Profiles
- Race - 1963 Pontiac Lemans Super Duty Factory Lightweight
- Ford - 1959 Ford Galaxie Skyliner retractable hard top
- Americana - 1937 Packard One-Twenty Pickup
- GM - 1969 Pontiac Trans Am
- Mopar - 1969 Plymouth Road Runner Resto-mod
- Corvette - 1996 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport convertible
- Hot Rod - 1940 Mercury Custom
- Truck - 1977 GMC C-15 Suburban Sierra Grande
Search This Issue
Page 6
CAR COLLECTOR
Volume 3 • Issue 15 • May-June 2014
The Scoop: Profiles
CORVETTE
1996 CHEVROLET
CORVETTE GRAND SPORT
$151k / Mecum
Six reasons why this C4
brought a world-record
price — John L. Stein
Page 46
GM
1969 PONTIAC
TRANS AM
$135k / Mecum
First-year Trans Am brings
top-dog money
— Tom Glatch
Page 48
FoMoCo
1959 FORD GALAXIE
SKYLINER
$66k / RM
An up-market sale for Ford’s
iconic retractable-roof
model — Chad Tyson
Page 50
MOPAR
1969 PLYMOUTH ROAD
RUNNER RESTO-MOD
$108k / Mecum
’69 Road Runner meets ’08
Charger SRT8 and makes
$100k — Jay Harden
Page 52
AMERICAN
™
8 AmericanCarCollector.com
Keith Martin's
Page 7
CUSTOM
1940 MERCURY CUSTOM
CONVERTIBLE
$107k / RM
Is the vintage custom
market slipping?
— Ken Gross
Page 54
AMERICANA RACE
1937 PACKARD
ONE-TWENTY PICKUP
$94k / RM
A one-of-none Packard
pickup brings almost six
figures — Carl Bomstead
Page 56
1963 PONTIAC LEMANS
SUPER DUTY
$336k / Russo and Steele
A rare racer found on eBay,
restored and sold
— Tom Glatch
Page 58
TRUCK
1977 GMC C-15 SUBURBAN
$8k / Mecum
It may be 37 years old, but it
still has a lot of pull
— James T. Lenzke,
with B. Mitchell Carlson
Page 62
Cover photo: 1940 Mercury
custom convertible
Khiem Pham ©2013, courtesy of RM Auctions
1959 Ford Galaxie Skyliner retractable
hard top; profile, p. 50
Darin Schnabel ©2013, courtesy of RM Auctions
May-June 2014
9
Page 8
The Rundown
EXPERTS’
COLUMNS
12 Torque
Wrenching into the future
— Jim Pickering
40 Cheap Thrills
1966–75 Imperial
— B. Mitchell Carlson
42 Horsepower
The lost art of automotive
books — Colin Comer
44 Corvette Market
Four Corvette adventures for
summer — John L. Stein
114 Surfing Around
Must-have automobilia
— Carl Bomstead
FUN
RIDES
24 Good Reads
Mustang Fifty Years:
Celebrating America’s Only
True Pony Car
— Mark Wigginton
26 Desktop Classics
1965 Ford Mustang coupe
— Marshall Buck
36 Three to Watch
Cars with a financial upside
— Jim Pickering, Tony Piff,
Chad Tyson
104 Our Cars
2013 Dodge Charger SRT8
SERV
DEPA
14 What’s
Collector events of note
16 Crossing the Block
Upcoming auctions, plus
highlighted star cars
24 Parts Time
Nifty parts to keep your car
on the road
26 Cool Stuff
Tank treads for your truck,
and a speaker for your butt
32 Your Turn
What’s an ACC number?
34 Insider’s View
What’s the best collector car
buy today?
AUCTIONS
66 Auctions America — Fort Lauderdale 2014
355 of 493 cars go to new homes, sending totals to $21m
— Pierre Hedary
74 Leake — Oklahoma City 2014
305 out of 393 collector cars change hands to the jingle of $6.4m
— Lester Neidell
86 Mecum Auctions — Kissimmee 2014
The 10-day auction totals $63m, and 1,759 of 2,576 cars sell
— Dale Novak, Craig Gussert
96 Roundup
American vehicles from coast to coast — Jack Tockston, James “Killer”
Grosslight, David Rohan de Silva, Carl Bomstead, Adam Blumenthal
81 Quick Takes
1966 Chevrolet Nova
resto-mod — Jim Pickering
102 1963 Ford Galaxie 500 R-code
lightweight — Chad Tyson
98 Glovebox Notes
2014 GMC Sierra 1500 4WD
Crew Cab SLT — Cassie Sellman
106 2014 Ford Fiesta SE hatchback
— Tony Piff
108 The Parts Hunter
Rare parts and pieces
on the market
110 Showcase Gallery
Sell your car in ACC’s
classifieds section
110 Advertiser Index
112 Resource Directory
Get to know our advertisers
10 AmericanCarCollector.com
Page 10
Torque
Jim Pickering
Wrenching into the future
A
THE NEXT GENERATION OF CAR PEOPLE ISN’T GOING TO LEARN
ABOUT LIFE UNDER THE HOOD THE SAME WAY WE DID
few weeks ago, I took an afternoon
off from work and headed
about 20 miles outside of
Portland to the groundbreaking
ceremony for World of Speed
— a new motorsports exhibition set to open
in Wilsonville, OR. It’s an easy sprint down
Interstate 5 from American Car Collector
World Headquarters in Portland.
During the event, World of Speed
Executive Director Tony Thacker talked
about his vision for the site, what types of
exhibits are planned, and how the organization
plans to get young people involved with
the automotive world through hands-on
activities relating to cars. The idea is to fill a
void left by the lack of auto-shop classes in
today’s schools.
In the past few issues of ACC, we’ve been
talking a lot about the future of the hobby,
but that wasn’t the only reason the last part of
Tony’s statement really hit home for me.
Wrench time
In the ’90s, at my high school, there was
no auto-shop class. The closest thing was
a set-building club for the drama class. So
when I really wanted to be learning about
carburetors, I was instead making fake trees
out of plywood.
All seniors were required to complete
a week as an intern in the work force
somewhere before graduation. For a lot of
kids, that meant heading off to an architect’s
studio, or a law office, or maybe a hospital.
None of that sounded at all interesting to me.
Instead, at the suggestion of my set-building
instructor, I went to a local auto shop I’d
driven past for years and offered to work for
a week for free.
The boss peered at me from his chair, lit
a cigarette, and made it clear that he didn’t
like the idea of bringing in a kid who would
probably only get in the way. But he liked
the idea of getting a clean floor, so he gruffly
agreed. I was assigned to a broom and given
some small tasks to see what I could do. I
apparently made a good impression, as he
asked me to come back for the summer.
That shop hadn’t changed with time, but
instead adapted to it. It had originally been a
Texaco station in the 1950s, which had been
expanded in the 1960s and remodeled again
12 AmericanCarCollector.com
Jim Pickering
Once upon a time, a kid learned the tools of the automotive trade here
in the 1970s. Remnants of those eras were
all around the place, from the peeling paint
in the original gas station bathrooms to the
fake-wood-paneled office that was probably
the height of auto-shop fashion in 1974. New
OBDII scanning equipment shared greasy
shelves with dwell meters and glass fuses.
It was cluttered, grungy and carcinogenic.
Classic rock boomed overhead, and customers
swapped off-color jokes with the
boss and his three techs through a haze of
cigarette smoke and exhaust fumes.
I ended up working there for six years. I
learned as I went and took on the older cars
that the other techs — paid on the flat-rate
scale — deemed a waste of time. It was there
that I did my first engine swap, in a gold
’69 Chevy C20. It was there that I replaced
a wood bed in a ’56 GMC. It was there that
I helped restore the boss’s big-block ’72
Chevelle SS. I installed a set of heads on
that Chevelle, along with two cams, and two
intakes. That place taught me that diagnosing
and fixing any mechanical problem — automotive
or otherwise — was possible.
After I left, that shop continued on as it
always had, but business was slipping. One
morning, as I drove past, I noticed a “For
Sale” sign, and three months later, the auto
shop that had seemed to defy time, and the
place where I’d learned to wrench, was just an
empty hulk. Now it’s a vintage furniture store.
It’s about the experience
The more I think about that shop, espe-
cially now that it’s gone, the more my time
there seems to have been a fairly unique
situation in today’s world. Just like that
peeling paint, the wood paneling, and the old
service equipment, I think the experience I
had there was from an earlier time, too.
Auto shop is missing from most schools,
just as the real-world places that can provide
those experiences are also disappearing. The
auto repair world has become a tough place
to survive, especially for small independent
shops. And I’m not sure the ones that are
still alive would hire a know-nothing kid to
learn on the job — especially considering
the realities of OSHA rules, insurance and
the economic climate. And that underlines
the importance of new places — such as
World of Speed and others — that aim to
teach kids about mechanics.
Hopefully, the general public will see the
value in taking their kids out to a place like
World of Speed, where hands-on learning is
a way of life, and things like welding, tuning,
and mechanical assembly are right there
in front of them to be seen and touched. At
the very least, a kid could pick up a memorable
skill that might come in handy in the
future. Or it could be the start of something
that completely changes his or her life. A
Page 12
WHAT’SHAPPENING
Bloomington Gold celebrates all things Corvette, and more
Bloomington Gold Corvette Lovefest
Bloomington Gold will rumble onto the University of Illinois campus in Champaign, IL, from June 27 to 29. This is the 42nd year of the
longest-running Corvette show, and thousands of Corvette lovers flock in each year. Yeah, most of them bring Corvettes, so this is the place to
be if you want to see the nicest, most original Corvettes around. In fact, many people hope their car is original enough to win a coveted Gold
Certification, a Survivor Award or the top-of-the-mountain Benchmark Award. This is more than a judging event. The GoldMine has dozens of
Corvettes for sale, there is a Corvette auction, driving tours and much more. www.bloomingtongold.com (IL)
Carlisle Events
Carlisle, PA, is the place to be in May
and June, as this car-happy spot offers four
shows: Carlisle Performance & Style on
May 10–11, Carlisle Import & Kit Nationals
on May 16–18, Carlisle Ford Nationals on
June 6–8 and Carlisle GM Nationals on June
20–22. All these shows attract thousands
of great cars and like-minded gearheads.
Each show also offers a great swapmeet,
Manufacturers Midway, car corrals and
other attractions. For more information, visit
www.carsatcarlisle.com (PA)
More heat in Reno
Hot August Nights puts the pedal
to the metal each August when hot
rods, customs, muscle cars and more
light up Reno, NV. This year, the
party has a May 30–31 preview:
Spring Fever Revival 2014. The
streets of downtown Reno will fill
with classic cars, food booths, showand-shines
and free live entertainment.
The party is open to all cars
and trucks built before 1977. This
luau will be huge, but it’s only an
appetizer for the massive Hot August
Nights party from July 29 through
August 3. For more information, visit
www.hotaugustnights.net (NV)
14 AmericanCarCollector.com
Goodguys Light up Spring
Goodguys brings hot rods, muscle and
customs to five huge car shows this spring:
• The Goodguys 9th Nashville Nationals
at the Tennessee Titan Stadium on
May 16–17.
• The Goodguys 12th Summer Get-Together
at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in
Pleasanton, CA, on May 31–June 1.
• The Goodguys 17th Colorado Nationals
at the Ranch Events Complex in Loveland
on June 6–8.
• The Goodguys All American Nationals
Indianapolis at the Indiana State
Fairgrounds on June 6–8.
• The Goodguys Grundy Worldwide
Insurance All American Nationals at
the Eastern States Exposition in West
Springfield, MA, on June 13–15.
All these gearhead parties include
HAN preview: Spring Fever Revival 2014
thousands of hot rods, customs, classics and
muscle cars, autocross events, swapmeets,
live entertainment, vendor and manufacturer
exhibits, and, of course, one giant car show.
www.good-guys.comA
Page 14
CROSSINGTHE
Vicari — Cruisin’ Nocona
Where: Nocona, TX
When: May 1–3
Web: www.vicariauction.com
Last year: 95/115 cars sold / $2.6m
Events at the expanded three-day Cruisin’ Nocona festival include
a Classic Car Poker Cruise, daily car shows and Vicari’s two-day
collector car sale. The impressive consignment list features a 1970
Chevrolet LS6 Chevelle, a 1969 Shelby GT350, a 1937 Ford street
rod, a 1958 Chevrolet Impala convertible, a 1971 Chevrolet Corvette
LS6 convertible and coupe, a 1954 Buick Skylark convertible, a 1955
Cadillac Eldorado convertible, a 1956 Dodge Custom Royal D-500, a
1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS, a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro pace car, and
a 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429.
Motostalgia Auctions d’Elegance — Seabrook 2014
Where: Seabrook, TX
When: May 2
Web: www.motostalgia.com
Motostalgia’s Seabrook sale takes place at the Lakewood Yacht
Club on the Houston coast. It is the official auction of the Keels &
Wheels Concours d’Elegance. One of the big early headliners is a
1965 Shelby GT350 factory competition car. Motostalgia will also
offer the John Osha Collection, which includes a 1961 Chevrolet Bel
Air convertible, a 1968 Ford Mustang R-code, a 1969 Ford Torino
GT with Cobra Jet 428, a 1926 Ford Model T roadster, and a 1933
LaSalle 345C sedan, all at no reserve.
Worldwide Auctioneers — The Houston Classic
Auction
Where: Montgomery, TX
When: May 3
Web: www.worldwide-auctioneers.com
Last year: 101/113 cars sold / $7.2m
This Houston-area sale takes place in conjunction with the
Concours d’Elegance of Texas. Important consignments for the
2014 sale include a 1969 Chevrolet L88 Corvette, a 1971 Plymouth
Hemi ’Cuda, a 1970 Pontiac GTO Judge convertible, a 1934 Auburn
Twelve Salon cabriolet (offered at no reserve), a one-owner 1955
Buick Roadmaster convertible, and a 1931 Cadillac V12 7-passenger
phaeton.
Silver Auctions — Spokane 2014
Where: Spokane, WA
When: May 7
Web: www.silverauctions.com
Eastern Washington in mid-spring is a wonderful place to go collector
car shopping, and Silver always offers a strong assortment at
a range of reasonable price points. Their Spokane sale will feature a
mix of restored and original muscle cars, Corvettes and pickups, plus
plenty of cool cruisers and over-the-top customs.
James G. Murphy Co. — The Charles Kee Collection
Where: Brothers, OR
When: May 8–9
Web: www.murphyauction.com
16 AmericanCarCollector.com
Upcoming auctions (Images are courtesy of the respective auction houses unless otherwise noted)
MAY
BLOCK
by Tony Piff
1962 Chrysler 300 — The Charles Kee Collection
Marc Emerson
With post-Lambrecht fever still raging, this field full of 250-plus
very weathered Mopars (mostly Chryslers, DeSotos, and Imperials)
could bring some big surprises. Many may be of value only as parts
cars or serious projects, but the Eastern Oregon high desert climate
should alleviate concerns of serious rust. A handful of cars are
thought to be mechanically viable. Standouts include a 1962 Chrysler
300, a 1957 Dodge Coronet sedan, and a 1956 DeSoto Firedome
sedan.
Auctions America — Auburn Spring
Where: Auburn, IN
When: May 8–10
Web: www.auctionsamerica.com
Last year: 240/431 cars sold / $5.6m
AA will send more than 900 collector cars across the block at
Auburn Spring. The John Scotti Collection of approximately 450 cars
will sell without reserve, including a highly original 1967 Chevrolet
Corvette convertible with only 5,500 miles; a 1987 Buick GNX showing
just 90 original miles; a concours-ready 1934 Chrysler Custom
Imperial Airflow; and an extremely rare 1958 Pontiac Parisienne
convertible. Also look for the Rigoli Chrysler 300 Letter Car Collection,
featuring a 1955 C-300 hard top and a 1960 300F convertible.
A 1963 Chevrolet Corvette fuel-injected convertible and a 1957
Oldsmobile 98 convertible lead the Duffy Grove Collection.
Dana Mecum’s 27th Original Spring Classic
Where: Indianapolis, IN
When: May 13–18
Web: www.mecum.com
Last year: 1,142/1,713 cars sold / $48m
At this annual mega-sale, more than 2,000 classic cars will cross
the block. The star consignments are a 1966 Chevrolet Nova L79,
one owner since new with mostly original paint; a 1970 Chevrolet
Chevelle LS6 convertible; an unrestored, one-owner 1970 Plymouth
Hemi ’Cuda; a 1971 Dodge Hemi Challenger R/T; and a 1963 Shelby
289 Cobra — an early rack-and-pinion demonstrator.
Lucky — Spring Classic & Motorcycle Sale
Where: Tacoma, WA
When: May 30–31
Web: www.luckyoldcar.com
Lucky predicts 30 classic motorcycles and more than 100 collector
cars at this two-day sale, held at the LeMay Marymount Event Center.
Early consignments of note include a 1952 Lincoln Capri convert
Page 16
CROSSINGTHEBLOCK
ible, a 1951 Pontiac Streamliner woodie wagon, a 1953 DeSoto station
wagon, and an RHD 1930 Cadillac Vanden Plas V16 landaulet
originally ordered for royalty, later owned by brewing magnate Arthur
Ernest Guinness.
Dan Kruse Classics — Midland-Odessa Classic Car
Auction
Where: Odessa, TX
When: May 31
Web: www.dankruseclassics.com
At this new Texas sale from Dan Kruse, you can expect a strong
assortment of restored muscle and high-dollar custom builds. A
502-powered 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle resto-mod and an R-code
1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 fastback are the lead early highlights.
JuNe
Bonhams — The Greenwich Concours d’Elegance
Auction
Where: Greenwich, CT
When: June 1
Web: www.bonhams.com
Last year: 74 / 99 cars sold / $5.3m
This upscale sale takes place alongside the Greenwich Concours
d’Elegance. The consignments are a strong mix of foreign and
domestic with many pre-war examples, offered at a range of price
points. The top American lot last year was a 1905 George N. Pierce
Great Arrow sold at $243k, and average sold price overall was $72k.
The featured American consignment this time around is a 1948
Chrysler Town & Country convertible.
Leake — Tulsa 2014
Where: Tulsa, OK
When: June 6–8
Web: www.leakecar.com
Last year: 470 / 691 cars sold / $11.8m
Three generations of the Leake family have been dedicated to the
collector car auction business. Their signature two-lane auction-block
format always delivers a lot of excitement. The Tulsa sale will feature
750 cars in the 448,000-square-foot River Spirit Expo Building.
Star cars are a 1970 Plymouth ’Cuda, a 1937 Ford coupe, a 1970
Chevelle SS convertible and a 1933 Ford coupe.
Mecum Auctions — Seattle 2014
Where: Seattle, WA
When: June 13–14
Web: www.mecum.com
1964 Chevrolet Corvette at Silver Coeur d’Alene
$103k, but consignments tend toward the affordable end of the spectrum,
with average sold price around $16k. This year’s star car is a
1964 Chevrolet Corvette convertible.
Russo and Steele — Newport Beach 2014
Where: Newport Beach, CA
When: June 19–21
Web: www.russoandsteele.com
Last year: 105 / 343 cars sold / $6.5m
Russo’s unique “auction in the round” format is one of the most
energetic, entertaining experiences in the collector car auction industry.
Last year at this sale, the podium of American high sales went
to a 1970 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 at $270k, a 1966 Shelby GT350 at
$167k, and a 1948 Ford street rod wagon at $130k. The overall average
price per car was $62k.
MidAmerica — 28th Annual Twin Cities Classic Car
Auction
Where: Saint Paul, MN
When: June 20–21
Web: www.midamericaauctions.com
Last year: 105 / 172 cars sold / $1.9m
This Heartland sale brings all manner of desirable American iron,
from flawless custom street rods to ground-pounding muscle to cool
luxury cruisers to preserved pickups. Top honors last year went to a
2012 Chevrolet COPO Camaro at $151k, a 1969 Shelby GT500 at
$76k and a 1966 Shelby Cobra replica at $55k. Average price per car
was about $18k overall.
Specialty Auto Auctions — Greeley in the Summer
2014
Where: Greeley, CO
When: June 21
Web: www.saaasinc.com
600 cars will cross the auction block at this inaugural sale. You
can expect Mecum to offer its usual mix of high-quality American
muscle, customs, pickups, Corvettes, and pre-war classics. The sale
takes place at the CenturyLink Field Event Center in the heart of
downtown Seattle.
Silver Auctions — Car d’Lane Weekend
Where: Coeur d’Alene, ID
When: June 14
Web: www.silverauctions.com
Last year: 51 / 118 cars sold / $803k
Silver brings their usual laid-back professionalism to the Car
d’Lane Car Show weekend in picturesque Coeur d’Alene, ID. The
biggest sale of the weekend last year was a 1951 Buick Super at
18 AmericanCarCollector.com
cess. This sale specializes in antiques, classics, muscle and unique
cars in general, with cars to suit a range of budgets and tastes. There
will also be an assortment of desirable automobilia.
Despite a huge snow storm, 2013’s Greeley sale was a huge suc-
Mecum Auctions — Bloomington Gold
Where: Champaign, IL
When: June 28
Web: www.mecum.com
Last year: 51 / 124 cars sold / $1.9m
Gold? The focus is on minty originals, but you’ll also find restored and
modified cars, from C1s through modern generations. Bloomington’s
new venue in Champaign was a hit last year, and 2014 is set to build
on that success. Average price per sold car was $37k last year.A
What better place to buy or sell a Corvette than at Bloomington
Page 18
CROSSINGTHEBLOCK
ST R CARS
Highlighted vehicles at upcoming auctions
1955 Chrysler C-300 hard top
Auctions America will feature the
Rigoli Chrysler 300 Letter Car Collection
at Auburn Spring, taking place May 8–10.
Leading the seven-car collection is a highly
original 1955 Chrysler C-300 hard top.
1970 Pontiac GTO Judge
Ram Air III convertible
at Worldwide’s Houston Classic sale on
May 3. The car benefits from a fresh
nut-and-bolt restoration to factory original
spec, with Ram Air III 400-ci 366-hp V8
and Muncie 4-speed, matching numbers
and PHS of Canada documentation.
This Judge convertible crosses the block
1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429
Vicari’s Cruisin’ Nocona sale will feature
a correctly restored 1969 Ford Mustang
Boss 429 with numbers-matching
engine. Transmission and driveline are
also believed original. The sale takes place
May 1–3 in Nocona, TX.
1970 Plymouth ’Cuda
Leake hosts their long-running Tulsa
sale June 6–8. Among the many tire-smoking
star cars is a 1970 Plymouth ’Cuda with
440 Six Pack. 750 cars are expected.A
20 AmericanCarCollector.com
Page 20
Publisher’s
Note
Keith Martin
to use for cruise-ins, tours, rallies and just general driving around.
Here’s what we’ve learned from the first two.
We started with a 1964 Nova wagon that we restored from the
E
ground up. It still had its original 283 V8, and when we were finished,
it was stunning. In fact, when we sold it this year at Barrett-Jackson,
it went into the collection of Ken Lingenfelter.
However, because it was so nice, it didn’t get used much. Part
of the concern was “rock-chip terror,” where every trip to the store
was an opportunity
for
a stone to hit
the paint, or
a door to get
dinged.
Second,
Out with the old ...
the drum
brakes and
primitive front
suspension
didn’t inspire confidence on highways or back roads. And upgrading
the front end to disc brakes and rack-and-pinion steering would have
changed the entire nature of the car. Consequently, it just sat most of
the time.
Our second
car was a 680hp
monster, a
1963 Dodge
440 with
a pro-built
500-ci allaluminum
Indy Maxx
Hemi. Barely street-legal, it could turn 10.80s at 125 mph at the drag
strip.
We all enjoyed showing up at cruise-ins in that car, and watching
... in with the badass
the crowds it attracted. But it was a full-tilt drag car, which made it
hard to use regularly.
Which leads us to our current acquisition, which should be in our
garage any day now. It’s a 2000 Dodge Viper GTS ACR, with a coldair
intake and Corsa exhaust. It has only 1,600 miles, and was ordered
from new with air conditioning, so it should be most usable.
We’re hoping the Viper walks the line between interesting, col-
lectible and fun — Editor Jim Pickering and the gang are already
laying out the Viper Calendar to see who gets to take the car where.
I’m hoping that by this time next year it has 15,000 miles on it — and
a story to go with every mile. A
22 AmericanCarCollector.com
What makes a good
ACC car?
veryone at ACC is a gearhead. We live and breathe cars.
Staff meetings often come to a complete halt when something
like a C7 drives by our offices, or a resto-mod thunders
away when the stoplight on NE 20th Avenue changes
to green.
We always have an American car in the garage for the ACC gang
CAR COLLECTOR
Volume 3, Number 3
May-June 2014
Publisher Keith Martin
executive editor Chester Allen
editor Jim Pickering
Art Director Dave Tomaro
Digital Media Director Jeff Stites
editor at Large Colin Comer
Auctions editor Tony Piff
Associate editor Chad Tyson
Copy editors Yael Abel, Dave Tomaro
Auction Analysts B. Mitchell Carlson
Kevin Coakley
John Lyons
Norm Mort
Phil Skinner
Contributors Carl Bomstead
Colin Comer
John Draneas
Michael Pierce
Jay Harden
Mark Wigginton
Information Technology Brian Baker
Lead Web Developer Marc Emerson
SeO Consultant Michael Cottam
Advertising and events
Manager Erin Olson
Financial Manager Cheryl Ann Cox
Print Media Buyer Wendie Martin
ADVeRTISING SALeS
Advertising executives Randy Zussman
randy.zussman@AmericanCarCollector.com
877.219.2605 x 214
Cindy Meitle
cindy.meitle@AmericanCarCollector.com
877.219.2605 x 5
Steve Kittrell
steve.kittrell@AmericanCarCollector.com
877.219.2605 x 5
SuBSCRIPTIONS
Subscriptions Manager Rich Coparanis
Administrative Assistant Cassie Sellman
Subscriptions 877.219.2605 x 1
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Web www.AmericanCarCollector.com
American Car Collector magazine (ISSN# 2164-1323) is published bimonthly by
Automotive Investor Media Group, 401 NE 19th Street, Suite 100, Portland, OR 97232.
POSTMASTeR: Send address changes to American Car Collector, PO Box 4797, Portland,
OR 97208. The information in American Car Collector magazine is compiled from
a variety of reliable sources. However, we disclaim and deny any responsibility or liability
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presented. All material, data, formats, and intellectual concepts in this issue © 2014 by
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Copyright registered with the United States copyright office. PRINTED IN USA
AMERICAN
JOIN US
Daniel Grunwald
Jack Tockston
Pat Campion
Dale Novak
B. Mitchell Carlson
Ken Gross
Tom Glatch
John L. Stein
Marshall Buck
Dale Novak
Keith Martin's
Page 22
GOODREADS by Mark Wigginton
Mustang Fifty Years: Celebrating America’s Only True Pony Car
by Donald Farr, Motorbooks, 256 pages, $36.97 (Amazon)
My father’s white ’60 VW left with him for work one day and never returned.
Oh, he came back, but the VW magically turned
into a brand-new 1965 Mustang, driven by a nice
little 289 automatic, dressed in a delightful Ford
blue metallic. The interior was blue and white as
well — a Pony interior that was the height of fashion.
I couldn’t wait to drive it.
As it turned out, I took the test for my first li-
cense in that car, did my first drag race (on the track)
in that car, learned how to put a great big Holley
4-barrel carb on it, how to detail a car to my father’s
exacting specifications on it, and a whole lot more.
America, it turned out, was on the same journey.
It has been 50 years already. Fifty years since
Lee Iacocca essentially tricked Edsel Ford into
putting a lot of lipstick on a Falcon and changing
Ford’s trajectory. The Mustang exploded on the
market, started and then chased the sporty-carsedan
horsepower wars, and over the next half
century kept evolving. Sometimes it was in the
right direction (the current Boss 302 gives you
faith in the brand), and often the Mustang brand
went down dark, scary side roads (cough, Mustang
II, cough).
As tied as Ford is to blue, author Donald Farr is tied to the Mustang. As longtime editor of
Mustang Monthly and a Mustang historian, Farr has put decades of knowledge and research into a
look back at the Mustang phenomenon, from literally starting the Pony car sporty sedan category
in American showrooms to a distinguished racing history and as a cultural touchstone.
Fifty Years covers it all, from early internal intrigues at Ford to the Mustang’s impact on popular
culture. The Mustang was a game changer, and this is the quite readable tale.
PARTSTIME by Chad Tyson
New products to modernize your street machine
Drake Vintage Bronco Billet Knob Kit
Billet aluminum handles and knobs tend to be over the top. (Think
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24 AmericanCarCollector.com
Flaming River 3rd Generation Programmable RFID
Keyless Ignition System
Keys are outdated.
Upgrade your security
and join the 21st century
with push-button starting.
One of the most
important components of
modern vehicle security
is the radio frequency
identification (RFID)
ignition immobilizing
systems. Ford introduced their first RFID system in the 1997
Mustang. Thefts dropped 70% from two years earlier.
Flaming River’s system uses random-code generation, adding
another level of security to your ignition. It won’t make your car
theft-proof, but it is certainly an upgrade from using the cigarette
lighter to ground the coil or hiding a switch somewhere under the
carpet.
The fobs can be programmed to control popular keyless entry
systems, door poppers and other remote accessories.
This system can be a stand-alone dash-mounted unit or integrated
with one of Flaming River’s tilt columns, so give them a call with any
and all questions. MSRP is $649. Visit www.flamingriver.com or
call 800.648.8022 for more information. A
Lineage:
Donald Farr has probably written
more words about Mustangs than
anyone, anywhere, anytime. His long
tenure at Mustang Monthly (30 years)
gives him the unique knowledge to
pull off this history.
Fit and finish:
Motorbooks, as a rule, is a bit
more restrained design-wise, and
some of the interior flourishes get in
the way of the images, although they
are plentiful and well printed.
Drivability:
As I’ve said before, it sure helps
to be in the hands of a professional
writer, and Farr is nothing but. The
text is clear and logical, the tales it
tells are either surprising or skillful
retellings of a history of which many of
us have at least passing knowledge.
If you know nothing about Mustangs,
here’s the book that sums the
phenomenon up for you. If you are
already deep in the Mustang culture,
there are still things to learn. It’s a
great birthday present to a car with an
important history.
is best
Page 24
COOL
Bent wrench
These half-moon box-end wrenches from Craftsman
Industrial give you convenient access to hard-to-reach
bolts. More control means you can wrench harder and
better. $14.97 from www.summitracing.com
Wheel simulat
So you’ve got your
eye on a set of
wheels, but you’re
not sure if they’ll fit
your ride. Percy’s
WheelRite is a
simple, powerful tool
that eliminates the gues
work. Remove your cur
wheel and bolt up the fi
tool. Adjust the telesco
to simulate wheel diam
backspacing. A flexible w
tire profile. Now rotate t
tool clears your fender walls, brake systems
and suspension components, you know the real thing is going to fit.
Get it? $66.65 from www.summitracing.com. Made in USA.
Truck treads
Take your off-roading to the
next level. Track & Go is a fully removable
wheel-driven track system. It’s designed for driving
on top of deep snow, but you can also safely
cruise up to 40 mph on pavement. Everything
installs in 15 minutes with no modifications.
$25,000 for the complete, universal setup from
www.trucktracks.com.
DESKTOPCLASSICS by Marshall Buck
1965 Ford Mustang coupe
I have yet to meet anyone who doesn’t know what
a Ford Mustang is. There’s a lot to be said for marketing.
These were cool cars when new, and they still
hold that cool factor today.
Premium X has produced some pretty good die-
cast models of the ’65 Mustang in two forms: coupe
(shown) and convertible. The coupe is available in
three color schemes, supplied mounted in plastic
display cases with a plaque stating “Limited Edition,” which is probably only limited to how
many the factory can crank out.
Overall shape and fit and finish are good, although you will find a few blemishes in the paint.
There is a healthy amount of very good and delicate detailing all around, such as photo-etched
wipers, separate chrome, raised antenna, and chrome window trim. Interiors are well done, and
come only with manual trans and no console. But for under $50, it’s hard to go wrong here.
26 AmericanCarCollector.com
COOL
Bent
COOL
Bent
COOL
Bent
COOL
Bent
Bent wrench
These half-moon box-end wrenches from Craftsman
Industrial give you conv
Bent wrench
These half-moon box-end wrenches from Craftsman
Industrial give you convenient access to hard-to-reach
bolts. More control means you can wrench harder and
better. $14.97 from www.summitracing.com
Wheel simulat
So you’ve got your
eye on a set of
wheels, but you’re
not sure if they’ll fit
your ride. Percy’s
WheelRite is a
simple, powerful tool
that eliminates the gues
work. Remove your cur
wheel and bolt up the fi
tool. Adjust the telesco
to simulate wheel diam
backspacing. A flexible w
tire profile. Now rotate t
tool clears your fender walls, brake systems
and suspension components, you know the real thing is going to fit.
Get it? $66.65 from www.summitracing.com. Made in USA.
Truck treads
Take your off-roading to the
next level. Track & Go is a fully removable
wheel-driven track system. It’s designed for driv-
ing on top of deep snow, but you can also safely
cruise up to 40 mph on pavement. Everything
installs in 15 minutes with no modifications.
$25,000 for the complete, universal setup from
www.trucktracks.com.
DESKTOPCLASSICS by Marshall Buck
1965 Ford Mustang coupe
I have yet to meet anyone who doesn’t know what
a Ford Mustang is. There’s a lot to be said for market-
ing. These were cool cars when new, and they still
hold that cool factor today.
Premium X has produced some pretty good die-
cast models of the ’65 Mustang in two forms: coupe
(shown) and convertible. The coupe is available in
three color schemes, supplied mounted in plastic
display cases with a plaque stating “Limited Edition,” which is probably only limited to how
many the factory can crank out.
Overall shape and fit and finish are good, although you will find a few blemishes in the paint.
There is a healthy amount of very good and delicate detailing all around, such as photo-etched
wipers, separate chrome, raised antenna, and chrome window trim. Interiors are well done, and
come only with manual trans and no console. But for under $50, it’s hard to go wrong here.
26 AmericanCarCollector.com
first
first time you experience the
one-handed ease of their trademarked
“Round Hole,” you’ll be sold. The
palm-sized Ambitious features a locking,
2¼-inch leaf-shaped blade. At just $32.95
e version),
derco
COOL
Bent
OOL
Bent wrench
Thes
L
Bent wrench
These half-moon box-end wrenches from Craftsman
Industrial give you convenient access to hard-to-reach
bolts. More control means you can wrench harder and
better. $14.97 from www.summitracing.com
Wheel simulat
So you’ve got your
eye on a set of
wheels, but you’re
not sure if they’ll fit
your ride. Percy’s
WheelRite is a
simple, powerful tool
that eliminates the gues
work. Remove your cur
wheel and bolt up the fi
tool. Adjust the telesco
to simulate wheel diam
backspacing. A flexible w
tire profile. Now rotate t
tool clears your fender walls, brake systems
and suspension components, you know the real thing is going to fit.
Get it? $66.65 from www.summitracing.com. Made in USA.
Truck treads
Take your off-roading to the
next level. Track & Go is a fully removable
wheel-driven track system. It’s designed for driv-
ing on top of deep snow, but you can also safely
cruise up to 40 mph on pavement. Everything
installs in 15 minutes with no modifications.
$25,000 for the complete, universal setup from
www.trucktracks.com.
DESKTOPCLASSICS by Marshall Buck
1965 Ford Mustang coupe
I have yet to meet anyone who doesn’t know what
a Ford Mustang is. There’s a lot to be said for market-
ing. These were cool cars when new, and they still
hold that cool factor today.
Premium X has produced some pretty good die-
cast models of the ’65 Mustang in two forms: coupe
(shown) and convertible. The coupe is available in
three color schemes, supplied mounted in plastic
display cases with a plaque stating “Limited Edition,” which is probably only limited to how
many the factory can crank out.
Overall shape and fit and finish are good, although you will find a few blemishes in the paint.
There is a healthy amount of very good and delicate detailing all around, such as photo-etched
wipers, separate chrome, raised antenna, and chrome window trim. Interiors are well done, and
come only with manual trans and no console. But for under $50, it’s hard to go wrong here.
26 AmericanCarCollector.com
first time you experience the
one-handed ease of their trade-
marked “Round Hole,” you’ll be sold. The
palm-sized Ambitious features a locking,
2¼-inch leaf-shaped blade. At just $32.95
e version),
derco
our
our
ent wrench
These half-moon box-end wrenches from Craftsman
Industrial give you convenient access to hard-to-reach
bolts. More control means you can wrench harder and
better. $14.97 from www.summitracing.com
Wheel simulat
So you’ve got your
eye on a set of
wheels, but you’re
not sure if they’ll fit
your ride. Percy’s
WheelRite is a
simple, powerful tool
that eliminates the gues
work. Remove your cur
wheel and bolt up the fi
tool. Adjust the telesco
to simulate wheel diam
backspacing. A flexible w
tire profile. Now rotate t
tool clears your fender walls, brake systems
and suspension components, you know the real thing is going to fit.
Get it? $66.65 from www.summitracing.com. Made in USA.
Truck treads
Take your off-roading to the
next level. Track & Go is a fully removable
wheel-driven track system. It’s designed for driv-
ing on top of deep snow, but you can also safely
cruise up to 40 mph on pavement. Everything
installs in 15 minutes with no modifications.
$25,000 for the complete, universal setup from
www.trucktracks.com.
DESKTOPCLASSICS by Marshall Buck
1965 Ford Mustang coupe
I have yet to meet anyone who doesn’t know what
a Ford Mustang is. There’s a lot to be said for market-
ing. These were cool cars when new, and they still
hold that cool factor today.
Premium X has produced some pretty good die-
cast models of the ’65 Mustang in two forms: coupe
(shown) and convertible. The coupe is available in
three color schemes, supplied mounted in plastic
display cases with a plaque stating “Limited Edition,” which is probably only limited to how
many the factory can crank out.
Overall shape and fit and finish are good, although you will find a few blemishes in the paint.
There is a healthy amount of very good and delicate detailing all around, such as photo-etched
wipers, separate chrome, raised antenna, and chrome window trim. Interiors are well done, and
come only with manual trans and no console. But for under $50, it’s hard to go wrong here.
26 AmericanCarCollector.com
first time you experience the
one-handed ease of their trade-
marked “Round Hole,” you’ll be sold. The
palm-sized Ambitious features a locking,
2¼-inch leaf-shaped blade. At just $32.95
e version),
derco
our
kicker
kicker slips
r couch and
converts TV sounds into powerful
vibrations. It adds a whole new element
to sports, movies and games.
Buttkicker has even partnered with
the NHRA on ESPN2, attaching
wireless sensors to actual race cars,
for enhanced realism in your living
room. $279.95 from www.shakemycouch.com
Detailing
Scale: 1:43
Available colors: Red, black, two-tone light
metallic green with cream roof
Quantity: Many thousands of each
Price: $44.95
Production date: 2013–14
Web: www.motorsportsminiatures.com
Ratings
Detailing:
Accuracy:
Overall quality:
Overall value:
is best
Page 26
SNAPSHOTS
40th Annual Corvette
and High Performance Meet
THE NORTHWEST’S FIRST MAJOR 2014 EVENT OFFERED SOMETHING
FOR EVERY ENTHUSIAST
Report and photos
by Jack Tockston
A
s the regional frenzy over
the Seattle Seahawks’ NFL
victory calmed, hardy vendors
and motorheads converged on
the Western Washington Fair
Events Center in Puyallup on February 8 and
9. This three-day winter event celebrated
four decades of success this year, although
attendance was down a bit due to a recordbreaking
cold snap, snowstorms closing
mountain passes, and expected flurries at the
venue.
The traditional draw is more than 900
booths of cars, parts and automobilia for
every American make and model, and this
year’s offerings for vintage and late Chevys,
Fords, and Mopars did not disappoint.
About two dozen Corvettes were for sale
indoors and out, while not-for-sale keepers
were displayed in a separate building.
Favorites there included a red “Greenwood
Customer Car,” a medium blue C5-based
custom ’67 convertible by Tacoma-based
CRC, and a silver-blue ’63 Split-Window
coupe. (Wish I’d kept my red SWC fuelie.)
Whetting first-edition appetites, four
brand-new privately-owned C7 coupes were
scattered about the event.
The huge Showplex building and two
adjacent structures were filled with vintage
Two gens of red Corvettes
and late-model parts, and many shoppers
were pulling wagons to haul found treasures.
New chrome bumpers, sheet metal, and fat
racing slicks were shouldered out the door.
Rare manifolds, fuel injection units, and
vintage stainless trim disappeared. Freebie
black bags from Hagerty Insurance carried
books, sales literature, and small parts. One
unhappy little boy was ejected from his
stroller in favor of a set of polished mags.
Later, he was seen happily trying on a red
go-kart for size.
Record-breaking weather conditions
put a damper on this 40th anniversary, but
next year’s gathering of the faithful should
be without such impediments — although
offerings on Mother Nature’s altar might be
a good idea. A
Cars for the more budget-minded
28 AmericanCarCollector.com
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air
Page 28
SNAPSHOTS
World of Speed
A FACILITY OPENING IN OREGON AIMS TO LAUNCH A NEW GENERATION
OF GEARHEADS
Courtesy of World of Speed
An artist’s rendering of the finished facility, scheduled to open in the fall
by Jim Pickering
A
sk any longtime car guy about the future of the old-car
hobby and you’ll likely hear the same sort of answer:
“Today’s kids just aren’t interested in cars the same way
we were.”
A new nonprofit experiential motorsports exposition
called World of Speed aims to change that.
World of Speed, based in Wilsonville, OR, is in the process of
building a world-class performance automotive
museum and industry educational program.
l be the kind of place you can go to see
muscle and race cars on display, learn
about speed parts and racing history,
and most importantly, it’ll be a place
where kids can get hands-on exposure
to the automotive world through
programming and activities.
Executive Director Tony Thacker
id, “Our vision is to showcase our amazing
car collection in a unique, interesting,
and educational tourist attraction that sup-
ports the visitor industry.”
“That said, the real purpose of World of Speed is to provide an
experiential environment in which young people can explore the
exciting world of motorsports and the career opportunities it offers. If
America is to retain its world leadership role, we need mechanics and
engineers — Honda and Toyota say 100,000 now — yet our schools
have all but abandoned auto shop. World of Speed is dedicated to
addressing that need.”
30 AmericanCarCollector.com
The building, which used to be a Dodge dealership, is about 20
miles south of Portland, off Interstate 5. It features 80,000 square feet
of indoor space and will be home to more than 100 vehicles, vintage
memorabilia, racing simulators and other special displays. The
collection is set to include NASCAR racers, drag cars, motorcycles,
land-speed racers and more. Where possible, it will tell the stories of
both racers and race tracks associated with the Pacific Northwest.
The groundbreaking ceremony took place on February 18, with a
lot of work already completed. The exposition is scheduled to open to
the public this fall. Learn more at www.worldofspeed.org. A
Jim Pickering
The displays are starting to come together
Page 30
YOUR TURN
Tell us what’s on your mind
Contact us at: American Car Collector, P.O. Box 4797, Portland, OR 97208
or online at comments@americancarcollector.com
The Hot Rod Camaro — the first Dynacorn-bodied Camaro — sold for $89,600 at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2012
What’s a body worth?
I have a question I hope you all can an-
swer. How well are the prices for cars built
with Dynacorn or Real Deal Steel bodies
holding up? Or have enough been sold to get
good sale data?
I’m interested in a Pro-Touring ’69
Camaro built with a Dynacorn body
scheduled to sell at the Mecum auction in
Indianapolis next month. I’m trying to figure
out how to put a value on it.
Any help or thoughts you have are ap-
preciated.
— Wes Brannon, Mobile, AL
Jim Pickering, ACC Editor, responds:
That’s a tough one, Wes, as I don’t think
we’ve seen many of them come to auction
in recent months. But I will say this: For
the cars that have been built to the nines
with those bodies, holding value hasn’t been
much of an issue, since the cars are nowhere
near stock to begin with. Most of them are
full-tilt drag cars or Pro-Touring machines
that are valued more off their build quality
than their VIN numbers and genuine GM
steel stampings. I’d look at it like any other
resto-mod, with the added benefit of a lack
32 AmericanCarCollector.com
of rust. As for pricing, I’d start with the sum
of the parts and add on for the cool factor
and build quality. That should get you in the
right ballpark.
Mysterious numbers
Just got my first issue, love it.
I noticed when talking about a car that had
previously been through another auction,
there’s a number like (ACC# 120021). Is there
a place I can go to find out what cars sold for
at other auctions in the past?
— Bruce Winslow, via email
Jim Pickering, ACC Editor, responds:
To answer that, first let me give you a little
backstory. ACC was created out of Corvette
Market, a magazine that covered Corvette
sales across the world. That magazine was
spun from our parent magazine, Sports Car
Market, which has covered auction results
and the market for more than 26 years.
For all those 26 years, every single car
covered by our reporters at auction was
entered into a database. And like a VIN
number, each transaction (or no-sale) got
its very own identifying serial number for
reference inside our database.
ACC’s database is called ACC Premium,
and you can access it on our site at americancarcollector.com.
Access is $59 per year,
and it includes more than 120,000 listings
of American cars that have crossed auction
blocks all over the world. Each listing
includes a VIN number, auction lot number,
on-site condition report, photo, engine and
transmission information, and the price it
made when it sold (or didn’t sell). When you
see an ACC number (ACC# XXXXX) anywhere
in the magazine, it’s referencing a past
sale that you can look up in our database.
Beyond just looking up specific cars by lot
number or VIN number, Premium also includes
a lot of powerful graphing tools that
display several different metrics, including
average prices over time. If, for example,
you want to know how ’65 Mustangs have
been doing over the past five years, you’d
simply go to the Premium page, log in, and
enter that information into the search field.
You’d see average price graphs, as well as
a list of every car we have that matches the
criteria you entered.
Check out “Three to Watch” on p. 36 of
this issue for more information.A
Page 32
INSIDER’S VIEW
Readers pick today’s best buys
Crowd-sourcing an answer to your queries
To be on the mailing list for next month’s question, go to AmericanCarCollector.com and sign up for our biweekly newsletter.
The ACC question: In Scottsdale this past January, ACC
hosted a seminar that focused on what we thought were the cars to
buy right now. And in the previous issue of ACC, we talked a little
bit about our choices — cars such as first-gen Mustang convertibles,
Saleen Fox-body Mustangs, ’70s Chevrolet and GMC C10 pickups,
and Viper GTS coupes all made our list.
What do you think? Which car or cars would you buy right now
as investments for the future and why? Classic trucks? Mustangs?
Chevelles? First-gen Corvettes? Modern muscle? What would you
look to spend, and what would you do with the car once you had the
keys in hand?
Readers respond:
Phil Stevens, Lake Oswego, OR: It might sound boring and
predictable, but early-model and special limited-number Corvettes,
Mustangs (like Shelby) and T-birds will always be in demand. Safe and
best buys that will keep their values.
Richard Fleener, Murfreesboro, TN: 1969 Ford Talladega and
Mercury Cyclone Spoiler II. Both of these cars were built in extremely
small numbers of 750 and 500 respectively.
The Talladega and Spoiler II had hand-built front ends (installed
on the assembly line) and even had special rolled rocker panels that
permitted them to be raced one inch lower to the
ground. These cars had one purpose, and that was
to be homologated into NASCAR for racing on the
Superspeedways. These cars brought aerodynamics
to the forefront of racing. It has been rumored that
every car cost $10,000 to develop and build, and
they sold for approximately $7,000 less!
If it had not been for these two cars, the world
would have never had the Dodge Daytona and
Plymouth Superbird. They were the result of Ford
and Mercury’s aero cars so dominating the track
when they showed up at Daytona in 1969.
1969 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler II
Kissimmee this year and intend to drive the $%#* out of it. If I had the
means, I would buy as many as I could get my hands on. In the words
of Roy Sinor, it’s the next ’63 Split-Window.
Victor Loero, Lima, Peru: I would purchase a 1964 Studebaker
Avanti and/or a Daytona hard top, both with the R engines (supercharged).
Mark Dellacqua, via ACC Blog: A lot of the performance non-
“If I had the
means, I would
buy as many C4
ZR-1s as I could
get my hands on”
David Dubie, via email: 1) 1967 and 1968 Firebird, coupes and
convertibles. These models have been overshadowed by Camaros, but
in my mind are very desirable due to the design and powerful Pontiac
engines. I believe they represent a value today which includes documentation
from PHS that some Camaros do not have available.
2) 1960 Cadillac Series 62 and Eldorado convertibles. The 1959
Cadillac Series 62 and Eldorado convertibles have been so strong in the
marketplace that they have somewhat overshadowed the refined 1960
models. The improvements for 1960 include suspension and braking
for better handling and riding characteristics. I believe the 1960 models
represent a value today with price growth for the future.
Dwanye Bublitz, Corvette’N America Road Tours, Flagstaff,
AZ: Being a Corvette enthusiast, my pick for future collectibles is
the C4 ZR-1 and the C6 ZR1. Both models had fairly low production
numbers and both offer lots of bang for the buck. A good low-mileage
C4 ZR-1 can be purchased for $25,000 to $30,000 and a low-mileage
C6 ZR1 may be as low as $70,000.
I would drive and enjoy both these super Corvettes — not putting
on too many miles while keeping them original as possible.
John Kindell, via ACC Blog: I bought my first C4 ZR-1 at
34 AmericanCarCollector.com
Mustang Fords (1963–73) are still a good buy when compared with GM
and Mopar of the same era. Mercury performance products from the
same years are still a good buy as well. Big-block
Torinos and Cyclones have jumped slightly in value
during the past few years, but I’m surprised it took
that long, and the jump was minimal. I can’t help
but think that during the past five to 10 years a few
individuals have acquired some of these examples
of Ford muscle at bargain prices and are just sitting
on them for the right moment.
Larry Nelson, via email: What it looks like to
me from both Scottsdale and Florida so far is that
we seem to be experiencing a run-up of most all the usual suspects —
Chevelles, Camaros, ’Cudas, GTOs, etc. You probably saw the 375-hp
SS Chevelle at B-J that went at $75k. Really strong #1 car. In the nottoo-distant
past, this would have been tops at $45k–$50k.
After all that, what seems to be to be best value I have seen recently
are the small-block ’Cudas and Challengers. These are nice cars that
don’t break the bank, and I would expect the AARs and big blocks to
pull these along much like the C2 corvettes have done to the C3s.
Bill Warner, founder of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance:
I like the ’63–65 Riviera; the ’66 Riviera; Studebaker Avanti R2; 1961
Pontiac bubble-top 4-speed, with eight-lug wheels and Tri-Power; and
the 1959 Buick convertible (any model). There certainly are others, but
those are my favorites.
Gary Thomas, via email: Any and ALL Shelby automobiles.
The older the better. Next, manual transmissions, then convertibles,
and next big-block engines.
Of course any original AC Cobra should top the Shelby list. First
would be the original 289 Cobras and then 427 Cobras.
R. Badner, Los Angeles, CA: 1969 or 1970 Boss 302. Relatively
rare, racing history, good looking, solid lifters. A true muscle car.
Prices seem high now until we look back five years from now. A
Page 34
FEATURETODAY’S BEST BUYS
Three to watch
W
hich cars are smart buys right now? At ACC, we hear
that question all the time.
The market can be a tricky place, especially if
you’re trying to find a car that’ll perform well when
it’s time to sell. Values can move up or down pretty
quickly, and while nobody has a crystal ball when it comes to what
the next trend is going to be, we do have data from ACC’s Price
G
m
m
fr
re
ATURETODAY’S BEST BUYS
Three to watch
W
hich cars are smart buys right now? At ACC, we hear
that question all the time.
The market can be a tricky place, especially if
you’re trying to find a car that’ll perform well when
it’s time to sell. Values can move up or down pretty
quickly, and while nobody has a crystal ball when it comes to what
the next trend is going to be, we do have data from ACC’s Price
G
m
m
fr
re
la
la
th
s
o
D
Nu
p
Nu
in t
A
$
C
1965 Chevrolet Impala SS 396
A FOCUS ON CARS THAT ARE SHOWING SOME FINANCIAL UPSIDE
ONE TO WATCH:
1965 Chevrolet Impala SS 396
I’ve always been a fan of GM’s big
Chosen
by Jim
Pickering,
ACC
Editor
cars, especially from 1959 through about
1967. Of this group, I picked the 1965
Chevrolet for a couple of reasons. First,
he change
as dramatic,
s and a lot of
ed side glass
t all work in
llights are
EATURETODAY’S BEST BUYS
Three to watch
W
hich cars are smart buys right now? At ACC, we hear
that question all the time.
The market can be a tricky place, especially if
you’re trying to find a car that’ll perform well when
it’s time to sell. Values can move up or down pretty
quickly, and while nobody has a crystal ball when it comes to what
the next trend is going to be, we do have data from ACC’s Price
G
m
m
fr
re
la
th
s
o
D
Nu
p
Nu
in t
A
$
C
1965 Chevrolet Impala SS 396
A FOCUS ON CARS THAT ARE SHOWING SOME FINANCIAL UPSIDE
ONE TO WATCH:
1965 Chevrolet Impala SS 396
I’ve always been a fan of GM’s big
Chosen
by Jim
Pickering,
ACC
Editor
cars, especially from 1959 through about
1967. Of this group, I picked the 1965
Chevrolet for a couple of reasons. First,
he change
as dramatic,
s and a lot of
ed side glass
t all work in
llights are
M
M had availe
way through
hree- and
erglide
os. Some
9 engine,
6 wasn’t ready
after producon
for the
model year
had started.
My fa-
vorite of the
group is the
SS 396 —
big motor,
l through the
, and a robust
c (or 4-speed)
our-link
more curb
. It’s a stout
f eyeball, and
hich makes
nd when you
d to use it —
l your friends
TURETODAY’S BEST BUYS
Three to watch
W
hich cars are smart buys right now? At ACC, we hear
that question all the time.
The market can be a tricky place, especially if
you’re trying to find a car that’ll perform well when
it’s time to sell. Values can move up or down pretty
quickly, and while nobody has a crystal ball when it comes to what
the next trend is going to be, we do have data from ACC’s Price
G
m
m
fr
re
la
th
s
o
D
Nu
p
Nu
in t
A
$
C
1965 Chevrolet Impala SS 396
A FOCUS ON CARS THAT ARE SHOWING SOME FINANCIAL UPSIDE
ONE TO WATCH:
1965 Chevrolet Impala SS 396
I’ve always been a fan of GM’s big
Chosen
by Jim
Pickering,
ACC
Editor
cars, especially from 1959 through about
1967. Of this group, I picked the 1965
Chevrolet for a couple of reasons. First,
he change
as dramatic,
s and a lot of
ed side glass
t all work in
llights are
M had avail-
e way through
hree- and
erglide
os. Some
9 engine,
6 wasn’t ready
after produc-
on for the
model year
had started.
My fa-
vorite of the
group is the
SS 396 —
big motor,
l through the
, and a robust
c (or 4-speed)
our-link
more curb
. It’s a stout
f eyeball, and
hich makes
nd when you
d to use it —
l your friends
The
The most recent ACC Price Guide lists the
value range of the SS 396 at $16,500 to $25,500
for a decent #2 example, with no change in
value over the year prior. Average values for
all ’65 Impalas, as displayed through ACC
Premium’s graphs of sold cars, show an uptick
after several years of decline following the
market crash of ’08. This is one I’ll be watching
— if you buy the best one you can find in
our range of prices and you keep it all-stock,
I think it’ll do well in value over the next few
years. At the very least, it’ll be a usable driver
with a great classic look.
36 AmericanCarCollector.com
$
$
Page 35
Piff, ACC
Piff, ACC
ff, ACC
Auctions
Editor
tion run, t
Piff, ACC
Auctions
Editor
Piff, ACC
f, ACC
Auctions
Editor
tion run, the
Dodge Dar
, ACC
Auctions
Editor
tion
tion run, the
Dodge Dart
cemented its
legacy as a reli-
able but uninspired econocar. As the muscle
car era approached its swaggering apex,
the Dart’s homely reputation made the
high-performance GTS version (produced
1968–69) a proper underdog sleeper.
The Dart GTS got Bumble Bee stripes for
visual flair, and vented hood bulges hinted
at the V8 underneath — either a 340 or the
big-block 383. Rounding out the performance
goodies were Torqueflite automatic
transmission, Rallye suspension, and lowrestriction
dual exhaust.
The resulting package made for a spunky
and successful street machine that could go
toe-to-toe with its bigger, badder, largerdisplacement
rivals.
A very nice ’69 Dart GTS 383 might
be $42,000 today — half or a third of
what you’d likely pay for anything with a
numbers-matching Hemi. The 340 is even
cheaper, with a current ACC Price Guide
valuation of $24,000 to $32,000. That makes
the GTS 340 one of the last affordable entry
points into the Mopar performance game.
We’ve watched prices ramp up and hold
steady in the past three years, which would
seem to suggest that, yes, enthusiasts are
recognizing the significance of this perennial
C-grade collectible.
And since it’s a Dart, odds are you’ll
never have to deal with the question, “Does
it have a Hemi?”
May-June 2014 37
DETAILING
Number produced: 6,700
Number sold at auction in the
past 12 months: Seven
Average price of those cars:
$31,087
Current ACC Valuation:
$23,500–$31,500
1969 Dodge Dart GTS 340
Page 36
FEATURE TODAY’S BEST BUYS
ONE TO WATCH: 1996–98
Mustang SVT Cobra
Chosen by Chad
Tyson, ACC
Associate Editor
and Chief Data
Analyst
Ford’s SVT
division has
cranked out
some of the
best performing
cars the
Blue Oval
has ever produced. SVT brought performance
back to pickups with the original Lightning in
1993, and it continues that trend with the Raptor,
their off-road monster. They also developed and
engineered the awesome Ford GT along with
Saleen and Roush Racing.
While hopping into a $50k Raptor or $250k
GT is probably a financial stretch for most of
us, there are some deals to get in on that also
sport the SVT emblem. For example: 1996–98
Mustang SVT Cobras. The ACC Price Guide
showed an increase of 5% for coupes and 9% for
convertibles over the previous Price Guide. The
year prior to that showed 1% and 7% growth respectively,
so we have something of a trend here.
Here’s why I like these cars so much: In
1996, Ford dropped the much-loved (but dated)
5.0 motor in favor of a more powerful, lighter
4.6-liter DOHC modular V8 rated at 305 hp. For
a kid in high school at that time, that was the car
to have. Those kids are now in their 30s and have
disposable income to spend.
Have I mentioned that I was also a Ford me-
chanic? I can confirm SVT built these vehicles to
take a lot punishment — even the nine-year-old
models on which I wrenched.
There are still fine examples under $10k. That
makes them easy to get into the garage. They’re
also still new enough to warrant dismissal from
guys who would inflate these prices to unreasonable
levels. There are some expensive examples:
At Barrett-Jackson’s Palm Beach 2013 sale, a
1996 SVT Mustang sold at $22k. But that just
indicates the potential here. A
DETAILING
Number produced: 28,705
Number sold at auction in the
past 12 months: 23
Average price of those cars:
$13,385
Current ACC Valuation:
$4,500–$8,400
1996–98 Mustang SVT Cobra
What’s our secret? DATA
And it can be yours as well
The ACC Premium Database is the world’s largest database
of American cars sold at auction, and it was the source for the
information in this feature. The database is searchable by make,
model, year, VIN number, lot number, engine size, horsepower rating,
transmission type, exterior color, and more. When you see an
ACC# in the Market Reports, it’s referencing data about that car in
Premium. every search includes graphs of a car’s average prices
over time, total sales by auction date, individual sales, and average
price by model year. Access is only $59 per year. Learn more at
www.americancarcollector.com/store/premium-database.
120,000
38 AmericanCarCollector.com
Page 38
Cheap Thrills
LUXO-BARGAIN
The
IMPeRIAL: MORE THAN
JUST A 440 CORE FOR YOUR
MUSCLE CAR PROJECT
B. Mitchell Carlson
1967 Imperial Crown, sold for $5,500
at Mecum Kansas City in 2013
W
hen American luxury-car fans think of the offerings
from the Big Three in the 1960s, they sometimes get
confused. Sure, Cadillac and Lincoln come readily to
mind, but was the third one Chrysler? Nah, they usually
weren’t on par with those two, right? Wait, wasn’t
there a fancy Chrysler called the Imperial?
There was, and from 1954 to 1975, it was actually a stand-alone
make for Chrysler Corporation — the highest plateau of offerings
from the company. As such, calling one from those years a Chrysler
Imperial is about as incorrect as saying Chrysler DeSoto. If you want
to get it right, these are just Imperials.
Big style, weird options
By the late 1950s, some models utilized bodywork from Ghia of
Turin, not unlike the Cadillac Fleetwood Broughams of 1957 through
1960, and things really got over the top in the early 1960s.
While Lincoln hit one out of the park with their conservatively
styled Continental in 1961, Imperials had the most unique throwback
styling feature of the decade: free-standing headlights. Looking
at one, you’ll wonder if Virgil Exner was dropping acid when he
40 AmericanCarCollector.com
thought of it.
Like Lincoln, Imperial also went the slab-sided route in 1964.
But Chrysler’s designers were still tossing in their share of styling
idiosyncrasies, too, with such things as a stylized Continental kit
deck lid. But overall, these cars were more conservative, and by 1969,
a restyle firmly planted the Imp into the land of bland sleds with
rounded-off “fuselage” bodies.
The Imperial continued to melt into that nondescript netherland of
“looks like a Chrysler” territory through its last platform change in
1974.
But you can’t accuse Imperial of only occasionally daring to be
different. A great example was the Mobile Director option, offered
in 1967 and 1968. Only available on the Crown 2-door hard top, it
allowed the front passenger’s seat to swivel to the rear, and the front
armrest could turn and swivel to become a table for the front and
rear passengers. This office on wheels suffered from lackluster sales,
but the 1968 federal occupant protection standards probably played a
bigger part in killing it off.
By 1976, the Imp was no more. What vestiges of it that remained
became the Chrysler New Yorker Brougham. The Imp’s final-year
B. Mitchell Carlson
Page 39
1967 Crown Mobile Director, sold for $7,555 at Russo and
Steele Scottsdale this year
Crown coupe, with a forward vinyl roof, became
the St. Regis package from 1976 through
1978 — the final year for Chrysler’s big boat,
regardless of whatever they called it.
ts cars
e the platform actually dates to 1964, I choose
440 reasons they were popular
art with because it was the first year of what
e the stalwart RB big-block 440-ci engine. From
t the first Imperial became totaled in an accident,
e most as engine donors.
r each of these hoods, they were (and still are, on
e scale) low-hanging fruit for engine donors to build
das, Challengers, Coronets, Belvederes, Road
Runners, Chargers, and maybe
even a K-car or two with serious
engineering changes and a wild
hair up somewhere.
Indeed, it takes a Mopar fan
Detailing
1954–75
133,560
wn Mobile Director, sold for $7,555 at Russo and
Steele Scottsdale this year
Crown coupe, with a forward vinyl roof, be-
came the St. Regis package from 1976 through
1978 — the final year for Chrysler’s big boat,
regardless of whatever they called it.
ts cars
e the platform actually dates to 1964, I choose
440 reasons they were popular
art with because it was the first year of what
e the stalwart RB big-block 440-ci engine. From
t the first Imperial became totaled in an accident,
e most as engine donors.
r each of these hoods, they were (and still are, on
e scale) low-hanging fruit for engine donors to build
das, Challengers, Coronets, Belvederes, Road
Runners, Chargers, and maybe
even a K-car or two with serious
engineering changes and a wild
hair up somewhere.
Indeed, it takes a Mopar fan
Detailing
1954–75
133,560
Original
Original list price, 2-door hard top:
$6,053 (1966), $9,143 (1975)
Current ACC Valuation:
$7,000–$18,000
Tune-up cost: $200
Distributor cap: $12
Chassis number: Driver’s door
frame pillar (1966–67), lower
driver’s side of the windshield
(1968–on)
Engine number: Passenger’s
side, forward upper end of
the block
Clubs: WPC Club, Chrysler
Products Restorers Club
Website: www.chryslerclub.org
More: Online Imperial Club: www.
imperialclub.com
Alternatives: 1966–69 Lincoln
Continental, 1964–70 Cadillac
Fleetwood Brougham,
1966–78 Chrysler New Yorker
ACC Investment Grade: D
From the catalog — 1975 Crown LeBaron 2-door hard top
May-June 2014 41
with a keen interest in these
cars to even realize that lateryear
Imperials had disc-brake
rears — not that one of them
would fit in the back of a Dart
or ’Cuda anyway. Nope, just
yank the motor out of the Imp
and plop it into what was a
Barracuda and you’d have a ’Cuda 440 with extreme negative front
camber in no time.
Full steam ahead
Today, things are starting to change. First of all, the used and
abused beaters are all gone. There were enough fuel crises (real
or implied) to cull the thirsty herd before the millennium started.
So the cars that tend to surface today are generally well-cared-for
Grampamobile Survivor-grade originals, which are the absolute best
way to buy any ’60s or ’70s Luxobarge — there’s just too much unobtanium
trim and likely broken luxo-gizmos to even consider restoring
a rough one unless you really hate both your restoration shop and
your retirement fund.
However, thanks to popular culture (urban music, “Entourage,”
and especially “Mad Men”), surviving Detroit Luxobarges are seeing
an uptick in both interest and prices. But while Cadillac and Lincoln
swap places for top prices based upon year and body type, commensurate
Imperials consistently lag behind, and that makes them good
value for the dollar at generally under $20k.
They’re just as good as Caddys and Lincolns in pretty much every
way, and with that 440 powerplant, they tend to be a bit quicker, too.
Expect 10–12 mpg around town, with occasional ventures into 14–16
mpg on road trips at the posted speed limit — not all that different
than a modern SUV or pickup.
Cruising down the road in nearly three tons of iron and leather
may not be everyone’s motoring ideal, but if you’re interested in some
’60s style, acres of comfort, and a whole lot of room, it’s hard to go
wrong here. Just don’t call it a Chrysler. A
Page 40
Horsepower
LOST ARTof automotive books
The
TAKE OUT RETURNS, DISCOUNT RATES, AND YOUR ACTUAL COSTS,
AND THE MATH IS SIMPLE: IT’S A GREAT HOBBY
many self-publishing options exist
(such as Amazon), but with such
a specialized product, I’ve found
using an established automotive-title
publisher makes life a lot easier. That,
of course, has a great impact on….
So, I will get rich from
all this, right?
Um, no. If you self-publish and
do it right, in a few years you will
probably cover your initial cash outlay,
and then you’ll make whatever
margin you place on each book.
If a publisher signs you (and that
Book signings: Much more enjoyable than the solitary confinement of writing
because I like the accurate historical record that great car books create
— something that’s becoming rare as the Internet’s Wikifacts and
open forum opinions take over. Publishing has become a tough business.
Witness how many bookstores we had 10 years ago and how many
remain today.
But what is encouraging to me is that not a week goes by that I don’t
I
get asked what is involved in writing a car book because somebody has
an idea for one. So if you’re one of those who have something you’d like
to see in print, and are even a little curious about doing it yourself, here
are some answers to the common questions.
Do I need a publisher?
It depends what your goal is. If you want to self-publish, just know
all production issues and distribution are on you, and that can be a
full-time job. A few authors have done quite well with this, and today
42 AmericanCarCollector.com
’ve done it again. I just spent the past few weeks locked in a room
finishing up writing a car book. This was my fourth, and it’s something
I have now sworn three times in the past eight years I’d never,
ever do again.
So why do I keep doing it? I honestly don’t know. I think it’s
can be a feat on its own), they will
likely offer a small advance — from
$2,000 to $6,000 — but it is just that,
an advance against future earnings
that come as a result of a royalty
based on the wholesale price of the
book. This is typically 5%–10%, so
if a book has a $20 wholesale cost,
you would get $1–$2 per book sold.
If your book doesn’t sell, they will
charge you back from the advance,
and any returns to the publisher are
also charged back to you.
There are also various price levels. For example, many publishers
sell books that aren’t moving at a “high discount” price to places such as
Overstock, which obviously affects your royalty. Keep in mind if you get
a publisher to sign a contract with you, there is no guarantee they will
print the book, and if it’s your first title, don’t expect the advance and
royalty rate to be generous.
But this thing will sell 100,000 copies, so that’s
like $200k, right?
Not likely. A good-selling car book will be around 5,000 copies. A
great one? Maybe 15,000. Take out returns, discount rates, and your
actual cost of putting the book together, and the math is simple: It’s a
great hobby.
I can just grab Internet photos, right?
Only if you want to keep attorneys busy. No publisher will print a
book without proper photo releases for every picture in the book, along
with proper credit. Plus the quality has to be exceptionally good to print
well, and that is another struggle, especially with archival images.
Colin Comer
Page 41
And while you’d think people would be thrilled to see their work or
cars in print, it doesn’t always work like that. If you’re like me, you’ll end
up spending about twice your advance on photography. And let’s face it,
without great photos, people don’t get too excited. You need them.
How long does it take to write a book?
That’s a question nobody can answer. It takes me about a year to put
together a book, write the text, source and assemble the photos, write
captions, and other less-glamorous tasks such as arm-wrestling the
publisher over design and word count.
Make sure your facts are perfect — screw them up and you’re sunk.
Figure you’ll need at least 50,000 words of text, and about 25,000 words
for captions. And if you’re like me, to get those 75,000 words you’re
really happy with, you’re going to start at about 750,000 and whittle it
down. Get a comfy chair and a room you enjoy being locked in.
After you get what you think is the completed work, for about the
next eight months, prepare to go back and forth with the publisher on
proofs and other details to get a final product that everybody is happy
with. The process is tedious at best.
The real rewards
Now, as daunting as all of this may seem, if you like to write and you
have a topic you are passionate about, it is still one of the most rewarding
things you can do. There is nothing like seeing the first book off the
press, or going to a car show and talking to people who love what you
wrote and appreciate it. Plus, there is no better way to stick it to that
English teacher who said you “better learn a trade” than to alert them
that your name is now in the Library of Congress.
So how do you get started? Run your idea past friends and family
who are familiar with the topic you want to explore. Want to write about
You can’t collect the Internet
how to restore Buick Stage 1
cars? Approach the GS Club
and offer to write for their club
magazine for a while and get
your feet wet. Send writing
samples to magazines (like this
one) and volunteer to cover
a few events in the hopes of
getting your stories in print.
Establish a track record of
good writing that publishers
can look at when the time
comes to talk to them. Take
good pictures of everything
you’d want to include in your
book and start building a photo
library; you’re going to need
over 300 pictures, and to get
there — well, it is just like
whittling down words, you
always need a lot more than you think.
The most important thing? Be passionate about the subject and let
that come through on the page. That makes the difference between a
book people want to read and one people just thumb through. Make
writing about cars an extension of your hobby and not a job, because the
minute it becomes a job, you’ve just made a career choice that will ruin
your hobby rather than bolster it.
And, please, this October, consider buying my new book Shelby
Mustang: Fifty Years. I’ve got an advance to cover and photos to pay
for.A
May-June 2014 43
Page 42
Corvette Market
John L. Stein
ROAD
TRIP!
THE SUMMERS OF OUR LIVES ARE SERIOUS BUSINESS. HERE ARE
FOUR CORVETTE ADVENTURES TO MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY ONE
propose that each and every one should contain some grand adventure
or another. And fortunately, in the world of past and present sports
cars, there is simply nothing more robust, capable and reliable in
which to blast toward the horizon than a Corvette.
Drawing from a lifetime of moto-travel — on bikes and in cars
A
(Corvettes included), on-road and off, and in lands domestic and
foreign — I’ve sintered into my brain four trips I’d love to make (or
make again). All are entirely appropriate for a Corvette. Some take a
fair dose of planning, but others require little more than a tank of gas
and a motel room. If you do one of these, or have done it in the past,
please let ACC know. We’re with you in spirit!
June 14–15
See the 24 Hours of Le Mans
Seeing the crowd’s appreciation for the factory Corvette drivers
riding in their parade Corvettes through Medieval Le Mans before the
44 AmericanCarCollector.com
fter the Winter from Hell, this year’s 92 days of summer
should be worthy of epic celebration with your Corvette
(and your hot-rodded Henry J, too). But what to do?
The summers of our lives are serious business
because there are only so many of them, and as such, I
24 Hours is pure magic. So is the race itself.
Hearing the Corvettes thunder past the pits, shattering the back-
ground noise of higher-revving smaller engines, hammers home the
reason why Corvette is revered worldwide for what it is: big, brash,
powerful and unapologetically American.
If you ship your Corvette to France to take in the 24 Hours, you
will be met with smiles most anwhere you go. Then you can tour
France or other parts of Europe afterwards, with modern GPS systems
making navigation way easier than before. Plus, this year, the C7.Rs
debut. Go Jake! Go to www.meritcars.com/shipping for Corvette
shipping info.
More: www.24h-lemans.com/en
Best ’Vette: A 1960 C1 to honor Briggs Cunningham’s effort
Any time in July
Drive the ALCAN Highway
Built in the 1940s as a delivery route for military equipment, the
1,387-mile ALCAN Highway today is among the longest, loveliest
and most awe-inspiring driving routes in North America. Starting in
British Columbia, it winds through the Yukon and then into Alaska.
Back in 1999, for Corvette Quarterly, I dispatched two adventur
Page 43
ous women up the ALCAN Highway to deliver a Corvette to a dealer
in Alaska. In the middle of winter.
Emboldened by snow tires on the ’Vette, these intrepid ladies
completed the journey in perfect shape, dropped the car off, and flew
home. If they can do it in March, you can do it in July.
Start in Seattle, Syracuse, or San Diego — doesn’t matter. And
once you’ve made it to The Last Frontier, you can put your car on a
ferry and take the coastal route home. See www.dot.alaska.gov/amhs
for possibilities.
More: www.milepost.com/highway_info/alaska_highway
Best ’Vette: Any C5, C6 or C7 convertible with Magnetic
Selective Ride Control
August 9–15
Bonneville Speed Week
Next to the Indy 500 or Daytona 500, Bonneville Speed Week
is probably the most uniquely American racing event. And there’s
Corvette history there.
In 1965–66, Bob Joehnck and Mark Dees entered a 1963 Z06 coupe
— the former Bob Bondurant road racer — in pursuit of Utah speed
records. The car had a lot of front-end lift above 180 mph, prompting
Dees to call Chevrolet engineering to discuss it. They were surprised
that a midyear coupe could even go that fast. Ultimately, sawing off the
top made it go even faster, eventually reaching 203 mph.
Bonneville still welcomes Corvettes, and you can drive yours right
onto the salt to watch the event. Standing on the “Great White Dyno”
for the first time, you’ll wonder why it took you so long. Just make
sure you’re there for exciting opening day. Visit www.scta-bni.org for
event info.
More: www.scta-bni.org/events.html
Best ’Vette: An air-conditioned Ermine White C2 Sting Ray
coupe
1963 Sting Ray — perfect for Bonneville Speed Week
Early September
Drive Pikes Peak
You don’t have to dig very deep in little Manitou Springs, CO,
to find photos of Zora Arkus-Duntov racing a 1956 Chevy up Pikes
Peak. Dating back nearly 100 years, the famous race up the Rocky
Mountains was perhaps the most grueling automotive test in the
country. Today it’s one of the most spectacular hillclimbs the public
can experience.
The mountain’s 156 switchbacks are now fully paved, so throttling
your Corvette upwards to the 14,115-foot summit does not have to
stone-chip the paint off your fenders.
During the official International Hill Climb in late June, getting
onto the mountain is nearly impossible. But if you go at the end of
summer, you’ll have more of a free-flow experience. After Labor Day,
most tourists will be gone — but you may also enjoy a late-summer
snowstorm, which would be a fitting end to a fantastic summer season.
Go to www.pikespeak.us.com for more.
More: www.pikes-peak.com
Best ’Vette: A 1956 C1 in honor of Zora’s achievement that year A
May-June 2014 45
Page 44
PROFILE CORVETTE
1996 CHEVROLET CORVETTE GRAND SPORT CONVERTIBLE
World-record Grand Sport
With just 11
miles on the
odometer,
there was
no doubting
the car’s
pedigree or
condition.
But why
$151k?
VIN: 1G1YY3250T5600474
by John L. Stein
lightweight factory Corvette racers of the early ’60s.
Echoing the original, the new Grand Sport featured
F
46 AmericanCarCollector.com
46 AmericanCarCollector.com
a special Admiral Blue exterior with an Arctic White
stripe over the hood and rear deck, two red hash-mark
stripes over the left front fender, black-spoke ZR-1style
wheels, chrome badging, and GS embroidery on
the headrests. But what really made the car so special
was the one-year-only LT4 engine with its distinctive
red intake manifold, conservatively rated at 330 horsepower
and available only with the 6-speed manual
transmission.
Only 1,000 Grand Sports were built, the most cov-
eted being the Grand Sport convertible with red and
black interior, of which only 53 were produced.
This example is number 474, an early-delivery car
that has accumulated only 11 miles from new. It is a
true time-capsule example.
ACC Analysis This car, Lot S117, sold for
$151,200, including buyer’s pre-
mium, at Mecum’s auction in Kissimmee, FL, on
January 25, 2014.
Over the past decade-plus, we’ve all gotten pretty
or the 1996 model year, Chevrolet decided
that a very special Corvette was needed to
commemorate the end of the highly successful
C4 generation. Dubbed the Grand Sport,
this special car was named after the famous
accustomed to certain premium-DNA Corvettes such
as Fuelies and big-blocks selling for six-figure prices.
So at the Mecum auction in Kissimmee, it wasn’t all
that surprising to see another ’Vette do the same.
The difference here was that the car in question was
a production C4, and that the price was a stunning
$151k — well above even the optimistic pre-auction
estimate of $100k to $125k, and a new record for the
model.
The sale price beat not only Mecum’s estimate,
but ACC’s own Price Guide as well, which currently
lists the Grand Sport convertible, in #2 condition, at
$28,500 to $52,000. It also buried some other vaunted
C4 models from the era, such as the ZR-1 and factorybuilt
Corvette Challenge race cars.
Furthermore, besides setting a record price for a
1996 Grand Sport at auction, this car also outperformed
some traditionally high-value Corvettes at the
same auction. These included Lot F180.1, a 1962 BigBrake
Fuelie that sold for $116,100, Lot F233, a 275horse
1961 Fuelie that changed hands for $118,800,
and Lot S206, a 1967 427/400 convertible that sold for
$145,800.
So what’s the logic behind this late-model Corvette
being worth $151k? That’s tough to answer simply, but
I see six factors that can help explain it. Let’s take a
look at them:
John Hollansworth Jr., courtesy of Mecum Auctions
Page 45
1. Swept along for the rise
As certain benchmark cars spiral up in value, they
create a value vacuum beneath them that pulls lesser
cars to new heights. When a 1967 L88 sells for $3.9m,
as Lot 5035 did at Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale sale
in January (ACC# 232093), it brings other Sting Rays
along in its wake, which in turn pull up the best of the
rks and C4s. So a rising tide lifts all ’Vettes — esally
low-production performance-oriented cars in
astic original condition.
Arguably the best C4
he Grand Sport was arguably the best Corvette
e C4 generation. Some will strongly argue that
e ZR-1 was it, but the King of the Hill was really too
ensive for the performance advantages that its 32e
powertrain offered. And it was never accepted
s a “true” Corvette by the most ardent Corvette
iples. On top of that, by the time the Grand Sport
ved, the pushrod V8’s performance had substany
caught up — and that type of engine was both
aper and simpler to produce and repair.
3. Last of the litter, and a fitting
farewell
The ’96 GS was also the last of the C4 genera-
ion, and represented the end of Chief Engineer
Dave McLellan’s reign. For the C5, Dave Hill took
over. Absent any other defining factors, the firsts
nd lasts of a generation are traditionally the most
aluable.
The Grand Sport was a limited-edition,
rformance-minded, one-year-only farewell salute,
ding the most power of any pushrod C4, wide
els and tires, unique colors, and the best history
t Chevrolet Motor Division could muster at the
. And if you really want to dive deep, you can also
ue that because its pushrod V8 powers through a
itional front-mounted gearbox (unlike the rearmounted
transaxle used by C5, C6 and C7), it’s the
best and last “real” Corvette — although that may be
a stretch.
4. Spirit of Zora
For what it’s worth, the C4 Grand Sport was named
after Zora Arkus-Duntov’s Grand Sport racers of
1963. They’re the most important and most valuable
Corvettes of all time. How valuable are they? When
RM Auctions offered #002 for sale at its Phoenix
auction in 2009, that car failed to sell at a high bid of
$4.9m (ACC# 119050).
ACC’s Price Guide currently places the values of
the five original Grand Sports at between $7.7m and
$13.5m — and that’s assuming you could find one for
sale. While the’96 GS is a different animal entirely,
Chevrolet worked pretty hard to make sure it evoked
the idea of the originals. It even bore hash marks on
its fender to show solidarity.
5. Gen Y is awakening and times
are changing
Just as the finest pre-war classics are regularly
eclipsed in value by production 1950s and 1960s
European sports cars, I believe the time will come
when the best examples of computer-designed and
robotically built late-model plastic-fascia sports cars
— such as this Grand Sport — will ascend.
The 16-year-olds of 1996 who couldn’t buy a
Corvette but had posters of them on their walls (right
alongside Metallica and Claudia Schiffer) are now 34
years old. Many of them are out of computer or contractor
or medical school, well employed, and ready to
make good on past promises to themselves. These guys
are entering the market, and they’re not interested in
Polo White ’54s, brah. One of them may or may not
have bought this car, but they most certainly are buying
others in lesser condition and with more miles, and
that could be helping to push prices up.
6. Limited production, minty fresh
Only 1,000 Grand Sports were built for 1996 — with
just 190 of them convertibles. It’s very likely that most
of these survive in respectable form. But how many
have only 11 miles on the clock? I’d wager it’s a low
number indeed.
We’ve seen ultra-low-mile cars bring huge money in
the past — this is especially true of cars that are still
as-delivered from the factory, with no miles, plastic on
the seats and all delivery materials still in place. This
is probably the most important point: If the Grand
Sport is the best of the C4s, and a car like this one
is the best of the Grand Sports (as evidenced by its
condition, rare interior and convertible top), you’ve
got a perfect storm of circumstances that’ll easily
push its price up.
These six factors all played a part, to varying
degrees, in why this GS made over $151k. The buyer’s
only problem, besides having paid a world-record
auction price for the model, is that driving it even 100
miles will substantially reduce its value. But it’s lovely
enough to behold that just looking may be plenty fun
enough.A
(Introductory description courtesy of Mecum
Auctions.)
May-June 2014
47CC
47
Detailing
Years produced: 1996
Number produced: 1,000
Original list price: $52,106
Current ACC Valuation:
$28,500–$52,000 with
miles
Tune-up cost: $200
Chassis #: VIN plate at base
of windshield
Club: National Corvette
Restorers Society
Engine #: Right-front cylinderhead
deck
More: www.ncrs.org
Alternatives: 1961 Chevrolet
Corvette 283/315 Fuelie;
1969 Chevrolet Camaro
Z/28 RS; 1970 Chevrolet
Chevelle SS 454/450 LS6
ACC Investment Grade: B
Comps
1996 Chevrolet Corvette
Grand Sport convertible
Lot S32, VIN:
1G1YY3257T5600908
Condition: 2
Sold at $25,145
Mecum Auctions, Champaign,
IL, 6/28/2013
ACC# 225656
1996 Chevrolet Corvette
Grand Sport convertible
Lot S57, VIN:
1G1YY3256T5600950
Condition: 1-
Not sold at $62,500
Mecum Auctions, St. Charles,
IL, 6/17/2008
ACC# 117094
1996 Chevrolet Corvette
Grand Sport convertible
Lot S93, VIN:
1G1YY3252T5600458
Condition: 1
Sold at $80,850
Mecum Auctions, St. Charles,
IL, 6/15/2007
ACC# 45604
Page 46
PROFILE GM
Pontiac’s top pony rides high
1969 PONTIAC TRANS AM
Courtesy of Mecum Auctions
The ’69 Trans
Am defied
the “win on
Sunday, sell
on Monday”
theory, but
it set the
stage for
the model’s
amazing
33-year
lifespan
VIN: 223379N106311
by Tom Glatch
• True one-owner Trans Am purchased new at Jules
Meyers Pontiac in West Los Angeles
• Original owner, Jaques Toulet, owned the car
from 1969 until 2013. The car spent its entire life
in California and Arizona and is completely
rust-free
• Number-matching original engine, transmission,
rear end, heads, intake, carburetor and exhaust
manifolds
• All original sheet metal and mostly original glass
and interior
• Rebuilt engine by top Ram Air Pontiac experts in
the country, Lance Kramer
• Less than 100 miles since rebuild
• Receipts for all of the work totaling over $15,000
are included
• Fully documented with original owner
information, copy of original invoice, copy
of original window sticker and full PHS
documentation
ACC Analysis This car, Lot F219, sold for
$135,000, including buyer’s pre-
mium, at Mecum’s auction in Kissimmee, FL, on
January 24, 2014.
Parnelli Jones said it best: “The Trans Am was a
no-holds-barred, highly competitive series. We had
the best American drivers, we ran on the best North
American circuits, and we drove cars that were spec-
48 AmericanCarCollector.com
tacular to watch and that the fans could easily identify
with. The Trans Am was the greatest road-racing
series that has ever been run over here…”
An American series
The Sports Car Club of America’s Trans American
Sedan Championship debuted in 1966 with a simple
set of rules: In the over-2-liter class, the cars had to
be 4-passenger sedans with 5-liter (305-ci) engines.
Roll cages, fuel cells and other safety equipment were
mandatory, but any other deviations from factory
stock had to be homologated. So if a team needed, say,
a rear spoiler for more downforce, the manufacturer
had to have the item approved, assign a factory part
number, and make the item available to all. This was
a racing series that greatly influenced the cars in the
showrooms.
Chevrolet entered the battle first by introducing
the limited-production Z/28 model in 1967. It had the
heavy-duty suspension, fast-ratio steering and aerodynamic
tweaks to make it nearly race-ready. It also
had a new 302 V8 engine developed just for the series.
In the hands of Roger Penske’s team, led by driver/
engineer Mark Donohue, the Z/28 won the Trans Am
championship in ’68 and ’69.
Not to be outdone, Ford retaliated with the Boss
302 Mustang in 1969 and 1970. Much like the Z/28, the
Boss featured a powerful 302 engine with tunnel-port
heads and plenty of other race-derived engineering.
Page 47
Parnelli Jones, driving a Bud
Moore-prepared Boss 302,
won the 1970 championship by
one point over Mark Donohue.
Dodge and Plymouth en-
n 1970 with the
d Challenger
C joined in, stole
hevrolet in 1970
on budget, and
k Donohue Javelin
ms. With
s on handling,
rivability, the
s of these Trans
e arguably the
nd “pony cars”
rnelli Jones, driving a Bud
Moore-prepared Boss 302,
won the 1970 championship by
one point over Mark Donohue.
Dodge and Plymouth en-
n 1970 with the
d Challenger
C joined in, stole
hevrolet in 1970
on budget, and
k Donohue Javelin
ms. With
s on handling,
rivability, the
s of these Trans
e arguably the
nd “pony cars”
or
or the track,
sold on the street
nted in, too, and the company’s Special
p began developing the requisite 5-liter
. The new Ram Air V engine featured
ort heads, a reinforced block and other
odies. A 366-ci version was developed
, while a 400 was readied for street and
eatest challenge, however, was the
m Air V, which required a short-stroke,
ersion of the venerable Pontiac V8.
censed the “Trans Am” name from the
SCCA for $5 per car sold.
When Pontiac’s Trans Am debuted at the Chicago
Auto Show on March 8, 1969, many observers were
disappointed that the new flagship Firebird had only
the standard 400 Ram Air III engine, with the higherperformance
Ram Air IV optional.
What happened to the 303 Ram Air V? Just
weeks before the start of the 1969 Trans Am season,
the “oversquare” 303 was generating 405 hp at a
screaming 8,300 RPM, but the power was all at the
top end, and reliability was an issue. Then the SCCA
demanded 1,000 production cars be built with the 303
before it would be allowed to race. Time and money
just ran out, and none of the Ram Air V engines ever
saw a showroom.
It’s truly a shame, since Motor Trend was able
to drive a prototype 303-equipped Trans Am and
marveled: “We could tell you about a Hemi GTX or a
batch of Sting Rays, but you will never know what it
was really like driving the first 303 Trans Am on the
street. There can only be one first time you go into a
sweeper at an even 100 and come out at 120, and the
’Vette behind is now much farther behind.” Not that
the showroom Trans Am was a poor performer, not at
all — it just never achieved its full potential. Car Life
magazine summed it up well: “The decal said Trans
Am. The car didn’t.”
Mystique brings big value
The ’69 Trans Am is unique in that it was built on
the first-gen F-body platform, which was on the way
out in favor of a complete redesign for 1970. In 1969,
all Trans Ams were white with blue stripes, and all
of them featured a trunk-mounted spoiler, fiberglass
scoops and special badges.
A total of 697 Trans Ams were built that year,
including eight convertibles. The ragtops were sold
only to GM executives, and today they are some of the
few true “Holy Grail” American performance cars on
the market. How valuable? In 2010, one reached $1.1
million at Mecum’s Indianapolis auction — without
selling (ACC# 162786).
For the other 99%, the ’69 Trans Am coupes have
also maintained their mystique over the years, even
though their intended Trans Am racing glory never
came to fruition. These cars have been virtually
recession-proof. Our featured Trans Am
has just about everything a collector would
want: very low miles, one owner, excellent
condition, 4-speed, and 335-hp Ram Air III
power. Only the rare 345-hp Ram Air IV
option (46 4-speed, nine automatic) could
have made this ’Bird more desirable.
At $135,000, this is the highest sale of a
Ram Air III Trans Am coupe we’ve encountered,
and only two RA IV Trans Ams have
sold for more. The 1969 Trans Am defied
the “Win on Sunday, sell on Monday” theory,
but it still set the stage for the model’s
amazing 33-year lifespan. Considering its
long-term single ownership and fantastic
condition, I’d say this one was an excellent
deal for both seller and buyer. A
(Introductory description courtesy of
Mecum Auctions.)
May-June 2014 49
Detailing
Year produced: 1969
Number produced: 697
Original list price: $3,556
Current ACC Valuation:
$85,000–$120,000
Tune-up/major service: $200
Distributor cap: $20
Chassis #: VIN plate driver’s
side instrument panel
behind windshield
Engine #: On front of block
below left cylinder head
Club: Pontiac Oakland Club
International
More: www.poci.org
Alternatives: 1967–69
Chevrolet Camaro Z/28,
1969–70 Ford Mustang
Boss 302, 1970 Dodge
Challenger T/A, 1970
Plymouth AAR ’Cuda
ACC Investment Grade: B
Comps
1969 Pontiac Trans Am RAIII
Lot 52, VIN: 223379N106455
Condition: 2
Sold at $82,500
Worldwide Auctioneers,
Auburn, IN, 8/31/2013
ACC# 227794
1969 Pontiac Trans Am RAIII
Lot F291, VIN:
223379N105731
Condition: 2+
Sold at $103,350
ACC# 213156
Mecum Auctions, Dallas, TX,
9/8/2012
1969 Pontiac Trans Am RAIII
Lot S110, VIN:
223379N117179
Condition: 2+
Sold at $92,750
Mecum Auctions, Kissimmee,
FL, 1/24/2012
ACC# 192829
Page 48
PROFILE FOMOCO
Dropped top, raised price
1959 FORD GALAXIE SKYLINER RETRACTABLE HARD TOP
Darin Schnabel ©2013, courtesy of RM Auctions
Ford needed
to up its
game like
GM and
Chrysler
had, and
their attempt
was based
in technical
excellence
with reserved
styling
VIN: B9KW107468
by Chad Tyson
• 225-hp, 332-ci overhead-valve V8 engine
• 3-speed Cruise-O-Matic automatic transmission
• Independent front suspension, live axle rear
suspension with semi-elliptic leaf springs, and
four-wheel drum brakes
• Offered from the collection of Richard and
Linda Kughn
• Ford’s famed “Hide-Away Hardtop”
• An outstanding restoration; well equipped with
accessories and options
• Displayed at the Meadow Brook Concours and
the Glenmoor Gathering
• Still show-ready in all regards
ACC Analysis This car, Lot 107, sold for
$66,000, including buyer’s pre-
mium, at RM’s Amelia Island auction in Amelia Island,
FL, on March 8, 2014.
Retracting a metal roof
The Skyliner, Ford’s retractable hard top, was a
mid-year addition to the 1957 Fairlane 500 model
lineup. Its genesis, however, began in 1953.
Gil Spear, head of Ford’s Advanced Styling Studio,
crafted a one-eighth-scale model of his Syrtis concept
with what he called a “Roof-O-Matic.” The model car
incorporated a functional, scaled-down roof that slid
back and into the trunk. His idea quickly made its way
up Ford’s corporate ladder, and they soon set aside $2
million to further develop the idea.
Ben Smith, a GM engineer, was plucked away to
make the concept of a moving steel roof into reality.
50 AmericanCarCollector.com
50 AmericanCarCollector.com
The idea was big and bold enough to top the upcoming
return of Lincoln’s Continental, the Mark II.
Executives eventually slated the idea for production
on the 1957 full-size Ford.
Ford introduced the Galaxie, a new top-of-the-line
series, shortly after presenting the entire 1959 lineup
in October 1958. This new trim level was a step above
the Fairlane 500, which had been Ford’s top level in
1957 and ’58. The Sunliner convertible and Skyliner
retractable hard top were shifted to the new series, but
some of the early 1959 examples came with Fairlane
500 script before the Galaxie’s formal introduction,
which is why our subject Galaxie wears Fairlane 500
badges.
Swan song off a cliff
To garner any significant attention in 1959’s over-
the-top stylish automotive market, a car had to be
bold. Harley Earl’s GMs and Virgil Exner’s Chryslers
punched sheet metal into new angles and shapes that
reached towards the heavens. Ford needed to up their
game in a similar way, and their attempt was based in
technical excellence with reserved styling.
At the Brussels World Fair, Ford was awarded the
Gold Medal for Exceptional Styling, but the Skyliner
was outsold by every other Ford submodel except the
two-door Country Sedan wagon and two Fairlane 500
sedans.
On top of that, auto sales dropped across the board
in 1958 due to an economic recession. Ford sales fell
42% from 1957, including a 29% drop for the Skyliner.
Nearly every brand rebounded in 1959, including
Page 49
Ford. But not the Skyliner. Maybe the public wasn’t
comfortable with the curiosity of a moving metal roof.
Each year the car was available, sales fell — from
20,766 in 1957, to 14,713 in 1958, and finally 12,915 in
1959.
By the time work started on 1960’s Skyliner, a
e, and adapting the top
tyle wasn’t a simple task.
t, and although Robert
ive, Ford’s productled
the new car.
wer it up
s did all they could to
ner look like a regular
nder that skin is where the
y lies, and when the top is
t difference is obvious.
bout technical achieve-
p mechanism has over
f wiring, eight circuit breaks,
three drive motors, four
0 limit switches, safety
d a dash warning light — all
es. One bad component
e whole process. A pair
nical pull arms folded and
d the small flipper panel at
the front of the roof; this was the only
top operation that didn’t require a motor.
There’s a reason all of the Skyliners available on
the market today are displayed with the top in midoperation.
Say you hit the switch and the top doesn’t
move. Just replacing the switches with new ones will
run nearly $1,000, and if that doesn’t fix it, you’re
likely in for a very costly repair bill. Verifying proper
top operation on one of these before buying is an
absolute must.
What’s it worth today?
I crawled all over this car as it sat on the grass
behind the Amelia Island Ritz-Carlton. Although it
was in fantastic shape, it wasn’t perfect.
The chrome showed a few issues, including light
scratch marks on the front bumper and a rusting
carriage bolt head on the rear bumper. The top of the
driver’s side A-pillar showed an odd discoloration as
well. The panel fit was mostly spot-on — the fuel filler
door was askew, and the gap varied slightly on the
driver’s side of the trunk lid.
Whoever took care of the car’s detailing was a
cleanliness freak. The carpets and seats were clean
enough to eat off of — same with the engine bay. The
worst I can say about the interior is that the ashtray
could have been aligned to better fit in the dash. That’s
all, as the rest was immaculate.
The price paid for this car was a little above mar-
ket, but the buyer got a fair deal. ACC’s Price Guide
gives a buy-sell range of $36,000–$58,000 for a #2
condition car. I’d peg this car at 2+ as it sat, but with
properly sorted chrome, I’d bump it to a 1-.
The market for cars like this is
fairly narrow, with most buyers looking
for 100% stock examples to take
to shows or cruises. But I don’t think
the appeal of this car will be lost on
the next generation of collectors, as
new buyers will appreciate the oddity
of the design and the technological
difficulties that were overcome to
make it all work. Plus, it’s just unlike
anything else out there. If there’s one
thing that collector folks are into, it’s
standing out. All that said, I don’t
think it’ll be too long before I can
call this one well bought.A
(Introductory description cour-
tesy of RM Auctions.)
May-June 2014
51CC
51
1959 Ford Galaxie Skyliner
retractable hard top
Lot S75, VIN: B9KW143930
Condition: 3Sold
at $46,640
Mecum, Kissimmee, FL,
1/24/2012
ACC# 192836
Detailing
Years produced: 1959
(Galaxie Skyliners)
Number produced: 12,915
Original list price: $3,346
Current ACC Valuation:
$36,000–$58,000
Tune-up/major service: $200
Distributor cap: $20
Chassis #: VIN plate on the
driver’s side door jamb
Engine #: N/A
Club: International Ford
Retractable Club
More: www.skyliner.org
Alternatives: 1958 Cadillac
Series 62 convertible,
1959 Lincoln Continental
Mark IV convertible, 1964
Chrysler 300K convertible
ACC Investment Grade: C
Comps
1959 Ford Galaxie Skyliner
retractable hard top
Lot 164, VIN: H9FW293736
Condition: 3
Sold at $38,500
RM Auctions, Plymouth, MI,
7/27/2013
ACC# 227543
1959 Ford Galaxie Skyliner
retractable hard top
Lot 159, VIN: H9RW194513
Condition: 1Sold
at $52,250
RM Auctions, Fort Worth, TX,
4/27/2013
ACC# 216130
Page 50
PROFILE MOPAR
1969 PLYMOUTH ROAD RUNNER RESTO-MOD
Value in a Mopar muscle hybrid?
Courtesy of Mecum Auctions
In the eyes
of most
collectors,
this car
is neither
a 2008
Charger nor
a 1969 Road
Runner, and
it’ll suffer
from new-car
depreciation
without
the upside
of either
originality
or antiquity
52 AmericanCarCollector.com
52 AmericanCarCollector.com
VIN: RM21H9E1609490
by Jay Harden
• Seamless joining of a 1969 Road Runner body to a
2008 Charger SRT8
• “Cars on Ice” Top 20 award
• Professionally built by David Rodriguez
• Hemi 6.1L engine
• New AMD sheet metal with superb body gaps
• SRT8 leather trimmed front bucket seats with SRT
badging
• Kicker sound system with 13 speakers, 200-watt
subwoofer and 322-watt amp
• Anti-lock 4-wheel Brembo performance brakes
• Specially calibrated 5-speed AutoStick
transmission
• DVD-based GPS navigation function with a
6.5-inch touch-screen input
• The 2008 Charger SRT8 had 28,000 miles before
the build
ACC Analysis This car, Lot S69, sold for
$108,000, including buyer’s pre-
mium, at Mecum’s sale in Kissimmee, FL, on January
17–26, 2014.
The notion of partnering old-school aesthetics
with modern engineering is nothing new or unusual.
But it is truly rare that we see two distinctly different
vehicles Franken-fitted together in the style we see
here: a functional graft of purpose and pleasure, a
mechanical unicorn emerging from the tire smoke.
On paper, a build like this makes a lot of sense. Peel
the body off a proven, modern car, then simply plop
some old skin over it and voila: a daily driver in a
retro wrapper. Unfortunately, as with most “Gee whiz,
why didn’t I think of that?” ideas, it’s not being done
often for a reason. And that reason is a complex one.
Not so simple
The reality of putting the peel-and-stick concept
into practice is much more complicated than you
might think. Starting with simple dimensionality, the
likelihood of old and new matching up even approximately
in terms of length, width and height is slim to
none. Modifying those dimensions — any of them, in
any way — affects the integrity of one or both of the
entities, and complications, at least in my experience,
compound at an exponential rate anytime a Sawzall is
introduced into the equation.
There is certainly a long list of reasons why build-
ing a car like this makes less sense than sitting on your
favorite park bench and feeding hundred-dollar bills
to squirrels. But there is also something about this one
that just feels right. I can’t deny that it’s flat-out cool.
Fused for life
There are a lot of classics that have simply ex-
hausted their usefulness, and judging from the build
photos, this Road Runner was on its last legs. Whether
the original driveline walked off, the floorboards
were MIA or the bone structure had been rearranged
thanks to too much go and not enough whoa, this
project looks less like an abuse of a classic than an
effort to make something out of nothing. Likewise,
the Charger hiding underneath was sourced by West
Coast Classic (as in the west coast of Florida) sporting
a “damaged goods” toe tag.
With projects like this, utilizing imperfect but
salvageable units makes a lot of sense in the event
that the mad-scientist experiment goes a bit haywire.
But due to the inevitable cutting and welding and
stretching and shaping required to make the union
work, neither car will likely ever be usable in any
Page 51
other iteration beyond what you see here. Sense and
economics pretty much dictate that they’re mated like
this for life.
You can argue that any custom-built car that has
undergone any major chassis transplant or body
modifications is likely stuck that way, too. While that
rue, there are significant differences to
r example, semi-mass-produced chassis
s of Art Morrison or The Roadster Shop
airly substantial modifications to floor
e chassis are purpose-built for each
e. In contrast, modifying a chassis enneered
for an entirely different vehicle,
uch as this one, which was shortened
four inches, can create unpredictable
consequences.
I’m not saying that the setup here
doesn’t work, but I can’t help but be
wary. If it does work, great. Here’s
omething you could drive every day.
t I’d certainly need a seat-of-the-pants
ience before handing over a mound of
s large as what was spent here.
njected with depreciation
o — and this is crucial — there
e limitations that come with using a
production-line structure as a build foundation for a
car like this one. In this case, we’re looking at a prebankruptcy
Chrysler product that, despite benefiting
from the Daimler-Benz relationship and having some
significant power and handling abilities, is known for
squeaks, rattles, and some low-grade materials.
And while it may be cool now, don’t forget that both
the chassis and interior of the 2008 SRT8 are on a
different depreciation curve than the ’69 Road Runner
exterior. The SRT8 lower half is now six years old
— and that platform has already been revamped and
improved by Chrysler into an even meaner production
SRT8. What was used here is not the latest and greatest
thing, and that’s what tends to be favored by the
resto-mod crowd. In five years, will the combination
still be as cool as it looks now? If not, how would you
update it without breaking the bank?
And what about that interior? Although it looks
fantastic as it sits, there must be a tremendous amount
of custom mounting work behind the dash and trim
bits to make it all fit together nicely. For the time and
money obviously invested, will it hold up as well as a
nicely restored original or custom leather interior of
roughly the same expense?
A cool cruiser and a lot of money
It takes an extremely colorful imagi-
nation, a heck of a lot of creativity, and
some serious skill to so cleanly execute
such a tremendously difficult build.
This thing has exceptional curb appeal
and an undeniable “wow” factor.
In terms of performance and us-
ability, the Charger is a better car than
the original Road Runner ever was. But
is this concoction worth a six-figure
price tag? That’s an awful lot of money
to spend on a daily-driver hot rod
with a shelf life, particularly when you
consider what other turn-key cars can
be had for that kind of cash. They say
you can’t buy cool, but I think a shiny new ZR1 will
probably get you pretty close for similar money. If four
seats and the Mopar nameplate is what you’re after,
you could opt for a new Challenger and Charger, both
SRT8s of course.
I wouldn’t be surprised if this thing’s build cost ap-
proached six figures, but I am surprised that it made
what it did here. In the eyes of most collectors, it is
neither a 2008 Charger nor a 1969 Road Runner, and
it’ll likely suffer from new-car depreciation without
the upside of either originality or antiquity.
Of course, to an end-user who wanted modern con-
venience, vintage looks, easy serviceability, and was
willing to pay whatever it took for all that, this was
just the ticket. Here’s a car that’s both mainstream and
different — both drivable and showable. More power
to the buyer — I just hope he knows that the most
enjoyment here won’t come from its dollar value in the
future. This thing was built for the road, so the best
bet is to hop in it, light up the tires, and head down the
highway.A
(Introductory description courtesy of Mecum
Auctions.)
1969 Plymouth Road Runner
A12
Lot 356.2, VIN:
RM23M9A294942
Condition: 1Sold
at $121,000
Barrett-Jackson, Orange
County, CA, 6/25/2011
ACC# 182232
1969 Plymouth Road Runner
A12
Lot S74, VIN:
RM21M9A260924
Condition: 3Sold
at $72,080
Mecum Auctions, Kissimmee,
FL, 1/24/2012
ACC# 192838
1970 Plymouth Road Runner
Lot 404, VIN:
RM23NOA130863
Condition: 1Sold
at $41,800
Auctions America, Carlisle,
PA, 10/4/2013
ACC# 228030
Detailing
Current ACC Valuation:
$85,000–$120,000
Tune-up/major service: $300
Distributor cap: N/A
Chassis #: On plate at base
of windshield
Years produced: 1969 (Road
Runner), 2008 (Charger),
2012 (this combination)
Number produced: One
Original list price: $4,298
(Road Runner), $37,010
(Charger)
Clubs: www.lxforums.com,
www.moparforums.com
Alternatives: 2013 Chevrolet
Corvette ZR1, 1969
Plymouth Road Runner
A12, 1968 Dodge Hemi
Charger
ACC Investment Grade: D
Comps
Engine #: Decal on driver’s
side front of engine, behind
water pump
March-April 2014 53May-June 2014
Page 52
PROFILE HOT ROD & CUSTOM
1940 MERCURY CUSTOM
High on style, light on price
Carl Morton
believed this
car was one
of the first
customs
from the San
Fernando
Valley, and
he kept it for
over 40 years
VIN: 99A121762
by Ken Gross
• One of the very first California customs
• Built in 1940 by Charles Marr and Gerry Huth
• Owned for four decades by Carl Morton
• Equipped with the best speed equipment and trim
of the period
This Mercury is a work of art and one of the earli-
est, most important “lead sleds.” It is a must-have for
any custom collection.
ACC Analysis This car, Lot 33, sold for
$107,250, including buyer’s pre-
mium, at RM’s Arizona auction on January 16, 2014.
Authentically restored, original pre-World War II
custom cars are very rare. This is arguably the prettiest
example ever built.
Charlie Marr, a Burbank, CA, resident, bought
this Mercury new in November 1939. Just two weeks
later, he and his friend Gerry Huth (who owned a
well-known muffler shop in Los Angeles) chopped the
windshield three inches. A sleek Carson padded top
was added next, fabricated by the best in the business:
Houser’s Carson Padded Tops at 4910 South Vermont
Avenue in Los Angeles. It’s possible this car was the
first ’40 Mercury convertible ever chopped.
Other custom touches included a molded hood,
shaved side trim (but not the door handles), a filled
deck and a sunken license plate — all popular customizing
practices from the 1940s. An odd pair of scoops
was also added to either side of the hood.
The Mercury must have led a hard life. Photos in
54
AmericanCarCollector.com
the RM catalog, taken in 1962, show a then tiredlooking
custom, fitted with 15-inch whitewalls and
Dodge Lancer “spinner” caps. At that time, the car
belonged to Carl Morton — its second owner — of
Burbank, CA. Morton had recently bought the famed
Valley Custom Shop in Burbank from its founders,
Clay Jensen and Neil Emory.
Carl Morton, who knew Marr and Huth, believed
this car was one of the first customs from the San
Fernando Valley, and he kept it for over 40 years.
He retained all the customized parts and panels,
including the hood, doors and deck lid, and collected
new-old-stock parts with a mind to restoring it. He
disassembled the car completely, cleaned and dipped
the sheet metal, but never reassembled it.
Restored to a fare-thee-well
In 2005, Tom Black of Portland, OR, bought the
Mercury from Morton and became the car’s third
owner. From 2008 to 2009, Black meticulously
restored the car, insisting on authentic pre-World War
II parts. Tom told me, “There’s not an Allen head, tiewrap,
crimp connector, plastic wire or billet anything
on this car. I even used old-style friction tape where
needed. I must be nuts.”
After the bodywork was done with lead filler, Black
epoxy-primed the car and finished it with custom
Sikkens Autocryl green metallic paint — a modern
take on the nitrocellulose lacquer that would have
been applied in the 1940s. Paul Reichlin of Cedardale
Upholstery re-created the original padded Carson
Khiem Pham ©2013, courtesy of RM Auctions
Page 53
Detailing
Years produced: 1939–40
(with this body style)
Number produced: 7,818 in
1939, 9,741 in 1940
Original list price: $1,018 in
1939; $1,100 in 1940
Current ACC Valuation:
$100,000–$150,000
Tune-up/major service: $200
(estimated)
Distributor cap: $19.75
(Mac’s Antique Auto Parts)
VIN: Stamped on the left front
frame rail in front of the
firewall
top with a correct white-pebble-grain material. Guy’s
Interior Restorations of Portland, OR, hand-crafted
the posh green and white interior, which sports an
ivory-toned ’40 Buick steering wheel. There’s a
column shifter, custom knobs and tastefully chromed
garnish moldings.
Era-correct
Exterior touches include a sunken rear license
plate, tunneled exhausts that run through the fenders,’40
Ford headlight surrounds and ’41 Studebaker
taillights. The door handles were shaved and the
holes filled. A matched pair of 1937 DeSoto ribbed
front bumpers were modified to fit. (Rear ’37 DeSoto
bumpers have too large a radius, so you need a pair of
fronts). Twin Appleton spotlights, flipper-bar hubcaps
and teardrop fender skirts round out the list of eracorrect
modifications.
The engine is a 1940 Mercury flathead V8, bored
and stroked to 276 cubic inches. The block was ported,
relieved, and fitted with adjustable lifters and a threequarter-race
Iskenderian camshaft. Additional prewar-style
speed equipment includes chromed cast-iron
cylinder heads, a “tall” Weiand dual intake manifold
and a converted Lincoln-Zephyr V12 distributor.
Black also had a low-ratio Lincoln-Zephyr first- and
second-gear cluster fitted to the stock Mercury gearbox.
A Lincoln-Zephyr hypoid differential (fitted with
a Columbia 2-speed overdrive), along with a Cee-ed
frame for improved clearance, facilitate that low
silhouette without radical surgery to the driveshaft
tunnel. To get the rear down, Black removed the stock
Mercury spring spacer, which is about three inches
thick. That, along with new U-bolts and a reworked
spring, brought the rear down.
In front, a dropped axle and reversed spring eyes
lowered the car. Black reused the shells from the
accessory Aer-O-Plane shocks in front but added new
internals, while the rears are Houdaille lever-action
units. The brakes are also Lincoln-Zephyr selfenergizing
hydraulics. Black says, “All these period
modifications make for a very nice-driving car that
can cruise comfortably at highway speeds.” That oversized
rear license plate is reportedly still registered to
the Valley Custom address in Burbank.
The Mercury broke cover in 2009 at The Quail — A
Motorsports Gathering, and looked right at home with
all the exotics. “It’s amazing how many lines this car
crosses,” Black said. “Everybody who sees it loves it.”
Well sold the first time, well bought
the second
I flipped over this historic Mercury when I saw it
at Bonhams’ “Exceptional Motorcars” sale at Quail
Lodge in Carmel Valley, CA, in August 2010. After
spirited bidding, it sold for $166,500, including buyer’s
commission (ACC# 165804). At the time, I thought it
was well sold at the price, but considering the care
and workmanship that clearly went into the build, I
thought it was well bought, too.
It was soon offered for resale for $225,000 from
a dealer in Texas, but it did not sell at that price. I
believe that dealer was the consignor for the January
RM Auctions sale in Phoenix, where the car was sold
for just $107,500, including buyer’s premium.
The Mercury looked just as beautiful as it did in
2010, so I can only conclude that demand for these
early customs may have dropped over the past few
years. The buyer on this old Merc got a terrific deal
this time. Prior early custom-car auction sales, like
the ex-Jack Calori ’36 Ford coupe, the ex-Ralph Jilek
’40 Ford convertible, and this same car, did quite well.
I asked Tom Black, who commented wryly, “It seems
as though the market
has softened up.”
Will early customs
return to popularity? I
can’t say. Regardless,
this emerald beauty
exemplifies all that is
true and elegant about
early custom cars, and
that’s got to be more
than enough for this
fortunate buyer. I wish
I’d bought it. A
(Introductory
description courtesy
of RM Auctions.)
May-June 2014 55
Lot S116, VIN: 182636987
Condition: 1Sold
at $318,000
1936 Ford coupe,
ex-Jack Calori
Mecum Auctions, Anaheim,
CA, 11/14/2012
ACC# 213968
More: www.earlyfordv8.org
Alternatives: Pre-war Ford
customs
Engine #: On the bell housing
Club: Early Ford V-8 Club of
America, Goodguys, NSRA
ACC Investment Grade: C+
Comps
1940 Mercury custom
convertible (subject car)
Lot 627, VIN: 99A121762
Condition: 1Sold
at $166,500
Bonhams, Carmel, CA,
8/12/2010
ACC# 165804
1940 Ford custom
convertible
Lot 142, VIN: 5694934
Condition: 1Sold
at $236,500
RM Auctions, Monterey, CA,
8/18/2006
ACC# 42780
Page 54
PROFILE AMERICANA
1937 PACKARD ONE-TWENTY PICKUP
A parts hauler with prestige
Corey Silvia ©2013, courtesy of RM Auctions
Any selfrespecting
Packard
agency or
repair facility
would have
ditched
their Ford or
Chevy pickup
parts chaser
if a Packardbuilt
unit
had been
available
56 AmericanCarCollector.com
56 AmericanCarCollector.com
VIN: 10901260
by Carl Bomstead
T
his Packard pickup is based on the 138-inch
wheelbase 138D One-Twenty chassis. The
original, factory touring limousine bodywork
was truncated aft of the front doors and the
back of a compatible pickup cab was grafted
on. An original box from another period truck of
comparable size was added, and it features a ribbed
steel floor.
The body was finished in black with a red pinstripe,
and it is adorned with metal-covered dual side-mounted
spares, wide whitewall tires, and even an original
Packard trunk, which has been integrated into the cargo
bed to carry tools and supplies. An original illuminated
Packard Service Car sign, mounted on the roof, is the
finishing touch.
The interior is classic, elegant Packard, with black
leather upholstery, a wood-grained instrument panel,
and a radio, clock, and cigarette lighter.
For the Packard collector whose allegiance to the
marque must extend even to his shop truck, or simply
for the enthusiast who appreciates a well-detailed conversation
piece, this will be the perfect one-of-a-kind
acquisition. “Ask the Man Who Hauls With One.”
ACC Analysis This truck, Lot 114, sold for
$93,500, including buyer’s pre-
mium, at RM’s sale on Amelia Island, FL, on March 8,
2014.
The Packard One-Twenty was produced from 1935
until 1937 and then again from 1939 through 1941.
They have a mixed place in Packard history, held
either in high regard as being the savior of the marque
or in disdain for being the beginning of the end for
Packard as a premier luxury-car manufacturer.
Fact lies somewhere in between, as Packard staked
its future on the less-expensive One-Twenty to generate
necessary revenue to keep its doors open during
the Great Depression. Packard, unlike Cadillac and
Lincoln, did not have a multi-marque company behind
them to absorb the luxury-car deficits every manufacturer
was suffering through at the time.
The One-Twenty was extremely popular, as owning
one meant you had the prestige of a Packard at the
price of a Buick or Pontiac. In addition to that, it
offered “Safe-T-Flex” independent front suspension
— a feature that would not be offered on the senior
Packards until 1937. In 1936 alone, the One-Twenty
accounted for two-thirds of all Packard sales, making
it a runaway success. It was offered in eight body
styles, but a pickup truck was not one of them.
Packard goes to work
Packard did, however, make trucks. In 1903, James
Ward Packard executed a delivery car on a 1903 F
chassis with “Packard Motor Car Co” painted on the
rear quarter. After Packard moved to Detroit, larger
Page 55
Detailing
Years produced: 1935–37,
1939–41
Original list price: $1,900
(1937 touring sedan)
Current ACC Valuation:
$60,000–$85,000
Tune-up cost: $250
Distributor cap: $50
Chassis #: Metal firewall plate
Engine #: Upper left corner
of block
Number produced: N/A
(No trucks were built by
Packard, but several were
likely converted like this
later)
e produced for use around the factory,
ars later they entered the commercial
hough growth was painfully slow. Truck
d in 1917 at 7,116 units, due to World War
y 1923, only 466 were produced. Packard
d to “devote the truck production space to
nger cars.”
e commercial car market was another
, and the company provided a lowt
special chassis that did not have to
e stretched to be adapted to hearse or
bulance use. With the introduction of the
ckard 120A in 1935, coachbuilder Henney
ed a product with both names and used
ckard grille, nameplate and hubcaps. In
n to the traditional commercial offerings,
y produced sightseeing coaches and airport
s on the Packard chassis. They also of-
er car that was for all practical purposes
a convertible pickup.
Fantasy hauler
RM presented this Packard pickup on the lawn of
the Ritz-Carlton, and even with the inclement weather
on Thursday, the car attracted a great deal of attention.
I overheard a man telling his very attractive
companion that Packard only made the pickup for two
years, and when she asked how many they made, he
quickly answered 568. I have to wonder what other
stories he tells her!
This 1937 Packard One-Twenty pickup sold by
RM was, of course, a fantasy piece. But was it a
product that could have been? Absolutely, as any selfrespecting
Packard agency or repair facility would
have ditched their Ford or Chevy pickup parts chaser
if a Packard-built unit had been available.
Build your own
For dealers or Packard fanatics who absolutely had
to have something like this in-period, a pickup could
have been easily converted from a touring sedan or
limousine that had been rear-ended. Remove the rear
body section and fit a pickup bed, add the proper lettering
and you’d be in business. This wasn’t a vintage
build, but based on the auction description, that
certainly sounds like what happened here.
The quality of the workmanship was very accept-
able and the black leather interior was in good order.
A Packard trunk had been integrated into the bed of
the pickup and it was fitted with metal-covered dual
sidemount spares. The illuminated Packard sign
on the roof was a bit much, but that could be easily
removed.
To a Packard collector, this is just the ticket. Use
it as a functional service vehicle as a dealer would
have done in the period, and when not in service,
it can attract all kinds of interesting comments as
knowledgeable “car guys” impress their girlfriends.
The price paid was rather aggressive, but I doubt if
you could build one to this standard for the money
spent here. So, if the new owner can actually use it,
I’d consider this a solid transaction all around. Well
Club: Packard International
Motor Car Club
More: www.packardinternational.org
Alternatives: Any pre-war
luxury car converted to
do work, including ambulances
and trucks
ACC Investment Grade: C+
Comps
1937 Packard One-Twenty
pickup (subject car)
Lot 282, VIN: 10901260
Condition: 3
Sold at $63,250
RM Auctions, Rochester, MI,
7/24/2010
ACC# 166299
bought and sold. A
(Introductory description courtesy of RM Auctions.)
1941 Packard One-Ten
DeLuxe woodie wagon
Lot S110, VIN: 14832272
Condition: 2
Sold at $96,300
Mecum Auctions, Houston,
TX, 4/6/2013
ACC# 215827
1937 Packard One-Twenty
Lot S141, VIN: 8962881
Condition: 3
Sold at $28,090
Mecum Auctions, Des Moines,
IA, 7/16/2011
ACC# 182968
May-June 2014
57CC
57
Page 56
PROFILE RACE
1963 PONTIAC LEMANS SUPER DUTY FACTORY LIGHTWEIGHT
Lost, found and sold
Courtesy of Russo and Steele
In a sport
where
victories
are often
measured in
hundredths
of seconds,
this car
had a huge
advantage
VIN: 263P76752
by Tom Glatch
purpose-built LeMans coupes were all painted white
and given blue interiors with bucket seats.
Pontiac Engineering fitted high-compression dual-
T
58
AmericanCarCollector.com
quad 421 Super Duty engines connected to unique
rear-mounted 4-speed automatic transmissions. All
used aluminum front sheet metal and brake drums,
acid-dipped bumpers and mounting brackets, and
lightweight windshield glass, resulting in almost perfect
48/52 weight distribution while keeping the cars
in line with the NHRA’s 7.5-pounds-per-cubic-inch A/
FX class weight limit.
This LeMans coupe was delivered to Stan Long
Pontiac on Grand River Road in Detroit. Driver Stan
Antlocer campaigned the car through a busy and
successful 1963 season that included the all-important
Indy Nationals. Along the way, he made an important
change to the car. Since the 4-speed transaxle accommodated
only up to a 3.90:1 final-drive ratio and was
somewhat prone to breaking under the 421’s explosive
power, Antlocer replaced the factory driveline with a
heavy-duty Borg-Warner 3-speed manual transmission
and a full-size Pontiac rear end with a 4.30:1 gear set.
The change paid off in spades, earning Antlocer the
title of “World’s Fastest Tempest” after tearing off
an 11.93 ET at 123.95 mph at U.S. 131 Dragway in
Martin, MI.
his 1963 Pontiac Tempest LeMans 421 Super
Duty Factory Experimental Lightweight is
one of six examples produced and it is one of
only two remaining. Built on December 12,
1962, at the Pontiac, MI, assembly plant, the
ACC Analysis This car, Lot S743, sold for
$335,630, including buyer’s pre-
mium, at Russo and Steele’s auction in Scottsdale, AZ,
on January 18, 2014.
Lost and found
A few years ago, a garage-find discovery rocked
the American collector car community. In November
2008, the Internet lit up after an eBay auction was
started that read:
1963 PONTIAC LeMANS TEMPEST.
WAS MANUFACTURED IN 63 AND ON A 1/4
MILE TRACK IN 64.
I KNOW LITTLE ABOUT THIS VEHICLE FOR
THE OWNER PASSED AWAY LAST YEAR.
THERE IS NO MOTOR, TRANSMISSION, OR
KEYS FOR IT.
APPEARS TO HAVE ORIGINAL WINDSHIELD,
SIDE GLASS COMES WITH IT BUT APPEARS TO
HAVE PLEXIGLASS IN ITS PLACE.
The car was owned by the seller’s next-door neigh-
bor, who stored the LeMans for years in the seller’s
garage. The owner passed away, and the seller was
able to take possession of the car based on rent owed.
Now, Dale, the seller, wanted his garage space back.
Page 57
Bidding started at $500, then skyrocketed as word
spread that this was no ordinary Pontiac. It was, in
fact, a lost Super Duty LeMans racer. Stan Antlocer,
who raced it in the 1960s, even joined in on the eBay
discussions to confirm that it was his car. One bidder
tried to get the owner to take $160k and call off the
auction, which he wisely rejected. When the fourday
auction ended on November 9, 2008, Dale was
$226,521 richer.
Rare racer
The 1963 Super Duty LeMans and Tempest are
some of the rarest vehicles to ever come out of Detroit
— two Tempest coupes, six LeMans coupes, and six
Tempest wagons were built. They were incredibly fast
for that time — a good half-second faster than the
drag-strip competition. In a sport where victories are
often measured in hundredths of seconds, this was a
huge advantage.
And of the Super Duty compacts, Stan Antlocer’s
was the fastest. Stan and his father ran a speed shop
in the Detroit area, and Stan had driven Super Duty
Catalinas in previous years. “I was notified to pick
the car up at the factory the first week of February
1963,” Antlocer told Pontiac authority Paul Zazarine.
“I drove the car from the factory to the shop, and we
pulled the motor. We balanced and blueprinted it, and
got the rest of the car race-ready.”
The first tests at Detroit Dragway were disappoint-
ing. “I made at least a half-dozen runs,” Antlocer
continued, “and it just wasn’t there. The car just
wouldn’t E.T. like we thought it should with the big
405-hp motor in it. It wouldn’t mile-per-hour that
great, either. We brought the car back to the shop and
talked about what to do. We thought we ought to put a
full-sized Pontiac rear end in it like Mickey Thompson
did with his ’62 Tempest.”
“I called Bill Klinger at the factory, he was our
engineering liaison. I asked him if it would be possible
to put a big Pontiac rear in the Tempest. Klinger said
Pontiac would assign part numbers on them and submit
them to the NHRA, and then the car would be legal.”
Fifteen minutes of victory
One Super Duty LeMans even competed in a sports
car race on the high banks of Daytona International
Speedway. In an occasional rain, Paul Goldsmith,
driving the LeMans sent to Ray Nichels Engineering,
Detailing
Year produced: 1963
Number produced: 14
(coupe and wagon)
Original list price: $3,500
Current ACC Valuation:
$400,000–$450,000
Tune-up/major service: $200
Distributor cap: $19.99
Chassis #: VIN plate on
driver’s side door frame
Engine #: Pad on front of
block below right cylinder
head
Club: Pontiac Owners Club
International
More: www.poci.org
Alternatives: 1964 Ford
Fairlane Thunderbolt, 1968
Dodge Dart Hemi, 1969
Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
ACC Investment Grade: AComps
lapped the second-place finisher, A.J. Foyt in the
“Mystery” 427 Corvette, twice. Goldsmith even
lapped a Ferrari GTO eight times before taking the
checker in the 250-mile event. Dominating the competition
— that’s how legends are made.
But GM issued its infamous anti-racing edict
on January 24, 1963, just a few weeks after the six
Tempest Super Duty wagons were built. Factory support
stopped immediately, although racers had a special
phone number to call if they needed parts. That
supply of parts eventually dried up, and most of the
Super Duty racers were sold at the end of the ’63 season.
As of the time this car was listed on eBay Motors,
only three of the 14 cars were known to survive. Most
were documented as having been destroyed, and the
others were presumed lost to history.
A complete project
The buyer of the Stan Antlocer Super Duty LeMans
was John Riconda from New York. A serious Pontiac
enthusiast, John had been collecting 421 Super Duty
engine parts with the hope of installing the engine in
a Catalina someday. Instead, his focus shifted to the
long-lost Super Duty compact.
The car was shipped to Scott Tiemann’s Super Car
Specialties in Portland, MI — the expert in Pontiac
restorations. Scott already had experience with these
cars, restoring the Wynn Engineering Super Duty
coupe and Union Park Pontiac Super Duty wagon
owned by the late Randy Williams.
While finding parts for a car this rare is exceedingly
difficult, the garage-find LeMans was mostly complete.
The engine and transmission were missing, but John
Riconda already had many of the engine components
needed. He also had the unique “Powershift” 4-speed
semi-automatic transaxle available as well, but Stan
Antlocer had installed a standard 3-speed manual and
solid rear end in place of the original trans, and the
decision had been made to restore the LeMans to its
as-raced state. Most of the other unique Super Duty
pieces were already with the car, including the special
headers created by George DeLorean.
The lightweight components were another issue.
1963 Pontiac Tempest Super
Duty wagon
Lot S114, VIN: 163P99224
Condition: 1
Sold at $487,600
ACC# 162784
Mecum Auctions, Indianapolis,
IN, 5/19/2010
1963 Pontiac Tempest Super
Duty coupe
Lot S111, VIN: 263P76227
Condition: 2+
Not sold at $925,000 (offered
as a pair with Lot S111.1,
a Tempest Super Duty
wagon)
ACC# 47034
Mecum Auctions, St. Charles,
IL, 10/5/2007
1963 Pontiac Tempest Super
Duty wagon
Lot S113, VIN: 163P99224
Condition: 1
Sold at $656,250
ACC# 43090
Mecum Auctions, St. Charles,
IL, 10/6/2006
May-June 2014 59
Page 58
PROFILE RACE
The original front clip was located in Florida, in poor
condition, and the owner was rumored to be asking
$50,000. Scott Tiemann turned to Randy Ferguson of
Ferguson Coachbuilding in Robinson, IL, to re-create
these body parts. Tom DeWitt in Howell, MI, created
a perfect replacement of the unique aluminum “stackand-plate”
Harrison radiator, and Tiemann created
a set of acid-dipped bumpers to replace the missing
originals.
Big money
Total cost of restoring the Stan Antlocer Super Duty
LeMans to its as-raced glory was about $120,000 —
not at all unusual for a vintage racer.
Based on the historic value of the Super Duty
compacts, this should have been a fine investment. On
October 6, 2006, Mecum auctioned the Pontiac collection
of the late Randy Williams, including the two
Super Duty compacts. The wagon sold for $656,250
that day (ACC# 43090). The wagon ended up back
at Mecum, and on October 5, 2007, Mecum again
auctioned the two Super Duty compacts, this time as
a set. Bidding reached $925,000 for the pair but did
not meet reserve (ACC# 47034). Both cars became
part of Dana Mecum’s collection, and then on May 19,
2010, they sold the wagon again, this time for $487,600
(ACC# 162784).
Mecum tried selling the Stan Antlocer Super Duty
in January 2013, but it was a no-sale at $325,000.
This year, Russo and Steele sold it, but the price had
to be a bit of a disappointment to John Riconda, as he
obviously lost money once the restoration price was
factored into the deal.
The flip side to that is that the new owner got a
fantastic car for a lot less than some similar lots
brought in the not-so-distant past. There simply aren’t
that many factory-built GM racers out there, and to
find one with both great racing history as well as the
garage-find story is pretty rare. I’d call this one very
well bought at the price paid. A
(Introductory description courtesy of Russo and
Steele.)
1963 Pontiac Tempest Super Duty coupes
VIN
163P55754
163P55781
Build date
11/19/1962
11/26/1962
263P76227
263P76237
263P76752
263P76861
263P76881
263P76971
Build date
12/12/1962
Paint
Paint
F Yorktown Blue
1963 Pontiac LeMans Super Duty coupes
VIN
Sold to
C Cameo
Ivory
12/12/1962
12/12/1962
12/12/1962
12/12/1962
12/13/1962
C Cameo
Ivory
C Cameo
Ivory
C Cameo
Ivory
C Cameo
Ivory
C Cameo
Ivory
163P95462
163P95476
163P98420
163P98422
163P99224
163P100134
Build date
1/08/1963
1/08/1963
1/10/1963
1/10/1963
1/11/1963
Paint
George DeLorean
N/A
Stan Antlocer through Stan
Long Pontiac, Detroit, MI
N/A
N/A
N/A
1963 Pontiac Tempest Super Duty wagons
VIN
C Cameo Ivory
C Cameo Ivory
C Cameo Ivory
C Cameo Ivory
C Cameo Ivory
1/14/1963
C Cameo Ivory
Sold to
Mickey Thompson
D Silvermist Gray Ray Nichels
Sold to
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Wilmington, DE
N/A
Union Park
Pontiac,
60
AmericanCarCollector.com
Page 60
PROFILE TRUCK
1977 GMC C-15 SUBURBAN SIERRA GRANDE
The ultimate station wagon
Courtesy of Mecum Auctions
LE TRUCK
1977 GMC C-15 SUBURBAN SIERRA GRANDE
The ultimate station wagon
Courtesy of Mecum Auctions
these
these were
used up over
the years —
especially
ones
configured
to work hard,
such as those
with the
454-ci V8
and a 10,000
GVW tow
rating like
our subject
rig
62 AmericanCarCollector.com
62 AmericanCarCollector.com
OFILE TRUCK
1977 GMC C-15 SUBURBAN SIERRA GRANDE
The ultimate station wagon
Courtesy of Mecum Auctions
these were
used up over
the years —
especially
ones
configured
to work hard,
such as those
with the
454-ci V8
and a 10,000
GVW tow
rating like
our subject
rig
62 AmericanCarCollector.com
62 AmericanCarCollector.com
by
by James T. Lenzke,
with B. Mitchell Carlson
• Believed to be just over 43,000 actual miles
• Trailer special package
• One Washington state owner since new
• Air conditioning
• Automatic transmission
• Two-wheel drive
• 75th anniversary for GMC in 1977
• Tilt steering column
• Power steering
• Roll-down rear window at tailgate
• Factory luggage rack
• Original owner’s manual
• 10,000-lb GVW rating
ACC Analysis This truck, Lot K4, sold for
$7,560, including buyer’s pre-
mium, at Mecum’s auction in Kissimmee, FL, on
January 18, 2014.
The now-ubiquitous General Motors “Suburban”
name first emerged for the 1935 model year as the
Chevrolet Carryall Suburban. It was an early offering
of a factory-built, steel-bodied, 8-passenger
station wagon at a time when most similar vehicles
sported bodies built, at least partially, of wood. The
Suburban has gone on to become the longest-lived
model nameplate in American automotive history, now
in its 80th year. By 1937, GMC had its own version of
the Suburban as well, and in the years since, it has
shared all but a few trim pieces with its Chevrolet
counterpart.
A family truck
The 1973 redesign of Chevrolet and GMC light-duty
trucks was not just the start of a 15-year design cycle
for the pickups — it also lasted almost 20 years for
the Suburban. In some ways, that was the Suburban’s
debut as an honest-to-goodness competitor to the
industry’s largest car-based station wagons, and its
only true side-by-side competition, the International
Travelall.
One of the biggest improvements introduced by GM
in ’73 was the addition of a fourth door at the driver’s
side rear position. The previous generation (1967–72)
had just three doors, and the generation prior to
that had only two. Travelalls, on the other hand, had
been built with four doors since 1961. For both the
Suburban and the Travelall, that door count didn’t include
the choice of access to the rear — either double
“barn doors” or a tailgate with a station-wagon-like
roll-down rear window.
Adding extra side access in ’73 was key in making
the Suburban more attractive to families, and although
GM was slow in adding that fourth door, it made a big
difference in the truck’s appeal — here was a utility
truck that could be used as a wagon, and it could be
configured to be pretty comfortable, too, with dual a/c
units, power steering, power brakes, cruise control
and more.
The Travelall versus Suburban stand-off only lasted
until 1975, when International left the light-duty truck
market, except for the Scout II. For 1976, International
Harvester tried to hold the Travelall’s market share
with an extended-wheelbase model called the Traveler.
Page 61
Detailing
While it allowed greater rear passenger room, it still
wasn’t a four-door, so this time around it was a weak
competitor to the now four-door ’burban.
As for the Suburban, it now held a unique place in
a changing market. “Because some people need more
than a wagon,” said a ’73 Chevrolet commercial,
“Suburban has a tough truck chassis, so you can
carry up to a ton-and-a-half of people and cargo.”
Thanks to that, and the available 4x4 system, it was
even better suited to explore the country than a traditional
station wagon, and its popularity took off over
the next two decades.
Low-mile rarity
This Suburban was in generally good condition
overall with what could have been only 40k miles from
new. If that figure were true, this example is pretty
rare, as this particular generation of GM truck hasn’t
traditionally been collectible. Most of them were
used up over the years — especially ones configured
to work hard, such as those with the 454-ci V8 and a
10,000 GVW tow rating like our subject rig.
Any 454-ci-equipped Suburban will consume fuel at
what many would call an unacceptable rate in today’s
world, and it won’t perform like a ’70 Chevelle SS 454,
either. It will, however, tug big-time with its 245 net
horsepower and 370 lb-ft of torque — all day and all
night, if necessary. It’s easy to imagine that the ideal
buyer for this particular vehicle would use it to pull
a vintage travel trailer, such as an Airstream. I can
tell you from experience that one of these is perfectly
suited for that task.
A former employer of mine maintained a fleet of
Chevrolet and GMC Suburbans as transport for its
many publication divisions. Most were equipped
with 350-ci V8s. Over the years, however, a few were
ordered with the mighty 454. These vehicles were
driven coast to coast and back again to the tune of
many hundreds of thousands of miles. The staffer who
spent the most time behind the wheels of the corporate
caravan said that the 454s were good for eight miles
per gallon whether pulling a load or not.
When I retired, I bought a 1973 Airstream
Globetrotter Land Yacht and matched it up with a
1990 Chevrolet C-1500 Scottsdale Suburban. Based on
my experience of 40,000-plus miles of towing with the
combination, along with Suburbans I’ve owned before
— all with the ubiquitous 350 small-block under the
hood — I can attest that the ’burban is a wonderful
tow rig and that the 350 is more than adequate for
the job. A 454 may be thirstier, but it would also do a
better job flattening out the grades.
A good deal
The explosive increases in prices of vintage SUVs
(Land Cruisers, Broncos, and Scouts) over the past
few years hinge greatly upon their all-wheel-drive
prowess — something that two-wheel-drive Suburbans
don’t have. Even 4x4 Suburbans are not quite on that
same plateau, as they are longer and less nimble off
road. As such, their values still lag compared with
other vintage SUVs, but their values are at worst equal
to commensurate C/K pickups — and Suburbans are
arguably a tick better than their truck counterparts, at
least in terms of usability.
All that said, the best hope for long-term value ap-
preciation of these vehicles is with the station-wagon
set — the Suburban, is, after all, the ultimate station
wagon. And good, original-condition wagons have
done pretty well in the market over the past few years.
Could these be next?
This generation of GM truck is building momentum
in the market, with excellent examples occasionally
exceeding established prices. But the vast numbers
built and still out on the road may be keeping values
in check — there’s still plenty of supply to meet the
demand. However, in a few years, we
may lament how cheap these were selling
for “back in the good old days” of the
early 21st century.
The buyer of the subject vehicle has
acquired — at the very least — a dependable,
inexpensive, and easy-to-maintain
heavy-duty workhorse at approximately
one-seventh the cost of new today. Add in
its good condition and low-mileage figure,
and you’ve got a pretty decent buy on
a capable highway hauler that’s got some
potential collectible upside. Call it a fair
deal at a market price — for now. A
(Introductory descriptions courtesy
of Mecum Auctions.)
September-October 2013
May-June 2014 63
63CC
Years produced: 1973–91
Number produced: 234,992
(all 1977 GMCs)
Original list price: $5,279
Current ACC Valuation:
$6,000–$20,000
Tune-up cost: $200
Distributor cap: $10
Chassis number: Spotwelded
plate on the
driver’s door-lock pillar
Engine number: Passenger’s
side of the block near the
distributor (I6), passenger’s
side of the block on the
forward edge of the cylinder
head deck (V8)
Clubs: American Truck
Historical Society
Website: www.aths.org
Alternatives: 1973–91
Chevrolet C-1500
Suburban, 1969–75
International Travelall,
1963–87 Jeep Wagoneer
/ Wagoneer Limited,
1988–91 Jeep Grand
Wagoneer
ACC Investment Grade: C
Comps
1968 International Harvester
Travelall 1000
Lot 240, VIN: 212107H785818
Condition: 4+
Sold at $9,396
The Branson Auction,
Branson, MO, 9/10/2010
ACC# 165946
1972 GMC Suburban Carryall
Lot F223, VIN:
TCE162F514057
Condition: 3+
Sold at $24,380
Carlisle Events, Carlisle, PA,
4/22/2010
ACC# 162044
1984 Chevrolet Suburban
Scottsdale
Lot 53M, VIN:
1G8GC26W5EF107752
Condition: 4
Sold at $600
VanDerBrink Auctions, Sioux
Falls, SD, 6/13/2009
ACC# 120708
Page 62
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, $990,000—RM,
p. 104
2. 1965 Shelby GT350 R
fastback, $984,500—RM,
p. 104
3. 1963 Shelby Cobra
roadster, $825,000—AA,
p. 72
4. 1934 Packard Twelve
convertible sedan,
$390,500—AA, p. 73
5. 1970 Plymouth Hemi
Superbird 2-dr hard top,
$319,000—AA, p. 73
6. 1934 Auburn 1250 Salon
Speedster, $286,000—
RM, p. 96
7. 1932 Cadillac V16 452B
Madame X Imperial
Sedan, $264,000—G&Co,
p. 96
8. 1929 Willys-Knight 66B
Plaidside roadster,
$264,000—RM, p. 106
9. 1967 Chevrolet Corvette
427/435 coupe,
$250,250—AA, p. 70
10. 1963 Chevrolet Corvette
coupe, $189,200—AA,
p. 70
BEST BUYS
1. 1967 Chevrolet Corvette
427/435 coupe,
$250,250—AA, p. 70
2. 1953 Buick Skylark convertible,
$154,000—AA,
p. 68
3. 1971 Buick GS Stage 1
convertible, $78,840—
Mec, p. 90
4. 1959 Ford Galaxie
Skyliner retractable hard
top, $66,000—RM, p. 103
5. 1957 Chevrolet 210
resto-mod 2-dr sedan,
$42,900—Lke, p. 78
64 AmericanCarCollector.com
Top selling Mopar at Mecum’s Kissimmee sale—1971 Plymouth Hemi ’Cuda, sold
at $604,800
by Tony Piff
W
hen the collector car market crested and
fell in 2008, Mopar values were among
the hardest hit. In the past few years, this
has manifested as a tendency for topnotch
examples to no-sale on the auction
block, rather than sell at a discount.
But this cycle may be coming to a close.
n n n
A year ago at Mecum’s late January Kissimmee
sale, just one proper Mopar (a 1970 Hemi ’Cuda,
sold at $339k) made it into the top 10, and five sold
at or above $100k. This time around, a 1971 Hemi
’Cuda was the top car of the entire weeklong sale at
$605k, and a ’67 Barracuda “Hemi Under Glass” racer
grabbed the ninth-place slot at $324k. In total, nine
Mopar muscle cars sold above $100k. The top 10 also
included five high-spec Corvettes ($378k–$572k), two
Ford GTs ($262k and $346k) and a Ford Mustang Boss
429 at $260k. Overall Kissimmee totals declined to
$63m (1,759/2,576 cars sold) from $71m (1,807/2,424).
n n n
Two months later at Auctions America’s Fort
Lauderdale sale, a 1963 Shelby 289 Cobra was the
big lot at $825k. The top 10 also included a Ford GT
at $260k, a Ford GT Heritage Edition at $413k, and a
1970 Plymouth Hemi Superbird at $319k. One other
Mopar also achieved a six-digit price: a 1969 Plymouth
A12 Road Runner at $100k. Last year, a 1967 Dodge
Coronet W023 Hemi racer was the only Mopar to
sneak over $100k, selling at $105k with commission.
Sales grew to $21k (355/493) from $17k last year
(369/515).
n n n
Two cars broke $100k at Leake Tulsa: a 1968
Shelby GT500 at $129k and a $1970 Dodge Challenger
at $100k. Under $100k but still within the top 10, a
1970 Plymouth Hemi ’Cuda sold at $65k. By comparison,
the most expensive vintage Mopar sold here last
year was a 1972 Plymouth Barracuda at $30k. Leake
offered and sold more cars (305/393, up from 257/352),
and overall totals grew to $6.5m from $5.7m.
n n n
In this issue’s Roundup, we present highlights from
both Gooding and RM’s Amelia Island sales, as well as
GAA in Greensboro, NC; Petersen in Salem, OR; and
McCormick’s in Palm Springs, CA. A
Mopar sellers find
Mopar buyers
A ’71 HEMI ’CUDA WAS THE TOP CAR OF MECUM’S
WEEKLONG KISSIMMEE SALE AT $605K
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:
Salvageable for parts
Page 64
AUCTIONS AMERICA // Fort Lauderdale, FL
Auctions America — Fort
Lauderdale 2014
FLANKING THE TOP-SALE $825K COBRA WERE A $319K 1970
PLYMOUTH HEMI SUPERBIRD AND A $391K 1934 PACKARD TWELVE
Report Report and photos
by Pierre Hedary
Market opinions in italics
P
retty much everyone who drove
away from Auctions America’s
Fort Lauderdale sale with a new
acquisition had something exceptional
to brag about. In addition to
rows of resto-mods and ’30s street rods, there
was abundant well-restored American iron
from the 1950s into the early ’70s. There were
many desirable high-spec examples of iconic
cars, and the restoration and preservation
efforts were impressive.
Auctions America
Fort Lauderdale, FL
March 14–16, 2014
Auctioneers: Brent Earlywine,
Mike Shackleton, Chris Bol
Automotive lots sold/offered: 355/493
Sales rate: 72%
Sales total: $20,778,250
High sale: 1963 Shelby 289 Cobra, sold at
$825,000
Buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold
prices
1970 Plymouth Hemi Superbird 2-door hard top, sold at $319,000
Many vehicles for sale were hard to fault,
and most of the Friday lots were downright
affordable. One lucky person scored a clean
1970 Plymouth AAR ’Cuda for $47k. The
excitement built through Friday evening,
when a 2009 ZR1 Corvette sold at no reserve
for $70k with commission.
On Saturday, the room was packed, as
interested bidders stalked their favorite offerings
from static display on the convention
center floor, through the parking-lot staging
lanes, and onto the block. Early on, a $30k
expenditure was, apparently, no big deal,
as many lots hammered at and above that
number. A 1970 Shelby GT350 sold for $60k,
and later a textbook-perfect 1968 Camaro RS
Z/28 sport coupe sold for $72k.
From there, things got more exciting, as
the big lots crossed the block from about 3
o’clock to 6. CSX2023, the high-selling $825k
early Cobra, was right in the middle of a redhot
set. Flanking it on either side were a 1970
Plymouth Hemi Superbird (sold at $319k)
and a 1934 Packard Twelve convertible sedan
($391k). Sunday’s sales were more casual,
with solid money being spent on some very
clean cars, without all of the noise and excitement
of Saturday afternoon.
There were also many well-restored cars
available for accessible money. Looking for a
big American convertible? $30k would have
purchased a 1954 Oldsmobile Super 88 or a
1964 Ford Thunderbird.
During the week that followed, the sales
1963 Shelby Cobra roadster, sold at $825,000
66 AmericanCarCollector.com
figures continued to improve, proving that
an unsold car can still bring fair money postblock.
Out of 493 lots, 355 found new homes.
That’s fewer cars than sold and offered last
year (369/515), but the sales rate held steady
at 72%, and overall totals increased from
$17.5m to $21m. A
Page 66
AUCTIONS AMERICA // Fort Lauderdale, FL
GM
#785-1931 CADILLAC 355A roadster.
VIN: Gray/tan/tan leather. Odo: 1,717 miles.
Older restoration of an exciting example.
Paint has polish marks, with bubbling on the
rear left fender. Top is a bit aged, as is
chrome. Interior shows little use. Engine is
clean and decent, but shows no sign of recent
service. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $77,000. This could have been
mistaken for a giant candy cane. It had all of
the right appeal, and, with no reserve, it
created a good bit of excitement. Well
bought and sold.
#472-1958 CHEVROLET IMPALA convertible.
Aegean Aqua/green vinyl/green vinyl.
Odo: 29,259 miles. 348-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto.
Paint is almost perfect, with the exception of
slight cloudiness on the hood. Some pitting
and chipping at the edges of doors and
fenders. Chrome comparable to 1958.
Seats very colorful, but the pattern seems
true to form. Instruments and gauges show
no visible flaws. Engine bay holds promise
of excessive power, with neat and fully
stock presentation. With a/c. Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $132,000. A nicely aged Full
Classic Cadillac. It sold for a solid $132k,
which looked incredibly fair for such a magnificent
car.
white & red vinyl. Odo: 63,118 miles. 322-ci
V8, 2-bbl, 3-sp. A well-restored Skylark.
Paint is deep and rich with no flaws. Interior
fit and finish better than new. Wheels perfect.
In the care of the restorer, and babied
since completion. Won its class at Meadow
Brook. Cond: 1-.
#585-1953 BUICK SKYLARK convertible.
VIN: 17140295 Red/white vinyl/
SOLD AT $77,000. This was a rock-solid
Impala. It was only let down by very tiny
flaws. With its wild colors, it drew tons of
attention and climbed to a market-correct
bid quickly. Seller knew when to take his
money and run, cutting it loose at $70k.
Correctly bought for a great factory a/cequipped,
big-block example.
SOLD AT $154,000. This was one of two
Skylarks at the auction, and of the two, it
was the superior example. Quickly bid up
and sold without regrets. The new owner
bought the restoration, with the car thrown
in for free.
#570-1955 OLDSMOBILE 98 Starfire convertible.
VIN: 5593C8571. Coral & white/
black vinyl/red & white vinyl. Odo: 9,031
miles. 324-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. A stunning
Oldsmobile. Paint is great, with only a few
issues at the edges, if any. Chrome similar.
Interior is high-quality reproduction. Dash is
excellent. Carpets are fresh. With Continental
kit and Wonderbar radio. Cond: 2.
#519-1958 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE convertible.
VIN: N558TT1989. Black & white/
silver vinyl. Odo: 12,100 miles. 370-ci V8,
4-bbl, auto. Very clean first-year Tri-Power
Bonneville, with rare bucket-seat option.
Deep black and shiny chrome could not be
better. Interior is ornately restored, with lots
of attention to small details. Engine is also
authentic. Overall, hard to fault. Cond: 1-.
ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. A very solid Eldorado with
a rare bucket-seat option. Very clean exterior
with aged and graceful paint. Chrome
needs help at top frame. Interior is decent,
with green carpet and wavy vinyl on bucket
seats. The bucket-seat option was purchased
for fewer than 100 cars. Engine bay
is driver-level and very clean. Cond: 2.
NOT SOLD AT $145,000. This Eldo was a
very good car for local shows and Sunday
drives. However, it was bid to a realistic
level, and the seller should have let it go to
a new home.
#603-1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO RS/SS
convertible. VIN: 124679N58554. Blue
metallic/white vinyl/blue vinyl. Odo: 12,132
350-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Excellent paint and
chrome trim. Gaps better than new. Similar
strong effort invested in interior and engine
bay. Odd bubble on trunk lid. Equipped with
4-speed, a/c, and hairy-chested 300-hp
350. Cond: 1-.
NOT SOLD AT $35,000. If you wanted a
convertible GM product, there were nearly
50 to choose from at this auction. How
about a resto-mod from the late ’60s? There
were dozens. Perhaps as a result, this
sweet little Camaro did not find a new
home. If I’d had to leave this auction with a
car, this would have been it.
NOT SOLD AT $112,500. This Bonneville
was the entire package. It had just been
restored, and given the depth of the
restoration, I doubt the high bid covered it.
Although the high bid was good money, I
can see why the seller held out for more on
this one.
#533-1959 CADILLAC ELDORADO convertible.
VIN: 539E101397 Dark green
metallic/white vinyl. Odo: 16,091 miles. 331-
68 AmericanCarCollector.com
#629-1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO RS/SS
Pace Car convertible. VIN: 12479N623715.
White & orange/black canvas/orange
houndstooth cloth. Odo: 44,034 miles. 350ci
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. One of three Pace Cars
at auction, this being the better example.
BEST
BUY
Page 68
AUCTIONS AMERICA // Fort Lauderdale, FL
Paint and graphics well executed. Paint
damaged on rear of deck lid. Chrome correct.
Interior as-new. Engine bay shows off
350/300 engine. With factory a/c. Cond: 1-.
NOT SOLD AT $77,500. The three Pace
Cars here were nice cars, but this one took
the cake with its 4-speed manual. Although
it garnered a good amount of attention during
preview, the energetic bidders seemed
to be elsewhere when it crossed the block.
The money just was not in the room. Shows
that timing is everything.
#508-1970 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE SS
396 convertible. VIN: 186670B152288.
Maroon/white vinyl/white vinyl. Odo: 4,012
miles. 396-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. A nice, usable
Chevelle. Paint is show-quality, and chrome
is very close. Cowl induction and hood pins
supposedly original, but no documentation.
Dual mirrors and power brakes factory.
Interior is fine, but seats overstuffed. Dash
is original. Engine bay is nice. Overall, an
attractive car. Cond: 2.
CORVETTE
10
Black/black vinyl. Odo: 2,237 miles. 327-ci
360-hp fuel-injected V8, 4-sp. Black paint is
deep and rich. Chrome good, no major or
minor flaws. Interior looks just as good, with
everything either fresh or well preserved.
Engine bay is authentic, with very clean and
nice fuel-injection unit sitting proudly up top.
Undercarriage shows minimal road use.
Cond: 2+.
#599-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. VIN: 30837S10522.
looking engine bay with minimal use. With
Bloomington Gold Survivor certification.
Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $79,750. This was one of two
super-original Corvettes offered here. While
not perfect, it had certainly been preserved
and maintained, and the colors were simply
gorgeous. For all the effort put into keeping
this up, the selling price was deserved.
Most likely destined for a life of static display.
FOMOCO
SOLD AT $189,200. The stuff dreams are
made of: fiberglass smothered in deep
black paint. This ’Vette had all of it, and it
sold for strong money. Well bought for a
sexy car.
SOLD AT $50,600. For $50k, someone
bought a car they can go crazy in, take to a
show, and then maybe make a few grand
when they get tired of it. While it had a lot of
undocumented add-ons, they helped make
the car stand out. Market value, and after
all, you can’t drive a bank account.
#531-1970 PONTIAC GTO Judge Ram Air
III 2-dr hard top. VIN: 242370Z117618.
Black/red vinyl. Odo: 63,784 miles. 400-ci
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Very correct restoration with
minor scratches in paint. Gaps are authentic,
which means there is some inconsistency.
Door fit and trunk fit acceptable for
this level of restoration. Interior is all business—not
warm and inviting by any means.
Chrome and stainless are fine. Engine bay
serious and hard to fault. Cond: 2+.
194377S111981. Marlboro Maroon/black
vinyl. Odo: 5,900 miles. 427-ci 435-hp V8,
3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Paint is original. Starting to
shrink and craze, but only if you look hard.
Chrome is well preserved. Interior is showroom-fresh
from 1967. Engine bay also very
clean and in time-warp condition. Multiple
NCRS Top Flight awards on display. Nice
features include manual transmission and
stinger hood. An exceptionally preserved
Corvette. Cond: 3+.
9
#528-1967 CHEVROLET
CORVETTE coupe. VIN:
#581-1947 FORD SUPER DELUXE
woodie wagon. Medium blue & wood/
brown vinyl. Odo: 429 miles. 239-ci V8,
1-bbl, 3-sp. Superb wood-bodied station
wagon. Blue paint is eye-catching and well
applied. Wood is a mix of original and replacement.
All doors open and close as expected.
Rear doors are not flush with body.
Wood inside is true and architectural. Seats
look the part, but are uncomfortable and
very springy. 239 flathead is authentic and
simple. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $250,250. This was a superbly
documented example of an ideal Survivor
Corvette. It did not require any rehabbing to
become usable, and it had loads of documentation.
Quite possibly the most important
car at this auction, and undervalued at
high bid. New owner is a lucky son of a gun.
NOT SOLD AT $115,000. A car that could
get you in serious trouble. There was a lot
of excitement until reality set in, and bidders
were more or less forced to acknowledge
that $100k would not do the job. A few spirited
bidders pushed this great example to
$115k, but that was all. The right buyer
wasn’t here.
70 AmericanCarCollector.com
#562-1970 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. VIN: 1946705334087. Donnybrooke
Green/green vinyl. Odo: 34,000 miles. 350ci
370-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Very nice original
LT-1. Some crazing in factory-applied paint
with touch-up on left front fender. Chrome
as-factory, with some clouding. Glass just
as nice. Interior is like new. Mint Rally
wheels with period Firestones. Original-
SOLD AT $47,300. A cool woodie, with
much of its charismatic timber preserved
during restoration. Popular and bright, it had
a crowd of followers as it crossed the block.
However, given its limited usability and the
requirements of keeping up a wood body, it
hammered for a realistic $43k. Too nice to
be used as a surf wagon, but down here,
that might certainly be its fate.
#485-1956 LINCOLN PREMIERE convertible.
VIN: 56LA102631. Yellow/black & yellow
vinyl. Odo: 1,000,189 miles. 368-ci V8,
4-bbl, 3-sp. Big Lincoln with a straight body.
Yellow paint is attractive and looks fresh.
Chrome has minor pitting. Chrome and
sheet metal are very straight. Interesting
pattern on the seating material. Interior
pieces all fit well. Engine bay is clean and
inspires confidence. Vehicle was in Kughn
BEST
BUY
TOP 10
TOP 10
Page 70
AUCTIONS AMERICA // Fort Lauderdale, FL
Collection. One of 2,447. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $58,300. This big Lincoln was the
perfect car for parades, Sunday drives and
local car shows. It would also make a nice
hangar ornament. Whoever ended up with it
will likely have the biggest car around for
miles. Well sold.
#513-1957 FORD THUNDERBIRD convertible.
VIN: D7FH125500. Yellow/white
vinyl/white vinyl. Odo: 38,415 miles. 312-ci
V8, 4-bbl, auto. Super-clean Thunderbird in
nearly perfect order. Paint is creamy, but if
one looks carefully at chrome, lots of small
scratches are visible. Dash and seats have
almost certainly had work done, but still in
great shape. Engine bay is lovely. Hard top
present with small tear in headliner. With
original window sticker. Cond: 2.
289 with “all of the correct bits” was added.
Sits on wire wheels with whitewalls.
Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $825,000. This Cobra
was the high sale of the auction. Seller
pulled the reserve at $720k, and it hammered
at $750k. While this was an unmodified,
solid Cobra, the engine swap and the
combination of silver paint with whitewall
tires detracted from its overall appeal. Still a
real-deal Shelby, however, and strong appreciation
is in its future. Fair price for admission
into a very exclusive club.
#622-1968 SHELBY GT500 KR fastback.
VIN: 8TO2R21333904065. Lime Green
metallic/black vinyl. Odo: 40,556 miles.
428-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Nice Shelby in wild
colors, with some tiger stripes on hood if
you look closely. Chrome good. Weatherstripping
on doors aging. Gaps like new.
#627-2008 FORD MUSTANG Saleen
coupe. VIN: 85179736. Silver & gray/black
leather. 4.6-L supercharged V8, 6-sp. Brand
new or close to it. Said to be number 12 of
25. Body, interior and engine bay present
as new. Large supercharger sits atop
heavily modified 4.6. $100k new, with
window sticker. Cond: 1-.
NOT SOLD AT $55,000. The market for this
car is thin above $50k, with the reality of
depreciation setting in. It also ran too late in
the day to really generate a crowd. Owner
should just drive it, as it is not going to
become valuable overnight.
Lucas foglights added. Interior and engine
bay are in line with expectations. Undercarriage
spotless. With a/c. No reserve. Cond:
1-. SOLD AT $129,800. I watched several
potential bidders salivating over this one,
but when it cleared $100k, the saliva turned
to sweat. Well bought and sold.
SOLD AT $54,450. It is hard to imagine an
auction like this without a flock of Thunderbirds.
This one was the attention-getter, and
it made lots of friends while it sat on the
floor. While an F-bird (Lot 555) was bid up
to $155k, this was the highest-selling one.
You could purchase two 1960s “Thunderbarges”
for this kind of money, so it looked
slightly well sold.
#549-1963 SHELBY COBRA roadster.
VIN: CSX2023. Silver/black
vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 31,637 miles. 289-ci
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. The 23rd Cobra produced.
Silver exterior is straightforward, with no
body modifications. Gaps are per factory
but with some inconsistency between left
and right doors. All exterior trim looks tidy.
Interior is minimal and correct. Originally
started life as a 260 car. Very early on, a
3
#467-1971 FORD MUSTANG Mach 1 fastback.
VIN: 1F05J112121. Pewter/ black
vinyl. Odo: 54,705 miles. 429-ci V8, 4-bbl,
4-sp. Said to be a one-owner car. Paint very
good with only minor polishing flaws. No
sign of previous bodywork or accident repair,
but almost certainly painted at some
point. Interior nearly new, engine bay same.
With Marti Report, indicating Drag Pack,
manual transmission and 429 CJ engine.
One of 531 built. Cond: 2.
#504-2008 SHELBY GT500 KR coupe.
VIN: 8KR0321. Blue metallic/black leather.
Odo: 969 miles. 5.4-L supercharged V8,
6-sp. Attractive Shelby and brand new to
boot. Paint sports gray metallic stripes.
Interior as-new, with proper signature on
glovebox door. Engine bay as-new, dominated
by giant supercharger. Cond: 1-.
SOLD AT $60,500. It boggles my mind as
to how someone would buy this and not
drive it. Hopefully it will see some use in
new ownership. Market-correct.
MOPAR
#625-1957 CHRYSLER 300C 2-dr hard
top. VIN: 3N572091. Red/cream leather.
392-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Big Chrysler in a hot
red suit. Up close, paint is okay. Chrome
could be better, but it is acceptable. Gaps
are so-so. Interior needs some help, with
baggy seats, needy dash and “danger” sign
SOLD AT $66,000. This Mustang was
touted as having one female owner. However,
no one was on hand to substantiate
this, and despite the heavy documentation,
the near $100k price tag was totally unrealistic.
It made it to $55k on the block, and a
deal came together later for $66k. Strong
money for a nice, original Mach 1.
72 AmericanCarCollector.com
TOP 10
Page 71
AUCTIONS AMERICA // Fort Lauderdale, FL
hanging from steering wheel. Instrumentation
hazy and odometer obscured. Engine
bay unavailable for inspection. Cond: 3-.
NOT SOLD AT $39,000. The seller was
hoping for $80k, which seemed hopeless.
It’s fair to say that the market has spoken.
Maybe with some time and expense, this
could bring another $10k–$15k.
#550-1969 PLYMOUTH ROAD RUNNER
2-dr hard top. VIN: RM23M9A286668.
Bright red/black vinyl. Odo: 15,494 miles.
440-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Uncut original A12
Road Runner with 440 Six Pack. Paint and
panels are unusually straight for this sort of
car, especially given its period drag history.
Body claimed to be virgin. Interior clean and
all business, with menacing black rod sticking
up out the floor. 440 looks menacing
sitting still, with all decals and other details
correct. Originally from Montana, and documented
by Galen Govier. Other documentation
abundant. One of 422 A12s with
4-speed. Cond: 2.
reserve, and with the angry 440 Magnum
under the hood, I was expecting it to sell for
at least $60k. When the hammer fell, I
should have called the police. Someone
stole this thing.
RM23R0A172601. Blue metallic/black
vinyl/black vinyl. 426-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, auto.
The penultimate aerocar. Panels are nice,
one bubble on right side hood scoop,
chrome is correct. Vinyl top same. Interior is
original and practically unused. Engine bay
cleaner than most hospitals. One of 135
1970 Hemi Superbirds. Odo not readable.
Cond: 2.
5
#544-1970 PLYMOUTH HEMI SUPERBIRD
2-dr hard top. VIN:
SOLD AT $319,000. This Hemi ’bird drew
many fans out of the crowd. While ’Cuda
convertibles sell for seven digits, these guys
languish at one-third of that. Given the number
of bidders up to the mid-$200k zone, I
would say this was the right money.
SOLD AT $100,000. The restorer was here
peddling his wares. He was very proud of
this car and for good reason. I had never
seen an A12 in the flesh, as most of these
were cut up, raced, crashed and raced
again back in the day. It was a no-sale on
the block, but a deal was put together later.
Find another one that is this straight and
well documented.
#575-1970 DODGE CHALLENGER R/T SE
2-dr hard top. VIN: JS2940E105520. Red/
black vinyl/black vinyl. 440-ci V8, 4-bbl,
auto. Not just a Challenger, but a 440 R/T
SE. Paint and chrome nearly faultless.
Panel fit and alignment much like factory.
Interior very nice and cozy, with few repro
parts. Engine same. Odo not readable.
Cond: 2+.
AMERICANA
4
#561-1934 PACKARD TWELVE
convertible sedan. VIN: N/A. Eng.
# 6563. Cream/tan vinyl/brown leather. One
of only 29 Packard V12 convertible sedans
built, according to seller. Paint has good,
even application with no signs of age or
blemish. Chrome is just as good, refinished
with elegant understatement. Interior is basic
and functional, with subtle touches of
elegance. Brown leather seats in good order.
Convertible top consistent and flawless.
Engine bay all business, with no overrestoration.
Wire wheels are grand. Titled with
engine number. Cond: 2.
Sports Car Market
Keith Martin’s
The Insider’s Guide to Collecting, Investing, Values, and Trends
™
SOLD AT $48,400. One-quarter the cost of
the Superbird (Lot 544, $319k), and just as
much fun. I was amazed that this was no-
SOLD AT $390,500. This senior Packard
was a true crowd-pleaser, but few realized
just how rare it was. Only 10 of these supposedly
survive. At least three bidders capitalized
on this opportunity, and the reserve
was off at $350k. A rare example of a
superb AACA Full Classic. A
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May-June 2014 73
TOP 10
TOP 10
Page 72
LEAKE // Oklahoma City, OK
Leake — Oklahoma City 2014
THREE STELLAR CUSTOMS STOOD OUT AS EXCEPTIONAL AND WOULD
BE NICE ENOUGH FOR “STAR” STATUS AT PRETTY MUCH ANY AUCTION
Report Report and photos
by Lester Neidell
Market opinions in italics
J
ames Leake held his first auction in
1972; I first consigned to the Tulsa
auction in 1978, offering a 1959
Daimler SP250. Talk about being the
odd man out!
Now run by Leake’s daughter Nancy and
her husband Richard Sevenoaks, the Leake
company has grown into an important regional
player. It’s developed a unique, somewhat
frenetic style, with two auction lanes
operating simultaneously. At the Oklahoma
City venue, cars are spread among three
buildings, with motorcycles, motor homes,
golf carts, trailers and tractors mixed in.
Leake Car Auctions
Oklahoma City, OK
February 21–23, 2014
Auctioneers: Jim Richie, Tony Langdon,
Bob Ehlert, Brian Marshall
Automotive lots sold/offered: 305/393
Sales rate: 78%
Sales total: $6,430,353
High sale: 1968 Shelby GT500, sold at
$128,700
Buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold
prices
With two simultaneously operating auction lanes, Leake is always hopping
There were 393 lots offered, with 305 sold
(78%), for a gross of $6.4m. The three top
collector cars were a 1968 Shelby GT500 at
$129k; a 1970 Dodge Challenger at $101k;
and a 1932 Lincoln Model KA 507A with
Murray body at $80k. (A 2002 Monaco
Executive motorhome was actually the thirdbiggest
sale at $96k.)
In the past, Leake’s OKC auction has
tended toward the “affordable” end of the
spectrum. It’s always been a good place to
schmooze with the locals and discuss their
latest creations, most of which would be
best suited to the local cruise-in. No more!
Although the locals were present, there also
was a strong cadre of professional types from
all over the country, both buying and selling.
Fully a third of the cars, I felt, were #2
condition or better. Average sold price was
$21k, and 29 lots achieved bids of more than
$50k. I spoke to quite a few of the out-oftowners
about their decision to bring lots to
OKC, and all were extremely positive, even
when they had the higher-priced no-sales.
Comments ranged from “Richard is a great
guy and I need to support him,” to “Man,
have you been to Bricktown?” (downtown’s
vibrant entertainment district).
Among the many fine customs, three
stood out as exceptional: a radical 1935 Ford
truck (no-sale at $44k), a 1957 Chevy 210
(sold at $43k), and a 1969 Camaro big-block
resto-mod (sold at $49k). Each of these would
be nice enough for “star” status at pretty
much any auction.
Gross sales were 13% higher than last
1957 Chevrolet 210 resto-mod 2-door sedan, sold at $42,900
74 AmericanCarCollector.com
year, confirming that Leake is bringing
together the right buyers, the right sellers and
the right cars. A
Page 74
LEAKE // Oklahoma City, OK
GM
#478-1940 LASALLE SERIES 50 Model
5019 sedan. VIN: MV1N501411ND. Pearl
white/red vinyl. Odo: 4,792 miles. Some dirt
in paint, chips at hood edges and trunk
edges, grille corroded, all plastic trim
cracked, step plates scuffed. Driver’s door
droops, gaps on passenger’s suicide doors
very uneven. Fender skirts different color.
Garish red vinyl interior, engine compartment
not detailed, 12-volt electrics. Claimed
fully restored, apparently some 4,700 miles
ago. My guess is that it was restored to use
as parade car many years ago. Could be 3-,
but given its age and restoration, consider it
a 3. Cond: 3.
249-ci I8, 2-bbl, auto. Older restoration
that’s been used but well cared for. Dual
spotlights. Enamel paint with use scratches.
Hood trim dented, hood latch issue. Poor
bodywork in trunk area. Goodyear tires on
nice wheels with chrome beauty rings. Top
fit off, top faded. Chieftain hood emblem not
restored, cracked. Chrome clear but with
polish scratches. Interior clean; knobs
faded. Engine clean, undetailed. Converted
to 12-volt, a/c and power steering added.
Specially calibrated speedo, designed for
touring. Cond: 3+.
passenger’s side. Three-row interior. Rubber
mats new, instruments redone, trafficlight
prism viewer, factory radio. Engine
compartment clean but not detailed. Featured
in Hagerty’s 2013 calendar. Claimed
body-off frame restoration—believable.
Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $37,675. I would call it well
bought. If proper-sized rubber is available,
then it could become even nicer. Too bad
not enough time spent on running boards.
SOLD AT $40,150. Absolutely one of my
favorites—what a great old tour car! Never
restored as a show car but for tours and
rallies. Fair price all around.
SOLD AT $25,850. If you had to have one,
well, here you go. I cannot think of a poorer
color choice than pearl white with red vinyl.
If the car checks out, then it could be a nice
driver. I had a ’39 LaSalle coupe in high
school and remember it as a great driver. It
was nicer than this, though. Lucky seller.
#2417-1946 CHEVROLET 3100 pickup.
VIN: DBA262208. Black/tan vinyl. 235-ci I6,
3x1-bbl, 3-sp. Some paint worn through to
primer on fenders, yet cab shows lots of
orange peel. Light pitting on grille. Oak bed,
hubcaps, wheel trim all in very nice shape.
Speedo and odometer broken, mileage
can’t be verified. Engine not detailed. New
16-inch tires and recent tune-up. Local OK
car its entire life. Nice-looking truck suitable
for local cruise-ins Cond: 3.
#2472-1949 CADILLAC resto-mod 2-dr
hard top. VIN: 496286126. Red/tan vinyl.
Odo: 358 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto.
Stunning from five feet. Close inspection
reveals paint prep issues, all stainless steel
scratched. Chrome grille also scratched.
Vent window frames corroded. Missing
hood springs. Chassis clean but not detailed.
Nova subframe. Interior nice with
white-faced instruments. Crate 350. Nice,
unusual build that’s been rushed to market.
Original VIN long gone. Cond: 2-.
#494-1953 CHEVROLET 150 SEDAN DELIVERY
resto-mod. VIN: D5K036S18. Red/
gray cloth. Odo: 3,888 miles. 350-ci V8,
auto. Poor prep doesn’t hide the fact that
this could be a very nice truck. Nice paint
but with chips and scratches commensurate
with light use. Gaps off all around, driver’s
door chipped at rear edge. Rusty door hardware
and trailer hitch. Custom digital dash,
power steering, power brakes, cruise control.
Console scratched. Mud/snow tires,
underside just plain dirty. Cond: 2-.
SOLD AT $41,800. With a little more care,
this could have been a 2+ car. It seemed
rushed to market—the paint was barely dry,
and it would have benefited from detailed
description. Given the lackadaisical presentation,
all the money. But buyer got an
unusual car that just needs to be sorted.
SOLD AT $15,400. Honest truck, not especially
flashy, and bone stock except for oak
bed and 235—which wasn’t available in ’46,
but which would’ve been a standard swap in
the early ’50s. Fair deal to both sides.
#479-1948 PONTIAC TORPEDO convertible.
VIN: P8PA17516. Yellow/black cloth/
yellow & black vinyl. Odo: 35,372 miles.
76 AmericanCarCollector.com
#2473-1951 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN
SUV. VIN: 5JPK1157. Metallic army green/
brown vinyl. 216-ci I6, 1-bbl, 3-sp. Paint
good overall, as is exterior chrome. Artillery
wheels. Biggest issue is rear door gaps—
you can see through to the interior. Nice
tripod headlights. All replacement rubber is
too big, ditto for window slider felts. Running
boards damaged. Swamp-cooler fitted at
NOT SOLD AT $18,000. At least wash the
damn thing before you bring it to auction.
No information given about drivetrain. Bid
was generous given the total lack of presentation.
#2448-1953 OLDSMOBILE 98 Holiday
2-dr hard top. VIN: 539M13019. Yellow/
gray leather. Odo: 8,404 miles. 303-ci V8,
2-bbl, auto. Paint good with some chips,
polish scratches. Whitewalls dirty, nice wire
hubcaps. Left rear window delaminating
with BB hole. Holiday badges crazed, some
stainless trim rough. Right fender has fit
issues. Chassis is dirty. Interior better, as is
engine compartment. Hydra-Matic transmission
preferred to the Dynaflow, which was
fitted to many late-year Olds after a plant
fire. Rare foot-controlled radio option.
Poster claims National Olds First Place in
Class, but doesn’t say when. Nice car, badly
prepped. Cond: 2+.
Page 76
LEAKE // Oklahoma City, OK
shows use. Hood closed. Not my taste but
overall nice fabrication. Best interior of any
car at auction. Cond: 2-.
SOLD AT $39,600. Impressive car, probably
won’t fit in modern 20-foot garage. Another
situation where a first-class restoration
is becoming undone. Obviously not driven
in a while. I thought price was high, and
before the auction wouldn’t have thought
this was the right venue. It recently sold for
$35k at Mecum Dallas in September 2013
(ACC# 236140), so the seller may have just
covered his expenses for a sliver of profit.
#2460-1957 CHEVROLET 210 restomod
2-dr sedan. VIN: B570153996.
Red/black vinyl. Odo: 597 miles. 350-ci V8,
2x4-bbl, 5-sp. Body-off resto and looks it.
Excellent paint. Only items keeping it from a
1 are minor trim scratches and (more seriously)
gap issues. Dropped front spindles,
lowered two inches, new glass all around
with vent windows deleted. Upgraded crate
motor, but no horsepower figures. New wiring
harness, 4-wheel discs, custom stereo,
chrome tilt steering column. Tremec TKO
5-speed, Ford nine-inch rear. Beautiful
white-faced instruments. One of the best
resto-mods in the auction. Cond: 1-.
SOLD AT $47,300. Gotta give the builder
credit for imagination and overall good
workmanship. This was a situation where
bigger wheels would have helped the overall
perspective, as the large, lowered body
seemed to overwhelm the chosen wheels.
Big panels incredibly difficult to fit and paint,
but done well. Probably was a 2+ or 1-, but
use has taken its toll. Consider it fair to both
seller and buyer.
#2416-1959 CADILLAC DEVILLE 2-dr
hard top. VIN: 59J076444. Woodrose
Pink/pink leather & cloth. Odo: 48,223
miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Paint has noticeable
runs and pinholes. Trim badly
scratched, door handles worn to base, vent
windows delaminating. Dented windshieldsurround,
all rubber cracked and disintegrating.
Interior acceptable. Entire drivetrain
replaced with one from 1975 Corvette. Impressive
but lots of needs. Cond: 3-.
except passenger’s door, hood, driver’s
door out at bottom. Nice chromed wire
wheel caps. Window rubbers not replaced.
Interior and engine compartment clean but
not detailed. Correct engine, not matchingnumbers.
Power steering and brakes,
factory a/c, original tools. Cond: 2-. NOT
SOLD AT $48,000. The seller’s placard
implied matching numbers but did not actually
say so for either engine or transmission.
And for a rotisserie restoration, why would
window rubbers not be replaced? Bid was
within range. Car will only deteriorate
further.
#2496-1963 CHEVROLET C10 Pro Street
pickup. VIN: 3C144S154666. Teal green/
beige tweed cloth. Odo: 1 mile. 454-ci supercharged
V8, auto. “From farm truck to
pro-street.” Everything new, but workmanship
not up to other rods. Suicide doors;
driver’s door rubs. Rear of hood rough.
Some welds poorly finished. Paint chipped
in engine compartment. Best feature is the
engine: bored, stroked, blueprinted, blown,
roller cam. No horsepower rating given.
Aluminum fabricated fuel tank. Bed matches
tweed interior. Older restoration never
driven, stored for many years, will need
reconditioning before use. Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $25,850. Assuming the drivetrain
checks out, this should make a comfortable
local cruiser. But any reconstruction would
quickly put buyer underwater. Possible candidate
for full restoration back to original?
SOLD AT $42,900. Simply stunning oldschool
resto-mod. There’s no way the seller
recouped his investment unless he valued
labor at 50 cents/hr. Hat’s off to the buyer.
#2491-1957 CHEVROLET 210 resto-mod
wagon. VIN: VB570141633. White pearl/red
& white leather. Odo: 9,070 miles. 502-ci
V8, 4-bbl, auto. Passenger’s compartment
stretched 10 inches. Rear door and roof
fabricated, roof has custom air exhaust
vents. Custom grille, shaved door handles.
Paint shows few fisheyes. Trim fit off at
doors. Door edges rough. Gaps uneven.
Sumptuous leather interior with custom
gauges clearly rates a 1. Undercarriage
78 AmericanCarCollector.com
#2477-1961 CHEVROLET IMPALA 2-dr
hard top. VIN: 11837S155749. Roman
Red/red & white vinyl & cloth. Odo: 44,153
miles. 348-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Claimed
rotisserie restoration, but if so, a while ago
and with many small needs. Paint highquality,
minor polishing scratches. Left vent
window delaminating, rear decorative vents
pitted, wide whitewalls yellowed. Gaps good
NOT SOLD AT $27,500. This did not suit
my taste, especially the interior and the
bed—and what era were the multi-colored
stripes from? But what a sweet engine! Difficult
to evaluate because of long-term storage
and needs. From Arkansas, so no great
expense to take home. I think we might see
it at Branson, but given the dated restoration,
difficult to see much more bid.
#2471-1966 CHEVROLET NOVA SS restomod
2-dr hard top. VIN: 118376N140146.
Marina Blue/blue & white vinyl. Odo: 25,275
miles. 400-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Paint generally
good, chrome trim scratched, driver’s window
chipped at top. Door gap issues both
sides; driver’s door worse. Pirelli front tires,
worn Mickey Thompson ET rears. Tar
BEST
BUY
Page 78
LEAKE // Oklahoma City, OK
underneath. Trunk missing bulkhead. Engine
compartment dirty, reaction strut fitted.
Coil-overs with rear traction bar. Ford nineinch
rear, disc brakes. Interior nicer, with
added white-faced instrument panel. Carpets
and seatbelts dirty. Wood steering
wheel. I would call this a resto-mod typical
for this auction. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT
$29,700. Honest street/drag car that has
seen use, but well cared for. Why not post
the quarter-mile times? Perhaps slight advantage
to seller.
#2446-1969 CHEVROLET C10 pickup.
VIN: CE149J838115. Orange/tan vinyl &
beige cloth. Odo: 79,800 miles. 350-ci V8,
4-bbl, auto. Nice repaint, great five-footer.
Up close, some polish scratches. Door
handles scratched. Lowered. Rough bed is
the most serious issue. (Why not spend the
additional five hours to prep the bed?)
Interior has Ididit column and some custom
gauges. Interior shows some thin paint. Engine
not detailed. In fact, entire car not well
prepped, but nice truck overall. Missing a/c.
Cond: 2-.
bars. Tremec 5-speed with line-lock, custom
gauges, four-point padded roll bar, fivepoint
harnesses. Engine compartment welldressed,
aluminum radiator, clean. Simply a
great car. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $48,950.
One of the best at the auction. I wish seller
had posted quarter-mile times as well as
dyno sheets. The only negative I could see
was that extensive chassis stiffening could
give harsh ride, and eventual sheet metal
stress. While there are lots of ’69 Camaro
resto-mods out there, I would give edge to
buyer simply because of the quality.
#530-1970 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE SS
2-dr hard top. VIN: 136370A115120. Eng.
# 0A115120. Black/black vinyl. Odo: 82,100
miles. 454-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Claimed 100
miles since “body-off-frame restoration.”
Overall paint very nice, but more chips than
expected. Right door gap very uneven at
rear, left door gap approaches half-inch at
top. Interior clean, stock. Engine compartment
with correct Delco battery and reproduction
engine stickers. Power steering and
brakes. Original spare. Non-stock exhaust.
Claimed matching-numbers engine and
Posi rear end. Aftermarket 17-inch chrome
wheels with Nitto tires. Could have been
better. Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $35,200. Owner was rightfully
proud. Even valuing his labor at only 50
cents/hr, the documented build cost was
over $100k. (A pro build would have been
closer to $250k.) Buyer got a great deal, but
market for these is limited.
#141-1979 PONTIAC TRANS AM coupe.
VIN: 2W87K0L194832. Black/gray velour.
Odo: 9,556 miles. 403-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. As
it came from the Fireball Run. The many
stickers give it a “race car” vibe. Dented and
scratched, paint flaking, rear deck antenna
base corroded. T-tops. Interior stock but
dirty and worn. With power steering, tilt
wheel, a/c. No attempt to clean engine compartment.
Cond: 4+.
SOLD AT $17,050. No engine info given,
other than the fact that it was a crate motor
with 202 heads. Some consignors just don’t
realize buyers would like to know the horsepower.
Add a/c, fix the bed issues and fully
customize the dash, maybe add buckets,
and it should be a $35k item. So there’s at
least $5k available to the buyer if he wishes.
Or just drive it.
#2509-1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO restomod
coupe. VIN: 124379N600699. Black/
black vinyl. Odo: 60,142 miles. 502-ci V8,
4-bbl, 5-sp. Minor paint chips from 4,000
miles of use. Ditto on frame. Fit excellent,
no doubt due to chassis improvements. Unusual
Fikse wheels; 4-wheel discs. Chassis
seems well developed, reaction strut under
hood, boxed frame, Koni coil-overs, lateral
SOLD AT $54,450. Very confusing car.
Why go to all the trouble of claiming matching
numbers, putting on correct decals, and
then fitting aluminum radiator, non-stock
wheels, tires, and exhaust? No doubt lots of
time and dollars invested, but an average
result at best. Poor door gaps may indicate
other issues. The high bid was fully priced
but clearly under cost.
#452-1972 CHEVROLET NOVA resto-mod
2-dr sedan. VIN: 1X27H2W382836. Tangerine
Pearl/black vinyl. Odo: 5,800 miles.
383-ci V8, 4-bbl, 6-sp. Car displayed on
stands with mirrors and full documentation.
Complete rotisserie restoration. Excellent
paint but with minor scratches on both
doors. Shaved doors with electric poppers.
New front tires. Mufflers scraped. Interior as
nice but with minor-use scratches on some
switches. Engine bay immaculate, aluminum
heads, nice custom installation. Front
and rear suspension using Heidts dropped
spindles and coil-overs. Wilwood brakes.
About as nice as it gets, and nicely broken
in. Cond: 1-.
80 AmericanCarCollector.com
SOLD AT $10,450. This attracted quite a
crowd of lookers, but it was simply an ordinary
Trans Am that had been driven hard.
No real harm done at this price. Cheap
enough for bragging rights.
#130-1984 GMC CABALLERO pickup.
VIN: 1GTCW8093ER502061. Beige & blue/
beige vinyl. Odo: 21,500 miles. 311-ci V8,
4-bbl, auto. Overall nice truck let down by
poor prep. Paint generally good except bed
(looks like that was painted on a windy,
dusty day). Stripes painted rather than vinyl;
nice touch. Chipping and scuffing noticeable
at front. Tailgate trim dented. Step plates
dirty. “Used car” interior with numerous trim
scratches, tach added. 302 bored out, reportedly
producing 358 hp. Engine ported,
Page 79
LEAKE // Oklahoma City, OK
balanced and blueprinted according to tag.
’85 Corvette 700R4 tranny, 4.10 gears, Auburn
Pro posi. Rear 275/60 Comp TAs worn
to markers. Cond: 3+. NOT SOLD AT
$9,000. Should have posted quarter-mile
times. This was a nice-looking truck. Different—but
it worked for me. Seemed strange
to bore out a 302. A poster claimed the neat
custom seats were leather, but they were
actually vinyl, and the purple carpet set it off
nicely. High bid was about the cost of engine
and tranny, but I’m not sure there’s
much to gain by holding out.
#487-1987 BUICK GNX coupe. VIN: 1G4G
J1175HP453168. Black/gray & black cloth.
Odo: 62,996 miles. 3.8-L fuel-injected V6,
auto. Trim-on repaint with polish scratches,
some dirt in paint. Gaps good, black moldings
scraped, but overall paint probably
better than original. Seats slightly sunbleached,
seatbelts ragged. Engine clean
but not detailed. A good-looking, stock
GNX. Cond: 2.
QUICKTAKE
1966 Chevrolet Nova
resto-mod
SOLD at $47,000
Leake Auctions, Oklahoma City, OK; February 22, 2014; Lot 470
Subtlety is king when it comes to building a sleeper, and this ’66 Nova is
about as subtle as it gets: grandma-gold paint, white roof, stock-style interior, basic Torq-Thruststyle
wheels, and a flat OEM-style hood. Nothing to see here, right?
Not so fast. Under that
SOLD AT $37,950. Only 547 built, sold for
half price. If you were into flipping cars, this
was the one to buy. Only drawback was the
relatively high mileage. Buyer way ahead
here.
CORVETTE
#2465-1965 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. VIN: 194675S116506.
Yellow/black vinyl/black leather. Odo:
15,844 miles. 396-ci 425-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp.
Honest Corvette that’s been put away for
many years. Repaint probably 15 years old,
quality commensurate with rest of car. Hood
catches scratched, substantial marks on
rear where top fits, chrome scratched, chips
prominent on passenger’s door top, spinners
scratched. Left headlight gap way off,
passenger’s door won’t open from outside.
Black leather hard and worn but not irreparable.
Chrome seat trim worn, carpets
faded. Engine compartment not cleaned in
many years. Cond: 3+.
Courtesy of Leake Auctions
stock hood lurks a modern
6.2-liter LS3 V8 engine
that’s been fitted with
ported heads, a Camotion
cam and a Magnuson
supercharger. It’s coupled
to a 6L80 overdrive
automatic transmission
and a Moser nine-inch
rear end with 3.70 gears
and a Posi. Both the front
and rear suspension have
been updated too, with
coilovers out back and a
modern subframe up front
with tubular A-arms and a
steering rack.
The package is said to make 828 rear-wheel horsepower. That’s some serious performance
potential, assuming you could get those little BFG radials to stick to the ground. And the best
part? Nobody would ever suspect it. The only exterior tip-offs that something’s going on here
are a few aftermarket gauges, disc brakes, and some traction bars under the rear axle. It probably
even has a relatively smooth idle.
Leake’s auction catalog text on this car stated that more than $70k was spent on the build,
and it’s easy to understand how that happened, with all the mods made and the care taken to
keep it all low-key. But the money spent on a build is rarely made back in full at sale time, even
on the best builds. The flip side to that is someone got a very cool sleeper here for well under its
initial build cost — this is a car that’ll be useable and ready to go whenever, thanks to its modern
components. It’ll likely be pretty tame, too, until you throttle it up, punish the rear tires, and give
away the secret. Well bought. A
— Jim Pickering
May-June 2014
81
Page 80
LEAKE // Oklahoma City, OK
SOLD AT $48,400. Honest old car. If it were
mine, I would’ve advertised it as a barn find.
No mention of matching numbers, but if an
engine swap was done, it was years ago.
There’s nothing terribly wrong with it. I
would call it a good deal for buyer, and if it
works out as numbers-matching, a great
deal.
#2486-1968 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. VIN: 194378S411705. Blue/blue
vinyl. Odo: 59,470 miles. 427-ci 390-hp V8,
4-bbl, 4-sp. Obviously not run seriously for
many years. Chips everywhere, front cowl
loose, badly scraped, some panels repainted,
poor match. Stress cracks and fisheyes.
Interior better, showing normal wear,
carpets stained. Engine compartment kept
closed; unable to inspect. Lots of pluses:
427 engine, M21 close ratio, Rally wheels,
power steering and brakes, AM/FM, jack
and tools. An honest big-block worth taking
a chance on. Cond: 3-.
white vinyl/pink & white vinyl. Odo: 1,113
miles. 312-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. “Bird nest”
rumbleseat added. Car was restored to
transport homecoming queen. High-quality
restoration throughout and well accessorized.
Very good paint. Kelsey-Hayes
wires. With rear seat added, top doesn’t
disappear. Top torn, no hard top. Continental
kit. “Leather” seats sure feel and look like
vinyl. Front and rear speakers, four-way
power seat, power windows, power steering.
Engine compartment not detailed but
tidy. Very clean car and obviously little
used. No mention of when restoration
completed. Cond: 2+.
with polish scratches. Whitewalls yellowing.
Claimed two-owner car with all documentation,
including build sheet and maintenance
records. Original interior unraveling, seats
worn, split seams. Upgraded to R134a a/c.
Swing-away steering wheel. When you get
past all the superlatives pasted on the windshield,
a decent car. Cond: 3.
SOLD AT $21,450. Sign proclaimed “true
barn find,” while another stated “frame-up
restoration.” Certainly not the latter, with the
original factory undercoating still there. So,
a car that’s mostly original with one mediocre
repaint, and everything else unraveling.
A fair deal to both parties.
SOLD AT $19,525. Buy it and drive it. I
couldn’t understand reason for loose cowl.
No mention of matching numbers, but I
would guess the engine might be original.
Not really driven hard, just put away. I would
call it well bought.
FOMOCO
#1152-1955 FORD THUNDERBIRD convertible.
VIN: P5FH134680. Red/red hard
top/red vinyl. Odo: 16,807 miles. 292-ci V8,
4-bbl, auto. Claimed new paint, many fisheyes,
pinholes, polish scratches and chips.
Headlight eyebrows different shade.
Chrome poor, pot metal corroded. Windshield-surround
loose. Doors hard to close.
No window felts. Nicer engine rates a 3.
Scary. Cond: 4+.
NOT SOLD AT $50,000. What to do with it?
Very expensive restoration that destroyed
collector-car value. I figure car has been
parked for quite a while and would question
whether routine maintenance has ever been
performed. Doubt there will be much more
money forthcoming elsewhere.
#2435-1963 FORD GALAXIE R-code 2-dr
hard top. VIN: 3GG3R166414. Black/green
& beige vinyl & cloth. Odo: 74,435 miles.
427-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Paint serviceable,
looks original. Trim corroded, bumpers pinholed.
Chassis shows surface rust. Autolite
battery, Sun Tach added. Interior has original
dealer-installed plastic seat covers.
Special order items: remote side mirror,
seatbelts and AM/FM radio. Complete with
original owner’s manual, order form, invoice,
window sticker. Absolutely marvelous car.
One to have. Cond: 3.
#466-1967 SHELBY GT500 “Eleanor” replica
fastback. VIN: 7R02C168145. Gray/
black vinyl. Odo: 31,326 miles. 289-ci V8,
4-bbl, auto. Clean inside and out, but not
detailed. With headers, 4-bbl Edelbrock
carb on high-rise intake, MSD ignition. Front
disc brakes, dealer installed a/c. Cond: 1-.
NOT SOLD AT $47,500. From the neverending
stream of Eleanor replicas. But why
go to all this expense and not outfit it with
correct engine? Well sold.
MOPAR
SOLD AT $22,000. Maybe the purchaser
only saw it from the bleachers. I could not
see much redeeming value here. If mechanicals
are as poor as cosmetics, then buyer
will be upside-down quickly.
#442-1957 FORD THUNDERBIRD convertible.
VIN: D7FH340053. Dusk Rose/
82 AmericanCarCollector.com
SOLD AT $53,900. Just try to find another.
I fell in love with it. If I could have only one
street car from the auction, this would be it.
Fair deal to buyer and seller.
#1143-1964 FORD THUNDERBIRD convertible.
VIN: 4Y85Z156576. Primrose/
white vinyl/rose beige vinyl. Odo: 65,805
miles. 390-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. One repaint
claimed eight years ago. Mismatched on
cowl. Typical older cheapo trim-on repaint
#1155-1950 PLYMOUTH SPECIAL
DELUXE convertible. VIN: CA458732.
Maroon/white vinyl/brown vinyl. Odo: 2,141
miles. 218-ci I6, 1-bbl, 3-sp. Great 10-footer,
close-up shows chips, pinholes, faded in
several places. Tru-Spoke wires nice feature.
Missing passenger’s side windshield
wiper. Impressive foglights, chrome better
than paint. Gaps good except driver’s door
our at rear. Rare power top is torn, interior
done to better standard but not stock. Same
owner claimed for 42 years. Has California
assigned VIN. Claimed ground-up resto in
1999. Has gone awry since then. Cond: 3-.
Page 82
LEAKE // Oklahoma City, OK
SOLD AT $12,540. Seemed like an honest
car that was mostly original and well cared
for. Cannot be many of the 8,700 1972 cars
left in this good order. The slightly tatty interior
was a letdown, especially after the obvious
care taken with exterior, engine
compartment and trunk. Give a nod to the
buyer here.
SOLD AT $23,100. Would make an acceptable
cruiser. Assigned VIN probably means
wrecked or salvaged. No real harm done at
sales price; where would you find another?
#2475-1970 DODGE CHALLENGER R/T
2-dr hard top. VIN: JS23VOB199883. Red/
black vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 20,222 miles.
440-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Very red. Paint
needs to be buffed. Hood gaps off. Firestone
Wide Ovals fitted on dog-dish hubcapped
steel wheels. Undercarriage and
engine not spotless, but close. Correct engine
stickers and battery; Mopar competition
valve covers and non-stock exhaust
manifold with cutouts, originals in trunk.
Original build sheet, fender tag, copy of invoice.
Let down by interior: paint off interior
door panels, pot-metal door trim corroded.
Very original car that could easily be a 1with
attention to the little details. Cond: 2+.
#2418-1993 DODGE VIPER roadster. VIN:
1B3BR65E2PV200706. Red/black vinyl/
gray vinyl. Odo: 498 miles. 8-L fuel-injected
V10, 6-sp. From long-term storage. Paint
shows cracks throughout, especially noticeable
on hood—due to bad storage, or was
factory paint really this bad? Front skirt still
in original plastic bag; never mounted. Car
is dirty, grass in engine compartment. Rest
as-new. Info tag says kept in climate-controlled
facility. Lack of prep for auction
raises concern over regular maintenance
ever being performed. Cond: 2+.
think this truck was ever subjected to this
use. If you wanted one, this was the one to
buy.
AMERICANA
#497-1934 HUPMOBILE EIGHT sedan.
VIN: 9960. Black/black vinyl/gray velour.
Odo: 58,375 miles. Pinholes and chips in
paint, outside door handles pitted, driver’s
door handle sags. Right rear door handle
inoperative. Grille nice. Two sidemounts,
two external horns. Crank-out windshield.
Nice interior with painted “wood” virtually
unmarked, but rear seat upholstery doesn’t
match front. Older restoration starting to
unravel. Cond: 3-.
SOLD AT $101,200. Well presented,
second-highest sale of the auction. At the
height of the Mopar craze this would have
easily bought another $50k, but today this is
within the market range for condition. I still
think buyer got a great car for fair money,
so call it good for both buyer and seller.
#150-1972 DODGE DEMON 2-dr hard top.
VIN: LL29C2B348419. Yellow/black vinyl.
Odo: 57,051 miles. 340-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp.
Paint chipped and touched up at many
edges. Chrome fair. Interior dash paint flaking,
some idiot lights missing from dash.
Tach added. Engine compartment clean but
not detailed. Overall a nice driver with huge
black hood scoop. Last year for the Demon.
Cond: 3.
SOLD AT $47,850. These cars, lacking any
traction control, are an absolute blast to
drive. They make great track cars, but I find
them unwieldy on the street. Visibility is
poor, and the car is just too damn big. I
hope the new owner will do the requisite
maintenance and just enjoy. Otherwise,
advantage to the seller.
#427-2005 DODGE RAM 1500 SRT crew
cab pickup. VIN: 3D3HA18H45G814551.
Black/black leather. Odo: 51,468 miles.
8.3-L fuel-injected V10, auto. Paint very
good overall except for minor road rash on
front valence. Chrome wheels unmarked.
Some chassis dirt. Interior looks unused,
SOLD AT $12,100. Very impressive from
10 feet (and to think this was the smaller
Hupmobile for the year). Offered at no reserve.
According to other results in the ACC
Premium Auction Database, this was somewhat
of a bargain, but obvious lack of recent
care would worry me.
#174-1974 JEEP CJ-5. VIN: J4F835TA6
2619. Lime/black vinyl/black & lime vinyl.
Odo: 4,289 miles. 258-ci I6, 2-bbl, 3-sp.
Body-off-frame restoration about three years
old. At that time everything new, including
suspension. Still looks great, no real signs of
use. Paint better than one would expect for
a Jeep, other than minor runs at body
edges. Hood bolts rusty. Winch never used.
Wheels dirty. Interior very good with custom
dash and stereo. Engine compartment
shows as-new, but not detailed. Cond: 2.
as does bed. Moonroof, nav, Infinity sound
system. Engine compartment clean. Not
detailed but overall very clean. Looks like a
virtually new truck with factory standard fit
and finish. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $21,010.
Contemporary tests indicated 0–60 times in
low 5s and quarter-miles in high 13s. Don’t
84 AmericanCarCollector.com
SOLD AT $11,000. The seller didn’t really
know anything about the restoration, and I
was surprised the car wasn’t better detailed.
Buyer came out ahead here and can simply
drive it or easily make it into a 2+. A
Page 84
MECUM AUCTIONS // Kissimmee, FL
Mecum Auctions — Kissimmee 2014
$79K FOR A 1971 BUICK GS STAGE 1 CONVERTIBLE SEEMS LIKE A
TRUCKLOAD OF MONEY, BUT IT WAS AS GOOD AS YOU WILL EVER FIND
Report by Dale Novak
and Craig Gussert
Photos by Dale Novak
Market opinions in italics
L
ast year, I called Mecum’s 10-day
Kissimmee sale the “Super Bowl”
of classic-car auctions, and this
year’s event certainly lived up to the
nickname.
The first few days of the auction overlap
with the Arizona sales out West, but most of
the dealers and collectors that I spoke with
hailed from the Eastern and Midwestern
portions of the continent. They told me they
were happy to stick to the East Coast sales,
especially one with so many cars up for
grabs. Of course, the attraction of a visit to
Florida when the snow shovels are busy up
North doesn’t hurt either.
Mecum Auctions
Kissimmee, FL
January 17–26, 2014
Auctioneers: Mark Delzell, Jimmy Landis,
Bobby McGlothlen, Matt Moravec, Mike
Hagerman, Steve Holt, Russ Conklen, Kevin
McGlothen
Automotive lots sold/offered: 1,759/2,576
Sales rate: 68%
Sales total: $62,729,499
High sale: 1971 Plymouth Hemi ’Cuda, sold
at $604,800
Buyer’s premium: 8%, 10% for motorcycles
and boats, $500 minimum, included in sold
prices
1971 Buick GS 455 Stage 1 convertible, sold at $78,840
High-sale honors went to an original, un-
restored 1971 Plymouth Hemi ’Cuda, which
found $605k. For some guys, this may have
been the sign they’ve been waiting for that it’s
time to prep their Hemi E-bodies for the auction
block. Mopar prices ticked up out West
as well, but we’ll need a few more sales under
our belt before we reprint the price guides, so
stay tuned.
In the well-bought column was a 1971
Buick GS Stage 1 convertible, selling for
$79k. That may seem like a truckload of
money, but the car was as good as you will
ever find.
For those keeping an eye on the Ford GT
market, a 2006 Heritage Edition changed
hands here at $346k. These cars have had a
remarkable run and just may be the only latemodel
“instant collectibles” that have paid
dividends to the buyers.
Mecum added a timed auction format
for some memorabilia items this year, which
allowed buyers to electronically bid on items
using kiosks. Bidders could casually review
the item, go to a display terminal and place a
bid for a higher amount than the last bidder.
When the time ran out, the high bidder would
own the item. It was an unusual setup, and
folks seemed to enjoy the slower and more
thoughtful pace.
By the numbers, this year’s sale dialed
down a bit, coming in at $63m total from
$70m in 2013, 1,759/2,576 lots sold (68%)
down from 1,807/2,424 (75%), and average
sold price down to $36k from $39k.
But one thing these stats don’t tell you is
1956 Chevrolet Corvette “The Real McCoy” prototype roadster no-saled at $2,300,000
86 AmericanCarCollector.com
the overall boost in quality of cars. Mecum
has done an incredible job to garner so many
nice consignments. To pull off an auction
this large takes an incredible logistics team,
lots of hard-working personnel and top-notch
leadership. Without question, Mecum is hitting
on all eight cylinders. A
Page 86
MECUM AUCTIONS // Kissimmee, FL
GM
#S95.1-1952 CADILLAC SERIES 62 convertible.
VIN: 526221705. Dark blue/blue
cloth/tan leather. Odo: 53,584 miles. 331-ci
V8, 4-bbl, auto. Nice driver condition. Older
restoration is holding up well but certainly
unwinding in areas. Chrome, paint and interior
show issues are all small in nature but
drag the car down to a #3 condition. Likely a
car that was restored to high standards at
one time, has been driven and enjoyed, and
is now showing its age. Cond: 3.
certainly a case of two well-heeled buyers
who simply had to own it. Note to restorers
out there: If you are inclined to restore one,
do it right and paint it blue. Well sold.
#S100.1-1957 CHEVROLET BEL AIR
convertible. VIN: VC57F244411.
Black/black vinyl/red & silver vinyl. Odo:
3,159 miles. 283-ci V8, 4-bbl, 3-sp. Near
perfect. Gorgeous paint over a laser-straight
body. (Very difficult to pull off on a black
car.) Some minor shortcuts noted under the
hood. With a few minor detailing issues
taken care of, this could easily enter #1
territory. Dual-reservoir master cylinder
added for safety. Cond: 1-.
body and well-done paint. However, the
engine bay and interior could have used
some additional work. Still, this was a very
nice Tri-Power convertible in the right colors.
$60k was a very fair offer given the
overall quality, but I also can’t blame the
seller for hanging on to it.
#S178-1967 CHEVROLET IMPALA SS
2-dr hard top. VIN: 168877L130736. White/
blue vinyl. Odo: 10,297 miles. 427-ci V8,
4-bbl, auto. Very original SS showing actual
miles, with original drivetrain, paint and interior.
Some paintwork noted throughout in
small spots, and hood appears to have
been painted. Interior shows light use and
wear but commensurate with the miles
noted. The engine bay looks very authentic
and original and appears to be unrestored,
including the smog pump. Not overly detailed
for the sale. A formerly ignored car
now hits the market in grand style.
Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $97,200. Previously no-saled at
$100k at Mecum Houston, April 2012
(ACC# 211299). Before that, sold for $91k
in 2006 at Worldwide’s sale in Seabrook,
TX, with a paltry 395 fewer miles (ACC#
41515). The car still showed well and would
make a very nice driver for the new owner.
Let’s hope that he gets out there and enjoys
the car more than the last owner did. There
hasn’t been much appreciation with these,
and the 2006 to 2014 sales tell that story.
The market has spoken again with clarity.
#T243-1953 CHEVROLET 3100 5-window
pickup. VIN: H53L00551. Blue/gray vinyl.
Odo: 3 miles. 235-ci I6, 1-bbl, 3-sp. Very
nice overall. Some paint flaking off the engine,
plus other issues such as oil and fuel
staining. Interior shows like new other than
some light scratching and paint issues on
dash. Paint shows well but does have some
dry spray and debris underneath. Micro blistering
in small areas but very hard to notice.
Cond: 2.
NOT SOLD AT $87,000. Very nice example
restored to high standards with little to fret
over. Painted black, which can be a lesser
paint-and-body-man’s worst nightmare,
since black hides nothing and shows every
flaw. The Tri-Five market has been on a
roller coaster as of late, with some cars
puling in very nice results and others falling
short of the goal line. That said, there
always seems to be a market for these, but
this one came up light given the quality presented.
Worth more, and I can’t say I blame
the seller for trying again another day.
#S97-1964 PONTIAC GTO convertible.
VIN: 824M22499. Black/black vinyl/red vinyl.
Odo: 64,612 miles. 389-ci V8, 3x2-bbl,
auto. Excellent paint and body. Laserstraight
sheet metal looks outstanding.
Black paint is very difficult to pull off, and
this one does it well. Interior does not stand
up to balance of car; appears to be original
and showing some use. Some shortcuts
taken with engine bay restoration. This car
could easily be massaged to improve the
condition by a grade. Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $51,840. This car made for a
great presentation and was one of the more
authentic-looking “original” cars that I’ve
seen. Obviously stowed away and rarely
driven, this machine housed the fire-breathing
427 under the hood and is a super-rare
car given the survival rate. This is the car
dad bought back in the day to sneak one by
his wife under the pretense of a family
cruiser. Great car that sold on the money
given the condition and originality.
#F184-1967 CHEVROLET NOVA SS 2-dr
hard top. VIN: 118377W196563. Gold/gold
vinyl. Odo: 27,427 miles. 327-ci V8, 4-bbl,
4-sp. Very nice example of a rare L79 Nova.
Interior is nearly new and shows well. Some
dry-spray noticed on the lower portions of
the body, but could be wet-sanded to look
better. Slight waves to the body but overall
very nice. Engine bay shows well and looks
as fresh as the balance of the car. A combination
of original and restored, but still a
very nice example overall. Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $77,760. Because of the extraordinary
sale price, I took a look at this truck
after it ran across the block. Yes, nice truck,
done well to high standards, but sold off the
charts for extremely strong money. Most
88 AmericanCarCollector.com
NOT SOLD AT $60,000. The first year for
the GTO option on the Tempest LeMans.
This car had good bones with a fantastic
NOT SOLD AT $70,000. These are hot little
machines in the current market, and this
was a nice one—but not better than the
high bid. The color may have held it back a
Page 88
MECUM AUCTIONS // Kissimmee, FL
tad, but that’s simply speculation. The high
offer was about right, but obviously the
owner felt otherwise.
#T284-1968 CHEVROLET CAMARO RS
Z/28 coupe. VIN: 124378N423509. Black/
black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 10,558 miles.
302-L V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Very original Chevrolet
RS Z/28. Certified by Jerry MacNeish.
Lots of high-dollar OEM parts, and according
to the car card, part of the original build.
Chassis, body and paintwork are all excellent,
only showing minor issue such as
small chips and some paint issues in body
seams. Not much to pick on overall. The
engine bay is phenomenal and shows like a
model. Interior is also very well sorted and
looks great. A fine example of one of Chevrolet’s
highest performance pony cars.
Cond: 2+.
deeper. The paint showed some masking
issues, and the engine bay was fluffed up
for the sale. Don’t get me wrong, this car
had all kinds of potential, but the presentation
could have been far better. The missing
steering-wheel center cap just looked plain
bad. Buyers for these cars are usually looking
specifically for the Hurst editions, so the
market is somewhat narrow. The offer was
generous, and the car should have sold.
#S222-1970 CHEVROLET CAMARO Z/28
coupe. VIN: 124870N517609. White/black
vinyl. Odo: 69,855 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl,
auto. A nice presentation overall. Interior is
showing some use and age, especially the
radio, glovebox and console. Engine bay
presents well and is nicely detailed to localshow-car
quality. Bottoms of doors have
small blisters showing; body in good condition
overall, however. Chassis shows well.
Cond: 3.
#F308-1971 BUICK GS 455 Stage 1
convertible. VIN: 434671H190727.
Green/white vinyl/Parchment vinyl. Odo:
1,589 miles. 455-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Excellent
example of a very nice GS Stage 1.
Nearly perfect in all regards; hard to find
anything to pick on other than minor nits.
Unusual color combination is eye-catching—certainly
different, but a gorgeous car
in person. Aftermarket radio looks nearly
stock, and only the keenest eye will notice
the difference. Cond: 1-.
SOLD AT $99,900. Before you say “Wow!”
at the sale price, this was no ordinary Z/28.
Under the hood lurked some extremely rare
OEM parts, such as the cowl plenum induction,
which I’ve never seen before. Also
stated to be the original, numbers-matching
engine, transmission and rear differential. A
rare Z coupled with the optional RS package
makes for one desirable offering. When
you stack it all up, this was a win/win for the
buyer and seller.
#S243-1969 OLDSMOBILE HURST/OLDS
442 2-dr hard top. VIN: 344879M372472.
White & gold/black vinyl. Odo: 51,117 miles.
455-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Appears to be a
mostly original Hurst/Olds with selective
restoration on various portions of the car.
Paint and body done to factory standard.
Interior could stand some additional detailing,
and the horn button is missing from the
steering wheel. The engine bay is a
SOLD AT $78,840. The muscle car era was
winding down by 1971, but savvy buyers
could still check the box for the Stage 1
Buick. Very few guys did, which makes it
ultra-rare today. This car stopped me cold in
my tracks as I traversed the field of nearly
2,600 cars up for grabs. Its condition stood
tall, even under close scrutiny. Given the
condition and rarity, the buyer paid #2
money for a #1 car. Well bought.
NOT SOLD AT $27,000. I was curious to
see how much of an impact the color might
have on this, since it was otherwise a nice
car by the presentation. It simply lacked the
sizzle you’d expect from a Z/28. Bid was
just a tad light, but color (and rust issues)
may have played a role in that. Kudos for
keeping the car original, even though it may
have panned out better for the seller in Resale
Red.
#F232-1970 PONTIAC TRANS AM Ram
Air IV coupe. VIN: 228870N127735. Blue/
blue vinyl. Odo: 65,941 miles. 400-ci V8,
4-bbl, auto. A driver overall, but still shows
well. Interior looks great in most regards.
Paint shows some scratching and swirl
marks; could use a fresh buffing to present
better. Engine bay looks a tad neglected.
Cowl tag is hanging on by a thread. A nice
Saturday boulevard cruiser. Cond: 3.
#K151-2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA SS
“Hot Laps” IRL sedan. VIN: 2G1WP521249268853.
Black/gray leather. Odo: 14,005
miles. 3.8-L fuel-injected V6, auto. From the
GM Heritage Collection. Genuine International
Racing League (IRL) track car, built
from the ground up for actual track use.
Full-harness safety-belt system, and the
documentation shows track use in the “Hot
Laps” program, which allowed participants
to ride shotgun in a genuine track car. Super
rare and in fine condition. Not much to
pick on other than some seat wear. Balance
of car presents nearly as-new with excellent
paint, trim and engine bay. Miles are stated
to be actual. Cond: 2-.
fluff-and-buff with some spray-bomb work. A
decent driver overall with a mostly original
presentation. Cond: 3-. NOT SOLD AT
$82,000. Nice car until you start to dig a bit
90 AmericanCarCollector.com
SOLD AT $159,300. Last seen at Mecum
Indy in May 2013, a no-sale at $90k (ACC#
224158). The notorious Ram Air IV was the
top dog in Pontiac’s performance department
in 1970. These cars seem to be on a
tear as of late, with values rapidly rising. Of
course, at this money, I’d expect a better
example or one with a 4-speed. Well sold.
NOT SOLD AT $19,000. Reported to be
one of only a handful built and engineered
by GM’s performance and racing division to
actual track specifications. Full of high-performance
goodies with plenty of power on
tap. Perhaps the only one that has been
titled for street use with a valid Florida title.
It will likely be worth more than this to the
right collector.
BEST
BUY
Page 90
MECUM AUCTIONS // Kissimmee, FL
CORVETTE
#S132-1956 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
“The Real McCoy” prototype roadster.
VIN: N/A. White/red vinyl. Odo: 23,042
miles. 307-ci -hp V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Known
as “The Real McCoy” and a true prototype
race car from 1956. Overall, the condition is
outstanding. Interior shows some wear, especially
the steering wheel. Paint presents
well and looks great overall but does show
various issues. Condition notwithstanding,
you’re buying a piece of automotive history.
Cond: 2+.
#S96-1958 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible.
VIN: J58S107921. Red & white/
white vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 33,907 miles.
283-ci 270-hp V8, 4x2-bbl, 4-sp. Nice car
overall. Only minor issues with paint and
brightwork. Engine bay is well done but
older and showing some age. Interior has
been well cared for and shows like new.
Most likely a former #1-condition Corvette
now showing some age as it should. A very,
very nice driver. Cond: 2-.
Excellent, as nice as you will ever find, with
custom flared fenders and carbon-fiber mud
flaps, dash, hood and other
components. Engine bay is better than new,
along with a fully customized chassis, engine,
interior, the works—a true resto-mod.
Only items showing wear are the a/c compressor
and the polished headers, which
have heat-tarnished a bit. Cond: 1-.
NOT SOLD AT $2,300,000. Although there
were plenty of high-profile cars at this sale,
this was the “main event” star car. The car
appeared to sell on the block for $2.3m,
which seemed fair, but final results show it
as a no-sale.
#S219.1-1957 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. VIN: E57S105868. Red/white
vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 240 miles. 283-ci 283hp
fuel-injected V8, 4-sp. “Big-Brake Fuelie,”
very nice presentation overall. Paint shows
few issues. Minor prep issue on lower portion
of driver’s door. Stainless trim could fit
better; lightly scratched throughout. Interior
looks good overall. Dash is showing some
cracked paint, and the gauges are pitted.
Seats are a bit lumpy. Small run noted in
wheel paint. Most likely a frame-off restoration
that is now showing age. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $104,760. Last seen at this same
auction in 2012 as a no-sale at $85k (ACC#
199749). 1958 Corvettes have one-yearonly
washboard hood and chrome trunk
spears. Some collectors seek them out specifically,
since they are so distinctive in their
styling. Strong money given the overall condition,
but it is a high-horsepower example,
so nobody got hurt here.
#S153-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
“Pink Pearl” coupe. VIN: 30837S115249.
Pink/pink leather. Odo: 27,468 miles. This is
Mrs. Harley Earl’s “Pink Pearl” Corvette—a
GM test car restyled with prototype features.
Unrestored with one respray. Shabby condition
throughout shows plenty of wear and
use in all regards. Older repaint still shows
lots of checking and cracks. Alloy wheels
are pitted, chrome shows plenty of wear
and scratches. Interior is worn overall.
Cond: 4-.
NOT SOLD AT $130,000. For the guy who
wants the styling of a vintage car without all
the typical shortfalls and mechanical issues.
This was a nice one, and it likely cost far
more to build, but the high bid looked
market-correct.
#F108.1-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. VIN: 194676S117781. Nassau
Blue/white vinyl/white vinyl. Odo: 2 miles.
327-ci 350-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Nicely presented
L79 convertible in the desirable color
combination of Nassau Blue over somewhat
rare blue-and-white interior. Some pitting on
chrome and trim. New top. Interior looks
fresh other than perhaps the seats. Engine
bay is freshly restored, and done to high
standards. Hood appears to be a replacement.
Grille is pitted but hard to see.
Cond: 2-.
SOLD AT $116,100. Last seen at Mecum’s
Monterey sale in August, not selling for
$110k (ACC# 230579). Prior to that, I
looked at this car two years ago at Mecum
Kissimmee 2012, with a high parting bid of
$135k (ACC# 192871). Perhaps the consignor
grew weary of parading the car from
auction to auction. A fair value given the
presentation, so both parties should be
pleased.
92 AmericanCarCollector.com
NOT SOLD AT $340,000. Provenance and
history are what will sell this car—by condition
alone, it was a very poor example. A
car like this comes down to a tiny pool of
special buyers, as most guys departing with
this sort of cash will want something shiny
and new-looking. Seemed like a fair offer.
Maybe it will do better at Bloomington Gold.
#S287-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
resto-mod convertible. VIN: 30867S111225.
Red/white vinyl/red leather. Odo: 93
miles. 427-ci 632-hp fuel-injected V8, 5-sp.
SOLD AT $62,640. L79 Corvettes are desirable
machines due to the spunky small
block that puts out a noticeable 350 horses.
One of Chevrolet’s most sought-after engines,
as they seem to run forever and are
simple to tune. This was a nice car, but not
so nice that you wouldn’t drive it. A fair deal
for the buyer and seller.
#S163-1969 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. VIN: 194679S723530. Blue/
blue vinyl. Odo: 1 miles. 427-ci 430-hp V8,
4-bbl, 4-sp. A near-perfect example of an
original and documented L88 Corvette. Very
little to pick on other than very light
Page 92
MECUM AUCTIONS // Kissimmee, FL
scratches in the chrome and brightwork.
Paint shows zero flaws and is in fantastic
condition. Every bit has been addressed. A
beautiful example in show condition
throughout. Cond: 1-.
some of the metal heavily pitted (but original).
Chassis presents well. Interior shows
well, but dash gauge pod is a bit weathered.
Engine bay very good with only a few miles
on it. Very nice chrome. Fitted with dual
spares, cowl lights and the radiator stone
guard. Cond: 2.
miles. 390-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. A replica-style
Mustang GT fastback, as made famous in
the Steve McQueen movie. Paint is well
applied, with only minor issues noted. Very
straight body with nice gaps overall. Interior
shows some use and age with weathered
gauges and radio. Engine bay looks to have
more than a few miles on it (as it should).
Overall, a nice Mustang and great driver—
and one I’d like to have in my garage.
Cond: 3+.
NOT SOLD AT $735,000. Totally restored,
loaded with original documentation and a
fully documented history. I really can’t
blame the seller for holding out for a larger
check, as this L88 may be the best one in
the country. He conveyed to me that he
wanted his number, and he stuck to his
guns on the auction block. I assume he was
looking for an offer with two commas in it.
#S170-1970 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
ZR-1 convertible. VIN: 194670S404021.
White/white vinyl/blue vinyl. Odo: 74,641
miles. 350-ci 370-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. A documented
ZR-1 and with only three owners.
Interior shows some recent paintwork and
possibly some dye work on the vinyl. Nothing
all that serious, but some touch-ups noticed.
The paint shows some light swirl
marks, fisheyes and other prep issues, but
very hard to notice under the white paint.
Some touch-up paintwork noted on rear
quarter-panel. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $39,960. I’ve been watching as
the Deluxe roadsters have picked up steam
of late, particularly at this venue. That does
not mean they all do well—it all boils down
to the condition, which varies widely. This
car had a crowd every time I walked by it.
This was a good deal for both parties, and
everyone should be happy.
#S187.1-1967 FORD FAIRLANE “Black
Magic” factory lightweight 2-dr hard top.
VIN: 7H35R205534. Black/red vinyl. Odo:
86,583 miles. 427-ci V8, 4x2-bbl, 4-sp.
Real-deal 1967 Fairlane factory lightweight
with the fiberglass hood. Said to be one of
one as built. Only 92 factory race cars were
built in 1967. Reportedly restored in 1997
and now showing age. Paint shows plenty
of light scratches and swirl marks. Balance
of car is of driver quality but still shows well.
Obviously a full-blown restoration that has
now softened and looks the part of a nice
boulevard cruiser. Cond: 3-.
NOT SOLD AT $53,000. This car was a
genuine “S-code” 390 GT with proper “Bullitt”
colors and wheels, upgraded with Hurst
4-speed. A vintage “Bullitt” movie poster
was displayed with the car, which was a
nice marketing touch by the seller. That
said, the high bid was more than fair and
should have gotten the job done.
MOPAR
#F222-2009 DODGE CHALLENGER R/T
Drag Pak #2 drag car. VIN: N/A. Blue/black
leather. 5.7-L fuel-injected V8, auto. True
Drag Pak, raced by the legendary Super
Stock driver Larry Griffith, and built as a
tribute to Griffith’s original Dart race car. Full
of signatures in the trunk lid from notable
drag racers and Chrysler executives and
builders of the car. Paint shows use and
wear. Shows a few paint touch-ups here
and there. Racing participation stickers from
2011 to 2013. Interior shows use from the
driver being plastered to the seat. Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $140,400. One of only 25 ZR-1s
produced in 1970, with only a small handful
of those built as convertibles. With recent
NCRS and Bloomington Gold paperwork,
and plenty of other documentation also
goes with it. Given the rarity, documentation
and condition, I would consider this slightly
well bought.
FOMOCO
#F96.1-1930 FORD MODEL A Deluxe
rumbleseat roadster. VIN: A2749711.
Brown & black/tan canvas/saddle vinyl.
Odo: 132 miles. A well-restored example of
a desirable rumbleseat roadster. Proper
colors over a saddle interior. Looks and
presents well. Some dry spray noted and
94 AmericanCarCollector.com
SOLD AT $81,000. Here’s one for the guy
who simply loves rare factory-built race
cars. This is an original factory lightweight
Fairlane, and by the documentation, a oneof-one
build. Likely a car that was completely
restored some time ago but has
softened with age. To value these cars, it all
comes down to a gut check. Given the documentation,
real race history and quality of
the presentation, this was a fair deal for
both the buyer and seller.
#F126-1968 FORD MUSTANG GT “Bullitt”
replica fastback. VIN: 8R02S138930.
Highland Green/black vinyl. Odo: 99,203
SOLD AT $66,960. This was the Challenger
Drag Pak #2 car. The #1 car is owned by
Don Garlits, and he still runs it today at various
track events. Drag racer Larry Griffith
owned and ran the notorious 1968 Hemi
Dart back in the day, and here was an opportunity
to own his #2 Drag Pak Challenger.
With that, the buyer gets some
instant provenance with his new toy. A genuine
factory track car that’s ready to go at
the drop of the hammer. Well bought. A
Page 94
GLOBAL
ROUNDUP
Selected Sales Combined in One Comprehensive Report
American highlights
at five auctions
CLASSICS
#143-1925 STUTZ 695 roadster. VIN:
15004. Red/black canvas/red leather. Odo:
8,819 miles. One of two 695 roadsters
thought to have been built by Weymann.
Body is red leather stretched over aluminum
panels. Steel fenders and hood with Chicago
Balloon bumpers. Lots of goodies,
with large driving light and fire extinguisher.
Stated to be in good running order but has
not been driven any distance of late. A
whole lot of red. Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $126,500. This was last seen at
Mecum Indy in May 2012, where it realized
$157k (ACC# 206257). A couple of years
later, it did not fare so well, and the seller
took a bit of a hit. From the estate of Chuck
Swimmer. RM Auctions, Amelia Island,
FL, 03/14.
Marc Emerson
1959 Ford Galaxie Skyliner retractable hard top, sold at $66,000 — RM Auctions,
Amelia Island, FL
Petersen Collector Cars
Salem, OR — February 1, 2014
Auctioneers: Fred Bewley, Chris Leach
Automotive lots sold/offered: 37/93
Sales rate: 40%
Sales total: $397,516
High sale: 1967 Chevrolet Nova SS, sold at
$34,020
Buyer’s premium: 8%, minimum $250, included
in sold prices
Report and photos by Jack Tockston
Greensboro Auto Auctions
Greensboro, NC — March 6–8, 2014
Auctioneers: Mike Anderson, Ricky
Parks, Eli Detweiler
Automotive lots sold/offered: 372/481
Sales rate: 77%
Sales total: $7,932,763
High sale: 1963 Chevrolet Corvette 327/360
fuel-injected coupe, sold at $114,480
Buyer’s premium: 6%, $500 for hammer prices
under $8,000, included in sold prices
Report by James “Killer” Grosslight
Photos by David Rohan de Silva
McCormick’s 55th Palm
96
AmericanCarCollector.com
Springs Collector Car Auction
Palm Springs, CA — February 21–23 2014
Auctioneers: Frank Bizarro, Jeff Stokes,
Rob Ross
Automotive lots sold/offered: 409/561
Sales rate: 73%
Sales total: $7,471,316
High sale: 1960 Chrysler 300F, sold at $105,000
Buyer’s premium: 5%, included in sold prices
Report and photos by Carl Bomstead
RM Auctions
Amelia Island, FL — March 8, 2014
Auctioneer: Max Girardo
Automotive lots sold/offered: 88/91
Sales rate: 97%
Sales total: $35,947,500
High American sale: 1934 Duesenberg Model
SJ convertible, sold at $1,567,500
Buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold prices
Report and photos by Carl Bomstead
Gooding & Company
Amelia Island, FL — March 7, 2014
Auctioneer: Charlie Ross
Automotive lots sold/offered: 78/88
Sales rate: 89%
Sales total: $30,953,450
High American sale: 1909 ALCO 40hp
runabout, sold at $280,500
Buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold prices
Report and photos by Adam Blumenthal
SOLD AT $286,000. A striking design that
would have sold for more than twice what
was paid here if all the components had
been born with the car. Still most impressive
and will be a hit whenever it leaves the
garage. RM Auctions, Amelia Island, FL,
03/14.
GM
Eng. # 1400110. Green/tan vinyl/green vi7
#51-1932 CADILLAC 452B Madame
X Imperial Sedan. VIN: N/A.
BB2530. Maroon/tan canvas/gray leather.
Odo: 2,381 miles. An older build with original
salon chassis, engine and 8-cylinder
Speedster body. Chassis number changed
from 1122A to 1122E, which was correct for
factory speedster. Has correct Salon headlight
lenses and stainless trim. Showing
signs of age, with wear to the paint and
seating. Won numerous awards in its day,
including Best in Class at Pebble in 1980.
Thought that only nine Salon Speedsters
were produced in 1934. Cond: 2-.
6
#159-1934 AUBURN 1250 Salon
Speedster. VIN: 1122E. Eng. #
TOP 10
TOP 10
Page 95
ROUNDUP
GLOBAL
nyl. Odo: 186 miles. One of 300 V16s built
in ’32 and one of only four “Madame X” examples.
Once owned by the Block department
store family in Indianapolis. Custom
Fleetwood coachwork. Excellent paint.
Chrome abundant and superb. Low miles
are the result of spending much of its life in
the Indy Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum.
Original factory special-order painted
radiator shell. Dual metal sidemounts with
rear-view mirrors. Modern whitewalls.
Sumptuous interior with gold-plated fittings;
Cadillac clock and radio in rear compartment.
Stunning. Cond: 1-.
vinyl. Odo: 36,995 miles. 263-ci I8, 2-bbl,
auto. Mild custom with shaved nose and
rear deck emblems removed. Three teardrop
vents on each fender have been removed.
Finished in bold red color scheme.
Red and white interior appears to be vinyl
but should be leather. Cond: 2-.
SOLD AT $264,000. An extremely rare and
attractive car, although the green vinyl upholstery
detracted from the luxurious quality.
The “Madame X” was a more expensive
variant of the V16s. Story goes that Harley
Earl got the name from the 1929 film of the
same name, starring Academy Award-nominated
actress Ruth Chatterton. Seemed a
reasonable price, a bit north of the $240k
high estimate. Well bought and sold. Gooding
& Co., Amelia Island, FL, 03/14.
#123-1953 BUICK SKYLARK convertible.
VIN: 16977916. Mandarin Red/white vinyl/
red & cream leather. Odo: 63,925 miles.
322-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. An older restoration
that still shows well with mild wear evident
here and there. A couple of minor paint
chips. Engine bay sparkles. Chrome in good
order. A few marks on the stainless trim.
One of Harley Earl’s “Dream Cars” that went
into production. Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $39,900. The price paid here was
certainly a surprise. Car was neither fish nor
fowl, as the custom features were not striking
or dramatic. The paint was bold, but
that’s where it ended for me. Was bid to
$40k at Mecum’s Anaheim sale in November
(ACC# 238071), so after the additional
expenses, the seller took a bit of a hit. McCormick’s,
Palm Springs, CA, 02/14.
#185-1953 BUICK SUPER convertible.
VIN: V2713975. White/white vinyl/red
leather. Odo: 80,839 miles. 322-ci V8, 2-bbl,
auto. Right rear window broken. Whitewalls
were yellowing with age. The white vinyl is
dirty, and the hood is scratched. Car has a
neglected look. The Super was Buick’s midpriced
line for 1953. It had three side vents
on each fender, and the Roadmaster had
four. Power windows, top and seats were
standard equipment. Cond: 3+.
held up well. Equipped with power steering
and Continental kit. Has appeared at numerous
shows and events. Cond: 2. SOLD
AT $181,500. This Fiesta was offered at
RM’s 2003 sale in Oakland, MI, where it
failed to sell at a bid of $83k (ACC# 31593).
Driven only 29 miles since. Price paid here
is in line with current market. RM Auctions,
Amelia Island, FL, 03/14.
#53-1957 CHEVROLET BEL AIR 2-dr sedan.
VIN: 857L138383. Black/black. Odo:
24,082 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Blackon-black
Tri-Fiver showing age with brushfilled
chips and scratches. Limo-tint glass,
minor surface rust painted over under rear
window, blue-dot tailights, dual exhaust.
Plain black vinyl interior, nice dash with
three-gauge panel underneath, column
shifter for 350 automatic trans, pitted window
cranks. Clock and power antenna inop.
Chrome headers, valve covers. Power
steering, manual brakes with single-circuit
master cylinder. Cond: 3.
SOLD AT $30,450. Hard to believe that this
sold for $9k less than Lot 37, the customized
’53 Special. That’s why they have auctions,
as you never know what will happen.
In the long run this will prove the better buy,
but don’t hold me to it. McCormick’s, Palm
Springs, CA, 02/14.
SOLD AT $156,750. Buick Skylarks have
been soft of late, but this one may be reversing
the trend. A wonderful car to drive,
and they always attract a crowd. Hope the
positive trend continues. RM Auctions,
Amelia Island, FL, 03/14.
#37-1953 BUICK SPECIAL convertible.
VIN: 46798896. Red/white vinyl/red & white
#125-1953 OLDSMOBILE 98 Fiesta convertible.
VIN: 539M26760. Cadet Blue &
Acacia Blue/blue vinyl/gray leather. Odo:
80,169 miles. 303-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Of
GM’s 1953 Motorama “trifecta” of production
dream cars, the Fiesta was the rarest,
with only 458 produced. (The Eldorado and
Skylark were the other two.) Features a
wrap-around windshield and spinner hubcaps.
Wears an older restoration that has
SOLD AT $19,440. This two-door post left
the LA plant with a straight-six engine. Apparently
leading a life of relative rust-free
leisure for 56 years, it received time-honored
updates as needs arose. Though not
as valuable as its hard- and drop-top cousins,
it was still part of the iconic Tri-Five family,
and seemed affordably obtained. Buyer
and seller should be pleased with the transaction.
Petersen, Salem, OR, 02/14.
#227-1958 PONTIAC STAR CHIEF 2-dr
hard top. VIN: P858H12526. Two-tone
green/green vinyl & cloth. Odo: 92,400 370ci
V8, 4-bbl, auto. A one-owner car that has
been properly maintained. Has original invoice
with $4,607 sales price. Equipped with
all the goodies, including Continental kit,
skirts, bumper guards and spinner hubcaps.
Interesting combination of Calypso and
Burma Green two-tone paint. Interior well
maintained. Cond: 1-.
May-June 2014 97
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By Cassie Sellman
2014 GMC Sierra 1500 4WD
Crew Cab SLT
GLOBAL
ROUNDUP
Price as tested: $48,895
equipment: 5.3L V8, 6-sp automatic,
2-sp Autotrac transfer case, auto-locking
rear differential, trailering equipment
package.
ePA mileage: 16/22, 18 combined
Likes: Drives like a car even though it’s
a full-size truck. Has every option for a
businessman or a supervisor of a construction
site. Five USB ports just in the
front of the cab, multiple 12-volt outlets,
and an actual 110-volt AC power outlet.
Backup camera comes in handy when
parking and maneuvering. Nice heated
and cooled seats, and heated steering
wheel is a bonus on cold mornings. Cab
is roomy, with enough space to comfortably
seat five adults.
Dislikes: With the Crew Cab, the regularlength
bed makes parking the truck difficult.
Considering how loaded this truck
was, I expected it to have a sunroof, but
it didn’t. Lastly, the stereo/navigation
system wasn’t especially user-friendly. I
ended up just connecting my phone by
Bluetooth to listen to music.
Verdict: The mixture of tough truck with
luxury features makes for a great final
result. Looking at the competition, like
Ram’s top-of-the-line SLT, the price for
the GMC is competitive. If you are shopping
for a brand-new full-size truck, the
GMC Sierra 1500 SLT is worth looking at.
Fun to drive:
Fun to look at:
Overall experience:
½
½
SOLD AT $47,775. The Star Chief was redesigned
for ’58 with quad headlamps and
a new grille. Car was sold by a McCormick’s
regular who knows how to play the game.
He always works the car prior to it crossing
the block and has all the info on hand. As
such, he usually gets his price—as he did
here. A loaded Star Chief at a fully loaded
price. Fair all around. McCormick’s, Palm
Springs, CA, 02/14.
#15-1965 CHEVROLET EL CAMINO
pickup. VIN: 136805Z141892. Gray
metallic/black vinyl. Odo: 1,188 miles. 454ci
V8, 4-bbl, auto. Economy respray in fashionable
gray metallic with embedded dust.
Hood center has small upward dents. Bumpers
in flat black, Rally rims. Painted black
side stripes with red tape accents. Interior
clean, newer repro door cards, black cloth
bench seats, rubber steering wheel, turnsignal
lever in glovebox, left visor missing,
Equus and AutoMeter gauges. Underhood
clean, 454-ci engine dressed with Edelbrock
valve covers and carb. Single-circuit master
cylinder retained. A work in progress almost
done. Cond: 3+.
go up yearly from here. GAA, Greensboro,
NC, 03/14.
#FR-0176-1972 CHEVROLET CAMARO
coupe. VIN: 1Q87F2N117771. Red/black.
Odo: 64,115 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp.
Stock interior in black; correct, bright red
paint. Special rear suspension added. Engine
compartment looks like a nice driver.
Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $19,080. This is pretty much the
benchmark for a stock, 4-on-the-floor,
slightly modified, nice driver Camaro. Fair
buy. GAA, Greensboro, NC, 03/14.
SOLD AT $11,340. Consigned by an
ACCer. This was a customized and used
truck with big-block torque to make it go.
The details left undone gave the impression
of a quick flip. El Caminos have a following,
but it’s rare to find one that’s investmentgrade.
The flip worked, and new owner has
minimal tinkering to do. Both came out well
on this transaction. Petersen, Salem, OR,
02/14.
#FR-0193-1972 CHEVROLET BLAZER K5
CST SUV. VIN: CKE182F187818. Yellow &
white/white fiberglass/black vinyl. Odo:
50,805 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Interior
and exterior factory-correct. Just an originallooking
K5 with CST package. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $22,790. Perfect for a drive down
memory lane or up a steep fire road. These
CST K5 Blazers will always be desired, and
I expect them to hold steady and increase in
value. Nice buy under $23k and should only
98
AmericanCarCollector.com
#43-1996 CHEVROLET CAPRICE CLASSIC
sedan. VIN: 1G1B152WXTR102610.
Bronze/bronze leather. Odo: 136,037 miles.
350-ci fuel-injected V8, auto. Custom paint
with airbrushed shadow siderwebs under
clearcoat. Polished 20-inch Boss alloys
nearly disappear when the air suspension
drops via switched four-way pumps and
dual compressors. Custom leather bucket
interior mimics outside hues; Kenwood
head with MP3, dual amps, and subs can
produce aural pain. Undetailed LT1 looks
like it’s on the floor when suspension is
dropped. Cond: 3.
SOLD AT $6,264. Last year of the Caprice.
Buyer probably paid about the cost of custom
paint and rims, and got the rest for free.
A well-bought and -sold result. Petersen,
Salem, OR, 02/14.
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CORVETTE
#447-1956 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. VIN: E56S004013. Cascade
Green/beige vinyl/beige vinyl. Odo: 71,260
miles. 265-ci 225-hp V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. One
of only 147 Corvettes painted Cascade
Green with beige coves. All but a handful of
‘56s had the RPO 469 265/225 motor with
dual 4-barrels. Stock tires and wheel covers
included. Both tops. Paint very attractive
and used on less than 10% of 1956 Corvettes.
Interior in good order. Attractive
package. Cond: 1-.
#323-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible.
VIN: 30867S115166. Daytona
Blue/dark blue fabric/black vinyl. Odo: 227
miles. 327-ci 340-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Recent
restoration to high standard. Panel fit exceeds
factory spec. Interior properly sorted.
Engine bay clean and tidy. A well-presented
Corvette. Cond: 1-.
blems. Nice original-style interior. Paint
looks better than a 51-year-old fiberglassbody
car with 90k miles. A few stress cracks
in the right places. Engine and engine bay
are better then expected. Chrome is nice
and ready to shine. Cond: 2-.
SOLD AT $60,375. Last sold here for $60k
at McCormick’s February 2011 sale (ACC#
176087). The colors were unusual, and the
condition was there. All the elements for a
strong sale, but it failed to excite the crowd.
The hard top should add several thousand
to the package, but it sold for well under the
money. On the other hand, the buyer is
happy, as well he should be. Well bought.
McCormick’s, Palm Springs, CA, 02/14.
#183-1960 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. VIN: 00867S100061. Eng. #
F08 9CU. Sateen Silver/white fabric/red vinyl.
Odo: 33,337 miles. 283-ci 270-hp V8,
2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Powered by correct datecode
motor that is thought to be original.
Equipped with dual quads and T-10 4-speed
transmission. Recent four-year restoration
to a standard never seen at the factory.
Trim fit to perfection. Has both tops. Interior
as good as it gets. Panel fit and gaps perfect.
Only 20 miles since restoration.
Cond: 1.
SOLD AT $52,500. This was last seen at
Mecum’s August 2013 Monterey sale,
where it was a no-sale at $50k (ACC
#2030583). With the commissions, travel,
and entry fees, it looks like he should have
taken the offer, but I can’t blame the seller
for trying. McCormick’s, Palm Springs,
CA, 02/14.
#ST-0120-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. VIN: 30837S104636. Black/black
vinyl. Odo: 90,141 miles. 327-ci 360-hp fuelinjected
V8, 4-sp. Split-Window Fuelie,
black-on-black, Redline tires, orange turn
signals under the bumpers, colorful em-
SOLD AT $114,480. Black-on-black not
only makes the chrome pop—it makes everything
pop! Great deal for the buyer, and
the seller was kind to let her go for this. The
market for Split-Windows looks solid for the
long term and headed nowhere but up.
GAA, Greensboro, NC, 03/14.
#30-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. VIN: 194376S108199. Eng. # T11291P6108199.
Milano Maroon/tan vinyl. Odo:
15,787 miles. 427-ci 425-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp.
Once owned by Chip Miller; purchased from
his estate by Michael Schudroff, who sold it
in ’09. Considered to be one of the finest
original Corvettes out there. Chassis-only
restoration by Kevin Mackay. Paint flaking
SOLD AT $132,000. Bloomington judges
would have a fit with this, as it was restored
to a standard never seen at the factory. If
you want a perfect Corvette, then this was
the one. Price paid was as expected, but I
doubt it covered the cost of restoration. RM
Auctions, Amelia Island, FL, 03/14.
May-June 2014 99
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on driver’s door, chips here and there. Still
wears its Goodyear Goldlines, three of
which are original. Stunning interior belongs
in a museum. Concours engine bay. PA
inspection sticker from 1975. Full records,
docs. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $137,500. Countless NCRS
awards. Bloomington Gold Special Collection.
Bryner Award of Excellence. A gorgeous
work of art. It looked good from far
away, and I smiled more the closer I got.
Last sold at Gooding’s 2009 Pebble Beach
sale at $143k (ACC# 142067). Four years
later, it’s clocked only another 145 miles,
still in #2 condition, and it sold for slightly
less money. With no reserve, it seemed like
the market spoke loud and clear. Well
bought. Gooding & Co., Amelia Island,
FL, 03/14.
#17-1977 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. VIN: 1Z37L7S411923. Classic
White/blue leather. Odo: 61,697 miles. 350ci
210-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. One respray in
original white over casual preparation with
orange peel and sanding marks. Minor paint
chips on body and windshield. Rally wheels,
white-letter Firestones, luggage rack. Interior
stock save Pioneer head unit. Driver’s
bolster worn, seat bottoms going baggy,
right door panel blemished. Tilt, a/c, clock
SOLD AT $11,340. This was an attractive
sedan in need of minor work. Original clothcovered
wiring, a taped fuel line, brightwork
needing replating, and a few missing bits
will give the winning bidder a few weekends
of work, and a nice finished product to enjoy
as it appreciates. I’m calling this find well
bought and a safe investment. Petersen,
Salem, OR, 02/14.
#229-1939 FORD DELUXE Tudor sedan.
VIN: 184810426. Blue/tan fabric. Odo:
69,494 miles. The Deluxe models for 1939
inop. Stock-appearing L82 topically cleaned.
Flowmasters rumble. Mileage may be original,
but not mentioned as such. Probably a
decent driver. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $8,100.
The “used car” first impression was not
helped by its pine-scented air freshener.
Overall, it seemed a cost-effective ticket into
Corvettedom one could enjoy as-is, then
spend a few bucks over time to cherry it out.
Well bought, with cash left over for improvements.
Petersen, Salem, OR, 02/14.
FOMOCO
#113-1936 FORD MODEL 68 cabriolet.
VIN: 183200770. Black/tan fabric/brown
leather. Odo: 975 miles. Restored in 2006
and motor stroked to four inches with a
Mercury crankshaft and high-volume oil
pump. Fitted with Columbia rear end.
Equipped with Ford radio and Texas Centennial
shift knob. A two-time Dearborn winner.
Engine bay sparkles, and restoration
has held up well. (Have to wonder about red
luggage rack, however.) Cond: 1-. SOLD
AT $126,500. The iconic Ford Cabriolet,
finished in the right colors. The engine
mods are a plus, as is the spyder wheel
trim. Thought this could have sold for a
touch more without issue, so I’ll chalk this
one up for the buyer. RM Auctions, Amelia
Island, FL, 03/14.
#101-1939 FORD DELUXE sedan. VIN:
5158803. Maroon/tan cloth & vinyl. Odo:
85,106 miles. One decent maroon respray
in original hue. No rust, some chrome new,
some old and serviceable. Dinged stainless
trim on right door. New whitewall tires, steel
rims, pitted hubcaps, new running boards.
Repro corded tan mohair seating with
matching carpet; aftermarket turn signals
and seat belts; right visor removed. Thick
amateur woodgraining on dash and sill
detracts. Engine not detailed, masking tape
wound around fuel line to carb, original wiring,
dual exhaust with Smithy glasspacks.
Trunk original and clean. Cond: 3+.
100 AmericanCarCollector.com
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QUICKTAKE
1963 Ford Galaxie 500
R-code lightweight
SOLD at $122,000
Bonhams, Scottsdale, AZ, January 16, 2014, Lot 179
In the 1960s, the Big Three were all about performance. And they were
willing to do whatever it took to make their production cars perform like race cars in front of
the buying public. Track victories translated to increased sales at dealerships, and that pushed
the development of stock-looking sedans with a performance edge built with the sole purpose
of outdoing the competition. Cars
like this Ford lightweight — built
in small numbers, and with lightweight
fiberglass and aluminum
components — were the result.
I was part of the ACC group
to look at this R-code lightweight
at one point in its restoration —
post-paint but prior to assembly.
It was being restored by an ACCer
just a few blocks away from our
headquarters in Portland, OR. The
odometer showed seven miles, and
the story was that it sat around
at the original selling dealer in
Hawaii long enough to no longer be the hot ticket on the track. It was finally sold to a racer who
used the engine in another car, which explained the low miles. When the seller acquired the car
almost six years ago, it was a roller in need of some rust repair, but some of the components were
still in place. The engine, transmission and rear axle, however, are all from a donor car.
Fit and finish here exceeded factory levels in all respects. Not that reaching that level is
difficult. Ford affixed a plate inside the glovebox stating, “Normal quality standards of the Ford
Motor Company in terms of exterior panel fit and surface appearance
are not met on this vehicle.” Our subject Galaxie retains that
original (and weathered) tag inside the glovebox.
Dearborn Steel Tubing was the contractor Ford used to as-
semble the lightweights. They only built 212 cars, and that’s
helped interest in the current collector market. Our subject car
was bid up to $135k at Bonhams’ Carmel 2013 sale against an estimate
of $150k–$200k. It sold post-block for $122k in Scottsdale
at Bonhams’ Westin Kierland event.
Race cars are often a tough sell, even recently restored ex-
amples. But in the end the buyer got a good deal on a great car. Hopefully, it’ll make its way back
on to the track after decades away. A
— Chad Tyson
had a more modern look with teardropshaped
headlights that flowed into the
fender. Priced at less than $700, the Tudor
Sedan was very popular. This example fitted
with a 1948 flathead V8. Minor cracks in
the paint. Brightwork in good order. Minor
wear evident with fabric interior. All in all, a
well-presented example. Cond: 2. SOLD
AT $22,050. The engine swap did not seem
to make a difference here, as the Ford sold
for a market-correct price. It was a well-presented
example that will be a fun Friday
night cruiser. McCormick’s, Palm Springs,
CA, 02/14.
#39-1940 FORD STANDARD coupe. VIN:
54506905. Purple metallic black/tan leather.
Odo: 3,042 miles. Immaculate top to bottom.
Beautiful panels, never rusted, nice
lowered stance. Show-quality black paint
with subtle purple metallic haze coat adding
depth. New tires on 17-inch polished Rev
alloys. Show chrome throughout, excellent
glass. Custom tan leather interior, VDO
gauges, chromed window garnishes,
leather-covered tilt wheel labeled “Jeep.”
Chrome-laden Ford 302 V8. 3k miles on
build suggests reliability. Cond: 2+.
NOT SOLD AT $21,000. This slightly understated
custom was one of the best-presented
offerings at this auction. Obviously
pro-built, it started out as a rust-free Oregon
coupe. Low miles showing, with minor demerits
for tiny rock chips and lightly creased
leather, puts this very near condition 1. The
crowd reacted positively but didn’t approach
the unknown reserve. Petersen, Salem,
OR, 02/14.
#FR-0128-1955 FORD F-100 resto-mod
pickup. VIN: F10D5K11917. Red/tan vinyl.
350-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Very nice. Looks
stock from 20 feet until you get to look inside.
Updated interior, including gauges,
102 AmericanCarCollector.com
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steering system, and engine. Cond: 2-.
SOLD AT $28,620. Nicely done, and the
custom interior was not over the top—and
not over-horsepowered for this light stepside
truck. Went into the higher price range
because of its good taste and workmanship.
Well sold. GAA, Greensboro, NC, 03/14.
#423-1956 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL
MARK II 2-dr hard top. VIN: C56A1756.
Silver/gray & black leather. Odo: 87,531
miles. 368-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. This example
shipped to England on the Queen Mary to
Ford U.K. Very good silver color scheme.
Interior finished with black and gray leather.
Lincoln emblem in package tray. Hood fit off
a bit. One of only 2,550 built in 1956 at a
retail price of $9,966. Cond: 2-.
except in the rain gutters. Air-filter cover
and valve covers painted gold. Chrome and
trim in good order. Interior does not have
pizzazz of the ’58 Edsel. Total Edsel production
for 1959 only 44,089 units.
Cond: 2+.
lowing, and they are used to all the jokes
and comments. This Ranger did not have
the bells and whistles of some of the other
models, but if you “need” an Edsel, this one
will do the job at a fair price. McCormick’s,
Palm Springs, CA, 02/14.
SOLD AT $15,750. Edsel has a faithful fol-
7468. Indian Turquoise & white/turquoise
retractable hard top/green & white vinyl &
fabric. Odo: 1,538 miles. 332-ci V8, 4-bbl,
auto. Last year for the Skyliner with about
13,000 produced. Equipped with Ford-OMatic
transmission, power brakes, windows
and steering and Continental kit. Restored
#107-1959 FORD GALAXIE Skyliner
retractable hard top. VIN: B9KW10-
SOLD AT $42,000. The interesting history
was a plus here, and the condition was
great. All told, a solid package that sold for
the correct money. I keep thinking these
wonderful cars will take off some day, but
I’m still waiting. McCormick’s, Palm
Springs, CA, 02/14.
#169-1957 FORD THUNDERBIRD convertible.
VIN: D7FH394751. Pearlescent
Hot Pink/white leather. Odo: 94,282 miles.
A one-of-a-kind Thunderbird that was finished
in a wild “House of Kolor” Hot Pink.
Fitted with custom dash with lots of gold
trim. White leather buckets added. Fitted
with front power disc brakes. Has been well
maintained, so no real issues with fit and
finish. Interior as-new. An acquired taste.
Cond: 1-.
SOLD AT $58,275. This eye-catching Thunderbird
failed to sell when bid to 55k at
Mecum’s November 2013 Anaheim sale
(ACC# 238536) and at McCormick’s February
2012 when bid to $63k (ACC# 198630).
Sold two years later for less money. Can
you say “shop-worn”? McCormick’s, Palm
Springs, CA, 02/14.
#40-1959 EDSEL RANGER sedan. VIN:
1070241200958. President Red/Snow
White/red & white vinyl. Odo: 14,604 miles.
A recent restoration to acceptable standard.
Bold President Red was properly applied
May-June 2014 103
BEST
BUY
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OURCARS
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ROUNDUP
2013 DODGe Charger SRT8
Owner: Sam Stockham, ACC Contributor
Purchase date: October 2012
Price: $50,905
Mileage since purchase: 16,500
Recent work: Repair broken blend-door lever
for a/c, under warranty
SOLD AT $66,000. If one of these was on
your list, then this was the one. It was restored
to perfection and sold for a most reasonable
price. Willing to bet the restoration
bill was more than what was realized here.
Well bought indeed. RM Auctions, Amelia
Island, FL, 03/14. (See profile, p. 50.)
with the Charger SRT8 as far as I
am concerned.
To me, this is one of the best all-around
Chrysler has hit a bull’s-eye
cars I have ever owned. It’s really hard to get
tired of the 480 lb/ft of torque that the 392
Hemi engine seamlessly delivers with the
help of variable valve timing. The 5-speed
automatic transmission works via telekinesis,
or so it seems, and the list of gizmos
goes on and on.
The fit and finish is darn close to BMW
5-Series standards — which other American
companies are still trying to get right — and
the SRT’s ride never beats you up.
Besides the stunning good looks, I think
one of my favorite small details is that I
get seat heaters and cooling fans without
having to have leather seats. The red suede
is positively sexy and four-season friendly,
especially during hot Scottsdale summers —
find that in a 5-Series.
The real joy comes from my kids, ages 6
and 9, who beg to be dropped off at school
in the SRT versus the wife’s new Japanese
SUV. I think my son likes the car more than
I do. Is that possible? He is 6.
Some may find the price prohibitive when
in BMW territory, but the fun factor more
than makes up for it, and the repair bills are
lower. Perfect.A
#ST-0073-1963 FORD GALAXIE 500 Rcode
2-dr hard top. VIN: 3N66R147862.
Burgundy/black vinyl. Odo: 57,000 miles.
427-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Nice unrestored,
unmolested car. Two owners. Original interior
and exterior. Numbers-matching. Overhauled
engine. Clean and ready to drive.
Cond: 3+.
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ROUNDUP
to within an inch of its life. Top is a nightmare
if you don’t know what you are doing.
A pampered show car. Cond: 1-.
touch under the money. The story alone
makes this well bought. RM Auctions,
Amelia Island, FL, 03/14.
vinyl. 293-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. The “winningest”
Shelby, with 17 straight from 1968
to ’69. Driven by Charlie Kemp, who presented
the car. Original body panels with
correct K-code stampings. 289 V8 bored
0.030 over with Holley “double pumper”
carb and Shelby aluminum intake manifold.
One of only about 34 350 Rs produced.
Fascinating history and eligible for all kinds
of historic racing events. Cond: 3+.
2
#147-1965 SHELBY GT350 R fastback.
VIN: SFM5R538. White/black
SOLD AT $984,500. A piece of history at a
rather steep price. New owner has some
rather big shoes to fill if he is going racing.
With the winning tradition of the car, the
new owner better not be a back-marker! RM
Auctions, Amelia Island, FL, 03/14.
NOT SOLD AT $43,000. The stick on the
floor makes three people in the front seats a
bit awkward, but this was an appealing,
honest, hi-po Galaxie. Still, I think it should
have sold at the $43k high bid. GAA,
Greensboro, NC, 03/14.
#179-1965 SHELBY COBRA roadster.
VIN: CSX2421. Eng. # PA5044.
White/red leather. Odo: 41,791 miles.
289-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. A Cobra “barn find,”
as this was stored in 1978 and recently discovered.
Wears original colors, and most
trim is also original, bearing 2421 number.
Mileage stated to be actual. Complete with
original top and side curtains. Body never
damaged, as documented in the SAAC
Shelby Registry. A real find! Cond: 2.
1
SOLD AT $38,850. With Mustangs, as the
power goes up, so does the price. As this
was fitted with the smaller C-code 200-hp
motor, the price paid here was spot-on. It
was a striking car in great colors. All should
be happy here. McCormick’s, Palm
Springs, CA, 02/14.
SOLD AT $990,000. An exciting 289 Cobra
with a documented history. The owner went
overseas and for some unknown reason
never retrieved the car. If anything, it sold a
104 AmericanCarCollector.com
#4-1967 SHELBY GT350 fastback. VIN:
67200F4A01451. Wimbledon White/black
vinyl. Odo: 650 miles. 289-ci V8, 4-bbl,
4-sp. Said to be one of 92 with 289 Hi-Po
mill, 4-sp, extra cooling package, and color
scheme. Restored seven years ago, driven
sparingly since, based on low miles. Excellent
repaint in original finish. Chrome has
right amount of shine. Microblisters on front
bumper, scratches on rear window. Hood
#239-1967 FORD MUSTANG fastback.
VIN: 7R02C154709. Candy Apple Red/red
vinyl. Odo: 47,056 miles. 289-ci V8, 2-bbl,
auto. A well-restored example equipped
with factory air and optional accent paint
stripe. The Candy Apple Red is striking, and
the brightwork in good order. Equipped with
styled steel wheels. A delightful package.
Cond: 1-.
TOP 10
TOP 10
Page 103
ROUNDUP
GLOBAL
slightly out. Correct 10-spoke factory alloys
shod with Goodyear rubber. Tidy cabin.
Proper wood steering wheel, Stewart Warner
gauges under dash, 140-mph speedo.
Detailed engine bay. Titled as a Ford.
Cond: 2.
player. Includes convenience package, folddown
rear seat and tilt-away steering column.
Dealer-installed Shelby side scoop.
Aluminum manifold and Holley carb, but
stock pieces with car. Paint applied to high
standard and interior as-new. Strong package.
Cond: 1-.
els in gray cloth, original dash with instrument-surround
decal heavily cracked from
age. Driver-quality underhood, flathead six
looks original, complete. Runs and drives.
Would look right at home in Mayberry. “DONUT”
on Oregon license plate. Cond: 3.
SOLD AT $110,000. An absolute knockout,
even in a sea of European collectibles. Sold
originally in Toledo, OH, ownership history
then went dark until 1997, when the Shelby
Registry lists it residing in Missouri. Two
owners since, including the consignor, a
Florida collector. Sold at no reserve, smack
in the middle of the $100k–$125k estimate
range. A good deal for both buyer and
seller. Gooding & Co., Amelia Island, FL,
03/14.
#146-1968 FORD MUSTANG GT fastback.
VIN: 8R02S162374. Raven Black/black vinyl.
Odo: 48,396 miles. 390-ci V8, 4-bbl,
4-sp. A nicely restored fastback with all the
goodies, including a working AM/8-track
SOLD AT $49,350. A strong car that sold
for strong money. You seldom go wrong
when you buy the best, and this was one of
the better Mustangs offered. No issue with
price paid, and all should be happy here.
McCormick’s, Palm Springs, CA, 02/14.
MOPAR
#20-1939 PLYMOUTH P8 police car. VIN:
108715668. Tan & brown. Odo: 255,428
miles. Shiny, rust-free body, vinyl police
shields on doors. Large chromed siren atop
right-front fender, steel wheels, poverty
caps. Black bedliner sprayed on running
boards. Interior clean, seats and door pan-
SOLD AT $8,100. Claimed a Ventura
County Sheriff’s car, seemingly confirmed
by a quarter-million miles showing from patrols,
but offset by modern graphics and
lack of spotlights, police radio, or antenna.
Whether an actual vintage police unit or a
tribute piece, it remains parade-worthy. Final
bid was enough to buy the siren’s wail.
Well bought and sold. Petersen, Salem,
OR, 02/14.
#108-1948 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY
convertible. VIN: 7406544. Tan &
wood/black cloth/Highlander cloth & blue
May-June 2014 105
Page 104
GLOVEBOXNOTES
2014 Ford Fiesta Se hatchback
GLOBAL
ROUNDUP
By Tony Piff
GLOBAL
ROUNDUP
leather. Odo: 63,125 miles. 324-ci I8, 2-bbl,
3-sp. A well-presented example with wood
exterior in good order. Factory-correct Highlander
interior. Restored in early 1990s with
limited use since. Brightwork with minor
scratching. Engine bay clean and tidy. Tan
livery a bit bland. Cond: 2.
Price as tested: $16,845
equipment: 1.6-L TIVCT Duratech
DOHC I4, 5-speed manual
ePA mileage: 27/38
Likes: Fantastic handling. Corners and
brakes weightlessly. Quirky, appealing
hatchback styling. Superb 360-degree
visibility. Plenty of power... at redline.
Way more fun than expected for the
price.
Dislikes: Back seat legroom insufficient
for my 6-year-old; rear cargo area pretty
dang small. Throwy gearbox feels like a
missed opportunity.
Verdict: I am an unashamed fan of
tiny cars with tiny engines and upright
fishbowl styling, and this car totally rang
my bell. Perhaps I expected too much of
the 5-speed stick, which was ultimately
less “fun” than I hoped for. If I were
going to buy one, I’d be sure to try out
the automatic. And as much as I enjoyed
driving it, I think the back seats might be
unusable. But it’s great to find out that
there’s a new car on the market priced
well under $20k, and I actually really like
it.
Fun to drive:
½
Fun to look at:
Overall experience:
½
SOLD AT $110,000. This T&C was sold at
RM’s Hershey auction in 2007 for $176k,
which we called a market-correct price
(ACC# 47352). Things have changed a bit;
the new market is a whole lot lower. Seller
took a hit, and it was only driven a couple
hundred miles. Bought for slightly under the
money, so we’ll call it well bought. RM
Auctions, Amelia Island, FL, 03/14.
#424-1953 PLYMOUTH CAMBRIDGE 2-dr
sedan. VIN: P24100490. Two-tone green/
gray tweed. Odo: 69,828 miles. 217-ci I6,
1-bbl, 3-sp. The base-level Plymouth for ’53
and priced at a touch over $1,700. Recent
respray with overspray evident. Brightwork
in good order. Attractive but rather basic
interior. A basic starter car then and a
basic starter collector car now. Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $10,500. Not expensive then and
not expensive now. Nowhere to go with it,
so drive it or turn it into some sort of hot rod.
McCormick’s, Palm Springs, CA, 02/14.
#360-1959 PLYMOUTH FURY “Furyus 1”
2-dr hard top. VIN: H263106466. Chartreuse
& yellow metallic/white vinyl. 318-ci
V8, 4-bbl, auto. A rather dramatic custom.
Frenched dual headlights from 1960 Buick.
Exaggerated tail fins with chartreuse body
and metallic top. Custom interior with deep
bucket seats. Custom grille and front bumper.
Problem with right rear window. Very
well executed. Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $40,950. This sold for a fraction
of the build cost and will attract all kinds of
attention. Takes me back to my high school
days with envy. Well bought—now go have
some fun! McCormick’s, Palm Springs,
CA, 02/14.
#230-1961 PLYMOUTH FURY sedan. VIN:
3316131465. Black/silver & white fabric.
Odo: 32,906 miles. 318-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. A
very original car still wearing the paint and
interior that it was born with. Exterior has a
few minor swirls and scratches, but that is
to be expected. Interior in wonderful condition,
considering the age. Equipped with
TorqueFlight push-button transmission.
Cond: 2-.
SOLD AT $18,900. The buyer paid the
price for originality here and got his money’s
worth. Hard to find a low-miles car in this
condition. Will be a great take-the-gang-todinner
car with front row parking guaranteed.
McCormick’s, Palm Springs, CA,
02/14.
AMERICANA
8
106 AmericanCarCollector.com
Eng. # 44642. Hunter Green & Harper
Green/tan fabric/green leather. Odo: 47
miles. One of close to 400 “Plaidside” Willys-Knight
roadsters produced, with 11
thought to have survived. This one “alleged
to have been the New York show car.” Ex-
#181-1929 WILLYS-KNIGHT 66B
Plaidside roadster. VIN: 44458.
TOP 10
Page 105
ROUNDUP
GLOBAL
tensive restoration in 2008 with numerous
awards since, including at Elegance at Hershey
and AACA. Maintained in show-ready
condition with no concerns noted. Powered
by famed Knight sleeve-valve 6-cylinder
engine. Cond: 1-.
scheme not original to car. Peeling along
edge of right rear fender. Shows waves,
scratches. Imposing grille shines. Minor
scuffing on front bumper. Driver’s door handle
is loose. Deluxe bumper guards. Newer
rubber. Senior Deluxe hood ornament. Magnificent
interior with optional “K” deluxe
steering wheel, AM radio, heater, and defroster.
Well-preserved trunk and engine
bay. Owner’s manual, tools. Cond: 2+.
good deal was achieved well below the
$75k low estimate. Well bought. Gooding &
Co., Amelia Island, FL, 03/14.
#118-1950 PACKARD EIGHT Series 2301
station sedan. VIN: 23627774. Blue &
wood/tan leather. Odo: 91,531 miles. 288-ci
I8, 2-bbl, 3-sp. White ash over all-steel
body. Most produced in 1948, with leftovers
renumbered and sold in 1949 and 1950.
Very low survival rate due to maintenance
requirements. Restored some time back
with new white ash and quality respray. Tan
leather interior in good order. Equipped with
radio, heater and overdrive. A very nice and
useable example of the last Packard
woodie. Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $264,000. An exceptional restoration
of an unusual CCCA Full Classic.
Price paid exceeded the $175k–$225k estimate
but was not out of line, considering the
renewed interest in Full Classics. Will attract
a crowd wherever it goes. RM Auctions,
Amelia Island, FL, 03/14.
#40-1941 PACKARD ONE-TWENTY convertible
coupe. VIN: 575057. Grove Green
Metallic/tan cloth top & canvas boot/gray &
green leather. Odo: 62,574 miles. Eighteenmonth
restoration in early 2000s at a reported
$100k cost. Formerly owned by
noted Packard collector Tim Dudley. Paint
SOLD AT $55,000. The One-Twenty
marked the company’s leap into volume
production, in order to appeal to a wider
market and avoid dissolution. This example
was in super condition with few quibbles,
but it was not quite show-quality. After 10plus
years, the restoration still showed very
well. The new owner should be happy in the
knowledge that many pleasurable, wind-inyour-hair
miles lie ahead and that a very
SOLD AT $82,500. The perfect vehicle for
pulling your wooden Chris-Craft, and that is
how they are usually presented. The older
restoration was holding up well, and paint
was presentable, so no issue with price
paid. Now go find a Chris-Craft to complete
the picture. RM Auctions, Amelia Island,
FL, 03/14. A
May-June 2014 107
Page 106
The Parts Hunter
Chad Tyson
Big-money parts and
accessories from around the country
#Z756—1937–40 Ford Flathead V8 60.
8 photos. Item condition: Used. Mecum,
Kissimmee, FL.
“Used in Midget race cars. Edelbrock heads
and intake. Dual Ford carburetors. 60 hp.” Sold
at $2,200.
221-ci as a V8 seems more Italian than
American now, but Ford introduced this line of
V8s in 1937. These engines differ from the larger
flatheads by the number of bolts in the cylinder
head (17 vs. 21). They powered cars up to 70
mph and made better mileage than any Ford
built before it. Outside appearances indicate this
engine is in good condition, but the important
part is how much racing was done and whether
it has been rebuilt. If the new owner can plug the
block in and go, this was a good buy. If it needs
a rebuild, well, at least there will be some go-fast
parts already on hand.
#201026381860—1968 Shelby fan clutch. 3 photos.
Item Condition: Used. eBay, Collegeville, PA.
“1968 Shelby original fan clutch E-C8ZX-A. Very
nice used clutch. No chipped fins, no wobble in
shaft, never blasted or refinished. You will not find
a nicer unit. Can be used as-is; no need to rebuild.
I took this off a Shelby over 30 years ago that was
being parted out. I do not remember the last time
I saw one of these for sale. It is without a doubt
one of the top five hardest parts to find for a 1968
Shelby.” 11 bids. Sold at $1,500.
The part number indicates this came from a GT500 KR with a/c. How authentic and correct
does the car have to be? Does spending $1,500 on an original part make sense when
replacement pieces are only $50? Originality goes out the window when the original pieces
do the same. While I doubt this’ll actually add $1,500 in value to a car, find another. A couple
of bidders just needed to have it, as the bidding started at $5. Well sold.
#Z856—2008 Chevrolet ZL1 V8. 12 photos. Item condition:
New. Mecum, Kissimmee, FL.
“Never prepped or ran. 427-ci, 430-hp Anniversary-Edition
ZL1. Number 053 of 427 engines produced before Chevrolet
retired the tooling. Anniversary 427 Owner Kit includes numbered
Certificate of Authenticity plaque, engine data plaque,
engine badging and air cleaner decal. Matching leather jacket
included. Water pump, fuel pump and starter are included
options. Aluminum pistons for 9.5:1 final compression ratio.
Aluminum oval port heads have a 110-cc combustion chamber.
1.7:1 aluminum roller rockers.” Sold at $17,500.
I found a few other 427 ZL1s for sale, but they averaged about
$5k more each. With limited availability and plenty of frou-frou
extras, some of these will end up unused sitting on a stand.
I hope this one makes it into a car. This buyer scored a good
deal in Kissimmee.
108 AmericanCarCollector.com
# 141173536245—1970 Plymouth 426
Hemi exhaust manifolds. 12 photos. Item
condition: Used. eBay, Haslet, TX.
“Mint-condition 426 Hemi exhaust manifolds.
Notice how little of the Hemi Orange
paint has been burned off. These are
as close to NOS as they come! I bought
this date-code matching set of 426 Hemi
exhaust manifolds in the mid-1980s from a
gentleman in Mustang, OK, who said they
had been taken off of a brand new Hemi
’Cuda as it was converted to a drag race
car after it only had been driven home from
the local dealer after the purchase.” Buy It
Now. Sold at $4,995.
Only collector car parts can be described
as mint while having surface rust, no matter
how light. A set of repop 426 Hemi exhaust
manifolds comes in just under $1,000, typically.
That said, this wasn’t an absurd price
considering the condition of these original
pieces.
Page 107
#131076091505—1965 Mercury Comet
Cyclone Rally-Pac Gauges. 3 photos. Item
condition: Used. eBay, Baltic, CT.
“Item shown for bid is a completely restored
Rally Pack for a ’65 Comet V8 using factory
Ford NOS movements, etc. Ready to install
with correct wiring harness. I would rate it
a 9.8 out of 10. Concours condition. Sold a
number of these without one complaint, just
praise. Note: Tachometer is to be used with
standard ignition or Pertronix only.” 2 bids.
Sold at $1,525.
This was just an $83 option in 1965. These
appear to be in remarkable condition. A similar
setup sold last year for $1,200, but without an
operational tach or clock. This set was fairly
bought and sold.A
WHAT’S YOUR
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.
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May-June 2014 109
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Showcase Gallery
Sell Your Car Here! Includes ACC website listing.
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($88 non-subscribers).
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Advertisers assume all liability for the content of their advertisements. The publisher of
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and/or misleading statements of its advertisers.
GM
1950 Buick Estate woodie
wagon
1958 Chevrolet Impala
convertible
Maroon/maroon. 64,183 miles.
V8, automatic. 1950 Buick
Super Estate Wagon Model
59. Great condition. One of
2,480 built. Dynaflow automatic
transmission, under-dash Borg
Warner Mk IV a/c unit. The
original wood is in outstanding
condition. Car runs great and
is driven regularly. Period luggage
rack. The car is located in
Scottsdale. $69,000 OBO. Contact
Rhet, 480.759.3374, Email:
rhetandrews@cox.net (AZ)
Advertisers Index
Advantage Lifts.....................................27
American Car Collector ......................113
Auctions America ...........................11, 13
Barrett-Jackson ....................................17
Bennett Law Office .............................109
Blue Bars ............................................100
Camaro Central ....................................69
Car Collector Price Tracker ................109
Carlisle Events .....................................4-5
Chubb Personal Insurance ...................29
Corvette America ..................................93
Corvette Repair Inc. .............................15
County Corvette .....................................2
Dealer Accelerate .................................71
Genuine HotRod Hardware ..................33
110 AmericanCarCollector.com
Powder blue/blue & silver. 0
miles. V8, 2-spd automatic.
Very original car, repainted
once. Nice original interior. 283ci
V8, auto., power steering,
AM radio. Nice all-around show
car. Spares available include
348 Tri-Power motor, complete
Continental kit and fender
skirts. $79,000. Contact Len M.,
610.282.0109, Email: tigrlift@
ptd.net (PA)
V8, ex-Bill Jobe “Super Nova”
Corvette. Texas Region
SCCA Solo Champion. During
1969–70, 18 first-place finishes.
Ex-Allen Barker Traco engine
and fuel-injection. Three binders
of documentation from
day one. Extensive race history.
$410,000. Contact J.J.,
412.486.8175, Email: elainesrodman@gmail.com
(PA)
1964 Chevrolet Corvette
Sting Ray convertible
t1994 Cadillac Eldorado
ouring coupe
Emerald Green Metallic/light
tan leather. 76,000 miles. V8,
automatic. Beautiful two-owner
car. Original mileage, cloth top,
front-wheel-drive, Gold Package,
always garaged. One
of the prettiest ETCs you will
find. Call for more information.
$5,500. Contact Keith or Julie,
503.631.3865, Email: julieandwoofie@hotmail.com
(OR)
CORVETTE
r1964 Chevrolet Corvette
ace car
restored to achieve AACA Jr. &
Sr. National first prize. Bias-ply
tires, driven approx. 100 miles
per year. Owned since 1994.
$49,500. Contact Thomas,
574.527.3725, Email: dunnta@
grace.edu (IN)
1965 Chevrolet Corvette
convertible
Green/tan. 55,000 miles. V8,
4-spd manual. 327/350 hp,
matching numbers, essentially
original in very good driver
condition, indicated 55k mile
car, PS, repro knockoffs, Teak
wheel. Sell or ’Vette trade. Contact
K.A., 248.626.5500, Email:
kal@thepdmgroup.com (MI)
WANTED 1967 Chevrolet
Corvette coupe
Red/black. 67,000 miles. V8,
4-spd manual. 327/300 hp,
non-original motor but correctly
Greensboro Auto Auction .....................79
Grundy Worldwide ................................91
Hagerty Insurance Agency, Inc. ...........39
Hiprides.net ..........................................91
Hot August Nights ................................43
Infinity Insurance Companies .............116
James G. Murphy Co. ........................107
JC Taylor ..............................................67
Jim Meyer Racing Products Inc. ........103
Law Offices of Bruce Shaw ..................77
Leake Auction Company ......................87
Lucky Collector Car Auctions ...............31
Lutty’s Chevy Warehouse ....................89
Mac Neil Automotive Products Ltd ......99
Michael Irvine Studios ..........................75
Mid America Motorworks .....................23
Mustangs Unlimited ...........................105
National Corvette Museum .................101
National Corvette Restorers Society ..101
National Parts Depot ............................25
Nights of Neon, Inc. ............................109
Northwest House of Hardtops .............35
Old Forge Motor Cars Inc. .................109
Original Parts Group .............................61
Park Place LTD .....................................83
Performance Suspension Technology .85
Petersen Collector Car Auction ..........101
Putnam Leasing ......................................3
S/N 194377S122800. Marina
Blue/blue. V8, 4-spd manual.
I am trying to locate this blue
1967 Corvette coupe. It’s
believed to now have sidepipes
and Rally wheels. Last
documented in IL in 2011,
I believe. Before that it was
titled in OK. I am the original
owner and am trying to locate
to buy it back from the present
owner (I hope!). If anyone can
help me or has seen this Corvette,
please call or email me.
Thanks to all. Contact John,
321.431.0035, Email: flapropinsp@earthlink.net
(FL)
Reliable Carriers ...................................65
Rick Cole Auctions ...............................21
Silver Collector Car Auctions ...............19
Sports Car Market ................................73
St Bernard Church..............................103
Street Shop, Inc....................................89
The Chevy Store Inc .............................95
Thomas C Sunday Inc ..........................73
Turnstone .............................................93
Vicari Auctions ......................................95
Volo Auto Museum ..............................6-7
Watchworks ........................................106
ZClip ...................................................115
Zip Products .........................................45
Page 109
Showcase Gallery
1996 Chevrolet Corvette
coupe
1969 Shelby GT350
convertible
S/N 1G1YY2257T5118756.
Black/black. 63,000 miles. V8,
6-spd manual. LT-4. Very nice
condition, Grand Sport rims
and tires, FlowMaster exhaust,
K&N air filter, original rims and
exhaust go with car. $16,200.
Contact Doug, 815.672.6992,
Email: mctluxbath@gmail.com
(IL)
2012 Chevrolet Corvette
convertible
S/N 1G1YB3DW2C5107869.
Carlisle Blue/Titanium Gray.
2,342 miles. V8, 6-spd manual.
One of 42, low mile show car.
Many extras. $55,900. Contact
Mike, 814.864.2353, Email:
mdc1@psu.edu (PA)
FOMOCO
1963 Ford Thunderbird
convertible
S/N 171172. Army Green/Army
Green & tan. 1,076 miles. I4,
3-spd manual. Drivetrain all
original; 6-volt system. Complete
list of all restoration part
numbers and costs available.
Many awards received at car
shows, including “People’s
Choice.” $14,500. Contact
George, 256.587.0125, Email:
hytoplazyl@outlook.com (AL)
1995 Jeep CJ7
Black and orange/twin, manual.
This Harley VR1000 team
race bike and the collection of
spares that goes with it is about
the possibilities it presents to
participate in vintage racing,
riding a rare Factory Superbike.
Included are parts to maintain
and support the effort, allowing
the rare experience of riding
the Harley Factory Superbike.
$127,500. Contact Ted,
Automania, 541.479.8888,
Email: ted@automaniagp.
com Web: automaniagp.com/
VR1000team.html (OR)
S/N 9F03M480101. Gulf
Stream Aqua/White. 55,000
miles. 351 Windsor, auto.
Loaded, a/c, documented,
Marti Report, sixth built in 1969,
beautiful, runs great, needs
nothing. Trade/Sell. Contact
Dick, 561.272.1718, Email:
cobracohen@aol.com (FL)
AMERICANA
1948 Willys Jeep CJ2A
White & red/tan. V8, 5-spd
manual. Placed 28th driven
by Al Miller. Recommissioned
by J & L Fabricators in WA for
vintage racing six years ago,
never driven since. Comes
with 2-speed trans. Full history
and description available
online. Has original trailer and
some spares. $165,000 OBO.
Contact Ted, Automania,
541.479.8888, Email: ted@
automaniagp.com Web: automaniagp.com/Home.html
(OR)
1995 Harley Davidson
VR1000 superbike
AUTOMOBILIA
Custom Neon Garage sign
New, 10-foot neon double-sided
“Garage” sign. Showroom condition,
Fire Engine Red powdercoated
aluminum letters, white
neon. Cal for pricing (crating,
shipping and taxes extra).
Custom neon signs/fabrication
available. Contact Lisa, Nights
of Neon Inc., 818.535.5419,
Email: lisa@nightsofneon.com
(CA) A
S/N 3Y85Z154256. Light
yellow/black. 32 miles. V8,
3-spd automatic. This is a
Thunderbird collector’s dream
car. 100% original interior, top,
body and mechanical with only
necessary maintenance being
completed. The original factory
jacking instructions can be seen
in the pics. The interior is like
new, the nicest original one can
find, first-place show winner.
More info on request. $45,000.
Contact Glenn, 239.948.4419,
Email: gvrooman1@gmail.com
(FL)
Maroon metallic/black. 24,000
miles. I6, manual. Collectorquality,
never off road. Black
hard top, 9000-lb. Warn winch,
stock radio. Always stored indoors.
A trailer-queen Jeep for
$16,000. $16,000 OBO. Contact
Gary, 541.519.8128, Email:
gholman46@yahoo.com (OR)
RACE
I1967 Gerhardt-Ford DOHC
ndy race car
It’s so
easy!
We’ve made
uploading your
Showcase
Gallery listings
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May-June 2014 111
Page 110
RESOURCE DIRECTORY
Put your company in the ACC Resource Directory. Call 877.219.2605 Ext. 211,
or email advert@americancarcollector.com
Auction Companies
Auctions America, 877.906.2437,
5540 CR llA Auburn, IN 46706.
Home of the 480-acre Auction
Park in Auburn, IN, where the
annual Labor Day Auction is held
in conjunction with the Auburn
Cord Duesenberg Festival.
www.auctionsamerica.com. (IN)
Russo and Steele Collector
Automobiles. 602.252.2697,
602.252.6260. 5230 South 39th
St., Phoenix, AZ 85040.
info@russoandsteele.com;
www.russoandsteele.com. (AZ)
Silver Auctions. 800.255.4485,
2020 N. Monroe, Spokane, WA
99205. silver@silverauctions.com.
www.silverauctions.com. (WA)
Leake Auctions. 800.722.9942,
Join Leake Auction Company as
they celebrate 40 years in the collector
car auction industry. Their
unsurpassed customer service
and fast-paced two-lane auction
ring makes them a leader in the
business. Leake currently operates
auctions in Tulsa, Oklahoma
City, Dallas and San Antonio. Visit
them online at www.leakecar.com
or call 800.722.9942.
Worldwide Auctioneers.
866.273.6394. Established by
John Kruse and Rod C. Egan, The
Worldwide Group—Auctioneers,
Appraisers and Brokers—is one
of the world’s premier auction
houses, specializing in the
procurement and sale of the
world’s finest automobiles
and vintage watercraft. www.
worldwide-auctioneers.com. (IN)
Classic Car Transport
Lucky Collector Car Auctions.
888.672.0020, Lucky Collector
Car Auctions is aptly named after
Harold “Lucky” Lemay. Based in
the majestic, pastoral ground of
Marymount, home to the Lemay
Family Collection Foundation
near Tacoma, WA, the collection,
formerly the biggest in the world
according to Guinness, now hosts
an unrivaled event center, art collection
and charitable foundation,
which features two exceptional
collector car auctions a year. www.
luckyoldcar.com (WA)
L.A. Prep. 562.997.0170, L.A.
Prep brings its 30 years of experience
transporting vehicles for the
automotive industry’s top manufacturers
to discriminating luxury
and exotic car owners and collectors
across the United States.
Its highly-skilled and experienced
staff delivers an unsurpassed
level of service and takes care of
your car with the highest quality
equipment available in trucks and
trailers that are as clean and well
maintained as the valuable assets
that they carry.
www.LAPrepTransport.com
Intercity Lines, Inc. 800.221.3936,
413.436.9422. Rapid, hassle-free,
coast-to-coast service. Insured
enclosed transport for your
valuable car at affordable prices.
State-of-the-art satellite transport
tracking. Complete service for
vintage races, auctions, relocations.
www.intercitylines.com. (MA)
premium service it deserves. We
share your appreciation for fine
automobiles, and it shows.
www.PassportTransport.com.
Reliable Carriers, Inc.
877.744.7889, As the country’s
largest enclosed-auto transport
company, Reliable Carriers faithfully
serves all 48 contiguous
United States and Canada.
Whether you’ve entered a
concours event, need a relocation,
are attending a corporate event or
shipping the car of your dreams
from one location to another, one
American transportation company
does it all. www.reliablecarriers.
com
Corvette Parts &
Restoration
AutoBahn Power. Performance
+ Looks + Durability + Comfort
= Autobahn Power! Autobahn
Power is a veteran of vehicle
modifications, parts and accessories.
Our specialty has been to
carry products that are better than
original equipment in performance,
safety and quality. Our warehouse,
service shop and retail store are
located in the Midwest for good
access to all parts of the USA. We
have completed literally hundreds
of project cars. These performance
vehicles are in enthusiasts’
hands across the USA. Many of
the cars are in daily use, proving
the durability of our workmanship
and products. Check us out at
www.autobahnpower.com.
Palm Springs Auctions, Inc.
Keith McCormick. 760.320.3290.
Family owned & operated for 28
years. Producing 2 large classic
car auctions per year in Palm
Springs, California. Each auction
features over 500 cars. Held in
November & February every year.
www.classic-carauction.com
112 AmericanCarCollector.com
Passport Transport.
800.736.0575, Since our founding
in 1970, we have shipped thousands
of treasured vehicles doorto-door
with our fully enclosed
auto transporters. Whether your
prized possession is your daily
driver, a vintage race car, a classic,
a ’60s muscle car or a modern
exotic, you can depend on
Passport Transport to give you the
Corvette Central . Parts and
accessories for all Corvettes.
Corvette Central has been a leading
manufacturer and distributor
of Corvette parts and accessories
since 1975. We offer the most
comprehensive and detailed parts
catalogs on the market today
and produce a different catalog
for each Corvette generation. All
catalogs are also online with full
search and order features. From
Blue Flame 6 to the C6, only
Corvette Central has it all.
www.corvettecentral.com. (MI)
County Corvette. 610.696.7888.
Sales, service, parts and restoration.
When it must be right.
www.countycorvette.com. (PA)
Zip Products. 800.962.9632, Zip
customers know that the voice on
the other end of the phone is a
true enthusiast. Someone who, in
minutes, can hold in their hands
any item in stock. Further, someone
with knowledge of, experience
with, and genuine affection for, the
car we hold so dear: Corvette.
www.zip-corvette.com (VA)
Corvette Repair. The Leader
and most recognized NCRS,
Bloomington Gold & Triple
Diamond Award winning
Corvette repair shop in America.
Breathtaking state of the art restorations,
with the highest attention
to detail and workmanship to any
C1, C2 or C3 Corvettes. Compare
our hourly rate and be surprised...
or shocked. Contact Kevin J.
Mackay at 516.568.1959
www.corvetterepair.com (NY)
Mid America Motorworks.
800.500.1500. America’s leader in
1953–2008 Corvette parts and accessories.
Request a free catalog
at www.mamotorworks.com. (IL)
Street Shop, Inc. 256.233.5809.
Custom 1953–1982 Corvette
replacement chassis and driveline
components.
www.streetshopinc.com. (AL)
Corvettes for Sale
County Corvette. 610.696.7888.
The most modern and bestequipped
Corvette-only facility in
the nation.
www.countycorvette.com. (PA)
Page 111
The Chevy Store. At The Chevy
Store, you will find only the
highest-grade, investment-quality
Corvette and specialty Chevrolet
automobiles. We take pride in
providing our clients with the finest
selection anywhere. Offering
investment-quality Corvettes and
Chevrolets for over 30 years!
503.256.5384(p) 503.256.4767(f)
www.thechevystore.com. (OR)
Insurance
Chubb Collector Car Insurance.
1.866.CAR.9648, The Chubb
Collector Car Insurance program
provides flexibility by allowing you
to choose the agreed value and
restoration shop. Broad coverage
includes no mileage restrictions
and special pricing for large
schedules. For more information,
contact us at 1(866)CAR-9648 or
www.chubbcollectorcar.com.
Leasing has been the leader in
exotic, luxury, and collector car
leasing. This honor comes from
Putnam’s unique ability to match
the car of your dreams with a
lease designed just for you. Every
Putnam Lease is written to provide
maximum flexibility while conserving
capital, lowering monthly
payments, and maximizing tax
advantages. It’s Putnam’s way of
letting you drive more car for less
money. For leases ranging from
$50,000 to more than $1 million,
with terms extending up to 84
months visit www.putnamleasing.
com or call 1.866.90.LEASE. (CT)
Legal
Law Offices of Bruce Shaw,
Collector Car Fraud Specialists,
www.shawlaws.com. A motorhead
law firm with real practical
knowledge and experience in the
Collector Car Field. Experience:
Chain of speed shops, Body
Shops, Car Dealerships, former
NCRS judge as well as licensed
attorneys. Estate planning and
divorce settlements concerning
Collector Cars. 50 State
Grundy Worldwide.
888.647.8639, Grundy Worldwide
offers agreed value insurance with
no mileage limitations, zero deductible*,
and high liability limits.
Our coverages are specifically
designed for collectible-car owners.
From classic cars to muscle
cars, Grundy Worldwide has you
covered. (*Zero deductible available
in most states.)
888.6GRUNDY (888.647.8639).
www.grundyworldwide.com. (PA)
Hagerty Collector Car
Insurance. 800.922.4050.
Collector cars aren’t like their latemodel
counterparts. These classics
actually appreciate in value,
so standard market policies that
cost significantly more won’t do
the job. We’ll agree on a fair value
and cover you for the full amount.
No prorated claims, no hassles, no
games. www.hagerty.com. (MI)
Leasing
Putnam Leasing. 866.90.LEASE.
For over 25 years, Putnam
Representation. 215.657.2377
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
Mustangs Unlimited. Since
1976, Mustangs Unlimited has
been the source for Restoration,
Performance, and Accessory
parts for 1965–present Mustang,
1967–1973 Mercury Cougar, and
1965–1970 Shelby Mustang.
More than 55,000 available parts
in 2 fully stocked warehouses,
Mustangs Unlimited is YOUR
Mustang Parts SUPERSTORE!
FREE Shipping on orders over
$300.
Visit www.mustangsunlimited.com
or call 800.243.7278.
Original Parts Group, Inc. With
over 30 years’ experience, OPGI
manufactures and stocks over
75,000 of the finest restoration parts
and accessories for GM classics at
the best prices anywhere. The largest
selection of Chevelle, El Camino,
Monte Carlo, GTO, Le Mans,
Tempest, Gran Prix, Bonneville,
Catalina, Cutlass, 442, Skylark, GS,
Riviera and Cadillac classic parts
anywhere. Visit www.OPGI.com or
call (800) 243-8355.
Restoration—General
National Parts Depot.
800.874.7585, We stock huge
inventories of concours-correct
restoration parts for:
Cosmopolitan Motors, LLC.
206.467.6531, Experts in worldwide
acquisition, collection management,
disposition and
appraisal. For more than a quarter
century, Cosmopolitan Motors has
lived by its motto, “We covet the
rare and unusual, whether pedigreed
or proletarian.” Absurdly
eclectic and proud of it. Find your
treasure here, or pass it along to
the next generation. www.cosmo-
politanmotors.com (WA) A
CAR COLLECTOR
AMERICAN
™
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May-June 2014 113
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877.219.2605 Ext. 1
expectations. Visit during the
37th annual open house along
with 13,000 other enthusiasts.
253.272.2336
www.lemaymarymount.org
National Corvette Museum. 80053-VETTE.
The National Corvette
Museum in Bowling Green, KY,
was established as a 501(c)3 notfor-profit
foundation with a mission
of celebrating the invention of the
Corvette and preserving its past,
present and future. www.corvettemuseum.com.
(KY)
Parts—General
1965–73 and 1979–93 Mustang
1967–81 Camaro & Firebird
1964–72 GTO, Tempest & Lemans
1964–87 Chevelle, Malibu &
El Camino
1948–29 and 1980–96 F-Series
Ford Truck
1966–96 Bronco
1955–57 Thunderbird
Delivery of your parts averages
just 1–3 days!
www.nationalpartsdepot.com
Keith Martin’s
Page 112
Surfing Around
Carl Bomstead
Automobilia on eBay
and beyond
Carl’s thought: Heritage Auctions, at a sale on January 9 in Orlando, FL, sold a 1787 New York Brasher
doubloon for an astonishing $4,582,500, including buyer’s premium. It was stated to be the “greatest numismatic
rarity of the world.”
Ephraim Brasher was an American patriot and silversmith who at one time lived next door to George
Washington. He was an assayer of foreign gold pieces and also made private coinage. The New York doubloons
were 90% gold and may have been struck as souvenirs for visitors to New York.
Regardless, I can think of any number of high-end Packards that would look a whole lot better in my garage
than a coin I have to keep in a secure storage vault. Here are a few other items that caught my eye over the past
few months:
EBAY #111221790318—TEN CHEVROLET PROMO MODELS.
Number of bids: 29. SOLD AT:
$1,450. Date sold: 11/25/2013.
The seller stated that he had
purchased these promos from
Capital Chevrolet in Salem, OR,
in the ’60s. They included a ’64
Chevelle, ’63 Split-Window and a
’62 Corvette convertible. Most were in good condition, while some
had a few missing parts. Two were fairly well trashed. The good
ones were worth about $300 each, so averaging it all out, the price
was more than fair.
EBAY #151219764578—HURST SHIFTER LIGHT-UP DISPLAY
SIGN. Number of bids: 36. SOLD
AT: $2,285. Date sold: 2/9/2014.
This plastic and metal sign was
reverse silk-screened, and the
image was in good condition.
The sign measured 25 x 12 and
looked good even with the light
turned off. A perfect go-with for that life-size Linda Vaughn—Miss
Hurst Golden Shifter—poster in your garage.
MORPHY AUCTIONS LOT 56—GLASS/NEON NASH ROUND
SIGN. Estimate: $4,000–$6,000.
SOLD AT: $7,200 including 20%
buyer’s premium. Date sold:
2/28/2014. This 32-inch round
double-sided glass sign was
illuminated by an internal neon
border. It incorporated the Nash
fish-scale logo in the body of the
sign. It was stated that the lenses
were dirty but they were not
cracked or otherwise damaged. A very rare sign that was rumored
to have previously sold for $10,000. Ouch!
EBAY #281265430171—COOPERSTOWN CENTENNIAL
1839–1939 LICENSE-PLATE
TOPPER. Number of bids: 42.
SOLD AT: $511.99. Date sold:
2/19/2014. Baseball celebrated its
100th anniversary in 1939, and
114 AmericanCarCollector.com
this very original license-plate topper was one of many items that
commemorated the event. It was in decent condition and had interest
from multiple areas, thus the rather aggressive price. But then
again, I have never seen another, so how much is too much?
MORPHY AUCTIONS LOT 53—PORCELAIN HOOD TIRE
MAN WITH FLAG. Estimate:
$5,000–$10,000. SOLD AT:
$10,200 including 20% buyer’s
premium. The Hood Man was
used to promote the Hood Rubber
Company’s products, which
included tires, shoe heels and
rubber boots. This six-foot sign
had a few chips but was in decent
shape considering its age. A
popular sign that sold at the high
end of the expected range. No
real surprise here.
EBAY #221373101279—ESKA 1956 CORVETTE PEDAL CAR.
Number of bids: 6. SOLD AT:
$5,900. Date sold: 2/22/2014.
The seller stated that about 200
of these were offered in 1956
through Chevrolet dealers. It was
one-third scale, was designed
for 3- to 8-year-olds, and had a
pedal-driven 2-speed transmission
with bucket seats. It was stated to be very original, with a small
crack below the driver’s headlight and some minor scratches. Just
the ticket to have alongside the ’56 ’Vette in the garage. Just don’t
let the grandkids get too close to it.
EBAY #301061057629—MARYLAND U.S. HIGHWAY 13 ROAD
SIGN. Number of bids: 10. SOLD
AT: $1,712. Date sold: 1/12/2014.
This early highway sign had the
lettering and edge in raised relief,
and reflectors were on the 13.
The price paid is not unreasonable,
as highway signs have a
following, but that doesn’t mean
you should start acquiring them from the side of the road. A