American Car Collector May-June 2015

Want to read this issue? To get started, subscribe here, or sign in!

Profiles

Search This Issue


Page 2

CAR COLLECTOR Volume 4 • Issue 21 • May-June 2015 The Scoop: Profiles CORVETTE 1971 CHEVROLET CORVETTE RESTO-MOD $73k / Mecum Auctions Smartly built 540-ci sleeper ’Vette brings a strong price — John L. Stein Page 40 GM 1967 CHEVROLET IMPALA SS 427 $54k / Mecum Auctions Living really large at just the right price — Tom Glatch Page 42 FoMoCo 2008 SHELBY GT500 CONVERTIBLE $35k / Mecum Auctions Is this modern Shelby a collectible? — Jeff Zurschmeide Page 44 MOPAR 1969 DODGE HEMI CHARGER DAYTONA $972k / Mecum Auctions Winged wonder brings a top-market price — Dale Novak Page 46 AMERICAN ™ 4 AmericanCarCollector.com Keith Martin's

Page 3

HOT ROD 1933 FORD “HARRY WARNER” ROADSTER $242k / Gooding & Co. Hidden-treasure hot rod with a glorious past — Ken Gross Page 48 AMERICANA RACE 1969 AMC HURST SC/RAMBLER $39k / Barrett-Jackson Big performance in a small, bright package — Tom Glatch Page 50 1927 MILLER 91 $770k / RM Auctions What’s the right money for vintage Miller parts and a story? — Carl Bomstead Page 52 TRUCK 1976 FORD BRONCO SPORT $55k / Gooding & Co. Ford’s personal 4x4 climbs the value grade — B. Mitchell Carlson Page 54 Daytona David Newhardt, courtesy of Mecum Auctions Cover photo: 1969 Dodge Hemi Charger 1971 Chevrolet Corvette resto-mod, p. 40 Jeremy Cliff, courtesy of Mecum Auctions May-June 2015 5

Page 4

The Rundown EXPERTS’ COLUMNS 8 Torque Now’s the time to drive your late-model collector car — Jim Pickering 34 Cheap Thrills 1977–80 Lincoln Versailles — B. Mitchell Carlson 36 Horsepower Getting the pre-purchase inspection right — Colin Comer 38 Corvette Market Rare RPOs that can affect your Corvette’s value — John L. Stein 114 Surfing Around Must-have automobilia — Carl Bomstead AUCTIONS 58 Mecum Auctions — Kissimmee 2015 It takes 10 days for 2,380 cars to cross the block; 1,775 sell, and sales total $68m — Dale Novak and Craig Gussert 68 GAA Classic Cars 351 out of 502 cars hammer sold for $7.7m total, and a period-style ’32 Ford street rod rumbles to $171k — Mark Moskowitz, M.D. 76 Leake — Oklahoma City 2015 A 1967 Chevrolet Corvette convertible resto-mod brings $154k, leading totals to $6.4m with 305 of 393 cars sold — Andy Staugaard 86 McCormick’s Palm Springs 417 out of 584 cars hammer sold, sales total $7.5m, and one seller demos a .50-cal machine gun for the peanut gallery — Carl Bomstead 96 Roundup American vehicles from coast to coast — Travis Shetler, Gary and Jill West, Joe Seminetta, Carl Bomstead, Pierre Hedary 6 AmericanCarCollector.com Photos this page: 2008 Shelby GT500 convertible Carol Duckworth, courtesy of Mecum Auctions 1969 Dodge Hemi Charger Daytona David Newhardt, courtesy of Mecum Auctions FUN RIDES 18 Good Reads Pontiac GTO 50 Years: The Original Muscle Car — Mark Wigginton 20 Desktop Classics 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray convertible — Marshall Buck 22 Snapshots Trucks take over America’s Car Museum — Jack Tockston 24 41st Corvette and High Performance Meet — Jack Tockston 30 Feature: Six to Watch Some of the hottest market ers, by the numbers d Tyson SERV DEPA 10 What’s Car events of note 12 Crossing the Block Upcoming auctions and highlighted star cars 18 Parts Time Cool parts to keep your car on the road 20 Cool Stuff Glovebox jump-box, V8 barbecue grill, and a knife so fun it’s scary 26 Insider’s View Do you feel safe in your old car? 74 Glovebox Notes 2015 Dodge Charger R/T 4-dr sedan 84 Quick Take 1974 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 — Chad Tyson 106 The Parts Hunter Rare parts and pieces on the market 108 Showcase Gallery Sell your car in ACC’s classifieds section 108 Advertiser Index 110 Resource Directory Get to know our advertisers

Page 6

Torque Jim Pickering Creating the Need T wo months ago, my 2006 Charger SRT8’s odometer rolled past 70,000 miles. This Charger’s been really good to me over the past 30,000 miles. It’s the best daily driver I’ve ever owned. But when 70k showed up on my dash, the Mopar gods decided I’d had drama-free transportation long enough and sent down a little mechanical wrath. I’ll admit that the first problem was my fault. The car sits pretty low, and I managed to get the nose hung up on tall curb while parking at a restaurant. The result wasn’t pretty. There’s a certain sound that OEM plastic components make when they’re being ripped from their home. It announces to the world — and every car guy in earshot — that you’re an idiot. So I bought a new panel online — saved about $100 by going nonOEM — and spent the next weekend beating it into place, since nothing lined up right. That same week, my 6.1 Hemi developed a nasty habit of stalling at stoplights. I actually kind of expected this one, since Chrysler sent me a warning note about the problem and a warranty extension on the fuel tank. So I took a trip to the dealer, waved around my letter from Chrysler, and had them install a new tank. Problem number two solved. Then, about a week later, a whine started up under the hood and a battery light illuminated on the dash, meaning the alternator had given up the ghost. Since 6.1 Hemi alternators are mounted toward the bottom of the engine, I got up close and personal with that non-OEM plastic panel again. And while I had everything all apart to replace the alternator, I squeezed the plastic oil-temperature sender plug just a little too hard and broke its retaining clip. And guess what? That part is discontinued. No dealers in the U.S. have any in stock. For a car from 2006. Can’t hide from age None of these problems are unique for a car that’s being driven regularly. Stuff wears out and curb rash happens. That’s why there’s a parts store every few miles and car insurance commercials during the evening news. But in the world of collector cars, specifically later-model plastic stuff, this sort of thing can be a real problem. What do I mean by that? Well, forget my Charger for a minute. Say we’re talking 8 AmericanCarCollector.com about a 1991 Corvette ZR-1. It’s now 24 years old, and even if driven sparingly, there’s no avoiding the reality that things are going to start happening to it. Parts availability is tougher on a car like that, and 2½ decades on, the pool of mechanics who were trained on them when they were new is shrinking. All of my Charger’s issues happened over two months when it was nine years old, and most of what I needed to fix it was simple to find. Cut out most of the use, and you can spread those issues out over decades, but that’ll just make parts and the knowledge to install them harder to find — and that’s especially true for special performance models, which just happen to be the first cars considered collectible from the computer era. Topping that off are the unknowns that come with how modern materials age. How will plastic components and connectors under the hood of that Corvette act when they’re 40 years old? If my Charger’s oiltemp plug is any indication, they’ll be pretty brittle, and that’ll be a real issue for guys preserving, restoring or just driving stuff from the ’80s and ’90s. After all, there are only so many NOS parts out there, and the aftermarket isn’t making everything you might need for these cars — at least not yet. Use is the key So what’s a modern collector car owner to do? Well, the answer is simple, if a little DRIVING YOUR CAR IS THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO FOR ITS LONG-TERM USABILITY 1991 Corvette ZR-1: They need to be exercised, and you’re creating jobs as well Tony Piff unintuitive. The knee-jerk reaction to the threat of damage and a difficult parts supply is to just park your car. But I think that’s the wrong thing to do, because by not driving your car, you’re ensuring that the people who make and stock parts for it won’t have a successful business model. And without parts supply, especially of plastic underhood components, modern performance cars will disappear from the road. There must be a demand for items to foster supply, and that demand comes from use. Now, I’m not saying you should go drive your minty ZR-1 daily, but I also don’t think you’re doing it or the hobby any favors by not using it. So take it out when the weather’s nice, or when you just want to hear that LT5 roar. Use it the way it was supposed to be used, and be prepared for it to need things that are hard to find. When it does, you’ll be creating the need and supporting the businesses that support the car, and in the long run, that’ll help the hobby. As for me, I’m pretty tempted by the newest SRT-built Chargers — specifically the Hellcat — but I’m going to stick with my ’06 for the time being. And hopefully, as more owners run into curbs or break brittle plastic connectors, the aftermarket will start picking up the slack where factory parts supplies have dried up. In the meantime, I’m just hoping the Mopar gods have had enough fun with me. A

Page 8

WHAT’SHAPPENING Let us know about your events Do you know of American-car-related events or happenings that we should publicize? Contact us at: American Car Collector, P.O. Box 4797, Portland, OR 97208 or online at comments@ americancarcollector.com. Courtesy of Goodguys Goodguys Nashville Nationals A Goodguys Show is Easy to Find There’s a good chance you live within easy driving distance of a Goodguys show in May or June. Goodguys brings hot rods, muscle and customs to these five huge car shows: The Goodguys 10th Nashville Nationals is at the Tennessee Titans Stadium from May 15 to 17. The Goodguys 22nd Summer Get-Together is at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, CA, from May 30 to 31. The Goodguys 2nd Indy Nationals invades the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis from June 5 to 7. The Goodguys Grundy Worldwide Insurance 23rd East Coast Nationals fires up the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, MA, from June 12 to 14. The Goodguys/Speedway Motors First “Day at the Hay” rolls into the Haymarket Entertainment District in Lincoln, NE, on June 27. All these gearhead parties include 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.com Bloomington Gold Moves to Indianapolis Bloomington Gold lights up at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway — yes, the site of the Indy 500 — from June 24 to 27. Bloomington Gold was at the University of Illinois campus in Champaign, IL, for the past two years, but it’s on to Indy for 2015. Laps around the Brickyard are on the menu this year, so bring your Corvette! This is the 43rd year of this long-running Corvette show, and thousands of Corvette lovers flock in each year. This is the place 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, and there are driving tours and much more. www.bloomingtongold.com 10 AmericanCarCollector.com Carlisle for GM and Ford GM and Ford fans can agree on one big thing: Carlisle, PA, is the place to be in June. Carlisle Ford Nationals runs from June 5 to 7, and Carlisle GM Nationals takes over the sprawling grounds from June 26 to 28. As you’d expect, both 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.comA

Page 10

CROSSINGTHE Upcoming auctions (Images are courtesy of the respective auction houses unless otherwise noted) BLOCK by Tony Piff Star Car: 1963 Shelby 289 Competition Cobra, CSX2011, the first Cobra racing car sold to the public, at RM Sotheby’s Fort Worth, TX May Collector Car Productions When: May 1–3 Where: Toronto, ON, CAN Last year: 191/279 cars sold / $3.5m More: www.collectorcarproductions.com VanDerBrink — The Egelseer Collection Where: Hustisford, WI When: May 2 More: www.vanderbrinkauctions.com RM Sotheby’s — The Andrews Collection When: May 2 Where: Fort Worth, TX Silver Auctions — Spokane 2015 Where: Spokane, WA When: May 6 More: www.silverauctions.com Auctions America — Auburn Spring Where: Auburn, IN When: May 7–9 Last year: 629/760 cars sold / $18.9m Vicari — Cruisin’ Nocona Where: Nocona, TX When: May 7–9 More: www.vicariauction.com Last year: 106/220 cars sold / $3.2m Featured cars: • 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible. Completely restored from top to bottom (Auctions America estimate: $120k– $150k) Featured cars: • 1932 “Khougaz Lakes Roadster”: This historically significant hot rod was clocked at 141.95 mph on the dry bed of El Mirage Lake in 1949 (RM Sotheby’s estimate: $300k–$375k) • Star Car: 1970 Dodge Hemi Challenger R/T. Well equipped and immaculately restored ($340k–$380k) More: www.auctionsamerica.com • Star Car: 1963 Shelby 289 Competition Cobra, CSX2011, the first Cobra racing car sold to the public and one of three factory competition examples ($2m–$2.6m) More: www.rmauctions.com 12 AmericanCarCollector.com • 1938 Packard Eight cabriolet. One-off Swiss coachwork by Graber. Best in Class winner at the 2011 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance ($1.4m–$1.8m) • 1937 Packard One-Twenty convertible sedan. Restored in 1996 and still with less than 300 miles ($80k–$100k) Mecum Auctions — Original Spring Classic Where: Indianapolis, IN When: May 12–17 Last year: 924/1,420 cars sold / $38.1m Featured cars: • 1969 Dodge Hemi Coronet R/T with 4-speed and Super Track Pack • Two 1958 Chevrolet Corvette 283/290 convertibles More: www.mecum.com • Star Car: 1970 Plymouth Hemi Superbird, documented with broadcast sheet Star Car: Immaculately restored and well-equipped 1970 Dodge Hemi Challenger R/T at auctions america auburn Spring

Page 12

CROSSINGTHEBLOCK Electric Garage — 8th Annual Premier Collector Car Auction Where: Calgary, AB, CAN When: June 12–14 More: www.theelectricgarage.com Silver Auctions Where: Williston, ND When: June 13 More: www.silverauctions.com Star Car: 1970 Plymouth Hemi Superbird, documented with broadcast sheet, at Mecum Indianapolis Dragone — Spring Auction 2015 When: May 30 Where: Westport, CT More: www.dragoneclassic.com Dan Kruse Classics — MidlandOdessa Classic Car Auction Where: Midland-Odessa, TX When: May 30 Last year: 113/193 cars sold / $3m More: www.dankruseclassics.com Specialty Auctions — Summer in Douglas County When: May 30 Where: Castle Rock, CO More: www.saaasinc.com Bonhams — The Greenwich Concours d’Elegance Where: Greenwich, CT When: May 31 Last year: 97/104 cars sold / $7.9m More: www.bonhams.com JuNe Mecum — Seattle 2015 Where: Seattle, WA When: June 5–6 Last year: 321/603 cars sold / $15.3m More: www.mecum.com Leake — Tulsa 2015 Where: Tulsa, OK When: June 5–7 Last year: 413/596 cars sold / $10m Featured cars: • 1916 Stutz Model 4C Special Bulldog, one of few surviving examples with original factory body More: www.leakecar.com 14 AmericanCarCollector.com • Star Car: 1970 AMC Javelin SST Mark Donohue Edition. “Big Bad Orange” example with full leather interior, restored to factory specs More: www.russoandsteele.com VanDerBrink — The Auto Gallery Museum Liquidation Where: Spring Grove, IL When: June 6 More: www.vanderbrink.com Motostalgia Auctions d’Elegance — Inaugural Brickyard Auction Where: Indianapolis, IN When: June 12 More: www.motostalgia.com Russo and Steele — Newport Beach Where: Newport Beach, CA When: June 5–7 Featured cars: • 1970 Pontiac Trans Am • 1990 Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1. Driven just 95 miles and still on MSO Raleigh Classic Where: Raleigh, NC When: June 19–20 More: www.raleighclassic.com Twin Cities Auctions — Back to the ’50s Where: Saint Paul, MN When: June 19–20 More: www.twincitiesauctions.com Silver Auctions — Car d’Alene Auction 2015 Where: Coeur d’Alene, ID When: June 20 More: www.silverauctions.com Mecum — Denver Where: Denver, CO When: June 26–27 More: www.mecum.com Southern Classic — 14th Annual Muscle Car Mayhem Where: Murfreesboro, TN When: June 27 More: www.southernclassicauctions.com VanDerBrink — Automania Classic Vehicle Consignment Auction Where: Brandon, SD When: June 27 More: www.vanderbrink.comA • Star Car: 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz convertible, restoration by Bud Ward Star Car: 1959 Cadillac eldorado Biarritz convertible, restored by Bud Ward, at Leake Tulsa, OK

Page 14

Publisher’s Note Keith Martin Island Concours d’Elegance in Florida — widely considered to be one of the two top car shows in the U.S., alongside Pebble Beach in August. At most formal concours such as Amelia, cars are judged by how true to original their restorations are. In fact, when a Corvette is judged by the National Corvette I Restorers Society (NCRS), points are taken off if a car is too perfect. For instance, vintage Corvettes were known to have had overspray on their intake manifolds due to sloppy engine-painting procedures. If a car is restored and doesn’t have overspray, it is downgraded in the judging. Hot rods and customs live in a different world. At the Roadster Show, I was struck by the quality of the paint and chrome, as well as the fit of the body panels. When you are building the custom of your dreams, you can make the paint any shade of any color you want. You can two-tone your car, and you can add some metalflake if you wish. The paint can be deep and lustrous beyond a manufacturer’s wildest expectations. With door, hood and trunk fit, you are essentially putting those elements together from scratch, so you can make them perfect. Further, there is little chance that the doors will have to open and shut hundreds of times a year, so you don’t have to make them robust enough to withstand daily wear and tear. They can be fragile and have shut lines that any restorer would envy. I enjoy looking at and judging authentic restorations, where crafts- men see just how close to original spec they can make a car. But when it comes to seeing stunning paint and perfect construction techniques, give me a rod and custom show every time. A Rodders Know How to Make It Shine ’ve just returned from the 60th annual Portland Roadster Show at the Portland Expo Center. There were three large halls filled with very nicely presented cars. They ran the gamut from full customs, to rat-rods, to accurate, authentic restorations. Earlier in the month, I was a judge at the 20th annual Amelia CAR COLLECTOR Volume 4, Number 3 May-June 2015 Publisher Keith Martin executive editor Chester Allen editor Jim Pickering Art Director Dave Tomaro Digital Media Director Jeff Stites editor at Large Colin Comer auctions editor Tony Piff Senior associate editor Chad Tyson Copy editors Yael Abel, Dave Tomaro auction analysts B. Mitchell Carlson Kevin Coakley Pat Campion Dale Novak Adam Blumenthal Michael Leven Cody Tayloe Joe Seminetta Contributors Carl Bomstead Colin Comer John Draneas Michael Pierce Jay Harden Mark Wigginton Information Technology Brian Baker Lead Web Developer Scott Correy SeO Consultant Michael Cottam advertising and events Manager Erin Olson Financial Manager Cheryl Ann Cox Print Media Buyer Wendie Martin aDVeRTISING SaLeS advertising executives Darren Frank darren.frank@AmericanCarCollector.com 877.219.2605 x 214 Cindy Meitle cindy.meitle@AmericanCarCollector.com 877.219.2605 x 213 Steve Kittrell steve.kittrell@AmericanCarCollector.com 877.219.2605 x 211 SuBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions Manager Sarah Willis Subscriptions 877.219.2605 x 1 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., M–F service@AmericanCarCollector.com 503.253.2234 fax @AmericanCCMag CORReSPONDeNCe Phone 503.261.0555 Fax 503.253.2234 General P.O. Box 4797 Portland, Oregon 97208 Fedex/DHL/uPS 401 NE 19th Street, Suite 100 Portland, Oregon 97232 email help@AmericanCarCollector.com Feedback comments@AmericanCarCollector.com Web www.AmericanCarCollector.com Travis Shetler Jack Tockston Mark Moskowitz Phil Skinner John Boyle Doug Schultz Pierre Hedary B. Mitchell Carlson Ken Gross Tom Glatch John L. Stein Marshall Buck Dale Novak AMERICAN JOIN US Nothing shines like a well-done custom 16 AmericanCarCollector.com American Car Collector magazine (ISSN# 2164-1323) is published bimonthly by Automotive Investor Media Group, 401 NE 19th Street, Suite 100, Portland, OR 97232. POSTMaSTeR: Send address changes to American Car Collector, PO Box 4797, Portland, OR 97208. The information in American Car Collector magazine is compiled from a variety of reliable sources. However, we disclaim and deny any responsibility or liability for the timeliness, use, interpretation, accuracy and completeness of the information presented. All material, data, formats, and intellectual concepts in this issue © 2015 by American Car Collector, LLC, Automotive Investor Media Group, Inc., and Automotive Investor in this format and any other used by American Car Collector magazine. Copyright registered with the United States copyright office. PRINTED IN USA Keith Martin's

Page 16

GOODREADS by Mark Wigginton Pontiac GTO 50 Years: The Original Muscle Car by Darwin Holmstrom, photos by David Newhardt, Motorbooks, 224 pages, $37.42 (Amazon) Ronny & The Daytonas had a hit single in 1964 with “G.T.O,” selling a million records celebrat- ing the launch of America’s first muscle car. “Turn it on, wind it up, blow it out GTO” indeed. But the car and the band, both successful, were less than authentic marketing creations: Ronny & The Daytonas were a “surf” band formed in Nashville, while the GTO was Pontiac’s parts-bin hot-rod Hail Mary to rescue the brand. Pontiac, best known at the time for grandma cars, was headed for the dustbin when “Bunkie” Knudsen took over in the late ’50s. Surrounding himself with maverick car guys like John DeLorean and Pete Estes, Knudsen looked to rebrand Pontiac by going racing, winning with stock cars and on the drag strip. But the AMA ban on factory-supported racing in 1957 threatened his progress. Knudsen had a solution: If you can’t take street cars racing, then put race cars on the street. Thus was born American muscle, with Knudsen and the boys slamming a Tri-Power big-block 389 into a rebadged Tempest and unleashing the marketing department. Units flew out the door — nearly 33,000 in ’64 — topping out in ’66 with more than 96,000 sold. In Pontiac GTO 50 Years, the story is well told by author and Motorbooks editor Darwin Holmstrom, who weaves the oft-told tales into a readable narrative with more than a hint of attitude. Here’s his take on the death of Tri-Power carbs: “In part to attempt to mollify Nader’s minions (not realizing that this fanatical group wouldn’t be mollified until everyone on Earth was transported in rainbow-colored foam cocoons powered by fairy dust), multiple carburetion was killed on every passenger car except Chevrolet’s Corvette for the 1967 model year.” Pontiac GTO 50 Years is filled with that kind of detail and attitude, which makes it a wonderful read for the passionate or uninitiated. PARTSTIME by Chad Tyson QuickTime Bellhousings QuickTime just added 20 new applications to their impressive (250-strong) high-performance lineup. If anybody has the precisionmade bellhousing you are looking for, it’ll be QuickTime. Chevy LS to T56 with or witho Check. Left-hand starte Ford 5.0/5.8 or Chevy sm block? It’s available. These steel bellhous ings are rated at 80,000 psi but are among the lightest in the industry. Spun-cone construction offers dimensional stability not found in rolled or stamp components. This ensur these made-in-the-U.S.A correctly align the engin and transmission to redu drivetrain wear and tear Visit www.lakewoodindus- tries.com to find your application by using the Bellhousing Selector tool available there. Prices start at $598.95. 18 AmericanCarCollector.com Lineage: Holmstrom is both a car and motorcycle author, as well as being a senior editor at Motorbooks. He knows his way around an interview as well as the keyboard, and it shows. Fit and finish: Nicely designed, nicely printed, Drivability: Late-’60s high school for me and full of new and old images, period advertising and detail shots, in the Motorbooks style. was all about underpowered English sports cars, not American muscle. So the GTO and brethren were not the objects of my desire. But I found Holmstrom’s history of the car a welcome addition to my knowledge base, especially the story of the passionate people who made it happen. A good read. is best New products to modernize your street machine Classic Industries 1955 Chevrolet Parking Lamps It’s been over 60 years since the first shoebox Chevys peeled out from Detroit. Their overall design appears as stylish as ever, but odds are the pot metal and plastic pieces fared about as well as the lacquer paint after a gasoline spill. Fortunately, plastic and metal are easier to replace than paint. Classic Industries just released reproduction parking lamps for 1955 Chevrolets. They feature mirror-like chrome plating and come with all of the hardware, gaskets and wiring for you to install in no time. Click by classicindustries.com or call 1.855.35.PARTS (72787) to order.

Page 18

COOLSTUFF One-handed jump-box At less than a pound and hardly bigger than a paperback novel, the Cyntur Jumperpack Mini punches way above . It’s rated back jumpe SafeJump s prevent rse-charg- rrent. n a built-in hlight and B jack for rging your ne. $99.99 om www. cyntur. com Now you cookin’ with gas This V8-st propane grill looks great in t garage betwee your tool ches air compresso you take it out fire it up and c lid, smoke exi the realistic he $699.97 from www.summitracing. com COOLSTUFF COOLSTUFF COOLSTUFF COOLSTUFF COOLSTUFF COOLSTUFF COOLSTUFF COOLSTUFF COOLSTUFF COOLSTUFF COOLSTUFF One-handed jump-box At less than a pound and hardly bigger than a paperback novel, the Cyntur Jumperpack Mini punches way above STUFF One-handed jump-box At less than a pound and hardly bigger than a paperback novel, the Cyntur Jumperpack Mini punches way above . It’s rated back jump- e SafeJump s prevent rse-charg- rrent. n a built-in hlight and B jack for rging your ne. $99.99 om www. cyntur. com Now you cookin’ with gas This V8-st propane grill looks great in t garage betwee your tool ches air compresso you take it out fire it up and c lid, smoke exi the realistic he $699.97 from www.sum- mitracing. com it’s it’s also one of the cheapest. You’ll want to check your local laws, but in Oregon, at least, automatic knives are legal to carry as long as they’re not concealed. Get the Lightning in limited-edition orange at www.bladehq.com Suit up f grilling Get it? M most iconi clever. $21 www. zazzle. com by Tony Piff Double-duty phone case Do you use your smartphone for navigation or music while driving? The built-in clip on the Zuna Drive case grabs your dashboard vent, putting the screen right where you can see it. No more ugly plastic brackets, and no more worrying t mounting s or sives. 99 OLSTUFF One-handed jump-box At less than a pound and hardly bigger than a paperback novel, the Cyntur Jumperpack Mini punches way above . It’s rated back jump- e SafeJump s prevent rse-charg- rrent. n a built-in hlight and B jack for rging your ne. $99.99 om www. cyntur. com Now you cookin’ with gas This V8-st propane grill looks great in t garage betwee your tool ches air compresso you take it out fire it up and c lid, smoke exi the realistic he $699.97 from www.sum- mitracing. com it’s also one of the cheapest. You’ll want to check your local laws, but in Oregon, at least, automatic knives are legal to carry as long as they’re not concealed. Get the Lightning in limited-edition orange at www.bladehq.com Suit up f grilling Get it? M most iconi clever. $21 www. zazzle. com by Tony Piff Double-duty phone case Do you use your smartphone for navigation or music while driving? The built-in clip on the Zuna Drive case grabs your dashboard vent, putting the screen right where you can see it. No more ugly plastic brackets, and no more worrying t mounting s or sives. 99 a. a. com DESKTOPCLASSICS by Marshall Buck 1963 Corvette Sting Ray convertible The second-generation Corvette’s design has stood the test of time. It’s still great, and I still want one. This wonderful model by Spark has a perfectly shaped body. Excellent paint finish is complemented by good-quality chrome — all where it should be. There is no shortage of fine and ac- curate detailing throughout. Many separate parts adorn the body, such as multicolored crossed-flag emblems, delicate wipers, hood grilles, door handles and more. The black interior with red carpets features a delicate multi-piece deep-dish steering wheel, chrome- trimmed dash, console and doors. The dash also has chrome bezels and well-done gauge faces. Get rid of that heavy, too-thick antenna, and you have a superb model. 20 AmericanCarCollector.com Detailing Scale: 1:43 Available colors: Red Quantity: Estimated 750 to 1,000 Price: $80 Production date: 2014 Web: www.motorsportsminiatures. com Ratings Detailing: Accuracy: Overall quality: Overall value: is best

Page 20

SNAPSHOTS Museum Goes Truckin’ THE LEMAY—AMERICA’S CAR MUSEUM SHOWCASES 67 YEARS OF THE FORD F-SERIES PICKUP 1956 full custom in orange metallic Story and photos by Jack Tockston T hrough June 2015, The LeMay—America’s Car Museum in Tacoma, WA, is featuring the 67-year evolution of Ford’s F-series — the best-selling full-size rig for the past 38 years. Billed as “The Truck that Grew Up with America,” the display showcases 22 of these light haulers from 1948 to the pres- ent, ranging from stock examples through full custom trucks. In support, the museum built several “sets” with period artifacts and memorabilia to enhance the story of the truck series by era. Combined, they tell the story of how the F-series began as a basic agricultural tool and evolved into today’s versions for work, recreation, performance and luxury. My personal favorites include a beautifully restored ’48 F-1 that was once a plumber’s truck, and a show-stopping ’56 full custom in brilliant orange metallic. There’s also a ’51 Ford F-1 Ranger 4x4 that was one of 54 converted in period to four-wheel drive by Marmon-Herrington and fitted with a coachbuilt body by Siebert — 11 are known to still exist. A 2000 F-150 SVT with supercharged engine and 140-mph top end helps fill the performance category. And for luxury, there’s a loaded black 2015 F-150 with its controversial high aluminum content. Though the F-series show will run through June 2015, consider visit- ing between March 27 and June 30 to take in an additional display called “Route 66: Dream of the Mother Road,” which focuses on vintage station wagons. This is timely, as there’s an emerging interest in these family haulers in today’s market. On July 9, the museum will replace the F-series exhibit with a new feature spotlighting American muscle, which will relive the era’s performance battles on track and street between AMC, Chrysler, Ford and GM. And don’t forget the next annual Pacific Northwest Concours d’Elegance will be held September 13 on the museum’s manicured 3.5-acre show field. All these events offer a sensory overload of eye candy, so bring your appetite.A a colorful assortment of early-model customs 1948 F-1 22 AmericanCarCollector.com 2008 Saleen

Page 22

SNAPSHOTS Car Season Kickoff THE 41ST ANNUAL CORVETTE AND HIGH PERFORMANCE MEET GETS CAR GUYS — AND GALS — REVVED UP IN THE NORTHWEST Five buildings full of cars, parts and 900-plus booths. What more could you want? Story and photos by Jack Tockston associated industries. Five large buildings of the Washington State Fairgrounds Events Center in Puyallup, WA, held it all. Whether you’re into hot rods, customs, drag cars, road racing, off- D roading or just posing, there’s always a raft of new ideas, products or services to choose from here. The Showplex building’s 85,000 square feet offers 900-plus booths, where new and used parts, services, parts cars, whole cars and more abound. For example, if you’re building a Mopar 426-ci Hemi engine, I noticed a “never used” NOS Cross Ram manifold complete with carbs and air cleaners here for just $480. The Pavilion Building always houses “by invitation only” displays of Corvettes, hot rods, muscle and custom show cars on cushy carpet. uring the first weekend in February, a “Pineapple Express” dropped a downpour on the Pacific Northwest. But rain didn’t deter thousands from attending one of the West Coast’s largest and earliest annual gatherings, kicking off the coming year for enthusiasts, professionals and A perimeter of booths for marque and racing clubs surrounds the cars, ready to welcome you into their folds or just invite you to chat about cars. It’s also where Classic Reflections Coachworks of Tacoma shows off their products — the latest retro-looking Corvettes. You may have seen their incredible work, transforming a C5 or C6 into a look-alike carbon-fiber C1 or C2 with all the modern handling and conveniences. A lot of car guys wonder what initiatives would help attract younger enthusiasts to join and sustain our auto passion. With that goal in mind, the Expo Hall always has the Next Generation exhibit, containing rows of vehicles shown by young enthusiasts getting their feet wet in our hobby. I expected impressive rides by high-school students, but, to be eligible to enter a car here, you had to be a “youngster” under 40. And for toddlers, valve-cover races were offered complete with loaners and a high-tech tilted track with win lights. The 42nd annual two-day event will be in February 2016, and it’s worth checking out — even if it’s raining pineapples. A There’s plenty to see besides Corvettes 24 AmericanCarCollector.com a modern take on a classic

Page 24

INSIDER’S VIEW Safety First? The ACC question: Do you feel safe in your old car, and if not, what should you change to make it safer? Readers respond: Jimmy, via email: I’m not particularly concerned with the lack of nannies or airbags in my older vehicles. What scares me are the drivers in (mostly) newer cars. Between an apparent complete lack of how a car works/handles, and texting/lecturing kids/reading, etc., many of today’s drivers probably shouldn’t be driving — anything. Back when accelerators actually could stick, we didn’t have people killing themselves en masse because of it. They also didn’t frequently run into storefronts and buildings in general. Well, you get the point. Gary Meadors, Founder and Chairman of the Board, Goodguys Rod & Custom Association: Here’s my two cents from a guy who drives any one of my pre-’73 cars daily, most years racking up 15,000-plus miles in them: Update ’em with as much and as many safety items as you can without messing up the look of the car… steering, brakes, suspension, etc., and give them enough power to keep up and pass when needed in today’s traffic. Most stock cars of the ’20s through the ’40s are slow accelerating, slow stopping and lack the quick handling that is oftentimes needed in today’s heavy-traffic areas. Of course, cruising in the country and in small towns is not a problem. The most important thing to remember is: Ya gotta drive ’em! So get in, gas up and go! John Vervoort, via email: I drive a ’31 Ford Town Sedan and have added necessary safety equipment to give me peace of mind. Dual taillights are required to increase safety, and an LED third brake light on the back window makes me visible to people on the road. Halogen headlights ensure good visibility, especially compared with original equipment. Safety glass and seat belts are a must-have item to keep you safe and seated in an emergency. The original biasply tires tend to wander all over the road, so I keep a close eye on the inflation. Still wired for six-volt positive ground, but I added modern points and an alternator for reliability. The most important safety feature is located in the six inches between my ears. I do a quick walk around to visually inspect the car each and every time I take it out. It only takes a second. I enjoy driving my old vehicle the way it was meant to be driven. It’s not a modern car — it requires my full attention and senses. Dave, via ACC Blog: I’ve owned a ’66 Shelby GT350 H for over 26 AmericanCarCollector.com John Hollansworth Jr., courtesy of Mecum Auctions 20 years, and I drive it as much as my collector car insurance allows. Per Shelby specs, it has “better” (i.e., greater control and response) brakes, springs and suspension geometry than a stock ’66 Mustang (even a GT). I’ve also upgraded the “driver” tires to modern radial, low-profile performance tires. I remember how ’60s bias-ply tires drove, handled and stopped, and I’d only put something that inadequate on this car for show purposes. While it has the stock Shelby three-inch lap belts, I’d feel better “It is our responsibility as owners of old cars to make them as safe as technology and our budgets allow” with five-point harnesses, but that’d mean upgrading the seats (and installing a harness bar) to work with the harnesses, and I’m preserving a 95%-plus original interior. A BIG yes on defensive driving, both attitudes and (practiced) maneuvers; a good defensive/low-traction driving class can do wonders to raise a driver’s capabilities to compensate for both the idiocy of other drivers out there and for any mechanical “deficiencies” of an older vehicle. John Trimarco, Continental Auto Sports, via email: If all the safety features, brakes, steering, etc., are rebuilt, you should be fine. Do they stop as well as a modern car or truck? Probably not! You do not have to drive fast to enjoy it — at 65 mph the doors shake, as do the fenders and hood, But that’s what makes it fun. John Kapp, West Mifflin, PA: I feel safer because my old cars have steel bumpers, not plastic bumpers. Plus I drive a lot slower in them than I do in my daily driver. I want everyone to see my ’69 SS Camaro and ’70 SS Chevelle, not a vehicle that looks like everyone else’s. Robbie Redner, via email: I have a couple of old drum-brake cars. For safety, I upgraded the brakes and the tires to new periodcorrect radials, installed seat belts and basically made sure everything was working correctly before really hitting the road. Doing this made me feel much more secure. The extra few hours and dollars were well worth it. Also, I continue to sharpen my “oldcar skills,” i.e. braking early, looking 10 cars ahead — sixth sense alerted — and the loose nut behind the wheel adjusted. Only issues occur when people stare too long at the cars while driving, and start to drift towards me. That’s when that sixth sense really pays off. Tark Milans, via email: I feel safe in my car as long as I’m not in Crowdsourcing an answer to your queries To be on the mailing list for next month’s question, go to AmericanCarCollector.com and sign up for our biweekly newsletter.

Page 26

INSIDER’S VIEW a lot of traffic. What would I change? Just my location, to get the heck out of this congested area. Norman Mcleod, via email: You asked if driving an older vehicle was as safe or safer than driving a newer one, and the simple answer is YES IT IS. Naturally, you have to go over the vehicle to make sure that any part that is worn out is replaced. Then create and follow a strict maintenance program. If you’re concerned about safety, the aftermarket has a huge selection of options that will satisfy your concerns. The aftermarket also offers many choices of parts either to update your car and riding experience or to return it to factory appearance. Either way, you win. In an older car, you feel the road and become part of the car and the driving experience. Sure, every little bump in the road may come through the steering wheel or up your spine, but that’s what driving is all about. Depending how old the car is, either you reflect to your younger driving days or maybe even earlier, as a passenger in a family vehicle. And the best part about driving an older vehicle is seeing everyone around you give you the thumbs-up or ask you a bunch of questions about what you have. I think everyone should have this experience at least once in life. Joel Highsmith, Shoshoni, WY: I live in a town of approximately 700 people. I am pretty safe driving around here. When I travel to the big city of Riverton, WY (population of approximately 10,000), I do have some concerns. My biggest worry is in parking lots. Some people do not respect other people’s property. I do feel safer driving with a group. People are more aware of the group usually than a single car. Always be on the lookout for the unexpected when driving your classic. Three years ago we were caught in a storm, and some debris was blown into the road and it struck my car. About $15k in damage was done. Insurance covered the repairs, but it brought to my attention the possible hazards out there. B., via email: Valium is the answer to feeling safe in my husband’s old cars! Ever wonder why the women sit in lawn chairs under umbrellas at car shows? It’s because we have to take Valium to cope with the anxiety brought on by the words “Let’s take a little ride.” It’s not so much the car as the other drivers. We have been boxed in, surrounded by gawkers hanging out of their cars to take pictures of the cars. Even drivers hang out of windows with their cell phone cameras. The cars are sure nice to look at, but not so much fun to ride in. My husband loves his vintage cars. I love my big new Explorer! Scott Nelson, Whitehouse Station, NJ: A few years ago, I had a Triumph GT6 — basically a coupe version of the Spitfire. I was at a busy intersection and the person next to me was driving an Escalade while talking animatedly on her cell phone. I don’t think she even realized I was there, and I couldn’t help think, all she would have to do to crush me would be to turn her steering wheel a little too much. I doubt she would even have realized that she hit me. From that moment on, I never felt comfortable in the GT6. The secret truth is, driving it actually frightened me. I sold it a few months later. I had an almost identical car years ago and never felt at risk. So what changed? I’m older now, with a family that counts on me. But it’s more than that. Many of the cars and SUVs people are driving are bigger and heavier than in the past, and as such are capable of causing a small vintage car more damage in an accident. New cars are also safer, and I notice some people driving with an attitude of invulnerability. Certainly distracted driving is a huge problem. There is a solution, or at least a partial solution. I’d like to see vintage and specialty car clubs never deduct points at car shows for modifications that were performed with the intent of making an old car safer. That means upgraded brakes, better seat belts and harnesses, brighter headlights and more. I would even go so far as to say that it is our responsibility as owners of old cars to make them as safe as technology and our budgets allow. We should do it for ourselves, but also for the people we have as passengers in our cars and the people with whom we share the road. If technology can make our old cars safer — and we know it can — why on earth shouldn’t we take advantage of it? A Comments with your subscription renewals We love to hear from our readers, and here’s what some of you had to say when you re-upped your subscriptions. Thank you! Keep doing what you’re currently doing! Excellent magazine! — Andrew Cain, Biloxi, MS Cover ALL auctions and ALL cars sold! — S.C.P. Olkowski III, Lancaster, PA We can’t cover every car sold in our print edition, but you can find more in our ACC Premium Auction Database. Check it out at www.AmericanCarCollector. com. — Jim Pickering More back-page col- lectibles. — Norman Forgit, Hanson, MA Don’t change a thing! — Jim Wells, Evansville, IN Include more info/articles about older stock American 28 AmericanCarCollector.com cars. — Mark A. Thomas, Birmingham, MI It is just a great magazine, period! — David Wilkins, Bedford, MA Show “correct” way to restore select cars, i.e. ’69 Z/28, engine compartment, undercarriage, etc. Am sure many readers like myself like to work on their own cars, not just market info. Mag is great. — Joseph Gabard, Chapel Hill, TN Nothing before 1950, for crying out loud! — Ward Witkowski, Marietta, GA More older stuff, 1900–25. — Mark Thomas, Birmingham, MI More “lower-value” cars, “drivers,” “needs restoration.” Great magazine! — John Wm. Moeller, Tucson, AZ Longtime reader. Congrats on your continued success. — Lon Walters, Sedona, AZ Best writing team in the history of auto journalism HANDS-DOWN. — David Moore, Covington, LA How about a monthly reader column titled “I Wish I Hadn’t Sold It.” A brief story with a photo of a car the reader wishes he/she had kept. — Brooks Esser, Menlo Park, CA Great idea, Brooks. We’ll look at that for a future issue. — JP I really enjoy the page that shows auction results for auto collectibles. Some more results on collectibles for autorelated would be great. I really enjoy the quality print of magazine. — Roger Schmitz, San Jose, CA More ’Vettes sales, recent models C6-C7. — Angel Cruz, San Juan, Puerto Rico How about an ACC Mystery Photo? — Daniel Faustman, Elk Grove, CA Do an article about rare trucks, 1947–54 (Chevrolet) — David Franco, Los Angeles, CA No suggestions so far. Loved the coverage of the Lambrect auction. Keep up the great job. — Lloyd Clemans, Battle Ground, WAA

Page 28

FEATURESIX TO WATCH MARKET MOVERS LOOKING FOR AN INVESTMENT? THESE CARS HAVE SEEN SOME OF THE BIGGEST INCREASES IN AVERAGE PRICES OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS by Chad Tyson W hat should buyers be buying? That’s a q hear a lot here at ACC — especially wit market, a lot of available cars and more b sellers than ever before. Everyone want in when that classic Camaro or Mustang i cheap and ride the wave to the top. Crunching data is a big part of what ACC does. Every single American car reported sold from auctions here in the U.S. and abroad gets entered into our Premium Auction Database, enabling us to watch pricing trends as they happen. If you want to know how L71 Corvettes have done in the market over the past five years, or if Mustang 428 CJs are seeing a boost in value this year, our database can tell you. The last year has seen a lot of growth in the collecto car market in general, but certain models have done mu better than others. Here’s a look at some of the hottest p formers by the numbers, and how well they’ve done. 1970–71 Plymouth Hemi ’Cuda convertible King of the hill before the market crash in ’08 and king of the hill again. Well, they never really left, as se offered many of them at auction in recent years — only t since 2013. The latest ACC Pocket Price Guide update showed an increase of more than 30% — $1.6m, up from $1.2m in summer/fall 2014. Really, we were a little behind o kind enough to point out via pr But that’s part of a printed gui shifting market. Most 1969–71 H Mopars experienced similar jumps in value (percentage wise) over the same time period. Mopar equals mo’ money, once again. It will be interesting to see if any other Hemi E-body convertibles mak to public auction this year. I’m b at least one of the 30 built will s again, especially since Mecum s in Seattle last June for a record $ High sale: $3,780,000 — Seattle, WA; June 2014 Low sale: $1,320,000 — Barrett-Jackson; Scottsd January 2013 30 AmericanCarCollector.com 1971 Plymouth Hemi ’Cuda convertible, sold for $1,320,000 in 2013 1971 Plymouth Hemi ’Cuda convertible, a high seller in 2014 at $3,780,000

Page 29

BY THE NUMBERS 1964 Chevrolet Impala convertible The ’64 is the automotive equivalent of a blank canvas. Whether you like these dropped on Daytons or at stock height on bias-ply tires, there is a style for everyone. Lincoln-Zephyrs are the only other model I can think of that share similarly high values regardless of stock or custom configurations. Average values for ’64s have trended up for several years now. The early 2015 average ($81k) is definitely askew and will come down — that number is buoyed by a post-recession high sale at Barrett-Jackson in Scottsdale, where a ’64 SS 409 convertible went for $126,500. However, at Leake’s Oklahoma City sale, another sold for $57,750, so I expect the strong sales trend to continue. High sale: $126,500 — Barrett-Jackson; Scottsdale, AZ; January 2015 Low sale: $1,313 — VanDerBrink; Pierce, NE; September 2013 1964 CHEVROLET IMPALA CONVERTIBLE $100k $80k $60k $40k $20k 0 $33,839 2012 $39,457 2013 2014 2015 $80,850 $44,312 BY THE NU THE NUMBERS 1964 Chevrolet Impala convertible The ’6 UMBERS 1964 Chevrolet Impala convertible The ’64 is the automotive equivalent of a blank canvas. Whether you like these dropped on Daytons or at stock height on bias-ply tires, there is a style for everyone. Lincoln-Zephyrs are the only other model I can think of that share similarly high values regardless of stock or custom configurations. Average values for ’64s have trended up for several years now. The early 2015 average ($81k) is definitely askew and will come down — that number is buoyed by a post-recession high sale at Barrett-Jackson in Scottsdale, where a ’64 SS 409 convertible went for $126,500. However, at Leake’s Oklahoma City sale, another sold for $57,750, so I expect the strong sales trend to continue. High sale: $126,500 — Barrett-Jackson; Scottsdale, AZ; January 2015 Low sale: $1,313 — VanDerBrink; Pierce, NE; September 2013 1964 CHEVROLET IMPALA CONVERTIBLE $100k $80k $60k $40k $20k 0 $33,839 2012 $39,457 2013 2014 2015 $80,850 $44,312 May-June May-June 2015 31 AVERAGE PRICE

Page 30

FEATURESIX TO WATCH 1956 Packard Caribbean conver A trend is emerging here — drop-tops are i one or two gents at different concours and sh are the best post-war Packards made. The val that sentiment, as no other post-war Packards a at six-plus figures. This was ultimately Packard’s last hurrah as the company failed to recapture market share in the post-war selling boom. After this model, we were left with the Packardbakers, and shortly thereafter, nothing at all. We’ll have to look past the one sold this year thus far — a $49,500 sale at Hollywood Wheels’ Amelia Island auction. However, the 2014 average was much stronger than the pre vious several years. Mecum sold one in Dalla last September for a recent high of $162,000. We may not see that high price matched this y but the overall rising trend should continue. High sale: $162,000 — Mecum; Dallas September 2014 Low sale: $41,518 — RM; Nysted, Den $100k $120k 1973–77 Chevrolet pickups You might have noticed a certain green and white truck slammed to the pavement on the cover of our last issue (ACC #20). The price was a cool $45k. According to the ACC Premium Auction Database, there is nothing hotter in the pickup segment than an early, customized square-body. And it makes sense, as these trucks have all the same characteristics that made the earlier GM trucks popular: good looks, simple powertrains, and bare-bones utility with some creature comforts. Only a few of these trucks have come up for sale through the first quarter of the year, which seems odd. Do current owners just not yet see the value in bringing these trucks to public auction? Examples that have crossed the block have averaged nearly $24k each in early 2015, so I’m willing to bet we’ll see more soon. High sale: $45,100; Barrett-Jackson; Scottsdale, AZ; January 2015 Low sale: $300; VanDerBrink; Bismarck, ND; June 2012 1973–77 CHEVROLET PICKUPS $25k $30k $20k $15k $10k $5k 0 $8,345 2012 SIX TO WATCH 1956 Packard Caribbean conver A trend is emerging here — drop-tops are i one or two gents at different concours and sh are the best post-war Packards made. The val that sentiment, as no other post-war Packards a at six-plus figures. This was ultimately Packard’s last hurrah as the company failed to recapture market share in the post-war selling boom. After this model, we were left with the Packardbakers, and shortly thereafter, nothing at all. We’ll have to look past the one sold this year thus far — a $49,500 sale at Hollywood Wheels’ Amelia Island auction. However, the 2014 average was much stronger than the pre vious several years. Mecum sold one in Dalla last September for a recent high of $162,000. We may not see that high price matched this y but the overall rising trend should continue. High sale: $162,000 — Mecum; Dallas September 2014 Low sale: $41,518 — RM; Nysted, Den $100k $120k 1973–77 Chevrolet pickups You might have noticed a certain green and white truck slammed to the pavement on the cover of our last issue (ACC #20). The price was a cool $45k. According to the ACC Premium Auction Database, there is nothing hotter in the pickup segment than an early, customized square-body. And it makes sense, as these trucks have all the same characteristics that made the earlier GM trucks popular: good looks, simple powertrains, and bare-bones utility with some creature comforts. Only a few of these trucks have come up for sale through the first quarter of the year, which seems odd. Do current owners just not yet see the value in bringing these trucks to public auction? Examples that have crossed the block have averaged nearly $24k each in early 2015, so I’m willing to bet we’ll see more soon. High sale: $45,100; Barrett-Jackson; Scottsdale, AZ; January 2015 Low sale: $300; VanDerBrink; Bismarck, ND; June 2012 1973–77 CHEVROLET PICKUPS $25k $30k $20k $15k $10k $5k 0 $8,345 2012 $23,847 $23,847 SIX TO WATCH 1956 Packard Caribbean conver A trend is emerging here — drop-tops are i one or two gents at different concours and sh are the best post-war Packards made. The val that sentiment, as no other post-war Packards a at six-plus figures. This was ultimately Packard’s last hurrah as the company failed to recapture market share in the post-war selling boom. After this model, we were left with the Packardbakers, and shortly thereafter, nothing at all. We’ll have to look past the one sold this year thus far — a $49,500 sale at Hollywood Wheels’ Amelia Island auction. However, the 2014 average was much stronger than the pre vious several years. Mecum sold one in Dalla last September for a recent high of $162,000. We may not see that high price matched this y but the overall rising trend should continue. High sale: $162,000 — Mecum; Dallas September 2014 Low sale: $41,518 — RM; Nysted, Den $100k $120k 1973–77 Chevrolet pickups You might have noticed a certain green and white truck slammed to the pavement on the cover of our last issue (ACC #20). The price was a cool $45k. According to the ACC Premium Auction Database, there is nothing hotter in the pickup segment than an early, customized square-body. And it makes sense, as these trucks have all the same characteristics that made the earlier GM trucks popular: good looks, simple powertrains, and bare-bones utility with some creature comforts. Only a few of these trucks have come up for sale through the first quarter of the year, which seems odd. Do current owners just not yet see the value in bringing these trucks to public auction? Examples that have crossed the block have averaged nearly $24k each in early 2015, so I’m willing to bet we’ll see more soon. High sale: $45,100; Barrett-Jackson; Scottsdale, AZ; January 2015 Low sale: $300; VanDerBrink; Bismarck, ND; June 2012 1973–77 CHEVROLET PICKUPS $25k $30k $20k $15k $10k $5k 0 $8,345 2012 $23,847 $94,828 $94,828 $113,400 $80k $60k $40k $20k 0 2012 2013 2014 2015 $63,800 $49,500 $12,408 $6,043 2013 2014 2015 AVERAGE PRICE AVERAGE PRICE

Page 31

1993 Ford Mustang SVT Cobr Here at ACC HQ, we’ve been watching Fox-body Mustangs closely, as we expect values on certain models to take off soon. T rare performance variants of any model tend t be valued most by collectors, so here we’ll k our focus on the ’93 Cobra — the first Spec Vehicle Team creation. Auctions America set the high-water ma (and threw off the otherwise ascending aver August 2013 with a $46,750 Cobra R sale. N was one of just 107 Cobra Rs Ford produced f those have sold publicly since 2012. But the “regular” SVTs have been climb than 13% over the 2014 average. Since there w they’re far more likely to show up for sale. I fered has increased each year since 2012. W 2015 holds for these Fox bodies, but I anticip age from even more cars than in 2014. Fun f the price is now at the original MSRP ($21,578). How many other 1993 vehicles can claim the same? High sale: $46,750 — Auctions America; Burbank, CA; August 2013 Low sale: $10,500 — Mecum; Kissimmee, FL; January 2012 Ford Mustang SVT Cobr Here at ACC HQ, we’ve been watching Fox-body Mustangs closely, as we expect values on certain models to take off soon. T rare performance variants of any model tend t be valued most by collectors, so here we’ll k our focus on the ’93 Cobra — the first Spec Vehicle Team creation. Auctions America set the high-water ma (and threw off the otherwise ascending aver August 2013 with a $46,750 Cobra R sale. N was one of just 107 Cobra Rs Ford produced f those have sold publicly since 2012. But the “regular” SVTs have been climb than 13% over the 2014 average. Since there w they’re far more likely to show up for sale. I fered has increased each year since 2012. W 2015 holds for these Fox bodies, but I anticip age from even more cars than in 2014. Fun f the price is now at the original MSRP ($21,578). How many other 1993 vehicles can claim the same? High sale: $46,750 — Auctions America; Burbank, CA; August 2013 Low sale: $10,500 — Mecum; Kissimmee, FL; January 2012 $30k $30k rd Mustang SVT Cobr Here at ACC HQ, we’ve been watching Fox-body Mustangs closely, as we expect values on certain models to take off soon. T rare performance variants of any model tend t be valued most by collectors, so here we’ll k our focus on the ’93 Cobra — the first Spec Vehicle Team creation. Auctions America set the high-water ma (and threw off the otherwise ascending aver August 2013 with a $46,750 Cobra R sale. N was one of just 107 Cobra Rs Ford produced f those have sold publicly since 2012. But the “regular” SVTs have been climb than 13% over the 2014 average. Since there w they’re far more likely to show up for sale. I fered has increased each year since 2012. W 2015 holds for these Fox bodies, but I anticip age from even more cars than in 2014. Fun f the price is now at the original MSRP ($21,578). How many other 1993 vehicles can claim the same? High sale: $46,750 — Auctions America; Burbank, CA; August 2013 Low sale: $10,500 — Mecum; Kissimmee, FL; January 2012 $30k $29,125 $29,125 $25k $20k $15k 1991 GMC SYCLONE $35k $40k $30k $25k $20k $15k $5k $12,812 N/A 2012 2013 2014 2015 $39,996 $10k 0 2012 $12,670 2013 2014 2015 $20,243 $21,600 $23,225 1991 GMC Syclone The Syclone is quite possibly the best one-year wonder GM ever made. GMC churned out 2,995 Syclones in 1991, which means there are enough of them out there to be pretty well known, but they’re also relatively hard to find. I’m not the only one who thinks these are cool. The 2015 average s a mere three years ago — $23,225 h higher, however. In September , someone shelled out $66k for ro Special Editions. Again, tang SVT Cobr Here at ACC HQ, we’ve been watching Fox-body Mustangs closely, as we expect values on certain models to take off soon. T rare performance variants of any model tend t be valued most by collectors, so here we’ll k our focus on the ’93 Cobra — the first Spec Vehicle Team creation. Auctions America set the high-water ma (and threw off the otherwise ascending aver August 2013 with a $46,750 Cobra R sale. N was one of just 107 Cobra Rs Ford produced f those have sold publicly since 2012. But the “regular” SVTs have been climb than 13% over the 2014 average. Since there w they’re far more likely to show up for sale. I fered has increased each year since 2012. W 2015 holds for these Fox bodies, but I anticip age from even more cars than in 2014. Fun f the price is now at the original MSRP ($21,578). How many other 1993 vehicles can claim the same? High sale: $46,750 — Auctions America; Burbank, CA; August 2013 Low sale: $10,500 — Mecum; Kissimmee, FL; January 2012 $30k $29,125 $25k $20k $15k 1991 GMC SYCLONE $35k $40k $30k $25k $20k $15k $5k $12,812 N/A 2012 2013 2014 2015 $39,996 $10k 0 2012 $12,670 2013 2014 2015 $20,243 $21,600 $23,225 1991 GMC Syclone The Syclone is quite possibly the best one-year wonder GM ever made. GMC churned out 2,995 Syclones in 1991, which means there are enough of them out there to be pretty well known, but they’re also relatively hard to find. I’m not the only one who thinks these are cool. The 2015 average s a mere three years ago — $23,225 h higher, however. In September , someone shelled out $66k for ro Special Editions. Again, rett-Jackson; rett-Jackson; Las Vegas, NV; 4 le: $9,000 — Mecum; e, FL; January 2012A May-June 2015 33 AVERAGE PRICE AVERAGE PRICE

Page 32

Cheap Thrills B. Mitchell Carlson L SMALL BOX uxury in a THE LINCOLN VERSAILLES IS WORTH MORE THAN ITS REAR AXLE — IF BARELY of the 1973 OPEC oil embargo and inroads made in sales of European sports/luxury cars forever changed what most Americans wanted from an upscale automobile. One of those things was T size. No longer did “bigger is better” rule the day. To achieve some semblance of fuel economy, the luxo-barges needed to go on a diet. While this was occurring, another unserved market segment was beginning to emerge: Drivers (primarily women) who desired traditional American luxury started to want a smaller, more maneuverable car. Big players think smaller Cadillac’s 1975½ Seville was GM’s first small luxury car, based on the Chevy Nova platform. It proved there was a market for a smaller luxury sedan, and buyers were willing to pay a premium for it. The Seville had the highest MSRP of any Caddy. Lincoln wasn’t going to let the Seville go uncontested. In something of a crash development program for mid-1977, Lincoln introduced the Versailles — its first small car. Relics of a simpler age: The introductory ad campaign for the Versailles in mid-1977 featured the car parked in the Windows of the World restaurant in New york City’s World Trade Center GM styling did a reasonable job hiding the Seville’s Nova origins, but the Versailles wasn’t so lucky. It looked like a Ford Granada or Mercury Monarch with a Continental Mark V grille hung on the front and “Continental” tire hump on the trunk lid. But Ford made a concerted effort to have industry-leading build quality and quality control on these cars. Of course, that wasn’t too tough a job in the late 1970s. The Versailles was the most expensive Lincoln. Initially, it had 34 AmericanCarCollector.com he 1970s saw the greatest changes in the history of the American luxury car. The combination an MSRP of $11,500 ($336 more than a Continental). By 1980, it was priced similarly to the all-new Continental and was even thousands less than the new downsized Mark IV. However, that MSRP ballooned to $14,576, thanks to Jimmy Carter’s devalued dollars. At introduction, the only engine available was the 2-barrel 351 Windsor, aside from California cars, which had a 302. From 1978 on, the 302 became the one and only engine. In the Versailles, the 302 was the first Ford equipped with the Motorcaft variable Venturi 2-barrel carburetor — the worst carburetor in Ford’s history. 1979 saw a new rear roofline in two trim levels. Standard was Town Car style and optional was a fauxconvertible carriage-roof style — both heavily padded with a stainless hoop trim. In each case, the upper roof panel was extended by eight inches to the rear. It went over well with the buying public, as 1979 saw the most sales from the 3½ years of production. Minimal changes for 1980 were trim-related. The Versailles ushered in several engineering firsts for Ford and the U.S. auto industry. Overall, this was the first use of clear coat/base coat paint on a domestically built car at introduction, as well as the first car to have halogen headlights in 1979. Firsts for Ford included Electronic Engine Controls (EEC-1) and four-wheel disc brakes. Death by rear axle That disc-brake rear axle is what led to the premature demise of the greatest number of Versailles in later years. Not that there was a problem with it. No, it was actually a great unit based on the bul

Page 33

letproof nine-inch rear end. But it was a hot disc-brake conversion for Mustangs, AMCs and any number of street rods. During the years when the Versailles was a cheap used car, it was very common to buy a whole car for under a grand, pull the rear end, and then junk the rest — even if it was a low-mile Grandmamobile. More and better disc-brake Detailing Year produced: 1977–80 Number produced: 50,126 Original list price: $11,500 Current ACC Valuation: $4,000–$8,000 Tune-up cost: $300 Distributor cap: $12 VIN location: Lower driver’s side of the windshield and body ID tag on the driver’s post Engine # location: Stamped on the lower portion of the block near the bellhousing Clubs: Lincoln & Continental Owners Club More: www.lcoc.com Additional: www.lincolnversailles. com Alternatives: 1982–86 Lincoln Continental, 1975–82 Ford Granada / Mercury Monarch, 1975–79 Cadillac Seville ACC Investment Grade: D rear ends are now commonplace, but the Versailles is still a junkyard magnet because of that rear housing. It’s utterly predictable — you’ll see one of these in a yard with a good body, minty interior, and the tail end up in the air with the axle hacked out of it. Because of that, whole running Versailles are now fairly rare cars. They are also now appreciated for several of the reasons they were when new: traditional luxurycar trimmings in a compact package. What to look for and what to avoid For a driver, the best bet is either a ’77 with the 351 or a 1979, with a greater choice of colors and before the interior fittings started getting cheaper Sorry, Buffy, your 1980 Versailles still looks like a pimpedout Granada in 1980. Like any Yank Tank, avoid restoration projects like the plague, since there’s just too much Unobtanium trim and outdated electricals in them. Even if you find an otherwise nice original that had the rear axle pulled, I’d still avoid it, since you’ll be slugging it out with the AMX guys on eBay for the rare rear axle that surfaces out of a wrecked street machine. Hold out for a Little Old Lady special, as they still surface out of estates — and for not a whole lot of money. Thanks to an uptick in garish 1970s Land Yachts, these have started to move up the pricing food chain. Versailles also tend to be better appreciated in commensurate car club circles than Sevilles, mostly since the former were axed after 1980, not to suffer the indignity of odd styling mood swings and horrid build quality like the later Sevilles. So, give the Versailles some credit where credit’s due. No matter what your automotive vice is, this car can likely cater to it — in pieces or whole. A May-June 2015 35

Page 34

Horsepower Colin Comer FLYING BLIND Avoid MAYBE CLASSIC-CAR BUYERS CAN LEARN SOMETHING FROM THE STRUCTURED WORLD OF AIRCRAFT PRE-PURCHASE INSPECTIONS engine and transmission. Most of the important parts were present, and the body and chassis were in good shape. Obviously, I wasn’t able to run or drive the vehicle, pull off the wheels and check the brakes or suspension components, remove air cleaners to check date codes on carburetors, do a leakdown test on the engine, or anything more invasive than opening a door or trunk. Even more challenging, this was a “feature car” kept roped off at the event and guarded by a security team that seemed wholly unimpressed by bidders’ credentials. However, I did discover they eventually reach the end of their shift, and shortly after that, I jumped the rope with my flashlight. Still, there was only so much of a true PPI I could perform in an auction tent. So what to do? Well, I made a list No small task — note the five technicians on this aircraft PPI it comes to buying collector cars. It used to be nobody would buy a used car without having a C mechanic look it over thoroughly. After all, it has been said the most honest person on Earth becomes a crook the moment they slide that “For Sale” sign across a dashboard. And while that certainly isn’t true, I’ve seen a lot of good people sell cars they knew had issues. Hey, sellers, sins of omission are still sins, just so you know. So why do we skip proper PPIs on cars? After all, many cost nearly as much as, or more than, our homes. Maybe it’s because our hand is forced in many cases, such as a car that is in high demand, or at an auction where it is impossible to do a proper mechanical PPI. Or maybe it’s because buying the car we’ve always dreamed of is an emotional purchase, compared with the cold, harsh reality of buying something practical like a place to live. Whatever the case, let’s take a look at two different PPIs I was involved with recently. The Cobra behind the ropes I recently inspected a 427 Cobra for a customer at an auction. I re- searched the history of the car and confirmed it had its original body, 36 AmericanCarCollector.com Roped-off Cobra 427s present an inspection challenge onsumers tend to be pretty savvy these days. We do our research online, read reviews and shop for the best price to confirm we’re not getting ripped off. And that’s just for a new toothbrush. But I bet we’re all guilty of what I call “acting in haste and repenting in leisure,” especially when of everything that I could see that needed improvement and told my customer — along with the caveat that this was a car clearly restored for this auction with no miles on it. We simply assumed there would be a bunch of sorting needed to bring the car to his standards and deducted that anticipated cost from our bid limit. In spite of this car coming from a well-known dealer/collector’s shop, we later found it was indeed a restoration done with no attempt to make anything function. In fact, the car wasn’t even roadworthy upon our purchase. Thankfully, we budgeted for a large amount of

Page 35

this needed work. So remember, no matter who the seller is, how good the descrip- tion is, or how “dialed in” or expensive the restoration is supposed to be, always budget for the unknown because all you can inspect on a car at an auction or in a seller’s garage is body and paint, documentation, and numbers — that doesn’t assess mechanical fitness by any stretch. From wheels to wings Now, to illustrate the difference between PPIs in the old-car world versus the world of vintage aircraft, I was recently looking at a seemingly flawless example of an almost 40-year-old airplane. Buying an airplane is far different from buying old cars. Typically, a price is negotiated, and then an Offer to Purchase is drafted with all the terms of the deal. Money is placed in escrow and a PPI is arranged at a qualified shop, with transportation of the plane to this location spelled out in the offer — as in who will fly it, who will pay for fuel, etc. The plane is flown for at least an hour, and every function and accessory is tested. From there, the entire plane is disassembled as needed to assess the airframe and all systems. It typically takes around 80 hours of mechanical labor just for the physical inspection. While the mechanics are checking every nut and bolt, another person is tasked with reviewing the aircraft’s logbooks. They cover every repair, maintenance operation and incident the aircraft has had since new. Now, since logs are not always complete — sometimes on purpose — they are compared with the aircraft to see if the story matches the pictures. While this is going on, the FAA is called on to provide a detailed “337” report, which shows any major damage history and proves re- quired airworthiness directives have been complied with. A complete title search is also ordered. At this point, the buyer is on the hook for many thousands of dollars to inspect a plane he or she might very well not purchase. However, considering you are looking at something that could potentially kill you, or even just kill your wallet (for example, an overhaul of a simple air-cooled engine can exceed $40,000), a good PPI makes sense. Case in point: The plane I just did this to looked perfect, flew perfectly, but in the end flunked its PPI. The main reasons for the failing grade were inconsistencies between the log books and the condition of the airframe, and the title search discovering the plane’s undisclosed former life as an air ambulance. So I followed my gut and canceled the deal, deciding against getting the answers to certain questions (Ah-ha! I knew the tail was replaced!) whilst plummeting to my death. Know what you’re getting The moral of these stories? Do a complete PPI when you can, no matter what you are buying. When you can’t, don’t forget to do your homework and also budget for unknown issues. Also keep in mind the type of car you are looking at and the potential cost of any hidden needs. The cost of a bunch of repairs won’t turn a good deal into a bad one on a Cobra, but finding out your LS6 convertible is a fake sure will. And maybe we can all learn something from the structured world of aircraft PPIs: Agree to a price, lock up the deal with a refundable deposit and a contract, and hire an agent and a shop you trust to take their time doing a proper PPI so you really know what you are getting. Whether or not you buy the car, it’ll be time and money well spent.A May-June 2015 37

Page 36

Corvette Market John L. Stein DAREto be RARE IF CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN, THEN OPTIONS DEFINITELY MAKE THE CORVETTE. HERE’S HOW TO GET YOUR RPOS IN A ROW Coolest: Available from 1956 to 1962, the RPO 473 power-operated folding top was surprisingly popular at first, gracing 21% of the ’56 models. From there on its take rate dwindled. Just 2.4% were so optioned in ’62 — the last year for solid-axle ’Vettes. C2 1963–67 Rarest: It’s true, with only 20 built, the 1967 427-ci L88s are rare. Rarer still, in 1963 only 12 Corvettes were equipped with P48 alloy knockoff wheels. But the rarest mid-year option of all is the N03 36-gallon fuel tank of 1967. Only two cars had it. Most Common: Right in the middle of the British Invasion, every- one was listening to radio. An amazing 26,363 Corvettes were built for 1966 with the U69 AM/FM radio. Most desirable: The 1967 L88 remains the holy grail, and this one sold for $3.8m in 2014 A s they say in Corvette chapel, “Rareness is next to Godliness.” Rarity can equate to huge value gains for collector Corvettes, whether that’s due to being a factory prototype, a COPO car, a race or championship winner — or possessing a highly desirable option, such as the 1967–69 L88. But rarity can also bite, for example the relatively low-production 1967–75 vinyl-covered hard tops. As with whoopin doesn’t mean you want it. The newest edition of the long-running by Mike Antonick (www.corvetteblackboo regular production option (RPO) from 195 numbers through 2014. Unless you’re a dat trader, the book might not be of much inter pal Ernie’s second cousin’s ex offers you a n factory tow package, you can verify right n one of 289 sold that year. Here’s a (hopefully) entertaining deep d obscure but crucial world of Corvette RPO C1 1953–62 Rarest: While not technically an option, only seven 1955 Corvettes were built with 6-cylinder engines. Think you found one? There should be no “V” letter in the VIN. There were also thought to be only four black cars built in 1954 — although many hundred survive today. Most Common: When someone boast their 1962 solid-axle has a Posi rear end, you can politely yawn. Exactly 14,232 of th 14,531 Corvettes built for ’62 were so equip 38 AmericanCarCollector.com In 1967, only 16 Corvettes received L89 aluminum cylinder heads for the triple-carb L71 427 engine. This car sold for $124k in 2011

Page 37

another rarity — there are thought to be only four 1954 models that came from the factory clad in black 1963’s P48 alloy wheels — only 12 cars produced Darin Schnabel ©2010, courtesy of RM Auctions Coolest: Just 16 Corvettes received the L89 aluminum cylinder heads for the triple-carb L71 427 engine in 1967. Most Obscure: Everybody knows that ’65 was the year Corvettes got four-wheel disc brakes — a huge performance and safety improvement. But remarkably, 316 ’65 ’Vettes were built with drum brakes, which was a $64.50 credit at the time. C3 1968–82 Rarest: We’re talking Unicorn Zone here, because for the 1969 model year, just two ZL1 aluminum-block L88-engine Corvettes were made, making it the rarest of Corvette engines. Most Common: With demand at historic highs, annual Corvette sales exceeded 40,000 units annually throughout the late 1970s. But the most common option wasn’t anything sexy like alloy wheels or a boombox audio system. It was 1979’s fairly pedestrian D35 Sport Mirrors, which adorned 48,211 ’Vettes that year. Least Desirable: LG4 was the 305-ci 180-horsepower engine required in California during the 1980 model year. If the fifth character of the VIN on that ’80 is an “H,” you’re looking at one of them. C4 1984–96 Rarest: A carryover from the “Smokey and the Bandit” era, the UN8 AM/FM stereo radio with citizens band lasted just two years into the C4 era. Several thousand were sold annually during the late ’70s, but in the last year for the CB option in 1985, just 16 were fitted. Most Common: Aside from the ’84 model’s required 16-inch wheels (RPO QZD), cruise control (RPO K34) was the most popular option of the C4 era, with 49,832 cars so equipped. And because of the ’84’s lengthy on-sale period, it remains the most popular Corvette option of all time. Most Useful: Offered from 1989 to 1993, the V56 luggage rack for the convertible worked great at extending the Corvette’s functionality. What looks cooler than a ’Vette, top down, streaking along an open road with dual suitcases lashed on deck? Nothing. C5 1997–2004 Rarest: Adding “mag wheels” used to be the easiest way to hop up a muscle car. Only they were usually steel or aluminum. But for the 2002 Corvette, 114 customers selected RPO N73 — real magnesium wheels. Today they are the rarest C5 option of all. Most Common: Well, this column just got officially boring. In 2001, 34,907 of the 35,627 Corvettes built had…RPO B34 floor mats! (Which means that 720 “rare” 2001 C5s didn’t.) And like Forrest Gump Luggage racks add utility to the C4s, such as on this 1993 40th anniversary edition May-June 2015 39 mumbled, “That’s all I have to say about that.” Most Yesterday: Smartphones and Bluetooth mean that U1S, the remote 12-disc CD changer offered throughout the C5 generation, has already gone the way of the under-dash record players of the 1950s. C6 2005–13 Rarest: Chevrolet began offering a “customer-selectable VIN” option called PIN in 2011. That year, only four customers ticked that $5,000 box, with only 18 more stepping up for 2012–13. Most Common: Among dozens of options offered throughout the long-running C6 generation, the QG7 polished aluminum wheels were the most popular. In 2005, some 27,080 ’Vettes had ’em. Least Liked: Starting in 2009 and running through 2013, the ZR1’s R8E gas-guzzler tax became a required “option” that nobody wanted but 4,415 buyers got anyway. The penalty ranged from $1,000 to $1,700. C7 2014–15 Rarest: Like a windblown wildfire, somehow the C6’s PIN customer-selectable VIN option has leapt into the C7 generation. But barely — just three out of 37,288 2014 Stingrays have it. Most Common: So far in the C7’s short tenure, the most popular option is UY4, the Chevy MyLink navigation system. Are our mapreading days over? Maybe so, because in the first model year, an amazing 30,427 cars were so equipped. Most Advanced: Available only with the new 2015 Z06 coupe and convertible, the 3LZ equipment package adds a performance data/video recorder to the most blisteringly great Corvette ever. A

Page 38

PROFILE CORVETTE 1971 CHEVROLET CORVETTE RESTO-MOD Sophisticated Sleeper Shark Jeremy Cliff, courtesy of Mecum Auctions A Dart 540 hides under an LS6 decal, and the 5-speed swap is subtle, too. To the extent that any big-block Shark can ever be a sleeper, this one is VIN: 194371S100448 by John L. Stein • Nut-and-bolt frame-off restoration by His Place Inc. in Emmitsburg, MD, in 2009 • 683 miles since completion • 540-ci Dart block engine by Shafiroff Racing • Aluminum intake manifold • Holley double-pumper carburetor • MSD ignition • Dyno tested at 682 hp, 680 ft/lbs torque • Tremec TKO 600 5-speed transmission • 4.11 Positraction • REM coated ring and pinion • Heavy-duty half shafts • Aluminum driveshaft • Headers and stainless exhaust • Power steering • Wilwood master cylinder • Leather interior • Air conditioning • Power windows • 15x8 inch Rally wheels ACC Analysis This car, Lot T236, sold for $73,440, including buyer’s pre- mium, at Mecum’s auction in Kissimmee, FL, on January 22, 2015. Bill Mitchell’s shark-inspired C3 design is aging nicely, with interest in and appreciation for the cars steadily improving. And while Corvette’s third generation has little chance of ever surpassing the ’63-’67 mid-years in value, the 133,449 early chrome-bumper models could eventually draw close — especially the 40 AmericanCarCollector.com 40 AmericanCarCollector.com 427 and 454 big-block cars. That brings us to our subject car — an inventively big-blockized ’71. Based on the auction copy’s lack of reference to either a high-output 350 LT-1 or a 454 of any stripe originally living under the hood, I must assume that this tasteful resto-mod started life hosting the 270-horse base 350 that powered 14,567 of the 21,801 Stingrays produced for ’71. And because it’s silly to throw out an original, matching-numbers drivetrain these days, we might also assume that this car, when it rolled into the restoration shop, may have had either the wrong powertrain or no powertrain at all. Under such circumstances, the owner made a great call in creating an authentic-looking but not-so-stock big-block car wearing LS6 decals. The reason? Only 188 of the 425-horse LS6-powered Corvettes were built for ’71 — a rare and costly option that became the Corvette horsepower king after the demise of the L88, whose last tire-scorching hurrah was in 1969. Go big or go bigger Given an engine-less, small-block blank-canvas ’71 to work with, what would you do? You could find (and pay the seller’s asking price for) a period-correct 270-horse 350 and a matching tranny and put this Shark back to bone stock. Doing so would result in a best-case value of $40,000 if the original car had air conditioning, according to the latest ACC Pocket Price Guide. Considering the purchase price of the donor car and all that would go into executing such a faithful resto, there wouldn’t be much more than a

Page 39

COLLeCTOR’S ReSOuRCe: You can easily track a car’s value over time with the aCC Premium auction Database, featuring more than 125,000 American cars searchable by year, model, VIN and more. Sign up for just $59 at www.americanCarCollector.com! Detailing Club: National Corvette Restorers Society sliver of profit — if any at all — at trail’s end. That’s why following the “liberal arts” path was much smarter here. For probably no greater investment, the restorers created a fine-looking big-block car with performance rivaling or surpassing an original L88, thanks to the frame-twistingly powerful 540inch motor. And combining a low axle ratio together with a 5-speed gearbox (which no production Corvette ever had) probably gives an ideal mix of knockout acceleration along with comfortable highway cruising. It’s all very tastefully done, and with a subtle 5-speed transmission gate pictograph next to the shift lever and an LS6 Turbo-Jet 454 air-cleaner decal, it might actually fool casual Corvette fans. To the extent that any big-block Shark can ever be a sleeper, this one is. An intelligent approach In terms of the overall build, the restorers used an uncommon degree of restraint on this project — a welcome deviation from resto-mods festooned with 18and 19-inch bling wheels, nonstandard paint, slammed ride height, and fuzzy-dice interior appointments. The oversize 15-inch white-letter BFGs — slightly larger in the rear — add a subtle bit of attitude compared with the stock F70-15s, without being egregious. And sticking with stock-looking wheels helps further. The chrome-bumper Sharks changed the silver paint specs nearly every year (from Silverstone Silver in ’68 to Cortez Silver in ’69–’70, and from Nevada Silver in ’71 to Pewter Silver in ’72), so it’s hard to say whether the restorers went to any pains to mimic the ’71’s actual Nevada Silver paintwork. But it does look period enough, adding to the appeal. Inside, the interior also appears stock and tidy, with fresh-looking leather upholstery and carpeting and nice bright trim. The only possible variation noted was that the seating pleats on early ’71s ran fore-aft, whereas they are lateral on this low-VIN, earlyproduction ’71 model (it was built in August 1970). But this isn’t an NCRS candidate, and the lateral-pleat seats look better anyway. Likewise, the silver-on-black color combination is impossible to quarrel with, compared with potentially more polarizing options such as Ontario Orange over dark green. Everybody wins Seeing the appeal clearly, Mecum set the pre- auction estimate at $55,000–$75,000, and the winning price of $73,440 indeed landed right at the high end of that range. The price achieved surpasses most other C3s in the ACC Pocket Price Guide, and even surpasses the top values for some of the base mid-years, which nowadays is a pretty strong benchmark. All things considered, I’d suggest that the builder made pretty good decisions here and was well rewarded for his vision and execution. And the buyer got a wonderfully presented kick-ass car with an interesting little Cinderella story to go with it. While I’m predisposed to dislike resto-mods, fakes and clones, due to the tasteful execution here, I’m actually envious of this one. Well built, well bought, and well sold. A (Introductory description courtesy of Mecum Auctions.) Years produced: 1971 Number produced: 14,680 Original list price: $5,496 Current ACC Valuation: $40,000–$80,000 Tune-up cost: $500–$600 Distributor cap: $35 VIN location: Plate on lower left windshield pillar Engine # location: On block in front of right cylinder head (Dart blocks have numbers stamped in front of block) More: www.ncrs.org Alternatives: 1964 Corvette 327/300 coupe, 1968 Corvette 427/435 L71 coupe, 1968 Camaro Z/28 ACC Investment Grade: B Comps 1969 Chevrolet Corvette 427/435 coupe Lot 516, VIN: 194379S716443 Condition: 2Sold at $60,480 Silver Auctions, Fort McDowell, AZ, 1/17/2015 ACC# 257126 1971 Chevrolet Corvette 454/365 coupe Lot 1556.1, VIN: 194371S109784 Condition: 2 Sold at $44,000 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ, 1/15/2013 ACC# 214923 1968 Chevrolet Corvette custom 427/435 convertible Lot 1058 VIN: 194678S423530 Condition: 3 Sold at $88,000 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ, 1/12/2008 ACC# 51930 May-June 2015 41CC 41

Page 40

PROFILE GM Full-Size Performance 1967 CHEVROLET IMPALA SS 427 Ford, Mercury, Chrysler and Pontiac all offered full-size performance cars. But the SS 427 had something they didn’t: the heart of a Corvette VIN: 168877U126126 by Tom Glatch • 427-ci engine • 4-speed transmission • 12-bolt rear end • Power steering • Power brakes • Dual exhaust • Detailed engine compartment • Royal Plum with black vinyl top • Black bucket seat interior • Console • Factory gauges • Rally wheels • Redline tires • Owner’s manual ACC Analysis This car, Lot T198, sold for $54,000, including buyer’s pre- mium, at Mecum’s Kissimmee, FL, auction on January 22, 2015. The 1967 Chevrolet Impala SS 427 takes living large to a whole new level. At just under 18 feet long, it will barely fit in a contemporary garage. Its gracefully sweeping fastback roof must have set some kind of record for its length. Even under the hood, the massive 427 big-block V8 seems lost. This is not your typical American performance car by any means, and cars of this size are not for everybody. But the Impala SS 427 was hardly unique for its time. Bigger is better As strange as the concept of a full-size performance car may seem, most manufacturers offered one in 42 AmericanCarCollector.com the mid-to-late-’60s. Ford offered its big Galaxie in “7-Litre” form, with most propelled by the powerful 428 V8 and some fitted with the full-race R-code 427 “Side-Oiler.” Mercury had the same complement of powerplants in its Monterey models. Chrysler never succumbed to installing a Hemi in the full-sized Plymouth Fury or Dodge Monaco, but some of the same 440 engines found in Mopar’s muscle cars were available. And at GM’s performance division, Pontiac’s giant Bonneville and pre-1969 Grand Prix were as large as Impalas, and many were powered by the 428 V8s that GTO and Firebird owners wished they could have had from the factory. All of these decidedly masculine coupes were perfect for the family man who still needed that big V8 kick. None of them, though, had the heart of a Corvette. The Super Sports The Chevrolet Super Sport concept that became so popular on Camaros, Chevelles and Novas in the later ’60s actually got its start as a trim package on the ’61 Impala. Impala Super Sport models could be ordered with the 409 big block in ’61, the Mark IV 396 in early 1965, and the 427 starting in 1966. These cars were at the top of the Chevrolet passenger-car pecking order, offering space, style and plenty of performance. While the 427 engine was available in Chevrolet’s 1966 lineup, the SS 427, offered as its own model under the RPO Z24, was all-new for 1967. The 1967 brochure proclaimed: “SS 427 — for the man who would buy a sports car if it had this much room.” Indeed, this car had room to spare. Five could sit very Carol Duckworth, courtesy of Mecum Auctions

Page 41

COLLeCTOR’S ReSOuRCe: You can easily track a car’s value over time with the aCC Premium auction Database, featuring more than 125,000 American cars searchable by year, model, VIN and more. Sign up for just $59 at www.americanCarCollector.com! Detailing Original list price: $4,906 Current ACC Valuation: $50,000–$65,000 Tune-up/major service: $150 Distributor cap: $22.58 VIN location: Plate on driver’s side instrument panel behind windshield Engine # location: Stamped on pad on passenger’s side of engine block, ahead of cylinder head Years produced: 1967–69 Number produced: 2,124 (1967) Club: National Impala Association comfortably in the expansive interior, and the trunk looked like it could swallow a VW Beetle whole. But the real magic was under the hood, where a version of the Corvette’s L36 was the heart of the SS 427 package. Rated at 385 horsepower, it produced just five fewer ponies than it did in the Corvette. As 427 Chevy engines go, it’s as mild as any to come out of the Tonawanda engine plant. But its 460 lb-ft of torque propelled the beast impressively. “Here is a Chevrolet with the most advanced mobile creature comforts currently available in combination with performance which was, until very recently, reserved for drag strip specials,” wrote Car Life magazine in its December 1967 issue. “It may well be the ultimate average car — the status symbol for Everyman — at least for the duration of 1967.” They found the “ride was good, handling fair to good, braking barely passable, and the acceleration/ speed exciting.” They saw 0–60 in 8.4 seconds, and the quarter mile in 15.75 seconds — amazing for a 4,280-pound projectile. Of course, they also saw 9.5 mpg, but with premium gas at around 27 cents a gallon, who cared? Rare then, rare now At a price of over $5,000 new — about as much as a 390-hp Corvette — the Impala SS 427 was never a big seller. Just 2,124 were sold in 1967, with another 1,778 in ’68. 1969 was the end of the road for the SS 427, and buyers responded by ordering 2,455 of them. In a company as high-volume as Chevrolet, the SS 427 was a surprisingly small player, but among those who have owned them, they’ve earned a very devoted following. Of course, Chevrolet could have installed any of the higher-output Corvette engines in the SS 427, as big-block engine dimensions are the same across the board. But in the hierarchy of Chevrolet, the Corvette always stood above all other models as the true flagship of not only Chevrolet, but all of GM. Therefore, the most potent powerplants were typically reserved for Corvettes. I’m not aware of any dealer-installed Impala upgrades from that era, either, like Yenko or Nickey did with Camaros and Chevelles. But somewhere in our feature car’s history, a few modifications were made, including the addition of a later-model Demon Tri-Power induction setup. As good as the factory SS 427 was, more power makes this car a really impressive performer — and the view under the hood is priceless. If you like originality, it’s an easy swap back to stock, assuming the factory intake and carb came with the car. The right money Barrett-Jackson sold an SS 427 in 2006 for $93k (ACC# 40568), but that was an anomaly likely due to a spirited bidding war. Most good SS 427 Impalas from any of the three years of production typically sell for around $50,000–$60,000. That’s less than most ’67 Corvettes but comparable to similar Camaro SS and Chevelle SS cars from that year. Dressed in rare Royal Plum paint and Redlines, with those three deuces under the hood sucking air and fuel at a frightening rate, this is one desirable plus-size coupe. Someone is living large — really large — at about the right price. For the money spent Auctions.) More: www.nationalimpala. com Alternatives: 1966 Ford Galaxie 7-Litre, 1967 Pontiac Bonneville 428, 1967 Mercury S-55 ACC Investment Grade: C Comps 1967 Chevrolet Impala SS 427 Lot S684, VIN: 168877L166557 Condition: 2+ Sold at $51,700 Russo and Steele, Newport Beach, CA, 6/20/2014 ACC# 244407 1967 Chevrolet Impala SS 427 Lot S178, VIN: 168877L130736 Condition: 2Sold at $51,840 here, both buyer and seller should be well pleased. A (Introductory description courtesy of Mecum Mecum Auctions, Kissimmee, FL, 1/17/2014 ACC# 232401 1967 Chevrolet Impala SS 427 Lot 168, VIN: 168877J195096 Condition: 2+ Sold at $56,160 Bonhams, Portland, OR, 6/11/2011 ACC# 179571 May-June 2015 43

Page 42

PROFILE FOMOCO Fresh-Minted Collectible? 2008 SHELBY GT500 CONVERTIBLE Carol Duckworth, courtesy of Mecum Auctions This is for all practical purposes a brand-new car. That means it was basically pickled by its first owner, probably as an investment 44 AmericanCarCollector.com 44 AmericanCarCollector.com VIN: 1ZVHT89S185135500 by Jeff Zurschmeide • One-owner car • 1,025 miles • 500-hp SVT engine • 6-speed transmission • Brembo brakes • Dual exhaust • Red with white GT stripes • Black and red interior • AM/FM CD stereo • Navigation • SVT wheels • Owner’s manual ACC Analysis This car, Lot T189, sold for mium, at Mecum’s 2,400-car Kissimmee sale in Kissimmee, FL, on January 16–25, 2015. The baddest Mustang Ford is no stranger to the world of forced induction. Cars such as the 2003 and 2004 Mustang Cobras and same-era Lightning pickups carried the performance torch for the Blue Oval throughout the early 2000s. So when it was time to build the baddest version of the new-gen Mustang for 2007 — the new Shelby GT500 — the company turned to that tried-and-true Rootstype blower, this time mounted on top of a 5.4-liter V8. $35,100, including buyer’s pre- The result was a shrieking 500-hp top-dog muscle car equally at home racing on the track or running to the grocery store. I drove GT500s when they were new, so I can say with authority that they’re great, usable muscle cars. They have tons of power, but also deliver nimble, eager handling. That makes the GT500 a fantastic overall package for the end-user, and at its release, it became the bar to meet with regard to powerful pony cars in the modern era. No doubt thanks at least in part to the success of the GT500, superchargers have become the power adder of choice among the Big Three in the latest round of the muscle car wars. Chevrolet used one in 2012 on the 580-hp Camaro ZL1, and Dodge came last (but biggest) to the party in 2014 with the launch of the 707-hp Challenger and Charger Hellcat editions. More is better? The GT500 has always been about big power, and that power has gotten bigger over the years. In 2010, the car’s output was boosted to 540 hp, and it was boosted again to 550 hp in 2011. The 2013 and 2014 models produced even more grunt — a tire-shredding 662 horsepower and 631 pound-feet of torque from a new 5.8L V8. Special editions available from Shelby

Page 43

COLLeCTOR’S ReSOuRCe: You can easily track a car’s value over time with the aCC Premium auction Database, featuring more than 125,000 American cars searchable by year, model, VIN and more. Sign up for just $59 at www.americanCarCollector.com! Detailing Club: Shelby GT500 Club, Shelby American Automobile Club American came with engines tuned up even further, with some versions boasting a claimed 1,200 horsepower. Of course, all that power drove interest and sales. From 2007 through the end of 2014, Ford produced 47,996 Shelby GT500 cars. That number accounts for all production — special editions, convertibles and coupes. Such a high production number is good news for the person who would like to own one of these cars down the road — but not so much for the people who paid big premiums to buy one of the first, last or only examples on a showroom floor. Our subject car is a great example why. New-car looks, used-car depreciation The original MSRP for the 2008 Shelby GT500 was $41,930 for the coupe and $46,755 for the convertible. That’s key to this analysis because our subject car is a time-capsule 2008 GT500 convertible with just 1,025 miles on its odometer. Every indication is that this car was carefully stored indoors and is for all practical purposes a brand-new car. That means it was basically pickled by its first owner, probably as an investment. In terms of condition, it doesn’t get much better than this. However, while Mecum estimated that the final sale price of this car would fall between $40,000 and $60,000, the car changed hands for just $35,100. Compare that with the original MSRP, and you’ve got evidence of the typical downward pricing trend associated with instant collectibles — that is, cars that were bought and put away as investments from new. Generally, new-car depreciation drops car values to their lowest levels at about 15–20 years of age before they (maybe) start to move back up. Following that model, we can expect further downward move- ment ahead for this generation of GT500 — a car that’s not even 10 years old yet. Crunching the numbers Okay, so as an investment, the modern GT500 has not yet been a hot performer. But was this one a deal? The numbers suggest that the money here was right on compared with other GT500 sales from the last year. However, most — if not all — of those other cars had higher mileage than our subject car did, and many were the lower-priced GT500 coupes. This car was better in pretty much every way. High production numbers hurt the bottom line here, as does the fact that a lot of these were preserved the very same way this car was. With almost 48,000 cars produced, buyers in the market for one of these have a large number of adult-owned, low-miles, alwaysgaraged, well-kept examples to choose from — and that’s likely to be the case for the foreseeable future. Also, this was an earlier car with the lower-output engine, and that affects pricing somewhat. Within the model history, the 2007–09 cars are and will likely stay the most affordable simply because they have the lowest power rating of the production run. However, while this car may not be rare or have the most desirable specs, I’d say this sale is the definition of well bought. Why? Because the buyer received all the benefits of a new drop-top Shelby while taking 30% off the original MSRP. It’s a great way to buy one. The sad part of the story isn’t that the original owner took the markdown, it’s that he or she can’t have gotten much pleasure out of the car over the past six summers. Let’s hope the new owner doesn’t make the same mistake.A (Introductory description courtesy of Mecum Auctions.) 2009 Shelby GT500 convertible Lot F154, VIN: 2007 Shelby GT500 Lot 2128, VIN: N/A Condition: N/A SOLD at $44,000 ACC# 249646 Engine # location: Tag on driver’s side valve cover Years produced: 2007–14 Number produced: 47,996 Original list price: $46,775 Current ACC Valuation: $30,000–$40,000 Tune-up cost: $400 Distributor cap: $280 (eight plug-mounted coils) VIN location: On driver’s side of dash, visible through windshield More: www.shelbygt500club. com, www.SAAC.com Alternatives: 2003 Ford Mustang Cobra Terminator, 2014 Dodge Challenger Hellcat, 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 ACC Investment Grade: D Comps 2012 Shelby GT500 Lot S30, VIN: 1ZVBP8JS3C5203231 Condition: N/A SOLD at $41,040 Mecum Auctions, Seattle, WA, 6/24/2014 ACC# 255823 Auctions America, Auburn, IN, 5/9/2014 1ZVHT89S595133489 Condition: N/A SOLD at $39,960 Mecum Auctions, Houston, TX, 4/12/14 ACC# 253352 May-June 2015 45CC 45

Page 44

PROFILE MOPAR 1969 DODGE HEMI CHARGER DAYTONA Market-Leading Hemi David Newhardt, courtesy of Mecum Auctions It’s the only known 4-speed car with its original Hemi. Top that off with an airtight story, great provenance, low miles and a Roger Gibson restoration, and we’re talking big money 46 AmericanCarCollector.com 46 AmericanCarCollector.com VIN: XX29J9B412548 by Dale Novak • The lowest-mile, original-engine 4-speed Hemi Daytona documented • 6,435 original miles • Documented with two broadcast sheets • 1970s ISCA show car that wore custom paint • Formerly part of the Otis Chandler Collection • Formerly owned by NFL linebacker Kevin Greene • Professional restoration by Roger Gibson • The first Mopar restored with correct factory markings on the undercarriage • Original 426/425-hp Hemi engine • 4-speed transmission • Power steering and brakes • Vintage photos of the car with custom show paint and before/after restoration ACC Analysis This car, Lot F180, sold for The winged warrior Among car people, the Dodge Daytona and Plymouth Superbird need no introduction. We know them instantly by their long, aerodynamic V-shaped noses and crazy rear wings. While the cars may be entirely unconventional by street car standards, they did revolutionize NASCAR back in the early 1970s. Not only was the Daytona the first stock car to exceed a 200 mph lap time on a closed track, achieved on March 24, 1970, with Buddy Baker at the wheel, Mopar’s winged cars also proceeded to whip just about every other car in the $972,000, including buyer’s pre- mium, at Mecum’s Kissimmee sale in Kissimmee, FL, on January 16–25, 2015. 1970 season, claiming victory in 38 of 48 races. That domination soon led to NASCAR changing the rules to tame the incredibly high track speeds, not only from a safety standpoint, but to level the playing field. Dominance on the track was not necessarily joined by super sales in the showroom. The cars were incredibly hard to sell. The long nose acted as an enormous parking curb feeler — and although the rear wing looked great on a NASCAR track, it was an awkward adornment for everyday street use. Otis Chandler makes his mark You could make a compelling argument that Otis Chandler single-handedly raised the bar on the muscle car world. Chandler was heir to the Los Angeles Times dynasty, and the final member of the Chandler family to serve as publisher — a position he held from 1960 through 1980. He is noted and remembered as a man who revolutionized newspaper publishing, and was one of the most important figures in newspaper history. Chandler also had a love affair with automobiles, and, as a very wealthy man, he could pursue any car he desired. While his tastes were eclectic, he had a passion for the American muscle car, and in the early 1980s, he started to assemble the world’s best collection of American horsepower. Those quests led to some hyper-valuations for special cars. When Chandler discovered a car he wanted, he went after it with the tenacity of a wild bull. Many times the owner of a very special car was contacted several times, with Chandler upping the ante each time until the owner relented and sold him the car. Most of the time, these purchases were done

Page 45

COLLeCTOR’S ReSOuRCe: You can easily track a car’s value over time with the aCC Premium auction Database, featuring more than 125,000 American cars searchable by year, model, VIN and more. Sign up for just $59 at www.americanCarCollector.com! under the radar. Keep in mind, this was before the losion of classic car auctions, and scle car values went through the ers were often many multiples of , and most owners found it very is proposals — especially if the d kids and a stack of bills on the eCTOR’S ReSOuRCe: You can easily track a car’s value over time with the aCC Premium auction Database, featuring more than 125,000 American cars searchable by year, model, VIN and more. Sign up for just $59 at www.americanCarCollector.com! under the radar. Keep in mind, this was before the losion of classic car auctions, and scle car values went through the ers were often many multiples of , and most owners found it very is proposals — especially if the d kids and a stack of bills on the oger oger Gibson restoration h to Roger Gibson, the gentleman r in 1988. His recollection of the r was remarkable. sed the Daytona from Donald ate 1980s for a then-staggering 0 — about three times the value of the e time. The Daytona was dressed l day-two attire, replete with a ld of Wheels paint scheme, chrome ket wheels, and a grafted-on e L88 hood. , Chandler contracted Gibson to e car. As relayed to me by Gibson, d paint scheme and bulging hood ouched, near-perfect 1969 Dodge Hemi Daytona with all its bits and pieces intact. Plus it had little to no miles on it — 5,977, to be exact. Gibson had never restored a Mopar before, so he ventured into the car not knowing what to expect. He stated that the car was simply pristine — the interior was completely original and needed nothing other than new carpet and headliner. He said the dash was perfect and did not need to be taken apart, and the Hemi only needed a few replacement seals. He did replace the trunk pan and, of course, dispatched the L88 hood. The original paint that remained on the car allowed for a perfect color match to the factory copper color. This was also the very first Mopar to have its factory chassis marks replicated in restoration, a practice that is widespread today. When all was said and done, the restoration costs came to a whopping $36,000 in 1988 ($71,000 adjusted for inflation). That sounds entirely reasonable today, but it was a high-water mark back in 1988 for a car that was already in phenomenal shape. The next owner was NFL All-Pro linebacker Kevin Greene, who learned about the car from Gibson in 1995. The price was apparently steep, but Greene, already a good customer of Gibson’s, stepped up and wrote a check for an undisclosed amount — but only after Gibson insisted that he was potentially passing on the best one in the world. As the story goes, Greene loved to drive his cars. That led to this car’s first repair, when he drove over a curb in a Walmart parking lot and damaged the front spoiler. The car eventually ended up in the Wellborn Museum while on loan from Greene after spending some time housed at the Talladega track museum. Gibson says that Greene turned down a two-comma offer in 2006, during the height of the market. Fastforward to 2007/2008 — the car was eventually sold to Tim Wellborn as the market began to soften. Still, Greene deservingly made a tidy profit on the car — about six times what he paid for it — which he attributes to Gibson’s arm-twisting back in 1995. Nuts and bolts Our subject Daytona may be the most original ex- ample in the world. It’s thought to be the only 4-speed car with its original drivetrain. Sure, it was a day-two car that was dressed out in a different color combination at one point in its life, but that’s just what happened to these cars. Owners modified and tweaked them, hung out at speed shops, and spent their week’s pay on performance parts. Originality mattered a lot less than beating the guy next to you on a Saturday night. ACC’s highest recorded sale occurred in 2005 at the Mecum Fall Classic, when a red Hemi Daytona sold for $675,000 (ACC# 39578), near the top of the market. The ACC Pocket Price Guide lists a nice Hemi example at $270,000 to $380,000. That’s a long walk from $972,000. This car is one of only 20 built with a Hemi and a 4-speed, and is perhaps one of 11 that are still in circulation. It’s the only known 4-speed car with its original Hemi under the hood. Top that off with an airtight story, great provenance, low miles and a Roger Gibson restoration — one with nearly all the original parts and sheet metal. It adds up to a very special car that deserves to wind up in a great collection, and at just under $1,000,000, I’m sure it did. Given the fact that Kevin Greene turned down a seven-figure offer during the height of the market boom, and considering the current state of the market, with all the television hype and worldwide attention for the best cars, I’d consider the price paid here reasonable and a fair deal for both Wellborn and the new owner. It’s an irreplaceable example, a benchmark and halo car with a spotless history and unique story — and the high-water mark against which all others will be judged. A (Introductory description courtesy of Mecum Auctions.) May-June 2015 May-June 2015 47 Detailing Clubs: Daytona/Superbird Club Tune-up cost: $150 Distributor cap: $12 VIN location: Top of driver’s side dashboard Engine # location: Stamped in passenger’s side front of block above oil pan rail Year produced: 1969 Number produced: 503 Original list price: $3,993 Current ACC Valuation: $270,000–$380,000 (#2 car) More: www.superbirdclub.com Alternatives: 1968–70 Shelby GT500, 1970–71 Dodge Hemi ’Cuda, 1969–70 Ford Mustang Boss 429 ACC Investment Grade: A (Hemi); B (440) Comps 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona Lot S201, VIN: XX29L9B410769 Condition: 4 Sold at $116,600 Mecum Auctions, Indianapolis, IN, 5/17/2011 ACC# 179388 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona Lot F246, VIN: XX29J9B409075 Condition: 1Sold at $603,750 Mecum Auctions, Indianapolis, IN, 5/23/2007 ACC# 45397 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona Lot Y8, VIN: XX29J9B419443 Condition: 2Sold at $675,000 Mecum Auctions, St. Charles, IL, 10/14/2005 ACC# 39578

Page 46

PROFILE HOT ROD & CUSTOM 1933 FORD “HARRY WARNER” ROADSTER Historic Hidden Treasure Mike Maez, courtesy of Gooding & Company At auction, the handsome Washington Blue ’33 commanded a lot of attention. But would it have brought more if it had been restored as Harry had it? 48 AmericanCarCollector.com VIN: 18263309 by Ken Gross • Well-known So-Cal period hot rod • Featured in Hop Up (1953) and Street Rodder (2003) • Purchased new and modified by Harry Warner • Accompanied by a Wayne 12-port 6-cylinder engine ACC Analysis This car, Lot 134, sold for $242,000, including buyer’s pre- mium, at Gooding & Company’s “The Scottsdale Auctions” on January 17, 2015. Gooding’s pre-sale estimate range on the car was $125,000 to $175,000, and it was offered without reserve. Great history Crack machinist Harry Warner bought this Deluxe Ford Roadster brand new in 1933, just in time to use it on his honeymoon. In 1940, while working at Lockheed Aircraft, he modified the car with a hoppedup ’39 Mercury flathead, Lincoln-Zephyr gears and hydraulic brakes, and a Columbia two-speed rear axle. Harry welded all the frame joints for added stiffness, chopped the windshield two inches, lowered the steering wheel and the seat a corresponding amount, and fabricated a new instrument panel from oneeighth-inch sheet steel to better brace the cowl. In 1947, he acquired the Wayne Manufacturing Company — makers of 12-port cylinder-head conversions for Chevrolet and GMC engines — where he worked with Wayne Horning. Accordingly, Harry modified the firewall in this car, made his own transmission adaptor, and then installed a hot Chevy six with a Wayne cross-flow head. He used the roadster as a rolling test mule, driving it daily and occasionally drag racing it, throughout the ’50s and ’60s. Warner Family Album Harry Warner working on his Wayne 12-porthead Chevy six, as installed in his ’33 Ford roadster. you can see where he had to scoop out the firewall to fit the longer Chevy mill

Page 47

COLLeCTOR’S ReSOuRCe: You can easily track a car’s value over time with the aCC Premium auction Database, featuring more than 125,000 American cars searchable by year, model, VIN and more. Sign up for just $59 at www.americanCarCollector.com! Detailing Year produced: 1933 Number produced: 4,223 DeLuxe V8 Roadsters (126 Standard V8s) Tune-up/major service: $350 (estimated for an Ardun) VIN location: Stamped on the left front frame rail Engine # location: Cast into bellhousing (flathead) Current ACC Valuation: $200,000–$300,000, (this car, depending on equipment) Historic photos show the Wayne-head-equipped Stovebolt installed. A rounded section was carved into the firewall to accommodate the longer engine, which was modified to full-race specs with a 3-carb manifold packing triple Zeniths, cast-iron three-into-one headers, Spalding dual-coil ignition, a Winfield SU1A cam, Harry’s own pistons, and a drilled crank with GMC rods. In a Hop Up feature in March 1953, the author stated the Chevy developed 162 hp at the rear wheels at 4,500 rpm and topped 90 mph on the quarter-mile strip at Pomona. No displacement was given, but in Street Rodder’s June 2003 issue, tireless researcher Chris Shelton said that Harry was using a new 261-ci truck block by the mid-1950s. The more things change... Harry developed a DOHC head for Chevy sixes, but it would have been very expensive to produce and to buy, and only three were made. Seeing the light, in the 1960s Harry installed a built-up 283-ci Chevy V8, a ’50 Ford Overdrive transmission and an Olds rear end. By that time, the roadster had gone from black to red to a Pontiac green hue. Harry retired the roadster in the 1970s, and after his death in 1982, his son Dan acquired the car. Bill Swanson of La Canada, CA, who’d admired the ’33 for years, bought it and began a restoration with Art Fernandez, who did all the metal work. Pete Eastwood sorted out the chassis, added hairpin wishbones and a tubular dropped axle, and reinstalled a ’39 3-speed with a Lincoln-Zephyr close-ratio first/second gear cluster. Departing from the ’33’s long 6-cylinder history (although it did have a flathead Merc V8 for years), Swanson installed a 292-ci Mercury block with Ardun OHV heads and a triple manifold from Ken Austin. He then trimmed the car in maroon leather, leaned back the windshield posts, and Lynn at Thornton’s Top Shop did the canvas honors. When Harry had the car, he ran both headers into a single straight pipe with a lakes plug that exited at the rear, and he built a clever bypass, controlled by a lever at the dash, which flowed into a second tailpipe that featured a built-in muffler. During Swanson’s restoration, which took nine years, a conventional dual exhaust system with lake plugs was built for the car. The reckoning I was at Barrett-Jackson in 2003 when Tom Cantrell bought this ’33 for $156,000 — a lot of money at the time. Respecting the roadster’s early history, Tom later acquired a Wayne 12-port 6-cylinder engine, May-June 2015 49 and he offered that motor, along with Harry’s original modified steel dash and its vintage gauges, when the car sold in January at Gooding for a heady $242,000. Parked in front of the Gooding & Company tent, the handsome Washington Blue ’33 commanded a lot of attention. But would it have brought more if it had been restored as Harry had it? A look at our comparisons suggests the answer is yes. The price difference of $86,000 less commission represents a decent profit after 12 years of Cantrell’s ownership, and considering the car’s previous history, current condition, and the extra mill, it was a good deal for both the seller and the buyer at the price bid. This is Harry Warner’s car all right, but there’s precious little of Harry’s history left in it. And therein lies the problem. What’s next here? Do you keep this “historic” roadster the way it is — a lovely, wellsorted restoration with a healthy Ardun — or do you re-restore it back to look the way Harry built it? Back to the future? If changing the car is in the new owner’s plans, old photos could point the way, and a ton of old correspondence came with it. If you figure that a running Ardun V8 like this one is worth $40k-plus, and various other new parts could be sold for another $5,000 to $10,000, you’d have a $50k budget to make this car back into what it once was. A gennie Wayne cross-flow-head-equipped six came with the sale, and the tranny’s right, so you’d have to install that old dash, rework the front end with a vintage dropped axle, reshape the firewall, then test and install the inline Chevy. The Warner-style exhaust system could be adapted from the existing twice pipes. New old-pattern Ford upholstery from LeBaron Bonney, a black canvas top (the existing threads can be sold), a reshoot in either Pontiac Green or black paint, and you’d be back to Harry Warner specs — and a bigger potential upside, too. I know what I’d do. How about you? A (Introductory description courtesy of Gooding & Company.) 1932 Ford Highboy “Tom McMullen” Lot S109, VIN: 18152025 Condition: 1 Sold at $742,000 Clubs: Goodguys, National Street Rod Association (NSRA) More: www.good-guys.com, www.nsra.com Alternatives: Other ACC Investment Grade: B Comps historic 1932 to 1934 Ford Roadsters 1929 Ford Model A “Dick Flint” Lot 125, VIN: 196 Condition: 1 Sold at $577,500 RM Auctions, New York, NY, 11/21/2013 ACC# 231682 Mecum Auctions, Anaheim, CA, 11/14/2012 ACC# 213966 1932 Ford Roadster “Jim Khougaz” Lot 225, VIN: 18155453 Condition: 1Sold at $214,500 RM Auctions, Los Angeles, CA, 9/26/2009 ACC# 142753

Page 48

PROFILE AMERICANA 1969 AMC HURST SC/RAMBLER Bargain-Buy AMC Good things come in small packages, and this one came at a great price VIN: A9M097X302642 by Tom Glatch I n 1969, AMC worked with Hurst Performance Inc. to create the SC/Rambler. All cars had a 390-ci 315-hp engine with 4-speed transmission. Painted in its unique “A” scheme of red/white/blue exterior with matching headrest and gray interior. Options include functional Ram Air hood scoop, Hurst shifter, heavy-duty suspension with sway bar, torque links, staggered rear shocks, power disc brakes, and a steering column-mounted Sun tachometer. This car is listed number 290 in the Hurst SC/Rambler Registry. ACC Analysis This car, Lot 679, sold for $38,500, including buyer’s pre- mium, at Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale 2015 Auction in Scottsdale, AZ, on January 16, 2015. In the 1950s and 1960s, the American automotive climate was dominated by Ford, Chevrolet and Chrysler. In order to make ends meet, smaller companies such as AMC, which had been created in 1954 by the merger of Nash-Kelvinator and Hudson, faced stiff challenges. But AMC survived until 1987 by building great products, and that success always came against all odds. One way AMC survived was by concentrating on smaller cars. When the U.S. economy hit a recession toward the end of the ’50s, AMC was already selling their compact Rambler sedan. As the Big Three rushed to create compact cars of their own, AMC already owned a significant part of that market. The success of the Rambler helped AMC fund further development into the ’60s. After Chrysler bought AMC in 1987, Bob Lutz stood in awe of what AMC accomplished, writing, “With almost no resources, and fighting a vastly superior enemy, they were able to roll out an impressive succession of new products.” Kenosha muscle AMC wasn’t a muscle car pioneer, but by the late 1960s, they couldn’t ignore the youthful performance movement anymore. So at the height of the muscle car era, AMC introduced two hot cars to the market: the four-seat Javelin, and a unique two-seat version of that car called the AMX. To show the world how good these cars were, AMC hired Land Speed Record holder Craig Breedlove to set speed and endurance 50 AmericanCarCollector.com 50 AmericanCarCollector.com Courtesy of Barrett-Jackson

Page 49

COLLeCTOR’S ReSOuRCe: You can easily track a car’s value over time with the aCC Premium auction Database, featuring more than 125,000 American cars searchable by year, model, VIN and more. Sign up for just $59 at www.americanCarCollector.com! red and blue stripes running down the lower side of a white body. That new look was used on approximately one-third of the 1,512 SC/Ramblers built. All SC/Ramblers have the letter M in the third digit and the letter X in the seventh digit of the serial number, along with the letter X and the last six digits of the VIN stamped in the unibody behind the steering box, so identifying a real car is easy. Bargain performance The bold, brash little SC/Ramblers caught a lot records in each at places such as the Bonneville Salt Flats. Javelins, too, saw competition in Trans Am and NASCAR Grand American series events. Others were also successfully drag-raced. It was an impressive performance for a company that always struggled to make a profit. In 1969, Hurst Industries suggested that a special pocket rocket would also do wonders for AMC’s image. By then, Hurst had expanded from making aftermarket shifters and wheels to helping create the vehicles that the big automakers did not have the resources or expertise to build themselves. In 1968, Hurst stuffed the famed Hemi engine into a small lot of Dodge Darts and Plymouth Barracudas for Super Stock drag competition. They also created a “gentleman’s hot rod” for Oldsmobile, building 515 Hurst/ Olds coupes with special paint and trim, packing 455ci engines from the Toronado. Now it was AMC’s turn. Hopping up AMC’s compact Hurst Industries created the SC/Rambler specifi- cally for NHRA F-Stock racing. Based on that perennially thrifty compact, the American, Hurst had AMC add the 315-hp 390-ci engine, Borg Warner 4-speed, and 3:54:1 “Twin Grip” differential out of the AMX at AMC’s Kenosha, WI, plant. Other components included a large functional hood scoop, Sun 8,000-rpm tach, adjustable Gabriel air shocks on the rear axle, glass-pack mufflers, and, of course, a Hurst shifter. Finally, and most easily seen, was the bold paint scheme, with mostly red sides and a large blue stripe on top over the white body, later known as the “A” scheme. With its bright colors, strictly business components, and light weight, the SC/ Rambler made a big statement and had stout performance to back it up. Five hundred cars were built by AMC, but that wasn’t enough. Demand for them caught everyone by surprise, and even some of the staid dealers, who were used to selling basic Ramblers to little old ladies, wanted in on the action — provided the car got a slightly more subdued look. As AMC had a bunch of extra 390-ci engines to use from the AMX program, which wasn’t meeting its target order numbers, they expanded production of the popular SC/Rambler by another 1,000 cars. At the same time, they also added a second paint scheme — known as the “B” paint scheme — which was more toned down, with small of attention on the road and in period automotive publications. An “A”-series SC/Rambler was the cover story in the May 1969 issue of Super Stock & Drag Illustrated magazine, and AMC’s marketing also cranked up the spin machine, with ads shouting, “It Only Hurts Them for 14 Seconds,” and, “A Rambler that does the quarter mile in 14.3.” The shocking fact was this was one quick little compact, with one magazine scoring a 12.6-second pass in the quarter mile with a little work. Performance is all about power-to-weight ratio, and at 3,160 pounds, the Bantam-weight SC/Rambler could humble heavier cars with much more power under their hoods. All for a bargain $2,998. But despite the success of the Hurst SC/Rambler, it remains a niche vehicle from a niche manufacturer. Little car, big buy I’m a lifelong resident of southeastern Wisconsin, and SC/Ramblers were common back in the day and I still see them regularly at many shows. But outside the Midwest, AMC products were less well known. So today’s values for AMCs will just never reach the levels of top performance cars from the Big Three, even though cars like the SC/Rambler represent AMC’s ability to run with, and sometimes beat, the best the Big Three had to offer — including the LS6 Chevelle and Mustang 428 CJ. Over the past decade, SC/Rambler prices have ranged from around $50,000 to a top near $65,000. Series “A” cars tend to price out a bit higher due to their popularity and mystique. That makes the sale of our feature SC/Rambler a bit of a disappointment, at least for the seller. But on the flip side, this car’s new owner got a good car for a fantastic price — a great example of doing more with less. Well bought. A (Introductory description courtesy of Barrett- Jackson.) Detailing Club: 1512 HURST SC/ Rambler Registry Year produced: 1969 Number produced: 1,512 Original list price: $2,998 Current ACC Valuation: $35,000–$65,000 Tune-up/major service: $150 Distributor cap: $11.77 VIN location: Plate on the driver’s side instrument panel behind windshield Engine # location: Pad on the right side of the block to the rear of the engine mount More: www.amazingmusclecars.com/1512registry Alternatives: 1969 Plymouth Road Runner, 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 LS5, 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 428 ACC Investment Grade: C Comps 1969 AMC Hurst SC/Rambler Lot F105.1, VIN: A9M097X223645 Condition: N/A Sold at $64,200 Mecum Auctions, Indianapolis, IN, 5/18/2013 ACC# 222633 1969 AMC Hurst SC/Rambler Lot S192, VIN: A9M097X305305 Condition: 2 Sold at $62,010 Mecum Auctions, Indianapolis, IN, 5/15/2012 ACC# 201896 1969 AMC Hurst SC/Rambler Lot 172, VIN: A9M097X302673 Condition: 2 Sold at $35,100 Bonhams, Portland, OR, 6/11/2011 ACC# 179574 May-June 2015 51CC 51

Page 50

PROFILE RACE 1927 MILLER 91 Speedway Bombshell Darin Schnabel ©2015, courtesy of RM Sotheby’s Only 12 or 13 Miller rear-drive 91s were originally built, which explains why parts are impossible to find today VIN: 5 by Carl Bomstead AAA’s rule change for 1930 to the “Junk Formula” was, in fact, adopted to stop the Miller 91’s seemingly unstoppable winning streak. When the rule change that limited displacement T 52 AmericanCarCollector.com to 1½ liters (91 cubic inches) was announced for the 1926 racing season, Harry Miller could have merely shortened the stroke of his nearly unbeatable 122cubic inch engine and continued producing and selling the rear-drive race car that he first introduced in 1923. Instead, in typical fashion, Miller’s staff of extraordinarily talented men was assigned to design and build an entirely new car. All of the new 91-cubic-inch engines were su- percharged, and at introduction, they developed 155 horsepower at 7,000 rpm. Extensive on-track development work resulted in refinements that eventually boosted output to well over 250 horsepower at 8,000 rpm. The consigned car was repainted as the Boyle Valve Special when it wore #15. It started 6th on the grid at the 1927 Indianapolis 500 and finished a he Miller 91 was a true tour de force of rear-wheel-drive racing technology. It was so successful and its domination on speedways of the 1920s was so complete that it was effectively responsible for its own demise. The respectable 19th. The original Boyle Valve Special’s cosmetic livery was precisely copied on this car based on the drawings of famed automotive artist Peter Helck, with the triangular logo complementing a deep finish of white and light blue paintwork. ACC Analysis This car, Lot 153, sold for $770,000, including buyer’s pre- mium, at RM’s Amelia Island sale in Amelia Island, FL, on March 14, 2015. A driving force Harry Arminius Miller was a major factor in the history of early racing in this country. No — it’s better stated that he was the major factor. Like many innovators of the era, Miller received limited formal education. But his mechanical aptitude and inquisitive mind resulted in numerous significant inventions. He received his first of numerous patents in 1905 for a “sparking device,” which he sold to the Peerless Motor Car company. In 1909 he received his first patent for a carburetor, and many more for that device quickly followed. In 1911, he formed New-Miller Manufacturing, which made carburetors into the early 1920s. Then, in 1912, he formed Master Carburetor Co. This, in turn,

Page 51

COLLeCTOR’S ReSOuRCe: You can easily track a car’s value over time with the aCC Premium auction Database, featuring more than 125,000 American cars searchable by year, model, VIN and more. Sign up for just $59 at www.americanCarCollector.com! a major patron of American championship racing. Boyle’s cars wore the logo of one of his businesses — a company that manufactured automotive valves. They made a replacement valve that seated flat rather than in a conical seat. Interestingly enough, the design was not practical for racing engines, and not even Boyle’s own crew used them. Boyle, who started racing in 1926, won three Indianapolis 500s and fielded three- and four-car teams, winning the 1940 Indy 500 with Wilbur Shaw at the wheel. Piece of history or collection of parts? The Miller Special presented by RM was based on led to the Harry A. Miller Manufacturing Company, for which he manufactured fuel pumps, carburetors and pistons made from Alloyanum — his formula for aluminum. By 1915, Miller was building his own engines and chassis for race cars. His shop superintendent was Fred Offenhauser, who Miller later placed in charge of the engine and race car department. The 183, 122 and 91 The first Miller Eight — the 183 — was funded by a $5,000 deposit placed by Barney Oldfield. Oldfield had borrowed the money from Henry Ford. The engine became the basis for every successful Miller, Offy, Meyer-Drake and Drake racing engine built until 1978. Miller’s 183-powered cars dominated the 1922 American season. The 183-ci formula, however, expired in 1922. A new two-liter (or 122-ci) formula resulted in Miller producing an improved motor with a stronger five-main-bearing lower end and an available bolt-on supercharger, which boosted speed considerably. It was a simple but elegant design, placed into a slim single-seat race chassis and body. Miller’s cars continued to dominate, and the only major race they did not win in 1923 and 1924 was the 1924 Indy 500. In 1926, the Indianapolis Speedway management decided to follow the international sanctioning bodies and reduced its allowed engine size to 91½ cubic inches. The new Miller 91, developed for the rule and produced until 1929, was similar to the 122, but was supercharged from the beginning, with a centrifugal unit running off the rear of the crankshaft. It was light, efficient and available as both rear- and front-wheel drive. Again, Millers became nearly unbeatable, setting new records — Leon Duray’s 124-mph lap in a Miller at Indy in 1928 stood as the record for nine years. Umbrella Mike’s racer These cars were very expensive when they were built, costing upwards of $10,000 each. That brings us to the other personality related to the Miller 91 “Boyle Valve” Special — car owner Michael J. Boyle. He was the tough boss of the Chicago local chapter of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. He was called “Umbrella Mike,” as he was seldom without one when making his rounds. Extended in the air was a signal for his men to strike; while hanging partially open on the edge of his desk or bar, it became the receptacle for tangible enticements for his favor. While active in the underbelly of Chicago, he was also May-June 2015 53 one of two Miller 91 front-drives that Boyle purchased from Harry Haartz in 1926. One, the Number 15, was driven by Cliff Woodbury. That car tied course records at Altoona and Culver City during the 1927 season but could finish no higher than 19th at the Indianapolis 500, as Woodbury blew his supercharger on the 108th lap. Only 12 or 13 Miller rear-drive 91s were originally built, which explains why parts are impossible to find today. This car was built from a Miller chassis with a correct Miller 91 engine that had once been displayed in a British museum. It also has a correct gearbox — which is extremely rare — and an original rear end. The aluminum body was built during restoration, based on an original set of Harry Miller blueprints for the Miller 91, and it was finished in the striking livery of the Boyle Valve Special. At first glance, it would appear that the buyer of this Miller 91 paid three quarters of a million dollars for a bunch of assembled parts. On reflection, however, we are looking at a race car; engines were changed with regularity and bodies got smacked around in the course of business. There are, however, a few original no-stories Millers out there, and as we saw when a 122 brought over $2m at RM’s sale of the Joe MacPherson Collection in June 2008 (ACC# 117191), prices for them can easily crest the seven-figure mark. Harry Miller had a 60-year involvement with the Indianapolis 500, and this Miller 91, with correct engine, gearbox and drivetrain, is an irreplaceable part of that history. It may not be all-original, but from where I sit, the price paid certainly seems most Detailing Years produced: 1926–29 Number produced: 12 or 13 Original list price: $10,000 Current ACC Valuation: $700,000–$800,000 Tune-up cost: $1,500 VIN location: On frame rail Engine # location: Brass plaque on block Club: Antique Auto Club of America More: www.aaca.org Alternatives: Cooper Miller racer, Duesenberg 91 racer, Miller Detroit racer ACC Investment Grade: B Comps 1931 Miller V16 racer Lot 523, VIN: N/A Condition: 2 Sold at $600,000 ACC# 142047 RM Auctions, Monterey, CA, 8/15/2009 1923 Miller 122 supercharged racer Lot 240, VIN: 20 Condition: 1 Sold at $2,035,000 RM Auctions, Tustin, CA, 6/14/2008 ACC# 117191 reasonable.A (Introductory description courtesy of RM Auctions.) 1925 Miller 122 FWD racer Lot 543, VIN: 18 Condition: 2+ Sold at $495,000 ACC# 46360 RM Auctions, Monterey, CA, 8/17/2007

Page 52

PROFILE TRUCK 1976 FORD BRONCO SPORT Off-Road Investment Mathieu Heurtault, courtesy of Gooding & Company Broncos are rarely restored to as-leftthe-factory bone-stock configuration, and our example is indicative of this VIN: U15GLA58968 by B. Mitchell Carlson • Later-production, iconic first-series example • Recently restored with great color combination • New interior and sportier floor-shift conversion • 302 V8 engine and 3-speed manual transmission • Upgraded with lift and CD player ACC Analysis This truck, Lot 5, sold for $55,000, including buyer’s pre- mium, at Gooding & Company’s Amelia Island auction in Amelia Island, FL, on March 13, 2015. Offered at no reserve, it was estimated to sell between $35,000 and $45,000. More of a Ford Scout than a Ford Jeep When it comes to classic American 4x4s, most peo- ple think of the post-war CJ Jeep as the rig that started it all. That’s true for the most part, but it was certainly not the only player in the market for very long. The 1966 Bronco brought Ford into the personal 4x4 segment. While it might seem like it was designed to take on the longstanding Jeep, the Bronco was actually more of an answer to the popular International Scout, which started production in 1961. The Scout was more civilized on the highway than the Jeep CJ-5, yet more nimble off road than the 54 AmericanCarCollector.com 54 AmericanCarCollector.com truck-based Jeep wagons or Wagoneer. Ford was also well aware that IH truck dealers were taking in all sorts of unconventional trade-ins on Scouts — from economy cars to sports cars. That was the action Ford was interested in getting, as the Bronco could fit well within Ford’s total marketing campaign as a specialized vehicle among their other cars and trucks. Any configuration, as long as it’s 4x4 Like the Scout, the Bronco was originally offered in three configurations, but unlike the Cornbinder, every single one had four-wheel drive. The Bronco wagon proved to be the standard bearer for its entire 11-year first-gen production run. An open roadster model with cut-out panels instead of doors was offered until 1968, and a pickup cab was built too, but discontinued after 1972. Also like the Scout, the open roadster wasn’t successful and the pickup sold in sustainable numbers — the wagons are what made both the Scout and Bronco successful. One thing the Bronco had over the Scout was power — if barely. Out of the gate in 1966, the Bronco bested the Scout’s 93-hp 152-ci slant four with a 105-hp 170-ci straight six. However, the Scout offered a turbocharged version that boosted power to 111 ponies. Halfway through the year, Ford upped the ante with an

Page 53

COLLeCTOR’S ReSOuRCe: The easiest way to track a car’s value over time is the aCC Premium auction Database, featuring more than 125,000 American cars searchable by year, make, model, VIN and more. Sign up at www.americanCarCollector.com. Detailing Years produced: 1966–77 Number produced: 13,625 (1976) optional 200-hp 289-ci V8. The Scout countered with both a larger 196-ci slant four (making an easier 111 hp than the turbo) and IH’s truck-based 155-hp 266-ci V8 as options. For 1969, Ford’s 289 gave way to the 210-hp 302-ci small block, used through the end of first-gen Bronco production. Automatic transmissions and power steering were available starting in 1973. Updates and redesigns The Bronco was all but locked into a dozen-model- year time trap that saw minimal changes — even when GM upped the ante again with the truck-based K5 Chevy Blazer/GMC Jimmy in 1969. It took Ford until 1978 to super-size the Bronco into the F-series platform, but when they did it proved an unbridled success — going from 13,593 units built in 1977 to 69,120 for ’78. The untrained eye might be hard pressed to tell the difference between a 1966 Bronco and a 1977, yet there were occasional updates that were more obvious than others. Externally, the biggest change was the federally mandated side marker lights in 1968 and a fixed windshield replacing the hinged piece in 1969. The Sport package, fitted to our subject rig, was first offered in 1967, consisting of enhanced trim and brightwork. The Ranger package was first offered in 1972 in one of three color combinations: Ginger, blue metallic and Avocado. Rangers also upped the ante with a standard rear bench seat and carpeting. Regional spring special Explorer packages were also available in the 1970s, plus a Special Décor Group in 1976 and ’77 — featuring a black-out grille and Bossstyle stripes. Off-road cult following then and now Broncos had a cult following pretty much from new, although their popularity was greater and broader from the Central Plains into the Rockies. They also disappeared rapidly from the northern states, as they were a good platform for a small snowplow and the perfect get-around vehicle on salty winter roads. As such, rust was a real killer here. The aftermarket began catering to Broncos by the early 1980s, focusing mostly on off-road performance. Authentic restorations were all but an afterthought. One of the most common tweaks was to cut out the rear wheelwells and fit them with wide flares to fit bigger off-road tires. Due to the tin worm’s efforts, these were also among of the first vehicles to have fiberglass replacement body tubs available. Today, most that are reworked are restorations, and most are “credit-card restoration” vehicles, meaning everything is available — for a price. Fiberglass tubs have given way to Ford- May-June 2015 55CC 55 licensed all-steel bodies. However, Broncos are rarely restored to as-left-the-factory bone-stock configuration, and our example is indicative of this. Most Broncos on the market today tend to have suspension modifications, powertrain upgrades, and editorial license taken in the paint booth. All of that is spot-on for this truck. Actually, the only thing missing from the norm is a set of aftermarket wheels and tires — this example still wears stock wheel covers, also used on the 1966 Galaxie 500. Nobody cuts up a good body anymore, as uncut examples bring a premium over cut or patched examples. If the top stays up, the price likely will You might think soft-top Broncos would bring the most money, yet by and large, that’s not true. Despite low production, roadster models don’t command significantly more than wagons, since they are fairweather friends. They tend to bring about the same as Bronco pickups — if not less. While more plentiful, the wagon is the most heavily desired variant, and those generally bring the most money. Values have been strong for almost two decades, but in the past half-dozen years, prices have really started to escalate. Yet unlike Toyota FJ-40 Land Cruisers, Bronco values didn’t skyrocket and then plummet back to reality within the past decade. Instead, it’s been a steady climb, with lower- and medium-grade examples stabilizing, and top-tier examples continuing to move upwards. Six-digit sales of the best examples are not out of the question. This was no minty original, but it was typical of the higher-end offerings in the current market. It sold $10k stronger than the high auction estimate at no reserve, which further confirms that the firstgeneration Bronco is still a rising star. Consider this well sold today, but next year it just might look well bought at this price. A (Introductory description courtesy of Gooding & Company.) 1969 Ford Bronco Lot F171, VIN: U15GLE04444 Condition: 1Sold at $51,840 ACC# 243543 1968 Ford Bronco Lot 518, VIN: U15NLD68034 Condition: 2Sold at $31,860 Silver Auctions, Fort McDowell, AZ, 1/17/2015 ACC# 257128 Current ACC Valuation: $18,000–$30,000 Tune-up cost: $200 Distributor cap: $10 VIN location: Stamped on the frame rail adjacent to the steering box; data tag on the driver’s door jamb edge Engine # location: Basic casting numbers only, on the side of the block Original list price: $5,966 (1976) Clubs: Early Ford V8 Club, American Truck Historical Society More: www.earlyfordv8.org, www.aths.org, www.fordtrucks.com Alternatives: 1961–71 International Scout, 1971–80 International Scout II, 1976–87 Jeep CJ-7 ACC Investment Grade: B Comps 1976 Ford Bronco Lot 230, VIN: U15GLS82993 Condition: 2Sold at $27,500 RM Auctions, Hershey, PA, 10/10/2014 ACC# 256168 Mecum Auctions, Kansas City, MO, 4/26/2014

Page 54

MaRKeT OVERVIEW Mopars Mark the Market Rise THE WELLBORN MUSCLECAR MUSEUM COLLECTION MAKES $4.6M by Tony Piff TOP 10 sales this issue 1. 1930 Cord L-29 town car, $1,760,000—Bonhams, p. 96 2. 1908 American underslung roadster, $1,738,000—Bonhams, p. 96 3. 1932 Stutz Model DV-32 Bearcat roadster, $1,012,000—Bonhams, p. 97 4. 1932 Marmon HCM prototype, $429,000—RM auctions, p. 97 5. 1963 Chevrolet Corvette “Pink Pearl” coupe, $248,400—Mecum, FL, p. 63 6. 1971 Dodge Hemi Charger R/T 2-dr hard top, $243,000—Mecum, FL, p. 66 7. 1953 Chevrolet Corvette roadster, $216,000— Mecum, NV, p. 100 8. 1935 auburn 851 custom phaeton, $192,500— Bonhams, p. 97 9. 1956 Dual-Ghia convertible, $190,000—Mecum, NV, p. 104 10. 1932 Ford Model 18 roadster, $170,660—Gaa, p. 70 BEST BUYS 1969 Plymouth Hemi Road Runner 2-dr hard top, $145,800— Mecum, FL, p. 65 56 AmericanCarCollector.com 1940 Oldsmobile Series 70 wagon, $46,200—Bonhams, p. 98 1970 aMC aMX 2-dr hard top, $36,040—Gaa, p. 75 1956 Lincoln Continental Mark II coupe, $34,125—McCormick’s, p. 92 1972 Chevrolet C10 pickup, $10,230—Leake, p. 78 world. A restored, low-mile, numbers- T matching 1969 Dodge Hemi Daytona was the most expensive car at Mecum Kissimmee at $972k. Mecum sold 1,775 cars out of 2,380 offered (75%) for $68m total. At GAA in Greensboro, NC, a ’32 Ford street rod done in 1950s style rumbled to the top at $171k. Of 502 cars offered, 351 changed hands (70%), totaling $7.7m. Leake sold a high-tech resto- The only 1971 Dodge Hemi Charger R/T with power sunroof from The Wellborn Musclecar Museum didn’t sell at $375,000 modded 1967 Chevrolet Corvette convertible for $154k in Oklahoma City, OK, leading the way to $6.8m total. The auction house consigned 430 cars and sent 305 home to new garages (71%). At McCormick’s sale in Palm Springs, CA, an unrestored 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz convertible cruised to high-sale honors at $96k. McCormick’s sales totaled $7.5m, and 417 of 584 cars sold (71%). Tony’s Market Moment: When the market tanked in 2008, Mopar values were hit hard. Driver-grade cars suddenly got a whole lot cheaper, but the effect was less noticeable on documented, immaculate examples. The owners of these cars seemed to just stop bringing them to auction, or they held fast to their reserves and let the cars no-sale. Enter The Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection, offered this January at Mecum Kissimmee. The Mecum catalog explained the Wellborn’s decision to liquidate a number of their best muscle cars and Hemi-powered Mopars as part of a plan to “refocus the vision of the museum.” Fair enough, but the timing also proved to be a prudent business decision. Twenty-two Wellborn cars sold for a combined $4.6m, including our cover car, a 1969 Dodge Hemi Daytona, which kissed the seven-digit ceiling at $972,000 (see the profile, p. 46). Sometimes it pays to wait for buyers to value your car as much as you do.A auctions in this issue Mecum, Kissimmee, FL January 16–25, 2015 Leake, Oklahoma, OK February 20–21, 2015 McCormick’s, Palm Springs, Ca February 20–21, 2015 Mecum, Las Vegas, NV February 27–28, 2015 Gaa, Greensboro, NC March 5–7, 2015 Bonhams, amelia Island, FL March 12, 2015 Gooding & Co., amelia Island, FL March 13, 2015 Hollywood Wheels, amelia Island, FL March 13–14, 2015 RM Sotheby’s, amelia Island, FL March 14, 2015 $0 $15m $30m $14m $60.1m $60m $45m $75m $27m $6.8m $7.5m $10.2m $7.7m $13.8m $68.2m he high-sale cars at this issue’s feature auctions came from four very different corners of the American collecting

Page 56

MECUM AUCTIONS // Kissimmee, FL Mecum Auctions — Kissimmee 2015 A NON-STOP, 10-DAY CONVEYOR BELT OF CAMAROS, CORVETTES, MUSTANGS AND MOPARS Mecum Auctions Kissimmee, FL January 16–25, 2015 auctioneers: Russ Conklin, Mike Hagerman, Jim Landis, Mark Delzell, Bob McGlothlen, Matt Moravec automotive lots sold/ offered: 1,775/2,380 Sales rate: 75% Sales total: $68,166,471 High sale: 1969 Dodge Hemi Daytona, sold at $972,000 Buyer’s premium: 8%, minimum $500, included in sold prices ACC 1–6 scale condition rating for vehicles in Market Reports 1. Perfect: National show standard 2. excellent: Club show-worthy, some small flaws 3. average: Daily driver in decent condition 4. Meh: Still a driver, with some visible flaws 5. Questionable: A problem-plagued beast that somehow manages to run 6. Lost cause: Salvageable for parts 58 AmericanCarCollector.com a stable of “fuselage”-body Charger R/Ts from the Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection Report and photos by Dale Novak Additional market comments by Craig Gussert Market opinions in italics B efore his 1959 Harley-Davidson FLH came across the block, Jerry Lee Lewis hammered out his 1957 hit “Great Balls of Fire” on the Mecum stage and whipped the crowd into a frenzy. The bike sold for a whopping $350k, and with the nostalgia still frothy, it took lead auctioneer Mark Delzell several minutes to clear the crowd and get the cars rolling again. Mecum’s 10-day Kissimmee sale put 2,380 cars up for grabs this year, with 1,775 finding new homes, for a granddaddy sales total of $68m. As usual, American muscle was here in spades, with throaty V8s powering the vast majority of cars across the block. The endless conveyor belt of Camaros, Chevelles, Mustangs, Corvettes and Mopars meant that buyers could be picky about colors and options. Values were sensible for the most part, although buyers seemed happy to pay a premium for the Wellborn Collection cars, such as a 1971 Dodge Hemi Charger sold at $243k, and a 1969 Dodge Hemi Daytona — the most expensive lot of the sale at $972k (see the profile, p. 46). It’s not unusual for cars from famous collections to find strong prices, especially if the collector is known for seeking out best-of-category examples and maintaining them fastidiously. That was certainly the case with the Wellborn offerings. In the Shelby camp, and the fourth-highest sale of the event, was a 1965 GT350 at $481k. Corvettes were also well represented, with a 1964 Tanker bringing the money at $448k. As the auction progressed, so did the crowd on the auction floor. During most prime-time televised segments, the bidders’ area was overflowing — so much so that Mecum had to rope off a new section in the upper deck of the auditorium. In all the years I’ve covered this auction, I’ve never seen so many registered bidders. Obviously, that translated into a stellar sale with a great sell-through rate and a new sales record for Mecum. A

Page 58

MECUM AUCTIONS // Kissimmee, FL GM #S189-1953 BUICK SUPER estate wagon. VIN: 1696I905. Maroon/tan leather. Odo: 8,100 miles. 322-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Doors out. Tidy engine bay. Chrome is slightly weathered. Very correct under the hood with plenty of OEM bits. Some bubbling in the wood varnish. Excellent chassis. Small dent in the drip line. Well-applied paint. Cond: 2. #F232-1957 CHEVROLET BEL AIR custom convertible. VIN: VC57S149438. Red/ red cloth/red leather. Odo: 190 miles. 5.7-L fuel-injected V8, auto. Driver’s door out. Hidden power-window switches under the console. Lots of polish in engine bay—even the chrome braces on the underside of the hood. Fresh build with little to fault. Some sanding marks in the paintwork, but otherwise a better-than-factory build with a high degree of detail. Cond: 1-. Engine bay shows some light use but is otherwise very clean. Some dirt noted in the paint, along with some fisheyes. Small bubble forming on lower fender, which may be body putty pushing through. Cond: 2+. NOT SOLD AT $95,000. This car came with plenty of AACA awards all the way up to Senior designation, so it was a very nice example. Not much to pick on based on the condition, so no worries there. These are investment-grade automobiles for the right collector, and the money bid should have sealed the deal. #F113-1954 BUICK SKYLARK convertible. VIN: 7A1090889. Blue/dark blue cloth/ blue leather. Odo: 97,253 miles. 322-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Trunk lid out. Chrome trim is in very nice to excellent condition, but not perfect. Chassis has been undercoated. Paint is well done and remains in very nice condition. Engine bay shows well, with only minor soiling and signs of age. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $167,400. The resto-mod market continues to plow ahead. I doubt you could build this car to this level at this price, unless you valued your labor at a dollar an hour. Gorgeous car that simply lit up the auction block in its striking triple-red presentation. Perfection has a price, and here at this sale it was $167k. #K142-1960 BUICK ELECTRA 225 convertible. VIN: 8G3026251. Light blue/white vinyl/blue leather. Odo: 96,811 miles. 401-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Trunk wide. Newer top. Passenger’s door is tight. Hood is too far forward. Largely unrestored interior shows plenty of age and use. Crusty weatherstripping. Original engine bay comes across like a barn-find car. Orange peel and dry spray. Solid body and reasonably straight. Paint was reported to be fresh, but not a high-quality application. Cond: 4-. SOLD AT $118,800. This car came with tons, and I mean tons, of show wins and all sorts of great history. Calendar car, magazine car, etc. You name it, it had it. Not to mention scoring 986–987 at five national shows. But for all of you pulling your “bubble top” 409 out of the garage to prep it for the next auction, be aware that this car was a real gem and full of documentation. Well sold, but the excellent provenance added a bunch of value. #F210-1965 PONTIAC GTO Royal Bobcat convertible. VIN: 237675P298557. Black/ black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 33,721 miles. 389-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Authentic tripledeuce GTO convertible with PHS documents to verify the build. Royal Pontiac of Royal Oak, MI, upgraded it with their Royal Bobcat Ram Air system, which ramped up the ponies to 360. Color change from Mayfair Maize to sinister black. Good panel fit overall and a fresh engine bay restoration. Interior tight and well presented. The paint shows some small issues but was a highquality application when completed in 2005. Fitted with rare Hurst wheels as a bonus. Cond: 2+. NOT SOLD AT $110,000. Restoration dates back to December of 2013 and looks the part. The car shows very well and is worthy of most any regional show. Skylarks are gorgeous machines and certainly rare, but have also fallen from their superstar status back down to more realistic valuations. Yes, rare and only built for two years—and most collections, especially if you gravitate towards mid-’50s American machines, wouldn’t be complete without one. That said, this one deserved more given the quality of the restoration. 60 AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $33,480. This was a driver all the way and would need just about everything to climb the condition ladder. The buyer bought a good car, solid enough, but it will take plenty of cold, hard cash to make it better. This was a $20k example to me in the current condition, and would be a $60k car restored. #F233-1962 CHEVROLET BEL AIR 2-dr hard top. VIN: 21637B132330. Yellow/gold & tan vinyl. Odo: 543 miles. 409-ci V8, 2x4bbl, 4-sp. Small cracks in steering wheel. Upper portions of seat seams very lumpy. SOLD AT $77,670. Last sold at Mecum KC in April 2010 for $65k (ACC# 160298), then no-saled at Mecum Indy in May 2010 at $52k (ACC# 164348) and again at $67,500 (ACC# 164347). This time, the car appeared to be better presented, with no Royal Bobcat decals other than on the front fenders. Very nice car and sold at market for the quality presented. #F208-1967 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE Malibu L79 2-dr hard top. VIN: 136177A146251. Blue/blue vinyl. Odo: 22,020

Page 60

MECUM AUCTIONS // Kissimmee, FL miles. 327-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Driver’s door is tight at the top. The trunk lid is out, and passenger’s door is in. Bumpers show plenty of rust speckles. A little ratty under the hood. Lots of orange peel. Very solid body with no rust issues. Interior shows age and use and is not restored. SS 396 hood with bulges has been added. Matching numbers. Cond: 4+. NOT SOLD AT $32,000. These are rare to come across and offer buyers an under-theradar performance car with the same 325 horsepower as the SS 396. This was nowhere near show-quality and had plenty of needs. That said, the body seemed solid, and the paint was decent for a Saturday night cruiser. Given overall condition, the offer was more than fair. #F269-1967 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE SS 396 2-dr hard top. VIN: 138177 B171338. Black/red vinyl. Odo: 38,350 miles. 396-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Some nicks have been painted over on the A-pillar. Nice engine bay but not overdone. Very nice restoration of a clean and straight car. Some fisheyes noted but very minor. A show-quality example. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $81,000. The 1966–67 Chevelle market has been strong lately, and it really doesn’t seem to matter if it’s a resto-mod or a numbers-matching stock example. The 138 in the VIN told the buyer this was a genuine SS, but even some street cars built with added big blocks are doing well. Must be the hot body style (at least for now). This was the coveted 396/375, not a 325- or 350-horse example, so more money will be in play. Fairly bought and sold. #F149-1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO convertible. VIN: 124679N536170. Blue/white vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 36,857 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Trunk lid skewed. Aftermarket gauges. Street car presentation under the hood, with plenty of non-OEM bits. Fisheyes and some issues in bodywork. Taillights show age and fading. Ripples in the trunk lid. An older restoration. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $45,360. The previous owner had the car for over 20 years, which could be an indication of the age of the restoration. Nice car, but set up as a street car only, without much concern for factory stock presentation—typical of what you’d see at the local cruise-in and looks like a fun driver. Nothing serious here to be concerned with, and a convertible Camaro will always have a rocksolid following. Well sold for the condition, but no harm as a casual driver. CORVETTE #S194-1955 CHEVROLET CORVETTE roadster. VIN: VE55S001002. White/red cloth/red vinyl. Odo: 61 miles. 265-ci 195-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Nice driver condition with older paint and numerous small cracks noted on the body. Missing horn button on the steering wheel. Some small cracks in the steering wheel. Large crack in the nose is about three inches long. The hood is skewed to the body lines. The second Corvette built in 1955. Cond: 3-. NOT SOLD AT $225,000. While the car remains in good overall condition, it does seem to have deteriorated since it was last seen in 2010, selling for $143k at Mecum’s McDorman Collection sale (ACC# 168110). Before that, it sold for $130k at BarrettJackson Scottsdale 2002 (ACC# 26892). Given the $143k sale price in 2010, I’d have to call this a strong offer in 2015. #S188-1958 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: J58S105375. Silver Blue/ white vinyl/blue vinyl. Odo: 39 miles. 283-ci 290-hp fuel-injected V8, 4-sp. Well-done recent restoration with some minor hiccups noted in the paperwork, mainly orange peel and some debris trapped under the clearcoat. Interior shows nearly as-new, 62 AmericanCarCollector.com

Page 61

likely slightly better than it came from the factory in 1958. Nice hard top included. A high-point restoration. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $167,400. This was the top of the Corvette heap in 1958, with 290 horses on tap to fling you down the road. These solid-axle Corvettes are great-looking cars, although they can be challenging to climb into and out of. Nice colors, at least to this reporter, and appeared to be a great example with little to no needs. A fair sale all around. 30837S115249. Pink/pink leather. Odo: 27,468 miles. 327-ci 300-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Mrs. Harley Earl’s “Pink Pearl” test Corvette with prototype features. One repaint that remains in rough shape, but this car is all about the provenance. Plenty of issues all around. Reported to be all original and looks the part. Complete, yes, but shabby from head to toe. Cond: 5+. 5 #S134-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE “Pink Pearl” coupe. VIN: SOLD AT $248,400. The right collector for this car won’t care much about the condition, and restoring it would probably hurt the value. Seen here last year, a no-sale with a high parting bid of $340k, which I called “a fair offer” (ACC# 232337). Market priced here. #S142-1965 CHEVROLET CORVETTE “Tanker” coupe. VIN: 194375S110028. Silver/black leather. Odo: 23,332 km. 327-ci 300-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Driver’s door is tight. Metric speedometer. Some small scuffs in the wheels. Some weatherstripping is peeling. Dry spray with some mild scratches here and there. Some prep issues. Small crack in the hood. Fisheyes appearing in the paintwork. Cond: 2. NOT SOLD AT $165,000. Usually, Tankers were ordered to be raced with high-performance engines and manual transmissions. This one was ordered for export to Holland and was one of only 41 Tankers built in 1965. Came with plenty of documentation, May-June 2015 63 TOP 10

Page 62

MECUM AUCTIONS // Kissimmee, FL including the Protect-O-Plate. A rare Corvette that will be market-driven at sale time. #F266-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE coupe. VIN: 194377S116148. Black/black vinyl. Odo: 47,020 miles. Nice example of a 1967 Chevrolet Corvette coupe with the big kahuna 427/435 up front. Apparently damaged in the front end and repaired, with some repair patches starting to unwind. Light pitting of the chrome trim. Some rattlecan work under the hood. Chassis shows well. Cond: 2-. was a great example with some modest warts to iron out—but all the heavy lifting was done. The excellent chassis was icing on the cake. Very well bought. #S206.1-1971 CHEVROLET CORVETTE coupe. VIN: 194371S113413. Gray/black vinyl. Odo: 61,169 miles. 454-ci 425-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Driver’s door tight. Chrome shows some light scratches. Tank sticker and air pump included. Excellent condition under the hood, done to factory specs and not all dolled up. Small hole in driver’s seat. Fisheyes in paintwork, as well as some prep issues. Very nice shape overall. Cond: 2. #F237-1996 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Grand Sport coupe. VIN: 1G1YY2251T5600042. Blue/red leather. Odo: 2,100 miles. 5.7-L 330-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. Basically as-new with only a few small indications of prior use. Mileage “believed” correct but not documented. Driver’s seat is a tad baggy, but seems like a lot of them suffer from that. Spoiler is scraped up with some curb rash. Paint is as per the factory and in very nice condition. Zora Duntov signature on license plate insert, dash plaque, owner’s manual and sales brochure. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $162,000. This Corvette was restored by Naber’s Motors out of Houston, TX, which is a respected restoration shop noted for their high-quality workmanship. This example may have been damaged at one point, as we noted some issues with the front-end fiberglass. Still, the car presented well and came complete with three Regional Top Flight awards. Still fitted with the A.I.R. system, which speaks of the attention to detail. Right on the money for a 427/435 coupe. #S214-1969 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 194679S721007. Blue/ white vinyl/blue leather. Odo: 44,122 miles. 427-ci 400-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Missing some small trim items on the cowl. Small scuff in the window trim. Top is somewhat soiled. The gas cap sits rearward of the opening, which can sometimes indicate previous damage. Some trash and fisheyes in the paint. Chassis in very nice condition. Small crack by the door handle. The gauge pod trim is poorly fitted. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $162,000. This is one of only 188 LS6 Corvettes produced in 1971, with fewer than 75 known to exist. Loaded up with all sorts of documentation and awards, including the coveted Duntov Award. If you wanted to own a super-rare Corvette with a documented history from a respected collector, this was the one to buy. A fair deal all around and likely a great car to hold for future appreciaton. #T52-1980 CHEVROLET CORVETTE coupe. VIN: 1Z876AS421114. Silver/gray leather. Odo: 66 miles. 350-ci 230-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Driver’s door out. Paint fading on the rubber/plastic nose section. Intake has been sprayed silver, and it should be blue. Steering wheel is yellowed and peeling. Paint is mottled all around the car. Evidence of paintwork on various body panels. Interior looks good, but the carpet is more soiled than you would expect for the reported 66 miles. Cond: 4+. SOLD AT $77,760. Last seen at Mecum’s 2006 Bloomington Gold sale, selling for $65,100 with 1,890 miles (ACC# 42003). While Duntov would sign owner manuals, air cleaners and other items that you could hand him at a show or event, he didn’t make a habit of signing cars (unlike, say, Carroll Shelby), and the description here didn’t explicitly state that he had signed this car, even if he did sign the individual pieces. The car sold for about two times Grand Sport coupe money, so you be the judge if the signature added value. FOMOCO #T94-1931 FORD MODEL A pickup. VIN: A4657032. Green/brown vinyl. Odo: 511 miles. Good panel fit, better than factory. Some issues noted with the hood paint, minor in nature, but worthy of mentioning. Interior as-new, with little to fault. Engine bay nicely done but not over-the-top eye-candy. Bed is fresh with excellent wood and chrome inserts. All-steel body in excellent condition. A fresh restoration and it shows. Includes some photos of the original truck before it was restored, with the body SOLD AT $54,000. These are very rare Corvettes with the 400-horse Tri-Power induction. Good colors with a 4-speed adds to the desirability. Only built 1967–69 and rarer than the 435-horse examples. This 64 AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $25,920. Given the supposed original miles, the condition was pretty disappointing. The paint was spotty and inconsistent. One would expect the interior to present better, too. Under the hood there were signs of rattle-can work. All I can hope is that the new owner looked the car over carefully before bidding.

Page 63

MECUM AUCTIONS // Kissimmee, FL stripped to bare metal. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $30,240. This was a genuine short-box Model A pickup—not a conversion as many of them are. In great shape and seemed to start right up and run like a Model A should. Likely cost much more than this to get it into this condition, so I’d have to call it well bought. Just a nice, old, honest Model A pickup ready to use and enjoy. #F242-1941 FORD pickup. VIN: 186611856. Blue/green vinyl. Odo: 81,118 miles. Nice truck, but plenty of needs showing; likely an older restoration. Green seats over a blue exterior. Nice hand-painted “Ford” script on tailgate. Lots of modern zip-ties bundling wires and hoses together. Dust issues with the paint, and plenty of scratches, nicks and chips. Liberal use of glue to keep the weatherstripping in check. Cond: 3. small now, but could grow larger over time. Cond: 3+. NOT SOLD AT $65,000. The Boss 302 and Z/28 markets seem to be in a holding pattern. You might be able to toss in the AARs and T/As on the Mopar side, too. It seems that $50k-plus-or-minus is the selling range for a good example with only minor needs. For exceptional examples, especially those with great documentation, sellers can expect a premium. This was a nice example, but not exceptional by any means. High bid was all the money for it. #T292-1970 FORD TORINO GT 429 Super Cobra Jet 2-dr hard top. VIN: 0R38J129152. Red/black vinyl. Odo: 24,787 miles. 429-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Incredibly well done, top to bottom, with only minor flaws found, enough to bring it down to a #2+. Very straight body with good gaps. Oil cooler up front to keep the beast running a bit happier under heavy use. About as good as you will find. Cond: 2+. of collectors seeking out something a little different, and this is a good example of that. Very nice car, likely to take home a trophy at most any local show. Last seen at Mecum Houston in April of 2014, selling there for $84k (ACC# 253220). It sold well then, and this bid was more in line with the real value. MOPAR #S175-1967 DODGE HEMI CORONET 2-dr hard top. VIN: WO23J71207508. White/black vinyl. Odo: 2,663 miles. 426-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. Genuine WO23 factory Super Stock Hemi Coronet. Vast racing history. Battery in the trunk. Passenger’s door in. Very nice engine bay. Some trim is scratched. Interior appears to be original. Fisheyes noted in the paint, along with a few prep issues. Otherwise, near flawless paint and body. In the Chrysler Registry. Cond: 2+. NOT SOLD AT $37,000. The vintagepickup market is hot, and plenty of trucks are coming to auction. This was a nice presentation, but the odd blue exterior with green interior simply looked out of place. While this may have been great for a conversation, I doubt it did the truck any favors on the auction block, but the flatty under the hood will always bring it up a notch. High bid looked fair for both parties. #F227-1970 FORD MUSTANG Boss 302 coupe. VIN: 0T02G120889. Orange/black vinyl. Odo: 68,872 miles. 302-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Driver’s door out. Some dirt trapped under the rear glass edges. Small scratches in the rear quarter-windows. Engine bay shows some use and could have been detailed far better. Spray paint on some of the interior panels. The steering wheel appears to have been painted as well. Paint was well applied and is likely an older paint job. Some bubbling at the bottom of the doors— SOLD AT $94,500. These 429 SCJ Torino GTs sat under the radar for the longest time, with values stuck at mid-to-upper $30k due to the aging body style. Sure, not the sexiest car on the planet, but once you mash the pedal, you’ll likely forget all about the body lines. Guys were gathered around it talking about it selling for $50k, and I told them to up their ante to $75k. They looked at me like I had three heads. For an example in this condition with a third pedal, well sold but justified. #S93-1970 MERCURY COUGAR XR-7 convertible. VIN: 0F94Q526473. Dark blue/white vinyl/white vinyl. Odo: 259 miles. 428-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Trunk out along with passenger’s door. Grille chrome is slightly pitted. Some small areas of bubbling paint, but not from rust; more of an adhesion issue. Light scratches in some chrome and brightwork. Good top fit. Older restoration with some small chips in the paint. Sanding marks present in the bodywork. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $110,160. These are factory-built drag cars that were ready out of the box to hit the track. One of only 55 built. Very nice presentation and little to fault in most every regard. The Hemi market has been gaining ground, and although this was a genuine Hemi drag car, it simply lacks the sizzle with its plain-jane looks. Perhaps slightly well bought given the racing provenance, but seems in line with a few other WO23 sales. Well bought and sold. 9A145372. Black/white vinyl. Odo: 11,550 miles. 426-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Grille is a bit weathered. Near-perfect paint is just about flawless. Some pitting in the taillight assembly. Interior is clean and sharp. Engine bay is perfect. Believed to be original miles. Reported to be the only example as built and optioned. Cond: 1-. #F268-1969 PLYMOUTH HEMI ROAD RUNNER 2-dr hard top. VIN: RM23J- NOT SOLD AT $75,000. There are plenty May-June 2015 65 BEST BUY

Page 64

MECUM AUCTIONS // Kissimmee, FL SOLD AT $145,800. Striking black-overwhite Hemi-powered Road Runner stood tall and presented in better-than-new condition with nearly zero flaws. Superb paint applied in black, which is entirely unforgiving. Well documented and claimed to be a numbers-matching example of an original Road Runner with less than 11,600 miles. Very well bought and one of the best out there. #S191-1970 DODGE CHALLENGER R/T 440 Six Pack convertible. VIN: JS27V0B297522. Plum Crazy/white vinyl/white vinyl. Odo: 73,527 miles. 440-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Light polishing marks in the chrome surfaces. Body is very nice, straight with excellent paintwork. Air shocks mounted on the rear. Paint is flaking off the engine block. Chassis is in excellent condition. The resonators on the rear exhaust are rusted out, which is out of sorts for the balance of the car. Cond: 2+. built with a 4-speed. Miles believed actual. Cond: 2-. Odo: 15,765 miles. 426-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. Part of the Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection. Near-perfect car with documented low miles. One-of-one example. Some weathering on dash with some yellowing of the gauges. Some chips in grille. Rim-blow steering wheel. Some small waves in the trunk. Near-perfect paint. Chassis is undercoated but very well done. Engine bay shows well, not overdone, very correct all around. Miles are stated to be actual. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $151,200. Last seen at BarrettJackson Palm Beach in April of 2013, selling for $121k (ACC# 221190). This was a great example in nice condition overall. It’s not that the Hemi market is back—it’s not— but it has been showing signs of forward movement for the best cars. I think the value range has become more sensible, and buyers are at the ready for excellent examples. Slightly well bought. NOT SOLD AT $160,000. A genuine Vcode example, which designates the 440 Six Pack configuration. Part of what makes Mopars so desirable is that the engine size and type is part of the VIN. It makes these cars much harder to fake. Many times, nice examples will also include the fender tag and a broadcast sheet. Galen Govier paperwork adds a cherry on top, although it wasn’t included with this car. One step below the Hemi, but a good one. Bidding stopped at the low end of the market for condition, so I can’t say I disagree with the seller on this one. #S208-1970 DODGE HEMI CHALLENGER 2-dr hard top. VIN: JS23R0B122071. Red/ black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 22,840 miles. 426-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Trunk and passenger’s door out. Very correct presentation under the hood and not overdone. Chrome presents well and is nicely polished. Older paint with some small blisters forming along the upper quarter-panel seams. One of 137 #F22-1970 PLYMOUTH GTX 2-dr hard top. VIN: RS23V0A152467. Purple/white vinyl/white vinyl. Odo: 2,314 miles. 440-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, auto. Trunk lid out and passenger’s door is tight. Fisheyes in the paint along with some trapped dust. Straight and solid otherwise. Glass is scratched. Some added “shelf liner” wood-trim paper applied to dash as a quick fix to cover some issues. Trim is dented. Seats are soiled. Pitted rearview mirror. Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $243,000. Mr. Wellborn certainly had an affinity for 1971 Hemi Chargers, as the collection included five of them. Of the three that sold, Lot F201 was most expensive at $319k. While the market gravitates to the earlier models, Mr. Wellborn may have been the savvy one to grab the “fuselage”-body cars while they were being ignored. All of the cars were in excellent condition, and most of them sold well above book value. This one was no exception. SOLD AT $55,080. The good news is that the new owner bought a genuine Six Pack 440 V-code GTX—a very desirable Mopar. The bad news is that the car came with more than a few needs. Back to the good news: For the diligent car guy, many of those needs are a weekend away from being fixed. It’s a solid car that was reported to be running the original drivetrain. A good buy, but not a steal. CAR COLLECTOR 66 AmericanCarCollector.com AMERICAN 3R1A168948. Purple/white vinyl/white vinyl. ™ 6 AmericanCarCollector.com/subscribe SUBSCRIBE TO ACC 877.219.2605 Ext. 1 #F196-1971 DODGE HEMI CHARGER R/T 2-dr hard top. VIN: WS2- #F174-1974 PLYMOUTH ’CUDA 2-dr hard top. VIN: BS23L4B251623. Yellow/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 54,135 miles. 360-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Exhaust manifolds are very rusty, but the engine bay is clean otherwise. Firewall is also very clean, right down to the bottom edges. Replacement glass. Fitted with period Polyglas tires. Fisheyes on right rear fender. Nice chassis. Some bubbling under the vinyl roof, which is indicative of the body seam beginning to unwind. Cond: 3+. NOT SOLD AT $40,000. This was a welldone ’Cuda with all the original sheet metal, and it looked very nice throughout, but 1974 is not all that sought-after. Still, a good Ebody with a 360, 4-speed, two broadcast sheets, dealer paperwork. It’s a “two tag” example, which means the options list was so long all the codes wouldn’t fit on one tag. Claimed to be a matching-numbers car as well. I think the offer was fair. Anything more than this would be considered well sold. A TOP 10 Keith Martin’s

Page 66

GAA // Greensboro, NC GAA Classic Cars — Classic Cars at the Palace A 1950S-STYLE ’32 FORD STREET ROD BUILT WITH NOS PARTS TOPPED THE CHARTS AT $171K, AND I HAD TO CALL IT WELL BOUGHT GAA Classic Cars Greensboro, NC March 5, 2015 auctioneers: Eli Detweiler Jr., Mike Anderson, Ricky Parks automotive lots sold/ offered: 351/502 Sales rate: 70% Sales total: $7,694,618 High sale: 1932 Ford Model 18 roadster, sold at $170,660 Buyer’s premium: $500 up to $8,000; 6% thereafter, included in sold prices ACC 1–6 scale condition rating for vehicles in Market Reports 1. Perfect: National show standard 2. excellent: Club show-worthy, some small flaws 3. average: Daily driver in decent condition 4. Meh: Still a driver, with some visible flaws 5. Questionable: A problem-plagued beast that somehow manages to run 6. Lost cause: Salvageable for parts Craftsmanship and attention to detail helped this 1932 Ford roadster sell for $170,660 Report and photos by Mark Moskowitz, M.D. Market opinions in italics cars since 1986. They entered the classic-car niche 2½ years ago. Events take place three times a year, beginning on a Thursday night and spanning three days. Things start off with automobilia before 500 cars cross the block. The facility is bright, modern and purpose-built for T 68 AmericanCarCollector.com high-volume auctions — and is known as “The Palace.” Over 90% of the cars at the March sale were American. Forty-four were Camaros, 18 of which were said to be fully restored. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, prices averaged $9k, $21k and $29k, respectively. Saturday was the day for the premium offerings, clearly — and for the crowds. Among the 500-plus registered bidders were a num- here are no distractions at a GAA auction: no cars-and-coffee, no concours, no festivals. Just people buying and selling cars — mostly big cars with big chrome and big muscle. Greensboro Auto Auction has been selling ber of well-known collectors. Ted Vernon of Velocity’s “South Beach Classics” was present. He showed no interest in the high-roller section and chose to spend his time interacting with the crowd and auctioneers. Final sales totaled $7.7m, with 70% of the 502 cars sold. Forty-three vehicles found new homes post-auction through the GAA “Deal Doctor.” The most expensive car was a superbly executed ’32 Ford roadster, built with vintage and NOS parts. The period-style build was irresistible and would have fit in at any auction in Monterey or Scottsdale. At $171k, I have to call it well bought. A well-done 1970 Plymouth AAR ’Cuda with three deuces, a 4-speed and no reserve found a new owner at $56k. A 1964 Buick Riviera was a comparatively humble car, and it no-saled at $16k, but not due to lack of effort on the auctioneer’s part. To the contrary, it was refreshing to see the auctioneer expend as much effort on the Riviera as on a rare Mopar icon. A

Page 68

GAA // Greensboro, NC GM #ST-0115-1964 PONTIAC GTO convertible. VIN: 824P261028. Silvermist Gray/ black canvas/black vinyl. Odo: 4,613 miles. 389-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Notebook documents ground-up restoration. Single-family ownership. Very good paint and interior. Neat engine compartment. Good panel fit. Slight “waviness” of rear fenders detracts from an otherwise extremely good restoration. With a 4-speed Hurst stick; Redline tires. Cond: 2+. reserve, possibly due to questions about the drivetrain identity. SOLD AT $44,520. An extremely attractive car at a distance and up close; sold at an average price for these models. Seller should be happy and buyer happier. He has a car that can be driven and enjoyed. #ST-0111-1966 CHEVROLET NOVA SS 2-dr hard top. VIN: 118376N155123. Eng. # F0406ZI. Marina Blue/black vinyl. Odo: 48,944 miles. 327-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Fresh rotisserie restoration. Quality paint and door fit. Hood bowed. Flawed bumper chrome. Excellent interior. Immaculate engine with MSD box, chrome alternator and fuel lines, current NAPA battery. Block casting no. 3791362 matches stated L79 V8. Cond: 1-. #ST-0105-1987 BUICK GRAND NATIONAL coupe. VIN: 1G4GJ1172HP447196. Black/gray fabric. Odo: 28,770 miles. 3.8-L turbocharged V6, auto. A talented body shop owner restored this car in the early 2000s for his own use. He began stockpiling NOS extras 25 years ago. Deep glossy outstanding paint. Panel fit as-new. Interior like new. Minimal block paint loss. Power steering and brakes. Digital Dash, Concert II sound, a/c. Driven 3,800 miles over 15 years. Cond: 1-. less attractive to collectors. Owner may not find a higher offer. Blue/black canvas/chocolate leather. Odo: 76,477 miles. Correct 1950s era hot rod with obvious craftsmanship and attention to detail. Paint, interior and engine flawless. 1948 Mercury engine. Period mods include Ardun OHV heads, Vertex magneto, six Stromberg 81s, Halibrand wheels with knockoffs, quick-change rear end, Electroline 220 headlights, and WWII P-51 fuel tank. All parts NOS original or period-correct. Cond: 1-. 10 #ST-0083-1932 FORD MODEL 18 roadster. VIN: 1816245. Midnight SOLD AT $29,945. Average auction price for a good car that deserved more. The owner’s care in restoration and maintenance was obvious. Most feel these stealth rockets are on the upswing. Do it all in comfort and at low cost: Get your AACA badges, tour with confidence and climate control, embarrass same-year Corvette owners, simultaneously channel your inner Darth Vader and Bobby Allison, and never polish chrome again! NOT SOLD AT $40,000. Very quick and very rare Chevy II restored to a very good standard. L79 models can sell for double this high bid. Owner was correct to wait. #ST-0054-1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO RS Z/28 coupe. VIN: 124379N518770. Cortez Silver/black vinyl/black vinyl & houndstooth. Odo: 70,240 miles. 302-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Frame-off restoration with first-rate paint, trim and interior finish. Engine bay near perfect. Original smog control device in place. Two 4-barrel carbs, oval air cleaner and housing, yet circular cutout. Cond: 1-. NOT SOLD AT $74,000. One of 44 Camaros offered at this auction. Everyone present recognized the outstanding craftsmanship. Bidding did not reach 70 AmericanCarCollector.com FOMOCO #ST-0012-1928 FORD MODEL A roadster pickup. VIN: CA94208. Dark green & black/ black vinyl/tan. Odo: 56 miles. Attractive roadster pickup with dark green paint with Apple Green insert and Tacoma Cream pinstripe and wheels. Frame-off restoration. Paint chipped and cracked, pinstripe application not optimal. Poor panel fit. Ill-fitting wood bed. Enhancements include functioning swing-out windshield and chrome radiator shell, screen, headlight rings, Motometer. Cond: 3. NOT SOLD AT $25,000. Effort and some expensive touches invested, but final product did not seem professional and did not withstand close scrutiny. While pickups seem desirable lately, Model A Fords seem less and SOLD AT $170,660. This custom roadster was the auction’s feature car. It spent the weekend fenced from the crowd, steps from the entrance. Information desk personnel served as security. Paint, upholstery and proportions were perfect, with rare goodies. Money invested was obvious. With owner consultation, the reserve was released in the $150k range. Well bought and appropriately sold. #FR-0254-1939 FORD STANDARD 2-dr sedan. VIN: 54424177. Black/gray leather. Odo: 42,361 miles. Ten-year-old restoration with great exterior paint, chrome and glass. Some paint loss in engine compartment. Stock dash; custom seat and door panels. Period modifications include oversized wheels and tires, ’56 Olds hubcaps, finned Edelbrock heads, aluminum intake manifold, and banjo steering wheel. Cond: 2+. NOT SOLD AT $31,500. Outstanding example of a Ford coupe with period modifications well cared for since last restoration. It was no stretch to imagine this car tearing through North Wilkesboro, NC—moonshine capital of the world and the birthplace of TOP 10

Page 70

GAA // Greensboro, NC fiberglass/ red vinyl. Odo: 780 miles. 289-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Fresh paint, well executed to driver quality. Attractive new vinyl interior. Fiberglass body with excellent panel fit. Engine compartment not well finished. New whitewall Coker tires. Said to have a 289 V8, source not mentioned. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $12,455. Incredible eye appeal purchased for little money. Buyer was thrilled, and seller should should not have expected more from a knowledgeable crowd. Fairly bought and sold. NASCAR—a mere 80 miles from the auction. This car went across the block nine hours into the auction and six cars from Friday’s end. The owner was right to wait for more. Lesser, similar cars commanded higher bids. #ST-0153-1957 FORD THUNDERBIRD convertible. VIN: E7FH164916. Dusk Rose/black fiberglass/black & white vinyl. Odo: 31 miles. 312-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. Fabulous paint, single scratch on driver’s door chrome, 31 miles since restoration, interior and engine bay flawless. Rare dual quads with oval air cleaner. Power steering, brakes, windows and seats. Slight gap at driver’s door, and I doubt Ford did better. Winner of two gold medallions. Cond: 1-. #ST-0089-1962 FORD GALAXIE 500 2-dr hard top. VIN: 2J63Z118398. White/red vinyl. Odo: 3,205 miles. 390-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Six-year frame-off restoration. Welldone paint with good panel fit. Chrome fender ornaments pitted. Interior new. Red carpets. Fiberglass blister hood, cold air induction, period-correct headers and three deuces adorn immaculate engine bay. Superb chassis detail. Power front disc brakes. Cond: 2+. suggested by multiple sales over $200k. This automatic-transmission model reached $175k at Mecum Monterey in 2013 and did not sell (ACC# 230733). The sweet spot at the Greensboro auction is under $100k; this Ford red-lighted at $105k. #ST-0109-1968 SHELBY GT500 convertible. VIN: 8T03514335101330. Wilmington White/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 2,915 miles. 428-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. A North Carolina car that has hardly been driven or shown since its seven-year restoration 20 years ago. Condition has held up well. Originally Lime Gold. Scratches in windshield chrome, molding surrounding boot and sills. Interior excellent. Minor engine paint loss near headers. Replacement carburetor. Power steering and brakes. Shelby Register, Marti Report. Cond: 2+. NOT SOLD AT $37,500. Previously seen at Mecum Dallas in September 2013, not sold at $48k (ACC# 235775). Built custom inspired by Ford race cars, with some correct details. Bidders were not into it. NOT SOLD AT $80,000. Fabulous restoration of a car with not much upside. Thunderbirds have not had a steep appreciation curve. While the effort and money spent are obvious, the car is an E-code rather than the rarer and more valuable supercharged F-code. Still, two fours are better than one, and I believe the seller was right to hold out for a stronger offer. #ST-0057-1957 FORD THUNDERBIRD Presidential replica convertible. VIN: T201532982PF23008A. Red/white NOT SOLD AT $105,000. This was the real deal—a no-holds-barred straight-line racer and extremely well preserved. Although quickly eclipsed by its little brother, the lighter Fairlane Thunderbolt, the Galaxie 500 is a significant part of Ford history, as 72 AmericanCarCollector.com NOT SOLD AT $38,000. The Talladega body was specially designed to compete in the “Aero Wars,” and the cars were most successful, winning 29 NASCAR races in 1969 and 1970. Although the winged Superbird and Dodge Daytona it competed against were not as successful on the track, they clobbered the Talladega as a collectible. Prices have been rising, however. Though the high bid here was near market, #ST-0126-1964 FORD GALAXIE 500 Lightweight 2-dr hard top. VIN: 4A66R145461. Wimbledon White/red vinyl. Odo: 602 miles. 427-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. Mostly original paint with no flaws; minimal pitting to vent window chrome. Classic spartan interior with rubber floor covering. Immaculate engine bay with high-rise intake and forced air system. No radio, no heater. Full history and documentation. Said to be one of 25 produced with automatic transmission. Cond: 1-. NOT SOLD AT $107,000. A respected South Carolina restorer marketed this car. Great appearance, 4-speed stick, convertible. Seller was wise to wait. Still, keeping this tiger chained up for 20 years is a tragedy. #ST-0124-1969 FORD TORINO Talladega 2-dr hard top. VIN: 9A46Q207116. Royal Maroon/black vinyl. Odo: 1,889 miles. 428ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Excellent paint and interior. Minimal superficial scratches in chrome. One of 748. Long nose and rolled rocker panels are correct for a real Talladega. Marti Report. Excellent car out of Rick Hendrick Collection. Cond: 1-.

Page 72

GLOVEBOXNOTES GAA // Greensboro, NC By Jeff Stites 2015 Dodge Charger R/T 4-dr sedan this low-mileage example should command more, and seller was right to wait. #ST-0066-1970 SHELBY GT350 fastback. VIN: 0F02M481090. Silver Jade/black vinyl & fabric. Odo: 69,049 miles. 351-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Frame-up restoration, date unknown. Difficult-to-match Silver Jade with surface scratches and dust inclusions in paint. Wiper scratches in windshield. Good panel fit. Well-done interior and engine compartment. Power steering and brakes. Factory build sheets included. Cond: 2-. Price as tested: $36,580 equipment: 370-hp 5.7-liter Hemi, Torqueflite 8-speed automatic, Customer Preferred Package Mileage: 16 city/25 highway Likes: Ample power, ergonomically wonderful, with the best touch-screen entertainment/Nav system on the market and exterior styling that says “modern muscle” while still presenting subtle cues of its lineage. Dislikes: Not much to fault here other than it having two doors too many and missing a sunroof. A power sunroof can be added for $1,195 but ordering two fewer doors is somehow missing from the options list. Verdict: I’m impressed with the newest Chrysler products, this Charger included. It’s priced right for all that’s included, sporty and spirited enough for me to have fun with it and yet retains enough practicality for daily use. Fun to drive: eye appeal: Overall experience: ½ ½ NOT SOLD AT $61,000. Ford-built Mustang (not Shelby) restored but not to concours quality. This car did not sell at Mecum St. Charles in September 2011 (bid to $60k, ACC# 184404) and at Mecum Kansas City in December 2011 (bid to $62,500, ACC# 196768). The market has now spoken three times. MOPAR #FR-0146-1970 PLYMOUTH ’CUDA 2-dr hard top. VIN: BS23H0B425368. Limelight Medium Green/black vinyl/green vinyl. Odo: 93,150 miles. 340-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Wellpreserved paint. Great panel fit. Mirrors pitted. Patched vinyl top. Dash cracked. Engine compartment aged. PS, PB and a/c. Column shifter, fog lamps, factory spoiler with factory supports, and absent console add interest. Unrestored car with documents including window sticker, order form and service records. Cond: 3. NOT SOLD AT $142,500. Superbirds, especially Hemis, are now established collectibles. Prices are rising, though not as quickly for cars with a 440 powerplant. Often cloned, this car had an impeccable provenance. Paint imperfections may have held it back. In today’s market, effort and money spent on correcting these imperfections should be amply rewarded. #ST-0059-2000 PLYMOUTH PROWLER convertible. VIN: IP3EW65G4YV605179. Black/black/black leather. Odo: 48,916 miles. 3.5-L fuel-injected V6, auto. Paint excellent for age, with minor polishing scratches. Good panel fit. Well-cared-for interior consistent with age, as is engine compartment. Mild custom touches such as front bumper removed, chromed grille and front suspension. Chrome peeling on inner side of factory chrome wheels. Mopar trailer hitch. Borla exhaust. New hard and soft top. Keyless entry. Cond: 2. interior. Immaculate engine. Great panel fit. A few superficial scratches in chrome. Dust inclusion in paint on doors and wing supports. One of 716 440 Six Pack Superbirds. Chrysler and Superbird registries. #593 on list of Superbird NASCAR VINs. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $39,750. Well-documented ’Cuda with baseline engine and a few interesting options sold to the right audience for all the money. Seller should be happy. #ST-0090-1970 PLYMOUTH SUPERBIRD 440 Six Pack 2-dr hard top. VIN: RM23V0A16708. Vitamin C Orange/black vinyl/ black & silver vinyl. Odo: 12,637 miles. 440ci V8, 3x2-bbl, auto. Striking orange Superbird. Correct wing supports, etc. Excellent 74 AmericanCarCollector.com AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $21,412. Stunning in triple black with chrome accents. High production numbers, high mileage and the trailer hitch may have discouraged bidders. Buyer got a wellequipped boulevard cruiser at a bargain price. AMERICANA #ST-0056-1954 KAISER MANHATTAN 2-dr sedan. VIN: K5450110210. Candy Apple Red/gray leather. Odo: 73,073 miles. V8, 4-bbl, auto. Resto-mod with attractive, well-done paint, pinstripes and interior. Door and hood fit issues. Bondo in right front fender and cowl. Bumper and grille chrome

Page 73

GAA // Greensboro, NC look new. Buffing scratches in older chrome trim. Olds Rocket V8 (displacement unspecified) dirty with overspray. Has a/c. Cond: 2-. rated. Dented chrome with some pitting. Poor panel fit. Interior and engine clean and neat. Factory supercharger and wire-wheel hubcaps. Front disc brake conversion. Cond: 2. miles. 390-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Excellent paint and panel fit. Excellent chrome (replated). Interior attractive, with some trim fit issues and slightly musty odor. Engine bay well done. Amber lights and headlights clouded. Go Package with power front disc brakes, Ram Air scoop and handling modifications. Hurst shifter. Reported 1,800 hours of labor invested, resulting in a great finished product. Cond: 1-. NOT SOLD AT $32,000. Darrin design, rarity and great paint drew crowds of onlookers but few bidders. This auction attracted a room full of buyers for other resto-mods and hot rods, but none stepped up to meet this seller’s expectations. So it goes. #FR-0233-1957 STUDEBAKER GOLDEN HAWK 2-dr hard top. VIN: 6102930. Tiara Gold/gold vinyl. Odo: 82,107 miles. 289-ci supercharged V8, auto. Said to have previous frame-up restoration. Above-average paint with bare spots where trim has sepa- SOLD AT $40,545. This eye-catching gold car was well placed for maximum traffic. I was surprised that seller did not address trim issues prior to the sale. On the block, bidding slowed, and the seller dropped his reserve. Better examples of this distinctive supercharged Loewy-designed coupe command a premium. Owner was wise to sell this one. #FR-0242-1970 AMC AMX 2-dr hard top. VIN: A0M397X209002. Golden Lime Metallic/black vinyl. Odo: 34,375 SOLD AT $36,040. Great exterior and fair interior restoration for the pinnacle AMC muscle car, with enough options to make this a very desirable car. I think the late Friday time slot and the car’s mildew smell may have hampered bidding. Very well bought. A May-June 2015 75 BEST BUY

Page 74

LEAKE // Oklahoma City, OK Leake — Oklahoma City 2015 AN ALL-ORIGINAL 1966 CORVETTE COUPE ONCE OWNED BY RACER/COLLECTOR WES ABENDROTH SOLD STRONG AT $55K Leake Auction Company Oklahoma City, OK February 20–21, 2015 auctioneers: Jim Richie, Brian Marshall, Bobby Ehlert, Tony Langdon automotive lots sold/ offered: 305/393 Sales rate: 78% Sales total: $6,430,353 High american sale: 1967 Chevrolet Corvette convertible resto-mod, sold at $154,000 Buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold prices ACC 1–6 scale condition rating for vehicles in Market Reports 1. Perfect: National show standard 2. excellent: Club show-worthy, some small flaws 3. average: Daily driver in decent condition 4. Meh: Still a driver, with some visible flaws 5. Questionable: A problem-plagued beast that somehow manages to run 6. Lost cause: Salvageable for parts 1966 Chevrolet Corvette 327/300 coupe, sold well at $54,725 Report and photos by Andy Staugaard and Elise Levy Market opinions in italics W 76 AmericanCarCollector.com hether you prefer your classic Detroit iron in stock configuration or customized for performance and style, Leake’s Oklahoma City auction in February was the place to be. The top two American- made sales were a 1967 Corvette resto-mod, sold at $154k, and a 1971 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 convertible, extremely well bought at $85,250. One of the bestpreserved cars was an all-original 1966 Corvette coupe once owned by racer/collector Wes Abendroth. It sold strongly at $55k. At the lower end of the price scale, a 1963 Ford Falcon convertible 6-banger changed hands at $8,910, and an exceptionally nice, fully documented red/red 1989 Chevrolet Corvette convertible went for $15,400. Either car would make an outstanding low-cost entry into the collecting hobby and could be shown, driven around town and enjoyed on long trips. Leake did $6.4m in sales with a 78% sell-through rate. These stats, along with the number, quality and variety of cars at this auction, show that the Heartland collector market is alive and well. A couple of high-quality cars surprised me when they failed to sell, however, such as a documented and registered 1970 Chevelle LS6 with a reserve of $95k and a 1969 Olds 442 W-32 sport coupe that halted at a high bid of $37k. With OKC being an oil town, I wondered if the current deflated oil market had something to do with it. One of my favorite trucks was a 1972 Chevrolet C10 Cheyenne Super with an excellent restoration that sold for $37k. That price confirms that these vehicles are moving up fast in the market. Still, a 1972 C10 in good driver condition sold for just $10,230, leaving plenty of room for a cosmetic restoration and upside potential — and my guess is that the buyer knew exactly what he was doing.A

Page 75

LEAKE // Oklahoma City, OK GM #486-1951 CHEVROLET 3100 pickup. VIN: JBA559292. Blue/black vinyl. Odo: 45,000 miles. 216-ci I6, 1-bbl, 3-sp. Bodyoff restoration and matching-numbers engine. The panel fit is good. The body and paint are excellent, as is the chrome. The engine bay and undersides are restored to the same level as the body. The wheels are original with original hubcaps and nicely restored. The thing that distracts is the interior. It is not restored nearly to the level of the body. In fact, it has a hole in the floorboard. Cond: 2-. & white leather. 5.7-L fuel-injected V8, auto. Really nice ’57 Chevy resto-mod. Rotisserie nut-and-bolt restoration. Fitted with a Corvette LS1 engine, nicely chromed. The panel fit, paint and chrome are all excellent. With rack-and-pinion steering, a/c, 4-wheel disc brakes, mahogany tilt steering wheel, 18-inch front wheels and 20-inch rears. The chrome mags and low-profile tires really set it off. Cond: 1-. NOT SOLD AT $66,000. This is a beautiful car with an excellent restoration all the way around, but with these resto-mods, the price is in the eye of the bidder. This car was seen at Leake in Tulsa in 2014 and did not sell there at a high bid of $59k (ACC# 251797), which makes this high bid seem fair. NOT SOLD AT $26,000. The lack of interior restoration really held this truck back. Otherwise it might have gone past $30k and would probably have sold. #471-1953 BUICK ROADMASTER convertible. VIN: 16841467. Mandarin Red Sienna/white vinyl/cream leather. Odo: 56,462 miles. 322-ci V8, 2-bbl, 3-sp. Excellent paint and chrome, but door fit is off. Rechromed throughout, and it all looks like jewelry on this big car. Kelsey-Hayes spoke chrome wheels with big whitewalls set things off. The interior has been restored better than factory-new—absolutely no wear. Even the underside has been nicely restored. Power everything and original radio. The listing states that the car was custom ordered for Admiral Crowe of Norfolk, VA. Excellent overall. Cond: 1-. #188-1962 CHEVROLET IMPALA convertible. VIN: 21867F158460. Black/black vinyl/ black leather. Odo: 17,153 miles. 409-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. A good example. The repaint is nice, with minor polishing swirls. The only body problem is poor hood fit, which should be easily corrected. The bumper chrome is very attractive, but the trim chrome is scratched. Dual chrome exhaust extenders and dual rear antennas really set it off. The wheels look correct but have some curb rash. Interior looks original and in very good condition for its age. Glass is clear and clean. The engine bay with its big 409 is very impressive. No documentation displayed. Cond: 3+. NOT SOLD AT $90,000. What a gorgeous car. Aside from a few minor restoration issues, this car should have drawn top dollar in the neighborhood of $100k. The seller stuck to his reserve and rightly so. #474-1957 CHEVROLET BEL AIR custom 2-dr hard top. VIN: VC57S105964. Red/red SOLD AT $41,800. This car is nice and could demand more money if all-original, but I found no documentation to verify that the 409 engine was original. The car sold at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale, January 2014, for $45k (ACC# 240484) and no-saled a month later at Leake OKC with a high bid of $33k. The quick-flip attempt and negative profit does not inspire confidence, but the price does look market-correct. #184-1968 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE SS 396 2-dr hard top. VIN: 138378K215592. May-June 2015 77

Page 76

LEAKE // Oklahoma City, OK Red/black striping/red vinyl. Odo: 27,620 miles. 396-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Door, hood, and trunk panel fit are not very good. The paint is nice, with some nicks and polishing scratches. The chrome also has several polishing scratches and swirls. It has the original Rally wheels and new Redline tires. The interior is good and most likely restored. Vintage Air. The engine bay is only fair and needs a cosmetic restoration. The quality of the overall restoration is only fair. No documentation displayed. Cond: 3. a beautiful orange houndstooth interior. Some minor polish scratches in the paint. The wheels are original chrome with new radial tires. The glass is good and clear. I just wish the underside were restored to match the topside. Cond: 2. windows, power locks, power top and factory a/c. The build sheet and all service records from 1988 are included. Cond: 2+. NOT SOLD AT $65,000. The car appeared to be correct but could not be verified without documentation. A Z/28 has good upside investment potential if bought right. A little elbow grease would bring this up to a level 1 car. The high bid was within range. SOLD AT $33,825. With a few dollars and a little elbow grease, this could be a great car. It has the right stuff and a lot of upside potential with its 396 engine and Vintage Air. As-is, it is just an average driver and might win some local shows. The right money for its condition. Both buyer and seller should be happy. #1151-1968 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE SS 396 2-dr hard top. VIN: 138378A111926. Red/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 30,743 miles. 396-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Door and hood fit is poor, as well as the repaint job and the chrome with its many scratches. The underside needs a lot of cleaning and elbow grease. The only thing going for it is the rebuilt 396 engine; engine bay needs detailing, though. With original window sticker and Protect-O-Plate. Cond: 3. #464-1969 OLDSMOBILE 442 W-32 2-dr hard top. VIN: 344779M317215. White/red vinyl. Odo: 93,581 miles. 400-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Older restoration appears very correct. Body fit, paint and chrome are good to excellent. The interior restoration is also excellent. Wheels look original, with new Redline tires. The auction listing states that this car is one of 25 W-32 Sport Coupes produced and one of two known to exist. However, no documentation observed. Although the second “4” in 442 originally referred to a 4-sp manual transmission, the W-32 was only available with an automatic. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $60,500. Nicely restored, although I cannot understand the lack of quality restoration of the underside on so many of these restored cars. I guess they don’t expect a guy like me to get down on my knees with a flashlight. Otherwise, the car really looked good and will make someone very happy. It sold at the high end of market. Well sold. #2479-1970 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE SS 454 LS6 2-dr hard top. VIN: 136370R218407. Cranberry Red/black vinyl. Odo: 33,398 miles. 454-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Gorgeous matching-numbers car. Excellent body-off restoration. The only fault I can find is a bit of poor fit on the trunk lid. Otherwise, the body, paint, chrome, interior, engine bay and underside are all excellent. It is optioned with power steering, performance suspension, 12-bolt Positraction rear end and full gauges. Documentation includes build sheet, warranty card, window sticker and copy of its registration with the LS6 Registry. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $15,400. A little bit of money and hard work could have at least doubled the money for this original SS 396. The car has great investment potential and begs to be restored. If it were mine, I would have some fun driving it for a while, and then restore it and make a profit. Well bought. #2480-1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO Z/28 coupe. VIN: 124379N672588. Dover White/ orange houndstooth vinyl. Odo: 35,198 miles. 302-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Well-optioned Z/28 restored with good panel fit, paint and 78 AmericanCarCollector.com NOT SOLD AT $37,000. I was impressed with this car, assuming it was a true numbers-matching 442. This would be a good car to have in any muscle car collection with its low production numbers and market potential. Seller was wise to hold out for more. #2486-1970 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE SS 396 convertible. VIN: 136670L139758. Red/black vinyl/black. Odo: 64,061 miles. 396-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Good door fit, poor hood fit. The body and repaint are good, with minimal scratches and chips. The chrome has just a few polishing scratches. The interior is very good, showing little wear. Wheels are bright chrome with new white raised-letter radials. The underside is poor and does not match the quality of the topside restoration. Options include power NOT SOLD AT $85,000. This was one of my favorite cars in the auction. Top-notch investment-grade Chevelle LS6. The low ACC Pocket Price Guide price for a #2 example is $90k, and this should have sold for well above that figure. Seller was wise to walk away and wait for a better day. #172-1972 CHEVROLET C10 pickup. VIN: CCE142S190452. Red/red & black leather. Odo: 60,681 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Body appears to be all original. Lots of scratches and swirls in the paint and minor scratches on the chrome. The interior is nicely restored. The glass is tinted, and the wheels are custom mags with tires that have seen some miles. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $10,230. This truck is a good 20-footer and would make an excellent driver. These BEST BUY

Page 78

LEAKE // Oklahoma City, OK trucks have been increasing in value over the past couple of years, with average prices climbing into the $30k range since the new year. Well bought. #458-1972 CHEVROLET C10 Cheyenne Super pickup. VIN: CCE142S146510. Blue & white/blue & white. Odo: 10 miles. 350-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. Ten miles since restoration. The panel fit, paint and chrome are all excellent, with no scratches. The engine bay is excellent with lots of chrome—almost too much for my taste. The wheels are polished chrome with new radials. Lots of hours must have been spent making the wooden bed so beautiful. The glass and underside are excellent. No documentation. More stunning now than when it was new. Cond: 1-. and, I suspect, original tires, with only 8,082 total miles. Has all the necessary documentation, including the original window sticker. This is number 124 of 547 built. The only fault is the underside, which needs to be restored to match the level of the topside. Cond: 2+. NOT SOLD AT $77,000. GM produced 547 of these cars in 1987—one for each of its Buick dealers. The retail price tag was $30k—a lot of money for a Buick in 1987. This car was last seen at Leake’s November 2013 Dallas sale, where it sold for $69k (ACC# 231537). ACC featured a similar GNX in the January/February 2015 issue that sold at Mecum’s fall 2014 Chicago sale for $105k. However, that one had under 50 miles on the odometer. The seller would only have broken even at this bid, so he was wise to not sell. CORVETTE #2472-1962 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 20867S101588. Black/ black hard top/soft vinyl top/black vinyl. Odo: 26,369 miles. 327-ci 360-hp fuel-injected V8, 4-sp. Triple-black C1 in very good condition. Door fit is good on the right side but not very good on the left. Original paint is deep. with minor polishing scratches. Both tops included. Chrome is good. Interior shows a little wear and some metal scratches. Original Wonderbar radio and correct generator, radiator and overflow tank. Correct wheels, hubcaps and tires. Underside is just fair, with some rust. Service records from 1984 to 2014 are included. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $36,850. The right color combination, bed and restoration. These ’70s Chevy trucks are on the move and make excellent investments if bought at the right price. As nice as this one is, it sold on the high side of the market. #466-1987 BUICK GNX coupe. VIN: 1G4GJ1179HP446465. Black/black & gray cloth. Odo: 8,082 miles. 3.8-L turbocharged V6, auto. Looks like it just came off the assembly line. Original paint is excellent for its age; just some minor fading. The fit is good, and interior is excellent. Original wheels NOT SOLD AT $65,000. This was a goodlooking, desirable Corvette. The last year of the C1 solid axle and the first year of the 327 engine. Maybe the door fit and underside rust held it back, but it should have demanded at least $90k. The owner was wise to walk away. #2467-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE coupe. VIN: 30837S103163. Eng. # 3782870. Ermine White/navy blue vinyl. Odo: 33,414 miles. 327-ci 360-hp fuel-injected V8, 4-sp. Everything about this car is excellent to perfect. It looks better than it did in 1963 when it was delivered. Even the clock works, and that is rare in a C2 Corvette. This is one of the nicest Split-Windows that I have seen, and I own one myself. Cond: 1-. 80 AmericanCarCollector.com NOT SOLD AT $155,000. At this price, the only thing I would like to see is more documentation. The car earned an NCRS Top Flight in 2008, and it did not appear that much had changed since then. These cars have really taken off just this past year and are great investment collectibles. High bid was toward the top of the market range, but why sell it if you are able to wait and you think it still has upside? #452-1964 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 40867S120111. Eng. # 3782870. Ermine White/black vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 63,612 miles. 327-ci 365-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Very nicely restored Corvette. All panels fit well, including the headlight buckets. The paint and chrome are excellent, with few scratches. The cast-aluminum knockoffs were an option in 1964, but the sidepipes were not. The interior is excellent, with all gauges restored. It has power windows, power brakes, factory air, and teak wood steering wheel. All owner receipts are provided. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $70,400. Looks like a new car and, depending on originality and correctness, would be a good candidate for NCRS judging. (The sidepipes would have to go.) Good investment, except for the fact that ’64 Corvettes get no respect compared with other C2 years. High ACC Pocket Price Guide valuation is $72k, so it looks like this Corvette did get some respect. Well sold. #442-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE coupe. VIN: 194376S105702. Eng. # 3892657. Blue/blue leather. Odo: 56,932 miles. 327-ci 300-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Good panel fit all around and good headlight bucket fit. Window molding needs restoration. Very good paint and chrome, with only a few scratches. Wheels and hubcaps are correct, but hubcaps need to be buffed out. The interior is nice and has its original radio. The engine bay needs a cosmetic restoration, and so does the underside. Factory power

Page 80

LEAKE // Oklahoma City, OK windows, power steering and a/c. Auction listing states that the car was once owned by race car collector Wes Abendroth. No documentation provided. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $54,725. This appeared to be an all-original car that could use a good cosmetic restoration to move it into #2 condition territory. The base 300-hp engine and automatic transmission will hold it back at any auction, but it will make a great driver with its power steering and a/c. Well sold. #460-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 194677S102280. Eng. # 3892657. Ermine White/black vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 44,359 miles. 327-ci 350-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Good panel fit, including the headlight buckets. New paint with no visible scratches. Chrome has minor pitting. Wheels are nice and accented with new Redline tires. Engine bay is not very clean and could use an inexpensive cosmetic restoration. The underside is in fair condition. No documentation found. No mention of matching numbers in the auction listing. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $24,200. The C3 Corvettes (1968–82) are beginning to take off in the auction world. My guess is that young Boomers and old Gen Xers are buying them because these were the Corvettes of their high-school days. I’d think you could get a nicer one than this for $20k or less. Well sold. #179-1989 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 1G1YY3187K5117333. Eng. # 14093638. Red/white vinyl/red leather. Odo: 35,000 miles. 5.7-L 245-hp fuel-injected V8, auto. Power windows, power seats, power locks, power rack-and-pinion steering. Very good panel fit. Minor buffing scratches and rock chips. The interior is immaculate for this many miles. The original vinyl top looks like new. The engine bay is all original and very clean. The owner added rare HRE 17-inch chrome wheels, and the original wheels are included with the sale. Extensively documented with all owner service records. Cond: 2-. investment potential. However, they make great entry-level Corvette drivers. Low ACC Pocket Price Guide valuation for this car is $24k. Well bought. FOMOCO #462-1929 FORD MODEL A tourer. VIN: A1386064. Green & black/tan vinyl/tan leather. Odo: 500 miles. Nice restoration of a classic car. Panels fit well. Paint, chrome and glass are excellent. Engine bay looks like new. Restored original spoked wheels. The top and interior leather seats look like new. Rare toolkit and rear trunk are included. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $29,425. This collector car belongs in a museum. Too nice for a daily—or even occasional—driver. The car is stunning with an excellent restoration. Both the buyer and seller should go home happy with this sale. NOT SOLD AT $49,000. Nicely restored small-block C2. The only concern I had was the identity of the drivetrain. These can hit $100k, but originality is key. Market-correct high bid, all things considered. Still, it’s a nice Corvette that will always be in demand. #2497-1974 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 1Z67Z4S429355. Red/ white vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 78,116 miles. 454-ci 270-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. This is a fair red-over-red big-block C3 driver. The door and hood fit are good. The older repaint has some cracks on the panel edges. The interior shows some wear, consistent with its 78k miles. The engine bay is poor and needs detailing. The hood insulation is torn and hanging down. Optioned with factory a/c, power steering, power disc brakes and power windows. The car appears to be mostly original. Cond: 3-. 82 AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $15,400. Although the C4s are probably the least desirable generation of Corvettes, they are hot cars with all the bells and whistles and are fun to drive. Because of their relatively low prices, they make a great entry into the Corvette world. They can be driven on long trips and around town. This was an exceptionally nice one and sold for the right money. Well bought and sold. #140-1995 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Pace Car convertible. VIN: 1G1YY32P5S5112735. Dark purple & white/white vinyl/black & purple leather. Odo: 30,000 miles. 5.7-L 300-hp fuel-injected V8, auto. Great-looking original paint with minor polishing scratches. Fit is good, with no evidence of body damage. The interior is original and in good shape for its age. Appears to be a mostly original car. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $21,450. One of 527. Last sold at Mecum in May 2013 for $19,260 (ACC# 223138). Aside from ZR-1s, C4s do not have very good #115-1963 FORD FALCON convertible. VIN: 3H1SU129969. Red/white vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 71,919 miles. 170-ci I6, 1-bbl, auto. In desperate need of a repaint. Lots of chips, swirls and scratches. Poor fit, scratchy chrome. Original interior and engine, but both need cosmetic restoration. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $8,910. Market potential would be much better if it had a V8. The price is probably about right for this 6-banger because the ACC Premium Auction Database

Page 82

LEAKE // Oklahoma City, OK QUICKTAKE 1974 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 coupe SOLD at $26,070 VIN 1S87T4N159028 Leake, Oklahoma City, OK, February 20–21, 2015, Lot 201 shows an average price of $18k for all Falcons sold last year. This car would make a great daily driver as-is, assuming all mechanical parts work properly. A restoration, including a repaint, would increase the value and create upside potential. Well bought and sold. Both the buyer and seller should go home feeling good about this one. #497-1966 FORD MUSTANG convertible. VIN: 6F08C319922. Black/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 35,084 miles. 289-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Nicely restored triple-black Mustang. It has power steering, power top, factory a/c, original radio, and original jack and lug wrench. The panel fit and paint are excellent. I cannot detect any polishing swirls in the black finish. The chrome is like new, with no evidence of polishing scratches. The wheels are highly polished chrome mags with Redline tires that really look nice on this black Mustang. The original owner’s manual is included, but I can find no other documentation. Cond: 2+. ated. It turns out there are a number of people still holding onto the notion that a mullet and DUI come standard with these cars. Way back in ACC #4 on p. 44, Jay Harden did a fine job dispelling many myths about early Second-gen Camaros have a bad reputation among the uniniti- ’70s Camaros and their owners while noting, “It’s unrealistic to expect that second-gen cars will ever surpass the 1967–69 cars in value, but it is reasonable to assume that their values may share similar trajectories over the years.” The 1971 Z/28 he profiled was a good deal more desirable (and expensive at $48k) than our example, but the sentiment still holds. Sure, this Z is less revered when contrasted with the originals from 1967, but it’s foolish not to consider where they came from. The Trans-Am series, for which the Z/28 was built, started to falter earnestly in 1973, in part from the oil crisis, but also from constricting emissions and higher safety standards. By 1974 the series ran only three races — a far cry from the 12 in the Camaro’s first season in 1967. These cars weren’t failures foisted onto the buying public while Chevrolet chuckled all the way to the bank. These were the next evolution in muscle cars. The horsepower wars of the 1960s were done and over with, replaced with emissions controls and a newfound focus on the rest of the car. One thing often forgotten is how much better these cars handle when contrasted with their forebears, and how much more comfortable the seats are. It is a shame, however, about the impact-bumper appearance, but no automaker got that right for at least a decade. Chevrolet introduced a number of firsts for the Camaro in 1974, including radial tires, brake-wear sensors, HEI and ignition keys that only fit in the ignition. How many of these items have you seen retrofitted on previous models? Outside of barn finds and “original” cars, I can’t think of any classic Camaros I know of without at least an HEI and radial tires. This 16,000-mile example was about as good as a Camaro could get in 1974. The Z/28 had the best engine of the lineup — a 350 rated at 245 ponies. That’s 60 more than the L48 350, the next option down. The best performance swap the original buyer could have done was switch the wide-ratio M20 with an M21, losing the a/c in the process, but not much else. The ACC Pocket Price Guide shows a $22k–$29k range for a ’74 Z/28. This particular car’s sale falls right in the mid-range of that estimation. I’ll mention that the range here isn’t terribly off from a ’67 or ’68 V8 coupe valued at $24k–$36k. Harden was onto something. All in all — well bought. I hope the buyer went to get a haircut and will pass on that cheap 40 of Mickeys. A 84 AmericanCarCollector.com AmericanCarCollector.com — Chad Tyson that are not present, indicating that the dash was changed out at some point. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $48,950. Overall, this car would be a good driver ready to compete at local SOLD AT $35,750. This was one of the best examples of an early Mustang that I have seen, and it sold for the right money. Both the seller and the buyer should go home happy. #2482-1968 FORD MUSTANG custom fastback. VIN: 8F025S154062. Presidential Blue/black vinyl. Odo: 75,000 miles. 390-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. “Light resto-mod with performance upgrades.” The door fit is good, but the hood fit is poor. Body and paint are very good, with minor polishing scratches. The chrome is excellent, with no scratches. The interior is nice, and the engine bay is clean with a built V8. The bright chrome wheels really set the car off. The underside is poor, showing some rust. The Marti Report displayed in the car lists a/c dash vents

Page 83

LEAKE // Oklahoma City, OK shows, but not a concours car. So it has room for improvement. The ACC Pocket Price Guide values a stock #2 example at $23k–$28k, so the seller came out ahead on this one. Very well sold. #129-1969 FORD MUSTANG convertible. VIN: 9F03F119666. Green/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 3,067 miles. 302-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Decent paint with minor polishing scratches and swirls. Chrome is poor, with numerous areas of pitting and bubbling. Wheels and glass are good. Good interior, but could be much better with a little work. Engine bay needs a cosmetic restoration. Optioned with power steering, power brakes, power top. It has a new exhaust and new tires. No documentation displayed. Cond: 3-. vinyl. Odo: 55,815 miles. 428-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. An original GT500 documented in the Shelby registry. Fit is good, but the body and paint only fair. There is a lot of polish residue in the body corners and seams. The chrome is also just fair, with a lot of scratches. The interior is very good with little wear. The glass is tinted with no cracks or scratches. No service records or build sheet documentation shown. Cond: 3. miles. 528-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. New crate Hemi motor. VIN decodes it as having a 383 4-bbl engine when it left Hamtramck, MI, when new. The door and panel fit are good. The paint is new, but there are some dimples on the left front fender—possibly dust or foreign matter under the paint. The chrome is just fair, with scratchy rear window trim. Rear window is fogged. The chrome mags and new tires really set it off. Cond: 2-. NOT SOLD AT $75,000. This car needs a new paint job and rechroming, as well as documentation to reach its book potential. These are some of the reasons bidding halted about $15k short of what the seller was probably expecting. SOLD AT $19,800. Not an impressive restoration. This could be a really nice car with some work on the engine and interior. A repaint is not necessary, but it needs a rechrome to see any upside price potential. Price paid is about right in this condition, so both buyer and seller should go home happy. #470-1969 FORD MUSTANG Mach 1 SCJ fastback. VIN: 9R02R131321. Red & black/ black vinyl. Odo: 98,500 miles. 428-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Very good restoration, now dulling due to age. Repaint is very good, with minor polishing scratches and swirls. Chrome and interior are very good. Glass is good. Chrome mag wheels with new raised white-letter radials really set if off. It is a documented R-code car and comes with the original build sheet. The auction listing states “more than $70k in restoration.” Cond: 2-. MOPAR #2439-1960 DODGE DART Phoenix 2-dr hard top. VIN: 5302173465. White/blue & white leather. Odo: 28,742 miles. 318-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Fully restored, with excellent door and panel fit, paint and all-new chrome. The interior with its push-button transmission is correct and looks new. The engine bay is excellent. The wheels, tires and underside also look new. Comes with original spare tire, jack and floor mats. Documented with the original build sheet. Cond: 1-. NOT SOLD AT $50,000. The rotisserie restoration was done well, but obviously the focus of this car is its 528-ci Hemi engine. The high bid would most likely have bought a standard Challenger R/T 440, but not this one with its $12k powerplant. The reserve was $55k, so a couple more thousand dollars would have likely made it change hands. But you don’t know that when you are bidding. #2465-1970 DODGE HEMI CHALLENGER R/T 2-dr hard top. VIN: JS23R0B155925. Red/black vinyl. Odo: 42 miles. 426-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. The door, hood and trunk fit are excellent. Paint is very good, with minor polishing swirls. Chrome is very good, with minor scratches. Interior shows very little wear. Simple dog-dish wheels are nothing fancy but do not need to be fancy on this car. The engine bay is excellent, highlighting that big 426/425 Hemi. The original build sheet is included, as well as restoration documentation. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $59,950. Ford muscle at its best. The only thing that held this one back was its automatic transmission. Well bought, bang on the money. #2475-1969 SHELBY GT500 fastback. VIN: 9F02R480611. Candy Apple Red/black NOT SOLD AT $37,000. Excellent restoration. I would have this in my garage if I had room and if the price were right. The car appeared at Mecum KC in December, sold at $38k (ACC# 256515). No sale here at a $37k high bid (which doesn’t include the 10% commission). Looks like the seller was trying for a quick flip with no success. The market has now spoken twice. #2451-1970 DODGE CHALLENGER R/T SE 2-dr hard top. VIN: JS29N0B324851. Red/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 47,354 NOT SOLD AT $125,000. This is a beautiful investment-grade collector car. The 426/425 Hemi option cost $779 in 1970 and has proven to be an excellent investment. Fewer than 425 Hemi Challengers sold in their two years of production (1970 and ’71). This high bid was right in the middle of market, but the owner decided to walk and hope for a better day down the road. A May-June 2015 85

Page 84

McCORMICK’S // Palm Springs, CA McCormick’s 58th Palm Springs Collector Car Auction WHEN THE OWNER OF A 1942 ARMY JEEP PULLED THE TRIGGER ON THE .50-CAL MACHINE GUN, FLAMES SHOT FROM THE BARREL McCormick’s Palm Springs, CA February 20–22, 2015 auctioneers: Frank Bizzarro, Jeff Stokes, Rob Ross automotive lots sold/ offered: 417/584 Sales rate: 71% Sales total: $7,514,879 High american sale: 1959 Cadillac Eldorado convertible, sold at $95,550 Buyer’s premium: 5%, included in sold prices ACC 1–6 scale condition rating for vehicles in Market Reports 1. Perfect: National show standard 2. excellent: Club show-worthy, some small flaws 3. average: Daily driver in decent condition 4. Meh: Still a driver, with some visible flaws 5. Questionable: A problem-plagued beast that somehow manages to run 6. Lost cause: Salvageable for parts Restored to the nines — 1942 Ford GPW military jeep with .50-cal machine gun, a no-sale at $41,000 Report and photos by Carl Bomstead Market opinions in italics W 86 AmericanCarCollector.com hen the owner of a 1942 Army jeep pulled the trigger on the .50-caliber machine gun, noise filled the air, flames shot from the barrel, and fans went wild. But the crowd-pleasing apparatus ran on a mixture of propane and oxygen, and nothing was disturbed except the low-key atmosphere, if just for a moment. The Ford GPW attached to the gun was restored to a far better standard than when it left the factory. But despite the swarms of attention all weekend long at McCormick’s 58th Palm Springs Collector Car Auction, bidding for the jeep stalled at $41k against the owner’s hoped-for $70k. McCormick’s offerings range from the esoteric to the mainstream, from award-winners to finish-it-yourself projects. Toward the expensive end of the list, a very nice 1960 Corvette roadster in Tuxedo Black with dual quads under the hood rang the bell at $68k, and a 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz convertible with fins about five feet tall realized $96k — the top American sale of the weekend. Someone went to a great deal of effort and expense in restoring a 1957 Ford Country Sedan wagon. It was upgraded with four-wheel disc brakes and had the 312 “Thunderbird Special” motor. It sold for a very respectable $41k. My personal favorite, a 1958 Lincoln Continental Mark III riding on a massive 131-inch wheelbase, failed to sell when bid to $40k. It was a respectable example, but the parade boot did not fit correctly and the interior was a touch off. These cars are an acquired taste, but I still think they’re undervalued in the market. When all was said and done, 417 cars went home to new garages out of 584 offered. Sales totals squeaked past last year’s record $7,471,316, surpassing $7.5m for the first time ever, and proving that even when you’ve been selling cars for 30 years, there’s always room for growth.A

Page 86

McCORMICK’S // Palm Springs, CA GM #197-1954 BUICK SPECIAL convertible. VIN: V3741394. Arctic White/black vinyl/red leather. Odo: 96,415 miles. 264-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. The 1954 Special had a new look with Panoramic windshield. Excellent top fit and attractive interior. Arctic White paint is a bit bright in Palm Springs sunshine but only has a few minor issues. Massive chrome grille in good order. Cond: 2. 322-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, auto. A recently restored Special slightly modified with Tri-Power carb setup. Attractive colors sparkle in the desert sunshine. Brightwork in good order and interior up to the standard of the rest of automobile. Engine bay clean. Chrome wires. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $40,950. This was a surprise, as it sold for far more than what I expected. It was a solid presentation, but still... Must have been the Resale Red. Very well sold. SOLD AT $44,363. This was a surprise, as I thought it would sell for a lot less than this. Seller should be happy, and I hope the buyer plans to hold on for a while. Very well sold. #450-1954 CHEVROLET BEL AIR 2-dr hard top. VIN: C54L0009856. Light blue & white/gray fabric. Odo: 73,553 miles. 236-ci I6, 1-bbl, auto. An attractive Bel Air with skirts and sun visor. Pinstriped dash. Missing right-side door lock. Paint is acceptable, with a few minor scratches and a noticeable touch-up. No issue with the brightwork. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $35,700. Last seen at Mecum’s 2014 Monterey sale, where it realized $28,620 (ACC# 248268). Seller made a couple bucks on a quick turn. A strong #2 car that sold for #2 money. Will be fun at Saturday Cruise Night, and when it’s time to move on, the buyer should be just fine. SOLD AT $18,900. I bet the next time we see this one it will be dropped to the deck and have a big 350 under the hood. As it sits, a nice starter car and should hold its own down the line. Either way, sold for the right money. #308-1956 BUICK SPECIAL 2-dr hard top. VIN: 4C2004982. Seminole Red/black Cordaveen & red vinyl. Odo: 16,278 miles. #360-1958 CHEVROLET BEL AIR 2-dr hard top. VIN: F58L154837. Colonial Cream/tan vinyl & black fabric. Odo: 2,068 miles. 283-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, auto. Restored to the nines. Mirrors show the undercarriage is as nice as the rest of the car. Equipped with Super Turbo-Thrust V8 with Tri-Power, which was only a $70 option. Also equipped with optional dual exhaust. Cream paint presents well and no issues noted. Interior and trim in exceptional condition. A solid example. Cond: 1-. #277-1956 OLDSMOBILE 88 2-dr hard top. VIN: 567C11914. Lime & Alcan White/ white & green fabric. Odo: 59,451 miles. 324-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. The 88 was the entry-level series and was priced a couplehundred dollars less than the Super 88. Offered in 26 two-tone combinations; Lime and Alcan White is one of the more attractive. Fitted with Deluxe spinner wheel discs. Paint in good order with minor swirls and a few touch-ups. Interior has a few signs of wear. One of about 75,000 produced for 1956. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $38,063. The Tri-Power adds about 20% to the total package, so I will say this sold under the money. The ’58s don’t have the allure of the Tri-Fives, but this was an excellent example. Could have brought at least $5k more. #279-1958 CHEVROLET IMPALA 2-dr hard top. VIN: F5K100939. Forest Green/ tri-tone green vinyl & cloth. Odo: 55,547 miles. 348-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. The Sport Coupe was easily identified by faux air scoop and curved contour crease molded into the back of the roof. This example finished in the unusual but attractive shade of Forest Green. Interior in contrasting shades of green. Recent frame-off restoration. Deluxe wheel covers. Powered by TurboThrust V8 with Turboglide transmission with dual exhaust. Low mileage stated to be actual. Strong presentation. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $31,500. This Impala had a lot of eyeball, even though it was not of the popular Tri-Five variety. I think the unusual color made the difference here, and I even thought it might go for a touch more. Well bought. #275-1959 CADILLAC ELDORADO Biarritz convertible. VIN: 59F120312. Black/ black vinyl/black leather. Odo: 58,312 miles. 390-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, auto. Paint is sub-par here, although the car has a nice, new interior. Window rubbers worn. Missing the parade boot. The Cadillac for 1959 had huge tailfins and twin bullet taillamps. Sure makes a statement. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $95,550. Even with a few needs, this sold a touch under the money. They don’t come along all that often, so if you wanted one in halfway decent shape, this was your chance. The buyer did just fine, and if the seller was not up to the restoration challenge, then he should be happy. #328-1960 BUICK LESABRE convertible. VIN: 4H2010429. White/blue fabric/blue & white vinyl. Odo: 48,715 miles. 364-ci V8, 88 AmericanCarCollector.com

Page 88

McCORMICK’S // Palm Springs, CA 2-bbl, auto. After the wild fins of the late ’50s, things softened for the 1960s. Attractive and well-applied paint, but the bold blue interior is a bit much. The LeSabre convertible was very popular, with over 13,000 leaving dealer showrooms. Cond: 2. A very strong example. Cond: 1-. NOT SOLD AT $50,000. This was my favorite car at the auction. I loved the interior and the overall presentation. High bid must have been close, but seller was not willing to budge. I bet he gets his money at some point. SOLD AT $19,688. Price paid was about right for a Buick convertible in decent condition. No paint issues and looked as though the body was straight and solid. But I just can’t get over the interior. #271-1961 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE convertible. VIN: 861P18335. Brown/black fabric/tri-color brown vinyl. Odo: 43,771 miles. 389-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, auto. Equipped with the seldom seen 425A Tri-Power, which was a nearly $400 option. Has all the power goodies. Unusual in brown. Tri-color interior very attractive. Aftermarket mag wheels with Redline tires. Cond: 2. #446-1965 CHEVROLET IMPALA SS convertible. VIN: 166675J265393. Regal Red/ black vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 54,176 miles. 396-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. The Impala Super Sport featured bucket seating, full carpeting and center console with Rally-type clock. Also had lots of SS badging. Four-speed manual was a $237 option. Very attractive paint and brightwork with a few scratches. Interior with minor inoffensive wear. A strong presentation. Cond: 2+. Deluxe steering wheel and chrome hubcaps standard. A big step down from the 455-ci 300-hp W-30 engine. Equipped with air and radio. Striking bumblebee paint, but black vinyl top shows a large repair. Exceptional panel fit. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $17,850. This was a strong #2 car, and it sold for a market-correct price. Air is a big plus when selling a car in the desert and is especially unusual with a drop-top. No issue with the price paid here. CORVETTE SOLD AT $31,763. One of 27,000 Impala SS convertibles, and far from rare, this sold in the expected range. The 4-speed was a plus, and the Resale Red made the package. Well sold and well bought. SOLD AT $31,500. A solid package and well presented. Seller was hoping for around $40k, but price paid here is more in line with reality. I’ll call it properly sold. #392-1962 OLDSMOBILE STARFIRE convertible. VIN: 626W04265. Ebony Black/ Garnet Mist cloth/Garnet Mist leather. Odo: 12,186 miles. 394-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. The Starfire was built on Super Eighty-Eight chassis with center console, brushed aluminum trim and two-tone leather buckets. This stunning example recently restored and equipped with power everything. Highspeed camshaft and high-compression heads. Equipped with original Wonderbar AM radio, spare and jack, and owner’s #270-1966 CHEVROLET CORVAIR Monza convertible. VIN: 105676L112458. Marina Blue/blue vinyl/blue vinyl. Odo: 54,031 miles. 164-ci I6, 2x1-bbl, 4-sp. The Monza had a distinctive front fender badge and bucket seats, along with a few other goodies. This example fitted with the optional 164-ci 140-hp Turbo-Air motor. Finished in an attractive shade of blue with contrasting buckets. Wires were a $60 upcharge. Engine area clean with no leaks or streaks. I don’t care what Nader thinks—the Corvair is a cool car. Cond: 2+. #237-1960 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: SG0025PA. Tuxedo Black/ black hard top/red vinyl. Odo: 65,656 miles. 283-ci 270-hp V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. A wellpresented example with desirable dual quads and 4-speed manual transmission. Equipped with radio and clock. Trim fit far better than most. Attractive Tuxedo Black with silver coves. Fitted with RPO 419 auxilliary hard top, which was a $237 option. Interior in good order. Has an assigned VIN. An attractive Corvette. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $68,250. Corvettes continue to be a bit soft, and this is indicated here. Sold at the low end of the ACC Pocket Price Guide range, and the buyer came out just fine. Only question is the story behind the assigned VIN. #265-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 30867S103563. Riverside Red/tan vinyl/black leather. Odo: 42,025 miles. 327-ci 300-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. A very attractive offering finished in the right colors. Flawless black leather interior. Has both SOLD AT $17,325. A fun convertible that will get all kinds of thumbs-up whenever you take it out, and all for under $20k. Can’t beat that. Well sold and well bought. manual. Brightwork to exceptional standard. 90 AmericanCarCollector.com #99-1972 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS Supreme convertible. VIN: 9355454840. Yellow & black/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 93,868 miles. 350-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Last year for the Cutlass Supreme convertible.

Page 90

McCORMICK’S // Palm Springs, CA tops. Knockoff wheels. M20 4-speed manual transmission. A well-maintained example. From the only year the coupe overshadows the convertible. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $45,675. I watched this SplitWindow sell at McCormick’s November 2013 sale for $63k (ACC# 231794). Two years makes a lot of difference in a changing market, and this looks like a trend that Corvette owners will not appreciate. On the other hand, it’s a buyer’s market. Well bought for now. #254-1964 CHEVROLET CORVETTE coupe. VIN: 40837S108810. Tuxedo Black/ black vinyl. Odo: 94,113 miles. 327-ci 375hp fuel-injected V8, 4-sp. A rare coupe powered by the L84 fuel-injected motor. Only 1,325 so equipped with an upcharge of $538. Fitted with knockoffs with three-bar spinner. Paint acceptable with usual blackpaint issues. Chrome bright and deep. A very strong example. Cond: 1-. vette was a no-sale at Russo and Steele’s Monterey 2014 auction when bid to $59k (ACC# 244820) and prior to that at McCormick’s November 2013 sale when bid to $92k (ACC# 242743). Going in the wrong direction, and price paid this time still seems like a bunch considering the replaced motor. FOMOCO #10-1942 FORD GPW military jeep. VIN: GPW14913. Olive drab/olive drab canvas. Odo: 44 miles. 134-ci I4, 1-bbl, 4-sp. Restored to the nines. Engine ported, polished and balanced. Fifty-caliber machine gun in back uses propane and oxygen to make realistic sound effects. Adjustable flame shoots out of gun barrel. Cond: 1-. certainly correct in turning it down. Should be worth a least 10 grand more, even with a few issues. #498-1955 FORD THUNDERBIRD convertible. VIN: P5FH179354. Raven Black/ black hard top/black & white vinyl. Odo: 41,163 miles. 292-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. 16,155 T-birds left dealer showrooms in ’55. This example finished in Raven Black with removable hard top. Bumper chrome a bit dull and exhaust tips different lengths. Interior in good order and body panels straight. Has power seats and windows. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $26,775. This was a solid example, and it sold for a market-correct price. New owner can use it and maintain it and not lose a penny when it’s time to sell. All should be happy here. SOLD AT $62,213. I watched this cross the block at McCormick’s February 2012 auction, where it was a no-sale at $54k (ACC# 198474). No sign of a soft Corvette market with this one this time around. The cream of the crop will bring the money, and that was the case here. If you want the best, you’d best step up. #274-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 194676S124085. Blue/black vinyl/black leather. Odo: 21,683 miles. 427ci 435-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Body-off restoration recently completed after Corvette was disassembled in 1981. Original 390-hp motor replaced with 1968 427/435 V8. Has sidepipes and both tops. New paint, chrome, wiring and 17-inch Torq Thrust wheels. Silver stinger. Thought to have once been a dragster, due to holes for roll bar and shift linkage. Low miles stated to be original but may have been a quarter-mile at a time on the drag strip. Cond: 1-. NOT SOLD AT $41,000. Bantam designed the WWII Army Jeep, but they did not have the resources to meet demand, so Ford and Willys produced them. The seller, who was giving demos on the days prior, was looking for close to $70k. The setup had a a lot of flash, but that doesn’t mean the hardcore military vehicle collectors will be impressed. It could be worth a touch more than this, but not $30k more. #228-1948 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL convertible. VIN: 8H181130. Maroon/tan fabric/ maroon leather. Odo: 59,774 miles. 305-ci V12, 2-bbl, 3-sp. Last year for the Continental until the famed Mark II. Selected by the Museum of Modern Art as one of eight automotive “works of art.” Only 452 convertibles produced. This one is a decent driver-quality example. The leather seats are worn and the headlight rims reversed. A CCCA Full Classic. Cond: 3+. #311-1955 MERCURY MONTCLAIR Sun Valley 2-dr hard top. VIN: 55SL39484M. Black/tinted Plexiglas/black & white vinyl. Odo: 18,782 miles. 292-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Unusual Sun Valley with tinted Plexi section over front half of roof. Only 1,787 produced in 1955. Has the zip-in liner, which would be essential in desert sunshine. Also equipped with air and Merc-o-Matic. Paint to high standard and no issues with brightwork. A very rare and well-presented example. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $54,600. A lot of money but a lot of car, and loaded with rare and unusual options which set it apart from the herd. Can’t say the buyer overpaid, but it was all of full retail. Well sold and well bought. SOLD AT $68,250. This well-traveled Cor92 AmericanCarCollector.com NOT SOLD AT $27,000. The high bid was nowhere near enough, and the seller was Black/green leather & fabric. Odo: 7,339 miles. 368-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. First year for the $10,000 luxurious Mark II that was only produced in 1956 and 1957. Paint looks properly maintained, with a few minor blems. Chrome bright and luxurious. Interior with leather seating and a green fabric insert is not factory-correct. Cond: 2-. #266-1956 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL MARK II coupe. VIN: C5681030. BEST BUY

Page 91

MCCORMICK // Palm Springs, CA Kelsey-Hayes wires. Striking in bold red paint with gold trim. Upgraded with fourwheel disc brakes. Aftermarket CD. Interior with mild wear; brightwork has no real issues. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $41,213. Strong money for a rather ordinary wagon with a big motor. Was not even the Squire (which got exterior woodgrain paneling) so this was well sold indeed. SOLD AT $34,125. Mark IIs have gained some traction of late, but this one missed the ride. Interior may have held it back, as the rest of the car was decent. Well bought and could be upgraded a bit with positive results. #280-1957 FORD COUNTRY SEDAN wagon. VIN: D7LX183207. Red/red & white vinyl. Odo: 45,234 miles. 312-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. An attractive wagon powered by the 245-hp Thunderbird Special V8. Fitted with #282-1963 FORD FALCON Futura convertible. VIN: 3H15U165529. Cream/white vinyl/red vinyl & black fabric. Odo: 56,005 miles. 170-ci I6, 1-bbl, 4-sp. The Futura was the top trim level offered and included ashtrays and two horns in addition to other upgraded trim. This example fitted with a 4-speed manual and a/c—rarely ordered with the convertible. Impressive paint and interior finished to high standard. An exceptional Falcon. Cond: 1-. and the price paid was most reasonable. Throw out the price guide on this car, as it was one of a kind and the whole package. #45-1965 FORD THUNDERBIRD convertible. VIN: 5Y85Z125042. Red/white vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 91,748 miles. 390-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. The ’65 T-bird was little changed over the prior year. Disc brakes and sequential turn signals were the major items. This example finished in the right colors and well presented. Top fits properly and is not soiled. Passenger’s door fit out a bit at the bottom. Equipped with power windows, power brakes and air. Brightwork with a few minor scratches. Solid presentation. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $22,575. This was a cool Falcon, SOLD AT $28,350. Sold for a predictable price. This is the market for a slightly aboveaverage example. These need the bigger motor to get much more than what was paid here. All should be happy. May-June 2015 93

Page 92

McCORMICK’S // Palm Springs, CA #104-1973 FORD MUSTANG Mach 1 fastback. VIN: 3F05Q745873. Yellow & black/ brown vinyl. Odo: 20,372 miles. 351-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Last year before the Mustang II arrival. Fitted with a non-functional NASAtype hood (pretty much standard on the Mach 1) with low-gloss black paint and twist-type hood locks. Paint and exterior trim in good order, but interior a bit rough. An attention-getter finished in the right colors. Over 30,000 produced that year. Cond: 2-. paid for and will need to get ready for a bunch of questions whenever he takes it out. AMERICANA SOLD AT $34,125. The 300 Sport series replaced the Windsor and did not offer the performance and high cost of the 300 Letter cars. Looked identical to 300H except for hubcaps but priced about $1,600 less. Had this been a Letter car, the pricing would have been a lot different, but fair price for what it is. Now just get the rubber on the road and have some fun. SOLD AT $15,225. With the work to do inside, the price paid was up there. Hope buyer knew what he was doing and what expense lies ahead. Still, car sure had a lot of eyeball for the dollar. MOPAR #285-1956 IMPERIAL SOUTHAMPTON 2-dr hard top. VIN: C563810. White & mint green/two-tone green leather. Odo: 7 miles. 353-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Shiny and well kept. Has the distinctive gunsight taillights and push-button transmission. Equipped with a/c and T&C radio. Cost more than $5,000 when new. Cond: 2. scratches and touch-ups. One of only 554 produced. A decent car, and in the desert there are plenty of opportunities to take the top down. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $23,625. Sold for a reasonable number, and if you are a fan of “Mad Men,” then you are all set. Think this was fair all around, so all should be content. SOLD AT $28,613. The 1956 Imperial had a top speed of over 100 mph and could hit 0–60 in under 13 seconds—not bad for a car that weighed over two tons. These continue to be popular, and with a/c they make perfect desert cruisers. Price paid was in line with recent transactions, so all is fair with the world here. #241-1962 CHRYSLER 300 SPORT convertible. VIN: 23216710. Sapphire Blue/black cloth/black leather. Odo: 4,604 miles. 383-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Good presentation. Well maintained. Paint in good order with only a few minor swirls. Minor wear on seats. Brightwork has good luster. Equipped with power windows and seats, plus wire wheels. Only 1,971 convertibles produced. Cond: 2+. 94 AmericanCarCollector.com #193-1972 DODGE CHALLENGER custom 2-dr hard top. VIN: JH23G2B333479. Hemi Orange/black vinyl. Odo: 10,397 miles. 440-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. VIN indicates this was born with the 318-ci V8 with a 2-bbl carb. Now fitted with 440 wedge. Has the look, with matte black hood with graphics and hood pins. Paint with a few chips and interior badly worn. A worn-out fakey-doo. Cond: 3+. #73-1962 IMPERIAL CROWN convertible. VIN: 9249251103. Colonial Red/white vinyl/ white leather. Odo: 87,289 miles. 413-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Appeared in several episodes of “Mad Men.” Interior leather cracked and worn. Paint acceptable, with a few SOLD AT $17,535. I’d like to think you could put your company name on this and use it as a tax write-off, but you’d better do some checking before tackling that one. As a collector truck, the price was in line with the condition, so the tax deduction would just be a plus. #443-1961 RAMBLER AMBASSADOR sedan. VIN: H135782. Jasmine Rose & Fireglow Red/red & black vinyl. Odo: 42,494 miles. 327-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Striking color combination, and who comes up with these paint names? Paint badly cracked and rust bubbles on hood. Has the Flash-O-Matic push-button transmission, Weather-Eye climate control and a/c. Wheels rusty. Reclining seats make it a mischevious highschool boy’s dream car, and this one does look like it’s been slept in more than once. Cond: 3-. #13-1947 INTERNATIONAL SERIES KB-1 panel truck. VIN: 52858. Tan & brown/ black fabric. Odo: 15,588 miles. 213-ci I6, 1-bbl, 3-sp. The flush headlamps, pointed nose and domed cab roof were a continuation of the pre-war IHC look. The KB-1 was the half-ton series. This example attractive in two shades of brown and with a sun visor. Spartan interior in good order. Paint nicely applied with a touch of orange peel. All it needs is the name of your business on the side. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $15,488. Had this been the real thing, you could easily add a “1” in front of the price. As such, the buyer got what he NOT SOLD AT $5,500. Recently offered at McCormick’s November 2014 sale, where it failed to sell when bid to $7,890 (ACC# 256440). Going in the wrong direction, so if seller wants to get more than this, he needs to spiffy things up. Not many people want to buy a project car that has limited upside. A

Page 94

GLOBAL ROUNDUP Selected Sales Combined in One Comprehensive Report American highlights at five auctions CLASSICS 2 #152-1908 AMERICAN UNDERSLUNG roadster. VIN: 1427. Eng. # 1448. White/red leather. RHD. Odo: 12,913 miles. Excellent condition with only minor paint imperfections, seat wear and scratched brass. A crowd favorite as it was shown in last year’s Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. The Underslung’s innovative design put its frame under the car’s axles. Larger diameter wheels were required for suspension travel, which gave the car a unique and sporting look for its day. Cond: 2+. Chad Tyson Looks evil and badass with everything done to tatty perfection — 1932 Ford Model 18 roadster, sold at $151,800 at Gooding & Company, amelia Island, FL Mecum Auctions Rogers’ Classic Car Museum auction Las Vegas, NV — February 27–28, 2015 auctioneers: Mark Delzell, Jimmy Landis, Bob McGlothlen automotive lots sold/offered: 234/234 Sales rate: 100% Sales total: $10,239,680 High sale: 1953 Chevrolet Corvette roadster, sold at $216,000 Buyer’s premium: 8%, minimum $500, included in sold prices Report and photos by Travis Shetler RM Sotheby’s amelia Island, FL — March 14, 2015 Auctioneer: Max Girardo automotive lots sold/offered: 99/101 Sales rate: 98% Sales total: $60,122,000 High american sale: 1967 Shelby Cobra 427 SC roadster, sold at $2,117,500 Buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold prices Report and photos by Carl Bomstead Hollywood Wheels amelia Island, FL — March 13–15, 2015 Auctioneer: Charlie Adcock automotive lots sold/offered: 114/138 96 AmericanCarCollector.com Sales rate: 83% Sales total: $13,970,165 High american sale: 1970 Plymouth Hemi Superbird, sold at $357,500 Buyer’s premium: 10% Report and photos by Gary and Jill West Gooding & Company amelia Island, FL — March 13, 2015 Auctioneer: Charlie Ross automotive lots sold/offered: 76/87 Sales rate: 87% Sales total: $26,967,150 High american sale: 1932 Lincoln Model KB custom coupe, sold at $836,000 Buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold prices Report and photos by Pierre Hedary Bonhams amelia Island, FL — March 12, 2015 auctioneers: Malcolm Barber, Rupert Banner automotive lots sold/offered: 64/82 Sales rate: 78% Sales total: $13,800,600 High sale: 1930 Cord L-29 town car, sold at $1,760,000 Buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold prices Report and photos by Joe Seminetta SOLD AT $1,738,000. Spirited bidding in a relatively thin crowd. Several bidders pushed the final price well beyond the $1.2m high estimate. Price was very strong, but these do not come up for sale every day. Bonhams, Amelia Island, FL, 03/15. Black/black vinyl/black leather. Odo: 51,418 miles. A rare and stunning coachbuilt design, prominently displayed onstage during the preview. Said to be one of four town cars built (and reportedly the only SWB to survive). Unrestored and recovered from 50 years in storage. Front-wheel drive. Flathead V8. Hydraulic front drums. Storied Hollywood history. Cond: 3-. 1 #135-1930 CORD L-29 town car. VIN: 2926823. Eng. # FD2410. SOLD AT $1,760,000. A open ticket to the “preservation” class at any concours on the planet. The only lot without pre-sale estimates enthusiastically opened with a $500k bid. As the auctioneers said, “Try to find another one.” Two in the room ping-ponged bids back and forth. The underbidder was sorely disappointed that he did not take this TOP 10 TOP 10

Page 95

ROUNDUP GLOBAL home. Bonhams, Amelia Island, FL, 03/15. #176-1932 MARMON HCM prototype. VIN: DD609. Light tan/brown leather. Odo: 12,343 miles. A one-off prototype that was designed by Walter Dorwin Teague Jr. while a student at MIT. The sole V12 Marmon. Restored in 2001 and won Best in Class at Pebble Beach that same year. Restoration work is holding up well. Once in the Brooks Stevens Collection. A minimalist design that was well ahead of its time. Cond: 2. 4 3602. Burgundy/tan cloth/tan leather. Odo: 90 miles. Fifty-year single-family ownership. Twenty-year-old restoration holding up fairly well. Some paint imperfections. Nicely appointed engine bay. Three-speed with dualratio differential. Startix starting system. Cond: 2-. Deco trim gleams. The sidemount spares carry the V16 designation and have perhaps the prettiest hinge and latch mechanism ever installed on a car. Inside, the giant space is filled with mediocre cloth that has dirty footprints all over the rear floor. The very long hood opens to reveal the turbinesmooth motor buried deep within the frame rails. A pool of fluid running across the ground elicits comments from pretty much everyone. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $429,000. This car sold at RM Meadow Brook 2007 for $891k (ACC# 46027). It has now come to auction three times since then. It sold at RM’s 2013 Amelia sale for $407k (ACC# 215677). It did not sell at RM’s 2011 Monterey sale when it was bid to $475k (ACC #183140). Everyone is trying to catch the star that flew over the Meadow Brook sale. RM Auctions, Amelia Island, FL, 03/15. Eng. # DV33 194. Blue/brown cloth/tan leather. Odo: 53,075 miles. One of only approximately 20 made and a technological wonder of its day—a twin-cam U.S. engine in 1932. Vacuum-boosted hydraulic brakes. Highly original and correct example with only modest updates. Slightly soiled interior and top. Amazingly, only small imperfections on original exterior fabric panels. Nicely detailed engine bay. Cond: 2-. 3 #172-1932 STUTZ MODEL DV-32 Bearcat roadster. VIN: DVSB1486. SOLD AT $192,500. The auction tent had thinned out by the time this lot was presented. However, multiple bidders were here for this specific lot, resulting in a huge final price, well in excess of the $125k high estimate. Well sold. Bonhams, Amelia Island, FL, 03/15. #S152-1937 CORD 812 Sportsman convertible. VIN: 1814H. Eng. # FB791. Black/ burgundy leather. Odo: 59,030 miles. This coffin-nosed, Buehrig-designed, frontwheel-drive Cord wears a great color combination. The paint has some issues, and a well-applied repaint is indicated. Some dents and dings in the brightwork, especially around the stone shields. Driver’s side headlight ajar, and doors sag and drag upon opening. The interior is worn, and the seats are very dry, but the dash could not look more exotic. Under the long hood, the motor is impressive and well executed, even though it is coated in desert dust. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $62,100. Very well bought. Perhaps the leak kept the buyers at bay, but that will likely turn out to be an easily remedied issue. The buyer ended up with a CCCA Full Classic for a reasonable price. This car has room to be enjoyed and also make a profit. Mecum Auctions, Las Vegas, NV, 02/15. #S55-1940 BUICK SERIES 40 4-dr convertible. VIN: 13539275. Red/white canvas/ red leather. Suicide-door soft-top “convertible phaeton.” The paint has some scratches and a bit of overspray, but the color is compelling. The chrome is good even though a few pieces are missing. Inside, the interior is done well. The engine bay is dusty but complete. Odo reads all zeros. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $1,012,000. A few well-heeled bidders stayed near the auction end to bid on this special lot. The crowd seemed to hope for a million-dollar hammer price, but it would only get there with the buyer’s premium. Rare and difficult to price, this lot sold right between the Bonhams goalposts of $850k and $1.2m. Bonhams, Amelia Island, FL, 03/15. 8 #178-1935 AUBURN 851 custom phaeton. VIN: 2505H. Eng. # GG- SOLD AT $93,960. Extremely well bought. Sold for roughly half of what these cars have been bringing in the past year. An impressive automobile with a great deal of potential. Mecum Auctions, Las Vegas, NV, 02/15. GM #S75-1939 CADILLAC SERIES 90 V16 limousine. VIN: 5290018. Black/gray cloth. Odo: 6,324 miles. An impressive automobile. The paint is very good, and the Art SOLD AT $45,360. Well bought and sold. Fewer than 600 of these cars were manufactured; rarely seen today. The original build quality was still evident today. Buyer scored a rare, beautiful, usable and attractive car. This should provide lots of driving smiles and a good upside down the road. Mecum Auctions, Las Vegas, NV, 02/15. #177-1940 BUICK SERIES 46C Special convertible. VIN: 13671295. Eng. # 69365104. Sequoia Cream/black cloth/black leather. Odo: 73,918 miles. Fisher-bodied 5-passenger convertible. Limited ownership history. Correct but not matching Dynaflash valve-in-head straight eight. Some panel fit and paint issues with minor cracks and orange peel. Worn dash and instruments with exposed older wiring. Cond: 3+. May-June 2015 97 TOP 10 TOP 10 TOP 10

Page 96

GLOBAL ROUNDUP rear. Restoration has held up well, with a few minor issues with chrome and paint. A luxurious example from another era. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $159,500. We watched this car sell at RM’s 2013 Phoenix sale for $130k (ACC# 214939), and prior to that it sold at RM’s 2007 McMullen sale for $118k (ACC #45575). Price paid reflects the rekindled interest in Full Classics with documented history. Well sold and well bought in today’s market. RM Auctions, Amelia Island, FL, 03/15. NOT SOLD AT $42,000. This car lacked the history, details and matching numbers to attract the strongest buyers. The seller should have accepted the high bid. Bonhams, Amelia Island, FL, 03/15. #125-1940 OLDSMOBILE SERIES 70 wagon. VIN: G392457. Eng. # G159096. Black & wood/black vinyl. Odo: 91,357 miles. Owner admits the car is a bit of a mystery. Barn car, then restored. “The only known Dynamic Station Wagon.” Recent restoration including Paul’s Chrome Plating, lustrous paint and beautiful wood with only minor imperfections. All the right ribbing, but is longer by four inches. Perhaps a design study car. Purchased by the current owner at Hershey last year. (Wife did not approve.) Cond: 1-. #S125-1953 CADILLAC ELDORADO convertible. VIN: 536236409. Aztec Red/red leather. Odo: 61,264 miles. 331-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Great shade of red with outstanding chrome and exterior trim. Paint under the fiberglass boot is unfinished and shows overspray. Very obvious paint flaws and retouches on the tops of most body panels. The interior is acceptable, but there is pitting on the dash chrome, and the leading edge of the dash is lumpy. Under the hood, there is poor-quality paintwork on the motor, and the lack of detailing is jarring on such a pretty vehicle. Cond: 2. The buyer got an attractive and rare car (fewer than 500 produced) that should have lots of upside. Mecum Auctions, Las Vegas, NV, 02/15. #S119-1957 CADILLAC ELDORADO Brougham 4-dr hard top. VIN: 5770109860. Black/stainless steel/blue leather & cloth. Odo: 80,918 miles. 365-ci V8, 2x4bbl, auto. Paint shows wear that may be original with no evidence of repaint. Stainless is in good shape, with light scratches. Some trim fit issues. Delamination in the side glass and along the top of the windshield. The taillight lenses have small cracks throughout. The interior is full-blown American luxury in good shape with leather everywhere. Engine is clean. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $46,200. Stored from the 1950s to 1988. Auctioneer could not get a $50k opening bid. Finally opened at $40k and crept to the $42k hammer price. Perhaps the best value of the auction. Bonhams, Amelia Island, FL, 03/15. #118-1941 CADILLAC SERIES 60 Special town car. VIN: 6343167. Black/black vinyl/ black leather & gray fabric. Odo: 99,937 miles. Said to be one of six Derham Town Cars built in 1941, originally owned by Bette Davis, as her son confirmed. Restored in 2007. Has leather front and gray fabric in SOLD AT $145,800. Well bought and sold at market for condition. With only about 500 built, the pieces necessary to finish this car will eat up any margin left after fixing up the paint. But I can’t imagine these cars ever losing much value. Patience may be needed. Mecum Auctions, Las Vegas, NV, 02/15. #S122-1953 OLDSMOBILE FIESTA convertible. VIN: 539M24449. Polar White/ black & white leather. Odo: 95,412 miles. 303-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Paint finish is good, but there are chips around hood opening and paint is a bit thin ahead of the trunk lid. Interior is great in black and white, but the dash is lumpy, and the visors are in the trunk waiting to be installed. The working interior lights upon opening the door build confidence. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $72,900. This suicide-door, stainless-steel hard top is still outrageous six decades later. Very well bought. Catalog information indicated lifter problems, but the hard-to-source parts of this limited-production car (400 for 1957) were present and accounted for (no mention of Unobtainum vanity items, though). I had the chance to sit in and inspect this car 10 years ago, and it still impressed me this time. The buyer did well. Mecum Auctions, Las Vegas, NV, 02/15. #202-1957 CHEVROLET BEL AIR 2-dr sedan. VIN: VC57K180258. Canyon Coral & India Ivory/black vinyl. Odo: 40,753 miles. 283-ci fuel-injected V8, 3-sp. A fuel-injected two-door post with very low documented miles. A square motor that produces one horsepower for each cubic inch of displacement. Has been well maintained, although there are buffer marks on a few areas of trim. Older respray is holding up very well. Interior in good order and the engine bay sparkles. Cond: 2+. 98 AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $108,000. Well bought. These GM halo cars rarely sell below six figures. SOLD AT $121,000. This was acquired at RM’s Robinson sale, held in November 2010, for $115,500 (ACC#168380) and has been driven only a touch over 200 miles since. A sleeper 2-door-post fuelie. Well bought and sold. RM Auctions, Amelia Island, FL, 03/15. BEST BUY

Page 98

GLOBAL ROUNDUP #S116-1958 CADILLAC ELDORADO Biarritz convertible. VIN: 58E060593. Dakota Red/red & gold leather. Odo: 58,686 miles. 365-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Gleaming paint and outstanding chrome. Egg-crate grille is wonderful to look at. Doors droop a bit, but the luxuriously finished trunk is a nice tradeoff. Some paint chips at leading edge of hood and at headlights. Inside is perfect with fresh red leather and restrained use of gold piping. The engine bay is well detailed. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $46,440. Well sold and bought near the upper end of the market. A little over 1,000 were built, and they do not come up for auction very often. The pieces which need replacement appear to be regular Cadillac stuff, so the buyer should be able to get the car right for little money, but he will need to be patient to make a significant profit. Mecum Auctions, Las Vegas, NV, 02/15. SOLD AT $108,000. Very well bought. The work this car needed will leave some profit for the new owner. Mecum Auctions, Las Vegas, NV, 02/15. #137-1958 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE 2-dr hard top. VIN: C558H3252. Calypso & Burma Green/tri-tone green vinyl & cloth. Odo: 1,063 miles. 347-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, auto. Highly optioned with Tri-Power, Trans-Portable radio, and Strato-Flite 4-speed HydraMatic. Also has rear fender skirts and tissue dispenser. Slight signs of use on the interior. Unusual Calypso and Burma Green. Formerly in the Milhous Collection. Harley Earl’s last hurrah. Cond: 2. #20-1965 PONTIAC GTO 2-dr hard top. VIN: 237375P338818. Red/cream vinyl. Odo: 1,427 miles. 389-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Car presents well. No obvious blemishes and no serious flaws. Recent restoration of a very low-mileage car and hard to fault. Complete will all of its documents. 389 motor detailed very well. One of two muscle cars at this auction. Cond: 1-. the tailpipe is far too long. Inside, the interior is not well executed. The dash is lumpy, and the knobs look dirty and rough. Underhood deserves to be detailed. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $216,000. Well bought. As one of 300 first-year cars, there is room for lots of appreciation following the needed fixes. Body panel alignment, replacing small trim items, cleaning and detailing, etc., will all pay off handsomely for the buyer. Mecum Auctions, Las Vegas, NV, 02/15. #S94-1954 CHEVROLET CORVETTE roadster. VIN: E54S001388. Red/tan vinyl/ red leather. Odo: 31,270 miles. 235-ci 150hp I6, 3x1-bbl, auto. Red-on-red Corvette is nice overall. Door fit issues not as bad as the 1953 (Lot S124), but there are paint problems on the rear deck, and the rear bumpers need new chrome. The interior is complete but faded, consistent with the mileage. Some detail issues with dash and speaker grille. As with most of the cars at the auction, the engine compartment is a bit grungy and filled with desert dust. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $121,000. Sold well under the money, with not as much interest as hoped. Slightly well bought for a restored car. But where’s the fun in a 1,400-mile car if it has been restored? Previously sold at RM’s June 2010 sale for $67k (ACC# 164684). Gooding & Co., Amelia Island, FL, 03/15. SOLD AT $82,500. We watched this Sport Coupe sell at RM’s February 2012 Milhous sale, where it realized $121k (ACC# 192768). At that time it was equipped with the very rare pull-down sun visor. Seller took a major hit on this one—but at least he has the visor, though I doubt it will offset the $40k loss. RM Auctions, Amelia Island, FL, 03/15. #S21-1960 CADILLAC ELDORADO Seville 2-dr hard top. VIN: 60H023795. Pompeian Red & Olympic White/white leather. Odo: 68,521 miles. 390-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, auto. A beautiful Cadillac that somehow manages to look sporty despite its size. The paint is a great color and well applied. Inside, the interior is dirty and worn a bit, with missing buttons in places. Dash appears to have had a cover glued to the top. Trunk is unrestored. The engine bay is impressive with the TriPower but needs to be detailed. Cond: 2-. 100AmericanCarCollector.com CORVETTE 7 129. Polo White/red leather. Odo: 24,765 miles. 235-ci 150-hp I6, 3x1-bbl, auto. Firstyear Corvette parked at the front of the sale. Panel fit is off nearly everywhere, but may be original with the exception of the trunk lid, which is rotated a couple of degrees within the opening. Inside the rear licenseplate enclosure, the fiberglass is poorly finished. Like many vehicles at the auction, #S124-1953 CHEVROLET CORVETTE roadster. VIN: E535001- SOLD AT $82,080. Very well bought. Consistent with most prices here, the hammer price was at the bottom of the current market value. The buyer has room to enjoy asis, address the issues, and still do well, should he choose to sell the car. Hard to go wrong with an early red Corvette. Mecum Auctions, Las Vegas, NV, 02/15. #144-1957 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: E57S101560. Eng. # F1116EL. Black/white hard top/red leather. Odo: 74 miles. 283-ci 283-hp fuel-injected V8, 3-sp. Numbers-matching, Bloomington Gold and NCRS Top Flight car. Ordered with hard top but no soft top, per build sheet. Desirable 3-speed Fuelie, and well optioned. Scratched hard top. Leaky master cylinder. Bent trim. Inconsistent paint with orange peel throughout. Beautiful interior and chrome. Cond: 2. TOP 10

Page 100

GLOBAL ROUNDUP SOLD AT $126,500. Iconic, credentialed, well-appointed American iron continues to climb in value. While not a perfect example, this checked a lot of boxes. Correctly sold right at the $125k low estimate. Last seen at Mecum’s 2007 Bloomington Gold auction, not sold at $130k (ACC# 45562). Bonhams, Amelia Island, FL, 03/15. #S177-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 30867S112856. Tuxedo Black/black vinyl/black leather. Odo: 2,622 miles. 327-ci 360-hp fuel-injected V8, 4-sp. This Fuelie wears the right colors and draws non-stop crowds. The paint appears to be original, as does the entire car. Finish worn through where the top fastens to the rear deck. The aluminum three-bar knockoff wheels have a speckling of corrosion; paint is missing from the emblem embossed into the spinner. Inside, the general patina is of worn originality, especially the trim around the console. Under the hood, motor is scruffier than you’d expect. Cond: 2-. the $200k low estimate. High bid looked just about right. Hollywood Wheels, Amelia Island, FL, 03/15. #265-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 194676S1Z0096. Silver Pearl/black cloth/black vinyl. Odo: 32,316 miles. 327-ci 300-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Body has excellent paint, fit and finish. Installed convertible top has big gap between driver’s door vent window and top—large enough to let the rain louse up your life. Owner states frame-off restoration. Very cool Goodyear Goldline tires. Interior well appointed with little visible wear. Engine bay very clean but not concours. Cond: 2+. #139-1956 LINCOLN PREMIERE convertible. VIN: 56WA43818. Wisteria/white vinyl/ white & Wisteria leather. Odo: 4,258 miles. 368-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Restored in 2010 to better-than-new condition. Engine replaced with NOS ’56 Lincoln V8. Color is a bit much, but fitting for the era. Interior crisp. Engine bay sparkles. One minor little issue with finish. An attention-getter. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $84,240. Quite well bought at the bottom of the current market value. This is a desirable car that speaks of originality, but the mileage puts it in a sort of no-man’sland. Clearly not a low-mileage, preserved car but not as worn as a 100,000-mile car, either. This is a driver-quality car that will prove a good investment for the seller. Mecum Auctions, Las Vegas, NV, 02/15. #255-1965 CHEVROLET CORVETTE “Big Tank” coupe. VIN: 1943F5S110028. Silver Pearl/black leather. Odo: 23,334 km. 327-ci 300-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. “Big Tank” export model with speedometer in kilometers. Well presented with better-than-new shut lines. Corner of back window low in molding. Wheel fins could use detailing. Interior looks virtually unworn. Engine as the day it left the factory. Owner says matching numbers. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $68,200. The reserve came off at $62k, and it hammered sold. Well done, buyer and seller. This car will be a wonderful Sunday driver and a local show-winner. All the right goodies, small block with a manual and Posi, plus AM/FM tunes. Hollywood Wheels, Amelia Island, FL, 03/15. FOMOCO #40-1932 FORD MODEL 18 roadster. VIN: 1827717. Matte gray/tan canvas/blue vinyl. Odo: 448 miles. Super Hemi-powered rat rod with a ton of history and everything done to tatty perfection. Looks evil and badass sitting still with cut-down body and flat gray paint. Early Mopar Hemi engine fitted with open headers, dual 4-barrels and supercharger, enlarged to 454 ci. A wellknown dry lakes racer. Continuously modified over the years. Cond: 4+. SOLD AT $154,000. This well-traveled Lincoln Premiere sold for the same $154k at RM’s Don Davis sale in April of 2013 (ACC# 220860). Prior to that, it was a no-sale when bid to $140k at Mecum Indy in May 2012 (ACC# 205884), and it sold for $157k at Auctions America’s 2011 Fort Lauderdale sale (ACC# 169312). The market confirms the value yet again on this one. RM Auctions, Amelia Island, FL, 03/15. #119-1963 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL convertible. VIN: 3Y86N410554. Ermine White/ black cloth/black leather. Odo: 12,197 miles. 430-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Missing history, documentation, tools, books, etc. Some rust bubbles. Seats showing only minor wear. Nicely polished dash instruments. Pitted chrome. Overspray over rubber. Suicide rear doors. Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $36,300. A driver, missing the quality and details needed to bring a strong result. It took work to get an opening bid at $20k and could not work its way up to the $40k low estimate. Bonhams, Amelia Island, FL, 03/15. NOT SOLD AT $195,000. One of 41 “Big Tank” coupes for ’65. NCRS Top Flight award in 1993. Bidding stalled just before 102AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $151,800. As far as street rods go, it might have sold better in its first reconfiguration. This is now a go-fast toy with some history, but this car today has evolved from what it used to be. Bought fairly. Gooding & Co., Amelia Island, FL, 03/15. #286-1966 SHELBY GT350 fastback. VIN: SFM651733. White & blue/black vinyl. 302ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Full-on bad-dude race car since sold new on March 4, 1967. Built to SCCA spec and raced “B Production.” Presents as a purpose-built competitive race car. Legal roll cage with all required modern safety gear. Professionally modified and upgraded. Engine redlines at 7,500. For a race car, very few dings and chips. No booboos. This is “show” and “go” in one package. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $132,000. SCCA race car for nearly five decades, with log books. Owner has full notebook with all

Page 101

ROUNDUP GLOBAL system for tunes at 150 mph. Engine commensurate with rest of car. Cond: 1-. NOT SOLD AT $435,000. Bidding stalled just short of the $450k low estimate. Marketcorrect offer for a GT in Gulf Oil colors today, but $500k could be realistic soon if market momentum holds. Hollywood Wheels, Amelia Island, FL, 03/15. documentation, photos, receipts, race results, etc. Every piece of paper since new. Even Ol’ Shel signed the dashboard. SVRA Medallion car. As a former SCCA Chief Scrutineer, I found this car a perfect example of the breed and certainly worth the $185k low estimate. Well bought. Hollywood Wheels, Amelia Island, FL, 03/15. #71-1968 SHELBY GT500 KR convertible. VIN: 8T03R20605602555. Red/black vinyl/ black vinyl. Odo: 89,863 miles. 428-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Original driver’s seat has a big tear in it. Rest of interior looks pretty nice for what it is. Paint has settled. Typical scuffing on windshield frame, but all bright trim is decent. Engine detailed well. Looks like a usable car. Colors are original and in SAAC registry. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $143,000. Once in a while, someone will show up at the polo club riding a wild mustang—as was the case here. This result was strong considering the condition, but this is Amelia—everything costs more. New owner should have tons of fun with it. Gooding & Co., Amelia Island, FL, 03/15. #272-2006 FORD GT Heritage Edition coupe. VIN: 1FAFPN050GY640622. Blue & orange/black leather. Odo: 2,400 miles. One of 343 built in Gulf Oil blue/orange. Although the owner says it has 2,400 miles, undercarriage and suspension show no visible wear. Complete with lightweight forged alloy wheels and red-painted brake calipers. McIntosh AM/FM/CD stereo MOPAR #271-2007 PLYMOUTH HEMI ’CUDA custom “concept car.” VIN: 2B3LA73W47H668197. Lamborghini Orange Pearl/black leather. Odo: 61 miles. 6.1-L fuel-injected V8, auto. Custom build by Gaffoglio Family Metalcrafters. Hemi V8 under a carbon-fiber hood with functional Shaker hood. Retains most of the exterior donor panels, but all the glass was custom made from DOT- approved stock. Interior door panels May-June 2015 103

Page 102

GLOBAL ROUNDUP fabricated; stock dash, drivetrain and electrical system retained. Cond: 1. NOT SOLD AT $475,000. Flawless custom-built “concept car” was created to encourage Chrysler to bring back the ’Cuda. (Titled as a 2007 Dodge Charger, which should confuse the DMV.) A true one-off. Mopar execs saw the car and took it to SEMA 2007, where it made its debut. Cool car, but high bid looked like a crazy lot of money to turn down, and $1m high estimate was even crazier. Hollywood Wheels, Amelia Island, FL, 03/15. AMERICANA #34-1934 PACKARD EIGHT Model 1101 roadster. VIN: 719243. Blue/gray naugahyde. Very nice, with some noticeable swirl marks and buckling in the paint. Doors fit decently, with right one out a bit. Older restoration. Interior wood looks great, as do other details. Chrome inside and out shows light patina. No statement about mechanicals, but restoration is tiring following lack of use. Odometer illegible. Cond: 2-. little to keep the desert dust out. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $50,000. Well bought below market. The buyer obtained a good deal on a genuine vehicle that showed little evidence of tampering. This should only appreciate, and the owner is not likely to run into another one. Mecum Auctions, Las Vegas, NV, 02/15. #S10-1949 CROSLEY HOTSHOT roadster. VIN: VC10466. Gray/black vinyl. Odo: 5 miles. 44-ci I4, 1-bbl, 3-sp. This trim roadster wearing a very calm color stands out from the bevy of ’50s convertibles parked all around. The paint is shiny but average, and with the hood removed and placed in the passenger’s compartment, the tiny cast-iron powerplant drives home the “toy car” feel. Cond: 2-. and it should prove to be a good investment. Well bought and sold. Mecum Auctions, Las Vegas, NV, 02/15. #S84-1955 PACKARD CARIBBEAN convertible. VIN: 55881120. Moonstone & Jade/Emerald/white vinyl/white & two-tone green. Odo: 66,224 miles. 352-ci V8, 2x4bbl, auto. An attractive car that looks heavier and more complicated than its 1953 sister, Lot S153. A much more Americanized execution. The three colors are well applied and work better in person than expected. The chrome is striking except for the windshield header with surface rust. The central hood scoop from 1953 has been split for 1955. Car sits steeply raked; driver’s door difficult to open. Interior well done, but the metal ash trim has dings and will be hard to replace. Engine bay cleaner than most here. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $12,960. The first post-war American sports car and also the first car to be manufactured with disc brakes—in aluminum at that. Well bought at a market price that has held steady for the past decade. A nice and complete car that will surely be the only one wherever the new owner drives it. Mecum Auctions, Las Vegas, NV, 02/15. SOLD AT $143,000. This older Packard was ready to be used. With a good and honest restoration, there’d be nothing left to do but drive it. Gooding’s $180k–$220k estimate was a little optimistic, but the car was still pretty well bought, all things considered. Gooding & Co., Amelia Island, FL, 03/15. #S103-1937 PACKARD TWELVE limousine. VIN: 1035228. Regatta Blue/Blue Steel/black leather & tan cloth. Odo: 3,777 miles. This is an impressive limousine. The color is an attractive shade of dark blue accented by white pinstripes. The old paint shows cracks and chips. The brightwork is nice but needs some attention. Inside the driver’s compartment, the seat leather is cracked and dry enough to be original. In the passenger’s compartment, the cloth looks new and well done although the material may not be original. The engine compartment is very dusty, the louvers doing #S153-1953 PACKARD CARIBBEAN convertible. VIN: L400393. Gulf Green Metallic/ white vinyl/green & white. Odo: 37,169 miles. 327-ci I8, 2-bbl, auto. Beautiful car. The green paint is rich and well applied. The car has a European appearance overall with a prominent, functional hood scoop. While the car displays triple the chrome of any ’50s Euro product, it is restrained for an American car. Paint problems on the steel Continental kit and below the rear fender tips. Chrome is very nice everywhere. Inside, the color scheme works well, and the dash is attractive. The engine bay is tidy compared with most of the cars here. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $51,840. Well bought. This car last appeared at a Bonhams & Brooks auction in 2001 and was a no-sale at $36k (ACC# 23247). Not much appreciation for 14 years for the seller, but buyer should make a small profit if bought for a flip and better money if patient. Mecum Auctions, Las Vegas, NV, 02/15. #S127-1956 DUAL-GHIA convertible. VIN: 113. Red/tan vinyl/cream leather. Odo: 100 miles. 315-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. One of the first cars you saw upon entering the room. The paint finish is excellent, with a few flaws. Oddly, the car is missing the passenger’s side vent window. The interior is redone in very nice leather, although poor seam alignment and dirty door panels might be original. The convertible boot has dirt scuffs. Cond: 1-. 9 104AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $77,760. The color and chrome were outstanding. One of 750 built in the first year, and the only year with full rearwheel cut-outs. The quality and rarity of this car made the buyer secure in the purchase, SOLD AT $190,000. Well bought at the very bottom of the current market value. One of 117 built; these vehicles are striking, rare, celebrity connected and can only appreciate. The buyer will enjoy the European interior and bodywork paired with the Chrysler Hemi. Mecum Auctions, Las Vegas, NV, 02/15. A TOP 10

Page 104

The Parts Hunter Chad Tyson Big-Money Parts and Accessories from Around the Nation #181646391186—1958 Plymouth Belvedere Sportone Trim Inserts. 5 photos. Item condition: Used. eBay, Bury St. Edmonds, U.K. 1/26/15. “Complete set of two-door 1958 Plymouth Belvedere Sportone inserts. These are in lovely condition. To be very fussy, there is a tiny ding on the very rear of one quarter insert. There is no corrosion or flattened detail areas. If you are building a 100-point car, these inserts will need reanodizing, but for anything else a quick polish/wax and install would make any ’58 Plymouth look superb. There is no stainless trim in this listing, just what is pictured. These will be shipped loosely rolled in a box (this is how I received them many years ago now) unless the buyer would specifically like them packed flat and is willing to pay a lot of extra shipping.” Best Offer. Sold at $2,200. Including these in “The Parts Hunter” goes a little outside our scope of “from around the nation,” as these were sold out of the U.K. However, I haven’t seen a whole set for sale before, and with a seller ID of “MoparMadnessDean,” I have to include them. Lovely indeed and well sold. #131418986274—1969 Dodge Daytona Nosecone. 3 photos. Item condition: New. eBay, Alhambra, IL. 2/11/15. “Original Daytona nosecone.” 1 bid. Sold at $6,999. Sometimes all it takes is three little words. Seems to be true here for one particular buyer. Repop pieces are going for half of this price all day long. I’m left to assume that “New” in the item description means that it has never before been installed and painted. Well sold since these get mudded and painted just like any other panel, original or not. #251793125583—1966 Ford 427 SOHC Holman Moody Spark Plug Wire Set. 4 photos. Item description: New. eBay, Juneau, WI. 1/17/15. “NOS original Ford Holman Moody 427 SOHC spark-plug wires. Absolutely mint condition with XE engineering numbers inked on #3 and #5 boots. The wires are dated 4Q65 and 1Q66. Perfect for that killer restoration. Remember, genuine Ford parts are: ‘Made Right,’ ‘Fit Right,’ ‘Last Longer’ and make your car more valuable.” Buy It Now. Sold for $2,500. This seller offered an original and mostly complete 427 Cammer (eBay #251322413756) for $65k back in November 2013. If measured as a percentage of the appropriate long block, the wires sold here are still more than double the cost of a set for a Ford 302 or Chevy 350. All that said, try to find another set of originals. Fair deal by that measure. #371232109692—1977–78 Dodge Warlock/Li’l Red Express Grille. 9 photos. Item condition: New. eBay, East Earl, PA. 1/23/15. “You are bidding on a 1977–78 Dodge truck NOS grille. New in Mopar box with part #4033360. Grille is stamped 3600111. Super-rare find. I will crate to ship.” Buy It Now. Sold for $1,799. This sale was preceded, by a month or so, by a 1979 Dodge pickup grille that went for $1,426 after 14 bids. Perhaps there is a coming late’70s Dodge pickup boom. Maybe it’s here and I missed the announcement. Is there a hidden treasure map included? Whatever the bigger picture here, this grille was well sold, especially when you compare this price with what the complete truck is worth. A 106 AmericanCarCollector.com #291364504950—1969 Pontiac Rochester 4-bbl carburetor. 6 photos. Item description: Used. Plainfield, IN. 1/25/15. “7029273. This is a 1969 Pontiac Hi-Po carb with manual transmission off of my old ’69 T/A. I’ve had this carb in a box for 30 years or better, so it’s not all worn down. Base plate still feels tight. Top air horn plate, body and base plate only.” 1 bid. Sold for $3,250. How many new, equivalent Edelbrocks can be had for this price? The answer is irrelevant if this is the carb that completes an “as-original” setup. This price reminds me of another 7029273 selling back in 2006 for $3,906. It was quite the news on several forums for some time. Now, nine years later, just like the rest of the car market, we’re pretty much back to pre-recession bonkers pricing. Well sold, but not without precedent.

Page 106

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 1957 Oldsmobile 88 Golden Rocket J2 convertible 1962 Chevrolet Bel Air 2-dr sedan S/N 577M54741. Black/red & white. 80,550 miles. V8, automatic. Body-off restoration to like-new. 300hp, 371-ci V8 with three 2-barrel carbs. Its flawless black finish is complemented by a red and white leather interior. Fitted with factory air, power steering, brakes, seat and top. Brightwork is as-new. Panels are straight and well fit. Additional details/images online. $129,000. Contact Mario, 630.926.1384, Email: vikingblue72@gmail.com Web: kennagelclassiccars.com (IL) Advertisers Index American Collectors Insurance ......... 116 Auctions America ................................ 11 Blue Bars ............................................. 62 Camaro Central ................................... 71 Car Collector Price Tracker ............... 113 Carmel Artomobilia ............................ 105 Chevs of the 40’s ................................ 77 Chubb Personal Insurance .................... 9 Corvette America ................................. 37 County Corvette .................................... 2 Danchuk .............................................. 61 Evans Cooling Systems Inc. .................. 7 Genuine HotRod Hardware ................. 21 Grundy Worldwide ............................... 35 Hagerty Insurance Agency, Inc. .......... 27 Hot August Nights ............................... 15 JC Taylor ............................................. 69 108 AmericanCarCollector.com Roman Red/red. 0 miles. V8, 4-spd manual. Certified “Day Two” 4sd, dual quad, Posi-traction 409/409. Radio, heater delete car with no PS, PB. Steel wheels with poverty caps, cheater slicks, Cherry Bombs, cutouts. Hidden stereo. $88,000 OBO. Contact Bill, 847.561.6700, Email: billcollopy@holbrookinc.com (IL) 1969 Chevrolet Impala SS coupe S/N 164379D02931. Lemans Jim Meyer Racing Products Inc. ....... 113 Kinekt ................................................ 107 Law Offices of Bruce Shaw ................. 89 Leake Auction Company ....................... 3 LeMay - America’s Car Museum ......... 91 Lucky Collector Car Auctions .............. 99 Lutty’s Chevy Warehouse ................. 101 MacNeil Automotive Products Ltd ...... 63 Memory Lane Motors, Inc. ................ 105 Michael Irvine Studios ......................... 79 Mid America Motorworks .................... 25 Morphy Auctions ................................. 17 Mustangs Unlimited ............................ 75 National Corvette Museum ................ 107 National Corvette Restorers Society . 101 National Parts Depot ......................... 115 Obsolete & Classic Auto Parts, Inc. .... 95 Original Parts Group ............................ 19 Venetian Red/red. 270 hp. Body-off restored. Duntov Mark Paragon Corvette Reproductions ........ 81 Park Place LTD .................................... 29 Passport Transport .............................. 73 Petersen Collector Car Auction ......... 107 Pro-Team Corvette Sales, Inc ............. 83 Reliable Carriers .................................. 55 RM Auctions ........................................ 13 Ronald McDonald House .................... 87 Silver Collector Car Auctions .............. 23 Sports Car Market ............................. 111 St Bernard Church............................... 63 The Chevy Store Inc .......................... 103 The Elegance At Hershey .................... 59 Thomas C Sunday Inc ....................... 107 TYCTA ................................................. 96 VintageDrivingMachines.com .............. 67 Watchworks ....................................... 107 Zip Products ........................................ 95 S/N 242370P152516. Red/red. 101,000 miles. V8, automatic. Car is in good condition. All documented, original rims and radio. $29,000 OBO. Contact Jean Pierre, 310.505.0018, Email: jeanpierre@prestonlitho. com (CA) CORVETTE 1957 Chevrolet Corvette convertible Blue/Parchment. 96,000 miles. V8, 3-spd automatic. Original and in mint condition. 427 (L36) Sport Coupe, all numbers matching, 390 hp; even the hoses and clamps are original. Only 2,455 were made in 1969. Lemans Blue (#53), Parchment bucket seats, Parchment vinyl top, PS, PB, a/c. Highly optioned. Drives like new. $49,900 OBO. Contact Dean, 239.450.8139, Email: dprevolos@aol.com (FL) t1970 Pontiac GTO 2-dr hard op of Excellence, Bloomington Gold and four NCRS awards. $150,000. ProTeam Corvette Sales, Inc, 419.592.5086, Email: terry@proteamcorvette. com (OH) 1963 Chevrolet Corvette coupe Silver Blue/black. 4-spd manual. Factory a/c Split-Window, 300hp. Body-off restoration by Nabers. Bloomington Gold and NCRS Top Flight. Very rare! $195,000. ProTeam Corvette Sales Inc., 419.592.5086, Email: terry@proteamcorvette. com (OH) 1967 Chevrolet Corvette coupe S/N 194377S111250. Sherwood Green/dark green. 58,313 miles. V8, 4-spd manual. 427/390hp Sherwood Green with white stinger. Documented matching numbers engine, trans, rear end w/POP, original owner’s manual, known ownership history. Factory a/c, headrests, PS, side exhaust, knockoffs, teak wheel. Immaculate condition in climate-controlled garage. Professional appraisal available for review. More photos available. $109,000. Contact Charles, 253.279.9148, Email: Earcutr@aol.com (WA) 1969 Chevrolet Corvette convertible Silver/red. 791 miles. 4-spd manual. 350-hp with 791 actual miles. Original unrestored time capsule with excellent cosmetics. $100,000. ProTeam Corvette Sales Inc., 419.592.5086, Email: terry@proteamcorvette. com (OH)

Page 107

Showcase Gallery 1969 Chevrolet Corvette L88 coupe 2003 Chevrolet Corvette 50th Anniversary Edition convertible Jack, 979.589.1936, Email: yacko007@gmail.com (TX) 1950 Ford custom coupe Monaco Orange/black. Nabers body-off restoration. Bloomington certified, Bloomington Earthquake ’88, well documented. $650,000. ProTeam Corvette Sales Inc., 419.592.5086, Email: terry@proteamcorvette. com (OH) 1970 Chevrolet Corvette convertible S/N 1G1YY32G335107390. Anniversary Red/Shale. 30,000 miles. V8, 6-spd manual. One owner, WA state car. Corsa exhaust. All original except battery, mufflers and tailpipes. Original exhaust goes with car. Window sticker, complete service history and original purchase documents. 50th Anniversary memorabilia. New floor mats still in box. Email me for link to online photo gallery. $28,000 OBO. Contact Jim, 253.845.3975, Email: james. shepherd7@comcast.net (WA) Monza Red/Saddle leather. V8, 4-spd manual. NCRS 2nd Flight. Needs restoration, but is very original. Purchased from original owner. Needs some frame repair. Includes perfect auxiliary hard top. 350/350hp, PS, PB. Very few originals like this left. $23,500. Contact Mark, Ridgetop Restorations, 715.385.3341, Email: daddy19581955@yahoo.com (WI) 1974 Chevrolet Corvette coupe FOMOCO 1933 Ford 3-window custom coupe S/N 80CH127565. Bright red/gray & red. 77,000 miles. V8, 3-spd manual. Beautifully restored, fully customized inside and out, excellent condition. Zero rust California car, bright red, lowered, decked, frenched head and taillights, Continental kit, modern 289 OHV Ford Mustang engine, manual trans, newer radial WW tires, skirts, custom interior, a/c, radio, always garaged and runs great. $19,500 OBO. Contact Dale, 619.579.7658, Email: leed3@cox.net (CA) 1954 Mercury Monterey woodie wagon Stunning classic. Very original with just over 75,000 original miles. Original 312-ci, 4-barrel V8, port hole hard top, soft top, original continental kit, documented service history. Everything works, nice and tidy. Runs and drives great. $39,995 OBO. Contact Paul, Maxatawny Auto Sales, 610.683.0480, Email: maxacars@gmail.com Web: list.dcsdnn.com/1956-FordThunderbird/Used-Convertible/ Kutztown-PA/3690642/Details. aspx (PA) MOPAR 1938 Dodge RC commercial sedan delivery Red/light gray. 5,000 miles. V8, automatic. Show winner in show-winning condition. Full description and additional photos available online. Madison Zamperini Collection, Email: sir@sunspeed.com Web: sunspeed.com/Ford33.html (CA) 1947 Mercury convertible S/N 1Z37T4S414005. Pearl white/black leather. V8, manual. 5.7-L engine. Recent checkup with $1,100 spent and two invoices to change the battery, replace spark plugs and ignition wires, a/c checked, filters and more. Runs perfectly but needs some cosmetic freshening inside (probably $1,500 to do it right). Priced right based on its minimal needs. $12,500. Contact Jean Pierre, 310.505.0018, Email: jeanpierre@prestonlitho. com (CA) S/N 799A1740730. Maize Yellow/beige & brown. 15,000 miles. V8, 3-spd manual. Original professional restoration, flathead, lacquer on straight body, fenders/engine out for painting, LeBaron Bonney interior/top, Columbia OD, recent tune-up, starts/runs great. April 2014 500 mile driving trip to Early Ford V-8 Club Texas tour, 2005 EFV8 Midwest National 1st Place, many awards. Owned since 2003. $43,000 OBO. Contact Arctic White/white and red. V8, 3-spd automatic. This enjoyable and stylish classic piece of ’50s Americana is in fantastic condition and appears to be mostly original, including the attractive real wood trim pieces. Three-row, 8-passenger wagon. Having just completed a full mechanical service as needed, it is ready for the next enthusiast to enjoy. Contact Charles, Charles Crail Automobiles, 805.568.1934, Email: eenberg@msn.com Web: charlescrail.com/component/ content/article/13-inventory/ current-stock/203-1954-mercury-monterey-woody-wagon (CA) 1956 Ford Thunderbird convertible S/N 8913475. Red & black/gray. 2,300 miles. I6, 3-spd manual. Outstanding example, extremely rare. Best on the planet. High-caliber professional restoration, very correct, photo documented. National Concours First Place winner. In fresh, as-new condition, well optioned. Fantastic advertising medium, draws crowds. Owned 35 years, full details and history available. $75,000. Contact Rick, Cars Gone By Restoration Services, 403.534.2222, Email: carsgoneby@telus.net (CAN) STREET ROD MISC. 1950 Citroën 11B custom 4-dr sedan S/N P6FH296531000000. Colonial White/white & black. 75,026 miles. V8, 2-spd automatic. Silver & black/gray. 32,000 miles. V8, 3-spd automatic. Looks stock on the outside. All custom inside. 350 motor/350 trans. TCI front end, TCI power rack, 10-bolt rear, Edelbrock carb and intake, a/c, custom interior, custom paint, Alpine stereo, custom wheels, Evans coolant, electric fan, battery in trunk and more. Very fast and handles like a dream. $60,000. Contact Frank, 760.464.6728, Email: ftonne@live.ca (CA) A May-June 2015 109

Page 108

RESOURCE DIRECTORY Put your company in the ACC Resource Directory. Call 877.219.2605 Ext. 218, or email advert@americancarcollector.com Auction Companies Auctions America. 877.906.2437. Auctions America specializes in the sale of American classics, European sports cars, Detroit muscle, hot rods and customs. The company boasts an expert team of specialists, who offer 180 years combined experience buying, selling, racing and restoring collector vehicles, making them uniquely qualified to advise on all aspects of the hobby. www.auctionsamerica.com. (IN) Petersen Auction Group of Oregon. 541.689.6824. Hosting car auctions in Oregon since 1962. We have three annual Auctions: February—Oregon State Fairgrounds, Salem, OR; July— Douglas Co. Fairgrounds, Roseburg, OR; September— Oregon State Fairgrounds, Salem, OR. On the I-5 Corridor. We offer knowledgeable, fast, friendly “hassle free” transactions. Oregon’s #1 Collector Car Auction www.petersencollectorcars.com Leake Auctions. 800.722.9942. Join Leake Auction Company as they celebrate 40 years in the collector car auction industry. Their unsurpassed customer service and fast-paced two-lane auction ring makes them a leader in the business. Leake currently operates auctions in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Dallas and San Antonio. Visit them online at www.leakecar.com or call 800.722.9942. Premier Auction Group. 844.5WE.SELL . The auction professionals that have been taking care of you for the last two decades have partnered together to create a team that is dedicated to providing the utmost customer service and auction experience. We applied our 83 years of auction experience to build a platform ensuring that every aspect of our company exceeds your expectations. 844.5WE.SELL. 844.593.7355. www.premierauctiongroup.com. info@premierauctiongroup.com Lucky Collector Car Auctions. 888.672.0020. Lucky Collector Car Auctions is aptly named after Harold “Lucky” Lemay. Based in the majestic, pastoral ground of Marymount, home to the Lemay Family Collection Foundation near Tacoma, WA, the collection, formerly the biggest in the world according to Guinness, now hosts an unrivaled event center, art collection and charitable foundation, which features two exceptional collector car auctions a year. www. luckyoldcar.com (WA) Silver Auctions. 800.255.4485. 2020 N. Monroe, Spokane, WA 99205. silver@silverauctions.com. www.silverauctions.com. (WA) Worldwide Auctioneers. 866.273.6394. Established by John Kruse and Rod C. Egan, The Worldwide Group—Auctioneers, Appraisers and Brokers—is one of the world’s premier auction houses, specializing in the procurement and sale of the world’s finest automobiles and vintage watercraft. www. worldwide-auctioneers.com. (IN) Classic Car Sales Motorcar Portfolio, LLC. 330.453.8900. Buy, sell, trade, auction of affordable antique, classic, collector vehicles. Bob Lichty offers over 40 years experience in the classic car industry. Motorcar Portfolio, LLC. has been serving NE Ohio and the world since 2004. Let us help with your needs. See our current inventory at our web site RM Auctions, Inc. 800.211.4371. RM Auctions is the world’s largest collector car auction house for investment-quality automobiles. With 35 years’ experience, RM’s vertically integrated range of services, from restoration to private treaty sales and auctions, coupled with an expert team of car specialists and an international footprint, provide an unsurpassed level of service to the global collector car market. www.rmauctions.com. (CAN) Palm Springs Auctions, Inc. Keith McCormick. 760.320.3290. Family owned & operated for 28 years. Producing 2 large classic car auctions per year in Palm Springs, California. Each auction features over 500 cars. Held in November & February every year. www.classic-carauction.com 110 AmericanCarCollector.com 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) www.motorcarportfolio.com Classic Car Transport Direct Connect Auto Transport. 800.668.3227. “The driver was friendly and helped our son feel comfortable about moving his lowered ‘59 Volkswagen Beetle antique auto. The driver communicated well during pick up and delivery. It was fast, too. We spent two days in Phoenix after the car was picked up and it beat us back to the east coast.” 5-Star Reviews Let Us Earn Yours directconnectautotransport.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) 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 Passport Transport. 800.736.0575. Since our founding in 1970, we have shipped thousands of treasured vehicles doorto-door with our fully enclosed auto transporters. Whether your prized possession is your daily driver, a vintage race car, a classic, a ’60s muscle car or a modern exotic, you can depend on Passport Transport to give you the premium service it deserves. We share your appreciation for fine automobiles, and it shows. www.PassportTransport.com. 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

Page 109

Sports Car Market Keith Martin’s The Insider’s Guide to Collecting, Investing, Values, and Trends “Hats off to you. Keeping up the great effort to produce the best car magazine s Car Market Keith Martin’s The Insider’s Guide to Collecting, Investing, Valu r Market Keith Martin’s The Insider’s Guide to Collecting, Investing, Values, and Trends “Hats off to you. Keeping up the great effort to produce the best car magazine Subscribe Subscribe to SCM today and become a collector car insider www.sportscarmarket.com May-June 2015 111

Page 110

RESOURCE DIRECTORY Put your company in the ACC Resource Directory. Call 877.219.2605 Ext. 218, or email advert@americancarcollector.com American transportation company does it all. www.reliablecarriers. com Thomas C. Sunday Inc. 800.541.6601. Established in 1970, Thomas C. Sunday Inc. provides clients with fully-enclosed, cross-country, door-to-door service. Thomas C. Sunday Inc. are well-seasoned experts in the field of automobile transportation, hiring only Grade-A drivers, and offering clients the best possible service at competitive pricing. Fully-licensed, insured and bonded. Call 1-800541-6601 or 717-697-0939, Fax 717-697-0727, email: info@sundayautotransport.com Corvette Parts & Restoration 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. 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) 112 AmericanCarCollector.com Mid America Motorworks. 800.500.1500. America’s leader in 1953–2008 Corvette parts and accessories. Request a free catalog at www.mamotorworks.com. (IL) 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) Corvettes for Sale County Corvette. 610.696.7888. The most modern and bestequipped Corvette-only facility in the nation. www.countycorvette.com. (PA) The Chevy Store. At The Chevy Store, you will find only the highest-grade, investment-quality Corvette and specialty Chevrolet automobiles. We take pride in providing our clients with the finest selection anywhere. Offering investment-quality Corvettes and Chevrolets for over 30 years! 503.256.5384(p) 503.256.4767(f) www.thechevystore.com. (OR) Chubb Collector Car Insurance. 1.866.CAR.9648. The Chubb Collector Car Insurance program provides flexibility by allowing you to choose the agreed value and restoration shop. Broad coverage includes no mileage restrictions and special pricing for large schedules. For more information, contact us at 1(866)CAR-9648 or www.chubbcollectorcar.com. ProTeamCorvette.com. Corvettes: 1953–1982. Over 10,000 sold since 1971! Moneyback guarantee. Worldwide transportation. Z06s, L88s, L89s, LS6s, ZR2s, ZR1s, LT1s, COPOs, Fuelies, Special 425s/435s/RPOs. Call toll free 888.592.5086 or call 419.592.5086. Fax 419.592.4242, email: terry@ proteamcorvette.com or visit our website: www.ProTeamCorvette. com. ProTeam Corvette Sales, 1410 N. Scott St., Napoleon, OH 43545. Special Corvettes wanted at CorvettesWanted.com! NCRS Member #136. Grundy Worldwide. 888.647.8639. Grundy Worldwide offers agreed value insurance with no mileage limitations, zero deductible*, and high liability limits. Our coverages are specifically designed for collectible-car owners. From classic cars to muscle cars, Grundy Worldwide has you covered. (*Zero deductible available in most states.) 888.6GRUNDY (888.647.8639). www.grundyworldwide.com. (PA) Hagerty Collector Car Insurance. 800.922.4050. Collector cars aren’t like their latemodel counterparts. These classics actually appreciate in value, so standard market policies that cost significantly more won’t do the job. We’ll agree on a fair value and cover you for the full amount. No prorated claims, no hassles, no games. www.hagerty.com. (MI) Putnam Leasing. 866.90.LEASE. For over 25 years, Putnam Leasing has been the leader in exotic, luxury, and collector car leasing. This honor comes from Putnam’s unique ability to match the car of your dreams with a lease designed just for you. Every Putnam Lease is written to provide maximum flexibility while conserving capital, lowering monthly payments, and maximizing tax advantages. It’s Putnam’s way of letting you drive more car for less money. For leases ranging from $50,000 to more than $1 million, with terms extending up to 84 months visit www.putnamleasing. com or call 1.866.90.LEASE. (CT) Legal Law Offices of Bruce Shaw, Collector Car Fraud Specialists, www.shawlaws.com. A motorhead law firm with real practical knowledge and experience in the Collector Car Field. Experience: Chain of speed shops, Body Shops, Car Dealerships, former NCRS judge as well as licensed attorneys. Estate planning and divorce settlements concerning Collector Cars. 50 State Representation. 215.657.2377. American Collectors Insurance. 1.866.887.8354. The nation’s leading provider of specialty insurance for collectors. We offer affordable, agreed value coverage for all years, makes, and models of collector vehicles. Since 1976, we have provided superior service and broad, flexible coverage. Experience our quick quoting and application process, as well as our “Real Person” Guarantee every time you call. Email: Info@ AmericanCollectors.com www.AmericanCollectors.com Insurance J.C. Taylor Insurance. 800.345.8290. Antique, classic, muscle or modified — J.C. Taylor Insurance has provided dependable, dynamic, affordable protection for your collector vehicle for over 50 years. Agreed Value Coverage in the continental U.S., and Alaska. Drive Through Time With Peace of Mind with J.C. Taylor Insurance. Get a FREE instant quote online at www. JCTaylor.com. (PA) Leasing

Page 111

Museums LeMay Family Collection Foundation. LeMay Family Collection Foundation at Marymount Events Center near Tacoma, WA, hosts an epic backdrop for your next event. Home to 500 fabulous collector cars, worldclass art exhibits, and assorted ephemera, consider your next event here. Weddings, swap meets, conventions, auctions. The facility can likely exceed your expectations. Visit during the 37th annual open house along with 13,000 other enthusiasts. 253.272.2336 www.lemaymarymount.org National Corvette Museum. 80053-VETTE. The National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY, was established as a 501(c)3 notfor-profit foundation with a mission of celebrating the invention of the Corvette and preserving its past, present and future. www.corvettemuseum.com. (KY) Parts—General National Parts Depot. 800.874.7595. We stock huge inventories of concours-correct restoration parts for: Mustangs Unlimited. Since 1976, Mustangs Unlimited has been the source for Restoration, Performance, and Accessory parts for 1965–present Mustang, 1967–1973 Mercury Cougar, and 1965–1970 Shelby Mustang. More than 55,000 available parts in 2 fully stocked warehouses, Mustangs Unlimited is YOUR Mustang Parts SUPERSTORE! FREE Shipping on orders over $300. Visit www.mustangsunlimited.com or call 800.243.7278. 1965–73 and 1979–93 Mustang 1967–81 Camaro & Firebird 1964–72 GTO, Tempest & LeMans 1964–87 Chevelle, Malibu & El Camino 1948–96 F-Series Ford Truck 1947–98 C/K 1/2-ton Chevy Truck 1966–96 Bronco 1955–57 Thunderbird www.nationalpartsdepot.com 75,000 of the finest restoration parts and accessories for GM classics at the best prices anywhere. The largest selection of Chevelle, El Camino, Monte Carlo, GTO, Le Mans, Tempest, Gran Prix, Bonneville, Catalina, Cutlass, 442, Skylark, GS, Riviera and Cadillac classic parts anywhere. Visit www.OPGI.com or call (800) 243-8355. Restoration—General Original Parts Group, Inc. With over 30 years’ experience, OPGI manufactures and stocks over Cosmopolitan Motors, LLC. 206.467.6531. Experts in worldwide acquisition, collection management, disposition and appraisal. For more than a quarter century, Cosmopolitan Motors has lived by its motto, “We covet the rare and unusual, whether pedigreed or proletarian.” Absurdly eclectic and proud of it. Find your treasure here, or pass it along to the next generation. www.cosmo- politanmotors.com (WA) A WHAT’S YOUR CAR California Car Cover Company. 800.423.5525. More than just custom-fit car covers, California Car Cover is the home of complete car care and automotive lifestyle products. Offering the best in car accessories, garage items, detailing products, nostalgic collectibles, apparel and more! Call 1-800-4235525 or visit Calcarcover.com for a free catalog. 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 Custom Autosound Manufacturing. 800.888.8637. Since 1977 providing audio solutions for classic car and trucks. Covering over 400 application our radios and speakers fit the original location without modification. Keep the classic look of your vehicle while enjoying state of the art audio. Check out all of our products at www.customautosound. com. Or if you’d like a free catalog call 800-888-8637. (CA) May-June 2015 113

Page 112

Surfing Around Carl Bomstead Automobilia on eBay and Beyond Carl’s thought: Famed football coach Vince Lombardi coached the U.S. Army West Point Black Knights from 1949 through 1953. The jacket that he was photographed wearing during that period was donated to Goodwill and was purchased for an unknown amount, but I doubt it was over $20 or so. It was in turn sold by Heritage Auctions in their recent February auction for $43,020. That’s amazing, but stuff like this is still out there. Maybe we should spend a little more time in the second-hand stores. Here are a few other items that stood out this past month: EBAY #331471725436— CONOCO HALF-GALLON OIL CAN. Number of bids: 51. SOLD AT: $2,557. Date sold: 2/15/2015. Conoco, the brand for Continental Oil Company, used the Colonial Minuteman as their logo on cans, signage and other promotional material. All are very desirable, and examples in good condition bring the money. As we see here, this was no exception, but the price was well justified as the condition was there. EBAY #301440076778—1950s ROUTE 66 KANSAS ROAD SIGN. Number of bids: 16. SOLD AT: $3,052. Date sold: 12/21/2015. As we have seen over the years, Route 66 road signs go for a bunch. There were only 11½ miles of the Mother Road in Kansas so, of course, there were not that many road signs. This one was a bit battered and rusty, but still sold for strong money. I just hope the new owner does not try to restore it and ruin the character. EBAY #2216737784731— 1911 MISSOURI LEATHER LICENSE PLATE WITH REGISTRATION. Number of bids: 32. SOLD AT: $2,757.99. Date sold: 1/31/2015. Missouri first required its residents to license their motor vehicles in 1911. You received a registration and then had to make your own plate. This one, in fabulous condition, was made of leather. What made it unique was that it still had the original paper registration for a Stoddard Dayton Touring car. The ultimate prize for a Missouri plate collector, but he paid for it. 114 AmericanCarCollector.com EBAY #331436247026—THREE RED SEAL VINTAGE SPARK PLUGS. Number of bids: 71. SOLD AT: $1,913.88. Date sold: 1/11/2015. Seller stated he found these rare spark plugs in a box in the basement. They date to the teens and have a glass cylinder in the center of the plug so you can observe the spark. It was evident that he had no idea what he was selling and added a comment that he had just found out that they were valuable. No kidding… EBAY #15158527016—KELLY TIRES 24-INCH DOUBLESIDED SIGN. Number of bids: 10. SOLD AT: $6,600. Date sold: 12/27/2014. Kelly Tires used any number of ladies as the “Lotta Miles” girl featured in the center of the tire. Some were daughters of company execs, while others were aspiring actresses. Any of their signage is very desirable, and even this sign, which was not porcelain, sold for adult money. Could have easily, however, gone for more. EBAY #221670634770—1956 “KIDDIE CORVETTE” PEDAL CAR MADE BY ESKA. Number of bids: 22. SOLD AT: $4,001.99. Date sold: 1/30/2015. This was one of 60 fiberglass one-thirdscale 1956 Corvettes offered by Chevrolet dealers in their “See the USA in Your Chevrolet” promotion. This one had been repainted, but the body appeared to be in good condition. It had a 2-speed transmission and was stated to be intended for 3- to 8-year-olds — but good luck keeping a 10-year-old out of it. EBAY #141533130209— SINCLAIR AIRCRAFT DOUBLE-SIDED PORCELAIN SIGN. Number of bids: 29. SOLD AT: $4,174.33. Date sold: 1/18/2015. This very desirable sign was a mess. It was bent at the bottom and looked like it had been used for target practice by a bunch of kids with big rocks. It still sold for a bunch, but I watched an excellent example sell for $40k at the Pratte sale, so that gives an idea of what condition adds to the value. A