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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
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Phone 503.261.0555
Fax 503.253.2234
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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#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.
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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
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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
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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
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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