American Car Collector May-June 2014

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., M–F service@AmericanCarCollector.com 503.253.2234 fax @AmericanCCMag CORReSPONDeNCe Phone 503.261.0555 Fax 503.253.2234 General P.O. Box 4797 Portland, Oregon 97208 Fedex/DHL/uPS 401 NE 19th Street, Suite 100 Portland, Oregon 97232 email help@AmericanCarCollector.com Feedback comments@AmericanCarCollector.com Web www.AmericanCarCollector.com American Car Collector magazine (ISSN# 2164-1323) is published bimonthly by Automotive Investor Media Group, 401 NE 19th Street, Suite 100, Portland, OR 97232. POSTMASTeR: Send address changes to American Car Collector, PO Box 4797, Portland, OR 97208. The information in American Car Collector magazine is compiled from a variety of reliable sources. However, we disclaim and deny any responsibility or liability for the timeliness, use, interpretation, accuracy and completeness of the information presented. All material, data, formats, and intellectual concepts in this issue © 2014 by American Car Collector, LLC, Automotive Investor Media Group, Inc., and Automotive Investor in this format and any other used by American Car Collector magazine. Copyright registered with the United States copyright office. PRINTED IN USA AMERICAN JOIN US Daniel Grunwald Jack Tockston Pat Campion Dale Novak B. Mitchell Carlson Ken Gross Tom Glatch John L. Stein Marshall Buck Dale Novak Keith Martin's

GOODREADS by Mark Wigginton 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 tribal/flame motif.) Drake Off Road created a great counterbalance to that trend with their Vintage Bronco kit. Why not add a custom touch to something you’re going to actually touch? The knob features a rubber grip with aggressive off-road tire styling. The lock pulls match and are also far superior to stock or reproduction plastic bits. All of the pieces are CNC machined from 6061 aluminum and feature a clear anodized finish. Visit www.drakeoffroad.com or call 800.999.0289 for additional information, including a list of retailers. 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

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

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

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

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

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

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 $ $

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 Subscribe to SCM today and become a collector car insider www.sportscarmarket.com May-June 2014 73 TOP 10 TOP 10

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

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+.

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

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,

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

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-.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

GLOVEBOXNOTES GLOBAL ROUNDUP 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.

ROUNDUP GLOBAL 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

GLOBAL ROUNDUP 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

GLOBAL ROUNDUP 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

ROUNDUP GLOBAL 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

OURCARS GLOBAL 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+. GLOBAL 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

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

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

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

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.

#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 CAR WORTH? FIND OUT AT NOW FREE! The world’s largest collector car price guide based on over 500,000 sold transactions from . Updated weekly. collectorcarpricetracker.com May-June 2014 109

Showcase Gallery Sell Your Car Here! Includes ACC website listing. Showcase Gallery color photo ad just $66/month ($88 non-subscribers). Text-Only Classified ad just $15/month ($25 non-subscribers) Three ways to submit your ad: Web: Visit americancarcollector.com/classifieds to upload your photo (300 dpi jpg) and text, or text only. Secure online VISA/MC payments. Email: Send photo (300 dpi jpg) and text, or text only, to classifieds@ americancarcollector.com. We will contact you for payment information. Snail mail: ACC Showcase, PO Box 4797, Portland, OR 97208-4797, with VISA/MC or check. 25 words max, subject to editing. Deadline: 1st of each month, one month prior to publication. Advertisers assume all liability for the content of their advertisements. The publisher of American Car Collector Magazine is not responsible for any omissions, erroneous, false and/or misleading statements of its advertisers. GM 1950 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

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 online easier. As an added bonus, we now feature multiple images for our web listings. www.AmericanCarCollector.com/classifieds May-June 2014 111

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)

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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