American Car Collector May-June 2013

CAR COLLECTOR Vol. 2 • Issue 9 • May-June 2013 The Scoop: Profiles CORVETTE 1957 283/283 FUELIE CONVERTIBLE $129k / RM Auctions Fuelie icon brings a top-money price — Michael Pierce Page 42 GM 1968 CHEVROLET CAMARO Z/28 $64k / Mecum Auctions GM’s high-revving answer to race-spec Mustangs — Chad Tyson Page 44 FoMoCo 1969 FORD MUSTANG BOSS 302 $71k / Mecum Auctions Ford’s Trans Am challenge to the dominating Z/28 — Dale Novak Page 46 MOPAR 1960 CHRYSLER 300F GT SPECIAL $237k / Gooding & Co. The best of the best in a Chrysler letter car — Tom Glatch Page 48 AMERICAN ™ Cover photo: 1968 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 Courtesy of Mecum Auctions 6 AmericanCarCollector.com Keith Martin's

HOT ROD 1932 FORD “GOLDEN ROD” ROADSTER $91k / RM Auctions The price of originality in a period rod — Ken Gross Page 50 CLASSIC 1932 AUBURN 8-100A SPEEDSTER $330k / RM Auctions How do you value an original rebody? — Carl Bomstead Page 52 RACE 1967 PLYMOUTH R023 BELVEDERE $80k / Mecum Auctions Are Plymouths fast? Ask the man who didn’t own one — Tom Glatch Page 54 TRUCK 1970 CHEVROLET EL CAMINO SS 454 LS6 $122k / Mecum Auctions The baddest — and rarest — muscle truck around — B. Mitchell Carlson Page 56 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 302; profile, p. 46 Courtesy of Mecum Auctions May-June 2013 7

Inside COLUMNS 10 Torque 36 Cheap Thrills – B. Mitchell Carlson 38 Horsepower A time machine with an eight-foot bed – Jim Pickering 1967–72 Ford F-series: Too good to ignore Is cheap horsepower dead? – Colin Comer 40 Corvette Market 106 Surfing Around The Curse of the Fours – fiction or fact? – John L. Stein Must-have automobilia on eBay – Carl Bomstead SERVICE DEPARTMENT 12 What’s Happening Your guide to news and events 14 Crossing the Block Upcoming auctions 20 Parts Time 22 Cool Stuff 24 Snapshots 28 Your Turn Thermoquads and inTune Bendable Boom Mat, slot-cars race to glory, wrenching on a salad Muscle-car stamps, and a trip to Cuba Million-dollar ’Vettes? 34 Insider’s View 80, 88 Our Cars What’s the best $10k American collector car? 60 Anatomy of a Market Report A primer on how ACC rates cars at auction Up close and personal with ACCer vehicles 100 The Parts Hunter Big-money parts and accessories 102 Showcase Gallery — NEW! Sell your car in our ACC classifieds section 104 Resource Directory Get to know our advertisers 105 Advertiser Index 8 AmericanCarCollector.com Photo: Looking down the barrel at Portland International Raceway. For tips on prepping your stock muscle for drag racing, see p. 30 Dave Tomaro Dave Tomaro AUCTIONS 62 Mecum Kissimmee The mammoth sale grows to a record-shattering 10 days and $70.7m – Dale Novak 72 Leake Oklahoma City A real-deal ’69 Yenko Camaro rumbles to $209k at Leake’s $5.7m OKC sale – Phil Skinner 82 McCormick’s Palm Springs Rust-free desert classics bring a record $7.5m at Keith McCormick’s 54th sale – Jack Tockston 90 Roundup 6 Carl Bomstead, Burt Richmond Highlights from five sales of American vehicles from coast to coast – Adam Blumenthal, Donald Osborne, FUN RIDES 20 Good Reads – Mark Wigginton The Complete Book of Classic Dodge and Plymouth Muscle: Every model from 1 960 to 1 497 22 Desktop Classics 30 A Day at the Races 66 Quick Take 1969 Yenko Camaros – Marshall Buck Ten Tips to help you beat your friends at the local grudge races– Jim Pickering 1966 Chevrolet Nova SS L79 – Dale Novak

Torque Jim Pickering hold up my three-inch exhaust system and my Flowmaster three-chamber mufflers. So a few weeks ago, I headed out to one of Portland’s oldest speed shops to take a look around and pick up the things I needed. Radke Auto Parts has been in business Time traveling in a truck I CLASSIC MUSCLE WILL ALWAYS BE HOT, BUT WORK TRUCKS WERE WHAT OUR HEROES DROVE ’ve been working on rebuilding the rear suspension in my ’66 Caprice street/strip car — but I have broken a few things in the process, including several of the exhaust hangers that since 1933. It’s not the closest shop to ACC’s World Headquarters, but I always like the drive, since it runs right past where my father used to work when I was a kid. I try to make it a point to buy from Radke’s at least a few times a year, in part because it’s still a family-owned business, and because it’s the only reason I have to explore an area I used to visit when going to see Dad at work. Exactly where his building was is vague in my mind, so whenever I’m in the area, I’m always the guy driving five miles per hour under the speed limit while looking for landmarks that feel familiar. For a kid like me, going to see Dad at work was great, since the area was completely industrial — you were guaranteed to see big trucks, or a freight train, both of which were by far the highlights of the week for a little boy obsessed with mechanical things. But even more vivid in my memory were the trips to work with Dad on the weekends. We’d always take his blue ’75 Chevy one-ton pickup. We’d share Hot Tamales from the candy machine while he did whatever it was he had to do. Sometimes we’d go into the attic and he’d let me rifle through the boxes of old semi-truck license plates for my collection. Always at the center of these trips was that blue truck — the way it sounded, the way it smelled (a cross between sunbaked vinyl and leather work gloves), and the way it felt to sit in it — eye-level to the dash, legs bouncing off the front of the seat. That truck was the first vehicle I’d ever seen brought back to life, so while I already loved cars, in a sense it was my first personal connection to this hobby. It was also the first tangible evidence to support what my 5-year-old mind already assumed: My dad 10 AmericanCarCollector.com Like father, like son — the ’75 Chevy one-ton meets Jim’s ’72 K10 could do absolutely anything. He’d pulled it out of a field in the mid-1980s as a nonrunner, and he worked his magic on it over the course of a few years, personally making it look like a new truck. It served as his daily driver until 1988 or 1989, when he parked it in favor of a company-supplied S10. In 2001, he sold it to a friend for $500. Life moved on and we lost track of it. A few weeks ago, I was thinking of all this stuff like I usually do on my way to Radke’s. As I pulled in the driveway, I was blown away to see the old Chevy sitting in front of the house adjacent to the store. I hadn’t seen it since 2001, but I’d know it anywhere. Aside from some heavy weathering, it looked just the way it did back when I rode in it as a kid in that same neighborhood. For a moment, I was 5 years old again. Going back in time There’s been a lot of talk about booming classic-truck prices in the current market. While I can’t say for sure how long the trend will last, I do understand it, and I think it boils down to this: Muscle cars and Corvettes will always steal the spotlight and rank high on the sales charts, but for a lot of us, work trucks were the vehicles our heroes drove. They are a tangible connection to a simpler time of life, when all that mattered was fixing this or moving that, or just riding with Dad or Grandpa on the way to do something fun. People are always willing to pay to revive a part of their youth. I think for every collector who is buying a truck to try to make money in the hot classic-truck market, there’s another one paying a premium price not because a specific truck is rare or pretty or poised to go up in value, but because of what it represents to him on a personal level. It’s a knee-jerk reaction to the harsh economic and social realities of the past few years. It’s the everyman car guy looking to go home again. My memories of that ’75 were the reason I bought a ’72 Longbed 4x4. I don’t drive it daily, but I do drive my daughter around in it as much as I can. My hope is that she’ll find the same sort of value in the old-truck experience that I did when I was little. That ’75 won’t ever come back to my driveway. My dad and I have moved on. But it’s nice to know it’s still out there and in one piece. I just hope a little kid lives in that house next to the old speed shop, and I hope he or she gets to ride around in that truck, legs bouncing off the front of the seat and face eye-level to the dash. A

WHAT’SHAPPENING Shelby in SCCA Hall of Fame Carroll Shelby, race car driver and the wizard behind the Shelby Cobra and Shelby Mustang, lives on as a member of the Sports Car Club of America Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony took place at the SCCA’s Annual Meeting at the South Point Hotel in Las Vegas on March 2, 2013. Shelby died in May 2012. “Carroll Shelby is an Shelby icon in the automotive performance industry,” said SCCA President and CEO, Jeff Dahnert. “He impacted the SCCA as a competitor, as an automotive designer and builder, and his influence within the motorsports world elevated SCCA. We are very proud to have had him as a member of the SCCA and now as a member of the SCCA Hall of Fame.” Fellow legends John “Skip” Barber, Bill Noble, Bobby Rahal and Andy Porterfield accompanied Carroll Shelby into the SCCA Hall of Fame. With only five inductees this year, initiation into the Hall of Fame is one of the highest honors given in the world of automotive racing. Carlisle Events The car-happy town of Carlisle, PA, is the place to be in May and June, especially if you’re into performance cars, Fords or GM vehicles. Carlisle Performance & Style, on May 9–11, brings tricked-out cars and trucks to the Carlisle Fairgrounds. Autocross, stunt shows, the Manufacturer’s Midway and a great swapmeet are just a few of the weekend’s events. The 18th annual Carlisle Ford Nationals arrives at the Fairgrounds on June 7–9, and FoMoCo fans will wallow in test drives and displays of concept, custom and historical cars. A burnout competition, NHRA drag racing, Manufacturers Midway and the world-famous swapmeet are also scheduled. The Carlisle GM Nationals, from June 21 to 23, also offers concept, custom and historic cars — along with drawings for vehicles and engines. More NHRA racing is scheduled, along with a car show, an all-GM car corral, a Turbo Buick celebration and a Cacklefest. And, of course, the legendary swap meet will wear out even the most dedicated bargain hunters. For more information on all Carlisle Events, visit www.carsatcarlisle.com 12 AmericanCarCollector.com Jenkins Bloomington Gold’s Champaign Year Bloomington Gold — the annual Corvette lovefest and strict test of originality — rumbles into Champaign, IL, from June 28 to 30. This is the first time that Bloomington Gold will be in Champaign, and the word is that there will be better roads for driving and more room for events. This marks the 41st year of the longest continuous national Corvette show. Thousands of Corvette lovers — and Corvettes — flock to Bloomington Gold each summer to celebrate America’s Sports Car — and to see whether their car is original enough to win a prestigious Gold Certification, a Survivor Award or the coveted Benchmark Award. But this is more than a judging event. The Great Hall will honor Corvette people and cars, the GoldMine has Corvettes for sale, and Mecum Auctions will move more than 250 Corvettes across the block. For more information, visit www.bloomingtongold.com Grumpy’s Stuff Drag racing Legend Bill “Grumpy” Jenkins is gone, but his legacy will live on at Mecum’s 26th Original Spring Classic auction in Indianapolis with the auctioning of “Grumpy’s Stuff,” which features more than 150 personal artifacts from his estate to be offered Saturday, May 18, all at no reserve. “Grumpy,” as he was known by most, made a name for himself during the 1960s while drag racing in the NHRA using cars equipped with engines he had built. Jenkins would often take off down the strip with a lit cigar wedged between his teeth. He built 30 vehicles that set national records in various racing venues — and won a total of 61 races including eight championships. “He was a mechanical engineer to a fault,” describes friend and estate executor Dick Williams. “He was lost in his own world; he was like an artist that way. If he was back working on something you might have to remind him to eat.” For more information, visit www.mecum.com $20k Barrett-Jackson Cup at Hot August Nights The owner of the top car at the 2013 Hot August Nights will go home $20k richer — with- out having to step into a casino. Barrett-Jackson will award $20,000 to the car that earns the Ultimate Best of Show Award during the Downtown Reno Show-n-Shine. The Barrett-Jackson Cup — and that $20k — will go to the top finisher among 45 cars chosen as finalists. The 4th Runner Up will win $1,000, 3rd will win $3,000, 2nd will win $6,000 and the 1st Runner Up will collect $10,000. This is Barrett-Jackson’s first year at Hot August Nights, and the Barrett- Jackson Jackson Hot August Nights Auction will send hundreds of cars across the block at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center from August 8–10. “We are proud of our new partnership with Hot August Nights,” said Craig Jackson, chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson. “We’re excited to celebrate with the Hot August Nights enthusiasts as we bring our iconic auction and brand to the Reno/Tahoe area.” For more information on the Barrett-Jackson Cup, visit www.hotaugustnights.net or www.barrett-jackson.comA

CROSSINGTHE Upcoming auctions BLOCK by Tony Piff 1968 Shelby GT500 KR convertible to be offered at Worldwide’s Houston Classic, May 4 MaY Worldwide — The Houston Classic Where: Montgomery, TX When: May 4 More: www.worldwide-auctioneers.com Last year: 101/119 cars sold / $6.6m Headliners at Worldwide’s Houston Classic sale include a 1968 Shelby GT500 KR convertible; the ex-Rod Stewart 1966 Shelby 427 Cobra, precisely restored to award-winning level; the Serial #1 1950 Nash-Healey Roadster, ex-Donald Healey, $400k restoration just completed; and a 1932 Auburn 8-100A Boattail Speedster with complete ownership chain since 1966. The sale takes place in conjunction with the second annual Concours d’Elegance of Texas. Silver — Spokane 2013 Where: Spokane, WA When: May 8 More: www.silverauctions.com Last year: 99/164 cars sold / $1.3m Hudson Commodore Six Brougham convertible, a 1950 Hudson Commodore Eight Brougham convertible, and a 1939 Hudson Business Six Big Boy pickup. Other notable consignments include a 1931 Auburn 8-98 Boattail Speedster in black and silver with red pin-striping, a restored 1947 Buick Super Estate woodie wagon, an award-winning 1957 Ford Thunderbird E-code, and a fully equipped 1967 Shelby GT500, one of only 200 built in Brittany Blue. Mecum — Spring Classic Where: Indianapolis, IN When: May 14–19 More: www.mecum.com Last year: 1,335/1,991 cars sold / $50.2m Nearly 2,000 collector cars crossed the block at Indy last year. This time around, the legendary 1967 Shelby GT500 Super Snake is the headliner. Other star cars include a 1967 Chevrolet Corvette 427/400 convertible, a 1968 Chevrolet Yenko Camaro RS/SS, and a documented 1970 Dodge Charger R/T SE with only 17,600 miles. This annual sale always attracts a strong mix of drivable collector cars, ready for show or go. You can count on a variety of Corvettes, muscle, wild customs and classic American luxury cruisers. The average price per car here last year was $13,500, with a lot of high-quality consignments under $10k. Auctions America — Auburn Spring Where: Auburn, IN When: May 9–11 More: www.auctionsamerica.com Last year: 194/408 cars sold / $4.4m AA predicts more than 600 cars at this three-day event. The sale will feature 19 vehicles from the John Soneff Collection, many at no reserve. The late Mr. Soneff was known as one of the foremost Hudson experts in the industry. Collection highlights include a 1949 14 AmericanCarCollector.com auctions america’s auburn Spring sale takes place May 9–11

CROSSINGTHEBLOCK Wake the neighbors — pro-streeted 1966 Chevy nova with 555-ci lump to cross the block at Leake’s Tulsa auction June 7–9 Dragone — Spring Vehicle and Collectibles Auction Where: Westport, CT When: May 31 More: www.dragoneclassic.com A strong assortment of century-old American motorcars heads to the second annual Dragone Spring Auction, including a 1911 Hupmobile Model 20, a 1908 International and a 1907 Columbia Electric Victoria. Other exciting lots include a 1941 Chrysler T&C Barrel Back wagon, a 1948 T&C convertible and a 1979 Dodge Li’l Red Express. MotoeXotica — St. Louis Classic & Exotic Car Auction Where: St. Louis, MO When: May 31–June 1 More: www.motoexotica.com June Bonhams — The Greenwich Concours d’Elegance Where: Greenwich, CT When: June 2 More: www.bonhams.com Last year: 62/90 cars sold / $5.2m Leake auctioneers will run 750 collector cars, trucks and motorcycles down two simultaneous auction lanes at this high-energy sale. It’s a spectacle not to be missed, heavy on the Heartland muscle. Early consignments include a nitrous-equipped 1972 Chevrolet Chevelle SS, a Pro Street 1966 Chevrolet Nova with 555-ci V8, a 1968 Camaro and a 1954 Bel Air. Leake — Tulsa 2013 Where: Tulsa, OK When: June 7–9 More: www.leakecarauction.com Last year: 399/646 cars sold / $8.4m MotoeXotica expects 300-plus cars at their hometown sale. Look for a range of consignments from every automotive genre at various price points. The selection of American muscle, Corvettes, Mopars and customs is excellent. Silver — Coeur d’Alene Where: Coeur d’Alene, ID When: June 15 Last year: 44/98 cars sold / $440k Coeur d’Alene, ID, is known for its picturesque lake, wooden boats and collector cars. It’s just the place for this classy, easygoing auction. Consignments range from the mid-four digits on up, with excellent examples from a range of automotive categories. Mecum — Bloomington Gold Where: Champaign, IL When: June 28–29 More: www.mecum.com Last year: 67/133 cars sold / 2.75m Bonhams is the official auction house of the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance, and this will be their fifth annual Greenwich sale. The wide-ranging selection consistently features a number of top-quality domestic collectibles. Sold cars averaged $84k at this sale in 2012. 16 AmericanCarCollector.com From C1s to C6s, it’s all about Corvettes at Bloomington Gold. The well-established Corvette festival moves to Champaign, Illinois this year, and Mecum returns as the official auction house. As Mecum puts it, Bloomington is “where Corvette people buy and sell to Corvette people.” The growing sale looks poised for another strong year. A

Publisher’s Note Keith Martin Buy a car, change your life A merican Car Collector is all about change. When a car gets sold, the seller’s life changes — and so does the buyer’s. When you upgrade a car, perhaps following the suggestions that Editor Jim Pickering makes in his drag-race feature this month, your car changes. Hopefully it’s faster or more consistent. And your driving experience will be different. If the changes work out, you’re a happier owner. If not, it’s back to the drawing board. But in either case, you’ve changed your life — even if just slightly. What I enjoy the most about each issue of ACC is how the market is represented as a vibrant, living thing — from boutique auctions such as RM, with just 100 or so cars, to multi-day extravaganzas like Barrett-Jackson, where more than 1,000 cars cross the block. Whether you’re in a fancy ballroom or a big tent in a parking lot, what’s going on is the same. Someone has decided it’s time to change their life by turning a car into money (and often back into another car), and someone else has decided that the car of their dreams is crossing the block, and they’re going to put it into their garage. If your dream car is the Boss 302, a Z/28, a Fuelie Corvette or LS6 El Camino that we profile in this issue, you missed your chance to buy one when they crossed the block. But ACC reporters were there, and you can read their descriptions of the cars (and trucks), the prices they made, and what we thought of them. The classic muscle cars that are the staple of ACC may be old, but the emotions they elicit are fresh. This issue is full of cars that have moved on to new owners, creating new experiences and new excitement. Isn’t it about time you bought something new for your garage as well? A CAR COLLECTOR Volume 2, no. 3 May-June 2013 Publisher Keith Martin executive editor Chester Allen editor Jim Pickering Art Director Dave Tomaro Digital Media Director Jeff Stites editor at Large Colin Comer auctions editor Tony Piff associate editor Chad Tyson Copy editors Yael Abel, Dave Tomaro auction analysts B. Mitchell Carlson Kevin Coakley John Lyons Norm Mort Phil Skinner Contributors Carl Bomstead Colin Comer John Draneas Michael Pierce Jay Harden Mark Wigginton Information Technology/ Internet Brian Baker Lead Web Developer Marc Emerson SeO Consultant Michael Cottam advertising and events Coordinator Erin Olson Financial Manager Cheryl Ann Cox Print Media Buyer Wendie Martin aDVeRTISInG SaLeS advertising executives Randy Zussman randy.zussman@AmericanCarCollector.com 877.219.2605 x 214 Cindy Meitle cindy.meitle@AmericanCarCollector.com 877.219.2605 x 5 Steve Kittrell steve.kittrell@AmericanCarCollector.com 877.219.2605 x 5 SuBSCRIPTIOnS Subscriptions Manager Rich Coparanis administrative assistant Cassie Sellman Subscriptions 877.219.2605 x 1 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., M–F service@AmericanCarCollector.com 503.253.2234 fax @AmericanCCMag CORReSPOnDenCe Phone 503.261.0555 Fax 503.253.2234 General P.O. Box 4797 Portland, Oregon 97208 Fedex/DHL/uPS 401 NE 19th Street, Suite 100 Portland, Oregon 97232 email help@AmericanCarCollector.com Feedback comments@AmericanCarCollector.com Web www.AmericanCarCollector.com a “sold” sticker indicates that at least two lives are going to be different 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 © 2013 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 Daniel Grunwald Jack Tockston Pat Campion Dale Novak B. Mitchell Carlson Ken Gross Tom Glatch John L. Stein Marshall Buck AMERICAN JOIN US Keith Martin's

GOODREADS by Mark Wigginton The Complete Book of Classic Dodge and Plymouth Muscle: Every Model from 1960 to 1974 by Mike Mueller, Motorbooks, 288 pages, $18.71 (Amazon) Somewhere in the desert well east of Los Angeles, heading for my new college in Missouri, my copilot and UCLA buddy Lance Ito (yes, that Lance Ito) slid behind the wheel of my Datsun 2000. Accelerating onto the freeway, he promptly stuck it in the wrong gear on an up-shift and buzzed the motor. Two weeks later, safely at school, the timing chain let go, valves met aluminum head and I was begging to borrow my roomie’s car. It was a 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T, complete with more horsepower than my sporty-car past had prepared me for, big Hurst pistol grip shifter and a Hemi. My introduction to Mopar power in the R/T was eye-opening, as was the diabolical handling, lack of brakes and seats so flat it felt like I was going to slide out of the car on every curve. But, oh, the power. That Challenger was at the end-in-sight era of the muscle car. Back at the other end, the beginning, there are Bowtie guys who claim the Corvette was there first, as well as Chrysler guys who say, wait a minute, the first muscle car came much earlier, 1955 to be exact, with the introduction of the C-300. Mike Mueller, author of Dodge and Plymouth Muscle, makes a pretty good case for that C-300, the first generally available Detroit iron to produce 300 horsepower. But that is just the beginning for Mueller, who takes us through hundreds of models, from mild to wild, created under the Dodge and Plymouth brands through the muscle-car decade and a bit more. Barracudas, Chargers, Darts and Demons, Road Runners, Dusters and Super Bees, they are all here, with detailed looks at the models, the options and the history. Enjoy the ride, and the read: It’s a good one. PARTSTIME by Chad Tyson New products to modernize your street machine Summit Racing remanufactured Thermoquad carburetors Thermoquad carbure tors give good performance and reliability if they’re set up and tuned properly. Unfortunately there seems to be more magic than skill required in getting one of these just right. Now, instead of searching through the phone book and asking everybody at the swapm help, you can get a rema TQ for your 1971–74 M Summit Racing. Summit disassembles and thoroughly cleans the carbs, replacing any worn or non-functioning components. Each carb is individually inspected and tested by the pros at UREMCO. The best part? Each of the square-bore rebuilds is just $279.95. Visit www.summitracing.com, or call 800.230.3030, for more details. P/N SUM-210232, SUM-210234, SUM-210236. 20 AmericanCarCollector.com Diablosport inTune Programmer If you want to wrangle every ast horsepower from your moder Camaro, Challenger, Mustang or ruck, you’re going to need to tal hat little computer under the hoo Diablosport has just the tool for t ob. The inTune is a programmer, data logger and DTC reader — al wrapped up in a $389 package th maller than your smartphone. The inTune tuning covers applications ranging from a 2012 Cadillac CTS-V to a 2003 Dodge Neon SRT4 to a 2007 Jeep Grand C Hemi. More than 65 tunes (for cars such as Camaros, Mustangs, Corvettes and Chargers too) are preloaded into the tuner, and they can boost both power and mileage significantly. Data logging is as easy as plugging the device into the OBD-II port and touching through a few menus. Clicking “save” can log up to 30 minutes of data. Visit www.diablosport.com for additional information. A Lineage: ªªªª Mike Mueller is an automotive journalist with a strong pedigree in magazines, as well as fifty books on all things automotive. This is the second, updated edition of the original 2009 book, supported by a large cast of Mopar enthusiasts. Fit and finish: ªªª Clean design and plenty of well-printed color images makes this book easy on the eyes. Drivability: ªªªª Good writing is so rare in most enthusiast books, but it’s nice to be able to say Mike Mueller breaks that mold. His writing style is fun, breezy and full of facts, full of personality amidst the prose. From the first chapter, the book is informative and entertaining. ªªªªª is best

COOLSTUFF Multi-tool tableware Wrenches, pliers… I’ve never been so eager to set the table. Each set of stainless steel “utensils” comes in a secure, blow-molded case. $24.95 from www.genuinehotrod.com by Tony Piff Olive drab stab The slim, smooth Kershaw Ready, set, go Summit Racing’s 13-foot slot-car set ($119.95) brings the thrills of the drag strip into your living room. Watch the “Christmas tree” countdown to green, then you can hammer the throttle and race to the finish. The functional foul light keeps everyone honest. Each set includes two Top Fuel funny cars. Mix it up with other dragsters, muscle cars and wild hot rods for $19.95 apiece. www.summitracing.com Bending the sound barrie Boom Mat’s Moldable Noise Barrier is just 1/16-inch thick. Use a heat gun to custo mold the sheets to fit awkward floor contou For service, the mat can be easily removed. Sheets measure 54 inches by 24 inches ($49.95) or 54 inches by 48 inches ($97.95) www.summitracing.com Leek is one of my favorite everyday knives: It carries nicely in a front pocket with just the right heft, the assisted action is solid and slick, and the edge arrives furiously sharp. The only problem is choosing between the variety of colors, COOLSTUFF COOLSTUFF COOLSTUFF COOLSTUFF COOLSTUFF COOLSTUFF COOLSTUFF COOLSTUFF COOLSTUFF COOLSTUFF COOLSTUFF COOLSTUFF STUFF Multi-tool tableware Wrenches, pliers… I’ve never been so eager to set the table. -tool tableware Wrenches, pliers… I’ve never been so eager to set the table. Each set of stainless steel “uten- sils” comes in a secure, blow-molded case. $24.95 from www.genuine- hotrod.com by Tony Piff Olive drab stab The slim, smooth Kershaw Ready, set, go Summit Racing’s 13-foot slot-car set ($119.95) brings the thrills of the drag strip into your living room. Watch the “Christmas tree” countdown to green, then you can hammer the throttle and race to the fin- ish. The functional foul light keeps everyone honest. Each set includes two Top Fuel funny cars. Mix it up with other dragsters, muscle cars and wild hot rods for $19.95 apiece. www.summitracing.com Bending the sound barrie Boom Mat’s Moldable Noise Barrier is just 1/16-inch thick. Use a heat gun to custo mold the sheets to fit awkward floor contou For service, the mat can be easily removed. Sheets measure 54 inches by 24 inches ($49.95) or 54 inches by 48 inches ($97.95) www.summitracing.com Leek is one of my favorite ev- eryday knives: It carries nicely in a front pocket with just the right heft, the assisted action is solid and slick, and the edge arrives furiously sharp. The only problem is choosing be- tween the variety of colors, DESKTOPCLASSICS DESKTOPCLASSICS by Marshall Buck 1969 Yenko Camaros Supercar Collectibles has produced a plethora of Yenko Camaro miniatures. There are more than 10 versions to choose from. Some replicate ultra-rare Yenko cars such as the Dover White with black vinyl roof sold by Jack Douglas Chevrolet, or the one in Olympic Gold, which exactly models the lowest-serial-number ’69 Yenko Camaro. Fit and finish on both are very good, as is the extensive detailing that each model features. I’m par- tial to the white with its perfectly rendered Torq Thrust wheels. Each model has a long list of working features including tilt seat backs, working scissor hinges under the hood, flip-down rear license plate over the gas cap, drive shaft that rotates with the wheels, and more. You will not be sorry when you pop the hood to see that monstrous 427. It’s there in all its glory — wired and plumbed with a comprehensive amount of supporting detail and components. 22 AmericanCarCollector.com Detailing Scale: 1:18 Available colors: Too many to list Quantities of the two models shown: Dover White, 750; Olympic Gold, 504 Price: $74.95 Production date: 2011 Web: www.supercar1.com Ratings Detailing: ªªªªª Accuracy: ªªªªª Overall quality: ªªªª Overall value: ªªªªª ªªªªª is best

SNAPSHOTS A car guy’s Havana time warp CUBAN INGENUITY HAS KEPT AN ESTIMATED 50,000 AMERICAN CARS FROM 1940 TO 1960 ON THE ROAD including the United States. Tourism promotion brought about the Cuban Grand Prix from 1957 to 1959. The 1958 race gave Fidel Castro’s revolutionaries the opportunity to kidnap famous race-car driver Juan Manuel Fangio in 1958 — and publicize their cause worldwide. Fangio is fondly remembered in Havana, more than 50 years after his safe release after 29 hours with his kidnappers. When in Havana, a visit to Ernest Hemingway’s home, Finca Vigia, is mandatory. It is magnificently preserved just the way the famous writer left it in 1960. Hemingway’s 1934 Wheeler fishing yacht is nicely restored and on view under cover. Hemingway owned seven cars during his years in Cuba, including a 1941 Lincoln Continental, two Buick convertibles and a 1955 Chrysler New Yorker convertible. The mix of cars in Cuba represents an interesting Robert Ames Paradise for fans of vintage Detroit iron by Robert Ames What is life like in Cuba these days — almost 53 years after the United States placed an embargo on Castro’s paradise? Well, I found rum, cigars, Hemingway haunts, salsa — and 1950s Detroit Iron everywhere. For years, I’ve seen photos of the amazing array of old American cars roaming the streets of Havana. I’ve always wanted to see this phenomenon firsthand, so when the U.S. Treasury Department announced the People to People program, which allows U.S. citizens limited group travel to the island, we signed up for a National Geographic-sponsored visit. We’ve traveled to some pretty remote spots around the globe with this first-rate nonprofit outfit. Meanwhile, I’ve long resisted the urge to sneak into Cuba through Canada or Mexico. This trip was a legal way to live my dream. In addition to the days in Havana on either Detailing Travel to Cuba is illegal for most U.S. citizens, but it is legal to visit the country if you sign up for a special tour. National Geographic Expeditions offers a very popular tour. For more information, visit www.nationalgeographicexpeditions.com. end of the stay, we visited Cienfuegos, Pinar del Rio and Trinidad, which is a World Heritage site. These towns are all reached via an eight-lane motorway — which seemed to have more mule carts and bicycles than automobiles. There were 24 in our group, including a couple of other gearheads. Luckily, our principal guide was Christopher Baker, an English travel writer. Chris, an old Cuba hand, has written extensively about the island, its history, politics and people — and about its time-warp cars. Our first days were in Havana staying at the Marques San Felipe Hotel. Just steps away from this marvelous hotel we found a museum filled with some of Cuba’s earliest automobiles, including the oldest, a 1908 Cadillac. Now that’s fitting, as Cadillacs are everywhere. This small island, the home of 1940s and 1950s Mob-owned casinos, once bought more Cadillacs per capita than any other country, 24 AmericanCarCollector.com Robert Ames Is that a factory color? spectrum. Ladas, the Soviet Fiat 124 copy, are still about, smoky and rusting. Their survival rate is much lower than the 50-years-older Detroit Iron. The “classic” American car population ranges from scrap candidates to good examples of amateur restoration performed without the benefit of replacement parts. The worst are barely mobile taxis, badly rusted hulks with broken suspension corners and locked in a remaining gear or two. Their owners hope to keep moving shared fares from Point A to Point B in exchange for a few Cuban Pesos above black-market fuel costs. A good many of the old U.S. cars underwent engine changes — often to more-modern Russian or Chinese diesels. Some of those engines came from tractors. The range of transplants is amazing: Engines, transmissions and entire underpinnings now live on under ancient Chevrolet, Ford and Chrysler bodies. Cuban backyard engineering equals anything seen in 1940s Southern California. This ingenuity has kept an estimated 50,000 or so 1940 to 1960 American machines on the road. All See HAVANA, p. 26

SNAPSHOTS Muscle cars forever by Chester Allen The great muscle cars of the late 1960s and early 1970s remain a living, breathing passion for many American Car Collectors — and five classic firebreathers now have immortal status on five new “Forever” stamps from the U.S. Postal Service. The limited-edition “America on the Move: Muscle Cars Forever” stamps display artist Tom Fritz’s paintings of: • A 1966 Pontiac GTO melting rubber on a twilight track • A 1967 Shelby GT500 at speed • An orange 1969 Dodge Daytona — with signature spoiler painted black — at the very start of an epic burnout • A 1970 Plymouth Hemi ’Cuda fishtailing slightly while smoking the tires • A 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle convertible in a blur of speed and power All of the stamps show cars flexing their muscles, which is only right, as these “Forever” stamps can be used anytime in the future to mail a first-class letter. They, like the actual cars, will not die. In fact, muscle cars have always burned in the mind of stamp artist — and gearhead — Tom Fritz. The painting of the Pontiac GTO rose from Fritz’s own memories. “Being from Southern California — the San Fernando Valley — these muscle cars came out when I was in elementary school,” Fritz said. “I remember cruising in a GTO on Van Nuys Boulevard when I was in high school — we just jumped into a dad’s GTO and hit the street at night.” Fritz, a noted artist who has completed many comDetailing For more about Tom Fritz and his art, visit www.fritzart.com. For more on stamp collecting and the complete list of special products related to the Muscle Car stamps, visit www.usps. com/shop. missioned works, including several paintings for HarleyDavidson, still lives in Southern California — with his family, a bunch of motorcycles, a 1956 GMC pickup and his grandparents’ 1954 Chevy sedan. The original paintings of the five cars — in oil on 11-inch by 18-inch Masonite panels — now hang in the National Postal Museum at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. “For an artist, this is like getting hit with a bolt of lightning,” Fritz said. “I’m honored and humbled.” While many people will slap these stamps on their mail, others will collect them — especially if they carry a first-day-of-issue postmark. This is easy to do. Simply place each stamp — they come in sheets of 20 stamps, with four stamps of each car — onto an envelope of your choice, address the envelopes to yourself or to others, and then place all of them into a large envelope addressed to: Muscle Cars Stamps Postmaster 500 Bill France Blvd. Daytona Beach, FL, 32114 That’s right — these stamps will be postmarked at the famous Daytona Speedway. The U.S. Postal Service will return the first-day-of-issue postmarked envelopes through the mail — free of charge. All shipments of stamps must be postmarked by April 22, 2013, so don’t spin your wheels on this one. The stamps are at all post offices or through www.usps.com/ stamps. If you’re late to this, don’t worry. You can buy first- day covers with first-day-of-issue postmarks through www.usps.com/shop or by calling 1-800-782-6724. A TS Muscle cars forever by Chester Allen The great muscle cars of the late 1960s and early 1970s remain a living, breathing passion for many American Car Collectors — and five classic firebreathers now have immortal status on five new “Forever” stamps from the U.S. Postal Service. The limited-edition “America on the Move: Muscle Cars Forever” stamps display artist Tom Fritz’s paintings of: • A 1966 Pontiac GTO melting rubber on a twilight track • A 1967 Shelby GT500 at speed • An orange 1969 Dodge Daytona — with signature spoiler painted black — at the very start of an epic burnout • A 1970 Plymouth Hemi ’Cuda fishtailing slightly while smoking the tires • A 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle convertible in a blur of speed and power All of the stamps show cars flexing their muscles, which is only right, as these “Forever” stamps can be used anytime in the future to mail a first-class letter. They, like the actual cars, will not die. In fact, muscle cars have always burned in the mind of stamp artist — and gearhead — Tom Fritz. The painting of the Pontiac GTO rose from Fritz’s own memories. “Being from Southern California — the San Fernando Valley — these muscle cars came out when I was in elementary school,” Fritz said. “I remember cruising in a GTO on Van Nuys Boulevard when I was in high school — we just jumped into a dad’s GTO and hit the street at night.” Fritz, a noted artist who has completed many com- Detailing For more about Tom Fritz and his art, visit www.fritzart.com. For more on stamp collecting and the complete list of special products related to the Muscle Car stamps, visit www.usps. com/shop. missioned works, including several paintings for Harley- Davidson, still lives in Southern California — with his family, a bunch of motorcycles, a 1956 GMC pickup and his grandparents’ 1954 Chevy sedan. The original paintings of the five cars — in oil on 11-inch by 18-inch Masonite panels — now hang in the National Postal Museum at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. “For an artist, this is like getting hit with a bolt of lightning,” Fritz said. “I’m honored and humbled.” While many people will slap these stamps on their mail, others will collect them — especially if they carry a first-day-of-issue postmark. This is easy to do. Simply place each stamp — they come in sheets of 20 stamps, with four stamps of each car — onto an envelope of your choice, address the envelopes to yourself or to others, and then place all of them into a large envelope addressed to: Muscle Cars Stamps Postmaster 500 Bill France Blvd. Daytona Beach, FL, 32114 That’s right — these stamps will be postmarked at the famous Daytona Speedway. The U.S. Postal Service will return the first-day-of-issue postmarked envelopes through the mail — free of charge. All shipments of stamps must be postmarked by April 22, 2013, so don’t spin your wheels on this one. The stamps are at all post offices or through www.usps.com/ stamps. If you’re late to this, don’t worry. You can buy first- day covers with first-day-of-issue postmarks through www.usps.com/shop or by calling 1-800-782-6724. A HAVANA, HAVANA, continued from p. 24 this has happened without access to our aftermarket suppliers. Cuban drivers would not be able to afford the parts anyway. I’d been told that spark plugs for American cars of the 1950s were a particular problem. Figuring I’d build some bridges with fellow enthusiasts, I brought three sets along. On the day before our departure, my wife, Kathleen, and I set out to select recipients. The best place to find many Detroit Iron survivors are the streets circling Havana’s parks near the capitol. Here hundreds of owners — often looking for taxi fares or tourists to tour the city — park their cars in photogenic rows or slowly cruise the oneway grid. Despite the number of cars, giving away the first new plugs seen in Havana in what is probably years was more of an undertaking than we had anticipated. The first person I picked instantly attracted the attention of fellow U.S. car owners. They each pulled out modest rolls of pesos. I finally convinced the chosen owner that the plugs were free. When I looked back from a block away, it appeared the gift was being divided among the assembled, with each car owner getting one new plug. The Plymouth owner up the street was a bit easier to convince. He wasn’t convinced that they were his — until we’d taken his tool kit out of the trunk, carefully gapped the new sparkers and installed them. Is Cuba worth the trip for a car guy? Absolutely! I spent hours of our free time standing on the pedestrian islands blasting hundreds of photos of Chevys, Fords, Cads and all the orphans. When is the last time you saw Kaisers, Frazers, Hudsons and Edsels cheek-by-jowl except at a cruise in? If you are of a mind to visit one of the more fascinating places on the planet, I suggest getting on a wait list for one or another of the People to People tours. A Robert Ames Classic buildings, classic cars

YOUR TURN Tell us what’s on your mind 1968 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Owens Corning racer — one in a million? not by some reckoning Contact us at: American Car Collector, P.O. Box 4797, Portland, OR 97208 or online at comments@americancarcollector.com 1963 Corvette Grand Sport Jim Pickering Million-dollar ’Vettes In the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale market report in the March/April issue, Dan Grunwald wrote the comment, “If any Corvette is worth $1 million, it’s this one” regarding the Owens Corning Corvette on page 68. I say you should mention five additional ’Vettes worth considerably more: the ’63 Grand Sport models. All are valued between $6 and $11 million. — John Motroni, San Francisco, CA Making old cars new again I really enjoyed Colin Comer’s piece on modifying collector cars for modern use (Horsepower, March/April issue, p. 40). He hit the nail on the head. I am a Corvette collector who not only enjoys vintage original Corvettes but also cars that have been restored to original. I agree with Colin’s statement that he likes the feeling of going back in time when he sits in his 1965 Mustang. If I want to drive a Corvette with all the comforts of modern times, I get in my 2001 Z06. That’s not what I want when I go for a drive in my 1957 Fuelie. I want to feel like I’m back in 1957, and for the short time I’m taking my cruise, I do. The Corvette resto-mod does nothing for me. I compare them to women who 28 AmericanCarCollector.com wear too much makeup or to an 80-year-old woman who dresses like a teenager. All that being said, I agree with adding radial tires, modern shocks and springs, and tuning older cars to run on modern fuel. This is what I have done to my 1966 L72 NCRS National Top Flight coupe, and it drives wonderfully — yet it’s still 1966 when I get behind the wheel and start the old girl up. It’s about time someone got it right! — Dwayne Bublitz , owner, Corvette ’N America Road Tours The next generation I received my second issue of American Car Collector magazine, which I thoroughly enjoy. As I was reading the Pocket Price Guide, and checking out the value of my 1969 AMX, my 1½-year-old granddaughter Mary grabbed it from my hand and sat down to check out prices, too. Just goes to show, you’re never too young to have an interest in collector-car values. Thought you might enjoy the pic of a future vintage-car collector. — John Elliott, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Courtesy of Barrett-Jackson

DAYAT THE RACES Are you ready to rumble? HERE ARE 10 TIPS FOR GETTING DOWN THE QUARTER MILE WITHOUT TURNING YOUR STOCKER INTO A DRAG CAR by Jim Pickering B ench racing is time-honored tradition among car guys. It’s also an easy way to foster real competition, whether you meant to or not. Here’s a good example: Say you just bought a clean but non-numbers-matching ’69 Chevelle SS 396. And say your buddy has a ’70 Road Runner with a 383. All your friends, including Mr. Mopar, are together in someone’s shop. A few beers later, the inevitable question comes up. Whose car is faster? Naturally yours, you think. And a few seconds later, before you know what hit you, you’ve signed on to prove it at the next dragstrip grudge night. Whether this has happened to you, all of us have at one time or another wanted to see what our muscle cars are capable of. At ACC, we love to drive our cars, and that includes occasional trips to the drag strip. So here are a few general things to consider as well as a few basic tips to help you get your stock muscle car down the 1320 in one piece, and hopefully out in front of your competition. 30 AmericanCarCollector.com 1 Do you really want to do this? This is the most important question. There is no insurance at the track, so if you stuff your car into the wall, blow up a numbers-matching motor or end up in the hospital, the cost to fix it is coming out of your pocket. All you need to do is flip to our market report section to see what a comparable replacement car will cost. If any of that worries you, cut your losses now. Better safe than sorry. If you’d signed on to race a friend, throw in the towel and declare him the king of the muscle-car world. Can’t live with that? Still wonder what your car can do? Proceed to No. 2. 2 Tune your combination If you lose to everyone, do you want to leave the track wondering if something simple such as ignition timing or carburetor jetting could have made you fast enough to win? Hire a good dyno tuner to go through your car. He’ll make adjustments to give your engine the greatest output possible. He may also

Upping your game Want to go faster? Here are some performance parts that offer a lot of bang for the buck and won’t ruin your car’s generally stock look. Find them all at www.summitracing.com. Intake and modern carb. Less weight equals a better ET. Research the best intake/carb upgrade via the Web or manufacturers’ websites. Edelbrock, Weiand and others have some great options for street/strip that are simple bolt-on upgrades that can do wonders. You can drop 25 or more pounds and add 25 ponies here for a few hours’ work. If you want a stock look, paint the intake your engine color. Cheater ignitions. Your old points and rotor ignition just can’t match a modern HEI system. You can buy these as all-in-one units that literally drop in and use the same wiring from stock. You can also swap out your old coil for one with more juice that still looks stock. If you want the best, there are some shops out there that will set you up with a specific-use system based on your engine and gearing with centrifugal advance that will make a remarkable difference. Better breathing. Your engine is a huge air pump — the more air that can enter and exit, the more horsepower you will make. Consider performance air cleaners that you can swap out with your NAPA unit that will allow more flow. If you want huge weight loss plus more power, ditch the old iron exhaust manifolds for a proper set of headers. It’s obviously not stock, but you’ll notice the difference on the first pass. The right gears. Drag racing is an art form of the right engine Dave Tomaro mated up to the right running gears. You might have factory 4:11 in the rear axle but not enough motor to carry you through the quarter mile. Or you could have a 3:23 set up without enough torque to pull the car out of the hole. Switching out your rear end with the right gears can win the day, and nobody will ever know it’s no longer stock. Drag radials. Lower 60-foot times and launch harder while suggest some upgrades if your car doesn’t have the right mix of parts, such as a different carburetor. All this will cost a couple hundred dollars, but it is money well spent, as it’ll make the car more fun to drive regardless of how you use it. 3 Drop that weight We’re not trying to make an all-out race car here, but even so, weight is still your enemy. You’ll want to ditch any non-essential things from your trunk and interior. Empty the glove box and console, ditch your spare tire and jack, and lose your emergency tools. Also be aware of how much gas is in your tank, as a gallon of gas weighs about six pounds. Longtime racers will tell you that every 100 pounds lost is a tenth of a second gained, and that starts to add up once you consider that a tenth of a second equals roughly a car length of distance in the quarter mile. 4 Practice! The car is only 50% of the equation. You, the driver, are So take your freshly tuned car to your local track’s test-and-tune the other half. weekend. You’ll need to get it through tech inspection first, which will require a few safety items such as a good battery hold-down and a coolant overflow tank. If the car doesn’t pass, the inspector will tell you why. Fix it and try again. Watch some of the other racers stage and launch their cars. It’s a great way to understand how the Christmas Tree and the timing lights work. Once you’ve done that, get in line with your car and give it a shot yourself. 5 Street tires, pressure and burnouts Big V8s make a lot of torque, and street tires have a hard time transferring that torque to the ground without going up g your game Want to go faster? Here are some performance parts that offer a lot of bang for the buck and won’t ruin your car’s generally stock look. Find them all at www.summitracing.com. Intake and modern carb. Less weight equals a better ET. Research the best intake/carb upgrade via the Web or manufactur- ers’ websites. Edelbrock, Weiand and others have some great options for street/strip that are simple bolt-on upgrades that can do wonders. You can drop 25 or more pounds and add 25 ponies here for a few hours’ work. If you want a stock look, paint the intake your engine color. Cheater ignitions. Your old points and rotor ignition just can’t match a modern HEI system. You can buy these as all-in-one units that literally drop in and use the same wiring from stock. You can also swap out your old coil for one with more juice that still looks stock. If you want the best, there are some shops out there that will set you up with a specific-use system based on your engine and gearing with centrifugal advance that will make a remarkable difference. Better breathing. Your engine is a huge air pump — the more air that can enter and exit, the more horsepower you will make. Consider performance air cleaners that you can swap out with your NAPA unit that will allow more flow. If you want huge weight loss plus more power, ditch the old iron exhaust manifolds for a proper set of headers. It’s obviously not stock, but you’ll notice the difference on the first pass. The right gears. Drag racing is an art form of the right engine Dave Tomaro mated up to the right running gears. You might have factory 4:11 in the rear axle but not enough motor to carry you through the quarter mile. Or you could have a 3:23 set up without enough torque to pull the car out of the hole. Switching out your rear end with the right gears can win the day, and nobody will ever know it’s no longer stock. Drag radials. Lower 60-foot times and launch harder while suggest some upgrades if your car doesn’t have the right mix of parts, such as a different carburetor. All this will cost a couple hundred dol- lars, but it is money well spent, as it’ll make the car more fun to drive regardless of how you use it. 3 Drop that weight We’re not trying to make an all-out race car here, but even so, weight is still your enemy. You’ll want to ditch any non-essential things from your trunk and interior. Empty the glove box and console, ditch your spare tire and jack, and lose your emer- gency tools. Also be aware of how much gas is in your tank, as a gal- lon of gas weighs about six pounds. Longtime racers will tell you that every 100 pounds lost is a tenth of a second gained, and that starts to add up once you consider that a tenth of a second equals roughly a car length of distance in the quarter mile. 4 Practice! The car is only 50% of the equation. You, the driver, are So take your freshly tuned car to your local track’s test-and-tune the other half. weekend. You’ll need to get it through tech inspection first, which will require a few safety items such as a good battery hold-down and a coolant overflow tank. If the car doesn’t pass, the inspector will tell you why. Fix it and try again. Watch some of the other racers stage and launch their cars. It’s a great way to understand how the Christmas Tree and the timing lights work. Once you’ve done that, get in line with your car and give it a shot yourself. 5 Street tires, pressure and burnouts Big V8s make a lot of torque, and street tires have a hard time transferring that torque to the ground without going up Ralph Ralph Ogata, www.ralphogata.zenfolio.com still tracking well on the street. BF Goodrich and Mickey Thompson both make excellent versions in a lot of sizes. Posi, limited-slip, locker. Making sure both rear tires bite the ground equally is really important in launching efficiently. Look to Eaton, Auburn, Detroit Locker, etc. Higher stall torque converter (for automatics). Rev higher at the launch, lowering 60-foot times. 2,500-range will boost performance over a stocker while still being extremely streetable. B&M has been around for years — they have the unit you need. Performance clutch (for manuals). Will take more abuse than a stock unit, and is less likely to slip when you don’t want it to. Look to Centerforce, Zoom, McLeod, Hays, etc. Performance shifter (manuals). Hurst has been the industry leader for decades, and for good reason. Positive, solid feel, and less chance of missing a gear. — Dale Novak and Craig Gussert

DAYAT THE RACES Ralph Ogata, www.ralphogata.zenfolio.com Slicks: Smoke ’em if you got ’em in smoke. A lot of guys will tell you to air down your tires and do a big burnout. That works for slicks, but not your old Radial T/As. Try this before you race: Find a clean patch of pavement some- where, burn some rubber, and look at the contact patch your tire leaves behind. You want it to be solid black across the width of the tire. Too high a pressure will make it darker in the center, while too low will be lighter in the middle and darker on the edges. Adjust pressure accordingly and use that as your baseline. Street tires don’t require a huge burnout. In fact, getting the tires too hot may hurt you more than it helps you. Street-rubber compounds have a tendency to glaze over when they get really hot, so you could end up making your traction problems worse by pretending to be John Force. All you really need to do is clean the tires with a quick spin. And you should avoid the water at the rear of the burnout box, too — that will fill the tread with water, which will then run down and puddle on the track right as you’re trying to launch. 6 Reacting right Your reaction time is measured in thousandths of a second, starting from the time the green light on the tree illuminates. And it’s not just measuring your reaction time — it’s measuring the time it takes for you to see the light and react, as well as the time it takes your car to react to your input and to move off the line. What’s that all mean? If you wait for the green, you’ve waited too long. You need to leave just before you see the green. Try leaving as the second yellow light on the tree is going out, or just as the third yellow light is coming on. Get this right, and ideally, by the time the green light is coming on, your car is just starting to move off the line. But if you jump too soon, you’ll get a red light, and that’s counted as an automatic loss. 7 Launching and shifting 32 AmericanCarCollector.com The most important thing to remember is that spinning your tires will cost you time. Since we’re only talking about street tires and stock suspension here, you will undoubtedly have this problem. So what’s the solution? Ease into the throttle rather than snapping it open. It may seem counterintuitive to race this way, but believe me — opening up the throttle more gradually will give you better results than just hammering down and spinning your wheels through the 60-foot mark. The key is easing in as fast as possible without overpowering your limited traction. You’ll need to play with different launch techniques to find the best result for your car. If you run an automatic, try holding the brake with your left foot and running up the engine’s RPM with your

Ralph Ogata, www.ralphogata.zenfolio.com right while you’re waiting to leave the line (known as “stalling” the converter). Then when the light turns green, let off the brake, let the car start to move, and then smoothly open up the throttle. Also, try shifting your automatic yourself to hold each gear longer. If you’re running a manual transmission, try varying your launch RPM to find the best result, and practice rowing the gears quickly so you don’t miss a shift. Try slipping the clutch slightly to get the car out of the gate, and again, open the throttle smoothly. You want to give your tires as much power as they can possibly take without breaking loose. What’s the best RPM for shifting? That depends on your engine, transmission, and rear-end gearing. Try shifting at different RPM points and note where you shifted on each time slip. 8 Building your method 9 Don’t blow it up! Good drag racers are consistent drag racers — this is a sport where hundredths of seconds matter — so hopefully you’ve not only found out what to do to make your car as quick as possible by testing out different things, but you’ve also become relatively good at repeating those steps under pressure. Now you’re ready to line up against your friends. If you decide to race, you’re going to be driving your car pretty hard, and if you have any numbers-matching com- ponents, you’re going to want to be careful so that you don’t scatter them across the racetrack. Most Detroit muscle was pretty stout from the factory, so if ev- erything’s in good working order, you shouldn’t have to worry about a few trips down the quarter mile. However, I would suggest taking a close look at your engine, transmission and rear end before heading to the track, and it’s always smart to install a rev limiter, which can be discreetly added. 10 Skill can trump physics and horsepower If your opponent has a more powerful and lighter car on stickier tires, there isn’t much you’re going to be able to do to tip the odds in your favor. But he could miss a shift, or break his tires loose on the launch, or get psyched out by the crowd in the stands and get a red light at the starting line. If any of those things happen, you’ll be able to take the win even if you didn’t have the mechanical advantage. Don’t think of the results as a given, even if you know the other car is faster. A lot of it comes down to the driver, and if you practice and get consistent before you head out for the big race, you’ll increase your chances of winning those bragging rights. A Ralph Ogata, www.ralphogata.zenfolio.com May-June 2013 33

What’s the best buy for $10k? INSIDER’S VIEW Crowd-sourcing an answer to your queries To be on the mailing list for next month’s question, go to AmericanCarCollector.com and sign up for our biweekly newsletter. 1983 Ford Mustang GT 5.0, a $7,500 sale on eBay in 2011 over, 4-speed, improved suspension, eight-lug wheels, and it goes like hell. Makes a great lowrider for a full-sized car. Marty Thomas, via email: Gotta be the Ford Bronco, ’66–77, with a decent paint job already. They’re still available and appreciating at percentages above inflation with a more-or-less cult following. Daniel Bulzacchelli, via ACC Blog: Early Ford Bronco. 1966–77. My wife drives a ’77, last year made. It gets more attention than my ’62 ’Vette. Brian Znamirowski, Baltimore, MD, via ACC Blog: It’s very tempting to agree with Dan on an early Ford Bronco. I have one and it’s great fun and an attention-getter. But in my opinion, for $10k, it’s tough to find one without needs. Your $10k can quickly become $15k. I believe the ’85–93 5.0 Fox body Mustangs may be a better bet. The ACC question: What’s the best American collector car for $10k or less? Readers respond: Danny May, via ACC Blog: 1963 Dodge Polara 500! And not just because it was my very first car. It has gained in popularity over the last several years and is now among the other cool Mopars to own under $10k! JJ Sommer, via ACC Blog: I recently bought a 1974 Corvette coupe with the 454-ci engine (non-original engine but car was an original big-block car), 4-speed, sidepipes (non-original), air, power steering, power brakes, electric windows, leather interior, etc. for $8,000. Other than deteriorated plastic bumpers, With some patience and time, you can find unmolested convertibles and hatchbacks fairly easy. Notchbacks seem to command higher prices and can be more difficult to find. These cars have a huge aftermarket parts availability, and with the right modifications can be transformed into great performers. They are reliable and easy to work on, and when something does go wrong, parts are readily available. I’ve heard people refer to these cars as the ’55–57 Chevy of the ’80s. Eric Knudstrup, via ACC Blog: I used to be a Fox body fan, but I’ve spent enough quality time with them. I don’t like them at all anymore. They don’t stop or turn, and the floor pans are so weak they turn themselves into razor blades. My vote would be for a C3 or a C4 Corvette. Maybe even a C5, but finding good examples at $10k might be a stretch. Greg Dolin, via ACC Blog: How about an Avanti II? All the styl- the body and paint are in very good condition and age-appropriate. It looks pretty good, sounds great and drives great. While not the most desired year for a vintage Corvette, and it isn’t the highest horsepower one either, it has the right goodies to make it special. After the few cosmetic issues are resolved, total investment will be “I’ve heard people refer to the 5.0 Mustang as the ’55–57 Chevy of the ’80s” under $10k, and other than the price of gasoline, it will be fun to drive. It wouldn’t be very difficult to get it back to factory-original configuration, either. Practical? No! But I can see its value doing very well in the future. I bought it for the driving fun factor, and that is what makes it col- lectible for me. Rumble, rumble — love those sidepipes. Jim Hughes, via ACC Blog: 1966 Chevrolet Caprice 396 2-door hard top. Classic styling, more sophisticated than the Impala SS, and the big block has plenty of power. Plenty of passenger and trunk room for cruising. The perfect highway cruiser with the TH400 and 2:83 highway gears. Mine is Aztec Bronze and fawn. Bought it for $9,500 from a grandpa who loved it but barely drove it. Mike Phoenix, via ACC Blog: My vote would be for a ’64 Pontiac Grand Prix. My friend has one in Oregon. His has a 389 bored 0.030 34 AmericanCarCollector.com ing of the original, plus Chevy reliability and many amenities! Steve, via ACC Blog: The mid ’70s to early ’80s Avanti fills these criteria. This is a very limited-production, stylish GT that was produced in the USA using the Corvette engine and basic parts available from the local NAPA dealer or through Studebaker parts suppliers. Frank Talatzko, New Berlin, WI, via email: My choice would be a ’47–48 Plymouth (probably a nice 4-door). There are a lot of them out there. They have the cool pre-war styling, were rugged enough for taxi use, and they give today’s driver a real sense of the bygone days of driving. I’ve always wanted one, but my fear of never being able to get rid of it when it’s time to sell has kept me from ever buying one. Frank Keel, via email: C3 Corvettes. Parts are all over the place. No emissions problems, no state inspections. Hot-rod heaven! Dwayne Bublitz, Corvette’N America Road Tours, Flagstaff, AZ, via email: The hands-down best choice is a C4 Corvette. These cars offer a ton of performance and good looks and make wonderful drivers in town or on a tour. They still look better from the rear than the C5, C6 and the new C7. I can’t see them going lower in value than they are right now. Find the right car and you can drive it for five years for free.A

Cheap Thrills F W B. Mitchell Carlson stands for fantastic value THE FORD F-SERIES MAY BE THE BEST BANG FOR YOUR CLASSIC-TRUCK BU hen it came to pickups i 1960s and early 1970s, t no clinkers. GM was on a r popular C/K series, and D up its pickups with fine t department. Even International radical for 1969, equaling or arguably betterin Ford had also radically restyled thei form that essentially dated to 1961, the t squared-off panels and a distinct body c there was new dashboard styling that r exterior motif. But while these new Fords were pop and they still haven’t really taken off in t dramatically more than Fords. In essen 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air versus the Ford Fairlane. Truck power If there’s a perceived weakness of this era of F-series, it was in Ford’s use of mostly dedicated truck engines. Chevrolet used familiar 250-ci sixes along with 307-ci and 327-ci small-block V8s (as well as 350s and 402 big blocks after 1969) in its trucks. GMC lost its distinctive V6 powerplants in 1968 in favor of Chevy’s engine catalog. Even over at Dodge, the truck slant sixes and 318 V8 were also basically the same as the car offerings. The ’67 F-series was only offered with three engine choices: a 150-hp, 240-ci six shared with the cars, a 170-hp truck-only 300-ci six, and a single V8 — the detuned two-barrel 208-hp 352. In 1968, the 352 was dropped in favor of a 216-hp 360-ci V8. The 360 was also a truck-only engine — a destroked version of the 390, which was also available in 2-barrel form and made an extra 40 horses. By 1970, the 210-hp 302 1967 Ford F-100 Camper Special, a $5,940 sale in 2011 became optional as well. In today’s muscle-car-dominated market, the trucks with the closest affinity to cars tend to get the nod — and those trucks are Chevrolets and GMCs. Nevermind that while those same displacements were used in both cars and trucks, the latter never got the higher horsepower versions. But back in the day, the truck engine point was moot. After all, these rigs needed to work for a living, and when it came to hauling loads and pulling stumps, low-RPM torque was king — not the sort of thing you’d usually get with high-revving muscle-car motors. Parts availability on Ford truck motors is good. This even includes the 360, due to its FE block architecture and specific use in nearly all models into 1976. Of the sixes, the optional Ford 300 has the Chevy sixes skinned. It’s a very robust, overbuilt yet economical (but not speedy) motor that lasted as long as the 302 V8 in production. In most cases, any parts you’ll need for any of these engines are as close as your nearest NAPA. 1969 Ford F-250 Ranger Camper Special, sold for $6,500 in 2012 36 AmericanCarCollector.com Trim levels As 1960s pickups were progressing from utilitar- ian to stylish, the number of trim levels expanded.

Initially, Ford only offered a basic pickup and a spiffed-up Ranger package on the F-series. The latter included an aluminum grille, central body spear, and rocker panel moldings, plus chrome front bumper over the standard painted bumper and grille. Notice that I ingularly, as a rear bumper was optional. ase model and Ranger were also avail- e Custom Cab option, consisting of vinyl , vinyl and nylon seat upholstery, plus hboard top. 1970 saw the Ranger become LT package — along with a major grille hich the front turn signals were given d lenses. It also was the first year of a ly available mid-year spring special plorer trim group. What to look for Like most pickups from this era, cab corner rust-out is a concern, and examples from the Salt Belt will also rot out near the forward cab mounts and near the hood hinge support bracket from road spray. Ford also had one additional transmission combination that Chevy didn’t at this time: overdrive. Cataloged nto 1971, they are quite rare in this era. sonally know of one behind a 302 in a 0 in California, which I’d dearly love to o remind me of the 1968 F-100 Ranger ht new. While there are plenty of modified Fords out there, the Chevys tend to get the heaviest abuse from being wannabe muscle cars. The Fords tend to remain truer to their workaday origins, yet engine swaps are prolific — mostly including 351C/351W/351M/400 or “Lima” platform 429/460 engines under that large hood. Pennies on the dollar Despite a strong pickup truck market, good worker-bee Fords can be had for as low as $2,500. Typical examples are in the $5k to $6k zone, with the highest-selling examples tending to be the later Ranger XLTs with 302s under the hood. For 1971, a Ford Ranger XLT should run you about $15k, compared with a similarly equipped Chevrolet C-10 Cheyenne at $25k. And that Ford price isn’t too far removed from top money for a Dodge D-100 Adventurer or an International 1010 Custom from the same year, either. All three generally float within two grand of each other in top condition. GMCs, on the other hand, fall in between those three and the Chevys — regardless of year or motor. Just like with the 1957 car market, demand for Chevy drives values. But if you’re looking for a better bang for your buck, the greater availability of reproduction and restoration body and interior parts for the Ford over the International and Dodge make it the better choice for a non-GM fan who wants one for the long haul or to restore. A Detailing Years produced: 1967–72 Number produced: 223,017 (1967 F-100), 460,780 (1972 F-100) Original list price: $2,237 (1967 F-100), $2,804 (1972 F-100) Current ACC Valuation: $6,000–$17,000 Tune-up cost: $150 Distributor cap: $12 Chassis number: Top of the right frame rail, in front of the suspension point; data plate on the driver’s door Engine number: Basic casting numbers only, on the side of the block Club: American Truck Historical Society Website: www.aths.org More: www.ford-trucks.com Alternatives: 1967–72 Chevrolet C-10 pickup, 1967–17 GMC C1500 pickup, 1960–72 Dodge D-100 series pickup, 1969–75 International 1010 pickup ACC Investment Grade: C+ May-June 2013 37

Horsepower Colin Comer CHEAPand The demise of “B ang for the buck.” That’s a term that gets thrown around a lot in the car world. But seriously, can a new $30,000 disposable car really offer it? Maybe. But as a guy who started buying cool cars in the early 1980s with paper-route money, I really have to wonder: When did cheap, fast, so-dorky- they’re-cool cars become extinct? I know a lot of today’s car collectors grew up in the ’70s and ’80s as well, and most likely there was a car early on that shaped our collecting tastes. As a teenager, I was lucky enough to work in one of those classic hole-in-the-wall garages that fixed old cars. There was always a parade of cool stuff coming through the door — in that garage I was safe from the onslaught of Rabbits, Starlets, and K-cars and surrounded by ’50s, ’60s, and early ’70s cars. Sure, we were using chicken wire and Tiger Hair body filler (the long strands of fiberglass and “waterproof” material were thought to be far superior to Bondo) to make new quarter panels, but regardless of how beat-up or rusty they were, the cars were still cool. And because they were worth basically nothing, nobody was afraid to have fun with them. Horsepowe Horsepowe Horsepowe Horsepowe orsepower Colin Comer epower Colin Comer CHEAPand The demise of “B ang for the buck.” That’s a term that gets thrown around a lot in the car world. But seriously, can a new $30,000 dis- posable car really offer it? Maybe. But as a guy who started buying cool cars in the early 1980s with paper-route money, I really have to wonder: When did cheap, fast, so-dorky- they’re-cool cars become extinct? I know a lot of today’s car collectors grew up in the ’70s and ’80s as well, and most likely there was a car early on that shaped our collecting tastes. As a teenager, I was lucky enough to work in one of those classic hole-in-the-wall garages that fixed old cars. There was always a parade of cool stuff coming through the door — in that garage I was safe from the onslaught of Rabbits, Starlets, and K-cars and surrounded by ’50s, ’60s, and early ’70s cars. Sure, we were using chicken wire and Tiger Hair body filler (the long strands of fiberglass and “waterproof” material were thought to be far superior to Bondo) to make new quarter panels, but regardless of how beat-up or rusty they were, the cars were still cool. And because they were worth basi- cally nothing, nobody was afraid to have fun with them. FAST FAST WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SAW A V8 GREMLIN OR 440-POWERED CHRYSLER THAT WAS READY TO ROCK FOR A FEW HUNDRED BUCKS? 125 mph for cents on the dollar My favorite was my 1966 Chrysler New Yorker sedan — yes, the cheapie with the door posts, not even a true hard top. But it was a first-year 440-ci powered version with a four-barrel AFB carb and 727 TorqueFlite. Its red interior was pristine, and its body had been given the full weight-reduction program thanks to rust. The best part was that the 440 was an animal. I paid $200 for the car, rigged up dual exhaust, tweaked the torsion-bar suspension, and put on a set of used Pirelli P-7s taken off a fancy Mercedes at the garage. Yes, I know, worst winter tires ever — but they were free. I also couldn’t resist adding black Le Mans stripes over the top and a big ol’ Sun Tach on the dash. With its 2.73 rear gear, it had a top speed I still won’t mention for fear of jail time. I will say I was busted once from the air by a sheriff’s airplane. When the deputy on the ground pulled me over, I tried to get out of it by using the famous “it wasn’t me” defense teenagers have perfected over many generations. The deputy looked at me and said, “Kid, you’re saying there is another white Chrysler with racing , I got the ticket. 66 New Yorker y bulletproof, how it always imes, and evenrth more in scrap. rsepower Colin Comer CHEAPand The demise of “B ang for the buck.” That’s a term that gets thrown around a lot in the car world. But seriously, can a new $30,000 dis- posable car really offer it? Maybe. But as a guy who started buying cool cars in the early 1980s with paper-route money, I really have to wonder: When did cheap, fast, so-dorky- they’re-cool cars become extinct? I know a lot of today’s car collectors grew up in the ’70s and ’80s as well, and most likely there was a car early on that shaped our collecting tastes. As a teenager, I was lucky enough to work in one of those classic hole-in-the-wall garages that fixed old cars. There was always a parade of cool stuff coming through the door — in that garage I was safe from the onslaught of Rabbits, Starlets, and K-cars and surrounded by ’50s, ’60s, and early ’70s cars. Sure, we were using chicken wire and Tiger Hair body filler (the long strands of fiberglass and “waterproof” material were thought to be far superior to Bondo) to make new quarter panels, but regardless of how beat-up or rusty they were, the cars were still cool. And because they were worth basi- cally nothing, nobody was afraid to have fun with them. FAST WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SAW A V8 GREMLIN OR 440-POWERED CHRYSLER THAT WAS READY TO ROCK FOR A FEW HUNDRED BUCKS? 125 mph for cents on the dollar My favorite was my 1966 Chrysler New Yorker sedan — yes, the cheapie with the door posts, not even a true hard top. But it was a first-year 440-ci powered version with a four-barrel AFB carb and 727 TorqueFlite. Its red interior was pristine, and its body had been given the full weight-reduction program thanks to rust. The best part was that the 440 was an animal. I paid $200 for the car, rigged up dual exhaust, tweaked the torsion-bar suspension, and put on a set of used Pirelli P-7s taken off a fancy Mercedes at the garage. Yes, I know, worst winter tires ever — but they were free. I also couldn’t resist adding black Le Mans stripes over the top and a big ol’ Sun Tach on the dash. With its 2.73 rear gear, it had a top speed I still won’t mention for fear of jail time. I will say I was busted once from the air by a sher- iff’s airplane. When the deputy on the ground pulled me over, I tried to get out of it by using the famous “it wasn’t me” defense teenagers have perfected over many generations. The deputy looked at me and said, “Kid, you’re saying there is another white Chrysler with racing , I got the ticket. 66 New Yorker y bulletproof, how it always imes, and even- rth more in scrap. as as and rust buckets om Wisconsin, adillacs” — ith an average er $400, you at a V8 Gremlin. , even the 258i sixers were etty stout. I did atch one a guy ore was faster n reverse than ing forward get troyed when it 1971 Ford Maverick — if you can find one, get a V8 in there and go orsepower Colin Comer CHEAPand The demise of “B ang for the buck.” That’s a term that gets thrown around a lot in the car world. But seriously, can a new $30,000 dis- posable car really offer it? Maybe. But as a guy who started buying cool cars in the early 1980s with paper-route money, I really have to wonder: When did cheap, fast, so-dorky- they’re-cool cars become extinct? I know a lot of today’s car collectors grew up in the ’70s and ’80s as well, and most likely there was a car early on that shaped our collecting tastes. As a teenager, I was lucky enough to work in one of those classic hole-in-the-wall garages that fixed old cars. There was always a parade of cool stuff coming through the door — in that garage I was safe from the onslaught of Rabbits, Starlets, and K-cars and surrounded by ’50s, ’60s, and early ’70s cars. Sure, we were using chicken wire and Tiger Hair body filler (the long strands of fiberglass and “waterproof” material were thought to be far superior to Bondo) to make new quarter panels, but regardless of how beat-up or rusty they were, the cars were still cool. And because they were worth basi- cally nothing, nobody was afraid to have fun with them. FAST WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SAW A V8 GREMLIN OR 440-POWERED CHRYSLER THAT WAS READY TO ROCK FOR A FEW HUNDRED BUCKS? 125 mph for cents on the dollar My favorite was my 1966 Chrysler New Yorker sedan — yes, the cheapie with the door posts, not even a true hard top. But it was a first-year 440-ci powered version with a four-barrel AFB carb and 727 TorqueFlite. Its red interior was pristine, and its body had been given the full weight-reduction program thanks to rust. The best part was that the 440 was an animal. I paid $200 for the car, rigged up dual exhaust, tweaked the torsion-bar suspension, and put on a set of used Pirelli P-7s taken off a fancy Mercedes at the garage. Yes, I know, worst winter tires ever — but they were free. I also couldn’t resist adding black Le Mans stripes over the top and a big ol’ Sun Tach on the dash. With its 2.73 rear gear, it had a top speed I still won’t mention for fear of jail time. I will say I was busted once from the air by a sher- iff’s airplane. When the deputy on the ground pulled me over, I tried to get out of it by using the famous “it wasn’t me” defense teenagers have perfected over many generations. The deputy looked at me and said, “Kid, you’re saying there is another white Chrysler with racing , I got the ticket. 66 New Yorker y bulletproof, how it always imes, and even- rth more in scrap. as and rust buckets om Wisconsin, adillacs” — ith an average er $400, you at a V8 Gremlin. , even the 258- i sixers were etty stout. I did atch one a guy ore was faster n reverse than ing forward get troyed when it 1971 Ford Maverick — if you can find one, get a V8 in there and go d d up into a telee pole at extremely peed. He may e been right. ow about icks? With a 302 y were potent. If ted to try to look

cool in one you’d source a Grabber, but that carried with it the risk of being teased for driving something called, well, a Grabber. 1970s V8 Novas were a great choice also, if, of course, they weren’t dog tracking too horribly. But that was usually an easy fix. There were lots of other great choices as well. It almost seemed as if cheap and fast cars were everywhere, available at any moment for virtually nothing. Heck, even V8 Firebirds and Camaros were cheap if they weren’t a T/A, Formula, SS, or Z/28. One buddy bought a 440 Six Pack, 4-speed Road Runner for $600 out in the country, and I was awfully jealous until I helped him open the trunk. There wasn’t much trunk left. Or rear frame rails. Or leaf springs. The whole car was supported by a pair of coil-over shocks that looked like they came off an RV, and only the front part of the original leaf springs were there, used as a locating device for the rear axle. We ended up parting that rare muscle car out. I still have the air cleaner on a shelf somewhere. Dead or evolved? Somehow, over the past 25 years, these cheap and fast cars have become extinct. When was the last time you saw a V8 Gremlin, or a big 440-powered Chrysler that was ready to rock for a few hundred bucks? During the 1990s, it appeared that 1980s VW GTIs, 5.0 Mustangs, and Shelby Dodges had evolved into the cheap and fast cars of choice. Fine, I will admit it; I had an Omni GLH Turbo that I absolutely loved — and it was amazing in snow, too. But alas, I trust that it, too, has returned to the earth, much to Lee Iacocca’s disappointment, I’m sure. So the big question is, which cheap cars are available now that 1966 Chrysler new Yorker — an old favorite have enough power and personality to hook tomorrow’s car collectors? Are there fast and cheap, or even cheap and interesting, cars still out there? Do kids even care about 5.0 Mustangs or third-generation Camaros more than their iPhones or Facebook? I want to know what you think — and I want to hear which cheap and fast car got YOU hooked. Drop me a line at colin.comer@americancarcollector.com. A May-June 2013 39

Corvette Market John L. Stein FOUR-GETabout it HERE’S WHY THE “CURSE OF THE FOURS” IS A TRUNKLOAD OF BUNK upgrade to discs and put the drums on the shelf. So I say stop whining and enjoy a cheaper example of one of the finest postwar GM body designs. Driver-quality car price (base model coupe): $32,500, compared with the $41,000 you’ll pay for a similar ’63. 1974: Baby buggy bumper Corvette’s freefall from the Sting Rays and mighty L88s of the 1960s was swift, as regulatory quicksand dragged down both performance and styling. And 1974 was clearly headed into the mire. The sleek Shark body was fouled with plastic bumper covers, and the standard engine’s 250 hp would quickly sink to a wheezy 165-hp low-point in ’75. Does the Curse of the Fours apply here? This 1954 model sold for $68,750 at RM auctions’ Grapevine, TX, sale in 2012 However, like many stereotypes and prejudices, while the Curse of the Fours may contain a sliver of truth, it often fails to hold up under close scrutiny. Here’s a decade-by-decade study of “4” model-year Corvettes — revealing that while the Curse of the Fours does carry a point or two, it’s largely bunk — these can be great cars for the money. C 1954: The Blue Flame Six With only 300 hand-built 1953 models produced, the first Corvette was destined to become collectible. But while 3,640 were built for 1954, they sold poorly, and the Blue Flame Six was outshined the next year by the new 265-ci V8. Hence, the ’54 started to be dissed as not worthy, and that started the Curse of the Fours legend. But in reality, the inline-six is responsive enough, so the ’54 Corvette’s worst feature is really its two-speed Powerglide tranny. You’re not going to win any races with a ’54 (except maybe against another one), but who cares? The ’54s are both usable and unique. Driver-quality car price: $67,500, down from the $148,500 you’ll pay for a similar (but a lot rarer) ’53. 1964: Second-year Sting Ray The Split-Window Sting Ray totally defined Corvette for 1963, and in 1965 disc brakes and the big-block 396 took over. That left the ’64 as an in-between year that critics say brought nothing new to the party. That’s nonsense. Who cares if it has drum vs. disc brakes and no split window? It’s true the later brakes are way better, but if you really care, you can 40 AmericanCarCollector.com a 1974 sold for $22,140 at Silver’s arizona auction onspiracy theorists just love jump-starting a good debate. And among the most persistent for Corvette is the “Curse of the Fours,” which holds that any model ending in the year “4” is somehow undesirable or unworthy — and like pirate Long John Silver, cursed with the black spot. Yes, but not because of the “4” in the model year. The Corvette was taking a deep dive anyway. Count all 1973 through 1977 models as victims of the times. Driver-quality car price (base model 1974): $11,000, down from the $18,500 that the 1972s are bringing in the current market. 1984: Post-term C4 The new 1984 Corvette was so delayed that the ’83 model year was completely missed. And when it did arrive, bone-shaking ride quality prompted GM to begin a long series of fixes, tweaks and upgrades that would accompany the C4 right through its 1996 finale — the longest Corvette production run at 13 years. But first-year models are always intriguing, and the 1984 Corvette, steeped in drama as it was, is even more so. I dig the ’84s, and give no credence to the Curse of the Fours on this one. Make mine a Z51, please. Driver-quality car price: $5,500. You’ll spend $500 more for an ’85. 1994: And on and on... Thirteen years is a long model run, and a decade after the C4 debuted, Bowling Green was still cranking them out. Although the

Driver quality car price: $24,500 — just $1k less than a similar 2005 C6. 2014: C7 blasts off Covering 2005 to 2013, the C6 is the only Corvette generation a 1994, sold for $12,190 at Mecum Kansas City 2012 tuned LT4 engine was still two years away, Chevrolet did offer the 300-hp LT1 or the ZR-1’s 405-hp DOHC 32-valve motor. There is no Curse of the Fours at work here, although there’s also little to differentiate the ’94 from the ’91–’93 or ’95 models, as the C4 was essentially coasting while the ’97 C5 was gestating. I have no particular love for the year, but there’s nothing much to dislike, either. Driver-quality car price (base model): $11,000, compared with $10,000 for a ’93. 2004: Last of the C5s A funny old story about GM holds that it often makes its best cars right before killing ’em off. This sure seems to be true for the C5. With the Z06 in full song and the F55 magnetorheological suspension working nicely, the bandwidth for Corvette had never been wider. So it’s hard to define 2004 as being cursed in any manner. In fact, the Z06 featured a new titanium exhaust system and the Commemorative Edition a carbon-fiber hood as Dave Hill’s engineering team exploited knowledge gained from the Le Mans-winning C5-R racing program. 2014 Sting Ray: Does this look like a cursed creature? Chad Tyson without a “4” in the model year, forever escaping scrutiny by Curse of the Fours theorists. This brings us to the upcoming 2014 Corvette. Based on the pre-production coupe shown in Detroit last January and the convertible shown in Geneva last March, the new C7 appears poised to slay Corvette’s “old man” image while retaining its iconic pushrod V8. With way hipper styling and as strong or stronger expected performance, there’s no way this new car can be anything other than a blessing. And it’s definitely not a curse. As of this writing, the ’14 Corvette MSRP has not been announced, but suffice to say it’ll be in the neighborhood of what you’d pay for a well-equipped ’13 Not a bad deal at all. A May-June 2013 41

PROFILE CORVETTE 1957 CHEVROLET CORVETTE 283/283 FUELIE CONVERTIBLE A ’50s performance icon Destry Jaimes ©2013, courtesy of RM Auctions For the collector looking for the high point in early Corvettes, the 283/283 Fuelie is the car to have VIN: E57S102825 by Michael Pierce T-10 4-speed transmission, a Positraction rear axle, a signal-seeking AM radio, and both a soft top and a removable body-color hard top. A high-quality restoration, performed in previous care, saw the car refinished in Venetian Red over red upholstery, after which the car was on display in a Corvette museum for some time. The car is still very much as it was when the restoration was completed, and it offers an unbeatable combination of performance and good looks. To many, this is exactly what the mental picture of a 1957 Corvette describes: red on red, fuel injection, good options, both tops, and ready to go to a new home. T 42 AmericanCarCollector.com 42 AmericanCarCollector.com ACC Analysis This Fuelie Corvette, Lot 117, sold for $129,250, including buyer’s premium, at RM’s Amelia Island auction in Amelia Island, FL, on March 9, 2013. Zora Duntov’s focus from the beginning of his time with GM and the Corvette team had been the car’s performance on the track. 1957 was the year he made it happen, turning Corvette into the fastest production car made in America. The ’57 283/283 fuel-injected Corvette was also the first GM motor to achieve one his 1957 Corvette is confirmed by its VIN as having been delivered with the ultimate “283/283” V8 with Rochester fuel injection and high-lift cam, which still resides under the hood today. It is also equipped with a horsepower per cubic inch — a very big deal in 1957. The ’57 Corvette was the last of the single-headlight series and was offered with many new factory options. They included 3:70s, 4:11s and 4:56s, all with Positraction; HD brakes and suspension; CR 4-speed transmissions; 26 color/trim options; 220-, 245- and 270-hp V8s with single or dual 4-bbl carbs; and the injected 250-hp and 283-hp engines. GM built 6,339 1957 Corvettes. 713 cars were ordered with RPO 579B (11% of the cars built), which was the option code for the 283/283 with mechanical lifters, a high-lift cam and Rochester fuel injection, like our subject car. There was also an RPO 579E option, which featured the same 283/283 Fuelie engine but with cold-air induction and a mechanical tachometer on the steering column. Those cars, known as “Airbox” cars, were the top performance Corvettes available — they were race cars in street clothes — but the additional options increased their base price of $3,176 by almost 50%. Only 43 were completed. Today, original Airbox 283s are worth exponentially more money than a standard 283/283 Fuelie — from $375,000 to more than $500,000 — and finding one for sale is next to impossible. For the collector looking for the high point in ’50s Corvettes on a more realistic budget, the RPO 579B standard 283/283 Fuelie is the car to have.

ACC Digital Bonus Detailing Year produced: 1957 Number produced: 713 (RPO 579B) Current ACC Valuation: $74,500–$121,000 Tune-up cost: $350 Distributor cap: $50 Chassis number#: VIN on frame and door pillar Original list price: $4,060, as equipped Engine #: Assembly code on engine pad A good look I was at the Amelia Island Ritz Carlton when this red/red Fuelie crossed RM’s auction block for more than $129k. It was one of the first cars to go through the auction and it was readily viewable prior to entering the turntable in the auction room. March 9 was a clear, sunny day on Amelia Island, and this Corvette showed very well. The exterior paint quality was very good, the interior, seats, dash, gauges and rugs all periodcorrect and in excellent condition. But there were a couple of noteworthy issues: The fitment of the trunk was noticeably different from the doors and hood. The engine block casting number and date were appropriate for the car, but the stamp-pad surface did not appear to be typical of factory production — it could have been stamped much later. The car also had a 4-speed close-ratio transmission and radio. Mixed parts, minced words, and the numbers game The VIN number of this car is listed as E57S102825. GM records show that it came off the assembly line in St. Louis on or about March 14, 1957. That creates a problem, as 4-speed synchromesh, close-ratio transmissions were not available until several hundred more 1957 Corvettes had been produced… sometime in April. Based off that, I’m willing to bet this car didn’t come with the 4-speed from the factory. It should have been delivered with a 3-speed box. And there were other issues as well. Re-read the seller’s description. In part: “The 1957 Corvette offered today is confirmed by its VIN number as having been delivered with the ultimate 283/283…which still resides under the hood today.” Corvette specialists will tell you that there has never been a way to tell what a Corvette’s horsepower was by its VIN number. Additionally, does the seller mean that the original 283/283 is still under the hood, or is he saying that the Corvette was originally fuel-injected? These are important points for serious Corvette buyers. The next sentence is also confusing: “…. The car [was] refinished in Venetian Red over red upholstery.” Does the seller mean it was redone in red on red or was it born with another color combination and refinished in his choice of colors? Nowhere does the description mention anything about “original,” “numbers matching,” or provenance. What are those words worth? Breaking down the sale I talked with several experts about solid-axle Corvettes, including NCRS Judging Chairman Roy Sinor, Corvette race car expert/historian Jim Gessner and the NCRS 1956–57 National Team Leader John St Peter. We agreed that for the demographic attending the Amelia Island Concours and its attendant RM auction, this was a fair price for both the seller and buyer. These are high-level, high-class events, and the auctions often sell cars for a premium. I have no way of knowing whether the bidders knew about this car’s block-stamping inconsistency, cared about the trunk fitment, transmission issue, or were concerned about the seller’s relatively vague description. And to the average buyer, depending on their intent for the car, it may not really matter. From the standpoint of originality and condition, this car might not do well with NCRS or Bloomington Gold, but in today’s marketplace, an undocumented car with the right color and options, the go-fast look, and FI badges can ring the bell just as easily as a well-documented car — after all, it was a red/red ’57 Fuelie in great cosmetic shape. I can’t fault the buyer for just wanting to own it. At the end of the day, the price paid reflected the buyer’s satisfaction with the car. And while it may not set the judging field on fire, there’s great value in use. My advice to the new owner: Drive the car. A (Introductory description courtesy of RM Auctions.) May-June 2013 43CC 43 Club: NCRS More: www.ncrs.org Alternatives: 1965 Corvette 396/425 convertible, 1957 Pontiac Bonneville convertible, 1957 Ford Thunderbird F-code (supercharged) ACC investment Grade: B Comps 1957 Chevrolet Corvette 283/283 Fuelie Lot S57, VIN: E57S103453 Condition: 2Sold at $54,060 Mecum Auctions, St Charles, IL, 6/22/2012 ACC# 202140 1957 Chevrolet Corvette 283/283 Fuelie Lot 125, VIN: E57S104676 Condition: 2 Not sold at $135,000 RM Auctions, Plymouth, MI, 7/30/2011 ACC# 183012 1957 Chevrolet Corvette 283/283 Fuelie Lot S21, VIN: E57S105728 Condition: 2 Sold at $84,800 Mecum Auctions, St Charles, IL, 6/22/2011 ACC# 179619

PROFILE GM 1968 CHEVROLET CAMARO Z/28 A high-revving corner carver Courtesy of Mecum Auctions The Camaro needed to stomp the Mustang on the track, and the Trans Am series was the perfect (and very public) place to do it VIN: 124378N473439 by Chad Tyson • Purchased from the original owner after being in storage for over 30 years • No rust and never wrecked • Original body panels • Received correct and complete restoration • All engine, transmission and rear end components are original and correct • Original window sticker • Original license plate • Original Protect-O-Plate • Owner’s manual ACC Analysis This 1968 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28, Lot F229, sold for $63,600, including buyer’s premium, at Mecum’s Kissimmee auction in Kissimmee, FL, on January 25, 2013. There are a lot of important GM muscle cars, but in terms of iconic status, there aren’t many that can touch the first-gen Z/28. Built to take on the Mustang, which was dominating the Trans Am race series in 1966 and 1967, the Z was a low-production high-winding street weapon that packed a punch from 3,000 rpm all the way to its astronomical 7,000 rpm redline. It was a no-nonsense, take-no-prisoners assault on Ford’s Pony-car racing successes and street sales, and it worked. Target: Ford Vince Piggins, manager of product performance for Chevrolet Engineering in the 1960s, was no stranger to factory racing — he was the man behind the Hudson Hornet’s NASCAR victories in the 1950s, as 44 AmericanCarCollector.com 44 AmericanCarCollector.com well as Chevrolet’s Black Widow NASCAR racer. By the time the Camaro hit the streets in late 1966, Ford’s Mustang had already sold more than 700,000 units, and it was cleaning up in SCCA competitions across the country. In order to give Camaro’s image and sales a boost, Piggins knew it needed to stomp the Mustang on the track, and the Trans Am series was the perfect (and very public) place to do it. But GM’s ban on factory racing limited what could be done, so Piggins and his team started using “heavy duty” and “off-highway use only” descriptors to slide racing and high-performance parts past GM bigwigs. To build the powerplant for the Z, Piggins’ team slid the crankshaft from the 283-ci V8 into the 327-ci V8 block to create an over-square engine — ideal for a high-revving race engine. The 4.00-inch bore and 3.00-inch stroke created 302.4 cubic inches of displacement, falling just under the 305-ci, SCCAimposed limit. The camshaft was the same as the one used in 1964–65 high-performance Corvette 327s. Piggins pushed and met with Chevrolet manage- ment — even taking then-new Chevrolet General Manager Pete Estes for a drive in an early test car. Estes loved the package and the idea of building Camaro’s image in Trans Am, and he quickly gave Piggins the green light on the project. Chevrolet’s racing ban wasn’t lifted, but with the Z/28, GM OK’d the production of racing parts for the first time since 1963. Results came quickly. In 1968 Penske Racing fielded a Sunoco-sponsored Camaro Z/28, driven by Mark Donohue. He won back-to-back Trans Am Manufacturer’s Championships in 1968 and 1969.

ACC Digital Bonus What’s in a name? “When it came down to having to decide, somebody just said, ‘Hey, it’s RPO Z28. Let’s call it Z28. So the name stuck,” Piggins said during a press day in November 1966 at Riverside International Raceway. What came in the Z28 Special Performance s available for the V8 sport coupes 437. It included the solid-lifter 302-ci ley carburetor, dual exhaust with rs, special front and rear suspension, diator, temperature-controlled fan, :1) steering, 15x6 wheels, E70x15 e tires, 3.73 ratio axle and special s on the hood and deck lid. The 302 d at 290 horsepower, but that’s as te as saying Chevrolet had absolutely g to do with racing. Most sources e the actual horsepower rating closer 0. l of the upgrades for the Z28 were able for other Camaros except for ems: the 302-ci V8 and the rear Multi-leaf springs came standard with amaro except the 327/210 and 327/275 s came with four-leaf springs — all f cars came with five leaves. 28s were built for 1967. The road to performance icon ro in general, the 1968 Z/28 featured nements over the 1967 model. Among r engine journals and bearings for greater high-rpm reliability, as well as staggered rear shocks to prevent wheel hop under sudden and heavy acceleration. Chevrolet didn’t advertise the program during the first year (many dealerships didn’t even know about the package), but that changed for 1968 — the new cars were given large Z/28 (with slash) emblems in an effort to distinguish the package on the street. GM initiated a marketing push intending to sell 1,000 Z/28s per month and sales boomed, although they didn’t quite meet that goal. In total, 7,199 units were produced in 1968. Why didn’t they sell more? Because the Z/28 wasn’t cheap. The option was more expensive than three of the five SS engine options. Only the L78 SS 396/375 Detailing Years produced: 1967–69 Number produced: 7,199 (’68 Z/28) Current ACC Valuation: $38,000–$57,500 Tune-up/major service: $200 Distributor cap: $14 Chassis #: Stamped on plate attached to driver’s side dash, underneath windshield Original list price: $3,355, base ’68 Z/28 Engine #: Stamped on passenger’s side front of block, below cylinder head Club: American Camaro Association More: www.americancamaro. org and L89 SS 396/375 (with aluminum heads) cost more. In addition to the $400 Z/28 option, buyers had to order a 4-speed ($184–$310) and power-boosted front discs ($100). This was all on top of the $2,670 base price for the V8 sport coupe. Prospective buyers were looking at a minimum entry of $3,354.70 — an increase of nearly 26% over the base price. The right stuff When it comes to Z/28s, you have to do your home- work before buying. There are a lot of fakes running around out there. There’s no special stamp or code on the trim tag that explicitly states any 1968 Camaro is a Z/28. The first indication is that a Z/28 VIN will start with 124378. The only way to verify a 1968 Z/28 is the 302 engine and supporting paper documentation. Our Butternut Yellow car has that documentation, with its original window sticker and Protect-O-Plate. It doesn’t get much better than that. Our subject car sat quietly for 30 years in dry storage. It was never rusty or wrecked, so it was a solid base for restoration. According to the seller, the original body panels are still bolted and welded to the unibody. It was then completely restored, and it presented really well in Mecum’s auction photos. Valuing a Z 1968 Z/28s are often considered less desirable compared with other first-generation Zs, as there are fewer 1967s and the 1969 cars have a more popular body style. But that’s like arguing how you like your porterhouse steak cut — you’re still getting a hell of a meal. Real-deal Zs have seen their share of ups and downs in relation to the fluctuating muscle-car market, but the current ACC Pocket Price Guide calls out the buy/ sell range of a good #2 car at $38,000 to $57,500. I’d rate this car’s condition higher than a 2, and it did have good history and the right docs. All things considered, for just over $60k, our buyer got a great piece of Pony car history, as well as a fantastic example of one of GM’s all-time halo muscle cars. Call it a fair deal for both buyer and seller. A (Introductory description courtesy of Mecum Auctions.) May-June 2013 45CC 45 1968 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 Lot 39, VIN: 124378N426369 Condition: 2 Not sold at $50,000 Worldwide Auctioneers, Atlantic City, NJ, 2/24/2012 ACC# 192984 Alternatives: 1968 Ford Mustang Boss 302, 1969 Pontiac Trans Am, 1970 Plymouth AAR ’Cuda ACC Investment Grade: B Comps 1968 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 Lot S75, VIN: 124378L330683 Condition: 1- Not sold at $65,000 Mecum, Kansas City, MO, 12/1/2011 ACC# 190197 1968 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 Lot 336, VIN: 124378L343659 Condition: 2 Sold at $58,320 Auctions America, The Raleigh Classic, Raleigh, NC, 12/7/2007 ACC# 47966

PROFILE FOMOCO 1969 FORD MUSTANG BOSS 302 A purpose-built street racer Courtesy of Mecum Auctions Production for 1969 was 1,628 units. In 1970, 7,013 were built, which makes our subject car a lot more desirable given tin-worm attrition and telephone poles VIN: 9F02G222646 by Dale Novak • Believed to be 17,000 actual miles • Boss 302 matching-numbers engine • 4-speed transmission, 3.50 Posi rear end • Documented by the invoice, Protect-O-Plate, warranty card, Elite Marti Report, original drive-out tag, metal dealership tag • Acapulco Blue with black interior • Power steering and brakes • Argent Gray Magnum wheels, rear window louvers • F-60-15 Goodyear polyglas raised white-letter tires • All components still intact, smog system, blow-up spare tire, shifter and ball, console, mostly original paint, interior, chrome and stainless • Last tagged in 1982, Boss 302 registry report • Late-built car July 1969 and sold new in September 1969, making it one of the last ’69 Boss 302s built ACC Analysis This Boss 302, Lot S131, sold for $71,020 including buyer’s pre- mium, at the Mecum Kissimmee sale on January 26, 2013 in Kissimmee, FL. It was an unrestored car with exceptionally low miles, fully documented with dayone paperwork and finished in a desirable color. Most of the original paint was intact, as was most of the original equipment. Let’s drive right into this. The muscle-car crowd knows these cars — you simply can’t ignore them. Odds are, if you don’t have one parked in your garage, you’d like to. 46 AmericanCarCollector.com 46 AmericanCarCollector.com Trans Am on the street The Big Three all came out to play for the Trans Am racing series in the late 1960s — GM with the Camaro Z/28, Chrysler with the Challenger T/A and AAR ’Cuda and, finally, our subject car, the 1969–70 Ford Mustang Boss 302. Trans Am homologation rules at the time required that track cars be based on production cars offered for sale to the general public. In short, that meant that a manufacturer couldn’t stack the deck with a car produced solely for racing — something that would simply cost too much for the average automotive enthusiast, or be too hard to use on the street (although some guys wouldn’t mind strapping into a race harness for their drive to work). Further, homologation meant that a minimum sales level had to be met to consider the Boss as a street production vehicle. GM to the rescue? Ford ruled its classes in Trans Am in ’66 and ’67 with the Mustang, but rivals Chevrolet took the crown in ’68 and ’69 with the Z/28. The ’69 Boss 302 was Ford’s no-expense-spared attempt at regaining control of the winner’s circle. And in 1970, they did just that. The Boss was designed by Larry Shinoda, a former GM employee. As the story goes, Shinoda, who also wheeled his magical design pen with the 1963 and 1968 Corvette, code-named the project “Boss” with respect to the new Ford top dog, Bunkie Knudsen. Knudsen had recruited Shinoda from GM and tapped him for the sole task of designing the purpose-built Mustang.

ACC Digital Bonus Detailing Years produced: 1969–70 Number produced: 8,641 (1,628 in 1969, 7,013 in 1970) Original list price: $3,720 Current ACC Valuation: $32,000–$54,000 Tune-up cost: $200 Distributor cap: $25 VIN#: Driver’s side dash, visible through the windshield The 1969 redesign of the Mustang was a welcome departure from the 1968 model. The car was in the beginning throes of becoming stale and somewhat predictable. The all-new-for-1969 Sportsroof model (aka the fastback) looked fast standing still. And in Boss 302 trim, they were fast. Power was provided by a Ford Windsor block mashed up to heavy-breathing Cleveland heads. A solid-lifter cam offered higher revs, and the resulting package tossed out 290 hp from 302 cubic inches. Not bad for a small-block production car that was just about ready for track duty with only minor modifications. On the handling side, larger sway bars and heavier suspensions came into play, and a 4-speed transmission with a Hurst shifter came standard. Production for the 1969 Boss 302 was 1,628 units. In 1970, production rose dramatically to 7,013, which makes our subject car a lot more desirable given tinworm attrition and, well, telephone poles. Twists and turns in the market The Boss 302 market hasn’t been immune to the twists and turns from an investment standpoint. Lesser cars, meaning those without great documentation, original equipment and questionable backgrounds, can be found in the low-to-high $40k range. Like any muscle car, it all comes down to condition and overall appeal. Add a shaker hood and you’ll find a higher score on the appeal-o-meter, which can kick up the value respectably. Mecum’s Kissimmee sale was big — really big. Four Boss 302s were up for grabs: two 1969s and two 1970s. A yellow 1969 that was reported to be unrestored sold for $42,400, while a 1970 concoursrestored trailer queen found $121,900. Our subject car tipped the scales at $71,020 — not in the middle of the pack, but not all that far away from the middle, either. By the books, the number is right in the proper range for a well-sorted Boss 302. An unrestored deal There are more than a few comparable Boss 302s in the ACC database. First up, ACC# 213779, a desirable Grabber Blue 1970 example, which sold for $77,000. This is a great comp, as it only had 5,418 original miles and was reported to be in fine condition. Second, ACC# 214154, another ’70 Grabber Blue model, which stayed with the seller against a high bid of $75,000. There’s also ACC# 209043, a bright yellow ’70 example reported to be in stunning condition, selling for $106,700. Given that condition affects the value in a significant way, all three cars found proper bids based on the summary reports — and the current market. Our subject car was unrestored but reported to be in very good condition. This is a distinctive notation, as unrestored cars can be shabby on occasion and will ultimately turn off some buyers who yearn for a minty-fresh example. This car looked great, but I’m certain it’ll fall flat when stacked up next to a nutand-bolt restored example. After all, this car is now 44 years old. Added use that deteriorates the car’s condition will cost the owner money. Then again, cars like this are only original once, and a lot of today’s buyers are now seeing substantial value in that originality. So from a collecting and investment standpoint, this car was a home-run offering — the Mecum auction description was right in calling it “a true dream machine for the Boss Mustang enthusiast.” Given the presentation, documentation, rarity and glorious unrestored condition, I’d give this car a huge attaboy along with a tip of the ol’ ball cap to the buyer. Well bought. A (Introductory description courtesy of Mecum Auctions.) 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Other: www.boss302forum. com Club: Mustang Club of America, www.mustang. org Engine #: Stamped inside of engine block behind starter motor; also on a tag affixed to the coil mounting bolt, which is usually missing Alternatives: 1970 Plymouth AAR ’Cuda, 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A, 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 ACC Investment Grade: A Comps 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Lot 174, VIN: 0T02G137207 Condition: 2 Sold at $77,000 RM Auctions, Grapevine, TX, 10/20/2012 ACC# 213779 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Lot 369, VIN: 0F02G188056 Condition: 2+ Not sold at $75,000 Auctions America by RM, Carlisle, PA, 10/5/2012 ACC# 214154 Lot 286, VIN: 9F026221365 Condition: 2Sold at $99,000 RM Auctions, Amelia Island, FL, 3/8/2008 ACC# 116105 November-December 2012 May-June 2013 47 47CC

PROFILE MOPAR 1960 CHRYSLER 300F GT SPECIAL The record-breaking letter car Alejandro Rodriguez, courtesy of Gooding & Company Chrysler’s “letter cars” have always been strong sellers, but none come close to the legendary performance of the Gregg Ziegler 300F VIN: 8403110398 by Tom Glatch • Very rare and historic Chrysler letter car • 1960 Daytona Beach “Flying Mile” race speed record holder • A factory-developed high-performance, 400-hp 4-speed 300F • Offered with original Goodyear Blue Streak racing tires • An incredibly important and original example • Protected in climate-controlled storage for almost 50 years • Includes extensive documentation ACC Analysis This 300F, Lot 19, sold for $236,500, including buyer’s pre- mium, at the Gooding & Company Amelia Island auction in Amelia Island, FL, on March 8, 2013. Let’s take a quick ’50s automotive quiz: Which U.S. automobile was the first to break the magic one-horsepower-per-cubic-inch mark? Which U.S. automobile was the most powerful of the 1950s? If you answered “Corvette” to either question, you’re not alone. It’s easy to assume General Motors’ famed flagship was the top gun of the ’50s. But you’d be wrong. Actually, the 1956 Chrysler 300B could be ordered with an optional 355-hp 354-ci first-generation Hemi a year before the 283-hp 283-ci fuel-injected Corvette was available. And the 1957 Chrysler 300C with the optional performance package produced 390 hp, while the top Corvette generated 283 hp. Amazed? Chrysler’s rare and beautiful “letter cars” were amazing. Today’s Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG and Cadillac CTS-V are spiritual brethren to the 1955–65 Chrysler 300s, which were living large in every automotive sense of the word. 48 AmericanCarCollector.com 48 AmericanCarCollector.com From showroom to winner’s circle Chrysler called their 1955 300 NASCAR racers the “world’s fastest stock cars” and backed it up with championships on the NASCAR and AAA circuits. They also tore through the Flying Mile on the sands of Daytona Beach at 127.58 mph that year, faster than the Corvettes or anything else that tried. The results for the 1956 Chrysler 300B were the same; in fact, Chryslers won 51 out of 101 races in NASCAR those two years (Ford was next with 16 wins). And during the Daytona Speed Weeks in ’56, NASCAR Champion Tim Flock blasted a Chrysler 300B through the Flying Mile at 139.37 mph. Chrysler’s campaign at Daytona Beach those two years was by Carl Kiekhaefer’s well-financed, factorybacked NASCAR team. But the Big Three signed an anti-racing agreement in early 1957, and all racing for the next few years was by privateers (although some factory support was still supplied covertly). In ’57 and ’58, Pontiacs nudged Chrysler from the top spot in the Speed Week trials, while an Oldsmobile did it in 1959, although Chrysler’s record of 1956 wasn’t surpassed. The GM cars were smaller and at least a quarter ton lighter, and ran in Class 6 (305 ci to 350 ci), so technically Chrysler was still the king of Class 7 (over 350 ci), but the 300s were no longer the kings of Daytona Beach. One of those privateers was Gregg Ziegler, a hardware-store owner from Elgin, IL. After Chrysler’s performance at the Beach in 1956, Ziegler was so impressed that he sold his Buick Century and bought a 300B. He tried his hand at the Speed Weeks in 1957 in his year-old Chrysler, then returned in ’58 in a friend’s new 300D, where he finished 10th in the Flying Mile.

ACC Digital Bonus Ziegler traded his 300B for a new 300E the next year, and grabbed 4th spot in the Flying Mile. But Chrysler discontinued the first-generation Hemi for the 1959 model year, and the new 300E had an image of being less potent. Could that image be the reason 0E sales were a disaster? special 300 e end of 1959, Gregg ived a surprise phone l from Chrysler engineer rt Bouwkamp. Chrysler s planning a full assault ytona Beach for the 1960 d Weeks, and they wanted ler to join them. But the 00F they offered Ziegler was hardly standard issue. Six 300Fs built in early November were sent to the ngineering garage at Chrysler’s Jefferson nue plant. Engineering staffers installed epared by the Jefferson Engine plant ced 400 hp, and also fitted these cars vy-duty 4-speed manual transmissions. The gearboxes were manufactured in France by Pont-a-Mousson (Chrysler did not produce a 4-speed until 1963), who made the transmissions for the Chrysler-powered Facel-Vega, and the cars had to be modified to accommodate the 4-speed, clutch, and floor-shift. The six cars were called the GT Specials, and Ziegler and the other privateers had to purchase these cars for full dealer price — about $6,800. Ziegler also had to drive the car from Detroit back home to Illinois, then drive it to Daytona a few days later. Before heading to Florida, he took the GT Special for a shakedown run on the Illinois Tollway. “I’d go 60 in low, 90 in second, 120 in third. Lay in into fourth gear and go right off the end of the speedometer,” he told Collectible Automobile magazine. On February 7, Gregg Ziegler crushed the five- year-old Flying Mile record with a two-way average of 144.927 mph, and all six GT Specials finished 1st through 6th. The Chrysler 300 was again the “world’s fastest stock car.” Detailing Years produced: 1960 Number produced: Nine to 15 Original list price: $6,800 Current ACC Valuation: $200,000–$275,000 Tune-up/major service: $150 Distributor cap: $11 Chassis #: VIN plate on the driver’s side door hinge post More: www.chrysler300club. com Club: Chrysler 300 Club International Alternatives: None ACC Investment Grade: A Comps The all-time record holder Later that year, Ziegler sold his GT Special to Robert McAtee of Bloomington, IL, so he could buy a new 400-hp 300G for the ’61 Speed Weeks. Again, Ziegler was the fastest through the Flying Mile but fell just short of his 1960 record. 1961 would be the last Daytona Speed Weeks on the sand, as residential sprawl made the beach no longer suitable for racing, and Bill France’s new Daytona Speedway became the center of attention. That means Gregg Ziegler’s record run will likely stand forever. Along with the six Daytona cars, a few more GT Specials were built, including one convertible. It is estimated that only nine to 15 were made out of 1,217 300F cars in 1960, and just four are known to exist. Robert McAtee kept Ziegler’s GT Special in climatecontrolled storage for decades, and the car had just 11,000 perfectly preserved miles on it at the time of McAtee’s death in 2007. Another Illinois collector then purchased it. Valuing the winner Chrysler’s rare, unique “letter cars” have always been strong sellers, but none of the other 300s comes close to the legendary performance of the Gregg Ziegler 300F. Mecum tried selling this car in 2010, with bidding reaching $275k without hitting reserve (ACC# 165763). It was offered again by Worldwide Auctioneers in Atlantic City in 2011, where it was bid to a then-insufficient $250k (ACC# 169025). The lone GT Special convertible, another 11,000- mile car, sold for $437,250 (ACC# 168371) at RM’s sale of the Robson Collection in 2010. I would have loved to have seen this 300F sell for at least as much, but considering the car’s previous appearances at auction and the soft values American performance cars have been showing throughout the past two years, the price Gooding & Company achieved here was correct in the current market. But for the history, condition, and desirability as one of the best 300s out there, the new owner got a lot of car for his money — a car that will always have a spot at the top of the 300 hierarchy. I’d call it very well bought. A (Introductory description courtesy of Gooding & Company.) May-June 2013 May-June 2013 49 1960 Chrysler 300F GT Lot 47, VIN: 8403110398 (profile car) Condition: 2 Engine #: Pad on the right side of the block to the rear of the engine mount Not sold at $250,000 Worldwide Auctioneers, Atlantic City, NJ, 2/18/2011 ACC# 169025 1960 Chrysler 300F convertible Lot 217, VIN: 8403141816 Condition: 2Sold at $437,250 RM Auctions, Gainesville, GA, 11/13/2010 ACC# 168371 1960 Chrysler 300F GT Lot S132, VIN: 8403110398 (profile car) Condition: 2 Not sold at $275,000 Mecum Auctions, Monterey, CA, 8/13/2010 ACC# 165763

PROFILE HOT ROD & CUSTOM 1932 FORD “GOLDEN ROD” ROADSTER A real-deal period lowboy Corey Silvia ©2013, courtesy of RM Auctions Although its color has faded a bit, as has the white pinstriping, and the gold lacquer is cracked here and there, this roadster is a charming time warp VIN: SWO8036PA by Ken Gross the next town with one. I made a deal with him for $75. I went to a hot rod show and got all enthused. I thought about colors, and since gold was my trade color, the idea of ‘Golden Rod’ just hit me.” “I wanted a typical East Coast hot rod,” Lentz T 50 AmericanCarCollector.com recalled, “but smooth. That’s why the door hinges and antenna are all frenched (molded in). The windshield is a rear window from a car, cut and (mounted) upside down.” Jack Lentz kept and displayed the “Golden Rod” for 15 years before selling it for $2,500. This car has never been restored. Its Mercury flathead V8 engine is modified with authentic period speed equipment. The roadster remains totally original, just as it was built in the 1950s. It was displayed at the 1999 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in the historic hot-rod class, and is offered from the collection of racing legend Skip Barber. ACC Analysis This Deuce roadster, Lot 157, sold for $90,750, including buyer’s premium, at RM’s Amelia Island auction at Amelia Island, FL, on March 10, 2013. This virtually original ’32 “lowboy” roadster is a prime example of classic East Coast hot rodding. It’s his little roadster was built in 1953 by Jack Lentz after he returned from service in Korea. “I built a new auto body shop in Bedford, New Jersey,” Lentz recalled. “I liked the ‘Deuce’ Fords. There was a guy in an oft-told tale that when World War II ended, returning GIs, with newly acquired mechanical skills, money to burn, and a taste for excitement, found that even if new Detroit models were available (there were long waits for what were basically warmed-over 1942s), they either couldn’t afford new cars, or they wanted more style, performance and panache. The American hot rod and its stylish cousin, the custom car, born in California before the war, came into prominence in the late 1940s/early 1950s. The trend whirled across the land from car show to car show and lasted until the advent of the muscle car in the early 1960s. All the ingredients were present: There was a ready supply of handsome early Ford bodies, along with their easily modified flathead engines. The ’32 Ford Model 18 chassis, incorporating a V8 from the factory, was a perfect basis for fast-growing performance equipment and accessory suppliers, who advertised their wares cross-country in Robert E. Petersen’s pioneering Hot Rod Magazine. Ed Almquist in Pennsylvania, “Honest Charley” Card in Chattanooga, Andy Granatelli in Chicago, and countless more local speed shops stocked go-fast and “look good” items. How low can you go? On the East Coast and in the Midwest, hot-rodders frequently channeled their cars to achieve a low silhouette. Channeling was a modification that two rea

ACC Digital Bonus sonably competent guys with a torch could complete in a weekend. The floor was cut out; the body was dropped — usually the full width of the frame — a new floor and body mounts were made, and the stitched-up result looked very cool. There were no dry lakes on the Right Coast, so if guys competed in their hot rods, they most commonly went drag racing. The notion of a highboy — a roadster whose body sat atop the frame in the stock position — was far less common. Fenders were removed (and tossed!); bodies were channeled and that was that. Sometimes they didn’t even chop the windshield. The problem with a channeled car was that when eight inches of floor space was torched away and lost, the seat cushions had to be thinly padded squabs, and the driver’s legs were positioned straight out, making a channeled roadster very uncomfortable and hard to drive for long periods of time. These aren’t cars for tall dudes. That said, I never heard a complaint from a guy with a channeled roadster. The cars looked cool and most of the guys owned another car (usually a customized Ford or Merc) for driving to work and going on dates. In the Boston area, where I grew up in the mid-’50s, notable channeled ’32 roadsters owned by Norm Wallace, Fred Steele, Sonny Mazza, Peter Seferian, Mudd Sharrigan and many others were featured in Rodding and Re-styling and other East Coast magazines. Some of these cars even made it to the West Coast books and were displayed in Hot Rod Magazine and Rod & Custom — a feat we considered a great honor. Arnie and Bernie Shuman’s wonderful book, Cool Cars and Square Roll Bars, shows dozens of channeled roadsters. Everybody wanted one. Remarkably, several of these cars have survived. This car is one of them. Jersey boy In 1953, a Bedford, NJ-based enthusiast named Jack Lentz channeled his 1932 Ford roadster body some eight inches over a Deuce frame, installed a dropped front axle, then molded and filled everything from the grille shell and windshield posts to the door handles and the rear tail pan. A custom steering wheel, Packard hubcaps, a louvered hood, and liberal plating — not to mention a tuck-and-roll white Naugahyde leatherette interior and 20 hand-rubbed coats of gold lacquer — made the aptly named “Golden Rod” a frequent show winner in its day. Lentz dropped in a stock bore and stroke 255-ci ’49 Detailing Years produced: 1932 Number produced: 12,597 roadsters Original list price: $495 Current ACC Valuation: $75,000–$300,000 (depending on history and condition) Clubs: Goodguys, National Street Rod Association (NSRA) Merc flathead V8 with all the right stuff: Weiand finned high-compression heads, an Almquist dual-intake manifold with twin Stromberg 97s, Mallory ignition, custom exhaust headers and more. The transmission was a 3-speed Ford manual. Pontiac taillights, molded exhaust tips, overhead-mounted “swung” hydraulic brake and clutch pedals, and cycle fenders made from spare tire covers were just a few of many custom touches. There’s a wonderful panel of rare StewartWarner instruments. Lentz’s cool little custom rod won its share of trophies and starred in East Coast magazines. The “Golden Rod” passed through several own- ers, all of whom thankfully resisted the temptation to modify it in some fashion. Although its color has faded a bit, as has the white pinstriping, and the gold lacquer is cracked here and there, this roadster is a charming time warp, and it’s still presentable. Skip Barber, the seller, said: “I love this car’s originality, right down to the cracks in the paint and the bubbles in the tires. It’s never been restored.” Time traveler The recent Mecum sale of the ex-Tom McMullen ’32 roadster for $742k (ACC# 213966) was arguably due to that car’s notoriety, as it was not even on its original frame. Dr. Mark Van Buskirk’s channeled ’32, originally built by Jim Khougaz and restored by Dave Simard, went for $385,000 when it sold at RM Monterey in 2007 (ACC# 46256) and $214,500 when it was resold at the RM/Ralph Whitworth auction at the Petersen in 2009. Both of those cars were restored; both had been shown at Pebble Beach, and they’d received a great deal of complimentary ink. Consider this: An old car is only original once, and it’s even harder to find an historic hot rod in “asbuilt” condition. More of a custom rod than a racer, this car won’t command top dollar in today’s market. But if you grew up on the Right Coast, hankering for a channel job, it’s pure nostalgia. It’s still just the way Jack Lentz built it. I didn’t hear it run, but there’s no reason to suspect the crusty old Deuce wouldn’t crackle to life and be ready for a Saturday morning cruise or a trip to an historic hot-rod event. Offered without reserve as part of several cars from the Barber Collection, the roadster found a home for just under six figures. At that, I’ll call it decently sold and very well 1932 Ford Highboy roadster Lot 111, VIN: R1845482M Condition: 2 Sold at $154,000 Gooding & Company, Pebble Beach, CA, 8/21/2011 ACC# 183150 Engine #: Stamped into top flange of transmission Tune-up/major service: $200 (estimated) Chassis #: Stamped on top of driver’s side frame rail More: www.good-guys.com, www.nsra-usa.com Alternatives: 1932 Ford 5-window coupe, 1932 Ford 3-window coupe, 1932 Ford roadster pickup ACC Investment Grade: B Comps 1932 Ford McMullen Highboy roadster Lot S109, VIN: 18152025 Condition: 1Sold at $742,000 Mecum Auctions, Anaheim, CA, 11/14/2012 ACC# 213966 1932 Ford Khougaz roadster Lot 241, VIN: 18155453 Condition: 1Sold at $385,000 RM Auctions, Monterey, CA, 8/17/2007 ACC# 46256 bought.A (Introductory description courtesy of RM Auctions.) March-april 2013 May-June 2013 51

PROFILE CLASSIC 1932 AUBURN 8-100A SPEEDSTER Depression-era extravagance Stephen Goodal ©2010, courtesy of RM Auctions The Auburn Speedster was dramatic and groundbreaking, with stunning and flowing integrated lines. Only 84 were sold VIN: 9288E Engine number: GU73382 by Carl Bomstead The 1932 Auburn 8-100A Speedster was the Auburn Automobile Company’s most spectacular 8-cylinder offering — an ideal Depression-era road machine for those who could afford it. It offered outstanding performance for a dashing couple, with the flexibility of a 2-speed rear axle providing a low ratio for city use and a high ratio for open roads in all three gears. Today, few Auburn products are more desirable. This Speedster has been certified as Category One by the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club, as it has an original 8-100A chassis, engine, transmission, axles, body and all other major components. It is crucial to note the originality of the body, which was built for Auburn by Union City Body Company. The present owner acquired the Speedster body in 1989 and, with the goal of creating a perfect show car, spent five years restoring it on an original 8-100A chassis that was born with sedan coachwork. It has subsequently been judged a Senior Grand National winner by the Antique Automobile Club of America, and it has reached Senior Premier status in the Classic Car Club of America. The most recent award was earned at the Concours d’Elegance of America at St. John’s in 2012 — 18 years after the completion of the restoration. 52 AmericanCarCollector.com 52 AmericanCarCollector.com ACC Analysis This Auburn 8-100A Speedster, Lot 158, sold for $330,000, includ- ing buyer’s premium, at RM’s Amelia Island Auction on March 9, 2013, in Amelia Island, FL. Auburn would have most likely closed their doors in the mid-’20s had it not been for the arrival of E.L. Cord. Cord was a cocky but successful salesman, and he was able to convince the AAC Board that he was their only hope of recouping their investments. In turn, he worked the deal in his benefit — he eventually owned the company. He was then faced with an inventory of more than 700 Auburns collecting dust on the back lots and enough parts and pieces to assemble at least that many more. Streamlining the Auburn He quickly strengthened the dealer network, and he pushed forward on design, following his belief in “be different if you can’t be the biggest.” Under that directive, Auburn introduced the Model 115 Speedster in 1928. The car featured a steeply raked windshield and streamlined boattail rear end. The Speedster design was as much substance as style, as it eliminated the ability for a competitor to draft in racing competition. The new design, based on the 1927 Duesenberg Model X Speedster, exuded momentum even when

ACC Digital Bonus Detailing Year built: 1932 Number built: 84 Original list price: $845 Current ACC Valuation: $250,000–$350,000 Tune-up cost: $300 Distributor cap: $125 Chassis #: Left frame rail Engine #: Left side of crankcase Club: Auburn-CordDuesenberg Club e stockour on a Beach. un, to the uburn ated with CC Digital Bonus Detailing Year built: 1932 Number built: 84 Original list price: $845 Current ACC Valuation: $250,000–$350,000 Tune-up cost: $300 Distributor cap: $125 Chassis #: Left frame rail Engine #: Left side of crankcase Club: Auburn-Cord- Duesenberg Club e stock- our on a Beach. un, to the uburn ated with r r a youthful my, who d as a . At the , his e 1932 er was breaking, owing t the Great Depression was taking its toll on the buying public, and priced at $845, a mere 84 8-100 Speedsters were produced. The Auburn Model 8-100A custom model was equipped with a Columbia dual-ratio rear axle, free-wheeling, Bijur chassis lubrication system, ride control shocks, and a Startix automatic starter. Awards and issues The 1932 Auburn 8-100A Speedster offered by RM was stunning in red and black, and the chrome wire wheels set off the entire presentation. The car had a long list of awards and a Category One Certification from the ACD Club. In short, it looked great, was extremely well detailed, and it seemed to have all of the provenance it needed. It was a very high-level package with exquisite detailing. There were, however, a few discrepancies. First, the 8-100A chassis used in this particular car was from a sedan. It had been married to this original Union City Body Company speedster body in 1989. Technically, since it was a rebody (even with an original piece), the car wouldn’t qualify for a Category One Certification, although a few others also slipped by as the judging process was being refined. It does have the certification, but it also has a story to go along with it. The Auburn was also finished with urethane paint, which while very well done, would be a serious deduction in many judging circles. And finally, there was a grille-fit issue. One of the trickiest parts of restoring Auburns is fitting the “pitchfork” grille molding into the lower splash pan trim. This car’s pieces were not even close to lining up — the owner readily admitted the deficiency. But he had to — there really wasn’t any way to hide it. The sum of its parts or more? Does any of this suggest the $330,000 sale price was out of line? I think not, as this is still one of the best examples available of the most revered Auburn 8 from the golden age of pre-war motoring. The grille trim can be corrected for a couple thousand dollars, the ACD Club can’t alter their certification without facing potential legal issues, and the paint, while not periodcorrect, will only be a concern if the new owner wants to continue to show the car. But since the car has already been to most of the rodeos, why not just use and enjoy it? It’s a rare piece no matter how you hash it, and it’ll literally stop traffic wherever you take it. Regardless of the car’s next step — be it show field or open road — at the price paid, I’d call it both well 1931 Auburn Model 8-98 speedster Lot 234, VIN: 89825629E Condition: 3 Not sold at $275,000 Classic Motorcar Auctions, Canton, OH, 9/17/2011 ACC# 185914 More: www.acdclub.org Alternatives: 1929–34 Duesenberg Model J (closed), 1934 Packard Twelve Coupe Roadster, 1937 Cord 812 SC Sportsman ACC Investment Grade: B+ Comps 1929 Auburn Speedster Lot S76, VIN: GRX26706 Condition: 4Sold at $159,000 Mecum Auctions, Monterey, CA, 8/21/2011 ACC# 184007 bought and well sold. A (Introductory description courtesy of RM Auctions.) 1932 Auburn Model 8-100A Speedster Lot 985, VIN: 11146E Condition: 2Sold at $148,000 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ, 1/18/2007 ACC# 44136 May-June 2013 53CC 53

PROFILE RACE 1967 PLYMOUTH RO23 BELVEDERE Super Stock terror in street clothes Courtesy of Mecum Auctions Other than the steel bolt-on air scoop, the RO23 looks like a bargainbasement Belvedere VIN: R023J71206022 by Tom Glatch Plymouth upped the stakes, introducing a limitedproduction lightweight drag-racing package for the Belvedere known as the RO23. Fifty-five 2-door hard tops were built to meet the C 54 AmericanCarCollector.com NHRA’s Super Stock/B class rules, all powered by the 426 Hemi backed by either a 4-speed manual transmission or a TorqueFlite automatic. This RO23 Plymouth Belvedere lightweight from the Joe Amato Collection features the correct and recently rebuilt 426 race Hemi, equipped with dual 4-barrel carburetors and dyno-tuned to 544 horsepower. ACC Analysis This 1967 Plymouth RO23 Belvedere, Lot S177, sold for $79,500, including buyer’s premium, at Mecum’s Kissimmee, FL, auction on January 26, 2013. “Are Plymouths fast? Ask the man who didn’t own one!” That provocative little advertisement was placed on the inside cover of the 1967 NHRA Rule Book. It went on to point out that Plymouths driven by Jere Stahl (of Stahl Headers fame) and Shirley “Drag-On-Lady” Shahan mopped up the Super Stock competition at the major events of 1966. It was a brilliant place for an ad that was essentially preaching to the choir, and it made the point: Chrysler was serious about drag racing. ompetition in NHRA Super Stock racing was at a fever pitch by the mid-1960s. The factories continued to trade blows with ever more radical specials to meet the demands of their team drivers, and in 1967 Raising the B-body bar Super Stock racing featured cars that were substan- tially factory stock. The cars on the track were nearly identical to the cars you could buy in the showroom, and anyone interested in a really fast street machine knew which dealer to go to. Plymouth’s performance in ’66 was basically a repeat of the 1965 season, and Chrysler was so intent on keeping the momentum going in Super Stock in 1967 that they produced two very special vehicles just for that competition: the Plymouth RO23 Hemi Belvedere II and the Dodge WO23 Hemi Coronet. Just 55 of each were built; all were basic white with black interiors, and all were built on February 12, 1967, at the Lynch Road plant in Detroit. Talk about a special order — February 12 was a Sunday. Racer-spec in a plain white wrapper Keeping the weight to a minimum was critical, since the NHRA Super Stock class determination was based on a horsepower-to-weight ratio — for example, SS/A required up to 6.99 pounds per advertised horsepower, while SS/B required 7.00 to 7.69 lbs/hp — and Chrysler was hoping to race these special mid-sized B-body cars in SS/A or SS/B. These cars were given no soundproofing or seam sealer during assembly, no foam under the headliner, and there were no heaters or radios. The front sway bar was deleted, too. The base Belvedere came with rubber mats instead of carpeting, and so did the RO23. The battery was relocated to the trunk for better

ACC Digital Bonus weight bias. Under the hood was the stan- dard 426-ci 425-hp Street Hemi. The intake manifolds on the WO23 and RO23 cars were stock pieces changed inside using the modification pioneered by racer Arlen Vanke, and the stock carburetors were optimized for drag racing. This, too, was important, because Super Stock rules required factory carbs only. Automatic cars got the A727 TorqueFlite transmission, modified from stock with manual valve body, and featured heavy-duty clutches and bands to handle 7,000-rpm shifts. The A833 4-speeds were “slick-shift” units — transmissions modified by removing the synchros and machining every other tooth off the drive gears for easier full-throttle shifting. That package was topped off with a Hurst shifter. The cars were delivered with the standard Street Hemi oval air cleaner, but boxed in the trunk was a special unit that fit the opening of the hood scoop — a piece unique to these cars. The only wheels available were painted 14x6.5 or 15x6 steel units. Final drives were 4.88:1 gears in a bulletproof Dana 60 on 4-speed cars, or 4.86:1 in Mopar’s 8¾-inch unit on automatics. Other than the steel bolt-on air scoop, the RO23 looked like a bargain-basement Belvedere. At a cost of $3,831, it was hardly a bargain (a basic Belvedere I started at around $2,315) but the RO23 contained everything top racers such as Sox and Martin and many regional privateers needed to compete in Super Stock — and with quarter-mile times in the low 11s at over 120 mph, these cars dominated their class. Evolution and rarity Whereas Chrysler’s Super Stock cars for 1967 were fast while looking bone-stock and showroom-fresh, their race cars for ’68 evolved into something else. By ’68, Super Stock racers were starting to look at smaller compact and “Pony” cars (remember those Detailing Years produced: 1967 Number produced: 55 Original list price: $3,831 Current ACC Valuation: $70,000–$95,000 Tune-up/major service: $150 Distributor cap: $22.58 Chassis #: VIN plate on the driver’s side instrument panel behind windshield Club: Walter P. Chrysler Club More: www.chryslerclub.org Alternatives: 1967 Dodge Coronet WO23, 1967 Ford Fairlane R-code, 1967 Mercury Comet 202 Sedan R-code ACC Investment Grade: B Comps power-to-weight formulas), and Chrysler obliged by stuffing Hemi engines in their A-body Dodge Darts and Plymouth Barracudas. The transformation of the new cars was so radi- cal that they could not be built on an assembly line (not even on a Sunday), so Chrysler turned to Hurst Industries to build about 50 each of these mystical, legendary racers. So in a sense, the RO23 and WO23 cars were the end of an era — the final purpose-built Super Stockers to come directly from a Chrysler production line. Quarter mile to collectible With just 55 built and an unknown number surviving, it’s not surprising that RO23 Plymouths are rarely offered for sale. In the past 10 years, only four have sold at auction. The highest sale was $151,200 at RM’s 2007 auction in Fort Lauderdale. The Hurst-built ’68 Hemi Darts and Barracudas typically bring more than that. Although the Hemi compacts are just as rare as the RO23s and were just as successful on the track, they also have something else going for them: a nasty, aggressive, ready-to-dominate look. The pedestrian demeanor of the Belvedere is likely the reason the RO23s usually sell for less. Then there is our feature RO23. It had been given a questionable restoration — the engine has too much chrome, the unique air cleaner is missing and the front inner headlights have been removed (a violation of the ’67 NHRA rulebook). All that should cause concern for any potential buyer. The lack of documented racing provenance does nothing for its value, either, and name-dropping Joe Amato, the most successful Top Fuel driver of the ’80s and ’90s, isn’t enough to overcome this car’s weaknesses. There is nothing on this car that a little time and money can’t cure, but the issues are enough to drive down its value. That’s a shame, since these fast and fascinating Super Stock machines should really sell for close to six figures. In this case, $79k is about right. Well bought. A (Introductory description courtesy of Mecum Auctions.) May-June 2013 55 1968 Dodge Dart Hemi Super Stock Lot 140329648904, VIN: N/A Condition: 2+ Sold at $177,877 eBay Motors, June 2010 ACC# 162876 1968 Plymouth Barracuda Hemi Super Stock Lot 50, VIN: B029M8B390673 Condition: 1- ACC# 192998 Engine #: Pad on the right side of the block to the rear of the engine mount Not sold at $140,000 Worldwide Auctioneers, Atlantic City, NJ, 2/24/2012 1967 Dodge Coronet 440 Super Stock Lot S111, VIN: WO23J71201846 Condition: 2+ Not sold at $130,000 ACC# 43759 Mecum Auctions, Kansas City, MO, 12/1/2006

PROFILE TRUCK 1970 CHEVROLET EL CAMINO SS 454 LS6 Muscle truck hauls in big money The LS6 El Camino was both completely irrational and the perfect dual-purpose machine, depending on how you looked at it VIN: 136800K158973 by B. Mitchell Carlson • Totally restored to original factory specifications • Restored by Jen-Jacs Restoration in Savannah, GA • Original rebuilt LS6 454/450-hp engine • M22 close-ratio 4-speed transmission • 4.10 Positraction rear axle • Rare factory-correct Tuxedo Black exterior • Black bench seat interior • Original partial build sheet found during restoration ACC Analysis This LS6 El Camino, Lot S166, sold for $121,900, including buy- er’s premium, at Mecum’s Kissimmee, FL, event on January 26, 2013. In the minds of most car guys, only a few cars can compete for all-time top-dog muscle-car status. From Mopar, that nod usually goes to the Hemi ’Cuda. From Ford, it’s mostly the Shelby GT500 or Mustang Boss 429. And from Chevrolet, it’s the ’70 LS6 Chevelle. You may never get agreement from brand-loyal car fanatics over which of these was the baddest OEM muscle car ever built, but GM person or not, you have to agree that the LS6 is deserving of the reputation. Horsepower was king in 1970, and the LS6 cars were rated at 450, although some call that rating conservative. Regardless, these A-bodies were just the thing for brutal acceleration, endless doughnuts and city-block-long burnouts. But what if you needed to 56 AmericanCarCollector.com 56 AmericanCarCollector.com haul things every once in awhile? Bigger things than would fit in that Chevelle’s trunk? You could buy an El Camino. And you could still have your LS6 engine, too. Party in the front, business in the back A documented original LS6 Chevelle isn’t something you see every day. Only about 4,500 LS6 cars were built in ’70. But even more rare than that was the LS6 El Camino, like our subject car. Some sources place their build number at just over 500, and documented examples are even more scarce. It was part muscle car and part truck. With this car, you were able to haul whatever you needed to haul during the week, and on the weekends, you could head out to the drags and run low 13s in the quarter mile. It was both completely irrational and the perfect dualpurpose machine, depending on how you looked at it. A car with a truck bed The genesis of the El Camino came from Australia, where there was a market need for truck-like utility as well as car-like comforts in the same vehicle. Ford brought this concept to America with the Ranchero in 1957, and Chevrolet joined in by 1959 and ’60 with the Impala-based El Camino. When the El Camino came back from its threemodel-year hiatus in 1964, it shared a platform with Courtesy of Mecum Auctions

ACC Digital Bonus Detailing Year produced: 1970 Number produced: Approximately 500 (LS6) Original list price: $3,764 Current ACC Valuation: $65,000–$89,000 Tune-up cost: $200 Distributor cap: $10 Chassis number: On top of the dashboard on the driver’s side Engine number: Passenger’s side of the block on the front edge of the cylinder head deck the all-new Chevelle. As these coupe pickups were both on station wagon chassis, component sharing was all but necessary to justify the lower production numbers of the open-back models. While the Super Sport Chevelle existed since 1964, there was no SS Elky until 1966 — the Mark IV bigblock engine carried over into the El Camino, and the SS 396 became a bona fide stand-alone El Camino model that year. However, it’s also worth noting that the 396 became a stand-alone engine option as a nonSuper Sport in 1966. This continued into the restyled 1968 models. These big-block monsters had a reputation of being fast, although they could be hard to control under full throttle — drive one of these things hard without being careful and your own rear bumper will try to pass you. For 1970, the El Camino was also available in two Super Sport models — the SS 396 and SS 454, each in two flavors of tune. And of course, the LS6 was the top of the line. The birth of the hot truck It can be argued that the El Camino SS started the hot-truck phenomenon. In the greater scope of things, this was always considered a truck by not only GM, but several state and province licensing authorities. As such, not only did it wantonly borrow from the Chevelle hot-rod parts bin, but with the benefit initially of lower insurance rates as a truck. In later years, this concept was also used to side-step federal emissions standards for cars (most famously in the case of the 1978–79 Dodge Li’l Red Express) to surpass the performance of most cars. What else could you want? This example checks off most of the boxes that anyone wanting an SS 454 LS6 (Chevelle or El Camino) would want: a popular color (Tuxedo Black), M22 “Rock Crusher” 4-speed, 4.10 Positraction rear end, Cowl Induction hood, power steering and power brakes. The only way to better it for equipment would be bucket seats with center console. And perhaps Cranberry Red paint. For some, having the TH400 automatic behind the LS6 is preferable. However, from what we’ve seen at ACC Central, popularity and pricing between a 4-speed and an auto is essentially a dead tie. One of the things that made the LS6 a street legend is that it’s all but idiot-proof with an automatic — point it down the street or strip, plant the long skinny pedal on the right firmly onto the cowl, and hang on for dear life. In the case of the El Camino, it can be argued to some extent that it’s even easier to get better times than in a Chevelle, as it’s easier to install ballast in the back if needed (and generally it is needed). Top option, top price With any LS6 car, it’s almost a case of guilty until proven innocent as far as fakes are concerned. Perhaps even more so with the El Camino, as some folks still think this is a phantom that didn’t exist. While anything can be and is faked, the mortal remains of the build sheet were enough to convince the bidders that this car was the real deal. And at least two buyers bid it up accordingly. LS6 pricing in general is starting to come back around after getting smacked around post-2008, although this selling price was a touch strong when all the factors are considered — even with the concoursquality restoration. I’m tempted to think that this is a sign of things to come with rare, documented OEM muscle from the high point in vintage American performance — but we’re not there yet. This price could be hard to repeat in the near future, so with that in mind, this was well sold. But if the owner can hold out and keep from damaging this car’s condition by using it, this may have been a smart long-term buy. A (Introductory description courtesy of Mecum Auctions.) More: www.vcca.org Additional: ls6registry. com, elcaminoregistry. macswebs.com Clubs: Vintage Chevrolet Club of America Alternatives: 1966–70 Ford Ranchero GT coupe pickup, 1970–72 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454, 1978–79 Dodge D-150 Li’l Red Express pickup ACC Investment Grade: B Comps 1970 Chevrolet El Camino SS 396 Lot TH220, VIN: 13680L121053 Condition: 2- Not sold at $36,300 Russo and Steele, Monterey, CA, 8/16/2012 ACC# 209592 1970 Chevrolet El Camino SS 454 LS6 Lot F470, VIN: 136800B131181 Condition: 2- Not sold at $48,000 Russo and Steele, Monterey, CA, 8/14/2008 ACC# 117492 1969 Chevrolet El Camino SS 396 RM Auctions, Dallas, TX, 4/19/2008 ACC# 116332 May-June 2013 Lot 210, VIN: 136809K431362 Condition: 2Sold at $48,400 57CC 57

MaRKeT OVERVIEW For complete results of each auction covered in this issue, scan this code or go to http://bit.ly/YLyfw2 TOP 10 sales this issue 1. 1965 Shelby Cobra roadster, $852,500—G&Co, p. 96 2. 1966 Shelby Cobra roadster, $836,000—RM, p. 96 3. 1930 Stutz SV16 Monte Carlo, $550,000—RM, p. 90 4. 1932 Chrysler CL Imperial convertible coupe, $525,000—RM, p. 98 5. 1931 Duesenberg Model J convertible, $462,000—G&Co, p. 90 6. 1931 Cord L-29 cabriolet, $407,000—RM, p. 90 7. 1967 Chevrolet Camaro Yenko coupe, $350,000—G&Co, p. 91 8. 1932 auburn 8-100a Speedster, $330,000— RM, p. 91 9. 1965 Shelby GT350 fastback, $242,000—RM, p. 96 10. 1960 Chrysler 300F GT Special 2-dr hard top, $236,500—G&Co, p. 98 BEST BUYS 1. 1970 Plymouth Superbird 2-dr hard top, $166,420—Mec, p. 70 2. 1957 Plymouth Sport Fury 2-dr hard top, $46,750—Mec, p. 98 3. 1957 Lincoln Premier convertible, $46,200— Bon, p. 94 4. 1948 Willys Jeepster convertible, $27,563— McC, p. 89 5. 1978 Chevrolet Corvette coupe, $12,650—Lke, p. 76 58 AmericanCarCollector.com 1936 Lincoln Model K V12 collapsible brougham sold for $143,000 at Leake OKC American Iron dominates CORVETTES, CLASSICS AND SHELBYS TOP RECORD SALES ACROSS THE CONTINENT by Tony Piff for $225m in a single week. But you’d be very, very wrong. Y n n n Even before the last car crossed the block in Arizona, Mecum’s wellestablished Kissimmee sale was already under way. This annual auction has grown into a major East Coast event — last year’s auction sold more than 1,500 cars over the course of six long days for a total of $59m. For 2013, Mecum did the unthinkable, expanding their already massive sale to 10 days and 2,424 cars. 1,807 of those found new homes for a record sales rate of 75% and an overall $70.8m total. Sold cars averaged $39k, but more than 100 surpassed $100k, with American muscle handily securing the top three slots: A 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 sold for $779k, a 1968 Chevrolet Corvette L88 convertible made $583k and a 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 fastback found a new garage at $442k. Notable Mopar sales included a 1970 Plymouth Hemi ’Cuda sold at $339k and a 1970 Plymouth Road Runner convertible at $207k. n n n Three weeks later, Leake held their best Oklahoma City sale to date. 257 consignments out of 352 sold here for $5.7m total, a 73% sales rate and an average price of $22k. Each one of these figures represents steady growth for this Heartland sale. Here, too, domestic iron reigned supreme. A 1969 Chevrolet Yenko Camaro took the top slot at $209k, followed by a 1936 Lincoln Model K collapsible brougham at $143k and a 2010 Shelby GT500 Super Snake at $99k. Mopars were few and far ou might expect a lull in the collector-car market after the January feeding frenzy in Arizona, where six companies sold 2,263 cars The “Hoosier Hell Drag Car” — one of two 1969 Chevrolet Camaro COPO coupes that sold at Mecum Kissimmee for $137,800 between, but a 1969 Plymouth Road Runner convertible came close to selling at a high bid of $42k. n n n Keith McCormick held his 54th auction that same weekend in sunny Palm Springs, CA. This sale, too, has seen steady growth for many years, and February 2013 marked yet another record event. 407 cars sold out of 531 consigned, totaling $7.4m. That’s well more than double the 180 cars and $2.3m from 10 years ago. A 1931 Packard 833 convertible sold for $116k, earning high-sale honors, and a beautiful 1957 Buick Century achieved $95k. A 1964 Chevrolet 327/300 Corvette convertible in Riverside Red wasn’t perfect, but it had no trouble selling for $39k, and a 1949 Hudson Commodore convertible fitted with the famous “Twin H” dual carbs was well bought and sold at $51k. A Hemi-powered 1955 Dodge Lancer Custom Royale was bid to $17k but failed to sell. ACC 1-6 scale condition rating 1. Perfect: National show standard 2. excellent: Club show-worthy, some small flaws 3. average: Daily driver in decent condition 4. Meh: Still a driver, with some visible flaws 5. Questionable: A problem-plagued beast that somehow manages to run 6. Lost cause: Salvagable for parts n n n We conclude the market reports with our ACC Roundup. This month, we feature highlights from Gooding & Company Amelia Island, RM Amelia Island and Bonhams Boca Raton, as well as RM’s sale of the Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum Collection in Madison, GA, and Mecum’s sale of Fran and Ron Green’s Verde Classics Museum Collection in Boynton Beach, FL. A

Anatomy of an ACC Market Report A HANDY GUIDE TO HOW WE RATE CARS AT AUCTION By B. Mitchell Carlson They say a picture is worth 1,000 words. To give a better appreciation of what our auction analysts look for when they cover cars for ACC, we like to take a specific example and give you visuals of the details. This time, we’ll take a look at a ’56 Studebaker Golden Hawk that sold at Silver’s Fort McDowell, AZ, auction in January: Lot number assigned by auction house. General description of vehicle as observed by reporter, with color and mechanical specifications listed first. #278-1956 STUDEBAKER GOLDEN HAWK 2-dr hard top. VIN: 6800251. Mocha & Doeskin/beige nylon & vinyl. Odo: 80,401 miles. 352-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, 3-sp. Excellent older repaint, with only light chipping on hood sides from contacting fenders. Older bumper replate looks good. Taillight housings are lightly frosted, potmetal trim lightly pitted. 1960s Standard Performance Products decal in windshield. Sagging doors, seals poorly glued. Tidy engine bay, modern aftermarket air cleaners. Non-stock dual rear antennas. Authentically reupholstered seats and door panels. Optional wire wheel covers. Cond: 3+. a price listed in green indicates that the vehicle sold. A price in red denotes a no-sale. Commentary in which reporter sums up factors that may have affected the sale and notes whether it was a good buy. NOT SOLD AT $32,500. 3-speed with overdrive was the basic transmission in the top-of-the-line-for-1956 Golden Hawk. And while it was the only Studebaker to use a Packard V8, the dual-quad intake is strictly a 1955–56 Packard Caribbean item. This was an interesting “what if” from the Studebaker-Packard merger era, when lines were getting blurry between the two. The $35k reserve seems about right for it, but not a penny more. This symbol indicates vehicles noted by the reporter as exceptionally well bought. Five are called out per issue. CONDITION RATINGS Condition: ACC uses a numerical scale of 1 to 6 to assess a vehicle’s overall condition: 1. Perfect: National show standard 2. Excellent: Club show-worthy, some small flaws 3. Average: Daily driver in decent condition 60 AmericanCarCollector.com 4. Meh: Still a driver, but with visible flaws 5. Questionable: A problem-plagued beast that somehow manages to run 6. Lost cause: Salvagable for parts BEST BUY

MECUM AUCTIONS // Kissimmee, FL Mecum Kissimmee THE “ENTOMBED” 1954 CORVETTE SPENT 27 YEARS LOCKED IN A BRICK VAULT BUT FAILED TO SELL AT $100K Report and photos by Dale Novak Market opinions in italics S $15m $30m $45m $60m $75m 0 62 AmericanCarCollector.com even auction houses sold more than 2,000 cars at the January Arizona auctions in 2012, followed immediately by more than 1,500 at Mecum’s weeklong Kissimmee sale on the opposite coast. Surely, we all thought, that represented a saturation point for auctions and collector cars. So when Dana Mecum announced that he was growing his marathon auction to 10 full Mecum Auctions Kissimmee 2013 Kissimmee, FL January 18–27, 2013 auctioneers: Mark Delzell, Jimmy Landis, Bobby McGlothlen, Mike Hagerman, Matt Moravec, John Hummer, Jeff Knosp, Russ Conklin, Steve Holt automotive lots sold/offered: 1,807/2,424 Sales rate: 75% Sales total: $70,760,568 High sale: 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 roadster, sold at $779,100 Buyer’s premium: $300 on the first $5,499, $500 from $5,500 to $9,999, 6% thereafter, included in sold prices Sales Total 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 days for 2013, the industry raised its collective eyebrows in disbelief. But the results silenced all doubters. Sales grew from $58.5m last year to $70.8m, with 75% of cars successfully finding new homes. A press release from Mecum stated that over 75,000 people attended the event. A 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 roadster sold for $779k, taking high-sale honors. A 1968 Chevrolet Corvette L88 convertible also broke the half-million mark, selling for $583k. 121 more cars surpassed $100k, including a 1968 Shelby GT500 KR at $175k and an excellent 1970 Plymouth Superbird, equipped with V-code 3x2-barrel 440, 4-speed and full documentation, at $166k — one of the best buys of the sale. The “entombed” 1954 Corvette that spent 27 years locked in a vault was far from mint, but with just 2,332 miles on the odo, its claim to fame as the “lowest-mile unrestored Corvette in the world” is not likely to be chal- lenged. It drew much attention but failed to sell at a high bid of $100k. By contrast, a like-new 1994 Corvette with under 12,000 miles on the clock looked like a wise and lucky purchase at $18k. One of the first Mustang convertibles built, a 1965 known as unit #212, sold for a fair $45k. Along with the automobiles, 700 lots of memorabilia and road art accounted for one full day of the auction. Mecum’s General and Operations Manager Harold Gerdes said, “To put this event on is like putting on a professional basketball game and a rock concert at the same time and doing it every night, 10 nights straight.” Looking at the behemoth that Mecum’s Kissimmee sale has become, it’s hard to believe that just 104 cars changed hands here in 2004. And in that context, one has to wonder what we’ll be saying a decade from now. A The “entombed” 1954 Corvette roadster failed to sell at $100,000

MECUM AUCTIONS // Kissimmee, FL GM #W34-1966 BUICK SKYLARK Gran Sport 2-dr hard top. VIN: 446176H240074. Blue/ blue vinyl. Odo: 49,727 miles. 401-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Great color and mostly original throughout. Body putty found in door-bottoms. Trunk is out. Chrome and trim appear original. Scuff on the bumper. Seats are very soft and bottom out quickly. Water noted on floormat on passenger’s side. Some touch-ups of interior painted parts. Clean, driver-grade engine bay. Matching numbers. Cond: 3-. White/red vinyl. Odo: 68 miles. 427-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Small fisheyes noted in the paintwork, but very nice overall. Trunk out at rear deck. Passenger’s door way out at bottom. Clean and tidy engine bay with the proper overspray on intake manifold. Paint marks, tower clamps look correct. Horns are sprayed black over some grungy prep. Cond: 2+. the documentation. A rare car that needed more to get the deal done. #S71-1969 OLDSMOBILE 442 Hurst/Olds 2-dr hard top. VIN: 344879M370903. White/ black vinyl. Odo: 61,129 miles. 455ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Fisheyes noted throughout the paintwork. Door jambs could have been done much better. Some microblisters noted, too. Driver’s door out, hood tight to cowl. Musty interior. Tear in driver’s seat, crack in package shelf. Undercoating sprayed under the hood with a tidy engine bay otherwise. Cond: 3+. NOT SOLD AT $16,000. The GS was the sporty rendition of the Buick Skylark and a great entry-level car given the condition presented here. Mostly solid all around, with fresh paint that was done well. The high bid was solid money for a GS in this condition, and the owner isn’t likely to find more any time soon. #T237-1966 CHEVROLET IMPALA convertible. VIN: 164676F128104. White/white vinyl/turquoise vinyl. Odo: 50,029 miles. 427-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Sanding marks noted in the finish. Good top fit. Trunk sits a bit high. Driver-grade chassis but overall a solid car. Intake is painted silver and looks tacky. Poorly done 4-speed shifter plate. In-dash tach. Clean under the hood but only a driver. Fitted with the 427/425, 4-speed and 12-bolt rear end. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $137,800. An original COPO (Central Office Production Order) that was actually used for its intended purpose. Known as the “Hoosier Hell Drag Car” and once the IHRA B/Stock record-holder, this car not only presented well but was also heavily documented. Seen here a year ago at Mecum Kissimmee 2012, no-saling at $112k (ACC# 199392). One year later, the market speaks more clearly. These trade in this range, so well bought and sold, with the racing history as a plus for the buyer. #F278-1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO Z/28 coupe. VIN: 124379N636361. Green/white houndstooth cloth. Odo: 7,604 miles. 302-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Reported as a one-owner car. Trunk sits high. Sanding marks and some dust in paintwork. Some small markings on the door panels. Rare JL8 brakes. Rosewood steering wheel. Clean and tidy engine bay with some light rust showing on exhaust manifolds. Chassis is very well done and looks great. Reported to be numbers-correct and fully documented. Cond: 2. NOT SOLD AT $75,000. I was on the cusp of giving this a #2, but the undercoating sprayed on the underside of the hood dragged it down. That’s not going to be much fun to remove, and it will need to be done as it stands out in an egregious way. You couldn’t give these cars away back when they were simply old used cars. That story has flipped, but high bid should have been enough to get the deal done. #S166-1970 CHEVROLET EL CAMINO SS 454 LS6 pickup. VIN: 136800K158973. Black/black vinyl. Odo: 78,656 miles. 454-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Super-rare LS6 El Camino finished in black-over-black with M22 gearbox to row though the gears. Reported to be running the original LS6 mill. Fresh interior remains in excellent condition. Some scratches noted in tailgate trim. Near-mint engine bay, without question better than factory new. Light pitting on door handles. Very nice paint, great prep over laserstraight body. One small spot in the paint that wasn’t buffed, but hard to detect. Cond: 1-. NOT SOLD AT $40,000. This was not an SS model, but it reportedly came asequipped with the street-pounding 427 and the 4-speed transmission—which makes this a somewhat rare sleeper. I would suggest dear old dad headed into his Chevrolet dealer back in the day and told his wife he ordered a nice family convertible for Sunday drives. Given the rare build and condition, the high bid was a tad light, but not by much. #S162-1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO COPO coupe. VIN: 124379N666906. 64 AmericanCarCollector.com NOT SOLD AT $100,000. This Z/28 came with some great documentation including paperwork by noted Camaro expert Jerry MacNeish, the original Protect-O-Plate, bill of sale and more. The JL8 4-wheel disc brakes are rare and desirable. One owner from new and fully numbers-matching by SOLD AT $121,900. If you wanted a “right” example, this was one to raise your hand on. Partial build sheet found during the restoration. Great car in excellent condition, most likely ready for national judging. Rare but still not as sought-after as its LS6

MECUM AUCTIONS // Kissimmee, FL QUICKTAKE 1966 Chevrolet Nova SS L79 SOLD at $219,950 Mecum Auctions, Kissimmee, FL, January 26, 2013, Lot #S185 The SS (Super Sport) edition of the Nova hit the streets in 1963 with a paltry 6-banger under the hood. I guess it was sporty, meaning small, so the SS moniker worked well enough. In the mid-1960s, Chevrolet took notice of the modified cars showing up at quarter-mile tracks across America and knew they had a hot machine in the works — one that could be easily tweaked to spark more sales. Enter the L79 mill. The small block that was such a hit in the Chevrolet Corvette was now available in the compact Nova. The tight 327 made 350 horses. The car was just about track-ready right out of the box — especially when mated to a Muncie 4-speed. Add that two-fisted punch to a car that tipped the scales at under 3,000 pounds, and you had an instant winner. In 1966, 5,481 Novas came equipped with the L79, and of those, 3,547 were SS models. Plus, our subject car came fortified with the original Protect-O-Plate, which decodes the car as built with the exception of a color change to black. Plus, this black-on-black SS coupe had been completely restored with all period-correct components and retained its complete matching-numbers drivetrain. Kudos include plenty Best of Shows. These are desirable machines, but this sale was a huge number. Barrett-Jackson sold one in 2008 for $100,100, which to my knowledge was a world record at the time. In general, these tend to trade in the low $50k to high $90k range — not cheap, but also not $200k. But a willing seller and willing buyer create the market. I’m going to stick my neck out and suggest this sale was a combination of the red mist and some auction magic. It was one of the best L79s in the world, but I do think the price was out in front of the market. With this result, it’s a sure bet more of these spunky Novas will be hitting the market in the coming months. For now, well sold — but I’ll be watching to see how the others do. A —Dale Novak 66 66 SOLD AT $49,820. Nice car, very close to #2 territory, with only a few nits to drag it down a grade. Super Dutys are fairly rare, with only 943 produced in 1974. This would be a very nice driver and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser with the muscle-car gang. Price was just about spot-on given the condition and presentation, with advantage to the seller. AmericanCarCollector.com Chevelle cousin. Well bought and sold. (See the profile, p. 56.) #S152-1970 PONTIAC GTO The Judge 2-dr hard top. VIN: 242370R127202. Polar White/red vinyl. Odo: 98,480 miles. 400-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. A high-level presentation with little to fret over. Small runs in the paint with some fisheyes noted. Driver’s door out. Hood tach. Fresh interior presents well. Chassis is well done and presents well. Cheater battery topper. Clean engine bay just a notch below show-condition. Very rusty exhaust manifolds. Claimed to include all the documentation, including the original shipping records, insurance application, registration and more. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $84,800. Unusual Polar White over a red interior (most Judges you see are finished in Carousel Red or Orbit Orange). The documentation was key here, as it included just about every piece of paper one could want, not to mention the Ram Air III 366-horse mill lurking under the hood. This was a market-correct result with a slight advantage to the new owner. #F44-1974 PONTIAC TRANS AM SD 455 coupe. VIN: 2V87X4N167750. Red/black vinyl. Odo: 41,869 miles. 455-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Restored in 2006. Heavy paint on nose; some small runs or sags in the paintwork. Small crack in hood and some small bubbles forming at bottom of passenger’s door. Hood sits high at cowl, front spoiler is badly warped. Some masking issues. Interior is nice, presents well, but no longer crisp and tight. Seatbelt is worn. Cond: 3+.

MECUM AUCTIONS // Kissimmee, FL #G158-1975 PONTIAC VENTURA Sprint coupe. VIN: 2Z17H5L102812. Blue/white vinyl. Odo: 32,034 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Paint remains in good condition but by no means anywhere near show. Black exterior trim has been sprayed and looks fairly fresh. Carpet faded. Some plastic trim inside cabin is brittle and deteriorating. Kick panels heavily scuffed. Door jambs in poor condition. Engine bay looks to be all there but it is soiled and grimy in areas. Lots of documentation included. Cond: 4+. I suspect this sale price will bring a few more out to play. Well sold. CORVETTE #S187-1954 CHEVROLET CORVETTE “Entombed” roadster. VIN: E54S001147. White/tan cloth/red vinyl. Odo: 2,332 miles. 235-ci 150-hp V6, 3x1-bbl, auto. Described as the “lowest-mile unrestored Corvette in the world,” sealed in a brick vault for 27 years. Well weathered everywhere you look—although it’s an unrestored original, it will take a special buyer to fall in love with it. Heavily blistered paint, hood sits high, body seams showing all over the car along with the fiberglass matting. A time capsule. Cond: 5. Claimed to have only traveled about 39k miles from new, and it looked the part. So well, in fact, that I spent far more time going over the car looking for items to pick on. About as good as it gets for an unrestored car and certainly one to consider for the avid Corvette collector. Sold for about $20k more than a comparable restored car in the same condition, so what’s that tell you? Well sold, but impossible to replace. #F98-1970 CHEVROLET CORVETTE LT-1 convertible. VIN: 194670S405774. Silver/ black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 9,204 miles. 350-ci 370-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. A Bloomington Gold Survivor, Silver-Certified in 2009. NCRS Top Flight in 2010. Total survivorstyle presentation with a well-weathered appearance in most regards. A real LT-1 with plenty of documentation that goes with the car. Cond: 4+. SOLD AT $14,310. Last seen at Mecum St. Charles 2011, selling for $13,515 (ACC# 189353). The Ventura was Pontiac’s interpretation of the Chevrolet Nova, and the Sprint editions are somewhat rare given that only 1,478 were produced. Still, you see them for sale from time to time, and most are planted squarely in the $10k–$20k range. The miles were stated to be original, so with that I’ll call it a fair deal, even though the car showed plenty of needs. #K100-1979 CHEVROLET CAMARO Z/28 coupe. VIN: 1Q87L9N620806. Black/tan cloth. Odo: 12,969 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Reported to be original miles with original tires still mounted. Some blemishes noted on exterior vinyl stripes with some sun-fading. Some paintwork noted in areas. Trim is beat up in spots. Cloth interior with basket-weave-style fabric. Driver’s seat slightly soiled. Dash and steering wheel look near new. Pioneer stereo adds to the period look. Cond: 3-. NOT SOLD AT $100,000. Unrestored and totally original: yes, please. Condition and presentation: no, thank you. If you love originality and didn’t mind the overall presentation and the fact that you really can’t drive it (given the low miles), this was the Corvette for you. I think it will take a special buyer to appreciate the opportunity. Bid to $100k and went back home to its tomb. #F287-1968 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 194678S405776. Silver/silver hard top/black vinyl. Odo: 38,937 miles. 427-ci 435-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. A Bloomington Gold Survivor with notes from the judges commenting on the overall condition of the car. Very nice condition overall, and so well preserved you’d think it was restored. Claimed to be original paint, interior and engine bay. Some small areas of paintwork noted but hard to find unless you really know what you’re looking SOLD AT $57,240. Last seen at Mecum St. Charles 2008 as a $70k no-sale (ACC# 117051). Prior to that, it sold at Mecum Kissimmee 2008 for $73k (ACC# 49022). Compared with past records, the condition has softened a bit. The LT-1 market has been squirrely as of late with #3 drivers changing hands for about $35k. This car was well sold given the condition. #G63-1994 CHEVROLET CORVETTE coupe. VIN: 1G1YY22P7R5106200. Red/ light gray vinyl. Odo: 12,000 miles. 350-ci 300-hp fuel-injected V8, auto. Miles stated to be actual. Interior still smells like new, showing only some very light soiling. Wide driver’s door fit is most likely a factory build issue. Nose gap is a tad wide as well, most likely from shrinkage in the plastic body panel. Overall, nearly showroom-new. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $31,800. Lots of documentation from day one. The paint on this Z was reported to be original, but I noted some areas of paintwork. The low miles looked authentic, based on the balance of the presentation, but the vinyl graphics on the hood were in pretty lousy shape. There were 10 other 1976–81 Camaros up for grabs here, and one other low-mile example bid to the same $30k went home unsold (Lot K153). 68 AmericanCarCollector.com for. Engine bay looks totally authentic; interior is almost too good to be true, given the 1968 build. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $83,740. SOLD AT $18,020. Not much to pick on here. I’m a pretty big fan of these cars since they offer so much bang for the buck. The performance and handling are fantastic, and addressing maintenance issues under the

MECUM AUCTIONS // Kissimmee, FL hood is fairly simple. Just about every era of Corvette was unloved at some point in time, and perhaps these will start to see some life in the market in a few years. Until that time, examples like this one offer a lot of car for the money. For that reason, well bought. FOMOCO #F237-1965 FORD MUSTANG convertible. VIN: 5F08F100212. White/blue vinyl/ blue vinyl. Odo: 56,560 miles. 260-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Paint somewhat amateur in presentation. Crack in paint on hood. Small dent in the door. Lots of orange peel noted. Fitted with the Rally Pac. Convertible top hinges pitted. Driver’s door out. Newer top. Interior a mix of old and new. Cheater battery topper. Rusted exhaust manifolds. One of the first Mustang convertibles built and known as unit #212. Cond: 3-. der the road grime and dust, and the engine bay and chassis showed very well. These were hot rides back in the day and could be fitted with the stout 390 or the fire-breathing 427. Bid was about right, but obviously the owner felt otherwise. #F96.1-1966 FORD THUNDERBIRD coupe. VIN: 6Y83Z149891. White/red vinyl. Odo: 25,467 miles. 390-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Quicky “scuff and shoot” looks pretty bad up close. Driver’s door out. Trim lacks luster and is generally dull. Front end may have been smacked at some point. Underhood is tattered and fluffed up. Nice interior, door jambs still show original paint. Interior trim is pitting; balance of the interior is #3 driver quality. Cond: 4-. #F258-1970 MERCURY COUGAR Eliminator 2-dr hard top. VIN: 0F91Q510719. Green/black & gray vinyl. Odo: 73,026 miles. 428-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Very poor hood fit; needs to be removed and reset right away. Chip on hood in gap. Blemish in paint along with some sanding marks. Slightly weathered gauges. Sail panels are moldy. Both doors out. Tape is coming loose. Fender has fitment issues. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $44,520. Last seen at Mecum Indy in May 2012 as a no-sale at $39k (ACC# 205684). The early production cars are referred to as 1964½s by enthusiasts and have their own pricing category. Only the early-production cars came fitted with the 260, with the 289s available soon afterward. About market-priced given the overall condition. Fair deal for buyer and seller alike. #T331-1966 FORD FAIRLANE GT 2-dr hard top. VIN: 6A40S16464. Black/black vinyl. Odo: 36,956 miles. 390-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Nice, straight body with well-applied paint; some dry-spray noted. Chrome shows lots of pitting and deep scratches. Some glass is scratched. Interior in good-to-average condition with a mix of OEM and new. Miles believed original. Chassis and engine bay show very well with not much to pick on. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $9,500. The miles on this car were stated to be original, but most of the car looked worse than expected. Probably a decent driver and one of those classics you can drive until the wheels fall off, as it’s not worth restoring. Market-correct, but I think the same money could buy a better example. #S174-1966 SHELBY GT350 H fastback. VIN: SFM6S1004. Red/black vinyl. Odo: 87,657 miles. 289-ci supercharged V8, auto. Paxton supercharged edition. Trunk high on passenger’s side. Antenna bezel missing. Weatherstripping coming loose. Fisheyes noted in paintwork. Rockers very wavy. Door fit is poor. Lots of thick and plastered-on undercoating. Underside of hood is poorly painted. Supercharger is freshly painted (restored), contrasting the balance of the engine bay presentation. Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $90,100. Last seen at Mecum Indy 2012, selling there for $64k (ACC# 205942). The hood fit was so poorly done that you really couldn’t close the hood without being extremely careful, which explains some of the chips in the paint. Other issues were fairly minor. It was well bought the last go-round and properly bought this time, yielding a tidy profit for the seller. MOPAR #S115-1970 PLYMOUTH SUPERBIRD 2-dr hard top. VIN: RM23V0A166219. Orange/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 85,341 miles. 440-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Great gaps given the factory build quality. Limited chrome and trim remains in good condition. Paint and body well done with great prepwork and excellent paintwork. Wheels in excellent condition. Interior shows some light use and wear but still looks fantastic. Horn emblem is weathered, back glass shows some light scratching. Knocking on condition #1’s door, with only some minor nits. Includes build sheet and Govier documents confirming matching numbers. Cond: 2+. NOT SOLD AT $35,000. This car had probably just arrived when I looked at it, as it was pretty grimy. It looked at first like a beat-up old driver, but it was quite nice un- 70 AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $174,900. A true Hertz Edition, some of which were rented on Fridays and returned on Monday with the original engine swapped out with an ordinary 289 dressed out to look like the original. Believed to be one of only 12 ordered in red/gold. Given the condition and overall presentation, I’d call this one well sold. SOLD AT $166,420. Strong presentation with little to fault. It doesn’t get much better than a true “V-code” triple-deuce 440 coupled with the 4-speed transmission. The engine bay was well done and probably a bit better than when brand new. I’m a Mopar guy, and this one was done right and ready to roll. Given the quality, documents and 4-speed, I’d call this one well bought. A BEST BUY

LEAKE // Oklahoma City, OK Leake Oklahoma City A ’69 YENKO CAMARO, A ’36 LINCOLN MODEL K AND A 2010 SUPER SNAKE TOPPED THIS $5.7M SALE Report and photos by Phil Skinner Market opinions in italics K $1m $2m $3m $4m $5m 0 72 AmericanCarCollector.com icking off their first sale for 2013, Leake Auctions hit a home run with their annual two-day event in the capital of the Sooner State. The enthusiasm for this sale was unprecedented, as both days of auction action saw the bidding arena packed to capacity with standing room only. Interest in collector vehicles is strong in the OKC area, and this is the only major sale to come to this industrial city each year. In just a few years, Leake has grown this sale Leake Auction Company Oklahoma City 2013 Oklahoma City, OK February 22–23, 2013 auctioneers: Jim Ritchie, Brian Marshall, Jeff Knosp automotive lots sold/offered: 257/352 Sales rate: 73% Sales total: $5,697,340 High sale: 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Yenko coupe, sold at $209,000 Buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold prices Sales Total 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 Two lanes of action at Leake’s OKC auction from a one-day event to a two-day sale, with two lanes running on Saturday just to handle the number of vehicles consigned. “We have had to turn away cars the past couple years here in OKC,” said Richard Sevenoaks, president of Leake Auctions. “We didn’t have any room to keep them all inside. This year a third building was opened, and so with the improved storage and display area we are going to start running two lanes on both days of the sale, and with a new exhibition building opening in 2015, we might even go to three days.” The auction started off strong, with quick deals helped by Leake’s “No Seller’s Commission Friday.” As auctioneer Jim Ritchie told the crowd, “We aren’t having to ask the owners to lift their reserves, we are meeting them.” Variety is one thing that you can expect to find at a Leake auction, even at the top end. A verified 1969 Chevrolet Yenko Camaro, fitted with a period-correct replacement block, sold at $209k, making it the high sale in OKC. At the other end of the collector-car spectrum was a 1936 Lincoln Model K collapsible brougham, bodied by Brunn and originally purchased by Richard Ringling, son of Alf Ringling of circus family fame. It went to a new home for a sale price of $143k and was the second-mostexpensive transaction of the day. A 2010 Shelby GT500 Super Snake came in just shy of the six-digit mark, selling for $99k. Several very nice trucks and off-road vehicles looked ready to work or cruise, such as two Ford Broncos, sold at $9k and $21k, a 1950 F-1 pickup, sold at $15k, and a very nice 1951 Chevrolet Styleline Deluxe, very well bought at $32k. There were a variety of early T-birds to choose from, including a 1955 with red hard top for $24k and a 1957 E-code for $76k. I thought the one-family 1978 Corvette with sidepipes was a tremendous buy at under $13k. Leake Auctions remains a family-owned business, with the daughter of late founder Jimmie Leake Sr. running the company. She and her entire crew always cater to the customer first. The 257 cars sold this weekend translated to a 73% sales rate, a $5.7m total and a $22k average price per car. By every measure, it was Leake’s most successful OKC sale to date.A

LEAKE // Oklahoma City, OK GM #168-1951 CHEVROLET STYLELINE DELUXE convertible. VIN: 5JKL3941. Trophy Blue/light blue Colortex/dark blue vinyl. Odo: 5,488 miles. 216-ci I6, 1-bbl, 3-sp. Well appointed with factory radio, heaterdefroster, clock, full wheel covers, back-up lights and a very rare original Impala hood ornament. Some swirling in paint due to dry dusting. Some side bright trim not properly attached. Glass in decent condition. Doors, deck lid and hood all have good gaps; doors close with relative ease, although driver’s side needs minor adjustment. Retains 6-volt system. Cheap convertible boot. Cond: 3+. net another $50k in front of the right crowd. Well bought for condition. SOLD AT $16,500. This car had a few needs such as the inoperative a/c, blue smoke from the exhaust and noisy brakes. That said, looking at values for other luxury cars from this era in excellent condition, this was a pretty safe buy. I’m not too fond of the colors, but they are correct for the period. SOLD AT $32,175. I can’t remember the last time I saw an early ’50s Chevy in such nice condition. I think the buyer got what he paid for: a solid, rather attractive convertible with basic mechanics and a potential to grow in value. The engine had almost as much power as a Ford V8, and with better mileage. Very well bought. #171-1963 CADILLAC SERIES 62 convertible. VIN: 673F046395. Palomino metallic/tan Colortex/saddle leather. Odo: 65,109 miles. 390-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Older, high-quality repaint in original color. Minor chrome pitting. Good glass all around. Metal straight all around, doors open without sag. Underhood clean, but proper detailing needed. Replacement top with glass backlight. Equipped as you would expect of a luxury car from this era: power steering, brakes, windows, seats, antenna and top, deluxe AM radio, Twilight Sentinel, Autronic Eye and even a/c. Original 1963 California black license plates. One wheel cover missing. Offered at no reserve. Cond: 3-. #471-1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO Yenko coupe. VIN: 124379N614994. Fathom Green/black vinyl. Odo: 34,729 miles. 427ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Certified, real-deal COPO 9561, described by the owner as a decent driver. Paint, chrome, glass and trim all very good. Very light scuffing of some bright trim. No sign of accidents. Bodywork at or above factory. Reportedly a period-correct replacement engine. Underhood very well detailed and looks nearly new. Interior is the weakest spot, with possibly original trim looking a little worn. Rally wheels look clean and fresh, rubber now shows signs of aging. One of estimated 35 in Fathom Green. Cond: 2+. #502-1970 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE SS 454 2-dr hard top. VIN: 136370K189495. Black & white/black vinyl. Odo: 143 miles. 454-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. A top-shelf restoration. Not numbers-matching, but still done well. Bodywork clean and straight. Deep, lustrous paint and chrome. Underhood tidy and ready for show. Power steering, disc brakes, factory AM/FM/8-track, seat belts, SS wheels, proper power-bulge hood with hold-down pins. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $66,000. A lot of skill and expertise went into this car’s creation, and it couldn’t be duplicated for this price. For the person who wants a good-looking muscle car that will probably hold its value but won’t be going up, this was an appropriate buy. CORVETTE #2466-1957 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: E57S104740. Black & silver/black hard top/red vinyl. Odo: 50,402 miles. 283-ci 270-hp V8, 2x4-bbl, 3-sp. Restoration at least a decade old, some patina of time starting to show. Micro-scratches from dry dusting. Fitted with typical radio, heater, clock, tach. Wears spinner wheel covers and proper-size whitewall tires. Doors open and close as they should, but gapping is a bit wide on the leading edges. Underhood clean and in order, to localshow standards. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $209,000. This car had great documentation, good condition and a desirable color. Some deep detailing would make it even more appealing and possibly SOLD AT $73,700. The car hadn’t been driven much in recent years, but with a little safety-proofing, it looked ready for the road. Not quite nice enough to be a trailer queen, but too nice to modify or alter. Price shows the low current value of straight-axle models, meaning the time to buy is now. #477-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 194677S103862. Eng. # 7103862. Black & red/black vinyl hard top/black vinyl. Odo: 54,598 miles. 427-ci 74 AmericanCarCollector.com

LEAKE // Oklahoma City, OK 435-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Professional-level restoration with little to fault. Engine numbers match chassis sequence, paint matches build plate. Body lines up well. Undersides just as nice as up top. No soft top, no radio, no worries. Redline tires and red stinger are a great combo. With power steering and brakes. Cond: 1-. workmanship could have been better, big chrome wheels add to the cartoon-come-tolife feeling. Not for the faint of heart. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $84,700. Another Corvette that has been around for a while with an asking price of up to $150k. He wanted something north of $100k here, but he took the real money when it was offered. The buyer got a good deal, but as much as the car has been shopped recently, I doubt there is immediate profit to be made. #179-1976 CHEVROLET CORVETTE coupe. VIN: 1Z37L6S408420. Orange Flame/buckskin vinyl. Odo: 88,640 miles. 350-ci 180-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Decent overall. Older repaint is filled with microscratches and prep issues; gray primer overspray in wheelwells. Darker hue to rear fascia than rest of car. Glass looks clear. Factory tilt, power steering, power disc brakes and a/c. Aftermarket cruise and audio. Engine bay has been cleaned but not detailed. Wheels from 1978 or later. Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $17,600. Custom Corvettes from the mid-’70s are plentiful. This car had documentation to back up performance claims and lots of receipts. One could not put it together for the final price. Seller was looking for something closer to $25k, but when the reality of cold, hard cash came to him, he took the money and ran. Fair price. Black/white vinyl. Odo: 37,935 miles. 350-ci 220-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Very well maintained coupe, reportedly a one-family car. Used in recent years only for “show car” duties. With alloy wheels and Kenwood stereo, sidepipes, lots of chrome under the hood. Body in good condition, paint professionally laid down. Soft trim looks mostly original. Pedal wear suggests miles are probably from new. Car runs out well. Loaded with a/c and the usual power goodies. Original engine. Cond: 2. #2427-1978 CHEVROLET CORVETTE coupe. VIN: 1Z8748S424911. SOLD AT $9,350. While late C3s retain the basic styling born in 1968, the drivetrains were watered down. Still, for the era, they were good performers, and as Gen-X starts to come of age, they may look back on these with the same nostalgia as the Baby Boomers looking at muscle cars. Well, maybe not the same exact feelings, but values for pristine examples will go up, and the time to buy something like this car is now. #2478-1999 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 1G1YY32G8X511918. Silver/black cloth/black leather. Odo: 126,526 miles. 5.7-L 345-hp fuel-injected V8, auto. Loaded car with usual power steering, power seats, windows and locks, disc brakes, amenities such as tilt, dualmemory climate control, a/c, upgraded Kenwood stereo, and functional Active Handling. CARFAX states miles not actual, but no accident indicated. Some bodywork and overspray from a repaint. Driver’s seat still firm, leather in good condition, pedal wear is lighter than the odometer indicates. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $10,670. The no-chrome, coupeonly C3s are still a pretty good buy, as seen here. People have been waiting for prices to jump, but for run-of-the-mill examples like this one, it will be awhile. Price paid was all the money in the world, but buyer should get plenty of enjoyment out of it. #213-1976 CHEVROLET CORVETTE coupe. VIN: 1Z37L6S421561. White/tan vinyl. Odo: 88,650 miles. 454-ci 585-hp fuelinjected V8, auto. Not stock, but fast and loud. High-riser hood needed for induction. Paint good but not perfect. Interior with upgraded stereo, complete gauge package, original seats. Underhood pretty sanitary for a custom install. No major body issues, 76 AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $12,650. I don’t know what show this was displayed at, but it was well presented, and did come in fairly close to the pre-sale reserve. The upgraded engine might make this a worthwhile starting point to take it back to stock and shoot for an NCRS Top Flight award. Again, these later C3s are starting to come up in value, and prime examples like this will lead the way. Well bought. #2422-1980 CHEVROLET CORVETTE coupe. VIN: 1Z878AS434691. Dark Claret/black vinyl. Odo: 38,439 miles. 350-ci 190-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Decent-looking driver in typical color combination. Mirror tops fitted. Full power, plus functioning factory a/c, original AM/FM radio. Polished proper wheels and tires add to eye appeal. Everything looks right for a driver. No stress cracks, glass all good. Engine cold-hearted at first but runs out well when warmed up. Miles could be real. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $15,950. This was about as plain and simple as your could hope for with no needs, and the seller didn’t try to conceal anything. Strong interest pushed it above the market. Well sold. FOMOCO #466-1936 LINCOLN MODEL K V12 collapsible brougham. VIN: K5686. Eng. # K5686. Tan/black leatherette/brown leather & broadcloth. Odo: 39,542 miles. Said to be number two of 10 built by Brunn in this rather eccentric bodystyle. Original owner was Richard Ringling, son of Alf T. Ringling of circus fame. Cosmetic restoration 25–30 years ago. Plain paint with no pinstriping. Interior looks mostly original with some updates and repairs. Fitted with enclosed sidemount spares, rear-compartment clock, BEST BUY

LEAKE // Oklahoma City, OK jump seats and trunk rack. Showing its age. A full restoration is in order. A CCCA Full Classic. Cond: 3. packs. Original Merc-O-Matic swapped for a built C4 with shifting moved to the floor, using an awesome top-hat-wearing skull for the knob. Interior is sweet. Original instrument cluster, a bit cloudy to read. Nosed and decked old-school fashion. Body is solid. Lancer spinner wheel covers. Not sure when, but claimed to be a magazine cover car. Cond: 3+. and nothing changed from factory except wheels and accessory upgrades. Basic twotone paint scheme plays well. Power steering and brakes, Signal Seeking radio, heater-defroster. Aftermarket windshieldwiper motor and some underhood chrome. Missing padded dash panel. Headliner, trim, and chrome all completed. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $143,000. Last sold for $51k at RM’s 2005 Rochester, MI, sale (ACC# 38791). This car has been shopped around quite a bit. Nice to know the original owner, but I don’t think it added a red cent to the value. With the right amount of money invested, this could be a high-level concours car worth about $250k on a really good day. In this condition, price paid looked correct. #177-1950 FORD F-1 pickup. VIN: 97HC297595. Red & black/red-stripe woven cloth. Odo: 98,149 miles. 226-ci I6, 1-bbl, 4-sp. At first glance, looks like a truck to take home. Nice paint, straight and complete, but closer inspection shows tired paint that might revive if properly polished, lots of scuffing on bright trim. No broken glass or stress cracks in the metal. Spray-in liner protector for the bed, but it still has the original tailgate with script logo. Interior with fading gauges. No radio, but has an economy heater in place. Wears hubcaps and trim rings. No underhood or underside detailing attempted. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $26,950. While customs are a personal thing, this car had some pretty strong appeal for a couple of bidders; its workmanship was really decent and there were no flaws to be spotted. Not a concours car in total presentation, but it did have an interesting eye appeal for those who liked this kind of vehicle. Not sure if it will do better at another venue, but it might earn a few more bucks if offered to the right person. We think the sellers were pretty happy with bid, but this was a better buy than a sell. #184-1956 FORD FAIRLANE 4-dr hard top. VIN: M6DF202833. Sunset Coral & Colonial White/white vinyl. Odo: 79,480 miles. 292-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. First year for a 4-dr hard-top Ford. Economy restoration, but it was a real Coral and white car from the factory. Front bumper looks good; rear painted body color. Side trim complete but has minor issues. Thrifty interior re-do, but still has factory AM radio, heater-defroster and clock. Aftermarket “Brodie” knob and fuzzy dice. Steering wheel wrapped. Cheaplooking wheel covers. Engine starts easily, but transmission takes a moment to start moving forward. Cond: 4+. SOLD AT $14,575. This truck had a nice look, and the little wooden rails added to the appeal. I think this one has a $35k potential, and that in the right hands could maybe exceed even that, except for one thing: no V8. The L-head six of the day was nearly as powerful as an eight, and saved more in gas. Ford was pretty much the only company to offer a V8 in a pickup at this time. Done up right, this might top $20k. #900-1953 MERCURY MONTEREY 2-dr hard top. VIN: 53LA19281M. Satin blue metallic & silver/white tuck-and-roll vinyl. Odo: 78,355 miles. 256-ci V6, auto. Talk about a lot of fun! Engine was professionally assembled and sounds strong with Offy intake, Edelbrock carb and heads and glass 78 AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $46,750. Best of all, the top went up and down as it should, as so skillfully demonstrated while on the auction block. Retractables have always been soughtafter. Finding one like this that is fully sorted with good eye appeal is a rare thing. Any alterations to this car were reversible but would help the everyday motorist. Well bought. #454-1957 FORD THUNDERBIRD convertible. VIN: E7FH243584. Starmist Blue/white fiberglass/white vinyl. Odo: 80,250 miles. 312-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. Well appointed, restored to match original data plate. Paint well laid, looks deep and fresh. Sheet metal lines up better than factory, especially those pesky rocker panels. Driver’s door needs minor tweaking. Tachometer, power steering, brakes, seats and windows. Hard top. Stock turbine wheel covers. Underhood neat and tidy. All numbers check out. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $14,300. Offered at no reserve, this was actually a very fair price for the car offered. It needed a lot of love. In Europe, American cars with four doors are quite popular, and this one could bring twice the final bid if advertised properly. Well bought and sold. #496-1957 FORD FAIRLANE 500 Skyliner retractable hard top. VIN: D7FW228319. Inca Gold/Colonial White/white vinyl & black cloth. Odo: 82,482 miles. 312-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Decent restoration, not over the top SOLD AT $76,450. If this car also had a soft top and was just a touch nicer, it had $100k potential. But as presented, the final price was at top edge of wholesale or the bottom edge of retail. Seller did the right thing, buyer did too. Quite a nice car at quite a nice price. #152-1960 MERCURY COMMUTER 4-dr hard top wagon. VIN: 0W37N509887. White/red & silver vinyl. Odo: 88,618 miles. 383-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Appears to be original paint. Pretty much untouched, save for the chrome reverse wheels and baby-moon hubcaps. Decent metal with no sign of major incidents and no rust bubbles. Exterior chrome complete, some tarnish and minor pitting. Fitted with period dealer a/c, AM

OURCARS 1964 Ford Galaxie custom sedan Owner: Cassie Sellman, ACC Administrative Assistant Purchase date: March 2013 Price: $1,500 Mileage since purchase: 100 Recent work: Regular tune-up, lowered the front end, removed 90% of the rust from front bumper LEAKE // Oklahoma City, OK radio, clock. Power steering, side windows are crankers, rear-window electric. Interior done on the cheap; chrome inside fairing worse than outside. Never a roof rack. Original fuel cap gone. Cond: 3. lot of performance in a fairly desirable car, and the seller’s asking price of $30k isn’t too far out of line. I grew up in a world that was stuck in the 1950s and ’60s. Every weekend, I would listen to my grandparents’ jukebox or hang out with my grandpa in his shop while he worked on classic cars. It didn’t take long for me to realize that I was born in the wrong decade. After my brother and I were both out of my parents’ house, my father started a collection of old cars, too. I worked on them with him, and taking them to car shows became our thing. It was second nature for me to follow in the footsteps of both my grandfather and my father, so it was only a matter of time before I purchased an old car of my own. I bought this 1964 Galaxie after spending countless days searching through Craigslist. I knew it was the one for me the moment I saw it because it was one of my favorite years, the body was straight and it was the right price. That evening, I went to look at it. Much to my surprise, even though it’s 49 years old, it ran and drove like a dream. Everything is original, from the radio to the generator. The only modification from stock was a transmission swap — a previous owner ditched the original three-on-the-tree for an automatic. This is the first car that I have purchased without my dad by my side and I was nervous to show him the car. I knew he would either be proud of me or he’d tell me I made a huge mistake. He looked the car over, told me it was solid, and said he’s very proud of me. He loves the fact that I now have pride in a car that we can enjoy together. A 80 AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $20,350. First thing I’d do is pull off those wheels and put something stock in their place, but they didn’t hurt bidding here. This was a very strong price, above even what the seller was looking for. Wagons performed well in OKC, and I heard this one went to a good home. #498-1967 FORD MUSTANG GTA coupe. VIN: 7R01S229306. Acapulco Blue/blue vinyl. Odo: 3 miles. 390-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Very well-done restoration. Paint well applied, sheet metal factory-straight. With power steering and brakes, push-button AM radio, simple heater-defroster, all-original emissions equipment, windshield washers, etc. Marti Report confirms the car’s heritage. Tire choice distracts, even with those proper GT wheels and hubcaps. Pre-sale detailing is good but not perfect. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $25,300. Initially unsold across the block; this deal came together later. A SOLD AT $14,850. A lot of interest in this four-door pillarless station wagon. Wagons continue to gain momentum, and I think oddities like this will do well, especially if restored back to stock configuration and made as pretty as possible. Just add original wheels and wheel covers and a set of whitewalls, and it would be ready for preservation participation. Well bought. #2432-1963 FORD COUNTRY SQUIRE wagon. VIN: 3U76Z125934. Raven Black & faux wood/red vinyl. Odo: 45,408 miles. 390-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Decent mild custom wagon. Original engine and transmission, factory a/c, power steering and windows. Upgraded charging system to alternator from generator and front discs, Coddington wheels, etc. Body straight. Off-the-shelf Di-Noc wood. Interior from the factory, most nooks and crannies detailed. Underhood needs a little detailing. Engine runs out well, and all the toys work. Cond: 3+. #490-1969 FORD MUSTANG Mach 1 fastback. VIN: 9F02R102484. Silver Jade/black vinyl. Odo: 70,242 miles. 428-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. One of the stars of the show, restored to high level all around. Ordered new by Ford for press reviews and testing. With power steering, disc brakes, the all-important Drag Pack, Magnum 500 wheels, highback bucket seats, factory AM-only radio and simple heater-defroster. Still wearing original California black plates. Excellent panel alignment, paint application. Underhood and undercarriage well detailed. Includes Marti Report and invoice. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $78,100. Previously no-saled twice, for $45k at Mecum’s 2011 St. Charles sale (ACC# 189043), and for $57k at Mecum Indy in May 2012 (ACC# 205649). Seller knew he had a good car and was looking for something around $80k, which I thought was high. But money started coming from four different directions, and the reserve was lifted at $60k. The right venue for the car, clearly. #441-1971 FORD BRONCO SUV. VIN: U15GLK23723. Red/white fiberglass/white vinyl. Odo: 63,776 miles. 302-ci V8, 2-bbl, 3-sp. An eye-catcher. Paintwork is recent and fairly well done, with a couple of minor orange-peel issues. Hard-to-find wheel covers look new. Bodywork is very good. Easy to open and close doors. Glass and trim

LEAKE // Oklahoma City, OK all look factory-fresh. Underhood needs minor detailing but is in order. Proper storage of restored jack and tools. Has some addons like period a/c and under-dash gauges. Seats and floor-covering look fresh and proper. Surprised at the heavy wear on the brake and clutch pedal. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $21,450. Broncos, even when not perfect, continue to do well in the Texas-Oklahoma region, as well as other parts of the country. They often have fresh cosmetics on an otherwise mediocre package. This was a slight step above that, as evidenced by the rather strong interest from multiple bidders. Well sold. One of my favorites this year in OKC. MOPAR #2471-1935 DODGE SIX sedan. VIN: 3862944. Eng. # DU110033. Burgundy/ brown cloth. Odo: 1,068 miles. Top-shelf all the way. Excellent body fit and finish, doors open and close just like a Kelvinator. Interior is as pretty as a first-class railroad lounge car with bud vases for the roses. Instrument panel finished as-new. Underhood probably tidier than the day it was born. Runs out well. New glass all around. Artillery wheels complete the picture. Titled with the engine number. Cond: 1-. No clock or tach. On Magnum 500 wheels with proper raised white letters. Engine bay clean and neat with fender tag proudly in place. Cond: 1-. NOT SOLD AT $42,000. Five years ago this offer would have been an insult, but in 2013, it was a fair wholesale price, just slightly low. Seller wants something closer to $45k, and considering the car sold at Mecum’s Monterey 2012 sale in August for $44k (ACC# 213163), that’s probably doable. The seller should take the car home and do a little more promotion before it crosses the block one more time. AMERICANA #206-1931 WILLYS SIX Model 98D coupe. VIN: Eng. # AY763727. Two-tone green/tan canvas/dark green mohair. Odo: 45,807 miles. Quite an attractive car, with all the looks of a cabriolet but really a rumble-seat coupe. Looks like a 1970s re-do, which held up for close to 40 years but needs a complete makeover today. Body shows no sign of rust, damage or fatigue. Interior getting a little dicey. Glass is good. Top material starting to age. Sidemount spare with strapon mirror that is totally worthless. Car was titled with engine number. Cond: 3. parently starting with a fairly solid car. Factory glass all around. Finish not top-shelf, but plays well. Chrome has a bit of patina, with a few dings on the hubcaps. Underhood so-so at best. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $21,450. At least four bidders went toe to toe on this. Offered at no reserve, first bid was above pre-sale estimates, and the race was on. A private collector decided he had to have it. Would be a $12k–$13k car in any other situation, but I talked with the new owner, and he bought this one as a keeper. #405-1960 STUDEBAKER LARK VI sedan. VIN: 60S45872. Parchment White/blue vinyl. Odo: 68,157 miles. 170-ci I6, 1-bbl, 3-sp. Bare-bones basic transportation with heater-defroster and no other options. Older economy repaint in origonal color, some minor scratches and dings, nothing major. Outside brightwork a bit dull and hazy. Minor rust bubbles. Sparse interior, not even a cigarette lighter. Heavy-duty deluxe vinyl has held up well through the years. Seats and floor clean, no issues with the headliner or glass. Engine starts and runs out well. Cond: 3. NOT SOLD AT $24,000. Nice to see vintage metal like this. The car probably has real value in the $25k range, but you can bet the seller has lots more invested in it than that. Finding another owner ready to pony up more money than offered here won’t be easy. #2472-1969 PLYMOUTH ROAD RUNNER convertible. VIN: RM27H9G2188735. B5 Blue/white vinyl/blue vinyl. Odo: 2,186 miles. 383-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Paint above average, panels line up with proper gaps. Soft trim looks brand new. Top clean and snug in raised position. Car sits level. Equipped with AM radio, manual windows and seats, power brakes and steering, a/c. SOLD AT $22,000. To see one of these at auction is rare. In top condition, this should be in the $30k–$40k range, but when are you going to see another one? I think the seller did right in letting go. New owner has a conversation piece at a pretty good price. He should make a list of maladies and tackle them one by one. #2476-1950 STUDEBAKER CHAMPION coupe. VIN: 591511. Gray metallic/gray vinyl. Odo: 577 miles. 169-ci I6, 1-bbl, 3-sp. One of my favorite cars in the sale. No accessories, just plain-Jane as can be: no radio, clock, cigarette lighter—not even a heater! Frame-on cosmetic restoration, ap- CAR COLLECTOR AMERICAN SOLD AT $5,225. This car had eye appeal with basic wheels, blackwalls, hubcaps and no useless trim. This type of “stripper” has a place in the collector world, and with growing interest in unrestored, unmolested cars, this was one of those unique preserved vehicles. The price paid was actually a bit of a bargain as long as issues like the minor rust can be held in check. Well bought. A ™ AmericanCarCollector.com/subscribe May-June 2013 81 SUBSCRIBE TO ACC 877.219.2605 Ext. 1 Keith Martin’s

MCCORMICK // Palm Springs, CA McCormick Palm Springs THE GLEAMING WILLYS JEEPSTER HOT ROD THAT STARTED AS A CRUMPLED RUST BUCKET SOLD FOR $28K Report and photos by Jack Tockston Market opinions in italics eymoon was a cross-country drive starting south along the Pacific Coast, left turn at Los Angeles for Palm Springs (where we met while vacationing in 1959), and on to Penn State for graduate school. We were driving my 1962 Corvette towing a small U-Haul trailer containing our meager possessions, and we arrived in Palm Springs at 9:45p.m. M $10m $2m $4m $6m $8m 0 82 AmericanCarCollector.com 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 McCormick’s Palm Springs Collector Car Auction Palm Springs, CA February 22–24 February, 2013 auctioneers: Frank Bizzarro, Jeff Stokes, Rob Ross automotive lots sold/offered: 407/530 Sales rate: 77% Sales total: $7,448,388 High sale: 1931 Packard 833 convertible, sold at $115,500 Buyer’s premium: 5%, included in sold prices Sales Total 1948 Willys Jeepster convertible — sold at $27,563 to find the air temperature over the century mark. (Corvettes had no air conditioning back then.) It was just a desert resort town in 1965, mostly catering to weekenders from Hollywood and upscale L.A. suburbs. With an almost five-decade lapse, we didn’t recognize a thing except Palm Canyon Drive — still the main artery, which we mostly followed to McCormick’s dealership and nearby auction site at the Spa Resort Casino’s palm-dotted parking lot. Demographically, the city remains a weekend getaway for L.A., now with thousands of homes and condos added for American and Canadian snowbirds and semi-affluent retirees seeking sun. This results in hundreds of collector cars in pristine condition on offer. Now in 27th year, McCormick’s 54th collector-car auction was a company recordbreaker with $7.4m in sales, a sell rate of 77% and an average price of $18k. This family-owned operation, headed by Keith McCormick, puts on large, friendly, efficient events with eclectic, rust-free dockets in the (mostly) affordable category. Tri-five Chevys and ’60s Mustangs were in abundance, with excellent choices in the $30k–$50k range. A stunning red 1957 Buick Century brought $95k. A lovingly restored 1970 Ford Torino GT sold for a fair $29k. The gleaming Willys Jeepster hot rod that sold for $28k was a good deal for the quality of workmanship. What made it even cooler was its photo-documented transformation from a crumpled rust bucket. If you were looking for potential future collectibles in your crystal ball, you might have considered the mint silver 2005 Cadillac XLR, built on the Corvette platform and powered by the Cadillac Northstar engine. An excellent example on offer here sold for $26k. Rust Belt readers should consider saving time, money and iron oxide frustrations by visiting McCormick’s biannual sale. Their 55th auction will be November 22–24, 2013. And now that we’ve experienced a McCormick event, we’ll not wait another 47 years to return to Palm Springs! A y wife and I visit Palm Springs regularly — every 47 years. Our last was July 1965, after our wedding in Vancouver, B.C. Our hon

MCCORMICK // Palm Springs, CA GM #292-1954 CHEVROLET 3100 pickup. VIN: J54J024041. Green/green vinyl. Odo: 75,795 miles. 216-ci I6, 2-bbl, 3-sp. Excellent new paint in original hue. New rubber seals, chrome and oak bed. Body-color wheels, wide whites, sidemount spare, all with poverty hubcaps. Interior redone in green vinyl, metal surfaces sprayed white to match outside accents. Underhood is showroom 1954, except for seeping carburetor. Chassis downgraded for the rusty exhaust pipe broken off where muffler should be. Perhaps rushed to auction with minor work left for a new owner. Cond: 2-. liked Bill Mitchell’s styling when new. A silver-on-silver example is fairly rare, and this was a good one. Winning bid was close to top estimate and worth it. Well bought and sold. #127-1965 CHEVROLET CORVAIR convertible. VIN: 107675L100285. Burgundy metallic/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 28,801 miles. 164-ci H6, 4x1-bbl, 4-sp. Wonderful prep and paint includes jambs. Excellent gaps and panel fit. New convertible top. Steel wheels painted black, newish tires, full original hubcaps. Chrome, trim and emblems appear new. Complete and correct repro interior, perfect dash, correct floor shifter knob. Engine compartment detailed, all-original equipment, correct finishes. Cond: 1-. stock except for the aftermarket alloys, which set it off nicely. Pickups have become sought-after at auctions in recent years, and this conservative example attracted lots of eyeballs in the lot. The result here seemed market-correct based on experience at recent auctions. Well bought and sold. #85-1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO SS 2-dr hard top. VIN: 124379L502412. Blue/black vinyl. Odo: 90,296 miles. 396-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Striking presentation, appears to be a fairly recent build. Paint close to factory quality. White hockey-stick stripes. Panels and gaps good, except left door sticks out at back. Front clip scratched. COPO appearance package. Brightwork and glass excellent. Steel wheels in body color, poverty hubcaps, white-letter Polyglas tires. Wellfitted repop black vinyl interior, SunPro tach, shifter in console. Stock-looking engine compartment dusty. Correct orange paint on block. Power steering. No reserve. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $17,850. Walking up to this rig, you might have believed it was a lovingly preserved original. It looked and smelled new, had everything visually in the right places, and transported you back to 1954. But when the driver’s door wouldn’t close, 2013 reality intervened. With a couple of weekends’ fettling, this truck would be ready for the show field. The hard work was done, and bidders pushed the winning bid well above what I expected for a nice, basic pickup. I’ll put this in the well-sold column. #510-1963 BUICK RIVIERA 2-dr hard top. VIN: 7J1020796. Silver/black leather. Odo: 20,467 miles. 425-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Straight and rust-free, factory gaps, heavy doors go “thunk.” Just one very good windows-in respray in original silver. Excellent glass, stainless, and chrome. Hood ornament missing. Jambs scratched. Nice factory alloys, recent rubber. Clean silver leather interior presents as new, mint steering wheel, nice dash with clear lenses. Engine compartment not detailed, stock. All power accessories plus a/c. Detail the engine, and enjoy between frequent fill-ups. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $13,913. I haven’t seen a Corvair this nice in two decades. Rust and ding-free drop-top, authentic restoration and 4-speed check all the right boxes. While most comps seen at auction bring low four-digit numbers, finer ones can go into the high teens. There was nothing more the seller could have done to enhance this car’s presentation, and a low mid-teen high bid took it away. The true winner is the one with the keys. #52-1967 CHEVROLET C10 stepside pickup. VIN: CS147S193541. Blue metallic/brown cloth. Odo: 54,933 miles. 250-ci I6, 2-bbl, 3-sp. Recent restoration of a former government-owned truck. No rust or body repairs found, panel fit per GM. Some bits removed for very good respray, others neatly masked. Glass and weather seals fresh. Demerits for micro-pitted door handles; new oak bed has some bolts missing. Interior presents as new and stock, save for Kenwood CD head unit. Original and detailed 250-ci six stands proud in clean compartment. Two-wheel drive. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $30,975. Nicely restored and showing minimal signs of enjoyment. Owner claimed 450 hp with no explanation for the extra ponies. Result for this looker was correct for condition. Well bought and sold. #133-1970 CHEVROLET EL CAMINO pickup. VIN: 136800L161787. Maroon metallic/black vinyl/gray vinyl. Odo: 1,182 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Excellent recent metallic maroon on straight panels, factory gaps. New windshield, show chrome includes all SS badges. Black-painted Rally wheels with trim rings. Mint cargo box has gloss black bedliner. Attractive and complete custom interior in gray vinyl with contemporary French stitching. Dash and instruments present as-new. Engine has light dust, Holley carb, chrome air cleaner, Accel wires, rusty master cylinder. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $21,000. Even the Europeans 84 AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $11,288. The rig looked new and SOLD AT $12,075. These muscle trucks have an avid following across the country, with customized and restored examples found at every auction. This one was of very

MCCORMICK // Palm Springs, CA nice overall quality, and it wouldn’t take much to make it show-worthy. Last bidder astutely grabbed this clean one for just above the $11.5k low estimate, so I’m putting this transaction in the “well bought” column. #56-2005 CADILLAC XLR convertible. VIN: 1G6YV34AX5S602555. Silver/black leather. Odo: 72,950 miles. 4.6L fuel-injected V8, auto. Unblemished despite miles traveled. Seats barely creased. 80% left on tires. Silver paint with black interior looks smart and will never go out of fashion. Magnetic Ride, navigation, and Bose tunes standard. Ed Welburn-designed with edgy Cadillac styling. Hard top folds neatly into the boot. A Bowling Green product for opera and country club. Cond: 2. power steering and brakes, no a/c. Sits right and looks ready. Miles since restoration. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $38,588. Nice C2s continue to climb in value, and even slushbox examples are getting more interest. Price paid was appropriate for condition. Seller and buyer should be pleased. #326-1964 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 4D867S5105864. Riverside Red/white vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 33,863 miles. 327-ci 300-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Partial repaint in original red, obvious tape line on nose, some orange peel (as delivered). Good convertible top. Brightwork very good. Factory alloys, sidepipes, good panels and gaps. Inside, nice teak wheel, knuckle dents in glove box door, aftermarket radio with cassette, console arm rest. Horn button pitted, remainder looks good. Stock and undetailed underhood. No power steering, brakes, or a/c. Odo on its second lap. Cond: 2-. ing it runs out correctly, it could be a rewarding driver for L.A. traffic with its slushbox and working a/c. Bidders thought so, too, with unhurried bidding to exactly low estimate. Fair all around. FOMOCO #248-1939 FORD STANDARD coupe. VIN: 6793. Red/gray cloth. Odo: 99,999 miles. Looks “stock as a stove” with lowered stance. All steel, excellent glass and bright red paint with no flaws noted. Chassis not detailed. Single bench seat and panels in gray mohair, mint dash and instruments, rubber flooring. Underhood dusty. Flathead appears to be later 239-ci vintage with Offenhauser finned aluminum heads and intake with dual 2-bbl carbs. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $25,988. Though not (yet) a collector car, and only eight years old, I include this example because it uses the Corvette C6 platform. With its Cadillac aluminum Northstar engine, and birthplace in Corvette’s plant, a potential contender for those in the used Corvette market. MSRP was $75k, with current market values directly comparable to a 2005 Corvette convertible. The Left Coast has the right demographic for these, and winning bid pegged high estimate. Well bought and sold for a pristine drop-top. CORVETTE #509-1964 CHEVROLET CORVETTE coupe. VIN: 40837S109383. Silver Blue/ white vinyl. Odo: 7,758 miles. 327-ci 300-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Very good Silver Blue paint on factory panels. Door jambs nicely done, headlight buckets slightly misaligned. Very good chrome and emblems. New front clip suspected but not verified. Rarely seen white interior is clean, driver’s seat beginning to split at heat-pressed seams, mint teak steering wheel. Stock underhood. With SOLD AT $38,850. The friendly young seller offered me the key to start her up and hear the sidepipes. It’s red, a drop-top and loud—what else matters? Sold below low estimate, so buyer should be pleased with the outcome. Seller can purchase a fun replacement. #111-1978 CHEVROLET CORVETTE coupe. VIN: 1Z87L85433596. Red/red vinyl. Odo: 2,687 miles. 350-ci 185-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Recent repaint in original color with casual masking and minor blemishes that distract. No chips or dings. Steel Rally wheels with correct caps and rings. Aluminum targa band with Corvette emblems gives off a strong JC Whitney vibe. Interior clean, newer seat coverings. Underhood dusty and stock save for chrome valve covers. Odometer probably on second lap. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $36,750. This came off as a better-than-average, period-correct driver. My first car was a flathead-powered ’51 Ford Country Club coupe, and I still carry a fondness for them. Dual water pumps and hoses with generator sitting top-center is part of the charm. This was the right crowd for such a piece, and it brought a surprising amount of money, considering that it was far from show-ready (especially compared with Lot 443, which no-saled at $25k). Well bought. #269-1947 FORD WOODIE wagon. VIN: 799A1635596. Black & wood/black vinyl/ brown vinyl. Odo: 108,016 miles. Everything painted black is good, except small dent on left rear fender. Chrome and trim excellent, glass good. Wood complete, no rot, looks more aged on left side than right. Interior is choice, perfect dash and plastic inserts, three bench seats. Clean, stock flathead V8, 12-volt conversion, 75-amp alternator, pusher fan fronts radiator, dual exhaust. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $10,500. This appeared to be a clean offering, although purists would cringe at the tacky add-on targa band. But assum- 86 AmericanCarCollector.com

OURCARS 1975 Ford F-350 with a Porter Ready-Built Wrecker Owner: John Gunnell, ACC Contributor Purchase date: July 2011 Price: $4,500 Mileage since purchase: 500 miles Recent work: Fixed rusty cab, redid dashboard and seat, replaced power steering pump, replaced all studs on right rear wheels MCCORMICK // Palm Springs, CA NOT SOLD AT $51,000. Finding a rare woodie that’s not rotted or rodded is an event. This one got lots of looks from the Left Coast crowd, but bidding came up short. This could do $30k better with the right crowd, so seller was right to hold on. #149-1965 FORD MUSTANG convertible. VIN: 5R08A174113. Blue metallic/white vinyl/blue & white vinyl. Odo: 49,990 miles. Show-quality silver-blue paint, arrowstraight panels, factory gaps, excellent glass, GT package. Styled chrome wheels, fresh tires with one-inch whitewalls, show chrome and jewelry, new white top that fits perfectly. Mint Pony interior, air conditioner under dash, correct column-mounted GT gauges. Showroom-stock underhood, dual exhaust with Flowmasters. Note says, “5,338 made.” This is perfection with capital “P.” Cond: 1-. “My Baby” is a 1975 Ford F-350 with a Porter Ready-Built Wrecker. I purchased this truck early in July 2011 from Nicolasse Stephens of Republic, MO. I bought it to use primarily as an advertisement for my Gunner’s Great Garage (www.gunnersgreatgarage.com) auto restoration shop in Manawa, WI. The truck came with a hand-written note from Nicolasse saying that it had been the first demo unit made by Porter’s Ready-Built of Kansas City. He said that the maker drove the truck to Springfield and then to different shops to show it off. Lee Robinson, who owned Lee’s Service center in Springfield, MO, told the Porter people that if they wanted to sell him a truck, he’d take the factory demonstrator. Lee owned the truck from 1975 until Nicolasse bought it in 2008. Together they put 39,160 miles on it. Nicolasse also included two scans of old photos showing the truck in use at race tracks in 1979. One showed it at Bolivar Speedway. In the other it was pushing a race car at the Springfield dirt track with Lee Robinson driving and John Porter standing in the rear. The truck is a Ford F-350 Custom Cab model with a big-block 390-ci V8 and a 4-speed manual transmission. The hoist is a mechanical design and the truck has a Calvin’s vehicle lifting system, a wheel dolly and all of its other equipment. I cleaned all this up and painted each piece of equipment a different color. That way, if I actually tow something and need equipment, I can tell helpers to give me the “orange thing” or the “blue thing.” I had a sign-painter friend letter it up with the yellow logo of Gunner’s Great Garage on the doors. On the back we lettered the slogan, “Hooked on Classics.” A 88 AmericanCarCollector.com non-functional hood scoop, vinyl accents, and air dam for a performance vibe. A lot of work went into presentation, and it had lots of eyeball under the sun. Buyer obtained a special car at a fair price. Well bought and sold. MOPAR #97-1937 PLYMOUTH coupe. VIN: P27694637. Red-orange/tan vinyl. Odo: 51,830 miles. An eye-grabbing street rod. All-steel body has subtle and extensive custom work including filled seams, frenched rear license plate, bumper bracket holes filled, moldedin running boards. Lowered stance on 18inch Foose chromed alloys. Camaro front end. Dusty 350 SBC of unstated origin and power, 700R4 automatic transmission; Edelbrock intake, carb, and valve covers; Mallory ignition, stock headers. Tan vinyl interior shows as new. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $47,250. ACC’s Price Guide says the market value range for a ’65 convertible is $22,500–$30,500, with 101,945 made. This was a beautiful car, but for a nonK-code Mustang, it seems seller made a home run based on quality. Buyer got a great-looking vert, but I wonder if there was a bit of auction “red mist” at play in bidding. Well sold. #284-1970 FORD TORINO GT convertible. VIN: OH37M123006. Grabber Green/ white vinyl/white vinyl. Odo: 84,236 miles. 351-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Excellent repaint in original green. Straight panels and factory gaps, minor demerits for casual masking in places. Vinyl yellow reflective “laser stripe” on sides. Stock wheels and caps, Firehawk rubber with yellow lettering. New and wellfitted convertible top and interior. Excellent chrome, brightwork, glass. With a/c, power brakes, power steering. Ford built 3,939 Torino GT convertibles in 1970. Offered by an ACCer who is probably right when he states, “One of one built this way.” Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $21,525. An impressive ride with an old-school vibe. The single wiper wouldn’t do in rainy regions, but would be just fine in this sunny desert climate. For workmanship and presentation, it looked more valuable than $20k, so I’m calling this one well bought. #513-1989 SHELBY CSX-VNT hatchback. VIN: 1B3BP94A9KN644938. Red/gray cloth. Odo: 30 miles. Driven 30 miles. No storage rash, flawless inside and out. Bronze Fiberide wheels unblemished, Colorado temporary registration tag on rear. Inside has stock Recaro cloth seats, delivery card in place. Smells new because it is. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $29,400. The long-hood, shortdeck styling was emphasized for 1970, with SOLD AT $17,588. The feeding frenzy for “Shelby” anything continues. Here’s a Kcar-based hatchback interestingly modified and marketed as a Shelby. With a 2.2-liter four fed by a zero-lag Garrett variable-nozzle turbo, 5-speed manual, and low curb

MCCORMICK // Palm Springs, CA weight, it could easily shame emissionschoked muscle cars of the period. With 500 made in 1989, they’re rare, and I found no comps. Original MSRP was $16k, and what it brought today is market-correct today. Well bought and sold, but every new mile will cost. AMERICANA #393-1948 WILLYS JEEPSTER convertible. VIN: 46356016. Yellow & metallic blue/ blue vinyl. Odo: 4,911 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Radical custom with handmade everything, from frame to stretched cowl. All steel. Flawless bright yellow paint topped in metallic blue. Electrically raised hood and tonneau. High-zoot sound system in pickup-style box. Boyd Coddington chromed alloys, coil-over suspension. Hand-formed interior in marine blue vinyl, using modified Subaru buckets. Full-dress Chevy 350, dual alternators and batteries. Incredible. Cond: 1-. binnacle, but the abundant faux-wood trim and chrome fittings reminded me of a period Hacker-Craft cabin cruiser. I recall seeing this listed online in January 2012 for $50k. Seller easily got his price at this sale. Well bought, well sold. #160-1960 WILLYS JEEP sedan delivery. VIN: 5426711665. Red/ gray cloth. Odo: 296 miles. 226-ci I4, 1-bbl, 3-sp. Windowsin economy red paint on seemingly rust-free panels, overspray on unprepared jambs and underhood. Relatively straight panels, industrial grade gaps, scratched bumpers, chrome trim pitting. Steel wheels painted red, poverty caps. Interior has cloth buckets of unknown origin, rest is original, with more fresh red paint. Stock, driver-quality underhood. (Lots of room for a small block V8.) 2-wheel drive. Cond: 3-. veyances, and this one reeked of fresh paint. Brought from Portland, OR, this rattler could be a fun toy or shop truck. Price paid seemed like all the money. #234-1962 STUDEBAKER GRAN TURISMO HAWK coupe. VIN: 62Y24673. Light blue/blue & gray vinyl. Odo: 73,858 miles. 289-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Older light blue respray, dark blue roof trim. Panels straight, door fit slightly off. Excellent chrome and stainless. Black sidewall radials mounted on non-original wire wheels. Windshield pitted and scratched. Interior appears mostly original with good dash and seating. Under-dash a/c. Engine compartment clean, appears all-original. One of 9,335 this year. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $27,563. Called “The Jeepster,” this radical custom started as a crumpled rust-bucket found in the desert. Its photodocumented transformation to show-car perfection was a heroic feat. Without peer, the best custom at this event by far. Well bought for the quality of workmanship and the cool story. #383-1949 HUDSON COMMODORE convertible. VIN: 492125262. Gold/tan cloth/ maroon leather. Odo: 903 miles. 262-ci I6, 2x2-bbl, 3-sp. Straight and tidy outside, excellent paint, dazzling chrome (with a few pot-metal bits lightly pitting). Windshield visor, tan ragtop looks new. Nice leather bench seating with fold-down arm rests, chrome steering column, electric windows, unusual dual gloveboxes at left and right extremes. Underhood showroom-clean, with famous “Twin H” dual carbs (introduced in 1951), fresh decals. Second year of Hudson “step down” design. Marvelous. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $15,225. By contemporary standards, these Willys products are crude con- NOT SOLD AT $23,500. Industrial designer Raymond Loewy penned the original version on which this ’62 was based. There’s a hard-core group preserving them, and maybe they’ll snap this one up some day. But today the offer was turned down, even over the $20k low estimate. A SOLD AT $50,663. I thought this interior had a strong yachting vibe. No compass May-June 2013 89 BEST BUY

GLOBAL ROUNDUP Selected Sales Combined in One Comprehensive Report American highlights at five auctions CLASSICS 3 32515. Tan & brown/tan vinyl/tan cloth. Odo: 5,016 miles. Said to be one of only three Monte Carlos produced on the SV16 chassis and at a cost of $4,495 in 1930. Unique fabric body. Acquired from the A.K. Miller Collection in 1974. Restored by RM in 2000. Winner of a number of significant awards. Cond: 1-. #132-1930 STUTZ SV16 Monte Carlo. VIN: M854CD27S. Eng. # SOLD AT $550,000. A low and stylish sedan that will turn heads at every outing. Incredibly attractive with a sleek design far ahead of its time. Price paid was well within reason, so all should be happy here. RM Auctions, Amelia Island, FL, 03/13. The crowd gathers at Mecum’s Fran and Ron Green’s Verde Classics Museum Collection in Boynton Beach, FL Mecum Auctions Fran and Ron Green’s Verde Classics Museum Collection Boynton Beach, FL — February 22–23, 2013 auctioneers: Mark Delzell, Jimmy Landis, Mike Hagerman automotive lots sold/offered: 81/81 Sales rate: 100% Sale total: $3,609,320 High sale: 1961 Chrysler 300G convertible, sold at $143,000 Buyer’s premium: $300 up to $5,499; $500 from $5,500 to $9,999; 6% thereafter, included in sold prices Report and photos by Adam Blumenthal Gooding & Company amelia Island 2013 amelia Island, FL — March 8, 2013 auctioneer: Charlie Ross automotive lots sold/offered: 69/71 Sales rate: 97% Sales total: $28,163,500 High american sale: 1965 Shelby Cobra 289 roadster, sold at $852,500 Buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold prices Report and photos by Donald Osborne RM Auctions amelia Island Concours d’elegance amelia Island, FL — March 8, 2013 auctioneer: Max Girardo 90 AmericanCarCollector.com automotive lots sold/offered: 81/88 Sales rate: 92% Sales total: $26,854,600 High sale: 1935 Duesenberg Model SJ convertible, sold at $4,510,000 Buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold prices Report and photos by Carl Bomstead, select images courtesy of RM Auctions Bonhams Boca Raton Concours d’elegance Boca Raton, FL — February 23, 2013 auctioneer: Rupert Banner automotive lots sold/offered: 46/55 Sales rate: 84% Sales total: $3,669,050 High sale: 1930 Duesenberg Model J Torpedo phaeton, sold at $698,500 Buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold prices Report and photos by Carl Bomstead RM Auctions The Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum Collection Madison, Ga — February 15–16, 2013 auctioneer: Max Girardo automotive lots sold/offered: 200/200 Sales rate: 100% Sales total: $8,093,850 High american sale: 1959 Crosley Farm-ORoad prototype, sold at $32,775 Buyer’s premium: 15%, included in sold prices Report and photos by Burt Richmond #152-1931 CORD L-29 cabriolet. VIN: 2929758. Eng. # FF4653. Maroon/tan fabric/gray leather. Odo: 342 miles. Restored to exacting detail in early 2003. A class winner at 2006 Pebble Beach, as well as Best L-29 at Auburn. Woodlite headlamps and parking lights. Engine bay sparkles. Interior done to perfection. Cond: 1. 6 SOLD AT $407,000. Simply the best. An aggressive price for a standard L-29, but I doubt there is one better. Price paid was a touch light, if anything. Well bought. RM Auctions, Amelia Island, FL, 03/13. J338. Red & burgundy/tan canvas/red leather. Odo: 58,439 miles. Stunning presentation, albeit in a very bright color scheme. Very good panel fit, excellent paint shows two tiny stone chips. Very good chrome. Very good seats, some dirt in instruments, staining inside top. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $462,000. Convertible sedans sell at a discount to other models in the same condition, thanks to their user-unfriendly tops in the post-chauffeur world. As a way to get a superbly restored 5 #31-1931 DUESENBERG MODEL J convertible. VIN: 2350. Eng. # TOP 10 TOP 10 TOP 10

ROUNDUP GLOBAL Duesenberg, very well bought—but the discount coming in will likely be passed along going out. Gooding & Co., Amelia Island, FL, 03/13. #158-1932 AUBURN 8-100A Speedster. VIN: 9288E. Eng. # GU73382. Red & black/black fabric/red leather. Odo: 275 miles. Body from an original Speedster, married to a sedan chassis in 1989; suffix in chassis number changed to “E.” Finished in urethane paint. Exceptional interior. Engine clean and tidy. Grille molding poorly fitted, but correctable. Numerous awards to its credit. Thought to be one of only 84 produced in 1932. Cond: 2+. 8 SOLD AT $97,900. You couldn’t miss this car, no matter how hard you tried. Literally, it sat on the museum floor just past the registration area. Figuratively, it was a monster, scaling finned Chevys and Fords along the wall to Matchbox size. It sold for $94k at RM’s Rochester, MI, sale in 2007, then in #2 condition (ACC# 46025). The reporter went on to say, “Quite a lot of money, even for a hard-to-find and well-optioned example.” The same holds true five years later. Well sold. Mecum Auctions, Boynton Beach, FL, 02/13. #107-1957 CHEVROLET BEL AIR 2-dr hard top. VIN: VC57K143492. Onyx Black/ silver vinyl & black fabric. Odo: 45,613 miles. 283-ci fuel-injected V8, auto. A surface restoration with window rubber worn and numerous paint issues. Interior very presentable. Equipped with dealer-installed Rochester fuel-injection mated to a 2-speed Powerglide—a combination that would not have been available from the factory. Cond: 2-. penny considering the recent work and stunning presentation. Well bought, but also well sold. Mecum Auctions, Boynton Beach, FL, 02/13. #S66-1964 CHEVROLET CORVAIR Monza Spyder convertible. VIN: 40667W162745. Red/white vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 53,420 miles. 164-ci turbocharged H6, 4-sp. Wavy, driverlevel paint. Dull chrome and bright work. Clean-but-drab interior with weathered seats. An average driver. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $25,300. Last sold at Mecum’s Kissimmee sale for $13k in 2009 (ACC# 119499). Zero miles traveled since. Fresher appearance than reported four years ago, but issues remain. Phone bidder paid double for a car in slightly better condition. Well sold. Mecum Auctions, Boynton Beach, FL, 02/13. SOLD AT $330,000. Original Boattail Speedsters continue to attract attention, and this was no exception. Even with the issues noted, the price paid was realistic. See the profile, p. 52. RM Auctions, Amelia Island, FL, 03/13. GM #S46-1957 BUICK CABALLERO 4-dr hard top wagon. VIN: 6D4024794. Red & white/ red & white vinyl. Odo: 66,499 miles. 364-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. A well-executed over-thetop wagon. Superb paint with impeccable matching two-tone interior. Brightwork glistens. Very little to fault—just stand back and admire this hulking symbol of late ’50s American splendor. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $57,750. As a factory Fuelie, this could have pushed six figures. But as a non-original made-up car, the strong price paid here was rather surprising. The new owner will be forever explaining the 2-speed Powerglide. RM Auctions, Amelia Island, FL, 03/13. #S25-1959 PONTIAC CATALINA convertible. VIN: 159P20416. Cardinal Red/red vinyl/white, red & silver leather. Odo: 57,349 miles. 389-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, auto. First year of the Pontiac “split grille.” Restoration completed in 2012. Gorgeous paint. Excellent chrome abounds: dual wind deflectors, wire wheels, outside mirrors and factory Bonneville side trim accents. Custom interior trim chromed to high standard. Silver-speckled carpet continues in trunk. Light staining on backseat. Clean underhood with high detailing. Power steering and brakes. Manufactured in Canada. Cond: 1-. #325-1967 CHEVROLET CAMARO convertible. VIN: 124677N162345. Black/black vinyl/black & gray leather. Odo: 45,990 miles. 454-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Custom Camaro known as “Black Widow.” Exceptional paint, rides on Coddington rims. Attractive two-tone custom leather interior. Fitted with new black vinyl top. Big-block 454 under the hood has been bored .030 over. Catalog description states, “Dead dinosaur juice is sucked through a new Holley 750 pump...” Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $24,200. The dramatic auction description aside, this car sold for a song. It must have cost at least twice the high bid to build, and considering the exceptional condition, the seller took a bath. At least the buyer is happy. Bonhams, Boca Raton, FL, 02/13. SOLD AT $63,800. A visual feast. Very strong money for any Cat, but worth every N229158. Ermine White/black vinyl. Odo: 25,378 miles. 427-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Very good panel fit and chrome. Excellent paint and interior. Rally Sport trim. Restored by specialist Dave Tinnell. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $350,000. One of 10 said to remain of 54 7 #14-1967 CHEVROLET CAMARO Yenko coupe. VIN: 124377- May-June 2013 91 TOP 10 TOP 10

GLOBAL ROUNDUP high-performance modified Camaros built by Don Yenko, with 427/450 engine, Holley 4-barrel carb, aluminum intake and Muncie M21 gearbox. Documented with original paperwork, and stunningly restored by a Camaro master. Sold post-block for this strong-but-correct price. Gooding & Co., Amelia Island, FL, 03/13. #S28-1967 OLDSMOBILE 442 convertible. VIN: 338677M316164. Midnight Blue/ parchment vinyl/parchment vinyl. Odo: 9,950 miles. 400-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Older restoration over a five-year period is a “looker” from any angle in deep blue and contrasting white stripes. Passenger’s rocker panel not aligned. Power antenna and chrome door-handle nail guards not original. Interior tidy. Hurst 4-speed, MSD ignition, and in-dash tach. Trunk lining ripped, exposing rust underneath. “Ultra High Compression” V8 (10.5 to 1) with a high-flow Rochester 4-bbl. Clean underhood with chrome detailing. Cond: 3+. a bit of bleed from black to gold on hood scoop openings. Excellent chrome. Interior as-new. Well optioned, with Hurst shifter and Tic-Toc-Tach. The distinctive red fender liners of this model go beautifully with the Saturn Gold paint. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $189,750. Said to be one of 32 4-speed 1971 W-30 convertibles. This car was very well restored and beautifully presented. Previously offered by Mecum at their May 2010 Indianapolis event, where it no-saled at $170k (ACC# 164151). It didn’t bring significantly more here, missing the $225k low estimate by more than $30k. Well bought and sold. Gooding & Co., Amelia Island, FL, 03/13. #34-1973 PONTIAC TRANS AM SD 455 coupe. VIN: 2V87X3N140028. Cameo White/black vinyl. Odo: 57,369 miles. 455-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Very well presented in spectacular condition. Variable panel fit, per factory. Excellent paint, very good chrome except for slightly damaged left-side A-pillar trim. Interior is superb. Correct replacement 455-ci engine fitted; original block accompanies the car. Said to be one of 72 4-speed, 455 SD cars. Cond: 1-. liberal list of power controls. Interior is clean and inviting. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $14,300. A nice (although dated) Z/28. Sold squarely in the middle of the $11,500—$17,500 range of the ACC Pocket Price Guide for a market-correct price. Mecum Auctions, Boynton Beach, FL, 02/13. CORVETTE #117-1957 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: E57S102825. Venetian Red/ white vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 2,602 miles. 283ci 283-hp fuel-injected V8, 4-sp. An older restoration properly maintained, having been stored in a Corvette museum. A few minor paint touch-ups noted. Panel fit exceeds factory spec. Interior in good order. Both tops. A very desirable 283/283 Corvette. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $42,900. The all-business color combination drew me in. The only real negative was the scruffy trunk, but it looked like an easy fix. Mecum sold a ’67 442 convertible in “3-” condition for $24k at their Anaheim sale in November 2012 (ACC# 213973). Strong money here, but looked right given its terrific condition, appealing color combination, low mileage and power. Mecum Auctions, Boynton Beach, FL, 02/13. #59-1971 OLDSMOBILE 442 W-30 convertible. VIN: 344671M174960. Saturn Gold/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 27,859 miles. 455-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Very good panel fit. Excellent paint let down only by SOLD AT $165,000. Previously offered at Mecum Indy in May of 2010, where it went unsold at a high bid of $140k (ACC# 164413). The owner was right to hang on then, as this was more along the lines of what it should bring. Just imagine if it still had the original block installed... Gooding & Co., Amelia Island, FL, 03/13. #S12-1993 CHEVROLET CAMARO Z/28 Indy Pace Car Edition coupe. VIN: 2G1FP22P4P2106397. Black & white/black & white cloth. Odo: 13,628 miles. 350-ci fuelinjected V8, auto. Said to be one of 633 produced. Powered by the LT1 V8 introduced in the Corvette the previous year. Straight and clean. Special paint scheme with multi-colored ribbon graphics has held up well with no discernible faults. Z/28 Pace Car Package goodies include special whitepainted 16-inch aluminum wheels and a SOLD AT $129,250. This was last seen at Barrett-Jackson’s January 2008 auction, where it sold for $165k (ACC# 51840), which we called a market-correct price. The market ebbs and flows, and today we will call the price paid here market-correct as well. (See the profile, p. 42.) RM Auctions, Amelia Island, FL, 03/13. #131-1960 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 00867S108726. Sateen Silver & white/Sateen Silver hard top/white soft top/red vinyl. Odo: 68,336 miles. 283-ci 270-hp V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Recent five-year restoration using all rebuilt or N.O.S. parts. Power soft top, removable hard top and T10 4-speed. Engine has correct ignition shielding. Minor wear to seats. Original Wonderbar radio. A very attractive dual 4-barrel Corvette. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $137,500. Seller paid a substantial premium but now has a very high-point Corvette. A restoration to this level would cost at least the money spent here, and this one is ready to go. No worries. RM Auctions, Amelia Island, FL, 03/13. #S38-1962 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 20867S101734. Rosso 92 AmericanCarCollector.com

ROUNDUP GLOBAL Corsa/tan vinyl/red leather. Odo: 80,573 miles. 327-ci 360-hp fuel-injected V8, 4-sp. Last year of the C1. Full body-off eight-year restoration completed in 2007 to high standard. Looks like it hasn’t covered many miles since. Original Roman Red paint redone in stunning Ferrari Rosso Corsa. Matching red Italian leather pristine (but not original). Includes original Owner’s Guide. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $106,700. Documented ’62s in above-average condition are approaching the six-figure mark, but I’ll call this one, with its custom all-red scheme, well sold, just slightly. Mecum Auctions, Boynton Beach, FL, 02/13. #141-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 30867S121099. Sebring Silver/silver hard top/black vinyl. Odo: May-June 2013 93

GLOBAL ROUNDUP 32,307 miles. 327-ci 360-hp fuel-injected V8, 4-sp. Restored in 2008. NCRS Top Flight winner. Slight scratching on trim with excellent panel fit. Optioned with tinted glass, wood-grain steering wheel and AM/ FM radio. Engine block, transmission and fuel-injection numbers are date code-correct. Offered with both tops. A solid presentation. Cond: 2+. Hat” car. Equipped with numbers-matching L71 big block with J56 Big Brakes. Documented with tank sticker and Protect-OPlate. Once owned by Rick Hendrick. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $148,500. Heavily optioned, but lacking air, which would add a bunch to the total package. Sold under the $160k low estimate, but price paid was market-correct. RM Auctions, Amelia Island, FL, 03/13. SOLD AT $107,250. Price paid here was most reasonable for a solid L84 fuel-injected Sting Ray. Another $10k would not have been out of line, but I will call this well bought and well sold. RM Auctions, Amelia Island, FL, 03/13. #332-1965 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 194675S114412. Ermine White/black cloth/blue vinyl. Odo: 47,076 miles. 396-ci 425-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. An older restoration to very nice standard and still presents well. Born wearing Nassau Blue and with something other under the hood than the current 396/425. Excellent panel alignment. Interior in good order. Underhood clean and tidy. Cond: 4. SOLD AT $170,500. It looks like what it is: A nicely maintained, properly used car. Stunning. Below the $175k low estimate, but a strong price today for a C2. Well bought, given the documentation and condition. Gooding & Co., Amelia Island, FL, 03/13. SOLD AT $55,000. Last seen at the Kruse Fort Lauderdale sale in January 2007, where it no-saled at $85k (ACC #43869). Driven only 1,300 very expensive miles since then. Bonhams, Boca Raton, FL, 02/13. #115-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 194677S122767. Rally Red/ black hard top/red leather. Odo: 39,742 miles. 427-ci 435-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. NCRS 2008 Top Flight Award. Florida sun brings out a few swirls in the finish. Heavily optioned and thought to have been a “Brass FOMOCO #157-1932 FORD MODEL B “Golden Rod” roadster. VIN: SW08036PA. Gold/ gold & white vinyl. Odo: 9,393 miles. An unrestored ’50s East Coast street rod with a Mercury flat motor under the hood. Original condition with expected patina and signs of age. Extremely well maintained. Appeared at 1999 Pebble Beach Concours. From the Skip Barber Collection. Cond: 3+. #45-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 194677S105574. Eng. # T0425JE7105574. Sunfire Yellow/black vinyl hard top/white vinyl. Odo: 39,836 miles. 427-ci 435-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. A well-optioned and documented original L71, said to be a one-of-one in this color combo. Very good panel fit. Original paint is still presentable, with clear evidence of touch-up in door jambs, polish burn-through on sharp edges and high surfaces. Very good interior with expected wear and aging on center console. Bloomington Gold Survivor certified. Cond: 3+. roadster show. A piece of hot-rodding history with all the East Coast treatments that were popular at the time. Price paid was totally reasonable considering the history of “Golden Rod.” See the profile, p. 50. RM Auctions, Amelia Island, FL, 03/13. #168-1949 FORD CUSTOM “The Foose Ford” coupe. VIN: CA750456. Phantom Green/tan fabric. Odo: 49,974 miles. 302-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Modern custom designed by Hot Wheels designer Harry Bradley and built by Sam Foose. Now showing a bit of age. Top chopped 2½ inches, and windshield laid back six. Powered by GT40 302ci crate motor. Featured on the cover of February 1999 Rod and Custom. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $77,000. A clean and crisp design, and the Foose name certainly adds to the package. Price paid was less than expected, but older customs can be a tough sell. RM Auctions, Amelia Island, FL, 03/13. #S26-1957 FORD FAIRLANE 500 Sunliner convertible. VIN: D7EC225609. Colonial White/black vinyl/black & white vinyl. Odo: 32,428 miles. 312-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Restoration completed in 2009. Beautiful exterior and interior with all the material and trim bits there. Small chip on driver’s rear fin. Attractive gold bodyside accents. Chrome dualexhaust tips, front bumper guards and side-sill stone guards. Chrome headlight covers swivel. Custom Kelsey-Hayes chrome wire wheels sparkle; spare in trunk. New York State Inspection sticker for ’62 and ’63 on windshield. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $42,900. Buyer paid a fair price plus a slight premium. Then again, these rarely come to auction, and you’d be hardpressed to find another in this condition. Well bought and sold. Mecum Auctions, Boynton Beach, FL, 02/13. SOLD AT $90,750. This will be a hit at any 94 AmericanCarCollector.com #328-1957 LINCOLN PREMIERE convertible. VIN: 57WA20832L. Huntsman Red/black vinyl/red leather & black fabric. Odo: 86,522 miles. 368-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. BEST BUY

GLOBAL ROUNDUP Restored by Hibernia in 1996 and only minor signs of use since. New for 1957 were the Quadra-lite headlamps and dramatic canted rear-blade tail fins. Expensive at $5,381, only 3,676 were produced. “Robotic” power top was also new for 1957. Cond: 2+. 209569). Sold under the $850k low estimate, looking like a good buy, but not a bad return on the seller’s seven-month investment. Gooding & Co., Amelia Island, FL, 03/13. SOLD AT $46,200. This was last seen at Bonhams’ June 2012 Greenwich auction, where it no-saled at an undisclosed amount (ACC# 208175). Price paid here was most reasonable, as another $10k–$15k would not have been out of line. Well bought. Bonhams, Boca Raton, FL, 02/13. #S59-1960 FORD THUNDERBIRD convertible. VIN: OY73Y157838. Monte Carlo Red/tan vinyl/tan leather. Odo: 32,784 miles. 430-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, auto. Excellent preparation inside and out. Brilliant red paint virtually flawless. Great chrome and trim accents. Power leather seats look contemporary. Power steering, brakes, windows. Fully disappearing top. Engine bay not given as much attention as rest of car. Said to be equipped with the 430 Thunderbird Special, but VIN codes out to a 352. TriPower intake. 3-speed Cruise-O-Matic auto. Cond: 2+. #S14-1965 SHELBY COBRA 427 Replica roadster. VIN: 8N62Y105446. Silver/black leather. Odo: 20,585 miles. 302-ci V8, 4-bbl, 5-sp. Created by Factory Five, titled as a 1968 Ford. Straight exterior in sharp paint. Bumpers, luggage rack, headlight screens, twin roll bars, and quick-fill fuel cap all chromed to high standard. Wind deflectors unblemished. All-business interior features Corbeau buckets, AutoMeter gauges, Alpine stereo and Simpson harnesses. Engine has been carefully maintained. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $242,000. Last seen at RM’s September 2000 sale, where it realized $66k and was described as the bargain of the sale (ACC# 10625). Thirteen years later that statement was proven very accurate. Market-correct price in today’s world. RM Auctions, Amelia Island, FL, 03/13. #142-1966 SHELBY COBRA roadster. VIN: CSX3259. Red/black leather. Odo: 127 miles. 427-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. A stunning example, finished to perfection. Restored in 2008 at a documented cost of $315k by Stewart Hall. 427 side-oiler kicks out 520 horsepower. Engine compartment highly detailed. Cond: 1-. 2 SOLD AT $836,000. I watched this sell at RM’s January 2011 sale for $644k (ACC# 168714), and prior to that it was a no-sale at $600k at Bonhams’ 2010 Carmel event (ACC# 165564). What a difference a couple of years makes, as the price paid here was market-correct. RM Auctions, Amelia Island, FL, 03/13. SOLD AT $64,900. Tip-top condition, but with a possible engine swap, this was strong money. Well sold. Mecum Auctions, Boynton Beach, FL, 02/13. #50-1965 SHELBY COBRA roadster. VIN: CSX2538. Eng. # 00041. Red/black leather. Odo: 84,176 miles. 289ci V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Out of sight for 29 years until 2008; original engine said to be confirmed. This late-production 289 was well restored five years ago and presents well, but it lacks some detail crispness. Very good panel fit, except right rear door slightly twisted. Excellent paint and chrome. Seats are superb, instruments show fading. Woodrim wheel. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $852,500. This car was the high sale of the auction when it sold recently at Russo and Steele Monterey in August 2012 for $781k (ACC# 1 96 AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $50,600. A “looker” with very few needs. Another 1965 Cobra replica sold for $32k at Mecum Dallas in September 2012 (ACC# 213120), making this transaction seem pricey. Well sold, but the buyer can look forward to years of waving at admiring passersby who think it’s the real thing. Mecum Auctions, Boynton Beach, FL, 02/13. #139-1965 SHELBY GT350 fastback. VIN: SFM5S226. Wimbledon White/black vinyl. Odo: 82,608 miles. 289-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. An older restortion returned to “stock” configuration by seller. Documented in Shelby Register. One of 562 produced in the first year. Fitted with Hi-Po 289 with Tri-Y headers that produces 306 horsepower. Cond: 1-. 9 SOLD AT $45,100. Immaculately presented and hard to fault until closing time, when auction staffers couldn’t get the car started. I wondered if the proud new owner was standing by to watch them push it outside. Still, multiple awards plus its significance in the collection pushed the winning bid way north of the $21k–$27,500 ACC Pocket Price Guide range. Well sold. Mecum Auctions, Boynton Beach, FL, 02/13. #S15-1967 FORD MUSTANG convertible. VIN: 7R03A119751. Wimbledon White/black vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 95,367 miles. 289-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Lovely A-code Pony. Fran Green’s first collector car. MCA Grand National winner and three-time National First Place winner (two trophies in backseat). Older restoration shows well with no major flaws. White/red color combo is a knockout, tinted windshield is crystal-clear. Stylized wheels heighten impression of performance. Dual exhaust, factory a/c, power steering and front disc brakes, AM radio. Cond: 2+. TOP 10 TOP 10 TOP 10

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GLOBAL ROUNDUP MOPAR 4 #161-1932 CHRYSLER CL IMPERIAL convertible coupe. VIN: 7803368. Eng. # CL1067. Two-tone green/ tan fabric/green leather. Odo: 373 miles. Known as “The Denver Car,” as it rolled over into a ditch when involved in a bank robbery chase. Restored in early 2000 and numerous awards since including at Pebble Beach. Car still shows exceptionally well, although the color does not do it justice. Powered by “Red Head” I8. Cond: 1-. ber of years ago to driver level. Very good panel fit. Shiny paint has just a bit too much orange peel and some sinkage. Good chrome. Good interior with nice patina on seats, very good dashboard, autographed by Daytona Beach race driver Gregg Ziegler. The 1960 Daytona Beach speedrecord holder, at 144.9 mph. Cond: 3-. E147958. Orange/orange & black vinyl. Odo: 24,237 miles. 383-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Born a 6-cylinder Satellite. $45k later, it’s a 383 Road Runner, complete with Wile E. Coyote decals. Engine compartment highly detailed. Orange paint shows only minor issues, but is sure to attract attention of local authorities. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $525,000. Last seen at RM’s 2008 Meadow Brook sale, where it realized $660k at the top of the market (ACC #117386). Seller took a bit of a hit, but price paid here was in line with current conditions. RM Auctions, Amelia Island, FL, 03/13. #S51-1957 PLYMOUTH SPORT FURY 2-dr hard top. VIN: 16320179. Sand Dune White & beige/white & brown vinyl. Odo: 61,143 miles. 318-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. Newer full restoration presents very well inside and out. Sand Dune White paint only color available in ’57. Beautiful finish marred by major chipping at back of hood. Color nicely highlights the original gold, spearshaped trim and anodized gold-colored upper grille. A very clean car with few flaws. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $236,500. The record is an impressive feat, given the size, weight and aerodynamics of this large “Forward Look” coupe. Offered and unsold twice recently: at Mecum Monterey 2010, with a high bid of $275k (ACC# 165763); and at Worldwide Atlantic City 2011, at $250k (ACC# 169025). An important piece of American speed history. Well bought. See the profile, p. 48. Gooding & Co., Amelia Island, FL, 03/13. #S19-1962 DODGE POLARA 500 convertible. VIN: 5422104441. Vermillion Red/ white vinyl/white & red vinyl. Odo: 6,689 miles. 383-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Minor paint chips, scratches. Decent chrome dulling in places. Whitewalls look new. Dual exhausts. Striking two-tone interior looks like it rolled off the assembly line yesterday. Locking center console. Push-button TorqueFlite transmission. Tidy engine compartment. Power steering and brakes. Acquired from the Cars of Dreams Museum. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $22,000. You’ll never recoupe your money invested in building a “tribute,” but you will have the cool car that you always wanted. The buyer got a good deal on someone else’s labor of love. Well bought. Bonhams, Boca Raton, FL, 02/13. AMERICANA #288-1949 CROSLEY FARM-O-ROAD prototype utility. VIN: N/A. Green/tan vinyl. Paint generally good, but the tops of both front fenders have substantial bubbling and pitting, which appear to be chemical imperfections vs. paint over surface rust. Interior very clean and orderly. With dual rear wheels shod with tractor tires, and both front and rear power take-offs, this Farm-ORoad looks ready to get to work on the land. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $46,750. As these are notoriously prone to rust, good surviving examples are rare and don’t often appear on the auction block. So I was a bit surprised this wellmaintained Sport model didn’t send bidding over and above the market-correct price. Well bought. Mecum Auctions, Boynton Beach, FL, 02/13. 8403110398. Eng. # P411231. Black/tan leather. Odo: 11,311 miles. 413-ci V8, 2x4bbl, 4-sp. Unrestored, but repainted a num- 10 #19-1960 CHRYSLER 300F GT Special 2-dr hard top. VIN: 98 AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $63,800. Well bought, but also well sold. After tanking in the midst of the recession in 2009, Polara prices have rebounded and continue a steady climb. Collectors appear to be warming to this chronically unloved Mopar. RM recently sold a 1960 Polara D-500 hard top for $86k at their Staluppi Cars of Dreams sale in North Palm Beach, FL, in December 2012 (ACC #214292). Could this convertible with significantly lower mileage achieve a sixfigure result in the near future? Mecum Auctions, Boynton Beach, FL, 02/13. #352-1971 PLYMOUTH ROAD RUNNER replica 2-dr hard top. VIN: RP23C1- SOLD AT $32,775. Powell Crosley manufactured some of the earliest radios in America. He became obsessed with building a small economical car, introducing a 2-cyl model in 1939. His firm won the contract to produce a general-purpose car for the Army but lacked production capacity to meet the military demands. In the late ’40s a 4-cyl 724-cc OHC engine made it into sedans, station wagons and sports cars; the Farm-O-Road was introduced shortly before Crosley production ceased in 1952. This prototype will be the pride of a Crosley collection. Priced fairly. RM Auctions, Madison, GA, 02/13. A TOP 10 BEST BUY TOP 10

The Parts Hunter Chad Tyson Big-money parts and accessories from eBay Motors # 121070666594—Ardun Flathead Overhead Valve Cylinder Heads. 11 photos. Item condition: Used. Monterey, CA. “Never installed on a block. These heads were reproduced by Don Orosco’s shop 15 years ago. Valve seats and guides installed, as well as spark-plug tubes. One of the cylinder heads actually has spark plugs installed. Several other miscellaneous Ardun components are also included in this auction, but what you see is what you get. Exact duplicates of original Ardun heads, so any missing parts are interchangeable with original Ardun OHV setups.” 19 bid. Sold at $7,500. So these heads aren’t original Arduns, but part of a run of 30 from Orosco’s shop produced during the 1990s. A company bearing the Ardun name started reproducing these heads in the late 1990s. Their conversion kit costs $14k. Originally, in 1950, Ardun head conversions sold for $479—more than one-third the cost of the Ford Deluxe four-door sedan. Now these incomplete reproductions are selling for more than that whole car. Well sold. # 230915738571—426-ci Hemi Exhaust Manifold. 5 photos. Item condition: Used. Carlsbad, CA. “Original passenger’s side exhaust manifold for a 426 Hemi. I lost track, but I believe it came off of my 1971 Road Runner 426 4-speed car (long gone — sorry). Casting Number 2780508. Casting date 9-13-67. There are no cracks or repairs, no welds, etc. I ran a tap down the heat riser and the threads look fine. The flapper valve has been removed, but the rod is still present (no retainer spring). A perfect piece for that numbers-matching installation.” 6 bids. Sold at $511.51. A passenger’s side repro piece can run almost $900. The buyer got a good deal here, especially if they were searching for a correct, original part. Well bought. # 121071738298—1937–38 Chevrolet Fender Skirts. 11 photos. Item condition: Used. Whittier, CA. “Pair of original fender skirts for a 1937–38 Chevrolet. The original stainless steel moldings are in excellent condition. The skirts can be found, but usually they are missing the moldings or the moldings have major damage. You can run these on an original car or repaint if you are restoring a car.” Buy It Now. Sold at $4,500. Is there a better way to spiff up a 1930s or ’40s car than with a pair of skirts? Probably, but these won’t hurt. Originals are difficult to come by, but the price paid here is exponentially more than I’ve seen before. However, they are the best condition, original set I’ve ever seen. The buyer apparently had to have them (with the Buy It Now), making these well sold. # 190794457772—1956 Mercury Power Window Setup. 8 photos. Item condition: Used. Sauk City, WI. “This setup has been reconditioned. All four regulators have been sandblasted and are in excellent condition. All four motors work great. Master switch is clean and used with nice bezel. The master switch retainer is in near mint condition and needs nothing. All three single switches have new bezels and new retainer plates. Gear boxes are all cleaned and re-greased. Four small relay boxes that bench-test fine. Unfortunately, I only have one of the door jamb wire protectors. One was missing off the parts car.” Buy It Now. Sold at $1,600. Piecing together a kit takes a lot of time and effort. And money. I found pairs of just regulators for $1,300. Well bought, even if it is for a four-door. 100 AmericanCarCollector.com

# 321084750789—Cadillac Sabre 15x6 Wheels by Kelsey-Hayes. 1 photo. Item condition: Remanufactured. Portland, OR. “Excellent set of Cadillac Sabres restored by the experts in the field—Valley Wire Wheel Service in Van Nuys, CA. Restored 10 years ago, and still in excellent shape. The centers are aluminum and must be separated from their steel rim to be rechromed. These wheels will fit any 1955–56 Cadillac—1957–58 models will require a spacer on the front wheels to clear the drum. These wheels were standard on Eldorados and optional on other models.” 1 bid. Sold at $4,500. These are the wheels to put on any mid1950s Cadillac. These jumped up in price during the past couple of years, however. I found other sets of these for $900 and individual ones starting around $150. Of course, none were completely restored like the set featured here. Still, well sold.A The most valuable tool in your box AmericanCarCollector.com 817.219.2605 Ext. 1 SUBSCRIBE TODAY! May-June 2013 101

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 1950 Oldsmobile Rocket 88 coupe 1971 Chevrolet K10 4x4 shortbox pickup S/N 194675S112000. Rally Red/red. 2,200 miles. L79 327/350hp, 4-sp. Teak, side exhaust and repro knockoffs. All numbers match. Protect-OPlate. 2,200 miles since frame off. $60,000. Contact Grant, 623.980.0014, Email: gpavolka@gmail.com 1965 Chevrolet Corvette coupe S/N 194671S121082. Sunflower Yellow/saddle. 350/330, 4-sp. Just-completed, professional body-off restoration. Top Flight 2012. M-21, 4:11 rear, perfect PO2’s. Partial build sheet. Full restoration pictures. $62,500. Contact Mark, Ridgetop Restorations, 715.385.3341, Email: daddy19581955@yahoo.com FOMOCO 1950 Ford woodie wagon 843.384.4801, Email: ray@ beach-property.com Web: www.forsale60corvette.com (SC) 1965 Chevrolet Corvette convertible Email: gratt@videotron.ca (CAN) 1971 Chevrolet Corvette convertible Black/gray. V8, 3-Spd Automatic. Bubble-trunk coupe. Restored original. 303 Rocket V8, Hydramatic, 12-volt, wide whitewall radials, dual exhaust. $28,500 OBO. Contact Trent, 708.447.2442, Email: trent1940@gmail.com (IL) 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS replica wagon S/N KE141Z645465. Orange/black. 82,676 miles. V8, Automatic., Fully restored. Rebuilt 350-ci engine, transmission and transfer case. Fresh Hugger Orange paint on a rustfree body, brand-new wheels with Nitto mud-terrain tires. Just in from Arizona and only going up in value. $29,995. Iowa Auto Outlet, 515.896.0902, Email: aarons@iowaautooutlets.com Web: www.iowaautooutlets. com (IA) CORVETTE S/N 136460K137846. Blue/blue. 53,361 miles. V8, Automatic. 400 V8 engine w/ supercharger, power steering, power disc brakes, dual exhaust, retro stereo, factory air conditioning. This is the SS wagon Chevrolet should have made but never did. Done right. One-of-a-kind family cruiser! $29,995. Iowa Auto Outlet, 515896-0902, Email: aarons@iowaautooutlets.com Web: www. iowaautooutlets.com (IA) 102 AmericanCarCollector.com 1960 Chevrolet Corvette custom convertible Red/red. 5,500 miles. V8, 3-sp auto. Miles since restoration, new engine, automatic, power windows, a/c, disc brakes. $110,000. Contact Ray, S/N 194679S731477. Daytona Yellow/black. 100 miles. 427/390, 4-sp. Completely researched and restored. Finished in 2012. Car even has correct production-month tires and proper under-dash clips for wires. Everything was properly restored. Only 269 ever produced for Canada, only 11 in Daytona Yellow. $69,900 OBO. Contact Richard, 514.457.6101, S/N 194375S116394. Glen Green/green. 94,634 miles. 396/425, 4-sp. Nicely optioned with power windows, tinted glass, teak/telescopic wheel, leather, knockoff wheels. High-quality correct restoration. Excellent throughout. Fast and fine. Financing available, trades welcome. $99,800. Contact Steve, Motorcar Gallery, 954.522.9900, Email: contact@ motorcargallery.com Web: MotorcarGallery.com 1969 Chevrolet Corvette convertible All-original wood refinished by Nick Alexander a few years ago. Painted once and still show-quality. Flawless body. Never rusted or damaged ever. 100% original interior and absolutely immaculate. 61,000 original miles. Recent complete and documented engine rebuild by Ford V8 guru. $75,000 OBO. Contact Matthew, Matthew L. deGarmo LTD, 203.852.1670, Email: Matt@deGarmoLtd.com Web: www.deGarmoLtd.com (CT) 1979 Ford Mustang Indy Pace Car Pewter/black. V8, 4-Spd Manual. 5.0-L, restored. Rare factory a/c, very early production car. One of few correct examples left. Buy this for much less than you can restore one. $16,000 OBO. Contact Steve, 586.291.1100, Email: slapp15@yahoo.com

Showcase Gallery r1999 Shelby Cobra replica oadster S/N 4KCDAK128XF000264. British Racing Green/black. 6,600 miles. V8, 5-spd manual. Classic Roadsters/Fargo, ND, professional build by Hensley Performance, 5.0 Ford with full Cobra FI, 427 hp with many race and custom features on engine and suspension. Over $50k spent in build. Email for full description and pictures. $32,750. Contact Morgan, Email: morgan_smith@vanhornmetz.com (PA) 2011 Shelby GT350 fastback S/N 1ZVBP8CF1B5116751. White/4,000 miles. V8, 6-sp. White with Guardsman Blue stripes. Shelby started with a new GT premium package (all options) and went through the entire car to create #60 of this special, limited-edition GT350. Interior leather package, pil- lar w/gauges, supercharged aluminum engine, Shelby/Ford/ Whipple supercharger w/520hp, 19-inch Cragar wheels, 6-piston Baer brakes, Shelby/Ford Racing suspension for a complete performance package, Shelby/ Borla center exhaust. Light and fast with razor-sharp handling, perfectly balanced and powerful. One owner, never raced, all manuals, records and promo materials. Ambient lighting, Shaker 500 audio system. Break-in done correctly. Kept in an air-conditioned garage in FL. Like new. Contact Dan, 508.561.8616, Email: drourke@ aol.com (FL) MOPAR 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A 2-dr hard top black/black. 572-ci Hemi, 5-speed. Pro-Tour T/A. New/ nearing completion (5,000+ hours on build) “Old School” with PERFORMANCE DOCTORIAL. Aluminum Indy Maxx Hemi 572-ci 1,000-hp plus 400-hp reserve (NOS). Liberty max-torque/overdrive 5-speed, dual-disc power clutch/Lakewood B-House, carbon-fiber 4” driveshaft, Air Ride coil-over/4link suspension, Dana 60; 4:10 gears, 35-spline axles, Wilwood 14” Hydroboost 6-pot discs. Carbon-fiber Kevlar interior, 10 Auto-Meter gauges, power everything, 2,400-watt I.C.E., front-rear radar/laser jammers/ cameras/nav/cruise-control (too much kick-ass stuff to list!). Mopar at its very best. Make reasonable offer. Contact Thomas, 715.839.9129, Email: olsongearhead@aol.com Web: www.lcars.com S/N JH23GOB160608. Satin 1970 Dodge Charger R/T SE 2-dr hard top S/N XS29U0G173576. Eggshell White/black. 93,000 miles. 440 Magnum, auto. Stunning presentation of one-of-one R/T SE Charger in rare Eggshell White. Total body-off restoration, with photos. Unheard-of option list for R/T. All numbers are matched, including alternator and carb. Leather bucket seats, cruise control, air, rear-window defogger, deluxe interior package. Build sheet is original. Perfect mechanicals, Tic Toc Tach. New glass, chrome, floors, trunk, interior, vinyl roof, etc. $45,000 receipts. Never hit. Rare class and muscle. Let the other guys all get orange. $45,000. Contact Mark, 816.830.2391, Email: tallsound@yahoo.com (KS) AMERICANA 1949 International K-B2 pickup It’s so easy! We’ve made uploading your Showcase Gallery listings online easier. as an added bonus, we now feature multiple images for our web listings. www.americanCarCollector.com/classifieds May-June 2013 103 S/N 71519. Maroon/tan. 233 green diamond, Frame-off, ground-up restoration completed spring of 2012. Engine, transmission and brake systems rebuilt. New glass, seals, engine mounts, floor mat, chromed windshield, hubcaps and bumpers. All emblems re-chromed; all instruments, gauges, speedometer and switches N.O.S., rebuilt or restored. Original color. Tan seats and sun visors, oak body, floor and siderails spar varnished with stainless strips and fasteners. 125 miles since restoration. $42,500. Contact Dan, 207.985.9850, Email: dan@ rushlaw.us A

RESOURCE DIRECTORY Put your company in the ACC Resource Directory. Call 877.219.2605 Ext. 211, or email advert@americancarcollector.com Auction Companies Auctions America, 877.906.2437, 5540 CR llA Auburn, IN 46706. Home of the 480-acre Auction Park in Auburn, IN, where the annual Labor Day Auction is held in conjunction with the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival. www.auctionsamerica.com. (IN) Mecum Auctions. 262.275.5050, 445 South Main Street, Walworth, WI 53184. Auctions: Anaheim, Kissimmee, Kansas City, Houston, Walworth, Indianapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington Gold, Des Moines, Monterey, Dallas, Chicago. Nobody Sells More Muscle Than Mecum. Nobody. www.mecumauction.com. (WI) Russo and Steele Collector Automobiles. 602.252.2697, 602.252.6260. 5230 South 39th St., Phoenix, AZ 85040. info@russoandsteele.com; www.russo-andsteele.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) Classic Car Transport Intercity Lines, Inc. 800.221.3936, 413.436.9422. Rapid, hassle-free, coast-tocoast service. Insured enclosed transport for your valuable car at affordable prices. State-of-theart satellite transport tracking. Complete service for vintage races, auctions, relocations. www.intercitylines.com. (MA) to-door with our fully enclosed auto transporters. Whether your prized possession is your daily driver, a vintage race car, a classic, a ’60s muscle car or a modern exotic, you can depend on Passport Transport to give you the premium service it deserves. We share your appreciation for fine automobiles, and it shows. www.PassportTransport.com. Corvette Parts & Restoration County Corvette. 610.696.7888. Sales, service, parts and restoration. When it must be right. www.countycorvette.com. (PA) 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) 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. Corvettes for Sale 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 new C6, only Corvette Central has it all. www.corvettecentral.com. (MI) Passport Transport. 800.736.0575, Since our founding in 1970, we have shipped thousands of treasured vehicles door- 104 AmericanCarCollector.com County Corvette. 610.696.7888. The most modern and bestequipped Corvette-only facility in the nation. www.countycorvette.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 one million dollars, with terms extending up to 84 months visit www.putnamleasing.com or call 1.866.90.LEASE. (CT) Mustangs Unlimited. Since 1976, Mustangs Unlimited is YOUR best source for 1965-present Mustang, 1965-1970 Shelby, and 1967-1973 Mercury Cougar Parts. Call or visit our website to receive a full-color catalog full of the parts you need with the best prices in the industry. With two fully stocked warehouses, we have the largest “in stock” selection of parts. Visit us online at www.mustangsunlimited.com or join us on Facebook or Twitter for the latest buzz in all things Mustang. Customer Satisfaction is goal #1. Phone: Connecticut 888.398.9898 Georgia 888.229.2929. A The Chevy Store. At The Chevy Store, you will find only the highest-grade, investment-quality Corvette and specialty Chevrolet automobiles. We take pride in providing our clients with the finest selection anywhere. Offering investment-quality Corvettes and Chevrolets for over 30 years! 503.256.5384 (p) 503.256.4767 (f) www.thechevystore.com. (OR) Insurance Chubb Collector Car Insurance. 1.866.CAR.9648, The Chubb Collector Car Insurance program provides flexibility by allowing you to choose the agreed value and restoration shop. Broad coverage includes no mileage restrictions and special pricing for large schedules. For more information, contact us at 1(866)CAR-9648 or www.chubbcollectorcar.com. Hagerty Collector Car Insurance. 800.922.4050. Collector cars aren’t like their latemodel counterparts. These classics actually appreciate in value, so standard market policies that cost significantly more won’t do the job. We’ll agree on a fair value and cover you for the full amount. No prorated claims, no hassles, no games. www.hagerty.com. (MI) Leasing Museums 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. 253272-2336 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) Part—General

WHAT’S YOUR CAR WORTH? FIND OUT AT NOW FREE! The world’s largest collector car price guide based on over 500,000 sold transactions from . Updated weekly. www.collectorcarpricetracker.com Advertisers Index American Car Collector ........................81 Auctions America .................................15 B & T Specialty Classic Car Auctions...61 Bennett Law Office .............................105 Bloomington Gold ................................25 Blue Bars ..............................................97 Camaro Central ....................................65 Carlisle Events ......................................75 Chevs of the 40’s .................................74 Chubb Personal Insurance ...................19 Collector Car Price Tracker ................105 Corvette America ..................................87 Corvette Repair Inc. .............................11 Corvette Specialties .............................97 County Corvette .....................................2 Dealer Accelerate .................................79 Freedom Road Rally .............................39 Genuine Hotrod Hardware ...................23 Grundy Worldwide ................................87 GTC ......................................................93 Hagerty Insurance Agency, Inc. ...........35 Hot August Nights ................................37 Infinity Insurance Companies .............108 Iowa Auto Outlet ..................................4-5 JC Taylor ..............................................73 Jim Meyer Racing Products Inc. ..........97 L.A. Prep ...............................................63 Law Offices of Bruce Shaw ................105 Leake Auction Company ....................107 Lucky Collector Car Auctions .................9 Lutty’s Chevy Warehouse ....................85 Mac Neil Automotive Products Ltd ......89 Mershon’s World Of Cars .....................77 Mid America Auctions ..........................83 Mid America Motorworks ...............27, 69 Mustangs Unlimited .............................99 National Corvette Homecoming ...........95 National Corvette Museum ...................95 National Corvette Restorers Society ....95 Paramount Classic Cars .......................67 Park Place LTD .....................................17 Passport Transport ...............................71 Petersen Collector Car Auction ............99 Putnam Leasing ......................................3 Reliable Carriers ...................................59 Russo & Steele LLC..............................13 Silver Collector Car Auctions ...............29 Sports Car Market ................................97 St Bernard Church................................93 The Chevy Store Inc .............................85 Thomas C Sunday Inc ..........................97 TYCTA ................................................105 Volo Auto Museum ...............................21 Zip Products .........................................41 May-June 2013 105

Surfing Around Carl Bomstead Automobilia on eBay Carl’s thought: A 148-year-old baseball card featuring the Brooklyn Athletics amateur baseball team was recently sold at a rural Maine auction for $92,000. It was discovered at a yard sale and was in a photo album that was acquired along with some old Coke bottles and an oak chair for $100. The Brooklyn Athletics were the league champions in 1861, 1864, and in 1865, so I guess they were a big deal. Not a bad return on a yard-sale find. Here are a few other recent sales that grabbed my interest. EBAY #121051215057— 1963 WESTERN AUTO TONKA PICKUP TRUCK TOY. Number of bids: 27. SOLD AT: $1,136.11. Date sold: 1/22/2013. This new-inthe-box toy was only offered at Western Auto Stores and had the look of a ’63 Ford, but there were no markings on the toy. It was complete with the box and wrapping paper. Condition is king and this had it all, thus the exceptional but not unrealistic price. EBAY #181053679666—OILZUM ONE-QUART MOTOR OIL CAN. Number of bids: 45. SOLD AT: $480. Date sold: 1/6/2013. Oilzum was the brand name for the White and Bagley Oil Company, and the Oilzum man was their popular logo. The early versions are very collectible, and while quart cans are off their high of a few years back, “picture” cans in good condition still bring the bucks. EBAY #300820628525— 1964 CORVETTE PROMO MODEL. Number of bids: 24. SOLD AT: $1,825. Date sold: 11/25/2012. This 1/24-scale 1964 Corvette was finished in silver with a red interior. It was in exceptional condition and was complete with the original box and tissue. The majority of promos go for a couple hundred bucks at most, but this one attracted a couple dozen bids with an over-the-top final result. EBAY #271124987862— PONTIAC SALES AND SERVICE DEALER SIGN. Number of bids: 36, SOLD AT: $2,023. Date sold: 12/25/2012. This fiberglass sign, which measured 36 inches by 60 inches, was 106 AmericanCarCollector.com stated to have hung in a Pontiac dealership, but the seller also stated the date of creation was unknown. The paint was barely dry, and I’m willing to bet the fiberglass was no more than a few weeks old. A lot of money for a questionable sign. EBAY # 300830245734—FILCOOLATER ’50s “BEEHIVE” OIL FILTER. Number of bids: 19. SOLD AT: $383. Date sold: 1/6/2013. This finned aluminum oil filter also functioned as an air-cooled heat exchanger. They were featured in the 1953 Bell Auto Parts Speed Equipment catalog. The original plating was bubbling here and there, so a trip to the chrome shop is in order before mounting on your period hot rod. EBAY #2008541165210— CALIFORNIA AAA CLOISONNE BADGE. Number of bids: 59. SOLD AT: $1,025. Date sold: 12/2/2012. The California State Automobile Association was founded at a meeting in 1900 at San Francisco’s famed Cliff House restaurant. They joined the AAA in 1907. This badge, with the California Bear, was in wonderful condition. A lesser example sold for a couple hundred dollars a few weeks earlier, so again we observe that condition is key. EBAY #150964898349— VALVOLINE OIL COMPANY INDIAN MOTORCYCLE OIL ONE-GALLON CAN. Number of bids: 50. SOLD AT: $3,651. Date sold: 12/23/2012. This is one of the most desirable one-gallon cans, and with 50 bids, it attracted a bit of attention. The condition of the can was exceptional, and as such, the price paid was not out of line. A