years of ownership and 13 miles on the clock resulted in a tidy profit. This will certainly get a lot of attention. Well worth the price paid. RM Auctions, Phoenix, AZ, 01/15. SOLD AT $37,800. 1960 was the first year for unibody construction for Chrysler and the Dart series. They were full-sized cars, but shorter than the Matador and Polara series. Although not the most correct restoration, the overall quality was very good and doesn’t seem all that out of line for a final price, especially considering what it likely cost to redo the car (or even just the chrome). Mecum Auctions, Kansas City, MO, 12/14. SOLD AT $82,500. This was a highly optioned example that sold for under the money. Air adds about 15% to the package, and the Highway Hi-Fi is a plus. Fewer than 1,000 built. A strong nod to the buyer. RM Auctions, Phoenix, AZ, 01/15. #106-1957 CHRYSLER SARATOGA 2-dr hard top. VIN: L5726268. Jet Black & Cloud White/white vinyl & brown brocade. Odo: 33,399 miles. 354-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Bold Virgil Exner “Flight Sweep” rear end styling treatment. Powered by 354 V8 with push-button TorqueFlite transmission. Loaded with all the goodies and properly restored. Very attractive interior and engine correctly detailed. Very nice example. Cond: 2+. #ST37-1964 IMPERIAL CROWN convertible. VIN: 9243206214. Red/white vinyl/ white vinyl. Odo: 49,499 miles. 413-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Shiny paint. Nice original chrome. Good interior. Clean engine compartment. Nice glass and gaskets. Cond: 2+. 193614. Eng. # 193622. Packard Blue/tan canvas/blue leather. Odo: 802 miles. An older restoration that is holding up well and has been properly maintained by several well-known and respected collectors. One of only two 904 Deluxe Eights known. A true split-windshield Dietrich custom. Has a few issues due to age of restoration, but they are minor, which speaks to the quality of the workmanship. Cond: 2+. 4 #246-1932 PACKARD DELUXE EIGHT Model 904 phaeton. VIN: SOLD AT $1,045,000. The ultimate Dietrich Custom Packard. How much is too much to pay? If you want the best, don’t ask. RM Auctions, Phoenix, AZ, 01/15. SOLD AT $16,430. Right on the money. This nice original Imperial had been well maintained and showed just a bit of age. Great car for driving and for shows. GAA, Greensboro, NC, 11/14. AMERICANA SOLD AT $44,000. Despite the $60k–$80k estimate, this #2 car sold for solid #2 money. It will be a fun car for the local show-and-shine. Market-correct transaction, so no issues here. RM Auctions, Phoenix, AZ, 01/15. #F118-1960 DODGE DART Phoenix 2-dr hard top. VIN: 5302173465. White/multiblue cloth & vinyl. Odo: 28,740 miles. 318-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Body tag affixed with mod- 104AmericanCarCollector.com #155-1932 HUPMOBILE SERIES I 226 coupe. VIN: 5404. Two-tone red/dark maroon leather. Odo: 53,857 miles. This was once in the Harrah Collection. Thought to be the sole surviving example. Cosmetic restoration in mid-1990s with body on the car. A few minor paint chips and blemishes. Sidemount mirror not adjusted properly. Screws missing on trim. All easily corrected. Very cool hood ornament. Not a CCCA Full Classic, but it has a very classic Art Deco look. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $99,000. This was last seen at RM’s Hershey 2011 sale, where it realized $71,500 (ACC# 186098). #FR135-1988 JEEP GRAND WAGONEER SUV. VIN: 11CN15VIT140822. Blue/tan vinyl. 360-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Exceptional example. Great chrome, great blue paint and super-clean tan interior. Same goes for the wood sides. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $16,165. This was so nice to see. Price paid was above market value, but not by much. Don’t worry, buyer—the market will come to you and pass the price you paid. GAA, Greensboro, NC, 11/14. A TOP 10

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The Parts Hunter Chad Tyson Big-money parts and accessories from around the country for the heads, and the date on both boxes is 11-9-73.” Buy It Now. Sold at $4,275. There were several sets of these sold late last year on eBay Motors, and this was easily the most expensive set. Behold the awesome value-adding power of NOS. Aftermarket barehead equivalents run about a quarter to a third of the price paid here. I can’t knock this too hard, as the numbers check out to be proper for SD-455 heads. Still, this was a strong price that one bidder didn’t blink at with the Buy It Now option. Well sold. #141510952411—1973–74 Pontiac SD-455 Cylinder Heads. 12 photos. Item condition: NOS. eBay, Newark, DE. “Part number 485214. I’m selling these for my friend who bought them new on March 25, 1976. Both heads are dated G143, which is July 14, 1973. These heads have never been used, but the original buyer had the intake ports slightly deburred, as well as some of the exhaust-port openings to remove some casting flash. Not all ports were deburred. On the “B” head there is scratch on the gasket surface that I’ve circled it to help show it. These are the original boxes #221652434435—1955–56 Plymouth “Shat-RProof” Side Glass Set. 4 photos. Item condition: NOS. eBay, Muncy, PA. “Offered is a four-piece set of vintage, NOS “ShatR-Proof” brand auto glass for a 1955–56 Plymouth 4-dr sedan. More than likely fits Dodge as well. Front and rear windows on driver’s and passenger’s sides. I think this is OEM. Purchased among a number of miscellaneous parts from a 1956 Plymouth 4-dr sedan owner selling his car.” Best Offer. Sold at $250. All I can do is chuckle at how the English language has evolved, even since the 1950s. New flat glass for a ’55 Plymouth sedan will run over $400. So, already good buy. Also, these don’t appear to be broken, cracked or damaged. That makes this an even better buy. NOS is a bonus to the buyer here. #321580154633—1970–71 Ford Torino Hideaway Grille Set. 5 photos. Item condition: Used. eBay, Saint Clair Shores, MI. “This is a mint, used set of hideaway grilles for ’70–71 Torino. No broken tabs. Painted the correct color. Chrome is nice and shiny. Just buy and install. The only thing better is NOS.” Buy It Now. Sold at $1,199. Perhaps more accurately described as a hideaway grille insert set, as there are no surround or supporting pieces to complete the grille assembly. The price here reflects the difference. Used, complete assemblies are closer to double the price paid here. For a clean set such as this, well bought. #121487201047—1956–58 Packard Clipper Taillamp Assemblies. 11 photos. Item condition: Used. eBay, Riverview, MI. “A pair of 1956–58 Packard taillight assemblies. They are often used for custom-car applications, such as Mercury lead sleds. The housings look nice and shine well. They do have some chrome blistering. The lenses look good. One has a small, fine crack and the other a small chip. Good cores to send to the chrome plater if you want them looking good, or use as is.” 10 bids. Sold at $626.56. Yeah, these could go on another lead sled. Perhaps we’ll see a pair at Pebble Beach’s new Post-War Mercury Customs class this August. It certainly won’t be this pair, as there is plenty of work to get these to show-car level. Complete assemblies take a good deal of hunting to find. I did locate a remarkable set for over double the price paid here. Fairly bought. stated they were going to replicate this intake, but I never found evidence of them doing so. NOS is the only way I found to get this incredible look — even if this setup is hard to tune and subsequently didn’t work particularly well when new (said Hot Rod magazine). Fairly bought and sold. 106 AmericanCarCollector.com #221587193762—Man-A-Fre Intake Manifold and Four Rochester Carburetors. 9 photos. Item condition: NOS. eBay, Orange City, IA. “Barn find. New Old Stock Man-A-Fre 4-deuce intake to fit a small-block Chevy engine. Found this in the attic of an old hot-rodder. He bought this new in 1963 and never got it put on. Rochester 2GC carbs are still in the box. The intake manifold is clean, not stained, and complete with linkage and “Man-A-Fre” afterburner fuel-injection system. There may be a few copper tubes and fittings missing. This is the intake system that the iconic John Milner had on his ’32 Ford in the movie “American Graffiti.” This may be the only NOS Man-A-Fre in existence.” 1 bid. Sold at $3,500. It may be too easy, but I can’t think of a better use for this than sitting on top of a small block in a banana-yellow Deuce coupe. Same as the DeLorean, some things would have just faded into obscurity without a helping hand from pop culture. About eight years ago, there was a company that

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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 Pontiac Star Chief sedan 1962 Chevrolet Impala 2-door hard top 1976 Pontiac Formula 400 coupe Black/black. 38,000 miles. V8, automatic. Factory black with black deluxe interior, original matching-numbers engine, original exhaust, a/c, rear defogger, am/fm/8-track stereo, tilt Formula steering wheel, Posi rear, Honeycomb wheels. Fantastic repaint on a rust-free body. No modifications--all stock. Serious inquiries only please. $16,500. Contact Andre, 440.647.6686, Email: mitzie95@gmail.com (OH) 1985 Pontiac Fiero GT coupe Green & ivory/green & ivory. V8, 4-spd automatic. Solid car except for front floor pans. In dry storage since 1983. Loaded with accessories. Power steering, power brakes, power windows, tilt seat, EZI, factory a/c (unmolested), accessory bumper guards, lit ornament, rear speaker and more. Will run but has needs from long storage. Good title. $6,500 OBO. Contact Jay, 302.521.0225, Email: jhchevyparts@aol.com (DE) Advertisers Index Auctions America ................................ 13 Barrett-Jackson ................................... 15 Blue Bars ............................................. 64 Camaro Central ................................... 89 CarFurniture.com .............................. 105 Carlisle Events ..................................... 17 Charlotte AutoFair ............................... 87 Chevs of the 40’s ................................ 80 Chubb Personal Insurance .................. 11 Corvette America ................................. 37 Corvette Expo Inc ................................ 81 County Corvette .................................... 2 Danchuk .............................................. 61 Genuine HotRod Hardware ................. 23 Grundy Worldwide ............................... 85 Hagerty Insurance Agency, Inc. .......... 91 JC Taylor ............................................. 59 108 AmericanCarCollector.com S/N 21847T228914. Tuxedo Black/red. 2,000 miles. V8, 3-spd automatic. Frame-on restoration, new GM 350 crate motor, 350 Turbo trans, fresh paint, new interior, power steering, front disc brakes, LED taillights, halogen headlights. New gauges, 1963 Chevy tilt wheel, American Torque Thrust rims. Super-straight, best-driving classic I own. Additional photos and details can be found online. $26,500. Contact Mike, Island Classics and Customs, 917.626.0233, Email: mdsignorile@aol.com Web: www. islandcc.net (NY) Jim Meyer Racing Products Inc. ......... 92 Kinekt ................................................ 111 La Jolla Concours D’ Elegance ........... 83 Law Offices of Bruce Shaw ................. 19 Leake Auction Company ....................... 3 LeMay - America’s Car Museum ....... 103 Lucky Collector Car Auctions .............. 75 Lutty’s Chevy Warehouse ................. 109 MacNeil Automotive Products Ltd .... 113 Memory Lane Motors, Inc. .................. 93 Michael Irvine Studios ......................... 95 Mid America Motorworks .................... 27 Morphy Auctions ................................. 71 Mustangs Unlimited .......................... 105 National Corvette Restorers Society . 111 National Parts Depot ......................... 115 Obsolete & Classic Auto Parts, Inc. .. 107 Original Parts Group ............................ 73 S/N 1G2PG370606FP257779. Red/gray. 24,672 miles. V6, 4-spd manual. Mid-engine 2.8-liter, power steering, brakes, windows, a/c. Twoowner car that has been meticulously cared for. Looks and smells like new. Truly spotless. $12,500 OBO. Contact Burt, 312.951.8981, Email: burt@ fitzrich.com (IL) 1990 Chevrolet 454SS pickup Center College of Design.) Built by myself, Dave Crook—retired GM Design Staff Technical Stylist. $29,000 OBO. Contact David, 909.592.5649, Email: crookcreations@msn.com (CA) FOMOCO 1929 Ford Model A Huckster woodie S/N A716437. Red & black/tan. 62,415 miles. Beautiful frameup restoration. Evaluated by Senior Certified Appraiser/ Senior Master Judge, received highest grade possible in all fields evaluated. Original allsteel fenders, hood, running boards and windshield frame. Gorgeous wood body, replaced/ refinished to its original red oak. Condition Code #1, excellent. $39,500 OBO. Contact John, 757.490.3311, Email: lee. john.t@gmail.com (VA) 1962 Shelby Cobra 50th Anniversary roadster S/N 1GCDC14N1LZ240078. Silver/burgandy. V8, 4-spd automatic. Built from a mint 454SS. Designed by Harry Bradley (one-time GM styling designer, originator of the Mattel Hot Wheels and longtime instructor at the Pasadena Art Paragon Corvette Reproductions ........ 99 Park Place LTD .................................... 33 Petersen Collector Car Auction ......... 109 Portland Swap Meet ............................ 69 Premier Auction Group .......................4-5 Pro-Team Corvette Sales, Inc ........... 101 Reliable Carriers .................................. 57 RM Auctions .......................................... 9 Silver Collector Car Auctions .............. 79 St Bernard Church............................. 113 Steve’s Corvettes ................................ 65 The Chevy Store Inc .......................... 107 The Elegance At Hershey .................... 25 Thomas C Sunday Inc ....................... 111 TYCTA ................................................. 97 VintageDrivingMachines.com .............. 77 Watchworks ....................................... 111 Zip Products ........................................ 39 S/N CSX8069. Black/red. V8, manual. One of 50 anniversary cars made by Shelby American. Completed by Bill Andrews/ HRE Motorcar. Rebuilt Ford 289/375-hp engine. A piece of Shelby history, Shelby registered. Email for additional pictures and details. $250,000. Contact Karl, 201.670.1713, Email: karlmetz4@aol.com (NJ) f1965 Ford Mustang 2+2 astback S/N 5F09A317688. Burgundy/ Palomino. 77,485 miles. V8, automatic. This original A-code

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Showcase Gallery Mustang has been rotisserierestored to show-level. Includes factory a/c, Palomino interior, fold-down rear seats, power steering and a period-correct Philco AM radio. No disappointments and ready to ravage the road or be shown in your favorite local show. Classic Showcase, 760.758.6100, Email: management@classicshowcase.com Web: classicshowcase.com/index.php/inventory/ detail/352 (CA) 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 replica roadster engine freshening by Joe LaPine. Original red paint and black leather interior. Call for complete details. Contact Matt, 203.852.1670, Email: matt@ deGarmoLtd.com (CT) 1967 Mercury XR7 Cougar 2-dr hard top 1986 ERA Cobra. One owner from new, all-original and just 20k original miles. Never tracked or abused in any way. Pampered from new. Recent S/N 7F93A628220. Lime FrostFord #2041-A/Ivy Gold Leather. 97,153 miles. V8, 4-spd automatic. Original California car. 289-4U A-code engine dress-up kit. C4 automatic, PS, PB, a/c, console, custom fabricated with XR7-G rear exhaust outlets, hood scoop and stylized steel wheels. Marti Report available. $25,000 OBO. Contact Paul, 248.647.1460, Email: farberman@aol.com (MI) A March-April 2015 109

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RESOURCE DIRECTORY Put your company in the ACC Resource Directory. Call 877.219.2605 Ext. 218, or email advert@americancarcollector.com Auction Companies Auctions America. 877.906.2437. Auctions America specializes in the sale of American classics, European sports cars, Detroit muscle, hot rods and customs. The company boasts an expert team of specialists, who offer 180 years combined experience buying, selling, racing and restoring collector vehicles, making them uniquely qualified to advise on all aspects of the hobby. www.auctionsamerica.com. (IN) Petersen Auction Group of Oregon. 541.689.6824. Hosting car auctions in Oregon since 1962. We have three annual Auctions: February—Oregon State Fairgrounds, Salem, OR; July— Douglas Co. Fairgrounds, Roseburg, OR; September— Oregon State Fairgrounds, Salem, OR. On the I-5 Corridor. We offer knowledgeable, fast, friendly “hassle free” transactions. Oregon’s #1 Collector Car Auction www.petersencollectorcars.com 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. Premier Auction Group. 844.5WE.SELL . The auction professionals that have been taking care of you for the last two decades have partnered together to create a team that is dedicated to providing the utmost customer service and auction experience. We applied our 83 years of auction experience to build a platform ensuring that every aspect of our company exceeds your expectations. 844.5WE.SELL. 844.593.7355. www.premierauctiongroup.com. info@premierauctiongroup.com 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) 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) 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) 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 110 AmericanCarCollector.com Classic Car Transport L.A. Prep. 562.997.0170. L.A. Prep brings its 30 years of experience transporting vehicles for the Thomas C. Sunday Inc. 800.541.6601. Established in 1970, Thomas C. Sunday Inc. provides clients with fully-enclosed, 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) cross-country, door-to-door service. Thomas C. Sunday Inc. are well-seasoned experts in the field of automobile transportation, hiring only Grade-A drivers, and offering clients the best possible service at competitive pricing. Fully-licensed, insured and bonded. Call 1-800541-6601 or 717-697-0939, Fax 717-697-0727, email: info@sundayautotransport.com Corvette Parts & Restoration 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 premium service it deserves. We share your appreciation for fine automobiles, and it shows. www.PassportTransport.com. 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. 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 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) 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)

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RESOURCE DIRECTORY Put your company in the ACC Resource Directory. Call 877.219.2605 Ext. 218, or email advert@americancarcollector.com 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) Fuelies, Special 425s/435s/RPOs. Call toll free 888.592.5086 or call 419.592.5086. Fax 419.592.4242, email: terry@ proteamcorvette.com or visit our website: www.ProTeamCorvette. com. ProTeam Corvette Sales, 1410 N. Scott St., Napoleon, OH 43545. Special Corvettes wanted at CorvettesWanted.com! NCRS 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) Member #136. Insurance 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) attorneys. Estate planning and divorce settlements concerning Collector Cars. 50 State Representation. 215.657.2377. Museums 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) 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. ProTeamCorvette.com. Corvettes: 1953–1982. Over 10,000 sold since 1971! Moneyback guarantee. Worldwide transportation. Z06s, L88s, L89s, LS6s, ZR2s, ZR1s, LT1s, COPOs, 112 AmericanCarCollector.com 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) Putnam Leasing. 866.90.LEASE. For over 25 years, Putnam Leasing has been the leader in exotic, luxury, and collector car leasing. This honor comes from Putnam’s unique ability to match the car of your dreams with a lease designed just for you. Every Putnam Lease is written to provide maximum flexibility while conserving capital, lowering monthly payments, and maximizing tax advantages. It’s Putnam’s way of letting you drive more car for less 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 Mustangs Unlimited. Since 1976, Mustangs Unlimited has been the source for Restoration, Performance, and Accessory parts for 1965–present Mustang, 1967–1973 Mercury Cougar, American Collectors Insurance. 1.866.887.8354. The nation’s leading provider of specialty insurance for collectors. We offer affordable, agreed value coverage for all years, makes, and models of collector vehicles. Since 1976, we have provided superior service and broad, flexible coverage. Experience our quick quoting and application process, as well as our “Real Person” Guarantee every time you call. Email: Info@ AmericanCollectors.com www.AmericanCollectors.com J.C. Taylor Insurance. 800.345.8290. Antique, classic, muscle or modified — J.C. Taylor Insurance has provided dependable, dynamic, affordable protection for your collector vehicle for over 50 years. Agreed Value Coverage in the continental U.S., and Alaska. Drive Through Time With Peace of Mind with J.C. Taylor Insurance. Get a FREE instant quote online at www. JCTaylor.com. (PA) Leasing 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 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 California Car Cover Company. 800.423.5525. More than just custom-fit car covers, California Car Cover is the home of complete car care and automotive lifestyle products. Offering the best in car accessories, garage items, detailing products, nostalgic collectibles, apparel and more! Call 1-800-4235525 or visit Calcarcover.com for a free catalog.

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and 1965–1970 Shelby Mustang. More than 55,000 available parts in 2 fully stocked warehouses, Mustangs Unlimited is YOUR Mustang Parts SUPERSTORE! FREE Shipping on orders over $300. Visit www.mustangsunlimited.com or call 800.243.7278. National Parts Depot. 800.874.7595. We stock huge inventories of concours-correct restoration parts for: 1965–73 and 1979–93 Mustang 1967–81 Camaro & Firebird 1964–72 GTO, Tempest & LeMans 1964–87 Chevelle, Malibu & El Camino 1948–96 F-Series Ford Truck 1947–98 C/K 1/2-ton Chevy Truck 1966–96 Bronco 1955–57 Thunderbird www.nationalpartsdepot.com 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. Restoration—General 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.cosmo- politanmotors.com (WA) A March-April 2015 113

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Surfing Around Carl Bomstead Automobilia from the Ron Pratte Collection Carl’s thought: Ron Pratte’s hangar at the Chandler, AZ, airport showed off his impressive automobile collection as well as over 1,600 pieces of automobilia. The collection included signs, neon, pedal cars, gas globes/pumps and decorative automotive displays. As Pratte headed in a different direction, Barrett-Jackson sold his impressive automobilia collection over several days at this year’s Scottsdale auction, all at no reserve. The final automobilia tally was over $6.5m. Here are a few of the more exciting results I noted: LOT 8840.1—1948 TUCKER SHOWROOM SILK BANNER. SOLD AT: $17,250. Date sold: 1/13/2015. This 40x48 banner was in incredible condition for being over 65 years old. There were no creases or signs of age or wear. These have been reproduced, but the reproductions have more orange in the emblem and the fringe at the bottom is not as thick. This was clearly the real deal. The price was up there, but with the cars well over a million, what’s $17k for a cool go-with? LOT 8727—SKYLARK AVIATION GASOLINE PORCELAIN AND NEON SIGN. SOLD AT: $28,750. Date sold: 1/12/2015. This large 66x43-inch porcelain sign had wonderful graphics with an airplane and small clouds in the background. It was in exceptional condition and was actually well bought considering the substantial premium paid for many of the other neons. LOT 8384—1934 AMERICAN NATIONAL LINCOLN PEDAL CAR. SOLD AT: $13,800. Date sold: 1/11/2015. This stunning pedal car was the recipient of a quality restoration that far exceeded its original condition. It was over four feet in length, fully sprung and finished in two-tone paint scheme. Over-restoration on pedal cars and vintage gas pumps is a plus, and as we observed with the Pratte Collection, they bring adult money. LOT 8795—1950s LEFT-FACING MOBILE “PEGASUS” HORSE WITH NEON. SOLD AT: $28,750. Date sold: 1/12/2015. The Mobil “Pegasus” porcelain horse measures 94 inches from hoof to nose 114 AmericanCarCollector.com and was offered in both right and left-facing versions. This is the more difficult version to locate. The catalog stated that the wings were articulating to simulate flight, but when presented that was not the case. These signs are very desirable and make a dramatic statement in a large car barn. LOT 8931—DIE-CUT BEACON GASOLINE LIGHTHOUSE PORCELAIN SIGN. SOLD AT: $47,150. Date sold: 1/13/2015. This is one of the most desirable, if not the most desirable, gas/ oil signs ever produced. Strong image, great colors, and very difficult to find in this condition. Some years back I passed on one at Hershey for $1,500, thinking that was all the money. Win some, lose some, but I still wish I had not been so tight. LOT 8073—1940s MOBIL OIL PEGASUS LICENSE PLATE ATTACHMENT. SOLD AT: $690. Date sold: 1/11/2015. There are about seven different versions of this tin six-inch Mobil Oil license plate attachment, including one for the 1939 California World’s Fair and one that states “America First.” This version usually sells for less than $300, so all I can say is that the hype regarding the Pratte Collection carried over here. LOT 8950—1930s FORD V8 NEON PORCELAIN SIGN. SOLD AT: $31,050. Date sold: 1/13/2015. Ford signs do not usually bring the money, but this one was an exception. Bold and impressive with two colors of neon, it stood about six feet in height. At the 2012 RM Dingman sale, three were offered and sold for between $20,000 and $30,000, so the price paid here was in line. A very desirable neon sign.A