CAR COLLECTOR
Volume 6 • Issue 33 • May–June 2017
AMERICAN
™
The Scoop
CORVETTE
1968 CORVETTE 427/435
L89 CONVERTIBLE
$96k / GAA
Best-bet ’Vette, short
of an L88
— Patrick Smith
Page 54
6 AmericanCarCollector.com
GM
1966 CHEVROLET NOVA
SS L79
$79k / GAA
Little Nova with a big punch
leads the market
— Chad Tyson
Page 56
Eight Sales That Define the Market
FoMoCo
1968 SHELBY GT500 KR
CONVERTIBLE
$117k / Gooding & Co.
Nice price on a desirable
drop-top Shelby
— Tom Glatch
Page 58
MOPAR
1970 DODGE
SUPER BEE
$40k / The Finest
V-code Bee brings a market
price — twice
— Dale Novak
Page 60
Keith Martin's
The Rundown
COLUMNS
10 Torque: Parts to make a whole — Jim Pickering
48 Cheap Thrills: 1949–51 Ford Shoebox Sixes
— B. Mitchell Carlson
50 Horsepower: New Yorker nostalgia — Colin Comer
52 On the Market: They may not look like much, but
Checkers offer an affordable, durable and iconic slice
of Americana — John L. Stein
130 Surfing Around: Must-have automobilia
— Carl Bomstead
FEATURES
22 Good Reads: AMC Motorsports, Definitive Camaro
Guide, Creative Industries of Detroit, and Isky
— Mark Wigginton
26 Desktop Classics: 1929 Cord L-29 Special Coupe
— Marshall Buck
28 Snapshots: Images from Amelia Island, dual
Northwest events fire up the 2017 season, and
a vintage racer pits at World of Speed
122 Junkyard Treasures: One shop is crushing it
in Oklahoma — Phil Skinner
USEFUL STUFF
14 What’s Happening: Car events of note
16 Crossing the Block: Upcoming auctions
24 Parts Time: Aftermarket pieces for your car
26 Cool Stuff: Miniature V8, fine photography and
a portable garage
34 Wrenching: How to make that original paint look
its best
42 Your Turn: Shades of rarity, plus some
Alumathoughts
44 Readers’ Forum: Your best car buys
78 Market Moment: 1969 Chevrolet Nova Pro
Touring — Jim Pickering
96 Market Moment: 1976 AMC Gremlin — John Boyle
117 One to Watch: 1965 Ford Mustang
— Jim Pickering
8 AmericanCarCollector.com
KR convertible Mathieu Heurtault,
courtesy of Gooding & Company
Cover photo: 1968 Shelby GT500
120 The Parts Hunter: Vintage speed parts on eBay
Motors — Pat Smith
124 Showcase Gallery: Sell your car in ACC’s
classifieds section
126 Resource Directory: Get to know our advertisers
129 Advertiser Index
AUCTIONS
70 Market Overview
Top 10 auction sales and best buys, and flipping
instant classics — Garrett Long
74 GAA — Greensboro, NC
A 76% sales rate realizes a $13.7m record at GAA
— Mark Moskowitz and Jeff Trepel
86 Leake — Oklahoma City, OK
The new Bennett Event Center hosts a $10.4m auction,
with 405 of 549 vehicles sold — B. Mitchell Carlson
98 Mecum — Kansas City, MO
309 of 496 lots sold in KC brings in $7.3m
— Brett Hatfield
108 McCormick’s — Palm Springs, CA
Just a shade under $6m in the desert, with a 66% sales
rate — Carl Bomstead
116 Roundup
American vehicles on Amelia Island from Gooding
& Company, RM Sotheby’s and Bonhams
— Pierre Hedary, Carl Bomstead, Mark Moskowitz,
Jeff Trepel, Larry Trepel
Page 8
Torque
Jim Pickering
Impala Hunting
T
his month’s Readers’ Forum question
is all about our best car buys
— those cars that were steals, deals,
or just turned out to be a lot better
than we ever dreamed they would.
For some of you, it was a brush with an icon,
like a 427 Cobra or Ram Air Firebird for a lot
less than the current market level. For others,
it wasn’t about rarity but instead accessibility
— Cutlass Supremes, Mustangs, Corvettes,
and so on.
That got me thinking a lot about my own
best buy, and while I’ve had a few cars over
the years that could easily qualify, when I
really dug down and thought about it, I ended
up way back in time in a place I didn’t expect.
B-body in the bushes
In 1966, Chevrolet built close to 1.5 mil-
lion full-size models — Bel Airs, Biscaynes,
Impalas and Caprices. Of those, 116,400
were Impala SS models with V8 engines.
About 47,000 convertibles were sold
that year — reportedly the second-mostpopular
drop-top in America, just behind the
Mustang.
One of these cars — a special Impala SS
396/325 in Marina Blue with a white top and
a white interior — wound up derelict in the
blackberries near the building my father’s
company moved into in 1990.
A little lunchtime trespassing led to
Dad’s discovery of the Impala, and as he was
a GM guy without a GM project, he couldn’t
resist protracted negotiations with its owner.
Eventually my family had the title to a
factory SS — most of one, anyway — and
third-grade Hot-Wheels-loving me was over
the moon at the thought of building a real
car with Dad.
That SS led to weekend swapmeet trips
to the far reaches of Oregon, hunting for
Impala parts that might be a little bit better
than what we already had. I got good at
spotting ’66 gauges, consoles, tilt columns
and bumpers in piles of GM stuff. But the
best part, at least for me, was the parts cars.
Buy cheap, sell cheaper
In the ’90s, quite a few of those 1.5 mil-
lion 1966 B-body Chevys were still around
and available for sale in the Nickel Ads or
just by knocking on a door and asking about
the mossy car in the yard. Most were priced
anywhere from $50 to $200 each. Some
were 4-doors, some were decently optioned
10 AmericanCarCollector.com
My all-time best buys were parts cars, but they offered more
than just parts
Our SS kicked off a parts-car hunt — and a bunch of best buys
coupes and convertibles that were at the time
considered to be way too far gone to save. So
we’d buy them, strip what we needed, and
send them on their way to a salvage yard.
Every few months, another particularly
rough example would come home on the car
trailer. I remember a red non-SS convertible
with no floors that donated its complete cowl
and windshield, a maroon Caprice that gave
up a 12-bolt and its front-end sheet metal, a
teal ’65 wagon that had a sweet-running 396,
and a house-paint-white Bel Air 4-door that
lost a bunch of its interior bits and pieces.
One car — a black Caprice — donated
only a couple of photos, including one of
its transmission crossmember to help aid in
proper reassembly. I kept a photo of it for
a long time, and I wish I still had it, as that
same Caprice ended up in my own garage
years later.
For me, all this was a gold mine of fun
because I got to take things apart with real
tools in an environment where scratched
paint didn’t matter. Dad taught me the basics
of wrenching on these cars, from how to
hold a screwdriver through how to remove a
rusty bolt. From there, we mastered the removal
of delicate trim, bulky doors, fenders,
suspension components and more.
The end result of all this, other than the
learning aspect, was a goldmine of parts, all
stored in a shed, ready and waiting for the
day of Impala reassembly — a day that’s still
to come.
Parts to make a whole
It’s funny how fast the world has changed
with regard to classic cars. The Impalas we
parted out, once considered too far gone and
only worth $100 or so, are now selling in
worse condition for a lot more than we ever
paid. Reproduction parts, once thin on the
ground for these cars, are popping up like
crazy to fill voids in the market now that
originals are hard to get. A great example are
Classic Industries’ all-new B-body gauges,
featured on p. 24, pictured alongside some
originals pulled from Dad’s parts shed this
past weekend.
I’ve had some cool cars — Camaro SS,
Charger SRT8, K10 pickup — but when I
really think about it, they don’t truly match
up to those parts cars I owned by extension.
Even though those rough Impalas were
bought only to donate their parts, they did
a lot more, from hands-on training through
simple fun with Dad. That counts for a lot
more than what we paid.
So there you have it. My best buys. Yours
start on p. 44. A
Page 12
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.
McPherson College Car
and Motorcycle Show
The world-famous McPherson College
Automotive Restoration Program and the
school’s C.A.R.S. Club is throwing their
18th Annual Car and Motorcycle Show.
Graduates of this program help keep our old
cars running.
More then 275 cars and thousands of
gearheads will arrive on campus on May
6 to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of
the Automotive Restoration Program.
McPherson is the only college in the United
States to offer a bachelor’s degree in the
restoration of classic and antique collector
cars.
Students organize and run this event, and
the McPherson College Campus, at 1600 E.
Euclid Street, McPherson, KS, is the place to
be. Admission, which includes entering your
car, is $20 on the day of the show. 773-5787228,
www.mcpherson.edu (KS)
AACA and Classic Car Club
of America Meet in Auburn
For the first time ever, the AACA and the
Classic Car Club of America will have a
joint National Meet. The big event is scheduled
for May 11–13 at Auburn Auction Park,
5536 Country Road 11A, Auburn, IN 46706.
Members of both clubs will judge the
same cars on the same day. Don’t miss the
flea market and car corral, which run all
three days of the show.
Admission is free to the public, but you
must be a member of the AACA or the
CCCA to enter a car in the show. Visit
www.aaca.org for more information. (IN)
14 AmericanCarCollector.com
Corvettes at The Brickyard
Bloomington Gold will arrive at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway when the track is still
warm from the Indy 500 Race. This year’s celebration of Corvette excellence and originality
hits The Brickyard from June 22 to 24. Laps around that famous track are on the menu
this year, so bring your Corvette. Your speed on the track will be limited to 60 mph, but the
thrill of coming out of a turn and hitting the straightaway is a bucket-list experience for any
gearhead.
This is the 45th 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. Many
people hope their car is original enough to win a coveted Gold Certification, a Survivor
Award or the top-of-the-mountain Benchmark Award. This is more than a judging event. The
GoldMine has dozens of Corvettes for sale, there is a Corvette sale area, driving tours and
much more. www.bloomingtongold.com (IN) A
Page 14
CROSSINGTHE
Upcoming Auctions (Images are courtesy of the respective auction houses unless otherwise noted)
BLOCK
by Garrett Long
Star Car: 1969 Ford Boss 429 at auctions america in auburn, In
May
Silver Auctions
Where: Spokane, WA
When: May 3
Last year: 31/65 cars sold / $161k
More: www.silverauctions.com
Vicari Auction
Where: Nocona, TX
When: May 4–6
More: www.vicariauction.com
Collector Car Productions
Where: Mississauga, ON, CAN
When: May 5–7
More: www.ccpauctions.com
VanDerBrink Auctions
Where: Hustisford, WI
When: May 6
More: www.vanderbrinkauctions.com
Smith Auctions LLC
Where: Jonesboro, AR
When: May 6
More: www.smithauctionsllc.com
16 AmericanCarCollector.com
Auctions America
Where: Auburn, IN
When: May 11–13
Last year: 287/393 cars sold / $7m
More: www.auctionsamerica.com
Featured cars:
• Star Car: 1969 Ford Boss 429
• 1968 Shelby GT500 KR
Mecum
Where: Indianapolis, IN
When: May 16–21
Last year: 1094/1562 cars sold / $48.2m
More: www.mecum.com
Featured cars:
• 1968 Chevrolet L88 coupe
• Star Car: 1963 Chevrolet Impala Z11
• 1970 Buick GS Stage 1 convertible
Silver Auctions
Where: Missoula, MT
When: May 20
Last year: 44/73 cars sold / $461k
More: www.silverauctions.com
Lucky Collector Car Auctions
Where: Tacoma, WA
When: May 20–21
Last year: 125/187 cars sold / $1.3m
More: www.luckyoldcar.com
Dan Kruse Classics
Where: Midland, TX
When: May 27
Last year: 76/146 cars sold / $1.4m
More: www.dankruseclassics.com
June
Russo and Steele
Where: Newport Beach, CA
When: June 2–4
Last year: 160/283 cars sold / $6.4m
More: www.russoandsteele.com
VanDerBrink Auctions
Where: Warrensburg, MO
When: June 3
More: www.vanderbrinkauctions.com
Bonhams
Where: Greenwich, CT
When: June 4
Last year: 81/105 cars sold / $5.4m
More: www.bonhams.com
Featured car:
• Star Car: 2005 Ford GT
Page 16
CROSSINGTHE
BLOCK
Star Car: 1963 Chevrolet Impala Z11 at Mecum’s Indianapolis, In, sale
Leake
Where: Tulsa, OK
When: June 9–11
Last year: 391/571 cars sold / $8.4m
More: www.leakecar.com
VanDerBrink Auctions
Where: Sioux Falls, SD
When: June 10
More: www.vanderbrinkauctions.com
Mecum
Where: Portland, OR
When: June 16–17
Last year: 297/478 cars sold / $9.3m
More: www.mecum.com
Featured cars:
• 1968 Chevrolet Yenko Camaro
• 1967 Chevrolet Corvette convertible
• 1963 Plymouth Savoy Max Wedge
Electric Garage
Where: Calgary, AB, CAN
When: June 16–18
More: www.theelectricgarage.com
Motostalgia
Where: Indianapolis, IN
When: June 17
Last year: 29/72 cars sold / $1.6m
More: www.motostalgia.com
18 AmericanCarCollector.com
Silver Auctions
Where: Coeur d’ Alene, ID
When: June 17
Last year: 32/78 cars sold / $393k
More: www.silverauctions.com
Barrett-Jackson
Where: Uncasville, CT
When: June 21–24
Last year: 553/574 / $25.7m
More: www.barrett-jackson.com
Raleigh Classic Car Auctions
Where: Raleigh, NC
When: June 23–24
More: www.raleighclassic.com
Southern Classic
Where: Murfreesboro, TN
When: June 24
More: www.southernclassics.com
Auctions America
Where: Santa Monica, CA
When: June 24–25
Last year: 163/258 / $13.9m
More: www.auctionsamerica.com A
Star Car: 2005 Ford GT at Bonhams’ Greenwich, CT, auction
GOODREADS by Mark Wigginton
The History of AMC Motorsports: Trans-Am,
Quarter-Mile, NASCAR, Bonneville and More
by Bob McClurg, CarTech, 204 pages, $28.96, Amazon
AMC isn’t the first
car company that comes
to mind when you think
racing heritage. Neither
are the Nash and Hudson
marques, but the merger
of those two companies
in 1954 was massive.
The result was AMC —
and a checkered racing
history.
Bob McClurg, with
more than a few great
titles under his name,
has taken on a wee bit
of a challenge with
AMC Motorsports,
chronicling a program that publisher CarTech calls “the Rodney
Dangerfield” of American motorsports.
With five years of research, McClurg has put together a smart,
informative and readable history of AMC racing successes (even
Hudson and Nash made contributions), with interviews of some of the
big names of racing who campaigned the red, white and blue racers.
There were AMC programs on drag strips, NASCAR and even
Roger Penske’s Trans-Am team, but real domination was never in the
cards for American Motors at the track. But sometimes losing causes
make for great stories, and this is one of those.
Lineage:
(
Fit and finish:
is best)
Creative Industries of Detroit: The Untold Story
of Detroit’s Secret Concept Car Builder
by Leon Dixon, CarTech, 192 pages, $29.36, Amazon
Drive by most any industrial campus and it gives few clues about
what’s going on inside. It could be mundane or groundbreaking, but
hiding in plain sight behind a bland
façade, helped by a close-mouthed
cadre of workers, it remains a
cypher.
That describes the
humble building that housed Fred
Johnson’s Progressive Welder
Company in Detroit in the 1930s.
Johnson and partner Rex Terry
changed the way cars were welded
there, but when you have solved
your clients’ welding challenges,
you need to branch out to survive.
So Johnson and Terry cre-
ated an entire campus of related
automotive (and aeronautic)
problem solvers, from designers
to engineers. They solved design
and production problems for a good cross-section of Detroit’s car
companies. They were able to quickly, nimbly and with great skill
create prototypes, cars of the future and the rest of the auto-show
eye-candy that brought the punters to the stores.
It’s a fascinating deep-dive into a company most people have
never heard of — a company with a fascinating history that changed
Detroit.
Lineage:
Fit and finish:
22 AmericanCarCollector.com
Drivability:
ISKY: Ed Iskenderian and the History
of Hot Rodding
by Matt Stone, CarTech, 208 pages, $34.95, Amazon
In California in
the ’60s, if you didn’t
have an “ISKY” decal
on your car and one
of his cams in the
engine, you were
nobody. Heck, to avoid
the stigma, I had one
of his cams in my
Bugeye Sprite. I’m not
sure it was faster, but
it sounded cooler at
idle…
Matt Stone, former
editor of Motor Trend
Classic, pulls story
after story out of Ed
Iskenderian, from
Muroc dry-lakes racing
before World War II to
his growing business
and racing history.
Along the way, Isky
became known as an
innovator in the shop as well as a marketer.
ISKY is a fun read about a guy who knew exactly what he wanted to
accomplish and how to go about doing it.
Lineage:
Fit and finish:
Drivability:
Drivability:
The Definitive Camaro Guide: 1970½–1981
by Jason Scott, CarTech, 192 pages, $30.24, Amazon
Considered the second-generation Camaro, the mid-1970
body was actually the third
new body style, after the
1967 original launch was
revamped in 1969 — back
in the day when pressure
was on to change the look
every couple of model
years.
The Gen II Camaro went
through three of its own
upgrade versions, with models
for 1970–73, 1974–77
and 1978–81.
Jason Scott, longtime
motoring journalist and
former editor of Muscle Car
Review, takes you through
all of the myriad engine,
trim and suspension offer-
ings — what today would
be a bewildering array of
options.
He also helps identify problems with the components, problem
areas and solutions, giving you the tools to evaluate, at least superficially,
a potential purchase.
It’s a nice guide for someone on the prowl for a Gen II Camaro.
It’s a quick once-over, a gateway book for the Camaro-addict-to-be.
Lineage:
Fit and finish:
Drivability:
Page 22
PARTSTIME by Jim Pickering
New Products to Modernize Your Street Machine
new Gauges for your Impala
The gauges in your 1966 Impala, Bel Air, Biscayne and Caprice have been on the job for over 50 years. Chances are the needles are faded,
the faces are dirty and the clock is only right twice a day. Classic Industries has solved those problems with its line of new OER full-size dash
gauges — each an exact reproduction of the originals, down to fonts and finishes. If you’ve ever tried to clean an OE set and smeared the print
on the gauge faces (like the set at the top of the image above), you need these. The speedometer is $289.99, the clock is $269.99, and the fuel
gauge is $169.99. Get them at classicindustries.com.
Break It In right
Modern oils ju
keeping your fla
Those tappets ha
their cam lobes d
break-in, which u
sults in a comple
all over again. B
Purple’s Break-I
is up to the task, w
high levels of zin
and phosphorous
to offer maximu
protection durin
those critical
first moments
of your fresh
engine’s life. It
also promotes
good ring seal.
Get it at your
nearest auto part
store. Learn mor
at royalPurple.
com.
Modern Mixture for Ford Fe
Speedmaster’s individual throttle-body EFI intake brings your old Ford
big-block into the modern tuning world while still having that old-school
performance look. When combined with a fuel-injection controller like the
FAST EFI Fuel Management System, this polished setup gives great, crisp
performance and can support up to 1,000 hp. That should be enough for
your Cobra. Priced at $2,000 at speedmaster79.com.
24 AmericanCarCollector.com
Page 24
COOLSTUFF
Gearhead Toys
Conley’s Precision Stinger
609 V8 model engine has
all the goodies of its larger
counterparts, such as a full
ignition system, a pressurized,
dry-sump oiling
setup and integrated 12-volt
starter. And no, this is no
static model. It actually runs.
You can even swing for a
supercharged version. Fire it
up for your friends or build
something fun for it to power.
Prices start at $8,257.75. You
know you want one. I do. Find out more and check out the video at
conleyprecision.com.
Photography With a Story
Looking for
a great Father’s
Day present?
Fine art from
Nancy Weezy
Forman is the
perfect gift.
Specializing in
“Rustography,”
Forman’s art
shows the life
of vintage
vehicles after
their glory
days, still sporting the scars from daily use but adding the toll of
the weather and time, making for beautiful and sometimes haunting
photography. There are also pieces highlighting vehicle nameplates as
well as photos of memorabilia. Pictures start at $295. Find the perfect
one and learn more at nancyweezyforman.com.
by Chad Taylor
No More Weather Woes
Nothing is more frustrating than trying to do some touch-up work
or detailing on a car when rain or dust-filled wind comes along to ruin
your progress. Car Capsule has the solution: a portable workstation
to put up in your driveway or on the job site. This large, high-peak
garage is inflatable and can be completely enclosed. At 25 feet long,
it is large enough for most vehicles to comfortably fit. It also includes
two circulation fans and two charcoal filters to keep that air fresh and
clean. $5,995 at carcapsule.com.
A Little Drone Goes a Long Way
Like it or not,
drones are here to
stay. Probably the
most practical drone
is Odyssey Toys’
Pocket Drone. It is
the size of an iPhone
6 and will literally
fit in your pocket
thanks to its fold-in motors. It can record HD video and photos. Plus,
with its small size, you can take it with you anywhere and capture
views your phone can’t replicate. Not into photography? It still is a
blast to fly around your back yard. Available for $60 on Amazon.com.
Find out more at odysseytoys.com.
DESKTOPCLASSICS by Marshall Buck
1929 Cord L-29 Special Coupe
Sometimes a true bargain comes along.
Case in point is this model, produced many
years ago by the Danbury Mint. Danbury
doesn’t make models anymore, but since they
made so many of these wonderful Cords, you
can still find them almost every day on eBay
— and often for less than the original price of
$199.
Externally, this model perfectly captures the
real one-off Cord. Although it also has opening
panels, and chassis detail, the overall detailing
is minimal, so it’s best to display buttoned up
— except for maybe opening the upholstered leather rumble seat, which also has a hinged center armrest. The
roof is also covered in the same leather.
Paint finish is terrific, especially with all the fine gold pinstriping. Don’t look at the interior. The engine
bay is a bit better, and can be seen by lifting either side of the double-hinged hood.
26 AmericanCarCollector.com
Detailing
Scale: 1:16
Available colors: Blue, as shown
Quantity: Estimated 10,000-plus
Price: $100 to $200 (eBay)
Production date: 1992 and 1996
Web: www.ebay.com
Ratings
Detailing:
Accuracy:
Overall quality:
Overall value:
is best
½
Page 26
SNAPSHOTS
Images from
Amelia Island
American cars at the $116m auction week
Photos by Chad Taylor
a Marmon Wasp at the amelia Island Concours d’elegance
The 1968 Pontiac “Jerry Titus” Firebird Trans a
David Gooding and auctioneer Charlie ross keep the bids coming on a 1968 Shelby GT500 Kr convertible, which ultimately sold for
28 AmericanCarCollector.com
Page 27
am awaits a new owner at Bonhams. The car sold post-block for $225,000
r $116,600 (see profile, p. 58)
a 1969 Tasca-Ford Mustang Boss 302 Trans am crosses the block at rM
Sotheby’s, to the tune of $320k
May–June 2017 29
Page 28
SNAPSHOTS
Early Bird Gets the Parts
Whoever brought this 1961 Corvette project likely had fewer worries about wet weather than other display-car owners
Rainy days at The Corvette & High Performance Meet and
the Early Bird Swap Meet launch the Northwest’s car year
Story and photos
by Jack Tockston
I
n anticipation of spring, thousands of
car enthusiasts gathered at two of the
earliest major swapmeets in the country,
held at the Western Washington State
Fairgrounds in Puyallup, WA.
First was the 43rd Corvette & High
Performance Meet on February 10–11, 2017,
with typical winter rain, which some outdoor
vendors didn’t mind, but most were cozy and
dry within two buildings — one large, one
gigantic. Although “Corvette” is in the name,
parts and displays included all domestic
performance marques in a family-friendly
atmosphere.
The following weekend, the same venue
hosted the 51st Annual Early Bird Swap
Meet (February 18–19, 2017), sponsored
by the Model T Ford Club of Tacoma, WA.
Again, the crowd was huge despite more rain.
Although a vintage marque group puts it all
together, whatever vehicle is your passion,
you’ll probably find the parts or services you
need (or whole cars) at friendly prices.
Having attended both events for over
two decades, I’m always amazed at the huge
turnout of both vendors and buyers. They’re
worth checking out if you’re in the area next
February.A
30 AmericanCarCollector.com
Two large buildings offered swapmeet-goers shelter from the rain
Performance
Meet displays
veered beyond
Corvettes, such
as this 1955
Chevy Gasser
Page 30
SNAPSHOTS
Hits the Museum Circuit
World of Speed displays America’s first foray into Formula One
Story and photos by Garrett Long
Scarab
W
hile established Brits and Italians were duking it out on
the Formula One track in the late ’50s, Lance Reventlow,
scion to the Woolworth company, threw his hat into the
ring with an American twist.
Spurred by his team’s racing success on home soil,
Reventlow was committed to compete in F1 using only American parts,
including building an engine from scratch. The result of his team’s efforts
was the Scarab: an all-aluminum,
American-made F1 car that belonged
above any bed frame and could make
any SCCA competitor shake in its pit
lane.
But it was developed too late.
Detailing
What: World of Speed
Where: 27490 SW 95th
Ave., Wilsonville, OR
97070
Phone: 503.563.6444
Web: www.worldofspeed.
org
When the front-engined Scarab
entered the 1960 season, the midengined
revolution was taking place in
Formula One — where that engine layout is still used today.
Ultimately, although the Scarab didn’t achieve the success in Formula One that Reventlow aspired to, the at-
tempt is still a landmark among the scarce American endeavors in F1.
During the Scarab’s stay at Oregon’s World of Speed, where it has been on exhibit for a few months, Museum Curator Ron Huegli said, “It’s a
real pleasure to have a car of that caliber at the museum. It’s been really well received. People really didn’t know much about it. It’s been a good
opportunity to educate the community, which is what we really want to do.”
The Scarab is a handsome car, with athletic curves and trumpets for carburetors. Sporting a logo more suited to a comic-book villain and a
bright-blue livery, the Scarab rightfully deserves its own exhibit. Although the Scarab’s next exhibit has not been decided, its significant place in
American racing history is sure to draw a crowd. A
32 AmericanCarCollector.com
Page 32
WRENCHINGHOW-TO
THAT ORIGINAL
SHINE
Make your car’s original finish shine like a fresh paint job —
without hurting its originality
GRIOT’S GARAGE PARTS LIST
Spray-On Car Wash, 22 oz., P/N 10984, $14.99
by Jim Pickering
S
hiny, deep paint has always been the go-to for car people
looking to turn heads with their classic cars. But for car
purists — especially those concerned with originality over
everything else — there’s nothing better than having that
OE paint on your classic.
For years, original paint wasn’t a priority for many car restorers,
and that has made original-paint cars relatively rare today — with
those cars that do have OE finishes sometimes valued higher than
their resprayed counterparts, because “it’s only original once.” But
those original finishes have lived full lives and have the bumps and
bruises to show it — scratches, thin spots, cracking, you name it.
If you have an original-paint car, however, you don’t need to
choose between a great, deep shine and that all-important originality.
If you’re careful, and if you use the right methods and products, you
can eliminate imperfections and bring a lot of depth to your car’s
original paint without hurting what makes it so special.
We got together with Nick Griot and Sam Battersby — a couple of
the experts at Griot’s Garage in Tacoma, WA — to show you the right
way to make your car’s original paint look its best while maintaining
its integrity. Here’s how we did it:
34 AmericanCarCollector.com
Paint Cleaning Clay, 8 oz., P/N 11153, $19.99
Speed Shine, 35 oz., P/N 11146, $13.99
BOSS Long-Throw Random Orbital Polisher, P/N BG15, $365
BOSS Correcting Pad, set of two, P/N B120F5, $23 (2)
BOSS Perfecting Pad, set of two, P/N B130F5, $23 (2)
Correcting Cream, pint, P/N B120P, $24
BOSS Perfecting Cream, pint, P/N B130P, $20
Foam Pad Conditioning Brush, P/N 15548, $15.99
Best of Show Paste Wax, 9.5 oz., P/N 10871, $24.99
PFM Terry Weave Towel, set of two, P/N 55586, $19.99 (2)
PFM Detailing Towels, set of three, P/N 55526, $19.99 (3)
PFM Dual Weave Wax Removal Towels, set of four, P/N 55525, $19.99 (4)
Three-inch Red Foam Wax Pads, set of three, P/N 11263, $13.99 (3)
Palm Grip Pad Holder, P/N 10637, $9.99
TIME SPENT:
About eight to 12 hours, depending on vehicle size
DIFFICULTY: J J
(J J J J J is toughest)
Page 33
1
Our subject
car is this
beautiful
30,000-mile
1959 Buick Invicta. As
you can see, it’s already
in pretty good overall
shape, but a little bit of
polish work will bring it
up another level and
add a bunch of depth to
its original paint.
2
how can you tell if it’s original
paint? Give the car a visual examination
for age-related imperfections.
Check the door
jambs and underhood for evidence of tape
lines or overspray. Also look under hard-toremove
trim pieces, such as on this Buick’s
fin (a), for evidence of overspray. We found
none. Thin spots (b) are also good clues
that you’re dealing with original — or at least
old — paint. But the best method is to measure
the paint’s thickness, and we’ll get to
that in a second.
a
b
3
The first step is an overall
cleaning of the car. Start with a
wash, or in this case, as the car
was free of heavy dirt, we went
after the surface with Griot’s Spray-On Car
Wash (P/N 10984) and a microfiber towel,
using straight drying motions from front to
rear to eliminate the possibility of grinding
contaminants into the paint surface. A waterless
product such as this replaces a
soap/water method to prevent damage to
delicate areas of the paint/trim and removes
the possibility of water settling in common
rust areas.
4
5
The surface may be clean, but
it’s not free of contaminants
— you can tell by the tactile feel
and sound you get by rubbing the
back of your hand across the surface you
just washed. The noise and resistance is
caused by embedded contaminants in the
paint surface — for the best results, these
need to be removed before you move on to
polishing. This will also help expose the true
nature of the paint.
Paint Cleaning Clay (P/n 11153)
is your best bet to remove those
contaminants, as it’s abrasive-free
and built of a soft compound that’s
safe for older, original paint.
May–June 2017 35
Page 34
WRENCHINGHOW-TO
6
Starting with half or a quarter of the 8-ounce clay bar
(don’t use it all at once — in case you drop it on the ground
you’ll still have some left), spray down the surface you’re
working with Speed Shine (P/N 11146) and work the clay
across it, on the base of your fingers, in a cross-hatch pattern. Use a
liberal amount of Speed Shine to ensure the tacky clay doesn’t stick
to the paint surface. As it removes the fallout, sap, road grime and
water spots, it’ll start to glide easier across the surface.
7
That dirty surface is how you can tell the clay is working. All you need to do to
expose a fresh, new clay surface is fold it over onto itself and continue. You’ll want to
complete at least two passes with the clay bar and Speed Shine before wiping the
surface down with a soft, clean microfiber cloth. Then run the back of your hand
across the surface and note the difference now that it’s clean and free of contaminants. The
surface should feel perfectly smooth; if not, repeat the process.
8
here’s a good example of what
remains after a good cleaning
— note the swirl marks and deeper
scratches that show up under di-
rect light. We can fix this.
9
Before moving on, it’s time to
check paint thickness. Why?
Because any sort of machine polishing
removes a small amount of
the paint surface, and we need to know
we’ve got enough surface to work with before
diving in. The best way to do this is with
a paint-thickness meter. The larger the number
here, the more paint there is. Check all
over — it’ll clue you in to any thin spots you
can’t see, or any touch-ups you might have
not otherwise known about. Resprays generally
come in at the 12–14 mil range (1 mil =
0.0254 mm). Here, this panel shows 9.7 mil,
reinforcing our belief of original paint.
36 AmericanCarCollector.com
10
now that you have a clean
surface and you know how
much paint you’re working
with, it’s time to think about
what approach to take. Starting with the
least-invasive approach is best, and then
step up from there as needed. Since we’re
only dealing with removing some light defects,
going conservative is our best bet.
11
It’s random orbital time.
Why? Because doing this kind of
work by hand will take you forever,
and you won’t get the re-
sults you’re after. Note we’re not using a
rotary polisher, which is a great tool but has
a much smaller margin for error and can
cause burns in inexperienced hands.
Instead, we used Griot’s BOSS Long-Throw
Random Orbital Polisher (P/N BG15) and the
Orange BOSS Correcting Pad (P/N B120F5)
with Griot’s Correcting Cream (P/N B120P),
applied liberally at first to the surface of the
pad. This setup is relatively low-impact and
serves as a great starting point for light-tomoderate
correction.
Page 36
WRENCHINGHOW-TO
12
The trick here is to start out
slowly to spread out the product,
and to only work a small
section at a time so you can
watch your work. Increase your speed from
there, using light pressure on the tool, and
let the compound do the work. Count your
passes over the section you’re working —
you want to do no more than two to three
passes as a test. One pass equals up-down
and side to side in the area you are working.
13
Stop to check your work.
Wipe down the area with your
microfiber towel and inspect to
see if you’re satisfied. If you
aren’t happy with the result, you can always
step up to a stronger pad and polish — although
for original paint, you may want to
consider leaving some of those deeper
blemishes alone. We measured our paint
again and saw we’d removed 1 mil of paint.
We decided it wasn’t worth going thinner on
our original paint in the drive for perfection.
14
note the color transfer the
orange pad got while working
our small section. Pads do
load up with paint and polish,
which can cause heat and will stop a pad
from doing its job. Griot’s sells a special
orbital pad cleaning brush specifically for
this problem (P/N 15548). Simply run the
tool against the brush to clean it. Consider
you’ll need two pads per process per car
— a big car like our Buick may require three
or four pads per process.
15
now it’s time for Griot’s
Perfecting Cream (P/N B130P)
and a BOSS Perfecting Foam
Pad (P/N B130F5). We’re step-
ping up to an even more fine abrasive here,
which further refines the paint, removing any
haze and improving depth and clarity.
16
We worked the same area,
this time using no pressure
on the tool as it spun the pad.
The idea here is to float the pad
across the surface, letting it do the work for
you. Again, aim for only a couple of passes
here. Note how much material it removed
compared to the harsher pad and compound
used in the last step.
18
17
Wipe down your surface to
remove the Perfecting Cream
and you should see a vastly improved
surface over what you
started with — but the job’s not yet done.
38 AmericanCarCollector.com
Decide on a process
before moving
on to
complete the car.
If this light work did the trick,
repeat this around the car,
doing less in areas where you
noted thinner paint (edges,
seams, etc.). You don’t want to
polish an entire car and then
realize you have to do it all over
again with a different process.
Page 38
WRENCHINGHOW-TO
19
how much improvement can you expect? We used a
tape line to show the contrast in before and after. You be
the judge.
20
now to seal in the results. Here we used Griot’s Best
of Show Paste Wax (P/N 10871), which is great for maximum
color, depth and clarity of paint finish thanks to a
high concentration of carnauba wax.
21
using a foam applicator, spread the wax over the
area you worked to seal the clean surface, and let it
set up for 20 to 30 minutes before removal.
22
use the finger-swipe method to check to see if your
wax has set. If you can mark it up without any real resistance,
you need to wait longer before removal. Once it’s
set, buff it off with a clean microfiber towel.
40 AmericanCarCollector.com
23
nal paint!
A
here’s our final result — note the tape line again.
The black section we worked (on the left) now has much
more clarity and depth, and with the wax protecting it, it
should stay looking great for a long time. Not bad for origi
Page 40
YOUR TURN
Tell Us What’s On Your Mind
What’s “Rare”?
I have noticed the term “rare” applied
to many cars in in both American Car
Collector and Sports Car Market. In the last
issue of ACC, the 1970 Chevelle profiled
(March/April 2017, p. 50) was listed as being
incredibly rare — one of only 2,144 made.
Really rare? Maybe there was a low survival
rate of original cars due to what everyone
did to them in the muscle car era. But is it
really incredibly rare?
If the Chevelle is incredibly rare, what is
the following? I own a desert find, for lack of
a better term, all-original 1963 Studebaker
Lark Regal Wagonaire with an Avanti
R1 engine with a 3-speed column shift.
According to data compiled on R-series
Larks by the Studebaker Museum and others,
this is the only one made like it. This is
not the more common Daytona version (49
made) but the Regal trim level with rubber
mats (nine made, all drivetrains). The car is
all-original, never restored. I am the second
titled owner. It is an original California car
documented by the build order, all numbers
matching. You will never find another.
I think the term “rare” is becoming
overused in the collector car market. — Tom
Stoka, Elgin, IL
Jim Pickering, ACC Editor: Tom, you
make a great point here, even if we didn’t
actually call that Chevelle “incredibly
rare.” “Very rare,” yes — but we’re splitting hairs. Regardless, I stand by our assessment of that L78’s rarity in its presented condition.
There are shades of rarity that aren’t well defined beyond simply using the word “rare.” Is your Studebaker “rarer” than a 1970 375-hp
eat your heart out, 1970 Chevelle: one of one 1963 Studebaker Lark regal
Wagonaire with an avanti r1 engine and 3-speed column shift
SS Chevelle? Absolutely. Are more buyers going to pine after that barn-find Chevelle? Nothing against the Stude, but probably. It’s a perfect
reminder that as much as everyone in the market likes to use the term, “rare” is relative. So you’re 100% correct.
But the fact of the matter here is that rarity is just not weighted as much as desirability when it comes to value. So maybe that’s the takeaway
here.
Alumathoughts
Thoughts on the Alumatub (March/April
2017, Hot Rod Profile, p. 56): A wonderful
piece of engineering and craftmanship. But
it’s butt ugly. Look at the proportions.
The original buyer purchased the
vehicle because it is unique, and that it is.
There is no functionality to the vehicle.
NONE! It doesn’t appeal to the “Classic
Buyers,” and frankly, there are a very
limited number of Ron Prattes buying hot
rods.
Make no mistake, it is unique, but there
simply is a very finite market for this type
of vehicle, beyond the person it was built
for. “CadZZilla” will bring some big bucks,
but nowhere near the seven-figure price suggested
in your article. — Buddy Cousins,
Ashland, VA
42 AmericanCarCollector.com
Contact us at: American Car Collector, P.O. Box 4797, Portland, OR 97208
or online at comments@americancarcollector.com
The alumatub: Butt ugly?
Ken Gross, ACC Contributor: Beauty
is always in the eye of the beholder. Judged
in the minimalist tradition of Lil’ John
Buttera’s Silver Bullet, I think this smooth
alloy A is functionally cute — and I’d drive
it, classic hot rod or not.
Troy Trepanier just showed a similarly
Ken’s preference, but he’s a bit biased
sculpted Model A Tudor at SEMA, so
the Boyd billet tradition endures. As for
CadZZilla, Buddy and I can take bets now
and we’ll just have to see what it’s worth —
if Billy Gibbons ever sells it.
PS: I admit I like my traditional all-steel
’32 much better.A
Page 42
READERS’ FORUM
Your All-Time Best Car Buys
n n n
This month’s ACC Reader’s Forum
question comes from Chad M.:
I’d love to hear some stories about ACC readers’ best car
buys. What was the best car you ever bought, what did you
spend, when did you buy it, and what about it made it such a
good deal?
Readers respond:
About four years ago, I was at a Christmas party at my sister’s
home. One of her friends came up to me knowing that I was a car nut
and asked if I was interested in a ’66 Mustang 6-cylinder automatic
coupe he’s had in his garage for the past 10 years. He said he’d take
$100 for it because he just wants the room back. I thought it must be a
wreck if it had been sitting for 10 years and he was only asking $100.
So I declined.
Later my son-in-law arrived and I mentioned it to him. He was
interested and went to see the car. What the seller failed to tell me
was that the car had been restored just before he bought it, and was
in excellent condition. My son-in-law bought it on the spot, and I
learned a lesson to always check out a car in person before I make a
decision. — Rich G., via email
n n n
This could be called the best of times, the worst of times. I bought
a ’65 Shelby Mustang, SFM #30, after seeing the car at Carlisle. This
was in 1979 or 1980. $12,500. Just restored with all the right parts.
Now for the bad news: I sold it for $15,000 the next year. Grrr. —
Jerry L, via email
44 AmericanCarCollector.com
My all-time best buy was a two-owner 1987 Mustang GT
hatchback with a T-roof. The car has 90,000 miles on it but it was in
unbelievable condition and had been well maintained by the previous,
careful owners.
When I brought the car home, it needed nothing but a tank of gas
and garage space. And the best part? $5,800. I purchased this car in
April of 2015. — Dave H., Glasgow, PA
n n n
My best purchase was a 1972 Cutlass Supreme convertible.
It was a very nice car, 350/4-speed, Pewter Silver with black
bucket seats and top. It was odd in that Supremes usually had a lot
of options and this one didn’t — other than the full console, Rally
wheels and factory 8-track player, it was a stripper. No power brakes,
no a/c, nothing.
I bought the car in 2001 for $9,200 and enjoyed it in the summer/
fall for nine years, putting about 1,500–2,000 miles on it each season.
I added correct year/model sport steering wheel and sport mirrors, a
new top boot and new tires. Other than routine maintenance, I didn’t
do a thing to the car other than drive it and have fun.
I sold it in 2010 for $18,000, basically doubling my money on it
Page 43
Crowdsourcing Answers
to Your Car Questions Contact us at: American Car Collector, P.O. Box 4797, Portland, OR 97208
or online at comments@americancarcollector.com
get me a ’Vette — she did! We drove away
from the dealership March 10, 2017, after
paying just over $60k for a car that had an
MSRP of nearly $66k. What made the event
so special was the fact that I told my father
back in the mid-1960s that someday I would
have a Corvette. — Eldon and Elaine Koch,
Aiken, SC
n n n
1994 Impala SS. Bought new. Read about
car in Chevy High Performance. Had an
article from the SEMA show. I had to find a
dealer who was going to get one — not all
dealers were privy — only the big guns. I put
my order in and paid list price, which was
around $23,400. Had to wait for delivery. Still
have the car, with 123,000 miles on it. — Jim
B., via email
1962 Golden anniversary Chevrolet Impala SS, with original old-man hubcaps
thrown in on the deal
after all the years of enjoyment. I wish I could do that on every car I
owned! But I really do miss that car, and every time I see a ’70–’72
Cutlass, it brings back memories.
Today, my “toy” is a 1972, all-original, 46,000-mile Stingray con-
vertible, red/black, 350/4-speed with tilt/telescoping wheel, factory
AM/FM, power windows. Great car to drive and a real head-turner.
— Scott T., Cincinnati, OH
n n n
My best car buy was my 1962 Golden Anniversary Chevrolet
Impala SS. In 1973, when I was just out of high school, I had a gold
Impala with a 283 (not an SS). I never should have sold it, but had to
pay the rent at age 18.
So when I was surfing Craigslist a couple years ago and saw the
twin to my former Impala, I jumped in the car with checkbook in
hand. I was drawn by the color “Anniversary Gold” and it wasn’t
until I arrived that I learned that this beautiful SS was also a factory
4-speed. I bought it for $17,000. Then I began researching the VIN
and engine numbers, only to learn that not only was it a matchingnumbers
car, but was a 300-hp 327 and one of 353 Anniversary
Gold Special Edition Impalas produced to celebrate Chevrolet’s 50th
Anniversary.
Urban myth says only one per Chevrolet dealer was delivered, and
this one went to a dealer in Salt Lake City originally.
As I was getting ready to pull away after I had purchased the car,
the seller asked, “You don’t want the original old-man hubcaps, do
you?” Needless to say, I could not get the spinners on quickly enough
to complete the fresh-from-the-factory look.
I drive it all the time (weather permitting) and have had countless
people tell me how they had once owned a ’62 Impala, and it is great
to be able to say I did as well and now I have another that won’t be
getting away. — Mike K., via email
n n n
$6,000 in 1974, $567,025
at auction in 2005
In 1974, I bought a 427 Cobra for
$6,000. It needed a lot of work, but is
still the best buy in my lifetime. —
Carl M., via email, former owner of
CSX3159 (Motion Performance King
Cobra)
n n n
See next page for “Cheap Thrills” columnist B. Mitchell Carlson’s best-buy saga of “The Hippie Van”
This under-the-money 2017 Corvette Stingray fulfilled a
My all-time best buy — auto, that is — is a 2017 Corvette
Stingray. Actually, my wife purchased it for me as fulfillment of a
long-standing promise that whenever she could afford it, she would
longtime dream for eldon and elaine Koch
May–June 2017 45
n n n
In 1979 I was looking for a first-gen
Firebird for my wife as a fun weekend driver.
It had to be an original 400 4-speed car and in a color she liked,
preferably a ’67.
One Sunday I was looking through the classifieds in the Seattle
paper and spied an ad for a 1969 Firebird 400 4-speed with (supposedly)
the RAIV engine and with only 13,000 miles. We didn’t know
all the production numbers back then, but knew that anything RAIV
was uncommon and VERY cool. I had my doubts it was a true RAIV
car, but figured it was worth the 100-mile drive to have a look.
Upon arriving, we saw the back end of a Matador Red ’69 poking
out of a garage. The seller was a nice guy who quickly explained
that some of the engine parts were not on the car. Bummer! I could
see the Ram Air heads were in place, but there was a Holley in place
of the Quadrajet and none of the Ram Air pans were there. Tube
headers replaced the stock manifolds. A quick drive assured us the
car was as solid as one would expect a 13,000-mile car to be, but I
questioned the seller’s price considering the missing hard-to-find
parts. “Oh, they’re not missing, they’re just not on the car,” says the
seller. “They’re in boxes in the garage.” An inspection of three large
boxes of parts showed us that indeed, everything was there except
the exhaust manifolds. We shook hands on the seller’s asking price of
$2,500, and we had ourselves a beautiful red Firebird 400, and a true
factory-built RAIV at that.
The truly amazing thing about our buying this car is not just the
price, but the fact that we were the third people who had gone to look
at it. The first two guys thought it was too much money!
Needless to say, this gem became my fun fair-weather driver, and
I started a new search for my wife’s Firebird. — Ric P., via emailA
Page 44
READERS’ FORUM
Cheapest Thrill: The Hippie Van
Cheap is good, free is better,
but the Hippie Van proved
to be the best of all
by B. Mitchell Carlson
W
hen Editor Pickering told me that we were going to
have a readers’ survey of our all-time best car deals,
I figured the time was right to share my ultimate best
deal Cheap Thrill that I’ll ever have: The Hippie Van.
The Hippie Van was a 1961 Chevy Corvair
Corvan 95 6-door panel van I owned from fall of 1998 to June 1999.
It had earned that moniker from the previous owner, due to it being
upholstered from roof to ceiling in orange shag carpet. Whoever did
that had to be color blind, because it was painted light blue. Its other
odd characteristic was that it had a back porch made out of iron plate,
which made the front push bar less obvious.
I ended up purchasing it from the estate of a fellow local Corvair
enthusiast whom I knew well. I was one of a cadre of Corvair Club
members who assisted his widow in selling off his parts, cars and
scrap. As I also purchased two of the cars for myself, coordinated
with ACC’s Military History contributor Stuart Lenzke on another
three, plus bought plenty of parts, I was one of her better customers.
She mentioned that the Hippie Van was also sitting behind the garage,
and it needed to go, too. After making sure that it started, I asked what
was going to become of it. She said, “The first person with $50 takes it.” I
actually had to go home and think about it, but I claimed it the next day.
Since it ran the day before, I figured I could drive it home. But when
I put the selector for the Powerglide automatic into D, it did nothing.
The next evening, I returned with a trailer. While getting ready to
load it, the widow pulls out the envelope with the title — with a check
attached. “Here’s the title,” she said, “and since you were such a help
dealing with the estate, just take it and here’s $50.”
Yep, she paid me to take it.
Once back at my garage, it was a simple push off the trailer to
get into the diagnosis, which ended up being a missing clip on the
throttle-control lever. Presto! It drove!
The Hippie Van became my winter beater once the snow started
flying. I started to really get why the guys in the Corvair Club loved
them for winter duty. It always started and had excellent traction.
Even the defroster generally did its job.
When my refrigerator quit on me during a particularly nasty
Minnesota cold snap, the van became Mother Nature’s most perfect
deep freeze until I got a replacement a few weeks later.
In June every year, our club is one of the host clubs for an All-GM
car show. So, of course, that June I had to bring the Hippie Van. I
made it a point to park right next to the Corvettes.
After a while at the show, a guy who’s been an on-again, off-again
member showed up. He was pleased to see the Hippie Van again.
Mentioning that he was now part of a 1960s rock cover band and that
they were looking for a period gear-hauling rig, he asked me if it was
for sale.
“Well, I suppose it could be. Make me an offer.”
“How ’bout $700?”
“SOLD!”
We did up a quick bill of sale, and he paid me a deposit of $350,
as that was all he had on him. The remainder was to come within the
month, and he’d then get the van.
Now with $350 burning a hole in my pocket, I hit the swapmeet.
Returning about an hour later with most of the $350 spent, I ran into
the buyer again.
“You know,” he said, “I’ve been thinking twice about the Hippie
Van…”
I’m thinking, Oh no, the deal’s going to unwind, and I pissed
away most of the money.
“… and usually I don’t end up going through with deals like
this…” the buyer continued.
Now I’m really hosed.
“And to make sure that this time I go through with it,” the buyer
said, “I went to an ATM, and here’s the rest of the money to pay for it.”
Whew!
So, when all was said and done, I sold a vehicle for $700 and made
$750 profit on it. Cheap is good, free is better; what’s best is if you
can get paid to take it and then sell it! A
46 AmericanCarCollector.com
Page 46
Cheap Thrills
SHOEBOX SIXFits ...
I
If the
Don’t get the engine hoist out — Ford’s only post-Model T
flathead six is actually pretty decent
f you can call Henry F
disdain of 6-cylinder e
century, mostly out of s
When Ford’s son Ed
with him to expand fro
Model T and Model A 4-cyl
platform, Henry wouldn’t he
Even odd and exotic combin
as Henry’s fascination with t
ation, but never a six. Indeed
configuration, doubling dow
monoblock flathead V8 for 1
thing that saved Ford Motor C
internal quagmires and loss o
share, it was that V8.
However, the ever-
growing V8 was deemed
as too much engine for
some buyers —especially
Depression-era farmers
and businesses. In a market
rife with economical sixes, a
eight was thought of as over
travagant and more costly to l
Initially, Ford fought ba
1937–40 136-ci 60-hp flath
despite the smaller displace
fully compete with Chevrol
about anyone else in the ent
and simple. So Ford finally g
of the 90-hp 226-ci flathead 6
Market competitor
While it may seem like F
they were actually meeting the 6-cylinder market
ne that was just as well
se’s — if not better. It
e lubrication and all insert
ith a four-main-bearing
aft.
The six wasn’t just
for cars, either. The
pickup truck market in
particular was almost
exclusively 6-cylinder
territory, outside of the
V8 Ford and 4-cylinder
Crosley and Willys.
Ford’s flat six
48 AmericanCarCollector.com
uring World War II, Ford
ntinued to make the six,
ng it to use in the G-622
s “Burma Jeep” GTB series
he could’a
had a V8, but
seems happy
enough with a six
of 1½-ton trucks it was building for the U.S. Navy.
After the war, Ford continued with the six. 1947 saw a few subtle
changes for an increase to 95 horsepower — essentially the last
substantial change to the engine.
Even when Ford introduced their all-new post-war car for 1949,
nothing changed under the hood. The flathead six was still available.
Yet by then, the writing was on the wall and the flathead engine — be
it inline or vee configuration — was on the way out.
Six or nothing — almost
Ford’s first all-new post-war automotive engine was a replacement
for the flathead six — the 215-ci (later 223) overhead-valve inline six
for 1952. It was first not just because the flathead V8 was a case of
“it works, don’t fix it,” but because Ford had briefly considered going
exclusively to OHV six power.
Henry Ford II’s “Whiz Kids” had nearly convinced The Deuce to
B. Mitchell Carlson
Page 47
meet GM head-to-head in products to gain market share. That meant the
Ford was only going to have an equivalent Chevrolet OHV six under the
hood. The V8 would stay, but only for Mercury and Lincoln. Wiser heads
prevailed, and Henry II kept V8s available under Ford hoods.
In the new “shoebox” 1949s, any Ford bodystyle was available in a
six or V8. Starting in 1950, the convertible and mid-year wagon became
DeLuxe V8-only cars, as was the mid-year-introduced Victoria.
The six also saw its last change: a bump up in the compression ratio,
gaining five more pound/feet of torque.
All this continued into 1951, when the Victoria became a proper
2-door hard top. 1951 also was the first year of the optional Ford-o-Matic
2-speed automatic transmission — which was available on the sixes, at
least initially.
Easy entry point
While almost all trim levels and bodies were available with the
six, most installations tended to be into Tudor and Fordor sedans.
Once they aged past the point of being used cars, without a V8, they
were essentially ignored.
Today that’s a different story. While a six in a ’49 convertible or
wagon has value as being an oddity, and in F-series trucks has been
far better accepted for longer, the other body styles are now starting
to be appreciated. What’s more, they provide a very economical way
to enter the collector car hobby.
A good number of these cars that have surfaced in the market in
recent years are older original examples, generally coming out of estates
or long-term (if not original) owners. These present an excellent
value for a car just to futz around with at local events with friends
and family.
While not having the hot-rod ability of a V8, the sixes have more
low-end torque and are actually better cars to have for today’s lowspeed
cruising events (where you’re mostly parked with your cool
ride anyway) such as Back to the
50’s, the Woodward Dream Cruise
and Hot August Nights. Keep the
hood down when you park it and
you’ll look just as cool as your
V8 brethren. Do a split-manifold,
dual-exhaust conversion (or if
you find some of the few vintage
speed parts for them) and you’ll
have folks wondering where the
hopped-up Chevy Stovebolt is
hiding.
Parts availability for these
engines may not be as easy as the
flathead V8s, but they are out there
in circulation, helped by their
truck usage.
Since the rest of the car
Detailing
Years produced: 1949–51
Number produced: 17,229
(1949 only; as 1950 and ’51
totals do not separate six vs.
V8); 3,338,860 (all 1949–51
production)
Current ACC Median Price:
$9,075
Tune-up/major service: $150
Distributor cap: $25
VIN location: Stamped on cowl
(1949–50) or patent plate on
the cowl (1951). Also on the
left side of frame near radiator
Engine # location: Stamped on
top of clutch housing
is the same regardless of the
motor (aside from the 1949–50
center emblem in the bullet grille
denoting 6 or 8), restoration and
maintenance is otherwise equal.
Indeed, you have two less trim
pieces on a ’51 six, as they lack
the “V8” call-out emblems on the
front fenders. See, it’s saving you
money already.
Worst-case scenario, now you can say that you are at par with your
Club: Early Ford V8 Club
Web: www.earlyfordv8.org, www.
inliners.org
Alternatives: 1949–54 Chevrolet
Styleline and Fleetline,
1949–51 Plymouth, Dodge
and DeSoto, 1947–52
Studebaker Champion
ACC Investment Grade: C
pals with stock Plymouths, Studebaker Champions, DeSotos and even
Pontiac sixes of these same three years. They made do quite well with
flathead sixes for 68 years, so why not a Ford? A
May–June 2017 49
Page 48
Horsepower
Colin Comer
BEATER DAYS
how much are
memories worth?
In this case,
about $5,600
You can go back again.
Sometimes even without
a tetanus booster
typical Midwestern Mopar, its white exterior under siege by rust, yet
its bright red interior decidedly mint. But the real attraction was its
440-ci 4-barrel engine with 350 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque.
I bought it in the mid-1980s from a neighborhood kid I only knew
I
as “Chrysler Matt” for obvious reasons. I suspect Matt came to own
the New Yorker on a tip from his older brother, who worked at the
local assisted-living facility.
I remember racing against Matt and his New Yorker with another
friend in his 1960 Cadillac from a 50 mph roll. We lost. The Chrysler
was the fastest junker in town.
One cold fall day, I saw Matt working at the gas station, sans
Chrysler. He said the car stopped running and was told its timing
chain had jumped. It was sitting on a nearby street, collecting parking
tickets and was at risk of being towed. So he offered to sell it to me
for $500 as-is. I needed a winter beater and offered $100. After very
tense negotiations, I think we settled on $212 — which, coinciden-
50 AmericanCarCollector.com
just bought a 1966 Chrysler New Yorker. Why? Pure, blind
nostalgia.
I purchased my first “winter beater” when I was in high
school. Yep, it was a 1966 New Yorker. Mine was a Town Sedan
— the bottom-of-the-line 6-window, 4-door post car. It was your
tally, was all I had.
I set to getting my “new” car off the street before I lost it to
the tow yard. After charging the battery, I cranked the car over. It
sounded okay. So I popped the distributor cap and verified the rotor
turned when I cranked it some more. Hmm. I checked the ballast
resistor, a common failure point, but it was transferring voltage to the
coil just fine. And then I noticed that the ignition points weren’t opening.
Ha! I opened them up to the standard matchbook gap and tried to
start the car. It fired on the first revolution. Lucky for me, there was
nothing wrong with that mighty 440. I was ecstatic.
Chrysler Colin
A little maintenance, some Tiger Hair fiberglass body filler packed
in the more egregious rust holes, a Sun tach screwed into the driver’s
side A-pillar, a pair of glasspack mufflers and dual black Le Mans
stripes over the top, and I was rolling. Oh, I also tossed the almostrusted-off
fender skirts, painted the wheels bright red and mounted
a set of nearly-bald Pirelli P77 tires gained from the junk pile at
work. For winter use I might as well have installed casters on all four
corners, but free tires were within my budget. Barely.
I loved the Chrysler. It could hold an impressive number of people,
was shockingly fast and virtually bulletproof. But by the first summer
I didn’t need a winter beater anymore, so I sold it — wait for it —
back to Matt. For about a grand.
By fall Matt had screwed it up again, or lost his plates due to those
parking tickets or something I don’t remember. So I bought it back.
At a discount, of course. Same deal: maintenance, rust-hole fixing
and back into service. It survived another winter admirably, even
Page 49
after I slid it off the road and knocked over a cement light pole. Zero
damage to the Chrysler, I might add.
In nicer weather the Chrysler still provided great entertainment,
from block-long smoky burnouts to high-speed highway missions.
Once I was pulled over after a State Patrol airplane paced me at an
estimated 120 mph. I pleaded my case with the trooper on the ground,
explaining that he must have the wrong white car as my old car could
never go THAT fast. His reply? “Yeah, kid, I’ll go look for the other
white ’66 Chrysler with racing stripes.” To this day that was the biggest
ticket I’ve received.
Luxury-sized regret
All good things must come to an end, and eventually my parents
didn’t want that behemoth beached in their driveway anymore. I
attempted to sell it to Matt again since that had proven effective in
the past. No such luck — he was tired of losing money on it. So I sold
the mighty New Yorker to a stranger for a few hundred dollars. At the
time I was relieved.
But not too may years later, I really started to miss the old girl. It
had never let me down, and was honestly one of the best cars I had
owned — maybe because I never once had to worry about hurting it
or its value.
A few years ago, I was cleaning out an old desk and found some
paperwork for the Chrysler. I immediately had an old high-school
classmate, now a police detective, run the VIN. But it was gone. Out
of the system. Presumed current owner: Mother Earth. But this hunt
ignited a search for another ’66 New Yorker, models which, it seems,
are edging towards extinction.
My wife, bless her heart, had even secretly called my friends who
remembered the car to help her find one like it as a surprise. She
eventually confessed details of her failed plan. With that, we both
gave up.
Then a few weeks ago, while walking through the Big 3 Swap
Meet in San Diego, we stumbled upon a ’66 New Yorker. I stopped
cold. My wife gave me the “what? Why are you stopping?” look
wives are so good at. I pointed at the car, and she said, “Well, if that’s
a ’66 New Yorker, I think we have to buy it.”
Ten minutes and $5,600 later, it was mine.
It’s pretty mint — a far better car than my old rust bucket. It’s a
hard top, not a sedan, and is beige over gold. But as a California car,
it’s also something I’ve never seen before: a rust-free New Yorker. I
don’t need fiberglass. Or a tetanus booster.
It’s loaded up with power everything, air conditioning, a factory
AM/FM with reverb, and even an original CB car phone — a far cry
from my old plain-Jane New Yorker. But sitting in it, holding that clear
Lucite steering wheel and looking at that space-age dash cluster, the
memories come back in a rush: the “COLD” light on the dash when
you start it. The pull-out two-ZIP-code ashtray with junk drawer. AM
broadcasts crackling through that singular dashboard speaker. It’s all
very familiar, with good reason. I’ve been here before.
Blasting back to the past
The New Yorker hasn’t made its way east yet to add a “why is
THAT here?” element between stuff like Cobras and GT350s. I’m
wondering how living with it will compare to the memory of the one
from 30 years ago.
Will I abuse it like I did that poor old winter beater as an invin-
cible teen? Will it ever see a blizzard? Absolutely not.
But am I just a little tempted to paint the wheels red and lay down
a nice Le Mans stripe in Centari enamel? You better believe it. And,
of course, I’ll remember to always carry a screwdriver and matchbook
cover to gap the points. A
May–June 2017 51
Page 50
On the Market
Worth
John L. Stein
CHECKING OUT
Despite a mighty homely appearance, 1956 to 1982 Checkers
actually offer a huge amount of fun for the money
same period were likewise born to work
and have gained a robust following among
collectors — with associated value gains
— just the same. And so simply being a
“work” tool needn’t exclude a vehicle from
either collectibility or value growth.)
The prototypical Checker is the com-
mercial taxi (repurposed for “retail” customers
as the Marathon sedan), and neither
currently appears in the ACC Pocket
Price Guide. However, NADA shows
1962 through ’82 models averaging from
$10,000 to $14,000 depending on year,
and the ACC Premium Auction Database
lists 60 that have appeared at auction, with
a $14,356 average sales price from 2015
through 2017.
One estimate indicates that 5,000
This 1978 Checker cab sold for $7,700 at a 2015 Bonhams auction
Pawel Litwinski, courtesy of Bonhams
Detroit), from 1956 through 1982, the classic Checker taxi cab, and its
Marathon family sedan, station wagon and limo derivatives, are just as
iconic as muscle cars — except their status came not as road burners, but
as people movers in New York City and other large metropolises.
The Checker has much that’s needed to fulfill its status as an icon,
W
including its totally unique, all-American design, its dutiful fulfillment of
an essential transportation role over a 26-year span, and the fact that so
many people saw it, rode in it, and benefited from its service.
Checkers are famous in entertainment as well, with supportive roles
in film and television including the “Taxi” series with Danny DeVito,
which ran from 1978 to 1983. Incredibly, aside from required emissions
and safety changes, Checkers changed little over two-and-a-half decades
of production.
Uber underdog
Usual value drivers for American classics from AMX to Zimmer
include design, performance and exclusivity, none of which, unfortunately,
the Checker possesses.
Bulky and utilitarian to suit its primary role as a cab, its mission was
completely different; Checkers were by design work tools rather than
any sort of lifestyle statement. (It’s worth adding that pickups of the
52 AmericanCarCollector.com
hen it comes to collectibility, achieving icon status really
helps. Obvious automotive proof points for this theory
include Corvette, Shelby or anything with Hemi power.
But as it turns out, not all American icons ascend in value
evenly. Case in point: the Checker.
Built in essentially the same form in Kalamazoo, MI (the “other”
Checker taxis and sedans were built annually,
including far fewer station wagons
and luxurious limos. Even scarcer were
the stretched Aerobus airport shuttles (the
“unicorns” of the Checker world, so to
speak), multi-door stretch wagons built for
hauling a dozen or more passengers. I can’t remember the last time I even
saw one, and they’re not listed in any guidebook that I’ve ever seen. Go
fish.
Real steel, and plenty of it
Let’s examine what makes a Checker a Checker, with a fair eye.
Despite what some might call a mighty homely appearance, these cars
actually do offer a lot of fun for the money.
The Marathon was typically available with a choice of Chevrolet
6-cylinder or V8 powertrains (with periodic diesel availability), can
carry up to eight passengers, can hold an enormous amount of camping,
luggage or sporting equipment (outpacing virtually any other collector
vehicle except maybe a Suburban or Travelall), and is built close to what
I’d imagine military standards would be.
Regarding durability, it’s hard to imagine any vehicle of the period
using more iron and steel — and less aluminum and plastic — than the
Checker. Which makes it eminently and endlessly repairable and fixable
today. I happen to know something about this, having once purchased
and then driven a New York City Checker taxi cab from the Big Apple
to Los Angeles. A few easily rectified maintenance issues aside, the car
dutifully sailed clear across North America, its 105-hp six trundling
along without complaint.
Here are my picks among five Checker varieties.
Station wagon — The Jeep Grand Wagoneer has found a robust fol-
lowing of late, but as they are reasonably plentiful, a properly presented
Checker station wagon will raise the ante at the club. Rarely seen nowadays,
they’re not only unique, but highly useful.
Page 51
1973 Checker Marathon wagon, sold for $14,850 in
november 2016
Town Limousine — A rarity then and now, this long-wheelbase unit
was for private owners desiring a luxurious American ride with classic
style. The Limo was outfitted with such features as a vinyl-covered
roof with “opera” windows, and up-level interior materials. Take that,
Cadillac.
Taxi — Outfitted with fold-up supplemental rear seats, a bulletproof
cab partition, and fleet upholstery and livery, Checker cabs lived a hard
life. However, rust and crash damage may be the only things that can
stop one; the last NYC Checker taxi left service in 1999 after nearly a
million miles.
Marathon — While sharing the same bodylines as the taxi cab,
this customer version provides your best chance of blending into the
“normal” car world while still enjoying a unique American automotive
experience. The 1969 model enjoyed Checker’s highest output, 300 hp,
from its 350-ci V8.
1972 Checker aerobus limousine, a $2,250 sale in 2016,
shark fins generally not included
Aerobus — The only reason this stretch isn’t higher on this list is that
it’s just so doggone big. That said, if you have a pack of friends to take to
an auction, race or swapmeet, here’s your ride.
Marathon modding
Today the Checker’s iconic design, “all steel” construction, and low
value all combine to offer interesting possibilities for building a restomod.
How about a Pro Street Marathon or a Panamericana road racer?
Or perhaps a Baja 1000 version with skid plates and KC driving lights, or
even a Callaway-inspired Marathon AeroWagen?
I’ve yet to see a single Checker so modified (no surprise, really!), and
while requiring time, money and steel — all for a highly dubious prospect
of any monetary return — such a hybrid would definitely draw attention. If
you’ve “done up” a Checker, send us a photo and info on it to comments@
americancarcollector.com. Maybe we can get a party started. A
May–June 2017 53
Page 52
PROFILE CORVETTE
1968 CHEVROLET CORVETTE 427/435 L89 CONVERTIBLE
Corvette Bronze Blue Chip
Courtesy of GAA Classic Cars
With the L89
numbersmatching
drivetrain,
the K66
ignition and
good original
condition,
this car is a
solid bluechipper
for
any serious
collector
54 AmericanCarCollector.com
54 AmericanCarCollector.com
VIN: 194678S406169
by Patrick Smith
• Part of the Tyson Collection
• Top Flight Award Winner in September 2011
• Original, legible tank sticker
• 427/435 hp
• Matching-numbers engine
• Aluminum head option
• Close-ratio 4-speed transmission
• 3.70:1 differential
• Corvette Bronze with tobacco leather interior
• Power windows
• Power brakes
• F41 suspension
• Telescopic steering column
• Transistor ignition
• Tinted glass
• Auxiliary hard top
ACC Analysis This car, Lot ST0099, sold for
$96,300, including buyer’s pre-
mium, at the GAA auction in Greensboro, NC, on
March 4, 2017. It was offered without reserve.
When the all-new Corvette body finally broke cover
in the fall of 1967, controversy appeared to be its
middle name. Fans were delighted with how closely
the Sting Ray resembled the Mako Shark show car.
Detractors noted a reliance on gimmick items such
as hideaway windshield wipers and excess length, as
well as a disturbing lapse of quality control on early
examples. Road & Track had to swap their L71 for
a small block due to problems, while Car and Driver
refused to do a review of their test car, citing quality
control issues.
Nevertheless, it was an exciting, visceral automo-
bile that offered a lot of bang for the buck. Buyers had
a cornucopia of small- and big-block engines from
which to choose.
Power choices
In 1968, the 435-hp L71 drew major attention due to
its position as top-horsepower V8 in the line-up. The
L71 also had eye appeal for casual enthusiasts due to
the luscious Holley tri-carb system and unique chrome
triangular air cleaner.
The 435 also drew attention away from the real
savage of the pack: the 430-hp L88. A full-bore race
engine disguised with terrible street exhaust manifolds
and dumbed-down ignition timing curve, the L88
gained 100 horsepower just with proper headers. GM
didn’t want Walter Mitty types driving an L88 — it
was for pros. For most, the L71 was a better choice,
as in stock form, the 435 was plenty fast, and the usual
super-tuning tricks could take it into the 12s in the
quarter. It was a good package.
The L71 was an iron-block 427 stuffed with 11.1
pistons, Holley triple 2-barrel carbs (two R3659As
and one R4055A) plus a Winters aluminum intake
Page 53
COLLeCTOr’S reSOurCe: You can easily track a car’s value over time with the aCC Premium auction Database, featuring more
than 125,000 American cars searchable by year, model, VIN and more. Sign up for just $59 at www.AmericanCarCollector.com!
Detailing
Years produced: 1967–69
Number produced: 624
(1968)
Original list price: $5,125
Current ACC Median
Valuation: $81,500
Tune-up/major service: $660
Distributor cap: $249.95
(K66 brown Delco Remy
cap)
Engine # location: On engine
block in front of passenger’s
side cylinder head
VIN location: Driver’s side
A-pillar, dashboard driver’s
side
manifold. A solid-lifter camshaft was used, along
with a set of closed-chamber rectangular-port heads.
The bottom was fortified with forged crankshaft and
four-bolt mains. If you added the L89 option, you
got the same heads in aluminum. It gave you a minor
break with detonation, but with 11:1 compression, any
original L89 needs race gas to live today. The key here
was in weight savings — about 80 pounds off the nose
of the car.
When it comes to performance, the L71 was a
strong, but not invincible, runner. Car Life mag
recorded a blistering 13.41 ET at 109 mph. A Hemi
Charger could take it, as could a Hemi Road Runner,
but both cars would have to be 4-speed Super Track
Pack jobs. In the ’60s, the biggest worries this ’Vette
had were L88s, but that ended in 1970 when a fleet of
big-bore A-bodies appeared en masse to cause grief.
Good equipment, nice color
This particular car has desirable goodies such
as the K66 transistorized ignition system, off-road
exhaust system, F41 front and rear high-performance
suspension and the M21 4-speed close-ratio transmission.
Our subject car also has power windows, power
disc brakes, telescopic steering column and CO7
auxiliary hard top with extra-cost C08 vinyl covering.
The final coup de grace is the magnificent Corvette
Bronze paint finish. It isn’t a particularly rare shade,
with 3,374 produced, but not many of them were
repainted to original over the years. It seems to be a
color one either loves or loathes.
With the L89 numbers-matching drivetrain, the
K66 ignition and good original condition, this car is a
solid blue-chipper for any serious
collector. Perhaps the best part of
this deal is how close you are to
getting supercar L88 performance
without the bank-busting cost.
You even get a radio — something
L88 owners were denied.
That brings us to the selling
price: Was $96,300 a steal? 2014
was a good year for L89 sales,
as a few crossed the block. The
average for a solid, no-stories
convertible was $77,000. A nice
numbers-matching L89 ragtop
with F41 and off-road exhaust
sold at Worldwide Auctioneers for
$71,500 (ACC# 243567). Another
convertible sold at Russo and
Steele’s Scottsdale event in 2014
for $85,000 (ACC# 232323) Previous auctions for that
car garnered high bids of $35,000 and $54,000 in 1998
and 2001, respectively. It has been described as an
“honest driver” and “10-footer.” Like so many other
cars, they’re frequently purchased for resale, with
commensurate rising prices.
The L89 option adds a healthy — some say up to
50% — rise in value on a matching-numbers L71. On
examples with MIA engines, the bump is a lot smaller.
Many of these cars were wrenched on from new because,
let’s face it, multi carbs were cool, and making
them run right demanded a fair bit of work. It wasn’t
unusual to start out removing the fuel-bowl vent tubes
from the outboard carbs to kill the backfire problem
and wind up swapping over to a big double-pumper
4-barrel and intake along with a lumpy cam. Once
these became used cars, strange things happened.
Seven years ago it was possible to get a really nice
L89 convertible for $50k. During the midst of the
worst economy in ages, astute buyers picked all the
low-hanging fruit off the trees from distress sales.
Things tightened up in 2014, and now we’re seeing a
minor uptick in L89 prices.
Our subject car sold above ACC’s $81,500 median
value. The buyer got a first-year Shark that won
awards, is a numbers-matching 4-speed car, has
excellent period colors and a tank sticker. Due to a
yearlong absence of sales on this combo, I’m loath to
say this was a steal, but I believe it was well bought,
and I think it will look like an even better deal over
Cars.)
Club: National Corvette
Restorers Society
Web: www.ncrs.org
Alternatives: 1970 Chevrolet
Chevelle SS 454 LS6,
1969 Dodge Super Bee
A12 440 Six Pack, 1970
Oldsmobile 442 W-30
ACC Investment Grade: A
Comps
1968 Chevrolet Corvette
427/435 L89 convertible
Lot 24, VIN: 194678S401487
Condition: 3
Sold at $71,500
Worldwide Auctioneers,
Montgomery, AL, 5/2/2014
ACC# 243567
1968 Chevrolet Corvette
427/435 L89 convertible
Lot S645, VIN:
time. A
(Introductory description courtesy of GAA Classic
194678S404502
Condition: 3
Sold at $85,000
Russo and Steele, Scottsdale,
AZ, 1/14/2014
ACC# 232323
1968 Chevrolet Corvette
427/435 L89 convertible
Lot 503, VIN: 194678S402492
Condition: 2+
Sold at $72,600
Barrett-Jackson, Las Vegas,
NV, 10/15/2008
ACC# 118327
May–June 2017
55CC
55
Page 54
PROFILE GM
Chevy II With a Punch
1966 CHEVROLET NOVA SS L79
This little
Nova packs a
wallop, both
on the strip
and on the
market
VIN: 11836N104742
by Chad Tyson
• Part of Davis Collection
• SS 327-ci 350-hp L79
• 4-speed Muncie
• 71k actual miles — fully documented
• Original Protect-O-Plate
• Matching-numbers engine
• 12-bolt Positraction rear axle
• Over $80k spent on rotisserie restoration in 2013
ACC Analysis This car, Lot ST0092, sold for
$79,180, including buyer’s pre-
mium, at GAA’s auction in Greensboro, NC, on March
4, 2017.
Nova Joe
Back in high school, I had a friend named Joe. Joe
wasn’t a flashy guy, nor did he do anything academically
or athletically unique. The only thing people really
noticed about him was his slight hunchback. That
lone distinction led one of the less-fortunate bullies to
briefly goad, prod and generally make life miserable
for Joe. That is, until he shoved Joe against a brick
wall on the backside of the high school. A flash of arm
and jacket and the instigator was down — cupping his
swelling and bloodied nose.
Joe and I talked cars a bit — probably as well
as most high school guys do — and took part in a
56 AmericanCarCollector.com
particularly silly game of comparing ourselves to cars.
I’ll pretend not to remember embarrassing thoughts
of pining to be a Shelby GT500. I go there simply to
say this: If Joe were a car, he’d be an SS L79 Nova.
Unassuming, perhaps recognizable from certain
angles, but when pushed, packs a helluva right hook.
Right-hook foot
The car’s respective right hook is linked directly to
the right pedal.
In the mid-1960s, GM brass was already familiar
with fitting hot engines into unexpected chassis. See
the 389 fitted into a Pontiac Tempest, for example,
creating the GTO. Or the 330 into the Olds F-85, creating
the 442. So why not take the hot Corvette small
block and put it in the compact?
The 327-ci 350-hp L79 has one of the highest horse-
power-to-cubic-inches ratio (1.07:1) of any American
V8 of the time. And it’s no real wonder why, with 11:1
compression, forged pistons and an aluminum intake.
The only Chevrolet V8s rated higher during the
1960s are the Corvette-only 327/360 (1.10) and 327/375
(1.15) — plus two one-year wonders, the 283/315 (1.11)
and 396/425 (1.073). Sure, this is based on advertised
horsepower — which had a funny way of understating
real horsepower — but it does provide a point of common
reference.
Courtesy of GAA Classic Cars
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Detailing
Year produced: 1966
Number produced: 3,547
Original list price: $2,671
Current ACC Median
Valuation: $55,000
Esoteric as that argument may be, here’s a lucid
one: In stock form, with that 600-cfm Holley, it takes
15 seconds at 95 mph to cover a quarter mile in this
Chevy II.
And there isn’t much to give away its performance
pedigree. Two SS badges, a pair of Super Sport scripts
and matching 327 V8 fender flags are the only external
markers differentiating this from any other 1966
2-door X-body. This is a sleeper, pure and simple.
Documented restoration
I write this without the benefit of an in-person in-
spection of the car. But GAA does a commendable job
with their online catalog and photo availability — on
par with many of the national traveling auctions.
First and foremost, the VIN starts 118 — on the VIN
ag, on the Protect-O-Plate, everywhere. So we know
it is a Chevy II Nova SS V8. That makes it just one of
3,547 L79 SS Novas GM produced for 1966.
The seller stated that the car has 71k actual miles,
with a matching-numbers engine. Unfortunately, there
were no available images for the engine number. This
is an excellent opportunity for a friendly reminder that
you (or a surrogate) should always inspect the car in
person before flipping up that bidder’s paddle or writing
that check.
Visually, the car is striking. Yes, it helps that white
over black is a great a contrast, but the light reflects
smoothly and evenly on the car’s long sides. And I’ll
be damned if that isn’t a spot-on Ermine White. The
black vinyl interior is as the General shipped it.
David Lee took delivery of the car on October
28, 1965, from Joe Creamons Chevrolet in Eustis,
FL, per the Protect-O-Plate accompanying the sale.
Among the rest of the documentation was the owner’s
guide, a feature accessories brochure and restoration
binder.
L79s lead Nova pricing
ACC has covered L79 Novas before in two “Quick
Takes.” One was unrestored and was not an original
SS. It sold for $41,250 (#24, Nov/Dec 2015, p. 69). The
other car (#9, May/June 2013, p. 66) was a factorybuilt
SS restored to the nines. Mecum sold that one
for $219,950. I’m fairly certain that some users still
haven’t picked up their jaws from the floor in the
deep pockets of ChevyTalk’s 1962–67 Chevy II-NovaAcadian
sub-forum.
The 2017 SCM-ACC Pocket Price Guide shows us
there hasn’t been too much movement in the market for
these cars. The median value is pegged at $55k. Now
that’s the middle of the market, with half of the sales
above and half below that point. And really, this car
fits on that continuum.
Near $80k for this restored Nova might shock the less
informed, but the comps show us that it’s the going rate
for this level of this car. Mecum sold a recently restored
’66 SS L79 for $88k at Kissimmee in January (ACC#
6823233), while Barrett-Jackson also had a ’66 SS, but
it wasn’t an L79 and sold for $42,900 (ACC# 6816741).
It’s pretty easy to look at ACC’s Premium Auction
Database and see recent auction sales for 1966 Novas
in one setting. What pops out even more is the tiers of
pricing — anything over $75k was an SS L79. That’s
not to say they all sold over that price, but they were
the only Novas to do so. In fact, the only Novas of any
year or sub model consistently worth more than a ’66
L79 SS are Yenko and COPO examples.
Much like my friend Joe, this car might not catch
everyone’s attention, but underestimate the power and
value at your own risk. Nobody wants a bloodied nose
— behind the school, at the dragstrip or on the block.
Well bought. A
(Introductory description courtesy of GAA Classic
Cars.)
1966 Chevrolet Nova SS L79
Lot S147, VIN:
118376N156888
Condition: 2-
Not sold at $175,000
Mecum Auctions, Indianapolis,
IN, 5/17/2014
ACC# 243852
1966 Chevrolet Nova SS L79
Lot S215, VIN:
118376W118485
Condition: 1Sold
at $74,520
ACC# 265683
Mecum Auctions, Seattle, WA,
6/5/2015
Club: National Nostalgic Nova
Web: www.nnnova.com
Alternatives: 1967–69
Barracuda Formula S,
1966 Chevrolet Corvette
L79 coupe, 1968–69
Dodge Dart GTS
Engine # location: Pad
forward of passenger’s
side cylinder head
Investment Grade: B
Comps
Tune-up/major service: $150
VIN location: Tag on driver’s
door jamb
1966 Chevrolet Nova L79
Lot 5095, VIN:
116376N151058
Condition: 4+
Sold at $41,250
ACC# 266690
Auctions America, Auburn, IN,
9/1/2015
May–June 2017 57
Page 56
PROFILE FOMOCO
When Green Saves Some Green
1968 SHELBY GT500 KR CONVERTIBLE
Mathieu Heurtault, courtesy of Gooding & Company
The KR is a
sought-after
Shelby, and
this one’s
color may
have made it
a great buy
— if you like
Lime Gold
VIN: 8T03R21322403949
by Tom Glatch
• Well-optioned example of the GT500 KR
• Finely preserved and largely original
• Finished in era-evoking Lime Gold
• Recently serviced and collector owned
• Documented by Marti Report, maintenance
records and copies of factory build sheets
ACC Analysis This car, Lot 8, sold for $116,600,
Gooding & Company auction on Amelia Island, FL,
on March 10, 2017. It was offered without reserve.
The cover of the October 1968 issue of Car Life
magazine asked the question: “Shelby’s GT500 KR
— was it worth stealing?” It seems the car promised
them by Ford was stolen just before delivery. It was
recovered but so badly damaged that another Shelby
had to be brought in.
The 1968 Shelbys looked worth stealing, with new
fiberglass front fenders, hood, and grille surround
bringing the Mustang’s appearance up a big notch.
There were new convertible versions of the GT350 and
GT500, too, with a stylish integral roll bar. Then there
was the GT500 KR, or “King of the Road,” which
replaced the GT500 when the 428 Cobra Jet engine
became available on the Mustang. Shelby still designed
the upgrades and specified the equipment, but
the reviewers noted “every year the Shelby Mustang is
a little less Shelby and a little more Mustang.”
58 AmericanCarCollector.com
58 AmericanCarCollector.com
including buyer’s premium, at the
Part of the problem was Shelby no longer built
the cars. In 1965, Shelby built just 521 street GT350
Mustangs and 36 GT350 R racers in the car’s first
year, but in 1966, that jumped to 2,378 units. Keeping
up with the demand was challenging Shelby American,
and they had quality issues with the fiberglass parts,
with much hand reworking required.
When the spectacular 1967 GT350 and new
428-powered GT500 were unveiled, sales soared
even more. Then in late 1967, Shelby American lost
the lease on their two large buildings at Los Angeles
International Airport due to runway expansion. “Even
if our lease hadn’t expired, we did not have the capacity
at the airport to build the number of Shelbys that
Ford wanted to sell,” said Shelby American’s General
Manager at the time, Peyton Cramer.
For 1968, the Shelby Mustangs would be built at
A.O. Smith, a large automotive supplier in Ionia,
MI (ironically, they supplied Corvette bodies at one
time). From here on, Shelby Mustangs were built by
Ford. Carroll Shelby was too busy running Ford’s Le
Mans-winning endurance-racing operation to care
much, and Shelby American was expanding into the
Trans-Am and Can-Am series for Ford.
King of the Road
The original 428 engine was nothing great, but the
Cobra Jet benefited from heads and intake derived
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Detailing
Club: Shelby American
Automobile Club
hampion 427 “Side Oiler.” Ford
p (wink, wink), but with a streetear
gear, Car Life saw 0–60 in 6.9
med the quarter-mile in 14.57 at
andling was good, but with that
ast iron under the hood, it was a
oposition to manage without bonespension.
Unlike previous Shelby
, this year they chose a softer ride.
g a Shelby GT350 or GT500 put
ve class. Only select Ford dealers
e price put them out of the reach of
yers — $4,472 for the GT500 KR
r the companion convertible. Still,
was it worth stealing? Car Life
responded, “The King of the
Road will wow the neighbors,
cover ground and make drivers
ry Mustangs eat their hearts out.
”
Shelby’s magazine ad described the KR as “for the
man who wants everything in one car.” This really
was truth in advertising. Previous Shelbys chose raw
performance over creature comfort. Then the KR
model disappeared in 1969 and the cars had almost no
input from Carroll Shelby. The ‘69 sold so poorly that
many were converted into 1970 models to finally get
rid of them.
That’s precisely why the 1968 GT500 KRs are
among the most valuable Shelby Mustangs on the
market — they hit that sweet spot of performance,
comfort and style.
The rare and historically significant 1965 GT350
models command top dollar, especially the 36 GT350
R racers built for SCCA competition. But good GT500
KR Shelbys, especially the rare convertibles (517
built), have broken $300k at sale time. The current
median price, as listed in the 2017 ACC Pocket Price
Guide, is a much lower $160,800.
Not all that glitters is Lime Gold
Considering all that, why did our feature GT500
KR ragtop sell for $116,600? It has good credentials
throughout, but there are any number of issues that
can pop up that might limit value on a car like this. It’s
an automatic, and it is lacking some options such as
10-spoke wheels and air conditioning. But here, one
factor stood out above the others — color.
The Code I “Lime Gold Metallic” paint is truly po-
larizing. Personally, I really like it and wouldn’t mind
this car in my garage one bit. But I can understand
many potential buyers holding out for a different color
such as Acapulco Blue or red.
Still, is a Lime Gold Shelby GT500 KR worth that
much less than one of another color? At least on this
day, it looked that way. At almost $200k below the best
of the best and well under the current market median,
I’d call this Shelby a steal of a deal for what it was —
and well worth the price paid.A
(Introductory description courtesy of Gooding &
Company.)
1968 Shelby GT500 KR
convertible
Lot 668, VIN: 8T03R206130
Condition: 1Sold
at $203,500
Barrett-Jackson, Uncasville,
CT, 6/22/2016
ACC# 6803744
Tune-up/major service: $350
Distributor cap: $295 (NOS)
VIN location: Tag riveted to
driver’s side inner fender
Engine # location: Pad on
the back of the block,
driver’s side
Year produced: 1968
Number produced: 517 (KR)
Original list price: $4,594
Current ACC Median
Valuation: $160,800
Web: www.saac.com
Alternatives: 1968 Yenko
Camaro 427, 1968 Ford
Mustang GT 428 CJ, 1968
Mercury Cougar GT-E 427
ACC Investment Grade: A
Comps
1968 Shelby GT500 KR
convertible
Lot 1338, VIN: 8T03R213321
Condition: 1Sold
at $143,000
Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale,
AZ, 1/16/2017
ACC# 6816734
1968 Shelby GT500 KR
convertible
Condition: 3
Lot 109, VIN: 8T03R21037803762
Bonhams, Monte Carlo, MCO,
5/12/2016
ACC# 6799962
May–June 2017
59CC
59
Page 58
PROFILE MOPAR
Market-Price Bee
1970 DODGE SUPER BEE
Courtesy of The Finest
When I wrote
about this
car in 2011,
I concluded
that the value
in the car
was solid
— but not
to expect
a bunch of
appreciation.
That has held
true
VIN: WM21V0G145036
by Dale Novak
and pop-out rear windows, it is among the rarest of
Dodges. Of the 15,506 Super Bees produced in 1970,
fewer than 200 of the 440s were coupes. Only 87 had
automatic transmissions.
T
60 AmericanCarCollector.com
60 AmericanCarCollector.com
ACC Analysis This car, Lot 104, sold for
$39,600, including buyer’s pre-
mium, at The Finest Collector Car Auction in Boca
Raton, FL, on February 11, 2017. It was offered without
reserve.
In 1970, the Super Bee was offered as a pillared
coupe or hard top and could be had with three different
engine choices. Buyers could opt for a 383, 440
Six Pack or the thundering 426 Hemi. Our subject car
came with a V as the fifth VIN digit, which denotes the
440 Six Pack engine. The package put out 390 horses.
The Hemi only ratcheted up the ponies to 425, so
the cost per horsepower for that engine was disproportional.
As such, a total of 1,268 Super Bee V-codes
were ordered in 1970 versus 42 Hemi cars. Total Super
Bee production came to 15,506 units, so the V-code
option represents just over 8% of production.
I’ve seen this BEEfore
This is my second swat at this particular 1970
Dodge Super Bee. I first profiled this car in ACC’s
his Super Bee came equipped with a 440
with three 2-barrel carburetors, a forced-air
“Ramchargers” hood, a Mopar automatic
with column shifter and Rallye wheels. A
coupe model with the defining side pillars
sister publication, Sports Car Market, in the July 2011
issue. This gives us a great opportunity to chase this
Bee around for a second spin.
Dodge Super Bees (and Plymouth Road Runners)
are not all that difficult to find. They were built in
big numbers, and most of the larger muscle sales will
include at least one — and oftentimes far more than
that. The difficult part is finding a great example.
The 383 models (the base model) are rather common.
There’s nothing wrong with that, as they are affordable
muscle cars that are also affordable to own.
As you dig deeper into the hive, they become a bit
scarcer. Obviously, the Queen Bees of the model run
are the Hemi cars, which are the rarest of the bunch.
Our subject car is one of those 1,268 “V-code” 440
Six Pack Super Bees. While that may sound like a
healthy number, many have been lost to age attrition,
meaning rust, wrecks and lead-foot disease. The
V-code machines are sought after — many a Mopar
guy would rather own the triple-deuce 440 than a
finicky Hemi (if he actually wants to drive it). Plus, the
cool factor of three 2-bbls lined up over the potent 440
is a killer setup.
Tracking value
Our subject car appears three times in the ACC
Premium Auction Database. It first shows up in 1991
at a Mecum sale, where it failed to sell with a high bid
of only $13,500 (ACC# 457) with 75,000 miles on the
clock. In the next outing, VIN 145036 sold for $38,500
at a Worldwide sale in 2010 with the mileage creeping
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Detailing
Years produced: 1968–70
Number produced: 15,506
(1970), 1,268 (1970 440
Six Pack)
Tune-up/major service: $300
(with Six Pack)
Distributor cap: $25
VIN location: Driver’s side
dash under windshield
Engine # location:
Original list price: $3,074
Current ACC Median
Valuation: $32,900 (plus
15%–25% for 4-speed)
up to 80,625 (ACC# 162658). And, finally, our last
sighting was at the Barrett-Jackson West Palm Beach
sale in 2011, where I first looked over the car. That’s
our highest sale to date at $48,400 (ACC# 178134).
The mileage between the Barrett-Jackson sale and
The Finest sale has just about remained unchanged at
approximately 85,000 from 2011 to 2017.
The intrinsic value of using the ACC data points
is great. Tossing out the 1991 sale (before the explosion
of muscle car values), we can follow our subject
Super Bee from 2010 through 2017. The car has likely
changed little since the Worldwide sale in 2010 — and
less than 5,000 miles have been put on the car over the
past seven years.
If anything, the probability that the restoration has
mellowed from static storage is relatively high. By the
numerous and very high-quality photos displayed at
The Finest’s website, you can see that the car remains
in very nice condition. The 440 Six-Pack workhorse
was also reported to be the original engine, and for
the most part, the car is exactly as seen by yours truly
at the 2011 Barrett-Jackson sale in West Palm Beach.
It’s a very nice driver-level example — one that you
can buzz around in and not feel like you’re squishing
the value of the car into the pavement.
To Bee or not to Bee
When I wrote about this car in 2011, I concluded
that the value in the car was solid — but not to expect
a bunch of appreciation.
By my observations, the muscle car market has
been showing signs of some sideways movement lately.
Sellers need to work harder to make a great first
impression. Buyers appear to be more cautious before
opening their checkbooks — which is a good thing.
Also, the rush to purchase just any muscle car is waning.
Don’t get me wrong — great cars that are rare
and airtight are still bringing strong interest — but I
think the buyers are being more vigilant.
While the car may have changed hands since 2011
and this sale, the easy math shows an $8,800 hit
from sale to sale. This does not account for carrying
costs such as insurance and simple maintenance
costs — and the big one: auction fees. One would also
have to suggest that there was some transportation
expense from one sale to another. Even without hiring
a disheveled math professor, you’re at a $10,000 loss
from 2011 to 2017. I’d chalk that up partially to the
aformentioned sideways market.
The bonus on this Super Bee is the obvious big plus:
the V in the VIN. On the other hand, you’ve got a muscle
car with an automatic on the column and a bench
seat in a coupe configuration (rather than a hard top).
That’s never going to wind up a bunch of muscle car
buyers. I know plenty of very thoughtful collectors
who simply won’t buy a column-shift automatic muscle
car — even if the deal is well into the plus column. It
just doesn’t push the right buttons for many buyers.
There’s another strike.
Of course, the real value with any classic car is in
the experience of owning it. So if a Banana Yellow 440
Six-Pack 1970 Super Bee is the honey in your tea, then
by all means, have at it. This one appears to be a fine
example, provided you can live with the column-shift
automatic.
However, if your quest is to seek out an asset with
the potential of appreciation down the road, I stand by
my 2011 comments: It’s still a solid buy — and more so
this time around — but with limited upside. A
(Introductory description courtesy of The Finest.)
Club: The Super Bee Registry
Web: www.superbeeregistry.
com, www.moparnats.org
Alternatives: 1968–70
Plymouth Road Runner,
1968–70 Dodge Coronet
R/T, 1968–70 Dodge
Charger
Passenger’s side of block
by oil pan
ACC Investment Grade: B
Comps
1970 Dodge Super Bee 383
Lot 367, VIN:
WM21N0E107642
Condition: 1-
Not sold at $35,250
Auctions America, Carlisle,
PA, 4/25/2013
ACC# 216209
1969 Dodge Super Bee 383
Lot F107, VIN:
WM21H9A253849
Condition: 3+
Not sold at $26,000
Mecum Auctions, Kansas City,
MO, 11/30/2011
ACC# 190184
1970 Dodge Super Bee 440
Six Pack (subject car)
Lot 356.2, VIN:
WM21V0G145036
Condition: 2
Sold at $48,400
Barrett-Jackson, West Palm
Beach, FL, 4/6/2011
May–June 2017
May–June 2017 61
Page 60
PROFILE HOT ROD & CUSTOM
1932 FORD TUDOR STREET ROD
Ripe for a Redo
Today, cars
like this one
simply look
dated, like
bell-bottom
trousers,
flared collars,
wide ties,
fat belts
and padded
shoulders.
But does it
matter?
62
AmericanCarCollector.com
VIN: 5129531
by Ken Gross
• Less than 2,000 miles on a frame-off restoration
• 426-ci Hemi V8, headers and dual exhaust
• 700R4 automatic transmission
• Solid front axle/independent rear suspension
• 4-wheel disc brakes
• Custom two-tone red and beige paint with accent
striping
ACC Analysis This car, Lot S110, sold for
$50,600, including buyer’s pre-
mium at Mecum’s auction in Los Angeles, CA, on
February 17–18, 2017. It was offered without reserve.
Sticking with tradition
Although the supremely creative nature of hot-rod-
ding and customizing permits pretty much anything,
there are some “rules” where hot rods are concerned.
Traditional rods, built with authentic Ford parts,
the way they were done in, let’s say, the 1940s, tend
to follow a pattern. Highboy roadsters run modified
flathead V8s and manual gearboxes. They have
chopped tops, steelies, blackwall bias-plies, banjo
steering wheels, Stewart-Warner gauges and ’39 Ford
taillights.
These cars are usually painted black, or red, or
a ’40s-era Ford color such as Cloudmist Gray. Or
they’re finished in suede (primer). Small-block Chevy
V8s are permitted: 283s and 327s — not 350s, 383s or
400s — and they’re best painted factory orange with
Corvette valve covers.
They don’t have V6s, ever. And modern alloy wheels
are simply wrong, as are early ’50s Pontiac taillights
(they’re for coupes), four-bar suspensions, teal, pink
or other modern paint colors, scallops or other “modern”
graphics, tweed cloth interiors and, well, you get
the point.
So if I said you could have a full-fender ’32 Ford
Tudor with a 426 Hemi and dual quads, you might be
interested until you actually saw this car — with a
much-too-contemporary beige-over-red paint scheme,
an oddly drawn trim graphic, a 700R4 automatic, tilt
steering, mindless modern instruments, power windows,
a solid front axle coupled with an independent
rear end, and banal alloy wheels.
Ghosts of future past
If you pull out a few issues of Street Rodder from the
1990s, you’ll see a surprising number of modernized
street rods that look like this car. So let’s do a little
chronology — but remember, we’re generalizing here.
Right through the ‘50s, guys built old-style cars
with vintage parts — often flathead V8s, juice brakes
David Newhardt, courtesy of Mecum Auctions
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Detailing
Original list price: $550,
build price unknown
Current ACC Median
Valuation: $39,750
(all 1932 Ford)
Years produced: Unknown,
estimated 1990s
Number produced: 18,836
DeLuxe ’32 V8 Tudor
sedans. Unknown built like
this one
and other mechanicals from wrecking yards. As the
muscle car era ensued, and big OHV V8s supplanted
wheezing flatties, some guys modernized their cars
further with wheels, transmissions, seats and even
dash panels rescued from wrecks.
In the ’70s, the trend was to keep a car stock-
looking on the outside, even forsaking body modifications,
but sharply updating engines and running gear.
During the fuel crisis, some guys did install V6s and
even modern 4-cylinder engines, but thankfully that
throwback didn’t last long.
Over the next two decades, the trend toward
modernization grew with the adoption of bright
contemporary colors and graphics. Boyd Coddington
and Lil’ John Buttera led the charge with scads of
billet and simplified bodylines, ironing out many of the
traditional Ford components and styling cues for a
then-desirable “smooth” look.
As a traditionalist, I looked askance on those antics,
and was delighted just before the turn of the century
when a decided back-to-basics trend ensued — I even
started some of that with my own ’32 roadster, which
had nothing visible that dated from later than the early
1950s.
Hot-rodding has always been about making a car
faster, cleaner and better-looking, so there was a
rationale for some of the ’90s-era changes, but today,
cars like this one simply look dated, like bell-bottom
trousers, flared collars, wide ties, fat belts and padded
shoulders.
No accounting for taste
However… somebody felt good enough about this
Tudor to “restore” it, and someone else wrote a check
for $50k.
This car, several resto-mod mid-’50s Chevys and
a ’34 Willys coupe with a blown 350 Chevy were
part of the Euell Barnes Collection, sold by Mecum
in Los Angeles earlier this year. Barnes was an
Arizona drag-racing enthusiast. His cars were hardly
traditional. The buyer here paid a lot for a Deuce
doorslammer that’s not terribly attractive.
ACC Editor Jim Pickering commented, “I’ve always
considered street rods to be where hot rod guys go to
mature — like Cadillac CTS-Vs compared to Corvettes
— power steering/power brakes/automatic transmissions/billet
everything. Style and relative comfort
are key in the street-rod scene, but style trends don’t
always age well. This one is so stuck in the 1990s it’s
not even funny.
“But we do see a lot of cars like this one sell,” Jim
added. “So here’s the question: Leave this alone or
update it?”
Consider a do-over
If it were mine, I’d jettison the entire interior, the
indie rear suspension, and the too-fat wheels and
tires. Refinish it in glossy black, add steel wheels and
skinnier rubber like Coker’s new American Classic
radials, and fit a broadcloth or black leather gut, period
valve covers and Stelling & Hellings air cleaners.
Even then, you wouldn’t be fooling anyone, but you’d
have a much nicer-looking ride. If you were handy,
you could do that for under $20k, offset by a few bucks
made selling the components you removed.
Jim notes that ’60s-style rods have returned to fash-
ion, which could serve as a roadmap for later trends.
But I don’t think graphically garish, mixed-metaphor
cars like this one will suddenly be back in style anytime
soon. Or ever.
If you did buy this Tudor and backdate it, could
you expect to recoup your investment? I think that’s
unlikely.
But hot-rodding isn’t about investing. It’s about
personalizing your car for speed and style. No one in
his right mind expects to make money on the exercise.
Sure, it happens sometimes — but don’t
count on it.
The seller spent a lot more than $50k
building this ride, and so by that account
the new owner got a good deal here.
Assuming he likes it as-is, he’s home free.
Well bought and sold.
If he spends half again as much on the
backdate mods I outlined, he probably
won’t make it up in this decade, but he’ll
have a decent street cruiser with wider
appeal that’ll run away and hide from a
lot of other cars. Life is short. I’d go for
it. A
(Introductory description courtesy of
Mecum Auctions.)
1934 Chevrolet Master
sedan
Lot 165, VIN: CA02629
Condition: 2
Sold at $26,730
Lucky, Tacoma, WA,
5/30/2014
ACC# 243967
May–June 2017 63
Lot 484, VIN: 18356921
Condition: 1Sold
at $63,800
1933 Ford Model B
3-window
Leake Auctions, Tulsa, OK,
6/6/2014
ACC# 244016
1932 Ford 5-window, Boyd
Coddington
Lot 123, VIN: 4764995
Condition: 2+
Sold at $52,250
ACC# 6816881
RM Sotheby’s, Phoenix, AZ,
1/18/2017
VIN location: 18-prefix Ford
VIN is stamped on the front
frame rail on the driver’s
side. Non-Ford assigned
VINs (as here) are typically
on cowl or door jamb
Engine # location: N/A
Clubs: Goodguys, National
Street Rod Association
(NSRA)
Tune-up/major service: $250
Distributor cap: $15
(426 Hemi)
More: www.good-guys.com,
www.nsra.com,
Alternatives: Other ’32 Ford
coupes and sedans built
in the 1970s, 1980s, and
1990s.
ACC Investment Grade: D
Comps
Page 62
PROFILE AMERICANA
1969 AMC AMX
Budget Muscle Machine
Courtesy of Leake Auction Co.
Everyone
seems to like
the AMX, but
they’ve never
commanded
the kind of
money that
other muscle
cars of the
era routinely
see
VIN: A9M397X330730
by Jeff Zurschmeide
• 390-ci V8 engine
• 4-speed manual transmission with Hurst shifter
• Carter AFB Competition Series 4-bbl carburetor
• MSD ignition
• Power steering
• Power brakes
• Factory wheels with beauty rings
• Pioneer AM/FM/cassette
• AMX# 13555
• Air-conditioning delete
ACC Analysis This car, Lot 722, sold for
$15,400, including buyer’s pre-
mium, at Leake’s Oklahoma City, OK, auction, held
February 24–26, 2017. It was offered without reserve.
The AMX (for American Motors eXperimental) is
a car that the automotive community can’t seem to
make up its mind about. On the one hand, this car was
hailed in its day as one of the best muscle cars ever
designed, and sometimes you’ll see a pristine example
go for big money. But it’s just as common to see good
examples that don’t make their estimate, or that go
unsold without bids that meet a reasonable reserve.
What’s up with that?
Back to the beginning
The AMX was designed in the mid-1960s and de-
buted for the 1968 model year. AMC had been teasing
64 AmericanCarCollector.com
64 AmericanCarCollector.com
auto shows for a few years with AMX prototypes, and
as usual, the production model was far more mundane
than the concepts. But at the time, people thought it
would give the brand-new C3 Corvette a run for its
money as America’s favorite sports car.
When it was launched in February of 1968, you
could get the new AMX for $3,245. That money got you
the special AMX 290-ci V8 engine at 10:1 compression
with a 4-barrel carb making 225 horsepower. A
4-speed floor-shift manual transmission was standard,
but a 3-speed automatic with floor shift was optional.
The main option that you should care about is the
Go Pack, which cost about $266. That got you a 343-ci
engine at 290 horsepower, dual exhaust, upgraded
cooling, power disc brakes in front, limited-slip
differential and a handling package. You could also
order the Go Pack with an X-Code 390-ci engine at
315 horsepower for about $343.25. Of course, the 390
was the engine to have.
Not much changed for 1969, as the AMX was a
mid-year introduction. The base price went up by $50,
and AMC offered several special option packages
including a California 500 with sidepipes and a Super
Stock with dual carburetors.
1970 was the last year for the authentic AMX, and
the 290 and 343 engines were dropped. A 360-ci V8
was now the base engine, rated at 290 horsepower.
The 390 was boosted to 325 horsepower for that year.
Page 63
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The Go Pack was available with
either engine.
American Motors dropped the
AMX after 1970, likely because
sales had never really taken off.
But they kept trying to sell the
ade.
e was a top
velin
C revived
977 and
d on the
8 and the
om 1979
OLLeCTOr’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!
The Go Pack was available with
either engine.
American Motors dropped the
AMX after 1970, likely because
sales had never really taken off.
But they kept trying to sell the
ade.
e was a top
velin
C revived
977 and
d on the
8 and the
om 1979
e
e original
ith the
ered
ndous
rmance
argain price. 0–60 was
ured at 6.6 seconds by Car
iver magazine in 1968, with
-mile time of 14.8 seconds
e showroom floor. The short
e made the AMX more
r to turn than most of its
etitors, so it could be used
ts car racing. In 1969, an
k second place at the SCCA
f a field of 16 competitors.
A reasonable example
In the muscle car scene, the AMX occupies a
peculiar position. Everyone seems to like them, but
they’ve never commanded the kind of money that other
muscle cars of the era routinely see. That’s good news
for AMX enthusiasts, because it keeps prices down to
earth — for the most part.
Through all three years of production, just 19,134
cars were built. Of those, 7,364 received the 390 and
a 4-speed manual transmission, and 5,371 had the
390 with an automatic. The 290, 343 and 360 versions
saw about 1,000 of each built per year. So most of the
AMX cars you see at auctions now are 390s, and most
of them are original 390s. And here’s the thing — you
see a lot of these cars at auction.
Since the beginning of 2016, our database records
23 AMX models crossing the block. Most of them
Detailing
Years produced: 1968–70
Number produced: 19,134
(all years), 8,293 (1969)
Original list price: $3,297
Current ACC Median
Valuation: $24,800
Engine # location: Cast into
bottom side of block
Clubs: American Motors
Owners Association
Web: www.amonational.com
Alternatives: 1967–68
Chevrolet Camaro, 1968
Ford Mustang GT, 1968
Plymouth Barracuda
sold between $20,000 and $30,000, with occasional
outliers for truly exceptional cars and junkers. One
good-quality car sold for $27,500 (ACC# 271389) in
March and then failed to sell in October at a high bid
of $26,500 (ACC# 6804896).
Our subject car must have been a disappointing
sale, since it was offered at no reserve and garnered
only a $15,400 winning bid. We don’t have a lot of
information on it, but it’s a 390 with a 4-speed manual
and what appears to be the full Go Pack. The paint
looks good, as does the interior. At least, they look
as good as they ever did — AMC build quality and
interior design in this era were middling at best.
Eyesores on the sale car include a 1980s-era tape
deck and a whole bunch of mods in the engine bay.
The seller should have made the effort to find something
like an original air cleaner rather than a cheap
filter sandwiched in chrome. The MSD ignition system
could at least be hidden from view, and the plug wires
should be sorted. It looks like a set of tube headers
have replaced the stock exhaust, and that powersteering
pump is unlike most AMX units.
The mark of an extremely amateur mechanic is
also visible in the cheap replacement battery cables.
Both of them are red to maximize the potential for a
catastrophic electrical screw-up.
Yet for all that, this car is far more right than
wrong. Unless there’s something going on that was
undisclosed and not clearly visible, it’s a light weekend’s
work and a little parts hunting to
set this car right. Maybe the brown-car
curse kept the bid from going higher, but
the best I can say is that I’d buy this car
myself at the price paid. Well done. A
(Introductory description courtesy of
Leake Auction Co.)
ACC Investment Grade: B
Comps
Tune-up/major service: $200
Distributor cap: $11
VIN location: Plate at driver’s
side base of windshield,
plate welded to top of right
wheelhouse panel under
hood
1969 AMC AMX 390
Lot F120, VIN:
A9M397X170908
Condition: 3+
Sold at $42,900
Mecum Auctions, Indianapolis,
IN, 5/20/2016
ACC# 6799894
1969 AMC AMX 390
Lot 36, VIN: A9C397X149730
Condition: 3-
Not sold at $15,250
ACC# 6799723
Silver Auctions, Portland, OR,
4/15/2016
1969 AMC AMX 390
Lot 259, VIN:
A9M397X1000029
Condition: 2Sold
at $28,080
Dan Kruse Classics, Austin,
TX, 9/26/2014
ACC# 252385
May–June 2017
65CC
65
COLLeCTOr’S reSOurCe: You can easily track a car’s value over time with the aCC Premium auction Database, featuring more
than 125,000 American cars searchable by year, model, VIN and more. Sign up for just $59 at www.AmericanCarCollector.com!
with a low center of gravity. The T-10, introduced with
the 1957 Corvette, was specifically designed to match
the small-block V8 and was the first 4-speed fully
synchromesh transmission that could easily handle V8
horsepower.
Together, the two anchored the first real American
sports car in the Corvette and provided the core for
endless fast-car fantasies in American enthusiasts.
The introduction of the fiberglass auto body was the
last strand in the cat’s cradle of factors that pulled together
to make low-production specialty cars possible.
The method of making very fine glass fibers was
discovered in the late 1930s, but these fibers were
originally used as insulation. After experimentation
during the war, techniques for combining glass fibers
with resins to create structural shapes were developed
in the late 1940s, and the first practical car bodies
were seen in the early 1950s.
The clear advantage was that while stretching steel
into curved shapes took industrial-level tooling and
presses, and forming aluminum required extreme
levels of artistry and time, a talented and committed
amateur could create a mold and build a fiberglass
body in his backyard.
By the mid- to late 1950s, a cottage industry had
sprung up to produce and sell fiberglass bodies to
hobbyists. Bill Devin led the group, with Kellison and
Victress, among many others, building sports car bodies
that would fit over the small block and T-10.
From this base it was only natural that a few of
the more talented, serious, ambitious, and/or wellfinanced
enthusiasts would start to think in terms of
creating their own frame-up racing cars.
The most famous of these was Lance Reventlow,
the Woolworth heir who hired Troutman and Barnes
to build his Scarab racers, but there were others. Bill
Devin, who was doing very well building bodies for
others, started building the Devin SS with its own
bespoke chassis in 1957. Jim Hall started racing the
Chaparral 1 in 1957 as well. The time was right for
specialty racers with American V8 power.
Building the Bocar
Bob Carnes was a successful Denver business-
man who took to road racing and hillclimbs in
the years after the war. He started small and light
with a Porsche spyder, but quickly succumbed to a
horsepower addiction and
bought a Jaguar XK 120,
which very soon got a Cadillac
V8 and became known as the
“Jagillac.”
In 1957 he took the leap to
build his own special racers
called Bocars. The idea was to
combine the light weight and
handling of the Porsche with
the horsepower that the new
Chevy V8 could offer. He set up
a shop and created a series of
three one-off racers as he developed
the concept — logically
designated the X1, 2 and 3.
These were all 2-seat sports
cars built with racing in mind,
using fiberglass bodies of his
own design, Chevy V8 power,
and T-10 transmissions mated to
May–June 2017 67
an American live axle in back.
The intent had always been to develop a car that
he could sell, and by the time Carnes got to the fourth
iteration, he felt he had a competitive car, so that
became the XP-4 (P for production). It was available
either as a complete car or a kit, and he sold about
five before moving to the improved version, the XP-5.
The big changes were better drum brakes and moving
the engine back in the chassis to improve weight
distribution.
It’s hard to say how many Bocar XP-5s were built
before a fire ended things —somewhere between 15
and 30 depending on to whom you listen. A few were
built completely in the shop using their special tubular
space frame and torsion-bar suspension, others were
built and sold based on Triumph TR3 chassis and front
suspension, and others were simply sold as body-plusparts
kits.
It appears that about six have survived. I remember
Bocars from my youth; they were notorious for being
brutally fast in a straight line but not very sophisticated
when it came to brakes and handling. They
were technically streetable (Bocar did offer street-car
options including a radio) but only a fool would try.
Value of a one-off
How well the variants worked and what they are
now worth both depend on the example, with the
factory-built tube-frame cars being the top. By far
the best was the one built for the Meister Brauser
racing team that Augie Pabst and Harry Heuer drove
beside the Scarabs in 1959. It sold for $412,500 at RM
Sotheby’s Monterey auction in August 2016 (ACC#
6804202).
Our subject car was one of those built as a complete
car by the factory using a TR3 chassis, and as such
has some collector interest beside its core value as a
toy for vintage racing.
As a vintage racer, it will be welcome anywhere
and attract attention because of its rarity and historic
importance, but will be lucky to run above mid-pack
in any actual races — it won’t have a chance against a
Lister or even a good Devin SS. It is neither a serious
collectible nor a really competitive racer, but it is fun
and interesting for either purpose. I would say fairly
bought.A
(Introductory description courtesy of RM Sotheby’s.)
Detailing
Club: Sportscar Vintage
Racing Association
(SVRA)
Current ACC Median
Valuation: $286,000
Cost per hour to race: $600
VIN location: Unknown
Engine # location: Pad on
block below right cylinder
head
Years built: 1959
Number built: 15–30
(complete cars vs. kits)
Original list price: Varied,
$5,000–$9,000
More: www.svra.com
Alternatives: Devin SS, Lister
Chevrolet, Chaparral 1
ACC Investment Grade: B
Comps
1959 Bocar XP-5 racer
Lot 153, VIN: XP5003
Condition: 1Sold
at $412,500
ACC# 6804202
RM Sotheby’s, Monterey, CA,
8/18/16
1959 Bocar XP-5 racer
Lot F193, VIN: XP5043
(subject car)
Condition: N/A
Not sold at $160,000
Mecum, Monterey, CA 8/17/16
ACC# 6808328
1958 Devin SS sports racer
Lot 211, VIN: SR206
Condition: 2+
Sold at $182,321
RM Auctions, Monte Carlo,
MCO, 4/30/10
ACC# 162408
Page 66
PROFILE TRUCK
1985 FORD F-150 XL 4X4 SWB PICKUP
Built Market Tough
Courtesy of Leake Auction Company
1980s Ford
F-150s have
one foot
in vintage
style and
the other in
21st century
functionality
VIN: 1FTEF14N6FPB17551
by B. Mitchell Carlson
• 302-ci EFI V8 engine
• SelectShift 3-speed automatic transmission
• Only 12,445 miles
• Short box
• 4x4 with lockout hubs
• Power steering
• Power brakes
• Air conditioning
• Dual exhaust
• Twin-traction-beam independent suspension
• Factory 15-inch sport wheels
• Upgraded Ford AM/FM/cassette stereo
• Original delivery paperwork
• Purchased new from Harry Holder Motor Co.,
Owensboro, KY
ACC Analysis This truck, Lot 418, sold for
$15,950, including buyer’s pre-
mium, at Leake Auctions’ sale in Oklahoma City, OK,
on February 25, 2017. It was offered without reserve.
When Ford downsized the F-series for 1980, I recall
hard-core die-hard Blue Oval fans, and truck users
as a whole, bemoaning this as the end of the world as
they knew it. Cars got downsized, not trucks. How do
you downsize a working vehicle? Surely Ford would
68 AmericanCarCollector.com
68 AmericanCarCollector.com
lose the title of the best-selling truck in the USA — a
title it wrestled from Chevy in 1978.
It didn’t work out that way. What Ford did was
build the first full-size pickup to factor lighter weight
along with aerodynamics, rather than breaking out
the cleavers and trimming an existing platform. While
still a full-sized truck, it was slimmed down with less
bulk, to include thinner-gauge body steel and glass.
This produced a taut, neatly styled truck that as time
progressed has aged well, yet has still held up for real
work.
Leaner and meaner
The first styling changes were introduced for 1982,
with a new grille incorporating the corporate Blue
Oval logo in the center — now used on all vehicles in
all global markets, their best-selling one in the U.S. no
longer excluded. There was also some semblance of
performance, with a high-output version of the 351-ci
V8 introduced in 1984 and fuel injection as an option
— initially on the evergreen 302 V8 — in 1985. It
proved to be the start of a short trip to the future, since
after 1986, every F-series engine was fuel injected.
The F-series was lightly restyled in 1987, most notably
with integral headlights and rounded wheelwell
Page 67
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Detailing
Years produced: 1980–86
Number produced: 348,565
(1985 F-150s)
Original list price: $7,799
Current ACC Median
Valuation: $11,198
openings. Most pundits felt that it didn’t flatter the
design, and even despite a cleaner refresh in 1992, the
earlier 1980s model years are generally considered to
be the best-styled of the group — never losing a beat
in the sales race, and not only remaining as the bestselling
truck, but the best-selling vehicle in the USA.
With the first step up from the basic Custom pack-
age, our featured XL was fairly well equipped when it
rolled out of the Twin Cities Assembly Plant. Options
on it include the 190-hp fuel-injected 302 V8, 3-speed
automatic transmission (since Automatic Overdrive
wasn’t available on 4x4s yet), power steering, power
front-disc brakes, full gauge package, and AM/FM/
cassette stereo. This, in 1985, constituted a wellequipped
pickup.
Personal experience
When I saw this truck at this auction, it didn’t really
bowl me over. Even with the low-miles virgin cargo
box, it did show some light interior sun fade. Then
again, I’m not a fan of Raven Black, and without a
contrasting color or graphics — just a red pinstripe
— it really didn’t jump out and scream, “Look at me.”
No, this came off like just another once common-asdirt
1980s F-150 that’ll do north of $10k, so I passed
it by.
However, I also have a rather up-close-and-
personal knowledge of the collector values of these
trucks.
Not only did I use this generation of F-series
regularly when I was in the Air Force, but my father
bought a Wimbledon White and Midnight Blue
Metallic 1984 F-150 XL Explorer package LWB pickup
brand new. He kept it until he died in 2014. Two years
after he bought it, he was assigned a company van. As
such, his F-150 was only used as a daily driver — at
seven miles a day — for two years.
When my family conducted his estate auction, that
pickup attracted the greatest interest compared to his
other cars and vintage tractors. While it had 91k miles
on it, he maintained his truck fastidiously and literally
kept every single piece of paper associated with
it — the invoice, window sticker, all service records,
and even every receipt for every tank of gas its 302 V8
burned though.
However, almost to a person, prospective buyers
made the exact same statement after examining the
truck: “Too bad it doesn’t have four-wheel drive.”
The only person who didn’t say that proved to be the
high bidder, becoming the second owner at $4,600.
Without the excuse of saying “too bad it doesn’t
have four-wheel drive,” this sale at Leake shows what
multiple parties are willing to pay up for what used
to be just a nice used truck not all that many years
ago. Add in the low miles, and lots of folks who do like
Raven Black, and the final price here not only makes
sense in 2017, but in the future could be the type of
truck driving people to say, “Dang, why didn’t I step
up and buy it when it was only $16k?”
Practical classic
The same reasons my dad had for keeping his F-150
for three decades play into part of what makes these
trucks increasingly popular today. These trucks are
simple, comfortable and reliable. They have one foot
in vintage style and the other in 21st century functionality.
At over 30 years old, these trucks qualify for collec-
tor/vintage/historic licensing — and insurance — in
most states. They lack Nanny State airbags and ABS
(I’ll take no ABS over the half-baked 1987–96 rearwheel-only
system), but on the other hand they are one
of the last trucks that have an “analog” feel to them,
and can be readily used in modern traffic.
Additionally, these things are of an age where buy-
ers have sentimental reasons to want them. A parent,
relative or friend had one; or maybe they even had one
years ago and now miss it (or to be more honest, miss
that time). If you’ve been watching the market, you’ll
note these are the same reasons folks started buying —
and the values started exploding for — 1967–72 Chevy
pickups over a decade ago. The two trucks even share
similar styling traits.
While we at ACC have seen an upwardly building
market on all of the Big Three pickups of the 1980s,
it’s especially so on the Fords. With that in mind, this
truck may seem fully priced today, yet in a few years
you may be bemoaning the fact that you didn’t get in
while it was this cheap. A
(Introductory description courtesy of Leake
Auction Co.)
May–June 2017
69CC
69
1985 Ford F-150 XLT
Lot 168, VIN:
1FTDF15N8FNA45063
Condition: 4+
Sold at $4,070
ACC# 6810456
Club: American Truck
Historical Society
Engine # location: Boss
on top rear of the engine
block, at the bellhousing
Tune-up/major service: $200
Distributor cap: $10
VIN location: Tag on driver’s
side base of the windshield,
decal on the driver’s
door jamb
Website: www.aths.org
Additional: www.f150forums.
com
Alternatives: 1981–86
Chevrolet K-10, 1980–93
Dodge W-100 Power
Wagon, 1980–86 Ford
Bronco
ACC Investment Grade: B
Comps
Leake Auctions, Dallas, TX,
11/17/2016
1985 Ford F-150 XLT Lariat
Lot ST0140, VIN:
1FTCF15H1FNA24643
Condition: 1Sold
at $25,440
GAA, Greensboro, NC,
7/27/2016
ACC# 6803920
1985 Ford F-150
Lot F238, VIN:
2FTDF15N7FCB50618
Condition: 2Sold
at $17,280
ACC# 265299
Mecum Auctions, Indianapolis,
IN, 5/14/2015
Page 68
MarKeT OVERVIEW
March Mellowness
After a big rise, Ford GT prices stall in the market
MarKeT MOMENT
When the 2017 Ford GT was
announced, there was some side
chatter about potential turbulence
in old, run-of-the-mill GT prices
with its space-age younger
brother taking up all the space
in Ford’s show booths. Now that
they have been rolling into owners’
driveways for a few months,
their impact on the previous
model is nonexistent — at least
so far.
Three auctions in this issue
Still new with only 47 miles logged on the odometer — 2006 Ford GT heritage edition coupe, sold
for $502,900 at Gaa’s 2017 Spring auction — bucking the recent price trend
by Garrett Long
sale was a sales rate of 76% — just 1% off of 2014’s record.
Mecum hit their numbers, offering no surprises with a strong total of $7.4m — down a million or two
L
from years prior. This was Mecum’s only Kansas City auction that (just barely) offered fewer than 500 cars,
which probably had something to do with their total, as the average car price achieved here was their secondhighest
yet.
McCormick’s seemed to have the same experience as Mecum — a drop in sales total and number of lots,
but saw their second-best average car price. McCormick’s ended the weekend with a 66% sales rate, a step up
from last year but off the 70% range high of 2013–15.A
BEST BUYS
1987 Buick Grand national
coupe, $24,610—Gaa, nC, p. 78
70 AmericanCarCollector.com
1970 Plymouth hemi ‘Cuda 2-dr
hard top, $154,000—Mecum
auctions, MO, p. 106
1953 Mercury Monterey convertible,
$24,150—McCormick’s, Ca,
p. 112
2009 Dodge Challenger Drag
Pack racer, $33,170—Gaa, nC,
p. 85
1960 Chevrolet Impala convertible,
$60,500—Mecum auctions,
MO, p. 100
eake dipped a bit from last year in almost all categories. But they still experienced the second-best
auction they have had in Oklahoma by a large margin. They were down $2m from 2016 in total sales
to $10.4m and offered 549 cars with a 74% sales rate.
GAA had a record auction in more ways than numbers, as analyst Mark Moskowitz will explain.
They sold $3.5m more than last year, and the only category that wasn’t a new record for their spring
sold Ford GTs for very respectable
prices. In the ACC Premium
Auction Database, the average
Ford GT price has hovered
around $300k–$350k since 2014
and doesn’t appear to be going
anywhere with the results we’re
seeing — hardly the tornado
some were expecting. The lowmileage
Heritage Edition even
went for a price that would have
netted the buyer a 2017 GT — if
they could get on the waiting list.
But that exclusive list might
be the reason for the stability in
the first-gen GT market: It will
take some time for the market to
become saturated enough for the
siblings to start showing up side
by side on auction day.
— Garrett Long
Page 70
MarKeT OVERVIEW
TOP 10
SALES THIS ISSUE
1 1929 Stutz Model
$1,705,000—RM
Sotheby’s, FL, p. 116
M coupe,
2 1938 Graham 97
$770,000—RM Sotheby’s,
FL, p. 116
cabriolet,
3 1933 Packard
convertible, $522,500—
RM Sotheby’s, FL, p. 118
Twelve Victoria
4 2006 Ford GT
$395,900—GAA, NC,
p. 82
fastback,
coupe, $502,900—GAA,
NC, p. 82
Heritage Edition
5 1965 Shelby GT350
2001–02 Dodge Viper
Viper prices have been stable in the $45k–$55k range for years. That’s about to change. Because the
Viper offers an experience so different from modern performance cars, demand for them is bound to go up.
If you’re looking for a Viper, a late second-gen is the snake to go with. The 2001–02 models fixed potential
frame cracking, beefed up the differential and came with ABS. They are also quite a bit cheaper than the
newer generations, and are still an attractive car that doesn’t look as cartoonish as the first iteration. So
whether you want a fresh example to lay dormant until the market smartens up or a fun weekend driver at
the bottom of its depreciation curve, the Viper will play both roles.
— Garrett Long
6 2006 Ford GT
Leake, OK, p. 94
7 2005 Ford GT
8 2005 Ford GT
GAA, NC, p. 82
coupe, $341,000—
Mecum Auctions, MO,
p. 106
coupe, $330,000—
coupe, $321,000—
auctions and Totals in This Issue
$70.8m
9 1968 Pontiac Trans
top, $225,000—Bonhams,
FL, p. 117
Am racer 2-dr hard
10 1967 Chevrolet
ible, $160,500—GAA,
NC, p. 80
Corvette convert72
AmericanCarCollector.com
$10m
$20m
$30m
$40m
$50m
$60m
$70m
$80m
$0
February 24–26, 2017 February 24–26, 2017
Oklahoma City, OK
Leake
McCormick’s
Palm Springs, CA
Greensboro, NC
March 2–4, 2017
GAA
Amelia Island, FL
March 9, 2017
Bonhams
Gooding & Co.
Amelia Island, FL
March 10, 2017
RM Sotheby’s
Amelia Island, FL
March 10–11, 2017
Amelia Island, FL
March 11, 2017
Motostalgia
Kansas City, MO
March 24–25, 2017
Mecum
Buy It now
What to purchase in today’s market — and why
$30.6m
$10.4m
$5.8m
$13.7m
$10.5m
$4.6m
$7.4m
Page 72
GAA // Greensboro, NC
GAA — Greensboro
GAA is on the upswing with record attendance and sales
GAA
Greensboro, NC
March 2–4, 2017
Auctioneer:
Tyson Question
automotive lots sold/
offered: 423/553
Sales rate: 76%
Sales total:
$13,651,439
high sale: 2006
Ford GT Heritage
Edition coupe, sold at
$502,900
Buyer’s premium:
7%, minimum $700,
included in sold prices
registrants were up 20% after Gaa brought some of their best cars yet
Report and photos by Mark Moskowitz
and Jeff Trepel
Intro by Mark Moskowitz
Market opinions in italics
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
G
74 AmericanCarCollector.com
AA typically offers about 500 vehicles
throughout its three-sale year. That
consistency is a tribute to GAA’s desire
to keep an orderly and reliable format.
This March, however, everything else
was different at the company’s best auction of the
year. Crowds were bigger. A massive parking facility
overflowed. Registrants were up 20% over previous
sales, and among them were bidders from 30 states, as
well as Austria, England, Sweden, Germany and the
Netherlands.
Sell-through was 76% for a record total of more
than $13m, nearly doubling the totals of their most
recent October auction, when only one car sold for
greater than $100,000. A dozen cars eclipsed that mark
during this auction’s Saturday session.
The secret? Collections. A few unidentified dealers
brought ample numbers from their stock, but four
named — mostly private — collections were the big
attraction. The O’Neal Collection of highly modified
cars of the ’60s and ’70s was offered on Friday.
The remainder featured restored or well-preserved
American iron from the past 50 years.
The highlight was the Carlton Tyson Collection of
23 cars presented with a separate and detailed glossy
catalog and offered with no reserve — a decision
disclosed after the catalog was published.
More than one-fourth of the offerings at GAA were
Mustangs, Camaros and Corvettes. Some notable
examples were from the Tyson Collection, featuring
consecutive-year Z/28 Camaros from 1967 to 1973.
The collection’s four vintage Corvettes, including a
1963 black Split-Window and a 1967 427/435 convertible,
were among the top 15 auction sales.
Another Tyson car was the auction’s top sale, a
“wrapper” Heritage Edition Ford GT. When bidding
stalled around $400,000, auctioneers sweetened the
pot. A position in the Supercar Class at the Pinehurst
Concours was thrown in, resulting in the car selling at
$502,900.
More than one out of eight offerings were trucks
— restored, preserved, or commonly converted to a
resto-mod. Fewer than 50 cars came from the first half
of the past century.
As it approaches the five-year mark, GAA Classic
Car Auctions seems to be firing on all cylinders. An
increase in buyer and seller commission to 7% has not
hindered participation. Bidders view cars in a well-lit,
attractive setting, and those early enough to arrive
Thursday are treated to a barbecue. Seating is spacious
and there’s a new luxury balcony for high rollers. The
website adds to the experience as well, as it is easy to
navigate.
GAA’s management has a declared interest in bet-
ter serving the foreign and sports car market; others
should take notice too. A
Page 74
GAA // Greensboro, NC
GM
#ST0118-1967 CHEVROLET CAMARO
Z28 coupe. VIN: 124377N195222. Ermine
White w/ black stripes/white vinyl. Odo: 100
miles. 302-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Headline car
and part of Tyson Collection. Excellent
white paint. Panels straight and gaps appropriate.
Deterioration of finish on the metal
grille surround. Stainless around lights
showing some age. Rare white interior excellent.
Engine compartment restored and
detailed with appropriate paint marks. Said
to be correct-dated engine block with original
transmission and rear end. Power frontdisc
brakes. Comes with reams of records
and MacNeish certification. Cond: 2+.
and “aahs.” No restoration needed; a few
easy upgrades such as repairing the
cracked steering wheel and buying real tires
would bring this car up to a 2. A well-bought
above-average car.
#ST0100-1968 CHEVROLET CAMARO SS
coupe. VIN: 124378N400296. Corvette
Bronze/black vinyl. Odo: 22,168 miles. 396ci
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Another no-reserve car
from the Tyson Collection. Few options on
this car, other than power disc brakes, AM
radio and the deluxe exterior trim package.
Original Corvette Bronze car, a mid-year
color for Camaro. Beautiful, smooth paint on
better-than-new panel fit. Some chrome
pieces a little cloudy, others very good. Basic-black
interior doesn’t have a tach, but in
excellent condition. Minor cracks in steering
wheel. Original Chevrolet mag wheel covers.
Very tidy under hood with modern battery.
Nothing to complain about here.
Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $107,000. 1967 Camaro Z28s
are an ACC Grade-A collectible. 602 were
made. Values may have peaked in the mid
2000s. All that held this back was a not-toouncommon
replacement block. Buyer got a
great car and seller a price that was market
or better. A fair exchange.
#FR0035-1967 BUICK GS 400 2-dr hard
top. VIN: 446177H236302. Ivory/Parchment
vinyl. Odo: 49,842 miles. 400-ci V8, 4-bbl,
auto. Nice driver-quality muscle car. The
consignor stated he drove it 300 miles to
the auction with no problems. Equipped with
Super Turbine 400 automatic, factory air,
AM/FM radio and power steering, brakes
and seat. Older restoration with no history
given. Decent older repaint with slight orange
peel or discoloration here and there.
Chrome mostly good. Panel fit good, but
passenger’s door difficult to open. Inside,
the claimed-original interior fabrics and
hardware are mostly very nice. Steering
wheel cracked at spokes. “Eldorado Legend”
lettered tires spoil the effect; it’s a
proud Buick and doesn’t need tires named
after both a Cadillac and an Acura. Clean
engine compartment. Cond: 3+.
quality of the restoration. The car is fast,
rare and near perfect. Lesser cars have
gone for more. Fairly bought then and now.
#ST0114-1973 CHEVROLET CAMARO
Z/28 coupe. VIN: 1Q87T3N162657. Burgundy
metallic/black vinyl. Odo: 21,385
miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Well-optioned
car with factory air (first year on the Z/28),
power steering and brakes, AM/FM with
8-track and much more. Attractive Dark Red
Metallic paint shows some micro-scratching,
mild orange peel and light staining. Possibly
could be improved with a major detailing.
Large chips at left rear corner and on spoiler
need work. Some pitting on rear-bumper
chrome. Window trim rather dull. Very dark
interior in excellent condition overall, but
shows aging to the “plastic chrome.” Clean
used-car engine compartment. Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $48,150. Along with Lot ST0099
(ACC# 6827694), the 1968 Corvette, part of
the Tyson Collection’s reenactment of the
1968 “Hugging Cousins” ad (in which the
Camaro was described as a “sporty car”).
Selling price on the money for a nice SS.
Both seller and buyer did well.
#ST0115-1970 BUICK GS Stage 1 2-dr
hard top. VIN: 446370H192267. Green/
white vinyl/white vinyl. Odo: 987 miles. 455ci
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Rare GS Stage I and one
of 664 with a 4-speed. The product of a twoyear
mechanical restoration in the previous
decade. It scored 399 of 400 points at the
2009 GS Nationals. Paint, panels and engine
compartment all exceptional. The only
interior flaw seen was separation of the leftrear
interior panel from body. Cond: 1-.
SOLD AT $29,960. Another Tyson Collection
low-mileage, no-reserve Camaro. By
1973 the Z/28 was still a good performer,
but had evolved from the intense enthusiast
car of the Gen 1 and early Gen 2 Z/28s into
a milder, heavier, more luxurious muscle
car. In fact, for 1973, Chevrolet dropped the
Camaro SS and the now-softer Z/28 took its
place. This was a decent example, but not
as sharp as most of the other Camaros in
the Tyson Collection. Its deficiencies are
easily and inexpensively resolvable—if the
new owner can avoid a new paint job. I was
surprised at the strong price garnered for
this car. Rather well sold.
#FR0028-1975 PONTIAC GRAND VILLE
convertible. VIN: 2R67W5P196499. White/
white vinyl/ivory leather. Odo: 21,160 miles.
455-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Remarkable timewarp
Detroit behemoth. Miles “believed to
be original.” Based on condition, it could
even have been less. Loaded with options,
including adjustable pedals, AM/FM with
cassette, split-bench seat and full gauges
including laughable “economy” vacuum
gauge. Close to show quality inside and out.
Cheap sill plates dented as usual, but otherwise
difficult to find many flaws. New radials.
Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $23,005. Desirable GM muscle
car with excellent specification. Awesome
“Star Wars” air cleaner sure to draw “oohs”
76 AmericanCarCollector.com
SOLD AT $83,460. A factory hot rod with
bigger valves, higher-lift cam, increased
compression and a re-jetted Quadrajet carburetor.
The owner told me it was an impulse
buy for $74,200 at a 2011 Mecum
auction; he was impressed with the obvious
Page 76
GAA // Greensboro, NC
MARKETMOMENT
1969 Chevrolet Nova Pro
Touring 2-Door Sedan
SOLD at $53,250
GAA, Greensboro, NC, March 4, 2017, Lot ST0150
VIN: 114279W427495
SOLD AT $22,470. I thought this glamorous
summertime cruiser was a real gem. Only
200 pathetic horsepower for the size of the
engine, but that’s not the point. Would be a
hit at Cars & Coffee and very competitive in
AACA judging. Amazingly well preserved. A
lot of car for the money, as they say, if you
have a big enough garage. One of my favorite
“under the radar” cars at the auction,
and quite well bought.
#ST0106-1978 PONTIAC TRANS AM
coupe. VIN: 2W8728N170933. Black/red
velour. Odo: 24,432 miles. 400-ci V8, 4-bbl,
4-sp. Canadian car from the Tyson Collection
with no a/c. Amazing black paint with
rare polishing marks. Excellent graphics.
Gaskets around driver’s window slightly
worn. Red fabric on sides of buckets has
become discolored and hardened. Interior
carpet and seat panels excellent. All cranks,
levers, switches and knobs work well. Slight
loss of chrome on plastic headlight knob is
about the only interior trim abnormality that I
see. Wheels are perfect. Engine compartment,
clean and neat. Power steering.
Power front-disc brakes. Documentation
includes factory build sheet. Cond: 2+.
From the beltline up, this Nova looks basically stock: SS tail panel
and grille, two-inch cowl hood, all the proper stainless trim, etc. But with its huge staggered
wheels, track-attack stance, massive brakes, oil cooler behind the grille, and totally custom
interior, this’ll never be mistaken for anything other than what it is: a cornering machine in
Nova’s clothes.
Pro Touring got its start in the 1990s, and I think it was almost a knee-jerk reaction to the
tubbed and blown Pro Street trend that came prior. Pro Street cars were all about straight-line
dominance, or at least the look of it, while Pro Touring is about a complete, balanced package
— with special emphasis given to cornering abilities.
Pro Touring items such as custom control arms, springs, huge brakes, mini-tubs with wide
rubber, and huge sway bars all work
together to give flat-out road-holding
abilities to this Nova. Muscle-car
looks, supercar handling. It also has
air conditioning, a 6-speed manual
and a late-model LS2 engine with an
aftermarket cam and tune. In total, it’s
a usable muscle car that should run
with modern Corvettes, Porsches and
even some exotics.
But here’s the rub, and it’s common
to all custom cars: Once you change a
car from stock, value becomes a harder
thing to nail down. This one brought
$53k, which is expensive for a secondgen
Nova, but that bid is still likely
below what this car cost to build.
Good deal or not? That comes
down to whether you consider the Pro
Touring movement a fad. But to me,
showing a pair of Nova taillights to a
Carrera Turbo in the twisties is worth
every penny paid here. That’ll never
get old. A
78 AmericanCarCollector.com
AmericanCarCollector.com
SOLD AT $32,635. Incredibly well-cared-for
example of an unmistakable Pontiac pony
car, which seems to attract more attention
than its contemporary GM, Ford and Chrysler
brethren. Prices have shown a significant
upward trend over the past four years, and
this one was well bought.
447196. Black/black & gray fabric. Odo:
29,319 miles. 231-ci turbocharged V6, auto.
Part of Tyson Collection. Bought here two
years ago for $30k (ACC# 6773193). Attractive
black paint with some polishing marks
and a single scratch in hood. Panels
straight. Gaps excellent. Interior fabric and
carpets excellent. Engine compartment
mostly clean, although it could use some
detailing. Wheels and glass without flaw.
#ST0101-1987 BUICK GRAND NATIONAL
coupe. VIN: 1G4GJ1172HP
— Jim Pickering
BEST
BUY
Scott Smith, courtesy of GAA
Page 78
GAA // Greensboro, NC
Power steering and brakes. Digital dash,
Concert Sound II. Cond: 2. SOLD AT
$24,610. Not the rare and highly collectible
GNX, but still an attractive and extremely
quick car for its era. This Grand National
has traveled 550 miles since its previous
purchase here for $5,300 more. The car
was offered with no reserve, and an astute
buyer scooped up a bargain.
CORVETTE
#ST0098-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. VIN: 30837S114689. Black/red vinyl.
Odo: 4 miles. 327-ci 340-hp V8, 4-bbl,
4-sp. Shown with 2009 NCRS Top Flight
Blue Ribbon. History of frame-off restoration.
Paint nearly flawless. Rare polishing
marks. Panel fit and gaps are excellent.
Chrome excellent with rare small pits. Excellent
window and windshield trim. Door
function excellent. Weatherstripping loose
and glue sloppy inside of door front on both
sides. Upholstery accurate enough to be
New Old Stock. Some scratching and wear
on console cover. Glass is excellent. Engine
compartment immaculate, with appropriate
orange overspray and preserved decals.
Some oil on the ground beneath this car.
Cond: 2+.
white vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 60,141 miles.
327-ci 300-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Part of Davis
Collection and said to have been restored in
2013, at a cost of $117,000. Excellent paint,
with a few inclusions on the frontpiece in the
clearcoat. Excess fiberglass beneath the
right-front hood surround suggests previous
repair. Panels and doors are straight with
excellent fit. Rare scratches and quite minimal
pitting of windshield trim. Bumper
chrome shows minimal flaw. Spotless engine
compartment and interior upholstery.
Door panels a bit stiff. Gauges and dashboard
are excellent. Slight wear of console
trim. Replacement wheels appear to have
proper satin finish. Cond: 2+.
sheet and plenty of other documentation,
including detailed restoration records.
Cond: 1.
SOLD AT $160,500. The owner stated that
this was a 36,000-mile car when the restoration
commenced. Multi-optioned big-block
Corvettes with three deuces and a 4-speed
in concours condition command a premium
in the marketplace. Missing from this car
was peer review; it had not been subjected
to an official NCRS award show. The bid
was light but successful in a no-reserve
auction.
SOLD AT $147,125. An ACC Grade A collectible
in the midst of rising trend line. The
23 Tyson cars in this auction left little to
question about authenticity and quality, and
this synergy seemed to support all their
Chevrolet offerings. This was an excellent
car and a fairly bought, although a nod goes
to the seller.
#ST0095-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. VIN: 194676S116922. Blue/
SOLD AT $82,390. A well-executed restoration
which used a number of replacement
parts and sold for the right price. Its trim
plate looked odd, as if it had been hit from
behind or placed over a protruding object.
Did the lettering look right? The window
sticker displayed only the first seven characters
of the VIN, and the auction house
vehicle highlights read “Window Sticker Not
Provided by Auction,” which I have never
seen before. Read on another valuation
site, “If you are spending more than you can
afford to lose on one of these vehicles, it is
prudent to consult a professional.”
S115183. Green/ white vinyl/green vinyl.
427-ci 435-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Presented
as having matching numbers and an original
tank sticker with a copy on display and
factory sidepipes. This was a show-quality
car with great paint, interior and engine
compartment, with few deviations from a
new car. Presented with the original order
10
#ST0119-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. VIN: 194677-
#ST0099-1968 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. VIN: 194678S406169. Corvette
Bronze/bronze hard top & tan soft
top/Tobacco leather. Odo: 31,505 miles.
427-ci 435-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. L89 427
with factory aluminum heads (one of 624).
Close-ratio gearbox. Well optioned with
power brakes, power windows, detachable
hard top, telescopic steering wheel, tinted
glass and more. NCRS Top Flight certification
in 2011. Outstanding paint quality, now
with minor micro-scratching. Excellent
chrome, except for windshield surround.
Window and door gaskets show some wear,
but interior nearly flawless—unusual for a
C3 Corvette. Extremely clean underhood.
Firestone Super Sport Wide Ovals with very
yellowed whitewalls. Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $96,300. Another good-looking
Tyson Collection car selling at no reserve.
Purchased by Carlton Tyson along with a
similarly colored 1968 Camaro SS (Lot
ST0100, ACC# 6827688) to re-create the
Chevrolet “Hugging Cousins” magazine ad
of 1968. Needs a few easy upgrades, but
overall leagues ahead of your typical 1968
Corvette. Price was substantial, but not out
of line for the condition and engine configuration.
(See profile, p. 54.)
FOMOCO
80 AmericanCarCollector.com
#ST0131-1936 FORD MODEL 68 woodie
wagon. VIN: 182465168. Tan/black canvas/
TOP 10
Page 79
brown leather. Odo: 16,459 miles. 221-ci
V8, 1-bbl, 3-sp. Decent panel fit, except
front doors seem to hang a bit lower than
they should. Smooth tan paint. Wood generally
very good, but not perfect inside and
out. Few cracks and little deterioration, but
one small area of repair needed in right rear
door. Could use refinishing in a few places,
but overall presents well. Black-canvas roof
material looks very nice from the side and
front, can’t see the top part. Roll-up windows
in front doors, but other windows are
canvas panels like side curtains. Attractive
inside, but front seat seems lumpy and uncomfortable—perhaps
needs restuffing.
Dash looks good. Very tidy underhood, with
some components repainted. Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $42,800. Reportedly owned by
one family until 2014. No restoration history
shown. Not a show winner, but very attractive
and usable as-is. The values of woodies
of all types have been declining, but
likely will level off. This was a good-looking
car at a modest price and represents a
good value for the buyer.
#FR0064-1937 FORD MODEL 78 coupe.
VIN: 183721508. Black/brown fabric. Odo:
12,299 miles. One-owner car for the past 51
years. Attractive and mostly smoothly applied
black paint. Some pitting over rightrear
fender and hood. Scratched right-front
fender. Panels are straight and fit is good.
Painted pinstripe. Bumper chrome excellent.
Other trim less bright, with extensive
polishing marks but no dents or rust. Periodaccessory
fog lights. Fabric upholstery, carpets
and headliner clean and neat and
appear of appropriate vintage. Factory
heater and rare factory radio. Steering
wheel in excellent shape. 1940 Ford 24stud
engine. Twelve-volt system with alternator
that appears to be a stock generator.
1946 Ford hydraulic brakes. Chromed dual
exhaust. Cond: 3+.
May–June 2017 81
Page 80
GAA // Greensboro, NC
NOT SOLD AT $29,000. Late ’30s and
early ’40s Ford coupes were once a hot
item; now it takes an excellent example to
gain buyers’ attention. This period restomod
was just that, exemplifying great care
expended throughout the past half century
and worth more than the price bid.
#ST0080.1-1965 SHELBY GT350
fastback. VIN: SFN5S477. Wimbledon
White w/ blue stripes/black vinyl. Odo:
79,074 miles. 289-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Documented
two-owner car. I came back to this
car a couple of times because the documentation
stated it was restored in the late
1980s, which I found almost impossible to
believe because it was almost perfect. The
paint, chrome, wheels, interior and everything
else were near flawless. I kept thinking
that I must have overlooked some statement
about a second restoration. I never
could find that, but I feel sure it must have
had a recent refresh. I’m no Shelby American
judge, but the only flaws I could find
were a couple of very minor spots of surface
corrosion under the hood and rather agedlooking
hood hinges compared to the surrounding
parts. Cond: 1-.
5
Commando and perhaps the more-rugged
Toyota FJ40. This was one of a handful of
Broncos at the sale. Of the two reviewed
here (see also Lot FR0211, ACC# 6827679),
this one was in better (restored) condition,
but the other one had a V8 and an interesting
backstory. The 170-cid I6 in this vehicle is no
barn burner; I saw a 0–60 figure of 21 seconds!
Both Broncos brought very strong
prices. Well sold.
#FR0211-1969 FORD BRONCO utility.
VIN: U15GLE29149. Empire Yellow/white
fiberglass/Parchment vinyl. Odo: 39,935
miles. 302-ci V8, 2-bbl, 3-sp. This 302
Bronco was in lesser condition compared to
Lot FR0069 (ACC# 6827673), but it had a
V8 and a better story. It also was a higher
trim level, carrying the Sport Bronco package.
A two-owner car with one repaint in
(approximately) original color. Grungy in
many ways, but amazingly well preserved
for a working vehicle. Original interior is
quite patinated but okay; driver’s seat is
torn. Floor covering is poor and warrants
replacement. Filthy underhood with much
surface rust, but certainly original. Cond: 3.
SOLD AT $395,900. 1965 GT350s are
much more rare than 1966s, of which almost
four times as many were built. The
sales price here is consistent with other recent
examples in the ACC Premium Auction
Database and other sources. If anything, it
was a bit of a bargain. GT350 prices may
have leveled off in the past six months or
so, but given the rarity of the 1965, it should
retain its value or appreciate over time. Well
bought.
#FR0069-1969 FORD BRONCO utility.
VIN: U15FLD98946. Red/white fiberglass/
ivory vinyl. Odo: 83,813 miles. 170-ci I6,
2-bbl, 3-sp. Restored first-generation
Bronco. A recent, clean restoration for a
simple vehicle. Red repaint very smooth,
but the white fiberglass top has much orange
peel. Both outside door handles very
stiff, making it hard to operate doors; easier
to reach in and use inside handles. Parchment
seats lightly soiled, remainder of interior
quite impressive. Very clean engine
compartment. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $32,635.
The first-generation Broncos have an appealing
simplicity to them in this age of hyper-complex
SUVs and crossovers.
Competed well with the IH Scout, Jeepster
82 AmericanCarCollector.com
registered and always stored in a climatecontrolled
facility. Paint, interior and engine
compartment without flaw. Very close inspection
of wheels, front spoiler, grille and
surrounding paint showed no evidence of
517 miles traveled. All four options including
McIntosh Stereo, lightweight forged-aluminum
wheels, painted brake calipers and
racing stripes. Cond: 1.
SOLD AT $321,000. This car was outshined
by a minimal-mileage Heritage Edition Ford
GT (Lot ST0120, ACC# 6827636) which
received a $180k higher bid. Though this
seemed like a bargain, the sale was marketcorrect,
which leaves one to ponder the
worth of orange highlights and 470 fewer
miles traveled.
Y400202. Heritage Blue & orange/black
leather. Odo: 47 miles. 5.4-L supercharged
V8, 6-sp. Heritage Edition Ford GT bought
from Dale Jarrett Ford, protected, placed in
climatized storage and now offered by the
original owner with complete documentation.
Equipped with all four options including
a McIntosh sound system, racing stripes,
painted brake calipers and forged alloy
wheels. Wrapper car with exterior, interior
and engine compartment as good as new.
Cond: 1.
4
#ST0120-2006 FORD GT Heritage
Edition coupe. VIN: 1FAFP90S06-
SOLD AT $33,170. The original owner of
this Bronco was the mayor of the city of
Avalon on Catalina Island, CA. He bought it
at Beverly Hills Ford on Wilshire Boulevard,
and the car still sports that license plate
frame. The 302 V8 version was a definate
performance upgrade over the 170-ci
straight six, with nearly double the horsepower.
While I was inspecting this Bronco, a
woman walked up and mentioned she had
owned one just like it and said she thought
it would bring “over $30,000.” Keith Martin
should hire her! Another example of very
strong prices for first-generation Broncos.
#ST0122-2005 FORD GT coupe.
VIN: 1FAFP90S95Y401900. Red/
black leather. Odo: 517 miles. 5.4-L supercharged
V8, 6-sp. Said to have never been
8
SOLD AT $502,900. Poster car for the collection,
the catalog and the show. Offered at
no reserve and with the extra inducement of
a guaranteed spot in the Supercar Class at
the upcoming Pinehurst Concours. 4,000
Ford GTs were made, and prices for these
seemed to have been drifting down as of
late. While this GT was the rare Heritage
Edition (343 made) and had only showroom
mileage, the bid seemed exuberant. Seller
should be happy.
#FR0097-2007 SHELBY GT-H convertible.
VIN: 1ZVHT85H675352033. Black w/
gold stripes/black fabric/black vinyl. Odo:
34,644 miles. 4.6-L supercharged V8, auto.
Later Hertz rent-a-racer. Paint showing a bit
TOP 10
TOP 10
TOP 10
Page 82
GAA // Greensboro, NC
of age, with scratches and dings on front
fascia. Sides panels are straight, but hood
fit is off. Fabric top in excellent condition.
Driver’s seat shows wear, with leather loss
on side bolsters. Remainder of interior has
held up well. Engine compartment is clean.
Three of four wheels show curb rash. Tires
appear relatively fresh. Cond: 3-.
SOLD AT $29,425. These GT-H Shelbys
seem to be losing their luster in the presence
of countless other modified Mustangs.
Eight months and 85 miles ago the car
seemed a bit fresher, when a $29,000 bid at
GAA’s Greensboro auction in July last year
was rejected (ACC# 6803953). This time
the car was exposed to more buyers and
the seller accepted their judgement.
MOPAR
#ST0035-1935 DODGE DU coupe. VIN:
DU155954. Aqua metallic/tan mohair. Odo:
38,489 miles. Delightful Dodge Brothers
coupe owned by one Los Angeles family
until 1971. 2001 frame-off restoration in
North Carolina. Super-smooth paint nearly
flawless; some chrome slightly mottled or
tarnished, but no harm. Driver’s door hard
to shut. Slight damage to front corner of
hood, probably from opening or closing it
improperly. Lovely interior close to perfect,
which includes such luxuries as a rear-window
sunshade. Neat as a pin under hood,
with just enough patina to show it’s been
driven. Cond: 2+. NOT SOLD AT $26,000.
You’ve seen scores of 1935 Fords; when
was the last time you saw a 1935 Dodge?
Probably never, yet Dodge was fourth in the
U.S. sales race in 1935, behind only Ford,
Chevrolet and Plymouth. Thankfully, this
handsome coupe managed to escape life
as a street rod and instead became an
AACA multiple award winner around 2005.
Very little deterioration in the years since. A
great example, but I think significant demand
for this sort of car is long past and the
high bid of $26,000 may represent all the
money. Let’s hope I’m wrong and that a
buyer who likes it as much as I did can be
found.
#ST0121-1946 CHRYSLER TOWN &
COUNTRY convertible. VIN: 7400604.
Royal Maroon/burgundy cloth/burgundy
leather & tan cloth. Odo: 89,737 miles. 324-ci
I8, 2-bbl, auto. A woodie on an altogether
higher plane than the 1936 Ford wagon (Lot
ST0131, ACC# 6827693). Beautiful body-off
restoration by recognized experts, prior to
2003. Deep, rich and smooth maroon paint—
not brand new, but still impressive. Glossy
wood near flawless. Outstanding door fit for a
woodie. Unblemished chrome—even the
windshield surround gleams. Beautifully fitted,
high-quality convertible top. Slow and
rather mysterious Fluid Drive transmission
not a plus, but comes with the territory. Platinum
Award winner at the 2016 Boca Raton
Concours. Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $155,150. This car has been a bit
of an auction frequent flier (raising the question:
Why?), sold five times by RM between
2003 and 2013, and once in 2016 at Barrett-Jackson
at Las Vegas (ACC# 6809796).
Woodies have drifted downward over the
past few years, and this car has sold at
roller-coaster prices ranging from $104,500
in 2003 (ACC# 1556979) to a peak of
$187,000 in 2007 (ACC# 1570388). Clearly
some owners have taken a big loss. But the
car itself remains an outstanding example,
receiving above-average results here and
reversing the prior downward trend.
#ST0042-1962 CHRYSLER 300 2-dr hard
top. VIN: 8223138053. White/red cloth and
vinyl. Odo: 71,129 miles. 413-ci V8, 2x4-bbl,
auto. Handsome example of a non-letterseries
300 hard top. Documented oneowner
car from 1962 to 2006. No restoration
history. Decent repaint on straight, wellfitted
panels accompanied by excellent
chrome. Fabulous AstraDome instrument
panel. Interior fabrics and hardware authentic
and well done, with a few flaws including
warped rear package shelf. However, would
be more appealing with optional bucket
seats and console rather than the bench
seat here. Very clean under hood. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $28,890. In 1962, Chrysler replaced
the Windsor with the 300 Sport to
inject some of the glamour of the 300 letterseries
cars into its mid-level series. This
was successful, with about 24,000 300
Sports sold in 1962. I didn’t see documentation
that established the big 413 came with
the car originally, but it seems probable
based on the ownership history. A strong
price for a non-letter-series 300, but this
was a strong example with a very strong
engine. A very appealing car for the buyer’s
money, although possibly little profit opportunity.
84 AmericanCarCollector.com
#FR0140-1968 PLYMOUTH GTX convertible.
VIN: RS27L8G183860. Forest Green/
white canvas/two-tone green vinyl. Odo:
16,655 miles. 440-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Nicely
equipped GTX with power steering, disc
brakes and windows, Sure-Grip differential,
in-dash tach and wood wheel. No a/c, however.
Correct 440 engine not original to this
car. Forest Green paint looks more metallic
than I remember, but well applied and attractive.
Fresh white canvas top with glass
rear window looks like it needs to spend
more time up to reduce the wrinkles. Refinished
interior components much nicer than
Page 83
GAA // Greensboro, NC
usual for this era of Mopar. Equipped with
BFG T/As on correct Magnum 500 wheels,
but the spare is a more appealing Redline
tire. Cond: 2-.
sented as never raced or driven, as this, and
all of the 100 built, came without a differential.
Thus in near-showroom condition. These
cars used little body filler and appear unfinished.
Lightweight parts including Plexi side
windows used and of course it was powered
by a Hemi. Wheels are for support and not
for racing. Cond: 1-.
SOLD AT $55,640. Readers may not realize
how uncommon GTX convertibles were
when new. Only 1,026 1968 GTX convertibles
were built versus almost 18,000 hard
tops. This car sold for a strong price, well
above the ACC Pocket Price Guide median.
Given the rarity and condition of the GTX
convertible, the buyer should have no regrets.
#FR0261-1970 DODGE DART 2-dr hard
top. VIN: LM23H0R313763. Black/white
vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 66,260 miles. 340-ci
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Heavily optioned Dart including
a/c, power steering, Rallye dash
with tach, dual exhaust and more. No restoration
history with car. Unusual black paint
with white bumblebee stripe and vinyl top.
Paint well done, but with various minor
scratches and imperfections. Redline tires
with dog-dish hubcaps give purposeful look.
Panel fit good, except passenger’s door is
out at bottom. Chrome just okay. Interior is
extremely nice, with fabrics, trim and hardware
far beyond the level you typically see
in a Mopar of this vintage. Clutch pedal
looks alarmingly close to floor. Handsomely
restored underhood. Cond: 2-.
SOLD AT $33,170. Prices of these have
languished since release. Bidder paid a
slightly above-average sum, but I believe
lightweight factory racers will be appreciated
in the future. Think lightweight Galaxy,
Thunderbolt or any number of factory-lightened
sports cars. Well bought.
AMERICANA
#FR0205-1970 AMC AMX 2-dr hard top.
VIN: A0M397X108397. Bayshore Blue/blue
vinyl. Odo: 51,515 miles. 390-ci V8, 4-bbl,
4-sp. Well-equipped example with 390 V8
“Go Package” with Ram Air hood, plus
power steering and power disc brakes, tilt,
AM radio with 8-track tape player (original
Santana 8-track tape in glovebox), rim-blow
horn and more. No a/c, however. Goodquality
older repaint in sober dark blue
shows a little age and lacks a little sizzle.
Good chrome except for side window surrounds
and drip rails, often an area where
corners are cut during restoration. The interior
is mostly decent, with a few issues such
as the very loose center armrest/storage bin
and the broken brake-release lever. Nonstock
exhaust. Correct Magnum 500
wheels. Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $35,310. The “H” in the VIN
stands for the 340 4-barrel V8, which was
more than capable of turning the somewhat
dowdy Dart into an actual swinger. This was
certainly not your grandmother’s Dart; between
the 340, the 4-speed, and unusual
colors, this was a genuinely enticing presentation.
Needs a few things to be a solid
no. 2 car, but none appear to be serious.
The price was strong for a Dart, but given
the overall quality of the car, I think the
buyer got a fair deal.
#ST0103-2009 DODGE CHALLENGER
Drag Pack racer. VIN: 83. White/gray
cloth vinyl. 6.1-L fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. Pre-
SOLD AT $36,380. A handsome AMX in
perhaps overly dignified colors. Far from
perfect, but some minor improvements
could result in much higher marks. The
hammer price was exactly at the price guide
median; the car seemed “above median” to
me, so well purchased. A nice counterpoint
to its ubiquitous contemporaries, the Camaro
and Mustang.A
May–June 2017 85
BEST
BUY
Page 84
LEAKE // Oklahoma City, OK
Leake — Oklahoma City
Leaded Gas Collection brings premium muscle and prices
Leake
Auctions
Oklahoma City, OK
February 24–26,
2017
auctioneers:
Jim Richie, Brian
Marshall, Dillon Hall,
Casey Enlow
automotive lots sold/
offered: 405/549
Sales rate: 74%
Sales total:
$10,411,665
high sale: 2006 Ford
GT coupe, sold at
$341,000
Buyer’s premium:
10%, included in sold
prices
Being a three-quarter ton made the final bid appropriate — 1971 Chevrolet C20 pickup, sold at $15,950
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
Report and photos by B. Mitchell Carlson
Market opinions in italics
N
86 AmericanCarCollector.com
ew to the OKC Fairgrounds, on the
western half of Oklahoma City, is the
Bennett Event Center. After a delay that
prevented it from opening last February,
it’s the new home of Leake Auctions for
their annual February event in the Oklahoma capital. It
proved to be a good venue, as most of the cars actually
fit inside, compared to previous years, which required
batches of cars to be spread between a few buildings.
Only the Sunday cars were not in here initially, but
after the Friday segment completed, the sold cars were
moved out and the Sunday cars rolled in. A wise move,
as it kept things from being too crowded.
For the second year in a row, the big news was
the offering of a large collection on Saturday at no
reserve. This year, it was the 50-car Leaded Gas
Collection of premium muscle cars. Unlike most major
collections that have come to auction in recent years,
this one wasn’t a liquidation sale or a sale to settle
an estate. Rather, these cars were part of an ongoing
collection, with the lots on offer here cut loose by the
owner to make room for more cars.
A car from this collection — actually the first car
offered from it — proved to be the high sale of the
weekend: a 2006 Ford GT. This low-mile example sold
for $341,000, besting last year’s top sale here — also
a Ford GT from the highlight featured collection, at
$303,600.
This top sale was one of the only increases from
last year. Compared with 2016, most of the numbers
were slightly lower — average vehicle price, number
of lots sold and the total sales, which were down by
$2m. Nothing drastic, and well within the bell curve of
annual fluctuations. Granted, some of that was the mix
of cars, although both years featured large collections
that sold on Saturday afternoon.
Once again, Leake’s friendly staff did a commend-
able job of keeping things moving on the two auction
rings on Friday and most of Saturday, while conducting
the no-reserve Sunday segment with only one ring.
While Oklahoma City may be off of some folks’
radar as a collector car hotbed, Leake has made this
a significant venue for what would otherwise be a
drab winter between the Arizona and Amelia Island
auctions.A
Page 86
LEAKE // Oklahoma City, OK
GM
#464-1957 CHEVROLET BEL AIR convertible.
VIN: VC57T238300. Matador Red/
white vinyl/red & silver vinyl. Odo: 1,095
miles. 283-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Equipped with
power steering, power brakes, a/c, power
windows, power seat, padded dash and
Wonder Bar AM radio with dual power antennas.
Dealer-accessory Continental kit
and fender skirts. High-quality concise restoration
in recent years. Paint and chrome
plating quality better than original manufacture.
Body-panel fit is no worse than par for
original build quality. The only non-stock
item under the hood is a modern battery.
Moderate fuel staining on and under the
carburetor, otherwise the engine bay presentation
is near concours quality. Quite
clean on the bottom of the car also, but has
had a few dents pounded out. Light soiling
on the door armrests and visors, but otherwise
has a like-new interior. Tires are newer
white radials, while the one on the Conti kit
is a yellowed bias ply. Cond: 2+.
color-change carpeting and dashpad. Authentically
detailed under the hood as part
of the restoration, now showing some light
dinginess on the top of the engine. R134a
fittings on the a/c system. Very clean matte
black chassis, with correct red primer body
bottom. Cond: 2-.
down to gutting it out, sorting out the
botched rust patch-up and cut-rate fixes that
have plagued a great number of older
Corvair redos. Good news here is that this
is one of the few vintage cars that Millennials
have taken a shine to, and values have
finally been marching up in recent years.
Aside from being no reserve, it was truly bid
to where it belonged at this point.
SOLD AT $110,000. One of 1,285 Biarritzes
built in the first year of the retreating
tailfins. The reserve was dropped at $80k,
which was the start of a several-minute bidding
war that never jumped by more than
$5k steps, culminating in a market-correct
final sale for an example that’s almost too
nice to drive, yet isn’t nice enough to be a
dedicated concours lawn ornament.
NOT SOLD AT $89,000. Whenever I see a
’50s car like this, so heavily loaded with options
and accessories that the springs are
almost down to the stops, I always wonder
how much of it was actually on the car when
new. Without documentation, and since the
body tag was either obscured or missing,
the realist in me is left to believe that it probably
started out as a green 2-barrel car with
power nothing that had a dozen years worth
of parts-hunting trips to Hershey crammed
into it. Bidding looked to be more of a case
of keeping the ringmen in tune, so I wasn’t
the only skeptic.
#469-1960 CADILLAC ELDORADO Biarritz
convertible. VIN: 60E26805. Red/white
vinyl/white leather. Odo: 740 miles. 390-ci
V8, 3x2-bbl, auto. Factory-optional a/c.
Stated that it received a frame-off restoration
in 2013. Better-quality color change
repaint from the original Ebony Black. Modern
replacement windshield, with new
seals—in addition to all-new door seals.
Door fit is okay, with slightly wider gaps facing
the front fenders than to the rear. Betterquality-than-factory
bumper replate, with
professionally reconditioned trim on the outside.
Inside, the original plating is lackluster
at best and has light pitting on most pieces.
Authentically reupholstered seats, with light
wrinkling at the driver’s position. All-new
88 AmericanCarCollector.com
#403-1963 CHEVROLET CORVAIR Monza
convertible. VIN: 30967W173906. Twilight
Turquoise/white vinyl/aqua vinyl. Odo:
81,928 miles. 145-ci H6, 2x1-bbl, auto.
Powerglide automatic, hand-brake flasher,
push-button AM radio and two-prong spinner
wire-basket wheel covers. Modern aftermarket
wood-rim steering wheel. Old
repaint, which is splotchy and has acquired
a mostly matte finish on all upper body surfaces
(not that the body sides are much
better, either). However, it does have new
rubber brake lines and tires on all corners.
Also stated that it was converted to electronic
ignition and electric fuel pump last
year. CORSA membership decal on the
rear quarter window. Seats are likely original,
as they are more yellowed than the
door panels or reproduction dashpad, and
have some seam splitting. Faded period
original seat belts. Clean and functional
engine bay, rather than authentically detailed.
Cond: 3-.
#545-1968 PONTIAC LEMANS Safari
Sport Truck concept pickup. VIN: 233698P109210.
Mayfair Maize/black vinyl. Odo:
34,555 miles. 350-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Originally
built in late 1967 from a new LeMans
4-dr sedan and El Camino by the owner of
New York Pontiac dealer Adirondack Auto
Sales, who presented it to GM as a proposal
for a production vehicle. Chassis is
from the LeMans; the El Camino from the
cowl back was put on it and the LeMans
front clip was shaped to fit. LeMans interior
transferred over. Originally had full wheel
covers, now repop Rally II wheels. Restored
in 2013. Excellent door and panel fit. Mostly
black undercarriage, with chipping from use
and a dual exhaust system. Good original
interior components, with the greatest wear
on the carpeting. Detailed back to stock as
part of the restoration, now showing light
soiling and heat cycling from limited use.
Suspension sits high up front, low in back.
Cond: 2-.
SOLD AT $38,500. While John DeLorean
and company at Pontiac nixed the concept,
GM did take enough notice to be convinced
that there was a market for an up-market El
Cow. As such, this vehicle can be considered
the genesis for the 1971 GMC Sprint.
Sold at Mecum’s Kissimmee auction in
2014 for $41,040. Nobody I talked to here
expected it to pull that kind of money this
time around (aside from the consignor). I
factored it to repeat the last sale—since
everybody even borderline interested in it
knew that number—but most interested parties
pitched numbers from $25k to $32k at
me beforehand. When all was said and
done, it was hammered sold to an online
bidder.
SOLD AT $4,400. This sort of made me
twitch in a way, since I have a ’62 and this
would be a near dead ringer for my car—
apart from mine having a vastly better paint
job over a zero-rust, New Mexico body. This
is a car that hopefully someone got into
knowing that they’ll have a few years to play
around with it at local cruise nights, then get
#533-1970 CHEVROLET NOVA Yenko
Deuce 2-dr sedan. VIN: 114270W370883.
Dark blue metallic w/ white stripes/black
vinyl. Odo: 32,586 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl,
4-sp. Equipped with an LT-1, power brakes,
AM radio and hood tach. Verified by the
Yenko Registry. Magnum 500 wheels with
Yenko center caps and repop Wide Oval
tires that are starting to yellow. Professional
restoration within the decade. Superb base/
Page 88
LEAKE // Oklahoma City, OK
clear repaint and decal application over it.
Replated bumpers and mostly replacement
trim. All-new door and glass rubber. Good
door fit (for a Nova). Redyed dashboard,
reproduction seats and carpeting. Modern
aftermarket ammeter and oil-pressure
gauges added beneath the dashboard. Exceptionally
clean and well detailed under
the hood. Modern coating on the tube headers.
Some of the wiring is less than professionally
installed—especially across the
radiator support bracket. Mostly glossyblack
undercarriage. Cond: 2.
NOT SOLD AT $18,000. The only way to
get the optional 4-speed manual transmission
in a ’79 Trans Am was with the Pontiac
400 V8 bolted to it, as the 403 Oldsmobile
that was frequently used this year was automatic
only. Stated on the block that “we’re
really close” to selling it. So close that it was
bid more than its worth.
SOLD AT $118,250. One of those cars that
is faked so much that it’s hard to believe it’s
a real one, even if it’s a small-block Nova.
The consignor kept chiding the bidders from
the podium for “not opening up your wallets”
on this one—to the point of stating that he
paid $125k a few years ago. Welcome to
the classic-car marketplace. Sometimes
they don’t automatically go up when you
pay retail going in and sell at no reserve
going out. And certainly not when you tell a
room full of dealers to spend more money.
Sold to an online bidder, who hopefully realizes
that just because it’s a Yenko doesn’t
give you the right to print money.
#413-1971 CHEVROLET C20 pickup. VIN:
CE241Z610177. Blue/blue vinyl. Odo:
80,638 miles. 402-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Per the
original glovebox door build sheet, factoryinstalled
options include power steering,
a/c, full tinted glass, chrome hubcaps,
gauge package and push-button AM radio.
Modern electronic sound system has displaced
the latter. Better-quality repaint, at
least where they intended on painting it.
Replated bumpers and mostly reproduction
trim. Exotic wood used for the cargo bed
and aftermarket polished stainless attachment
strips. Good door fit. Overspray on
various interior components, such as the
pedals, dimmer switch and heater box. Authentic
reproduction seat vinyl and hard
plastic door panels. Heavily biased to stock
under the hood despite tube headers.
Mostly semi-gloss black-painted undercarriage.
Modern steel rims and radials.
Cond: 3+.
“
SOLD AT $15,950. Chevrolet was making it
a point to go after the burgeoning RV market
during the now highly popular 1967–72
generation of trucks. The Custom Camper
package bumped up the GCVW rating with
heavier springs, bigger radiator and higheroutput
alternator, in essence making it a
heavy three-quarter ton. If the consignor
had only put the raised white lettering on
the tires facing the inside and not used
later-era hubcaps, this would look totally
bone-stock. A rather nice truck; if they were
more attentive about masking off the paintwork,
I’d have bumped this up to a 2- condition.
That and being a three-quarter ton
made this final bid appropriate rather than
too light.
#2421-1979 PONTIAC TRANS AM coupe.
VIN: 2W87Z9N148431. Mayan Red w/ gold
graphics/tan vinyl. Odo: 65,647 miles. 400ci
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Optional WS-6 handling
package, four-wheel disc brakes, Positraction,
tilt steering column and a/c. Snowflake
alloy wheels shod with older economygrade
radials. Modern DIN sound system
displaces the stock radio. Generally good
prep work on the repaint on the outside,
although they got a bit lazy masking the
door jambs. Uneven hood gaps. Wider door
gaps at the front fenders. Good repro graphics
application. Both doors also rattle a bit.
Older replacement windshield, with window
tint film on the rest of the glass. Heavier
nicks and scratches on the door-top trim.
Older engine bay cleanup, now with a light
coating of dust. R134a converted. Frontseat
inserts are a different type of vinyl and
slightly off hue from the back-seat inserts.
Replacement dashpad. Newer matte black
painted undercarriage. Cond: 3.
CORVETTE
#523-1959 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible.
VIN: J59S107320. Red w/ white
coves/white vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 27,862
miles. 283-ci 230-hp V8, 2x4-bbl, auto.
Stated that it has the 283 under the hood,
but the stamping pad is illegible and “350
HP” decals are on the valve covers. Said
valve covers are buffed out. Front enginemount
bracket and hood latches have been
chrome plated. Motor is painted black rather
than Chevy Orange. Superb body prep and
paint application, but is not correct Roman
Red. Superb door fit and even shut lines.
Unlike most C1s, both doors sit perfectly
flush with the body. All four headlights are
halogens. Replated bumpers and well-fitted
brightwork. Even the headlight bezels fit
perfectly to the front fender upper trim
strips. Expert installation of the reproduction
seats, door panels and carpeting. Mostly
glossy black undercarriage, aside from
newer brake lines, rebound strap and exhaust
system. Wide whitewall radial tires.
Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $90,200. While auditorium indoor
lighting (such as sodium halide lamps) can
sometimes play tricks with paint hues, this
is still a non-stock red, no matter how you
illuminate it. The repaint almost comes off
as an iridescent lipstick. However, since it
doesn’t come off as easy—or as cheap—as
lipstick, at least two folks appreciate the
top-notch workmanship put into it and bid
accordingly.
One of those cars that is faked so
much that it’s hard to believe it’s a real
one, even if it’s a small-block Nova.
1970 Chevrolet Nova Yenko Deuce 2-dr sedan
90 AmericanCarCollector.com
”
#1150-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. VIN: 30867S101636. Riverside
Red/white vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 99,999
miles. 327-ci 340-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Optional
Signal Seek AM radio, hard top, and
3.55 Positraction, per the reproduction window
sticker. Stated that it was originally
equipped with an auxiliary hard top, but one
wasn’t seen or mentioned. Also has the
NCRS shipping-data report, showing it was
sold new by Paul Motor Co. of Concordia,
KS. Older okay repaint over average prep
Page 90
LEAKE // Oklahoma City, OK
work. Hood fit is off to the point that there’s
paint wear alongside the passenger’s side
hood hinge. Body contour is off compared
to the headlight buckets. Door gaps and fit
are better. Good replacement soft top, with
the seals redone the same time as the vinyl.
Seats and door panels are likely older replacements,
rather than being redyed.
Faded original carpeting. Electronic cassette
stereo displaces the stock radio, with
speakers crudely tied off under the dashboard.
Washed-off motor. Aftermarket intake
manifold, chrome-plated alternator,
and flat-black air-cleaner cover. Cond: 3.
SOLD AT $118,250. Was shopped rather
extensively four years ago, with multiple hits
in our auction database, before being sold
at Mecum’s Dallas auction in September
2013 for $123,050 (ACC# 6729535). A particularly
valuable car for someone in the
Golden State, but not so much in the other
49. Even at that, this was a tad under the
money, yet not what I’d call well bought.
SOLD AT $42,350. In today’s market, it’s
not often that we run into an off-grade midyear
Corvette. Yet this car proves once
again that if it’s not a Split-Window, an iffy
’63 doesn’t fare much better than a 1964 on
the block. Once the online bidder was at
$37k, the reserve was cut loose, garnering
three more bids and making for a good day
for the seller.
#519-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible.
VIN: 194677S114916. Sunfire Yellow
w/ black stinger/yellow hard top, black
vinyl soft top/black vinyl. Odo: 92,995 miles.
427-cc 435-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Stated
that it was professionally restored a decade
ago. Equipped with California emissions
engine, restored with all smog gear intact.
Overall, engine bay is quite authentic and
generally tidy, with only some light grease
and dirt in crevasses, plus fuel staining below
the carburetors. Undercarriage is just as
authentically restored, and arguably
cleaner. Stock Rally wheels shod with Redline
radial tires. Better lower body and door
jamb prep than when originally manufactured.
High-quality bare body repaint. Good
headlight bucket and door fit, with the lower
section of the doors both slightly lower than
surrounding bodywork. Better-than-originally
manufactured bumpers. Refurbished
and/or reproduction trim. All-reproduction
interior soft trim, with no appreciable wear.
Cond: 2+.
#530-1978 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Indy
500 Pace Car coupe. VIN: 1Z8748S901870.
Black & silver/tinted panels/silver
leather. Odo: 31,345 miles. 350-ci 220-hp
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Optional AM/FM/CB radio.
Stated that the 31,345 indicated miles are
actual. Moderate orange peel on the body
paint. Very light coverage on the nose,
which through polishing has already started
to wear through to primer in places. Also
has several chips on the front clip. Original
bodyside graphics are in the original boxes
in the back of the car. Original tires are
overdue for replacement due to checking
and tread down to the wear bars. While it’s
generally original under the hood, it hasn’t
seen much cleanup in several years. Seats
and carpeting only show light wear, while
the steering-wheel rim has heavier yellowing
and the horn button is askew. Heavy
rust staining on the driver’s shoulder belt,
like it was hung up on the seat rails for
some time. Not much done on the undercarriage
since 1978, aside from replacing the
original mufflers. Cond: 3+.
shield post. Better-quality repaint over the
all-steel body. Fuel staining on the paint
below the gas-filler neck gasket. California
license plate, last updated with 2008 tabs.
Original-quality replacement bumper plating,
along with the other brightwork. Good
door and panel gaps. Minimal top wear.
Interior door panels are wrinkled along the
top edges, smooth-fitting seat upholstery
work from the same time. Light soiling and
staining on the tan rubber floor mat. Light
paint chipping on the bottom of the woodgrained
dashboard. Tidy and generally
stock under the butterfly hood. Almost entirely
semi-gloss black-painted undercarriage,
with more dust from sitting than
driving. Cond: 2-.
NOT SOLD AT $59,500. Ah, a pure undistilled
1933–34 Ford roadster—without even
so much as wind wing glass or whitewall
tires. Few and far between, in this age of
Tupperware street rods. While not restored
to the level of being a concours lawn ornament,
this was bid short of what it’s worth.
The consignor was firm and fast at $65k, so
this was a bridge that didn’t get built this
weekend.
SOLD AT $31,900. While originality is a
holy grail of Corvettes, nothing is scarier
than radial tires from the 1970s. Unless they
are on a minty original concours car (this
certainly isn’t) with virtually no use, I’d only
trust them to be rolled on and off a trailer.
While this has the most desirable powertrain,
it’s better off running free on the
highways—with new shoes—than having
the owner being continually disappointed in
any judging above the local Dairy Queen’s
Show-and-Shine. Sold well.
FOMOCO
#2500-1934 FORD DELUXE roadster. VIN:
18756901. Black/tan cloth/brown vinyl. Odo:
14 miles. Restored five years ago. Dealeraccessory-style
cowl lamps and Greyhound
radiator mascot. Modern aftermarket clampon
peep mirror on the driver’s side wind-
92 AmericanCarCollector.com
#2444-1954 LINCOLN CAPRI convertible.
VIN: 54LA7955H. Light blue/tan vinyl/white
& dark blue leather. Odo: 76,877 miles.
317-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Optional power windows
and power seat. Better-quality older
repaint, with a period-correct sheen. Rechromed
bumpers and most trim. Stainless
moldings buffed out, yet still lack brilliance.
Vent-window frames are original and show
some light scuffing, along with their seals
showing some light dry rot and masking
lines. Well-fitted replacement top. Seating
leather has a mellowed “lived in” look and
feel. Heavily yellowed original armrests and
plastic dashboard fittings. Modern replacement
carpeting. Authentically detailed under
Page 91
LEAKE // Oklahoma City, OK
the hood as part of the restoration, which
now is starting to show some soiling from
use, especially on the intake manifold
around the carburetor, along with the exhaust
manifolds and cross-over pipe.
Glossy black paint on most of the suspension
components, with undercoating on everything
else below. Radial wide whitewall
tires, starting to yellow on the edges. Cond:
2-. SOLD AT $48,675. Some may think it
odd that a Ford product used a GM transmission.
Considering that the same scenario
existed in the 1970s with Lincolns
using GM Frigidaire a/c systems, it was
hardly a one-time liaison. Indeed, all we
have to do is look at the newly introduced
10-speed automatics that Ford and GM
jointly developed and are producing that are
now in everything from F-150 Raptors to
Camaro ZL1s, to show that the automotive
industry is most incestuous. The reserve
was lifted at $42,500, which got the bidding
picked up from plodding along to actively
gathering another two grand in $250 steps.
#133-1957 FORD FAIRLANE 500 2-dr sedan.
VIN: C7GT202077. Red & white/black
& white vinyl. Odo: 36,780 miles. 292-ci V8,
2-bbl, auto. Masked-off low-budget repaint,
within the past few years. Rust leaching out
from panel joints and bare steel fasteners.
Lousy door fit. Economy bumper replate
and select brightwork replacement. All plastic
exterior trim is faded. Right brake light
doesn’t work. Low-budget seat redo, in generic
vinyl and pleats, fitted loosely over the
seat frame. Modern AM/FM/cassette deck—
missing a knob—in the dash. Aftermarket
twin pack of gauges mounted below the
dash to the right of the steering wheel, juryrigged
toggle-switch arrangement on an old
gauge bezel to the left. General appearance
and fixtures are more akin to the latter engine.
Older engine repaint in white with red
metallic valve covers. Heavier paint burning
around the carburetor on the intake manifold.
Aftermarket aluminum radiator. Fresh
rattle-can undercoating, newer bias-ply wide
whitewalls. Cond: 3-.
shuttle it all over the country. And this is
from someone who generally likes ’57
Fords. Sold well.
#465-1963 FORD GALAXIE 500 2-dr hard
top. VIN: 3N66R140581. Rangoon Red/red
vinyl. Odo: 22,998 miles. 427-ci V8, 2x4-bbl,
4-sp. Reproduction data plate, applied after
a bare-body repaint. Masking lines on the
door glass whiskers, which are also starting
to lift at the edges. Professionally refurbished
or reproduction side trim. Slightly
wavy bumpers with shallow replate—pretty
much like it was originally made. By and
large, quite tidy and authentic under the
hood, although both carburetors have modern
red vacuum-line plugs. Exhaust-manifold
dressing is giving way to light surface
rust. All reproduction interior soft trim generally
well installed, apart from wrinkled
“Reynolds Warp” on the door panel where
the armrests were bolted down too tight.
Modern aftermarket logos on the reproduction
seat-belt buckles. Clean, mostly matteblack
undercarriage, with some attempts at
duplicating original inspection marks. Correct
15-inch steel wheels on fresh bias-ply
tires. Cond: 2.
console. Red dye flaking off the corners of
the dashpad at the windshield frame. GT
exhaust outlets added. Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $24,750. I’m more surprised that
a Pony interior wasn’t used considering the
engine swap. While more 6-banger Mustangs
seem to be staying that way, if this
was put back together after years of parts
swapping and abuse long after the original
motor went away, market forces for V8s—
even as motor swaps—tend to keep a six
from going back in. As such, it wasn’t too
much of a surprise that the reserve was met
at $20k, gathering up a few more bids. All
things considered, and hopefully with the
buyer being cognizant of what the car really
is, sold well enough.
SOLD AT $72,600. If the reproduction tag is
accurate to the original, then the car was
scheduled to be built on February 9, 1963,
fairly early for both the 2-door fastback body
and availability of the 427, as both were
considered “1963½” mid-year changes. Last
seen at Mecum’s Dallas auction in November
2016, declared sold for $64,900 (ACC#
6813859). Good flip, if that was actually the
case. Good show, if not.
SOLD AT $15,950. Last seen a month earlier
at Silver’s Arizona in January auction,
where it was stated that the motor was a
312. At least here it was properly pointed
out as being the correct engine per the VIN.
At Silver, it was declared sold at $15,660.
So it was either sold to a dealer who now
wants to dump it or (more likely) the deal fell
through. Not worth that or any other bid
here, especially with the shipping fees to
#1168-1965 FORD MUSTANG convertible.
VIN: 5F08F150881. White/white vinyl/
red vinyl. Odo: 32,830 miles. 289-ci V8,
2-bbl, auto. Originally equipped with a blue
vinyl interior. Early production “1964½” features,
built on May 29, 1964, per the body
tag. Part of the engine swap was using an
alternator instead of the original generator.
Engine painted post-1965 Ford Blue, with
the stock air-cleaner lid chrome plated. All
engine fittings—such as wiring, hoses, and
belts—are non-OEM bits. Good trim-off repaint,
with lesser masking around the body
tag in the door. So-so door fit. Original bumper
chrome is a bit dull. Repro emblems
and trim. Simulated wire wheel covers and
older radials with yellowed whitewalls on the
stock rims. Reproduction seats, door panels
and carpeting. Modern aftermarket center
#518-1966 SHELBY GT350 H fastback.
VIN: SFM6S825. Sapphire Blue w/ gold
stripes/black vinyl. Odo: 8,131 miles. 289-ci
V8, 4-bbl, auto. Optional AM/FM radio. Decent
masked-off base/clear repaint. Good
door shut lines, although the gaps on trunk
lid vary. Older bumper replate. Better-quality
plating on the Magnum 500 wheels with
correct Hertz center caps, shod with modern
radials. Clean and generally authentically
detailed under the hood, but it doesn’t
have much sparkle to it. Modern battery.
Heavier paint wear on the inner fender lip
near the VIN tag. Seven of the pseudo rivets
in the wood steering wheel rim have
fallen out. The face of the Shelby tachometer
is more pronouncedly yellowed than all
the other gauges. Apart from newer replacement
exhaust and painting the 9-inch
rear axle, not much has been done under
the car. However, it does have the original
Koni shocks (which must handle great after
51 years) and underbody primer. Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $123,750. Not all GT350 Hs were
black with gold stripes. This is one of 47
done in Sapphire Blue, documented as
such and having originally been assigned
out of the San Francisco area. While there’s
some originality to parts of it, it’s more of a
case of being an occasional driver, vintage
rally or track car now. One can argue all day
if the rare color combo is a plus or neutral
May–June 2017 93
Page 92
LEAKE // Oklahoma City, OK
for the value, but based upon this result, it
neither hurt nor helped.
#517-1968 SHELBY GT500 KR convertible.
VIN: 8T03R210153. Highland Green
w/ white stripes/white vinyl/black vinyl. Odo:
81,184 miles. 428-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Deluxe
Marti Report confirms the car was sold new
by George Busby Ford of Nashville, TN,
with optional Visibility Group, Tilt-Away
steering column, a/c and Interior Decor
Group. 1980s-era AM/FM/cassette deck
instead of the stock radio. Good older repaint
and graphics. Top shows some shrinkage
and rust staining from the rear top-bow
trim cap and screw. Fresh, authentic detailing
under the hood, to include the smog
pump and fittings. Paint flaking off the body
buck tag on the cowl. Modern but old Motorcraft
battery, as the car needed a jump start
any time they attempted to start it. Good
interior soft trim, with minimal wear. Once
well restored, the undercarriage has a lot of
road grime on it. Dull, lightly oxidized
wheels on older radials. Cond: 3+.
looks like it hasn’t gone through a complete
heat cycle yet. Cowl-to-hood wiring is original
with a worn sheath. Undercarriage is
just as clean and well detailed. Cond: 2.
Reran Sunday for closer to reality, but still
more than enough to call it very well sold.
NOT SOLD AT $80,000. Sixteen options
worth $1,733.83 of the $4,745.28 sticker
price. The most expensive and most desirable
today: $278.53 for the 428 Cobra Jet
engine. As one of 50 Q-code Cobra Jet convertibles,
it’s a darn sight rarer than any
Boss Mustang in ’69, and as such I can’t
blame the consignor for not cutting it loose
for this final bid.
SOLD AT $154,000. Attending myriad collector
car auctions, it’s interesting to note
the particular mannerisms of a given auction
house and their individual auctioneers.
As the auctioneer was finishing up the previous
lot, the staging crew (having had
enough of this petulant-to-start Shelby)
pushed it onto the freshly emptied turntable.
While generally accepted at Mecum—to the
point of the staging crew being conditioned
to stand in front of the freshly arrived car
and point to the monitors at the car that’s
still being offered—the auctioneer here, on
the other hand, about had a Black Angus
calf. The consignor, on still another hand,
has no reason to have a calf over the noreserve
sale here, going to an online bidder.
#471-1969 FORD MUSTANG GT convertible.
VIN: 9T03Q111959. Wimbledon White/
black vinyl/dark red vinyl. Odo: 71,333
miles. 428-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Factory options
include a/c, full tinted glass, power
steering, power front-disc brakes, power
top, Tilt-Away steering column, Interior Decor
Group and AM/FM stereo radio. Highquality
restoration to original configuration.
Better quality repaint than technically possible
when new. Good, but not perfect, door
shut lines. All reconditioned brightwork.
Well-fitted top, with minimal shrinkage. Reproduction
seats, door panels, dashpad and
carpeting. Re-dyed steering wheel hub.
Highly authentic detailing under the hood, to
include a reproduction battery. Engine paint
94 AmericanCarCollector.com
#131-1972 FORD RANCHERO Squire
pickup. VIN: 2A49H165658. Ivy Green Metallic
w/ faux wood panels/black vinyl with
gray nylon. Odo: 2,216 miles. Optional a/c,
power steering, power brakes and AM radio.
Fitted with 1980s Ford Fairmont Futura
wire wheel covers with older radial tires.
Poor old repaint, with mostly an uneven
semi-gloss finish. Backup lights are always
on when the car is running. That is, when it
is running, as the idle is set too low and it
stalls out. Hood sits high at the cowl.
Washed-off engine bay, but motor is still
grungy. Also has various vacuum and emissions
hoses swinging in the breeze, while
others are tie-wrapped down. Doors rattle,
thanks to no door-stop bumpers and dry-rotted
seals. Various light dings on the bumpers
and bright trim. Loose, floppy mirrors.
Non-stock wood-grain shelf paper stuck on
the dashboard and a/c condenser faces.
Very crudely re-covered vinyl on the doorpanel
armrests. Seat was fairly well redone.
Cond: 3-.
#515-2006 FORD GT coupe. VIN:
1FAFP90S66Y401662. Centennial
White w/ dark blue stripes/black leather.
Odo: 1,755 miles. 5.4-L supercharged V8,
6-sp. Equipped with all four options—full
stripping, McIntosh sound system, lightweight
wheels and gray brake calipers—displaying
a copy of the original Monroney
sticker. Overall showing only minimal signs
of use. Tires have more wear in back than
up front and more than what’s usually expected
for the car’s 1,755 miles since new—
they’re actually close to hitting the wear
bars. A few light abrasions from high-velocity
rock chips on the undercarriage tunnel
and slight road dust. No discernible wear on
the paint or interior fittings. Offered at no
reserve from the Leaded Gas Collection,
the car’s second owner.
Cond: 2+.
6
SOLD AT $341,000. Leading off the 50-car
no-reserve Leaded Gas Collection, especially
since the other auction lane no longer
was offering cars, there was quite a bit of
buzz with this car leading the pack. To no
seasoned auction regular’s surprise, this
was bid to $300k in a heartbeat. In our database
as having crossed the block at Mecum’s
2015 Monterey auction, selling to the
consignor at $297k all in (ACC# 6796353).
It took a little more cajoling to get one more
bid, and it hammered sold as the high sale
for the weekend here for about where the
market is now, if not about $10k better.
MOPAR
SOLD AT $6,600. One of only 4,283 Ranchero
Squires built in 1972. This one’s not
really a survivor, but rather I harken back to
that famed line (among dozens) from
“Monty Python and the Holy Grail:” “I’m not
dead yet.” There’s enough annoying stuff to
keep one from using it as a proper car or
truck without some work. For love, not
money. Not sold to a $7,500 bid on Friday.
#763-1955 DESOTO FIREDOME Sportsman
2-dr hard top. VIN: 55186949. Red &
white/white & black vinyl. Odo: 14,196
miles. 291-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Stated that it is
consigned by the second owner. Wears no
less than two repaints, the most recent being
well over a decade ago and only done
on the outside of the car, with sloppy
overspray in the door jambs. Light orange
peel on the repainted roof. Light dings on
most of the stainless trim. Older bumper
replate. Decent door fit, even if they do sag
a bit. Piecemeal replacement door seals,
with whatever was lying around the shop.
Windshield delaminating across the bottom
edge. Plainly reupholstered seats and door
panels. More pronounced light pitting on the
interior brightwork. Heavier crazing on the
steering wheel. Non-stock dual-exhaust
system, with corroded aftermarket ends and
TOP 10
Page 94
LEAKE // Oklahoma City, OK
MARKETMOMENT
1976 AMC Gremlin
overspray. Period aftermarket rear-leafhelper
springs. Older whitewall tires.
Cond: 3-.
Hatchback
SOLD at $3,600
Leake Auctions, Oklahoma City, OK, February 24–26, 2017, Lot 105
VIN: A6E463E381396
created a subcompact
just two
inches longer than
the Volkswagen
Beetle. By cutting
the tail off its new
Hornet compact,
AMC was able to
beat the Ford Pinto
and Chevy Vega to
the market by six
In 1970, AMC
Courtesy of Leake Auction Company
the road (though Time magazine oddly compared it to the Avanti). To the public of the period
largely unaccustomed to “two-box” hatchbacks, the Gremlin did look unusual in a futuristic
sort of way.
Well, the future of 1970 has come and gone. Today, whether it’s due to rarity or design, a
Gremlin will get you noticed at your local Cars & Coffee.
Resplendent in Sunshine Yellow, this two-owner Arkansas car was a real low-sticker
special, with just $201 worth of factory options — the most expensive being the $75 AM radio
and $44 tinted glass. It has the base 232 straight-six engine, 3-speed manual trans, bench seat
and no power anything, though aftermarket a/c and roof rack were added at some point.
It’s had at least one repaint, but the engine bay still wears its slightly worn and paler fac-
tory finish. The interior looks well cared for, but the dash is certainly Spartan, with just three
gauges. I thought the front seat had a cheesy replacement cover until I noticed the matching
back seat, so it just might be original.
Leake’s website showed it wearing collector plates, and it comes with all the original docu-
ments, so the owners realized what they had and took good care of it.
Now, $3,600 for a presentable, seldom-seen collector car should be a deal in anyone’s
book. Speaking of which, recent sales suggest a Gremlin in this shape is worth about $5k. If
you can’t live with the poverty-spec equipment, you could always drop in any of the AMC
(304/360/390) V8s, as there’s plenty of room thanks to its Hornet heritage. But to do that
would be a shame, because as it sits, this little Gremlin is a reminder that small cars weren’t
always similar-looking front-drive hatchbacks. A
SOLD AT $13,475. Along with being part of
the new Forward Look from all Chrysler divisions,
1955 was also the first year that
DeSoto was an all-V8 brand—with all of
those V8s being Hemis. This one just came
off as being tired and sloppy after over six
decades of use. Being consigned during
no-reserve Sunday, it was going to do what
it was going to do, which was market correct
to plenty paid, rather than a decent buy.
months. The truncated
tail created a car that
looked like nothing else on
#444-1970 DODGE CHALLENGER R/T
2-dr hard top. VIN: JS23R0B322119.
White/blue vinyl. Odo: 13,128 miles. 426-ci
V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Originally built with a
Hemi, but the one under the hood is a 1964
date-coded competition engine. Fender tag
shows it was originally equipped with Track
Pack, power brakes, bumper guards, rear
window defogger, and push-button AM radio.
The power brake booster is gone, with
an adapter plate on the cowl for the basic
master cylinder. Engine bay is generally
clean and tidy. Good color change repaint
from the original dark blue. Light overspray
on hood pins, door seals and stop bumpers.
Orange brake drums on all four corners.
Heavier soiling on the ends of the steering
wheel posts. Reproduction seats, with minimal
wear. Decent original carpeting. Aftermarket
tachometer clamped to the steering
column, oil-pressure gauge cut into the
dashboard. Small pool of green under the
car after it sat for the first few days. Mostly
black undercarriage, with stock-style exhaust
system getting scruffy. Cond: 3+.
— John Boyle
SOLD AT $99,000. It looked a little odd under
the hood with the early chrome valve
covers, yet the Shaker hood scoop induction.
It doesn’t take a whole lot to connect
the dots to figure that it was a track car for a
good share of its existence. Originally left
the auction carousel as a $75k no-sale, with
the statement that “it takes $90,000 today.”
Well, based on the post-sale monitors on
96 AmericanCarCollector.com
AmericanCarCollector.com
Page 95
LEAKE // Oklahoma City, OK
Sunday and post-event auction-company
supplied results, they got it.
#532-1970 PLYMOUTH HEMI ’CUDA 2-dr
hard top. VIN: BS23R0B105818. Vitamin C
Orange/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 61,659
miles. 426-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. Trim tag
was removed and put with the title in the
auction office. While it’s the real deal, the
motor is a replacement. Specifically, a 1964
date-coded race block, but with the original
heads and induction. Stated that it is otherwise
original at 61,659 indicated miles,
aside from a higher-quality repaint a few
years ago. Tires are also modern reproduction
Polyglas GTs, yet on the original Rallye
wheels. Lightly faded vinyl roof, but still very
presentable. Buffed-out brightwork. Seats
and carpeting show far less wear than expected
on any vehicle with 61k miles. Optional
AM/FM radio. Mostly glossy-black
undercarriage, with a few simulated inspection
markings. It got stage fright in the staging
lane, as it would crank but not light off.
Cond: 2-.
SOLD AT $9,460. International was one of
the few companies that fitted their vehicles
in this era with a six-digit odometer. So this
’Binder really registers 025824. Based on
the fading of the numbers and various other
factors with the truck, this may be actual
mileage, but none of those were easy miles.
Most IH 4x4s in this era were bought by
fleets or governmental agencies, so it may
have been “the right tool for the right job”
more than a workaday taskmaster. More of
a schlocky redo than any proper use of the
word “restoration,” but still with some sweat
equity, parts chasing and an air compressor,
this rarely seen Cornbinder has some
money left on the table. Bought reasonably
well, not to be confused with well bought.
SOLD AT $148,500. It was announced by
the consignor when the car was on the carousel
that the original engine block is known
to still exist and is available for purchase
separately, as it’s held by a different party
than the consignor. And with that the bidding
started at $70k and moved along
smartly, until this no-reserve car was hammered
sold.
AMERICANA
#158-1958 INTERNATIONAL A-120
pickup. VIN: SA80621. Dark green metallic/
tan vinyl. Odo: 25,824 miles. 240-ci I6,
1-bbl, 4-sp. Low-budget repaint, inside and
out. Decent coverage on the outside, but
more of a case of Spray and Pray inside the
cab, especially since levers, pedals, heater
box and interior cowl were randomly painted
with minimal masking. Non-stock seat upholstery
work, generally neatly done. Matching
shift boots take it to borderline tacky.
Original, dull, scuffed and pitted brightwork.
Grille incorrectly painted body color, as it
should’ve been painted white like the front
bumper wasn’t. Aftermarket windshield, with
new rubber seal. Rubber body plugs instead
of door-lock cylinders. No tailgate, so it has
a wood panel instead, which has the same
finish—and now heavier weathering—as the
wood box floor. Runs out okay, if a tad rich.
Cond: 3.
#2437-1966 AMC AMBASSADOR 990
wagon. VIN: A6KA85P117713. Cresent
Green & white/green vinyl & polyester. Odo:
70,133 miles. 327-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Optional
power steering, power brakes, a/c, tilt
steering column, cruise control, AM/FM radio
and side-opening tailgate with a power
window. Simulated wire wheel covers and
radials on the stock rims. Professionally
restored within the decade. Bare-body repaint,
with an authentic sheen. Light scuffing
on the tops of the bumpers.
Professionally restored stainless and alloy
trim. Rear tailgate window not always cooperative.
Exceptionally well-detailed engine
bay. Somewhat faded and discolored original
seat belts. Rear windows have tinted
film expertly applied. Newer stock exhaust
system. Repainted fuel tank and rear coil
springs, with the balance of the undercarriage
showing road dust on the original
undercoating. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $20,900.
The top model line from the first model year
of American Motors as a brand, as Rambler
was demoted to a model range starting in
1966. Even if various price guides show this
result as being a market-correct sale, even
with the reserve lifted at $18,750 and fetching
one more bid, I think there’s still some
money on the table if this car is marketed
more aggressively to certain facets of the
public. AMC people will probably say it sold
well.
#722-1969 AMC AMX 2-dr hard top. VIN:
A9M397X330730. Bittersweet Orange Metallic/
tan cloth. Odo: 93,015 miles. 390-ci
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Dash tag AMX 13555. Optional
Go Pack, power steering, power
brakes. Non-stock modern cloth upholstery
work. Dashpad on the passenger’s side is
browner than the driver’s side equivalent.
Modern fuzzy brown carpeting. 1990s-era
aftermarket AM/FM/cassette deck. Not
much stock under the hood, nor is it very
clean. Aftermarket bits include MSD ignition
system, open-element air cleaner, chrome
valve covers, miles of modern plastic interduct
(for stock and lots of added wiring),
and a gel-cell battery. Adequately repainted,
with the easy-to-remove trim bits taken off.
Painted front bumper, with the over-the-top
stripe continuing on it. Sandblasted patches
on the windshield where the masking was
inadequate. Heavier crazing of the rearquarter
window trim. Good door fit. Rear
spoiler doesn’t fit too well. Chambered mufflers,
which dump out right ahead of the rear
axle under the car, so it has more of an obnoxious
than badass report to it. Cond: 3-.
SOLD AT $15,400. A mid-production AMX
that reflects almost five decades of lessthan-attentive
owners who cared more
about making it go faster than anything
else. No investment value here; buy it only if
you want one to play with. As such, sold
well during no-reserve Sunday. (See profile,
p. 64.) A
CAR COLLECTOR
AMERICAN
™
AmericanCarCollector.com/subscribe
May–June 2017 97
SUBSCRIBE TO ACC
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Keith Martin’s
Page 96
MECUM AUCTIONS // Kansas City, MO
Mecum — Kansas City
Mecum’s American iron-heavy Midwest sale racks up $7.3m
Mecum
Auctions
Kansas City, MO
March 24–25 2017
auctioneers:
Mark Delzell and Jimmy
Landis
automotive lots sold/
offered: 309/496
Sales rate: 62%
Sales total:
$7,364,900
high sale: 2005 Ford
GT coupe, sold at
$330,000
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
We’re calling it very well bought — 1970 Plymouth hemi ’Cuda 2-dr hard top, sold at $154,000
Report and photos by Brett Hatfield
Market opinions in italics
known for trade shows than auto enthusiast events.
This spring’s auction yielded $7,364,900 on a sell-
T
98 AmericanCarCollector.com
through rate of 62%, seeing 309 of the 496 lots offered
go to new homes. 1960s and 1970s muscle cars garnered
a great deal of the attention, with examples such
as a rotisserie-restored 1970 Hemi ’Cuda hammering
for $140,000, a 1970 Shelby GT500 fastback selling for
$84,000 and a 1963 Ford Galaxie 500 R-code, sporting
a 427/425 and a 4-speed, crossing the block at $70,000.
Mecum wouldn’t be Mecum without some weird
and wild offerings. These included a 1996 Honda
Accord station wagon that had been dressed to look
like a classic woodie wagon, a 1918 Oakland Roadster
he Mecum auction at Kansas City’s Bartle
Hall from March 24 to 25 featured a unique
mixture of hot rods, muscle cars, classics,
performance cars and exotics. All this
brought palpable excitement to a venue better
hot rod and a 1953 Willys Army Jeep with a replica
.50-caliber machine-gun mount.
This year’s spring auction was also Corvette heavy,
with more than 50 Corvettes offered. The high sale
among Corvettes was a 1967 convertible in Marlboro
Maroon that had been judged by the National Corvette
Restorers Society as a 98.2% original car. This prime
example crossed the block at $95,000. For a weekendwarrior
alternative, a 1969 ’Vette with a 454 swapped
in by careful hands went for $35,200. So whether
time capsules or burnout kings are your preference,
Mecum’s got you covered.
Mecum Auctions has garnered a loyal and dedi-
cated following by bringing their customers a broad
variety of European, American, sports, exotic, antique
and muscle cars, along with a smattering of the unique
and bizarre. Much of the crowd had made Mecum a
repeat destination, traveling all over the Midwest to
the yearly sale for all things automotive. A
Page 98
MECUM AUCTIONS // Kansas City, MO
GM
#S49-1940 CADILLAC 60 SPECIAL Fleetwood
sedan. VIN: 6322178. Maroon/ tan
cloth. Odo: 46,102 miles. Showing signs of
age on an older restoration; paint chips in
the maroon finish have been touched up.
The chrome on the front and rear bumpers
is flaking off and the stainless is in need of
attention. Time is taking its toll on the
weatherstripping as well. The interior is
clean and tidy, but the chrome of the instrument
bezels in need of attention. Overall, an
interesting car with needs. Cond: 3-.
#S98-1960 CHEVROLET IMPALA
convertible. VIN: 01867J261905.
Red/white vinyl/red & white houndstooth.
Odo: 59,525 miles. 348-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, auto.
A remarkably well-preserved example.
Claimed to have only been driven 23,000
miles in the past 20 years. The bright red
paint showed some marks from age and
very light wear, but overall the car presented
as a much newer car. The interior
looked as though it had seen very light use.
The only real sign of age was the discoloration
on the parade boot. Cond: 2+.
Malibu. Another venue might offer a better
opportunity to recoup some of the cost.
#S75-1966 PONTIAC GTO 2-dr hard top.
VIN: 242176P297432. Montero Red/black
vinyl. Odo: 51,565 miles. 389-ci V8, 3x2-bbl,
4-sp. A heavily documented, nicely restored
GTO, optioned with Tri-Power, this example
has had a few modern conveniences added.
In addition to the factory power steering and
brakes, an MSD ignition, Bluetooth stereo
and Torq Thrust wheels are present. The
exterior of the car has been the subject of a
quality repaint. The brightwork is polished
and shines. The interior appears to be recent,
with minimal wear. The documentation
with the car is impressive and includes the
build sheet, copy of the window sticker,
marketing materials, PHS documentation,
restoration photos and more. Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $26,400. The price here reflects
the rarity of these pre-war Caddies. This
one has needs, but it has made it 77 years
without being devoured by corrosion, a sure
sign of careful ownership. This would be a
fun cruiser or an interesting restoration. It
could be driven and enjoyed for years, asis.
Probably a good deal for both buyer and
seller.
#S64-1957 CHEVROLET BEL AIR 2-dr
sedan. VIN: VC57F282503. Cascade
Green & white/gray leather & tweed. 396-ci
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. This was a great-looking
color combo in what appeared to be an
early Corvette Cascade Green. The paint
showed obvious care in prep and execution,
as did the engine bay which housed a 350hp
396 big block. The mill was backed with
a Muncie 4-speed and a 3.73 gearing.
Glass, chrome and stainless were all shiny
and without flaws. The interior was tastefully
done. The dash had been converted to all
digital gauges. Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $60,500. They’re only original
once, and I seriously doubt you could find
another in this condition with these miles.
From just a few feet away, this looked like a
well-done restoration. The median price on
a restored car far exceeds the sale price
seen here, and this example is well worth a
premium price. Very well bought.
#S86-1965 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE Malibu
SS convertible. VIN: 138675Z156832.
Evening Orchid/white vinyl/white vinyl. Odo:
2,449 miles. 327-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. This
Malibu was a lifelong West Coast resident,
until it was brought to the Midwest in 2011.
The new owner commissioned a body-off
restoration that spanned two years. The
result is a spotless car, equipped with power
windows, power soft top, tilt steering column,
dash-mounted clock, remote-control
driver’s mirror, AM/FM pushbutton radio and
below-dash tissue dispenser. The paint
shows the effort put into prep and execution.
The chrome is bright and as-new. The
interior shows no signs of age or wear. The
only flaw I could find was the stainless trim
lifting slightly at the rear driver’s side edge
of the convertible top. The car is outstanding.
Cond: 1-.
SOLD AT $63,800. This was a high-quality
restoration. Even with the additional bump
in price for the 3x2 carbs, this GTO brought
a premium. This is proof you can never
have too much documentation.
#S47-1967 BUICK RIVIERA 2-dr hard top.
VIN: 494877H927732. White/black vinyl/
black vinyl. Odo: 10,561 miles. 430-ci V8,
4-bbl, auto. An older, unrestored example of
a nicely kept driver. The original paint and
stainless are showing their age, along with
the chrome bumpers that are turning cloudy.
The interior is in decent condition, with few
signs of age or use. Accompanying the car
is a binder of records and receipts, further
reinforcing the notion that the car has been
well maintained. Nothing exceptional, just a
nice older car beginning to need some TLC.
Cond: 3.
SOLD AT $31,900. This was one of the true
bargains at this auction. Loaded with power
options, great paint, interior and drivetrain. It
was obvious there were far more dollars
invested in the car than the sale price.
Someone snatched quite a bargain.
100AmericanCarCollector.com
NOT SOLD AT $56,000. Judging by the
result of the extensive restoration, it would
be easy to imagine the owner has at least
double the high bid price invested in this
NOT SOLD AT $8,000. This would make a
good weekend car, or maybe a very nice
first car for someone with a part-time job
that pays well enough to fuel it. Neither a
collector piece nor a pile of junk, this Riviera
has potential to be much more. It just needs
the right owner to take the pride in it the
previous owner obviously did.
BEST
BUY
Page 100
MECUM AUCTIONS // Kansas City, MO
#S60-1967 CHEVROLET C10 pickup. VIN:
CS147S197192. Black/red ostrich leather.
Odo: 7,398 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. A
super-slick resto-mod short-bed, regularcab
pickup. This C10 had an excellent black
paint job, blacked-out trim, shiny chrome,
and a beautiful engine bay. A custom intake
sat on top of the 350/350 mill, which was
nestled between highly polished, black
fender wells. The interior was a striking red
ostrich, providing a brilliant color contrast. A
Rhino-lined short-box bed showed no signs
of use or wear. The truck was lowered on a
set of custom Torq Thrust-styled wheels,
finish off the custom look. Cond: 2.
ously had far more in the car than the sale
price. Smart buy for the lucky new owner.
#F162-1969 CHEVROLET EL CAMINO SS
pickup. VIN: 136809K369453. Black/black
vinyl/black leather. Odo: 193 miles. 396-ci
V8, 4-bbl, auto. A true numbers-matching El
Camino SS with two build sheets and Protect-O-Plate.
This example comes with a/c,
power steering, disc brakes and bucket
seats. The paint was done to a very high
standard and the gloss is outstanding. The
chrome and stainless are both like new and
the interior rounds out the package nicely
with recently refinished seats. The vinyl top
is without flaw. This truck has just the right
look with a shiny set of Cragar SS wheels
and raised white-letter tires. Cond: 2.
surprise that this old ’Burb sold, or even that
it brought what it did. A tough truck, very
capable, with just a bit of style.
SOLD AT $30,800. Resto-mods are difficult
to price, as each one is unique and many
times the execution is to the taste of the
owner. A combination of personal taste and
workmanship will decide whether a restomod
is a bargain. That said, the high-quality
work here was worth far more than the
hammer price. Very well bought by the new
owner.
#S182-1968 CHEVROLET CAMARO SS
replica coupe. VIN: 124378N455122.
Black/black vinyl. Odo: 17,289 miles. 396-ci
V8, 4-bbl, auto. A clean, polished, periodcorrect
Camaro, this coupe showed good
attention to detail. The paint looked to have
been properly prepped and finished. The
hidden headlight doors function properly.
The brightwork was in decent condition,
although it needed a bit more polishing. The
engine compartment was finished as if it
was an SS, including a period-correct Delco
battery and Frigidaire a/c compressor. Sitting
on staggered tires, the short-cap Rally
wheels looked new. The black vinyl interior
showed few signs of wear, and featured a
Tic-Toc-Tach and tilt wheel. Cond: 2-.
SOLD AT $35,750. This El Camino couldn’t
have looked much better. Everything about
it looked as though it had been done just
right. With muscle car prices on the rise,
this sold a bit above market, but with a restoration
of this caliber, it was worth it. Well
sold and bought.
#F186-1970 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN
utility. VIN: KE160F146575. Blue & white/
horse blanket. Odo: 65,960 miles. 350-ci
V8, 4-bbl, auto. Not too bad looking from a
distance, but upon closer inspection, there
are a number of issues. Corrosion is evident
beneath the paint, the glass is delaminating
in numerous places, the steering-wheel
plastic is falling off and all of the seats are
covered in horse-blanket-style seat covers
(hiding what ills, we can only imagine). The
truck is rough and looks as if it has worked
hard most of its life. Cond: 3-. SOLD AT
$12,100. What’s the old saying? “Perfect
from afar, but far from perfect?” That would
be an apt description here. That said, I love
an old work truck. They’re kind of like a yellow
lab—faithful, dependable and sometimes,
just what you need. It’s not a
SOLD AT $36,850. A big block and cold a/c
would make for an excellent cruise night or
summer joy ride. The automatic probably
held this car back some, but the overall
quality of finish eclipsed it. The seller obvi-
102AmericanCarCollector.com
“
#S18-1970 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE SS
454 LS6 2-dr hard top. VIN: 136370L136266.
Black w/ white stripes/black vinyl. Odo:
7,680 miles. 454-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. This
Chevelle SS appeared to have had an older
restoration just beginning to show signs of
age in the paint and chrome, both of which
are still glossy. The engine compartment is
showroom fresh, save for a warranty-replacement
block. The fix is supported with
all the related paperwork. The interior
shows minimal wear. Overall, condition is
good, but will need attention in the years to
come. Cond: 2-.
NOT SOLD AT $55,000. Despite beginning
to show the toll of time, this is still a true
Chevelle LS6. It is commonly thought that
the LS6 is grossly underrated at 450 ponies.
This king of muscle cars is well under value
at the $55k top bid, and the owner was wise
to hang on to it.
#F90.1-1976 CADILLAC ELDORADO convertible.
VIN: 6L67S6Q242317. Florentine
Gold Firemist/white vinyl/Light Ivory Gold
leather. Odo: 26,033 miles. 500-ci V8, 4-bbl,
auto. A nice, original, unmolested example
of an Arizona desert car. The paint and trim
are showing their age from a lifetime in the
desert sun. The parade boot is a shade
I love an old work truck. They’re kind of
like a yellow lab—faithful, dependable
and sometimes, just what you need. It’s
not a surprise that this old ’Burb sold,
or even that it brought what it did.
1970 Chevrolet Suburban utility
”
Page 102
MECUM AUCTIONS // Kansas City, MO
darker and much shinier than the rest of the
body, indicating the toll the sun has taken
on the big Caddy. The driver’s seat shows a
fair amount of wear, despite the low miles.
The chrome and stainless could use some
tidying. Overall, the car is in decent condition,
but will need attention to return to its
former glory. Cond: 3+.
wheel, radio delete, Snowflake wheels with
BF Goodrich tires, front and rear sway bars
and a dual exhaust with headers. Cond: 2.
vette. The paint, stainless and chrome all
show some signs of wear since restoration.
The weatherstripping around the windshield
and on the hard top is cracking. The red
vinyl interior shows little wear, but the seats
appear to be somewhat overstuffed. Aftermarket
radio in the dash. Cond: 3+.
NOT SOLD AT $13,000. This car was sold
just last April in Dallas at the Leake auction
for $14k (ACC# 6801798). Apparently the
owner was looking for a quick flip and a
payday. It just wasn’t meant to be.
#S16-1977 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
1500 pickup. VIN: CKR147J123281. Blue
& white/blue velour. Odo: 37,268 miles.
350-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. The subject of a recent
body-off restoration, it looks almost
new. Paint, stainless and chrome are all
glossy and without defect. The interior looks
fresh from the upholstery shop. The only
indicator of being a refinished truck is the
painted-on bedliner. Equipped from the factory
with a/c, 8-track, and four-wheel drive.
This newly reborn truck is now too nice to
use for work. Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $17,600. Only selling for $17.6k,
this T/A didn’t quite get the reception one
would have thought. However, the auction
was a bit saturated with second-gen Firebirds
and Trans Ams, some of them very
original with extremely low miles.
#S60.1-1980 PONTIAC TRANS AM coupe.
VIN: 2W87WAN104203. White w/ blue decals/
blue velour. Odo: 6,435 miles. 301-ci
V8, 4-bbl, auto. The original window sticker
lists factory a/c, power windows, limited-slip
differential, rear-window defroster, blue seat
belts, Custom interior group, tilt steering
column and AM/FM stereo. The odometer
reading of 6,435 miles is said to be original.
The only items that have been replaced are
the belts, battery, tires and fittings for the
a/c. Paint shows as-new, but the decals are
beginning to yellow at the edges. Interior
and engine appear as-new. Cond: 1-.
NOT SOLD AT $70,000. Claimed to have
been driven sparingly since restoration, this
solid-axle is a very sharp driver. With the
added oomph of the matching-numbers,
dual-quad engine, you might almost forget
about the Powerglide trans. Good money
but not enough.
#F108-1965 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. VIN: 194675S121111. Nassau
Blue/white vinyl/white vinyl. Odo: 62,377
miles. 396-ci 425-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. A
claimed body-off restoration with photo
book and paperwork to support. The paint is
glossy and shiny from just a few feet away,
but closer inspection of the nose reveals
poor prep resulting in lots of fisheyes and
pockmarks. The engine compartment and
the interior are nicely done, with chrome
and stainless showing a good finish. The
396 was a one-year-only powerplant, replaced
in 1966 by the venerable 427. Further
equipped with knockoff wheels, Redline
tires, a teak steering wheel and an AM/FM
with a power antenna, this Corvette needs
little. The only thing holding it back is the
paint on the nose. Cond: 2-.
NOT SOLD AT $14,500. The restoration on
this truck had to cost several times the high
bid. Selling at this price would have been
foolish. The seller is right to hang on for a
better payday.
#S20-1978 PONTIAC TRANS AM coupe.
VIN: 2W87Z8N194286. Black w/ gold
decals/black vinyl. Odo: 54,595 miles. 400ci
V8, 4-bbl, auto. This black and gold Bandit-replica
Trans Am has been the subject of
a rather thorough restoration resulting in
glossy paint, a clean and largely original
engine bay and a good interior. Weatherstrip
is in good condition, doors close easily
without the trademark F-body droop, and
there is a/c by way of Classic Auto Air. The
car features rare four-wheel disc brakes,
power windows and steering, a tilt steering
104AmericanCarCollector.com
SOLD AT $27,500. In 1980, the base engine
for Pontiac’s Trans Am shrunk from
400 cubic inches to 301. Along with that,
power dropped to a positively anemic 140
hp. Maybe this is the reason this particular
example never had much of a life outside of
a garage. Despite the lack of muscle, the
pristine condition managed to bring about a
healthy winning bid. Well sold.
CORVETTE
#S62.1-1959 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. VIN: J59S103169. Roman
Red & Snowcrest White/white fiberglass &
white vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 40,856 miles.
283-ci 245-hp V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. A very nice
driver-quality restoration on an iconic Cor-
NOT SOLD AT $75,000. This is my favorite
color combo on any Corvette. I was excited
when I saw the car from a distance and
saddened when I saw how the paint prep
had been rushed. It’s a shame, too, as that
is just about the only thing I could fault on
the car. New paint on the front end would
probably bring all the money and more.
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MECUM AUCTIONS // Kansas City, MO
#S131.1-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. VIN: 194677S122797. Ermine
White w/ red stinger/white vinyl/red vinyl.
Odo: 51,337 miles. 427-ci 435-hp V8, 3x2bbl,
4-sp. A quality restoration that is beginning
to show some signs of age. The color
combo is an eye catcher and the red vinyl
only adds to that. The paint appeared to
have had good prep. The stainless could
have benefited from some polishing and the
chrome showed some buff marks. The driver’s
door sill showed signs of use. The white
vinyl top appeared to be in good condition
and the interior showed few signs of wear.
The engine compartment was clean and
squared away. This Corvette was nicely
optioned with J56 heavy-duty brakes, F41
suspension, M21 close-ratio transmission,
N14 sidemount exhaust—not to mention the
much sought after L71 427/435-hp big
block. Cond: 2-.
454/450 big block. Exhaust exited through a
pair of aftermarket chrome sidepipes.
Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $35,200. Last sold at
Barrett Jackson in Scottsdale in January
2015, for $27,500 (ACC# 6779772). This
convertible Corvette was the recipient of
careful attention. The striking colors combined
with a big-block convertible made for
an attractive package. The factory steel
wheels topped by turbine-style Corvette
wheel covers gave the car a unique look.
Above-average condition, two tops, bigblock
performance, in a handsome wrapper
that is sure to appreciate. Well bought.
FOMOCO
#F127.1-1964 FORD THUNDERBIRD convertible.
VIN: 4Y85Z164562. Florentine
Green/black vinyl/gold vinyl. Odo: 91,255
miles. 390-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. An older restoration
that is showing its age. The paint
looks like it may have had some poor prep,
the chrome and stainless could use some
attention and the fender skirts don’t quite
line up. The driver’s seat shows signs of
wear. The interior chrome is beginning to
pit. The car is clean overall, but time is
catching up. It would make a great sunnyafternoon
driver, but will need some TLC to
return it to its former glory. Cond: 3.
NOT SOLD AT $120,000. Although the top
bid is slightly above market value, it seemed
the list of options and the relatively clean
condition of this Corvette would have commanded
a bit of a premium. This wasn’t the
venue for speculative bidding.
#S199-1969 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. VIN: 194679S709559. Silver/
black vinyl & black vinyl hard top/red vinyl.
Odo: 44,773 miles. 454-ci 450-hp V8, 4-bbl,
auto. The second year of the Mako Shark
body style. This convertible had been the
subject of a fairly conscientious refreshing.
The newer repaint showed some minor
signs of rushed prep. Stainless windshield
trim fit poorly on the driver’s side and would
have benefited from some polishing. The
red vinyl interior showed very little wear and
provided an attractive contrast. The engine
compartment featured a replacement
NOT SOLD AT $17,000. It could be that
this car was hampered by its rather polarizing
color, or maybe the thought of restoring
a car with so many power/luxury options
is daunting. Whatever the reason, bidding
on this topless ’Bird stopped well below
market and it returned home with its owner.
#F170-1969 FORD MUSTANG fastback.
VIN: 9F02F218587. Black/black vinyl. Odo:
56,700 miles. 302-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Said to
be the recipient of a recent rotisserie restoration,
the black paint on this fastback had
great depth and shine. The chrome appeared
to be fresh and without flaw. The
engine compartment showed off a nicely
detailed 302. The interior also appeared to
be recently refreshed. A good-looking car
throughout. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $24,200.
While plain, the Mustang was high quality.
The automatic trans hurt the price, but I’ll
call it well bought.
#S59-1969 MERCURY COUGAR XR-7
convertible. VIN: 9F94H510213. Aqua/tan
vinyl/Saddle leather. Odo: 89,051 miles.
351-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. A stunning example,
easily the best I have ever seen. Paint, engine
compartment and interior are all in superior
condition. The paint seemed to have
just a touch of blue to it, looking like a deep
aqua that contrasted beautifully with the tan
top and interior. This was a great restoration
with very little to fault, complemented by
heavy documentation and a Deluxe Marti
Report. Cond: 1-.
SOLD AT $27,500. The Cougar was Mercury’s
answer to the Mustang, but with a
more luxurious aim. It has always lived in
the Mustang’s shadow, never really thought
of as an all-out performance machine. This
car, however, is a standout. The restoration
is fantastic, the colors are attractive and it
screams out to be driven. The winning bid is
on the money, but there is no way you could
duplicate this car for that price. Well bought.
#S103-1970 SHELBY GT500 fastback.
VIN: 0F02R482436. Black Jade/white vinyl.
Odo: 89,054 miles. 428-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto.
An extremely clean and well-presented fastback,
this Shelby is accompanied by a Deluxe
Marti Report, Shelby invoice and build
sheet, and is listed in the Shelby American
Automobile Club registry. It has factory a/c,
tilt-away steering column, sport-deck rear
seat, AM/FM stereo, tinted glass and intermittent
windshield wipers. The paint,
May–June 2017 105
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MECUM AUCTIONS // Kansas City, MO
chrome and stainless are all in good condition,
as is the interior. The only non-factory
items visible are the MSD ignition and the
dual electric cooling fans. Cond: 2+. SOLD
AT $92,400. This stunning example was
only hampered by its transmission. Pricing
on these late Shelby fastbacks just approaches
the six-figure mark but takes a
20% hit for the slushbox. As a result, it is a
little strong at $92k. Well sold.
#S90-1970 FORD MUSTANG Mach I fastback.
VIN: 0F05R135820. Grabber Blue w/
black stripe/black vinyl. Odo: 46,785 miles.
428-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. A very nicely restored
example with 46,785 original miles.
Paint, chrome, stainless and glass all have
a clean, shiny appearance. The engine
compartment is clean and correct. The interior
has almost no signs of wear. The list of
options includes the 428-ci Cobra
Jet Ram Air V8, 4-barrel carburetor, dual
exhaust, close-ratio 4-speed transmission,
3.00 Traction-Lok rear axle, power frontdisc
brakes and shaker hood. This Mach I is
accompanied by a Marti Report, which indicates
it is one of three cars delivered with
these options. Cond: 1-. NOT SOLD AT
$110,000. The fantastic condition of this
Mach I drove bidding far beyond current
market value; however, it wasn’t enough to
find it a new home.
#S112.1-2005 FORD GT coupe.
VIN: 1FA FP90S45Y400413. Black
w/ silver stripes/ black leather. Odo: 4,590
miles. 5.4-L supercharged V8, 6-sp. All aspects
of the car are as new. Paint, interior,
even the tires show no wear. The brake
discs are barely marked. Everything is asnew.
All four options are present. Cond: 1.
7
cheaply as it did. It should continue to appreciate
so long as it maintains this condition.
MOPAR
#S76-1962 IMPERIAL CUSTOM Southampton
2-dr hard top. VIN: 9123130810.
Green/green vinyl and cloth. Odo: 15,621
miles. 413-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Equipped with
power steering, brakes, windows and factory
a/c. Paint, chrome and stainless trim
are showing signs of age. The front and
rear bumpers look to have been recently
rechromed. The interior is in good condition,
possibly original. A decent old car, if this era
of Mopars is your thing. Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $330,000. Given the recent spike
in collector car prices and the release of the
new Ford GT, I was surprised this went as
SOLD AT $22,550. A good sale considering
this car was sold at this same venue in December
2014 for $8,100 (ACC# 6792536).
How many of your other investments have
come close to tripling in value in the past 27
months?
Blue metallic/blue vinyl. 426-ci V8, 2x4-bbl,
auto. The subject of a six-year rotisserie
restoration, there is little to fault on this
Hemi ’Cuda. The paint, stainless and
chrome all look new. The engine compartment
and the underside of the Shaker hood
are both spotless. The interior also looks to
be new throughout. Odometer had been
reset to zero with the restoration. Accompanied
by a Chrysler Registry Visual Inspection
report. Cond: 1.
#S118-1970 PLYMOUTH HEMI ’CUDA
2-dr hard top. VIN: BS23R0B179117.
SOLD AT $154,000. One of 652 Hemi
’Cuda coupes for 1970. This was a thorough
and complete restoration of a very
rare Plymouth. The 426 Hemi is often considered
the paragon of the muscle car era
and this was a stunning example. Sold well
below value, this was very well bought indeed.
A
106AmericanCarCollector.com
TOP 10
BEST
BUY
Page 106
MCCORMICK’S // Palm Springs, CA
McCormick’s — Palm Springs
Stable results at McCormick’s, but missing were big numbers,
with some notable no-sales
McCormick’s
Palm Springs, CA
February 24–26,
2017
auctioneers:
Frank Bizzarro, Jeff
Stokes, Rob Row, Gary
Dahler
automotive lots sold/
offered: 304/459
Sales rate: 66%
Sales total:
$5,831,289
high sale: 1950
Oldsmobile Rocket
88 convertible, sold at
$95,550
Buyer’s premium:
5%, included in sold
prices
a few years back this would have been a bargain. 1962 Chevrolet Corvette convertible, sold at $73,500
Report and photos by Carl Bomstead
Market opinions in italics
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
T
108AmericanCarCollector.com
AmericanCarCollector.com
he 62nd McCormick’s auction took place
again at the Palm Springs Convention Center.
It’s hard to believe that they have been
conducting these quality events in the Palm
Springs area for more than 30 years now. The
third generation of the McCormick family was attending
and learning the ropes, as Keith’s daughter’s kids
will most likely be involved in the years to come.
McCormick’s faced an uphill struggle with this
auction, as Mecum held their Los Angeles auction
the weekend prior at the nearby Fairplex in Pomona.
Consignments picked up the Monday after Mecum’s
event, as cars that did not sell were brought to the desert
for a second chance. Regardless, the number of cars that
crossed the block was down a bit and the overall results
were also a tad off, although McCormick’s reported an
attendance record.
The company has been making a concerted effort
to upgrade the quality of the cars presented, and that
helped in keeping the totals in line with previous
events. As a result, however, the back-row clunkers that
have been fun to report on in the past are no longer accepted.
But that’s not to say that there weren’t bargains
to be had.
The star and high sale of the show was the 1950
Oldsmobile Rocket 88 convertible that had been
tweaked with a 1957 Oldsmobile J2 motor. The mill
had been rebuilt and balanced with an Isky Supercam,
the black paint was deep and luxurious, and the red
leather interior set off the entire presentation. It sold
for $95,550, and considering the quality of the build, I
think it was worth every penny.
A 1961 “slab-side” Lincoln Continental 4-door con-
vertible sold for a reasonable $54,600. The sides were
unusually straight, as they are totally unprotected from
door dings. It was finished in an attractive Turquoise
Mist livery and had a number of awards to its credit.
I just hope the new owner checked out the size of his
garage, as it’s about 18 feet long.
If just four of the no-sales had gone the other way,
the entire conclusion of the event would have changed.
A very unusual 1949 Packard “one-off” roadster with a
somewhat convoluted history was bid to $92,000, which
seemed like all the money, and a 1940 La Salle was
bid to $120,000 and also didn’t sell. A delightful 1965
Corvette L84 “Fuelie” convertible was bid to $75,000,
but the owner turned down the offer. In years past,
these have hit six figures, so perhaps he made the right
decision.
McCormick’s traditional November auction is set for
the weekend prior to Thanksgiving, and the February
2018 auction is on the books as well. These sales are
always entertaining, so they’re worth attending — you
might just find something you have to have.A
McCORMICK’S // Palm Springs, CA
GM
#254-1939 CHEVROLET MASTER coupe.
VIN: 1926940. Green/tan fabric. Odo:
62,646 miles. Same owner for over 50 years
and in same family since new. Recently
restored at a stated cost of $50k. Paint
done to professional standard and trim in
good order. Fabric interior redone well.
When new the Master cost only $628.
Cond: 1-.
SOLD AT $25,988. Price paid was a bit
light considering the quality of the restoration.
The light blue livery may have been the
reason; a dark color may have made it more
desirable. Well bought.
SOLD AT $26,250. The passing of a family
member resulted in sale and the realization
that the cost of restoration would not be
recouped. Even so, price paid was at the
high end, but if the new owner gets it on the
road, that will be quickly forgotten.
#369-1941 CADILLAC SERIES 62 convertible.
VIN: 8342732. Maroon/tan fabric/
red leather. Odo: 40,653 miles. An older
restoration that is in need of attention. Top
torn. Scratches and nicks on hood. Other
paint issues elsewhere. Steering wheel
cracked. Engine compartment needs cleaning
and a good detailing. Interior in acceptable
condition. Dual spots. Full CCCA
Classic and eligible for all tours and activities.
Cond: 3-.
#360-1956 CHEVROLET BEL AIR convertible.
VIN: C56F170666. Aztec Copper
& cream/tan fabric/cream vinyl. Odo: 19,222
miles. 265-ci V8, 2-bbl, 3-sp. A solid presentation
of a popular Tri-Five Chevy convertible.
An unusual livery of Aztec Copper.
Body straight and solid with no evidence of
prior body damage. Seams straight and
uniform. Paint with a few minor blems. Interior
in good order. Cond: 1-.
their prime of a few years back, but quality
examples still bring decent money. This
sold for a market-correct price factoring in
the well-above-average condition. Well
bought and sold.
#270-1958 CADILLAC SERIES 62 Custom
convertible. VIN: 58J025703. White/white
vinyl. Odo: 35,101 miles. 365-ci V8, 3x2-bbl,
auto. A rather different take on Cadillac styling.
Turned into a short-wheelbase version
of a roadster, with cut-down step-over
doors. An older build that is now unwinding,
with numerous paint issues and the white
vinyl looking rather tired. Question is: why?
Cond: 3.
NOT SOLD AT $40,000. The owner has
been busy attempting to “off” this bizarre
custom. First at Leake in June of this year,
where it was a no-sale at $50,000 (ACC#
6807611), then at Kruse in Austin in September,
where it failed to sell at $90,000
(ACC# 6804395), and now $40,000 here. I
suggest the seller needs to rethink his expectations,
as the car is now shop worn and
will be even more difficult to sell. I would
think the $90k offer looks pretty good right
now.
SOLD AT $70,875. The Tri-Fived Chevrolets
have been off their high of a few years
back. It would have brought $10k–$15k
more then, but times have changed. Price
paid here is market-correct for condition.
SOLD AT $52,500. Price paid about right
for a car in this condition. Any work the new
owner performs will help the bottom line, as
this Cadillac has a lot of upside. A wonderful
tour car.
#309-1949 CHEVROLET 3100 pickup.
VIN: 5GPE12756. Light blue/gray vinyl.
Odo: 388 miles. 235-ci I6, 1-bbl, 4-sp. An
attractive pickup that was restored over a
15-year period by high-school shop teacher.
Engine, drivetrain and differential rebuilt.
New paint and interior along with new oak
truck bed. Complete photo record of restoration.
Limited miles since restoration. A
quality truck. Cond: 1-.
110AmericanCarCollector.com
#305-1957 CHEVROLET BEL AIR 2-dr
hard top. VIN: VC57J111375. Matador Red
& Imperial Ivory/red vinyl/brocade. Odo:
91,629 miles. Last year for the popular Bel
Air Tri-Fives. Finished in the “right” color—
Resale Red. A striking example that had
been well maintained. With minor exceptions
the brightwork was in good order.
Paint sparkled in the Palm Desert sunshine.
Dual rear aerials. Interior as it should be. A
quality example. Cond: 2+.
#259-1960 OLDSMOBILE 98 coupe. VIN:
609C04573. Copper Mist/tan vinyl & fabric.
Odo: 38,970 miles. 394-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto.
The 98 was the top of the line and included
Jetaway Hydra-Matic transmission and
power steering/brakes. Also equipped with
power windows. Attractive Copper Mist livery
that was in good order with only a couple
of minor scratches. Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $24,150. Price paid was just
about right for a car in this condition. The
slight premium was justified, as the new
owner is good to go without having to spend
much on upgrading. A fun cruiser, so get
the wheels on the road.
SOLD AT $39,638. These have passed
#428-1964 BUICK WILDCAT convertible.
VIN: 6K4008266. Light blue/tan fabric/blue
vinyl. Odo: 25,390 miles. 401-ci V8, 4-bbl,
auto. The ’64 Wildcat was loaded with
brightwork with three ventiports behind the
front wheelwells and lower-body moldings.
Page 109
McCORMICK’S // Palm Springs, CA
Three-speed transmission is standard. The
light-blue body with tan top was an attractive
combination. Fitted with wires. The door
sills are dented, but replacements should be
available. Cond: 2.
vacuum operated. Has a/c, a $360 option. A
stunning offering. Cond: 1-. NOT SOLD AT
$57,500. Value here is all condition-dependent,
and the quality was here. Strict judging
will question the Bumble Bee nose, but
most will not know the difference. The price
offered was close to market so seller was
rolling the dice looking for a better offer.
SOLD AT $17,850. Sold for a most reasonable
price, and a few thousand more would
not have been an issue. Buyer did just fine
today and will be when he decides to move
on as well.
#276-1965 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE Malibu
SS convertible. VIN: 138675K107127.
Light blue/white fabric/light blue vinyl. Odo:
3,528 miles. 283-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Super
Sport had bright body side moldings and SS
full-wheel covers along with front bucket
seats. The third VIN digit “8” indicates powered
by V8. Has all the goodies including
tissue dispenser under the dash. Very attractive
paint with little to fault elsewhere.
Interior showing mild wear. Engine bay well
detailed. A solid presentation. Cond: 1-.
#251-1976 PONTIAC TRANS AM coupe.
VIN: 2W87Z6N578600. Black/black vinyl.
Odo: 3,445 miles. 400-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto.
Fitted with urethane bumpers and optional
T-top. Trans Am package included air dam
and rear spoiler. Also snowflake wheels and
shaker hood. The Special Edition featured
the Firebird decal on hood. The trim was
scratched and paint loaded with orange
peel. Seating cracked and any number of
other minor nits. A lot of work ahead.
Cond: 3.
NOT SOLD AT $27,000. This was last seen
at Mecum’s August 2016 Monterey sale,
where it failed to sell when bid to $22,500
(ACC# 6808751). Price bid here was market-correct
for a car in this condition and
should have gotten the job done. Perhaps
the light will come on for owner and he will
realize that today’s market demands a
higher-quality offering.
CORVETTE
NOT SOLD AT $37,500. Price bid had to be
close to market correct. Seller just may
have missed an opportunity. This was a
very nice offering, but it was still just a Malibu.
#361-1968 CHEVROLET CAMARO SS
2-dr hard top. VIN: 124378L3000836. Tuxedo
Black/black vinyl/red vinyl. 396-ci V8,
4-bbl, 4-sp. The Super Sport was recognizable
by the unique hood with two inserts
each, with four simulated carburetor stacks.
Red Bumble Bee nose, but sales promotion
material stated not available with Tuxedo
Black. Redline tires. Optional vinyl roof. TicToc-Tach.
Hidden headlamps, which were
#249-1962 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible.
VIN: 20867S110047. Tuxedo
Black/black fabric/black vinyl. Odo: 5,667
miles. 327-ci 340-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. A very
solid example with rich Tuxedo Black livery.
Trim fit excellent, especially on fender piece
that ties in with headlamps. Aftermarket
stereo. Replacement interior properly installed.
Engine bay clean and tidy. Only
issue is aftermarket mags that spoil the
look. Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $73,500. In today’s Corvette
world, the price paid was market-correct.
Values are off a bit, and a few years back
this would have been a bargain, but times
have changed. All square with the world
here.
May–June 2017 111
Page 110
McCORMICK’S // Palm Springs, CA
#260-1965 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible.
VIN: 194675S100927. Rally Red/
white vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 41,136 miles.
327-ci 375-hp fuel-injected V8, 4-sp. Stated
to be fitted with L84 fuel-injected 327 motor,
one of only 771 built. No documentation
offered to support claim. Also fitted with aluminum
knockoffs, a rare option. They
should be dark gray between fins. Paint
very presentable, but top dirty. Brightwork
acceptable, but not show-quality. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $29,400. Price paid was more
than reasonable. Would think this was even
under the money by a few thousand. A welldone
rod with a subtle touch. Well bought.
NOT SOLD AT $75,000. If this Corvette
was born with an L84 motor, then low six
figures was not unreasonable, but some
proof is needed before jumping in. If not,
taking a giant leap of faith. Looks like the
bidders were not willing to take the chance.
#272-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. VIN: 194377S115229. Rally Red/
saddle brown vinyl. Odo: 64,524 miles. 427ci
390-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. A striking Corvette
with the big 427 L36 motor. Fitted with sidepipes
and M20 4-speed manual transmission.
Saddle vinyl interior was not offered
with Rally Red exterior. Paint in good order
and brightwork sparkles. Black stinger. With
interior, I have to wonder what other
changes were made here. Cond: 2+.
#236-1949 FORD CUSTOM Resto convertible.
VIN: 98BAZ32388. Blue/tan fabric/
tan leather. Odo: 2,987 miles. Fuel-injected
V8, auto. A mild resto-mod with a stock look
but LS1 racing motor under the hood. Dyno
tested at 334 horsepower. Independent
front suspension with disc brakes up front
and drums on the rear. Repainted in 2007
and properly maintained since. Dakota Digital
gauges and Vintage Air. Limited use
since build. Won Best of Show at Pleasanton
Goodguys. Cond: 1-.
worn. A trim piece broken. Attractive Yosemite
Yellow livery. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT
$24,150. These have sold for three times
what was paid here and it would not take
much to bring this up a notch or two. A bunch
of potential, so new owner can dive in or just
drive and still come out okay. Well bought.
#266-1955 FORD THUNDERBIRD convertible.
VIN: P5FH209604. Goldenrod
Yellow/black & yellow vinyl. Odo: 19,704
miles. 292-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. First year for
the Thunderbird. Painted in Goldenrod Yellow,
which was introduced mid-year. Stated
to be powered by 312 V8 with 4-barrel,
which would have been the Thunderbird
Special motor from 1956. Fitted with fourway
seat and Ford-O-Matic transmission.
Wire wheel covers, which were also a 1956
option. Aftermarket radio. Tach, air and aluminum
valve covers, which were not on
1955 option list. A number of liberties taken
here. Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $37,275. Strong money for a
T-bird with a bunch of questions. Hope new
owner is not trophy-hunting at a serious
Thunderbird outing. If they just want an attractive
driver, then all is well with the world.
SOLD AT $41,213. An attractive build that
sold for a reasonable price. Willing to bet it
cost more to build than was bid here. Has a
nice stock look but a big surprise under the
hood. Well bought and properly sold, so all
should be happy.
SOLD AT $69,300. We watched this Corvette
sell at McCormick’s November 2014
auction for $65,100 (ACC# 6711257).
Owner put 10,000 miles on the car and
made a couple bucks along the way. It’s all
good!
FOMOCO
#233-1941 FORD 1/2-TON custom pickup.
VIN: 5956728. Tan/tan leather. Odo: 1,745
miles. A very solid presentation of a ’41
Ford pickup with a 350 under the hood. Recent
respray to professional standard. Tan
leather interior with no issues. Grant steering
wheel. Engine compartment sparkles
with lots of brightwork. Orange wheels a
nice touch. Must be a hoot to drive.
Cond: 1-.
112AmericanCarCollector.com
semite Yellow/tan fabric/blue vinyl. Odo:
66,130 miles. 255-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. The
top-of-the-line Monterey included fender
skirts and chrome rocker panels. Recent
engine and transmission rebuild. Bumpers
replated. Power top and power steering.
Push-button radio and front driving lights.
Seating dirty and stained. The header is
#146-1953 MERCURY MONTEREY
convertible. VIN: 53SL43335M. Yo-
#299-1955 FORD FAIRLANE Sunliner
convertible. VIN: U5MC154552. Aqua &
white/white fabric/aqua & white vinyl. Odo:
46,028 miles. 272-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. This
was the top trim package for 1955, with
“Trigger-Torque” power. An attractive car in
the right livery that has a few needs. Fitted
with Magic Air and Ford-O-Matic. Also has
Continental kit and skirts. Wind wing starting
to delaminate. Paint showing a bit of
age with minor scratches and touch-up. Interior
decent, but engine bay needs attention.
Cond: 2-.
SOLD AT $31,500. This was last seen at
McCormick’s February 2007 auction, where
it realized $47,250 (ACC# 1568960). Driven
only 1,000 miles in the past 10 years. Market
is a bit soft in this segment, so price
paid here is in line with current values. Now
get out and enjoy!
BEST
BUY
Page 112
McCORMICK’S // Palm Springs, CA
#258-1958 EDSEL CORSAIR 2-dr hard
top. VIN: X8SW703472. Yellow & black/
yellow & black vinyl. Odo: 87,301 miles.
410-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. The first year for the
famed Edsel. The Corsair was the third step
up in the Edsel lineup. Offered as 2- and
4-door hard tops. Valve covers and aircleaner
painted white. The red E400 markings
indicated torque rather than horsepower.
Teletouch Drive had push-button
transmission in steering-wheel hub. Also
equipped with Dial-A-Temp. Bold paint in
acceptable condition. Brightwork with a few
scratches and minor pitting. Very nice interior.
Dash and especially speedo with Deco
touch. Cond: 2.
quoise. Power top and optional 4-speed
manual. Paint very attractive and interior is
as well. A well-maintained, unusual Mercury
Cond: 1-.
Mustang that is a touch up from a driver.
Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $22,050. The perfect second or
third family car, especially if there is a young
driver in the house. With the small I6 under
the hood, it can’t get in too much trouble,
but still looks good. Sold for a fair price, but
this is a seller who always brings unusual
offerings to McCormick’s.
SOLD AT $24,675. At one point these were
hard to give away, but times have changed.
They’re starting to be appreciated, and values
are increasing. Price paid was a touch
under the money, but the bold livery may
not appeal to all. Drive and enjoy, but be
prepared for the comments.
#318-1961 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL 4-dr
convertible. VIN: 1786H407731. Turquoise
Mist/white vinyl/light blue leather. Odo:
34,102 miles. 430-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. An
imposing automobile that is mounted on
123-inch wheelbase chassis. Body straight
and solid, without the washboard that is
common on the slab sides. Brightwork in
good order. Properly serviced. Cost $6,713
when new. Numerous awards at significant
shows. One of 2,857 produced. Cond: 1-.
#049-1963 FORD GALAXIE 500 sedan.
VIN: 3P62X15297. Black & white/blue vinyl
& fabric. 352-ci V8, 2-bbl, 3-sp. Built as a
replica of Andy Griffith’s sheriff car when he
ruled Mayberry. All the lights and goodies.
Car is not in all that great of condition, with
worn interior and trim scuffed and pitted.
Paint had lost its luster. Still, a fun car for
parades and local shows. Cond: 2-.
NOT SOLD AT $27,000. Before paying a
premium for the GT package, it would be
nice to see some documentation, which was
lacking here. Price offered should have gotten
the job done, considering the needs.
#459-1969 FORD BRONCO Model U 150
utility. VIN: U15GLF35061. Red/black fabric.
Odo: 49,021 miles. 302-ci V8, 2-bbl,
auto. The 4x4 Bronco was offered as the
U-140 pickup or the more popular U-150
wagon. The 302 replaced the 289 as the
optional V8 motor. This example fitted with
all the goodies including roll bar, winch and
aftermarket wheels. In very presentable
condition, and I have to wonder if it has ever
been off road. Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $12,600. Not a lot of money for a
car that will bring a lot of smiles and
thumbs-up. Park it in the driveway and it
might even scare away the bad guys.
SOLD AT $54,600. Price paid was just
about right for a Continental convertible in
this condition. A fun take-the-gang-to-dinner
car and will be guaranteed front-row parking.
Well bought and properly sold.
#256-1963 MERCURY COMET S-22 convertible.
VIN: 3H18U526753. Peacock
Turquoise/white fabric/light blue & white.
Odo: 16,907 miles. 170-ci I6, 1-bbl, 4-sp.
The 1963 Comet Special Series-22 was
easily recognizable due to its six taillights.
Only 5,757 convertibles were produced for
1963. Finished in attractive Peacock Tur-
114AmericanCarCollector.com
#209-1967 FORD MUSTANG GT convertible.
VIN: 7T03C283301. Wimbledon White/
black fabric/black & white vinyl. Odo: 86,884
miles. 289-ci V8, 2-bbl, 3-sp. One of about
25,000 ’67 Mustangs fitted with the GT
package. More than that exist today. Package
included grille-mounted fog lamps,
front-disc brakes, rocker-panel stripes and
badges. Was a $205 option. Numerous
touch-ups and trim scratched. A decent
“
NOT SOLD AT $48,000. These have been
hot property the past few years and have
been selling for amazing numbers. Price
offered here was yesterday’s number, and
seller needs to stay the course and ride the
wave. Will do better next time.
MOPAR
These have been hot property the past
few years and have been selling for
amazing numbers. Price offered here was
yesterday’s number, and seller needs to
stay the course and ride the wave.
#268-1955 DODGE ROYAL LANCER 2-dr
hard top. VIN: 34823865. Heather Rose &
white/black & white fabric. Odo: 77,857
miles. 270-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Recent restoration
to decent standard. Paint attractive
and most brightwork acceptable except for
pitting on taillight frames. Chrome wires an
option. Fitted with Super Red Ram V8 that
1969 Ford Bronco Model U 150 utility
”
Page 113
McCORMICK’S // Palm Springs, CA
produced 183 horsepower. Painted in “La
Femme” livery. An attractive car. Cond: 2+.
Phoenix was the top trim level Dart for
1960. The first digit in the VIN indicates the
engine is the I6. Styling continued in the
rear fins. Recent respray in good order.
Chrome and trim with mild scratches but
nothing serious. Attractive interior. Presented
with original invoice. Cond: 2. SOLD
AT $31,500. Price paid here was a bit of a
surprise, as the amount bid would buy a
solid V8 example. Two bidders wanted this
one, and the “winner” paid the price. Well
sold.
NOT SOLD AT $39,000. This was last seen
at Branson, MO, sale in August of 2008
(ACC# 1641759) where it was rated a 4+
and sold for $19,710. It was stated that a
restoration was out of the question due to
cost. Well, it was attempted, and the seller
was not interested in the reasonable offer
presented here. Now, if this was a real “La
Femme” that was based on the Custom
Royal, that would be another story. Hope
the owner loves his car, as he will have it in
the garage for a while longer.
#096-1958 CHRYSLER WINDSOR 2-dr
hard top. VIN: LC1L1780. Red & white/
white vinyl & red fabric. Odo: 25,300 miles.
354-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. The Windsor was the
entry-level series for 1958, and only 6,200
2-dr hard tops were produced. Body moved
to DeSoto Firesweep chassis in ’58. Someone
took some liberties with sweep on rear
quarter. Respray with noticeable orange
peel. Trim pitted. Steering wheel cracked.
Interior colorful but worn. Cond: 3+.
#436-1999 PLYMOUTH PROWLER w/
trailer convertible. VIN: 1P3EW65G1XV504129.
Red/black fabric/black leather.
Odo: 20,135 miles. 3.5-L fuel-injected V6,
auto. Introduced in 1997 with a MSRP close
to $40,000, but most sold with an upcharge.
The trailer was a $5,000 dealer item. About
11,700 produced during run. Equipped with
air and optional chrome wheels. Well maintained.
Cond: 1-.
interior was in decent condition. In storage
35 years. A Full CCCA Classic. Cond: 2-.
NOT SOLD AT $85,000. It’s unclear what
the seller was thinking here. The price offered
is all the money considering the car is
in need of a full restoration. Sometimes you
just have to wonder.
#303-1949 PACKARD SUPER EIGHT
Custom roadster. VIN: 225299648. Maroon/
maroon leather & cloth. 356-ci I8,
2-bbl, 3-sp. Thought to be prototype built by
Durham as a roadster for Packard’s highend
clients. Stored until early ’70s, when
completed/restored. Features a rumble
seat, removable hard top and four fender
skirts. Kelsey-Hayes wires. Highly raked
windshield. Brightwork in good order. Attractive
interior. History a bit sketchy.
Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $25,750. This was sold a few
months back by McCormick’s at their November
2016 sale for $25,200 (ACC#
6810547), so a slight loss here after fees
are factored in. Slight scuff on bumper repaired.
Sold for the going rate. If you want
one of these, there are plenty to choose
from, and the trailer was thrown in for next
to nothing. Limited use since purchase in
November.
AMERICANA
SOLD AT $22,312. Painted Resale Red for
a turn-and-burn. Price paid seems a bit on
the high side, considering the condition. Will
take a few dollars to clean up the paint and
trim. Have to call this well sold.
#308-1960 DODGE DART 2-dr hard top.
VIN: 4305126747. Cream/red vinyl. Odo:
69,834 miles. 225-ci I6, 1-bbl, auto. The
#464-1932 PIERCE-ARROW MODEL 54
coupe. VIN: 1050743. Tan/brown leather.
Odo: 35,257 miles. The Model 54 was
mounted on a chassis that offered a 137inch
wheelbase. The recognizable Archer
was mounted on the radiator. This example
had never been restored, just maintained as
needed. Dual sidemount paint and
brightwork lacked luster. The brown leather
SOLD AT $11,288. The bullet-nose early
Studebakers are easily recognized and the
convertible is highly prized. This Starlight
coupe sold for not a lot money, but by the
time the new owner is finished, he will be
upside-down unless he can do some of the
heavy lifting on his own. A cheap price is
not always a bargain. A
May–June 2017 115
NOT SOLD AT $92,000. An unusual Packard
without a lot of documentation. Still work
to be done—it needs wiring and other care
to make it roadworthy. Looking for that special
buyer, and he was not in the house.
Seems the bid price should have worked
considering the work still to be done, but
seller had other ideas.
#452-1951 STUDEBAKER STARLIGHT
coupe. VIN: 4430320. Green metallic/ Indian
blanket. Odo: 323 miles. 233-ci V8,
2-bbl, 3-sp. Has the distinctive bullet nose.
The Starlight was the 5-passenger coupe.
Painted in an unusual shade of metallic
green. Interior covered with Indian blanket.
Trim pitted and scratched. Equipped with
optional six-tube push-button radio. A lot of
work ahead on this one. Cond: 3-.
Page 114
GLOBAL
ROUNDUP
Selected Sales Combined in One Comprehensive Report
American Highlights
at Three Auctions
CLASSICS
1
VIN: MC31 312. Eng. # 32018. Black/red
leather. RHD. Odo: 67,254 miles. From the
famed A.K. Miller Collection. Restored several
times since acquired, most recently in
late 2000s. One of three existing supercharged
Stutzes that were engineered for
Le Mans. Low “gun turret” roofline with “helmet-style”
fenders. Exceptional condition.
Numerous awards and Best of Show trophies.
Stunning coachwork. Cond: 1.
#231-1929 STUTZ MODEL M supercharged
Lancefield coupe.
1929 Stutz Model M supercharged Lancefield coupe, sold for $1,705,000 at
rM Sotheby’s amelia Island
Gooding & Company
amelia Island, FL — March 10, 2017
Auctioneer: Charlie Ross
automotive lots sold/offered: 69/88
Sales rate: 78%
Sales total: $30,568,700
high american sale: 2006 Ford GT ex-Chip
Foose coupe, sold at $275,000
Buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold prices
Report and photo by Pierre Hedary
RM Sotheby’s
amelia Island, FL — March 10–11, 2017
Auctioneer: Maarten ten Holder
automotive lots sold/offered: 134/150
Sales rate: 89%
Sales total: $70,769,600
high american sale: 1929 Stutz Model M
supercharged Lancefield coupe, sold at
$1,705,000
Buyer’s premium: 10% included in sale prices
Report and photos by Carl Bomstead
Bonhams
amelia Island, FL — March 9, 2017
auctioneers: Rupert Banner and Malcolm Barber
automotive lots sold/offered: 73/86
Sales rate: 85%
Sales total: $10,549,300
high american sale: 1911 Pierce-Arrow Model
48 tourer, sold at $550,000
Buyer’s premium: 10% included in sale prices
Report and photos by Mark Moskowitz, Jeff
Trepel, Larry Trepel
SOLD AT $1,705,000. Price paid exceeded
expectations, but I doubt if new owner is
concerned. One of the most dramatic classic-era
cars produced. Has style, elegance
and performance. The best! RM Sotheby’s,
Amelia Island, FL, 03/17.
#243-1938 GRAHAM 97 cabriolet.
VIN: 141747. White/blue-green
fabric/blue-green leather. Odo: 50,598
miles. The 1938 Paris Show car. Features
52-inch cantilevered door, folding windshield
and three-position top. 2015 Pebble
Beach award winner. New motor and supercharger
rebuilt for restoration. Deco plasticdash
pieces re-created. Once in Harrah’s
Collection. Full CCCA Classic. Fully documented.
Restored in 2013 by RM Restorations.
Nothing to fault today. Cond: 1.
2
SOLD AT $770,000. A combination of
French Art Deco styling and American engineering.
Price paid was as expected, but I
still feel it was well bought and will prove to
be a wise purchase. Sure to attract a crowd
at every outing. RM Sotheby’s, Amelia
Island, FL, 03/17.
GM
2006 Ford GT ex-Chip Foose coupe, sold for $275,000 at Gooding amelia Island
116 AmericanCarCollector.com
#107-1952 CADILLAC SERIES 62 2-dr
hard top. VIN: 52627564. Eng. # 526279564.
Green/green & white fabric. Odo:
63,203 miles. 331-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Heavy
green metal-flake paint with excess on
TOP 10
TOP 10
Page 115
ROUNDUP
GLOBAL
panel edges. Multiple chips. Ribbing has
peeled away over right rear fender. Mild
pitting of brightwork around windows. Some
scratches in grille. Bumpers appear to have
been rechromed. Very neat, period interior
with great chrome. Nice headliner. New fabric
on seats. Engine compartment highly
detailed. Cond: 3+.
ONETO WATCH
A Focus on Cars That Are Showing Some Financial Upside
SOLD AT $30,800. Said to have won Best
of Show at a local Cadillac LaSalle meet.
Auction house extols its driving and reliability
virtues. The car is attractive and the appearance
exceptional for a driver-quality
car, and improvements needed would be
expensive. With more than 10,000 built, a
base-model Cadillac coupe even in the
marque’s 50th-anniversary year has little
upside. Well sold. Bonhams, Amelia Island,
FL, 03/17.
1852. Red & white/black vinyl. 5.0-L V8,
2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Jerry Titus’s last Trans Amwinning
car. Bright red and white paint with
a number of stone chips. Panels surprisingly
straight. Very neat interior with modern seat
and appropriate-appearing gauges. Fascinating
angle braces, probably not present in
period. Many changes to bring it up to modern
status. Engine compartment neat.
Cond: 3+.
9
#127-1968 PONTIAC TRANS AM
racer 2-dr hard top. VIN: 7L14-
Mustang has been an American
icon ever since its first teaser ad
campaign in 1964. Then, once
the public actually saw the car,
it delivered on all that hype.
Ford sold over 680,000 of them
in the first year alone.
Early first-gen cars —1965
C
SOLD AT $225,000. Presented as the last
car to take aggressive driver and Sports Car
Graphic magazine editor Jerry Titus to a
Trans Am victory. Beautiful panels, Pontiac
body and Chevy engine. I went to the Bonhams’
Library and Data center three times
prior to its offer on the block and found only
an empty box. Not sold on the block for a
bid of $230k, but sold for less subsequently
to either a buyer well informed before the
auction, or to one willing to take a chance.
Bonhams, Amelia Island, FL, 03/17.
CORVETTE
#132-1957 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible.
VIN: E57S105176. Eng. # F612EL.
Red & white/red vinyl. Odo: 507 miles.
Number sold at auction
in the past 12
680,989
Average price of those
cars: $31,088
months: 156
Number listed in the
ACC Premium
Database: 1,310
Current Median ACC
Valuation: $32,725
and 1966 examples — have
been everywhere for years.
Turn on the TV and you’ll see
one. Go to the movies and you’ll
see one. Take a walk? You get
the idea. That long nose and short tail is simply an unavoidable
image and has been since the 1960s.
Because of that, when non-car people think classic car today,
Detailing
Year built: 1965
Number produced:
a bunch of them are going to think Mustang. And when a young
person finally gets that disposable income that comes in their 30s
or 40s and decides to buy a classic car, I’d expect 1965 Mustangs
to be on their short list, next to some 1980s machines. With that,
interest — and prices — may well rise above current levels.
The numbers are already starting to show an uptick in prices
for 1965 models. 2016 saw median prices rise 6%, and so far in
2017, we’re up 29% again, with a current median of $32,725. Of
course, well-restored outliers and originals, like the $82,500 car
we profiled in our March/April 2017 issue, push those medians
higher. Regardless, I think this is one to watch out for as a contender
for further future growth. A
1965 Ford Mustang
ar people know there are thousands of choices out there when it comes to collector
cars to buy. But for the outside world — the world of people who aren’t yet
addicted to cars the same way we are — I’d argue that there are only a few. And
Mustang is at the top of their list.
Why? Simple.
— Jim Pickering
May–June 2017 117
TOP 10
Page 116
GLOBAL
ROUNDUP
283/283 fuel-injected V8, 4-sp. Offered by a
well-respected collector who did not enjoy
tinkering with the fuel injection. Older restoration
with aged but excellent paint. Panel fit
is good or better than new. Trim showing
mild aging with some loss of finish. Windshield
gasket deteriorated. Door handles
appear new. Driver’s seat upholstery appears
worn. Side panels and passenger’s
seat excellent. Dashboard trim is pitted. No
label on glass. Engine clean and neat, but
showing signs of age. Cond: 2-.
thy, with some aging issues. Light pitting on
some chrome parts, aging on others. Wood
is full of life, splitting in some areas, but
generally good with no rot or serious fit issues.
Grain is consistent throughout, indicating
that this one mostly had its original
body when put back together. Interior work
very good and shows a high degree of
craftsmanship. Cond: 2.
Exquisite and painstaking restoration of
Chrysler Town & Country convertible.
Woodwork and panel fit to a very high degree.
Chrome work comparable. Interior
shows good effort, but seats miss the mark
just a little bit. Phillips screws fitted where
there should be flat-heads. Typical fit issues
with wood panels, especially around the
doors and trunk, but this is part of the
charm. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $96,800. Top-of-the-line-powered
Corvette sold at Greenwich, CT, for $99,000
in 2007 (SCM# 1569918) one owner, 10
years and 421 miles ago. First 4-speed Corvette.
Present comps suggest it sold over
market, but if all was as genuine as it
seemed, then the car was bought fairly and
sold well. Bonhams, Amelia Island, FL,
03/17.
FOMOCO
#248-1939 LINCOLN ZEPHYR V12 3-window
coupe. VIN: H66822. Ruby Red/tan
fabric. Odo: 77,612 miles. A very desirable
Lincoln-Zephyr with Art Deco trim and dash.
Distinctive waterfall grille. Powered by
flathead V12 with 2-speed Columbia rear
end. A coupe with minor blems in paint, but
nothing serious. Brightwork in good order.
Wonderful streamlined styling. Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $66,000. From single-family ownership,
this one sold right in the middle of its
estimate range. Indeed, it was one of the
most popular cars here, and this example
sold for a realistic price. Look for more
woodies at Gooding’s sale next year. Hopefully
the new owner uses it occasionally.
Gooding & Co., Amelia, FL, 03/17.
MOPAR
#253-1947 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY
convertible. VIN: 7404990. Yellow
Lustre/tan canvas/brown leather & tan fabric.
Odo: 44,861 miles. 324-ci I8, 1-bbl,
auto. An attractive T&C with very nice original
wood and interior. Has Fluid Drive with
Prestomatic semi-automatic transmission.
Has dashboard clock and center bumper
guard. Power-operated top. Some replating.
Very attractive and is stated to be an excellent
road car. Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $99,000. Another optimistically
priced American car, but still seemed like a
good deal considering the fact it is a Full
Classic. Sold for $11k below the low estimate,
which seems fair considering the cost
of upkeep. Gooding & Co., Amelia, FL,
03/17.
#146-2004 DODGE VIPER Mamba Editon
convertible. VIN: 1B3JZ65Z65V501121.
Silver/black fabric/black & red leather. Odo:
768 miles. 8.3-L fuel-injected V10, 6-sp.
Paint appears original and body unsullied. A
few touch-ups noted. Does not appear to
have been previously damaged; panels are
straight. Wheels have curb rash. Interior is
without rips, tears or wrinkles; it could afford
to be a bit cleaner. Engine compartment
clean and neat. Cond: 2-.
SOLD AT $154,000. Offered at no reserve
and sold for a bit under expectations. Paul
Teutul Jr.—star of “American Chopper”—
was most likely looking for more, but the
market has spoken. Based on other LincolnZephyr
recent sales, I’lll call this well
bought. RM Sotheby’s, Amelia Island, FL,
03/17.
#30-1941 FORD DELUXE woodie wagon.
VIN: 186301246. Blue w/ wood paneling/
brown naugahyde. Odo: 74,619 miles.
Woodies were all the rage here, with three
available. Paint application was praisewor-
118 AmericanCarCollector.com
SOLD AT $104,500. This was last seen at
Auction America’s 2015 Fort Lauderdale
sale, where it didn’t sell at $130,000. The
market for Town & Countrys has gone
south, and the price paid here is the new
reality. Properly sold and bought at the market-correct
price. RM Sotheby’s, Amelia
Island, FL, 03/17.
#12-1948 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY
convertible. VIN: 7404999. Green metallic
w/ wood paneling/tan fabric/white leather.
Odo: 86,700 miles. 324-ci I8, 1-bbl, auto.
SOLD AT $48,400. Though not during this
series, this is the brand of car that has had
more special editions than most experts can
name. The Mamba’s features were mostly
cosmetic and not mechanical, and the interior
upgrades are a matter of taste. Buyer
paid a 10% premium for low mileage and
received a brutally fast and moderately uncomfortable
sports car. I see little upside
here. Bonhams, Amelia Island, FL, 03/17.
AMERICANA
3
Eng. # 901140. Black/tan fabric/red leather.
Odo: 210 miles. The second convertible
Victoria built and bought as a gift from Mrs.
Vanderbilt to her son. Acquired in 2012,
#233-1933 PACKARD TWELVE
Victoria convertible. VIN: 901136.
TOP 10
Page 117
with only 20,000 miles showing. Restored to
correct standard. Numerous awards since.
Engine compartment sparkles. Wood interior
trim perfect. Twin spotlights and Pilot
Rays. A stunning Packard Twelve. Cond: 1.
Mild pitting of door handles and luggage
rack and severe pitting and peeling of window
trim. Chauffeur’s seat is reupholstered
in vinyl. What is said to be original fabric
covers rear seat and doors. Excellent headliner.
Faux bois dashboard cracked and
distorted. Engine compartment well detailed
with great engine paint. Cond: 2-.
SOLD AT $522,500. For those who think
the Full Classics have seen their day, this
should give them food for thought. A quality
offering will still bring solid money, and for a
factory body to bring over $500k speaks to
the desirability of quality Packards. A wonderful
motorcar. RM Sotheby’s, Amelia
Island, FL, 03/17.
#131-1941 PACKARD 180 Custom sedan.
VIN: 13322132. Black/black composite/
brown vinyl. Odo: 63,221 miles. Classic
Packard limousine, purchased by the consignor
in pieces and reassembled over a
year. Only the hood and fenders required
repaint. Panels are straight and door fit is
excellent, as is bumper and grille chrome.
SOLD AT $36,300. Unless out in the field,
no car was displayed farther from the action.
At the periphery of the Bonhams display,
this car was still imposing. With its
148-inch wheelbase, luxury appointments
and quality prep, the limousine was seductive.
Then reality set in: Where can I find a
space big enough to store it? How many
hours will it take to wash and wax it? These
non-coachbuilt, non-open Packards and
other classics have retreated in this marketplace...but
not this much. Well bought. Bonhams,
Amelia Island, FL, 03/17. A
May–June 2017 119
Page 118
The Parts Hunter
Pat Smith
A Vintage Speed Parts Jamboree
Going fast back in the day always cost money.
Want to do it again? Expect to pay more
piece of the aluminum that is broken off on the lower part of the shifter and a crack on the
steel bracket where it attaches to the transmission that could be welded.”
Sold at $49.99.
After winning the Indy 500, Mario Andretti made a deal with Sparkomatic to endorse a shifter
called the Mario Andretti 500. The handle was a palm-grip design with M/A500 stamped in it.
This piece is missing. Sparkomatic retained Andretti’s autograph on the stalks long after the
contract expired, and this sparked a lawsuit in 1978. A signed one in good, complete shape is
rare. New owner needs to find the handle and do repairs. Otherwise it’s a nice period piece
from the ’60s. Lots of teens set up their first or second ride with one of these mediocre-quality
units. Great curio from an era when Sparkomatic meant cheap speed parts, not stereos.
#172496170006 Halibrand Magnesium Wheels, vintage
12-inch. 12 photos. Condition: Used. eBay. Jamul,
CA. 1/28/2017.
“No-reserve auction starting at $400 for a set of four
Halibrand wheels shown in the pictures. Two of the
wheels are four-lug pattern and two of the wheels are
eight-lug pattern. The eight-hole wheels will fit the same
pattern as the four-hole wheel using the corresponding
holes. Meant for tubed tires due to magnesium’s porous
qualities. I found these through a friend who had these
stored in her dry garage in San Diego.”
Sold at $450.
The Gasser craze took off many years ago and is still going strong, with magazines still
dedicating issues to the dragster form. Kidney-bean Halibrands are also popular with streetrod
builders, so there’s a fair-sized market for a good set of originals. Magnesium stopped
being used in aftermarket wheels because it ignites very easily with abrasions and burns like
crazy. Aluminum became the better choice. Limiting factor here is the 12-inch diameter, which
means sports car or oval-track racer. This set needs polishing and the right car, but less than
$113 per wheel for favored retro rolling stock should be a pretty good deal in anyone’s book.
#122381158494 Sparkomatic Mario Andretti
3-speed shifter. 12 photos. Condition: Used.
eBay. Hazel Green, AL. 3/12/2017.
“You are purchasing a cool old Sparkomatic
Mario Andretti 3-speed shifter. This may be
a universal shifter to fit many applications.
Clean it to your desired look. Great for an old
hot rod or rat rod project. Not sure of the year
of production, but the cast aluminum housing
makes me think late 1960s. There is a small
#311801283976
NOS Vintage Cal
Custom Finned
and Polished
BB Chevy Valve
Covers, Original
Box. 12 photos.
Condition: NOS. eBay. Fallbrook, CA.
3/14/2017.
“Here’s an NOS pair of Cal Custom bigblock
Chevy finned and polished valve covers
in the original box. The box label states
the covers are p/n 7014 (40-2100) and are
for 396, 427 and 454 engines made from
1965 to 1974. They have never been used
and only removed from the box to inspect
them. They have been on a shelf in my
garage for perhaps 30 years or more. The
box is a little dirty and worn on the ends.”
Sold at $250.
Cal Custom used to be in every car mag in
the ’60s with two-page ads of cheesy lines
and headshots of babes. The firm got their
start in the early ’60s selling metalflake paint
and branched out quickly into speed parts.
A big favorite was their finned valve covers.
We come across them at swapmeets often
in worn-out condition. New-In-Box shape is
pretty scarce for big-block parts, as most
of these engines are on their third (or more)
rebuild by now. Price paid is at the top
end, but when will you find a pair this good
again?
ders making speed parts for Flathead V8s. Vic made his own design called the “Slingshot,” but only a 100 or so were tooled before the Pearl
Harbor attack took place. Thickstun died in 1946, and his business and tooling were snapped up by Tattersfield, who adapted the design to
work with the 235 Flathead. Modern repros by Motor City and Tony Barron exist. Vintage Flathead speed equipment has been in high demand
for years now. Price paid here was high but not out of line.
#192095726664 Thickstun Flathead Ford/Mercury V8 Intake Manifold, Hot Rod. 8 photos.
Condition: New. eBay. San Mateo, CA. 2/13/2017.
“This is the Thickstun tall dual-carburetor aluminum intake manifold for the flathead Ford V8
engine. It allows the generator to remain in the stock position. It comes with all-new studs, nuts
and generator bolt. Perfect to dress up the flathead engine for your roadster, Bonneville, SCTA
project, hot rod, rat rod, street rod, T-bucket or kool custom.”
Sold at $575.
Tommy Thickstun, along with Vic Edelbrock, was part of the first wave of pre-World War II rod-
120 AmericanCarCollector.com
Page 119
No text,
a product match-up list that goes for 12 pages listing
everything from an Iron Duke to an L88.
Sold at $63.86.
For what was once a common part, prices have gone wild.
Winning bid of $63
No text, just a product match-up list that goes for 12 pages listing
everything from an Iron Duke to an L88.
Sold at $63.86.
For what was once a common part, prices have gone wild.
Winning bid of $63 and change is on the cheap end of the scale.
The price went as high as $129 for one part completely nude but
excellent otherwise. I remember having a bunch of oil-filler caps in
a tray while supervising a lube shop in the 1980s. We’d install one
if a customer was missing his. Hate to do it, but have to call this
one bargain-priced.A
May–June 2017 121
Page 120
JUNKYARD TREASURES
Classic cars are often grouped together, such as this pile of Chevrolet Chevelles with this 1965 hard-top body atop the heap
Busting Rust
in Oklahoma
Story and photos by Phil Skinner
parts from other parts yards.
As often happens, other business opportunities arose, primarily
F
the need for disposing of sheet metal that had no value as a part. Tim
bought a crushing machine, and the business has continued to grow.
A number of vintage cars and trucks started to come to the
Rustbusters yard, and Johnson spared these from the crusher.
Hydro, OK, located near Weatherford, is considered fairly rural,
with a lot of ranching and agricultural business. As a result, there
is an over-abundance of pickup trucks and even some vintage farm
equipment in the mix. A lot of the metal is destined to be shredded,
but we were able to pick out a number of
vehicles that have plenty of potential for
the restorer or collector.
“Over the years, we have shipped
Detailing
What: Rustbusters
Where: 1121 County
Road 1022, Hydro, OK
73048-9791
Hours: Monday to Friday,
9:00 a.m. to 5 p.m.;
Saturday by appointment
Phone: 405.663.2940
Email: rustbusters2002@
yahoo.com
Facebook: RustbustersSalvage
122 AmericanCarCollector.com
parts all over the world,” Johnson told
us. “My son is my right-hand man.” His
secretary has been with him since the
business began, and as both Tim and
Cheryl pointed out, they might not be
married any longer, but they are good
friends and both enjoy the business.
While a visit to the yard is always
fun, they do cater to the phone and
Internet. If you go, bring your boots and
be prepared to do some hiking. A
We found lots of interesting trucks such as this 1954 Chevy
3600 Series flatbed waiting to come back to life
no front sheet metal, but the Imperial hemi V8 and rear
sheet metal survive on this 1957 Imperial Crown convertible
or Timothy Johnson and his family, old metal has been a
way of life since the early 1980s.
Back then, Tim and his then-wife Cheryl found there was
a need for rust-free parts for cars and trucks in Wisconsin.
Founding the company “Rustbusters,” at first they purchased
Page 122
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with VISA/MC or check.
25 words max, subject to editing. Deadline: 1st of each month, one month
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GM
1956 Pontiac Star Chief Custom
Catalina 2-dr hard top
1967 Chevrolet Camaro RS/SS coupe
S/N E57S101498. Black/red. V8, 3-spd
manual. 283/270 hp, 3-speed. NCRS Top
Flight (2016). Ownership history back to
1968. Two tops (hard top unrestored). Two
sets of wheels and tires. Judging sheets
available. Send email for photo gallery.
Contact Jim, Ph: 253.845.3975, email:
james.shepherd7@comcast.net. (WA)
1970 Chevrolet Corvette convertible
S/N 19467OS410099. Monza Red/Saddle
leather. 65,000 miles. V8, 4-spd manual.
350/350 hp with manual transmission.
Original and unrestored. NCRS 2nd
Flight. Needs frame repair. New Saddlecolored
top. Ridgetop Restorations.
Contact Mark, Ph: 715.385.3341, email:
daddy19581955@yahoo.com. (WI)
S/N C856H10768. Sandalwood & Sun
Beige/Sandalwood & Sun Beige leather.
62,300 miles. V8, automatic. Factory 317
ci, 4-barrel carburetor, Hydramatic. Low
miles, drives nice, overall very good condition.
Professional repaint in 2006, much
trim rechromed/buffed. Newer Coker radial
tires. Original nice matching leather interior.
Comes with lots of literature, sales brochures,
etc. No PS or PB, clock does not
work. Have 2012 appraisal for $28k. Owned
11 years. Located in Portland with ’56 Oregon
license plates. $24,000 OBO. Contact
Tim, Ph: 971.279.5878. Email: twgodfrey@
hotmail.com (OR)
1963 Chevrolet Impala SS 2-dr hard
top
S/N 31847J170795. Dark green/78,000
miles. V8, 2-sp automatic. 327/300hp, Iowa
car, excellent condition. Contact Don, Ph:
1.226.421.2328. (ON)
1967 Pontiac GTO HO convertible
Signet Gold/black. 80,604 miles. V8, 4-sp
manual. This GTO is a real 4-speed HO
car. One of 1,591 HO convertibles built in
1967. Drivetrain is NOM, but engine was
rebuilt to HO 360-hp specs. Full body-off
rotisserie restoration in 2005 with less than
1,000 miles since. PS, PB with front discs
and tilt wheel. $80,000 OBO. Contact David,
Email: dpilkins@yahoo.com (VA)
124 AmericanCarCollector.com
Willow Gold/black vinyl. 113,000 miles. V8,
3-spd automatic. All numbers matching! I
have owned this 442 since 1986. This car is
equipped from the factory with power seat,
remote mirror, Rallye stripe, AM-FM stereo,
sport wheel, power steering, air conditioning
and vinyl roof. It was repainted the
factory original color Willow Gold in 1988.
New vinyl top at time of paint. Body is in
really nice condition with no rust. Chrome
bumpers have been replated. Car always
stored inside. Newer 2½-inch exhaust with
balance tube and stock trumpet outlets. It
is in excellent condition and has a rebuilt
numbers-matching TH400 automatic.
Contact Fred, Ph: 919.418.0337, email:
fredough@aol.com. (NC)
1979 Pontiac Trans Am coupe
S/N 124377L109731. BMW Glacier Silver
Pearl/black & gray leather & vinyl. 240
miles. V8, 6-spd automatic. Show-quality
custom with modern 430-hp LS3 engine
and 6-speed automatic transmission. Allnew
systems including electrical, brake,
cooling, fuel and exhaust. Power seats,
windows, brakes and steering. New leather
and vinyl upholstery. Listed on Craigslist,
Fresno, CA, for additional photos,
description and pricing. Contact Jim, Ph:
559.353.4637, email: jim_ish@yahoo.
com. (CA)
1968 Oldsmobile 442 2-dr hard top
1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 2-dr
hard top
Rallye Green & white stripes/black. 94,000
miles. V8, 4-spd manual. Numbers matching,
rebuilt original DZ302, M20 4-speed,
PS, PB, ZL2 hood, standard interior, gauges
and console. Nut-and-bolt restoration,
one respray since new. very clean #2 condition.
Contact Charles, Ph: 206.427.9606,
email: cottageblue@msn.com. (WA)
FOMOCO
1956 Lincoln Premier 2-dr hard top
S/N 3N551076. White/tan. 106,000 miles.
V8, automatic. All original except for lower
front seat leather. From the West Coast,
excellent condition with 106k miles, PS,
PB, power windows, power seats. Everything
works but radio needs new vibrator.
Great driver, always garaged, just tuned,
all records since 1994. Additional images
and info available. Contact Albert, Ph:
814.466.6115, email: bav1140@comcast.
net.
1976 Dodge B200 custom van
Black/tan. 2,879,159,334 miles. V8, 4-sp
manual. 6.6-L (403-ci), 4-bbl carb, manual
trans., W72 package, WS6 package, Pontiac
Historical Society documentation. Extensive
history/documentation including window
sticker, contract application, original 10-day
temporary permit, copies of titles and sales
of the car, repair orders dating back to 1979,
log book kept by owner in the ’80s, original
warranty info with original owner’s name
and original owner’s manual. $30,000 OBO.
Contact Craig, Ph: 214.232.2608. Email:
craigbas77@gmail.com (TX)
CORVETTE
1957 Chevrolet Corvette convertible
Black/Blackwood Bed/black. 71,000
miles. V8, 4-spd automatic. Blackwood
was Lincoln’s effort to beat Cadillac to the
luxury truck market. The factory really went
beyond normal trucks, using an aluminum
bedliner with LED lighting. There were
only about 3,300 produced for 2002, which
makes it a modern-day unicorn. The truck
has recently had a full tune-up, new brakes
and the wheels detailed. Please feel free
to contact me with any questions you may
have. Contact Jay, Ph: 310.902.0698,
email: azvetmn@yahoo.com. (AZ)
MOPAR
1955 Chrysler C300 2-dr hard top
V8, automatic. Two owners, with last ownership
from 1971. 260 V8, rebuilt a few
years back, power top, power steering. New
radiator, heater core, water pump, gas tank,
updated to new dual master cylinder, new
brake lines, rebuilt power steering valve
and slave, all-original interior, new battery.
This car is a nice driver, and retains a lot of
originality. $24,500 OBO. Tom Miller Sports
Cars. Contact Thomas, Ph: 908.693.5723.
Email: tom@millersportscars.com (NJ)
2002 Lincoln Blackwood 4-dr pickup
Black/red. 62,000 miles. V8, 368-ci engine,
power steering, brakes and windows, original
interior, dual mirrors, road lamps and
radial tires. $21,500. OBO. Contact John,
Ph: 216.341.0397. (OH)
1964 Ford Mustang convertible
Yellow/black vinyl, shag carpet, diamond
plate & faux fur. V8, 3-spd automatic. Good
times, old-school shaggin’ wagon with
double side doors. These short-wheelbase
vans were everywhere in the ’70s and ’80s.
Just try to find a solid, mostly original one
now. Most are rusted out and off to the car
crusher. Originally an Arizona van and is
mostly rust-free. Runs great with many
upgrades including complete new wiring,
Edelbrock carb, new 2½-inch exhaust,
headers, brand-new seats (with swivel
captain’s chair bases), rare Mopar Performance
hood with scoop, and more. Email
for full details. A few needs to be show
Page 123
Showcase Gallery
ready, with the biggest item being some
minor body work and a paint job. Trades
considered. Contact Stan, email: bighifive@
sbcglobal.net. (TX)
RACE
1960 Indianapolis rear-engine racer
Blue/black. V8, Believed to be an early
’60s rear-engine Indy car. Has small-block
Chevrolet engine, 2-speed Halibrand
H-2210 gearbox, Hilborm fuel injection
and NHRA blast-prop bell housing, Vertex
magneto and Weaver Bros dry-sump oiling
system and period wheels. Engine
does run. $69,500 OBO. Contact Phil, Ph:
317.432.0414. Email: rockg930@gmail.
com (IN) A
FOLLOW
ACC
May–June 2017 125
Page 124
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, customs and
automobilia. Headquartered at the
historic Auburn Auction Park in
Indiana, Auctions America boasts
an expert team of full-time specialists
who offer 190 years’ combined
experience, making them uniquely
qualified to advise on all aspects
of the hobby.
www.auctionsamerica.com. (IN)
Barrett-Jackson Auction. 480421-6694.
480-421-6697. For over
four decades, the Barrett-Jackson
Auction Company has been
recognized throughout the world
for offering only the finest selection
of quality collector vehicles, outstanding
professional service and
an unrivaled sales success. From
classic and one-of-a-kind cars to
exotics and muscle cars, BarrettJackson
attracts only the best. Our
auctions have captured the true
essence of a passionate obsession
with cars that extends to collectors
and enthusiasts throughout
the world. A television audience
of millions watches unique and
select vehicles while attendees
enjoy a lifestyle experience featuring
fine art, fashion and gourmet
cuisine. In every way, the legend
is unsurpassed. N. Scottsdale Rd,
Scottsdale, AZ 85251.
info@barrett-jackson.com.
www.barrett-jackson.com. (AZ)
Bonhams is the largest auction
house to hold scheduled sales
of classic and vintage motorcars,
motorcycles and car memorabilia,
with auctions held globally in
conjunction with internationally
renowned motoring events.
Bonhams holds the world-record
price for any motorcar sold at auction,
as well as for many premier
marques.
San Francisco: 415-391-4000
New York: 212-644-9001
Los Angeles: 323-850-7500
London: +44 20 7447-7447
Paris: +33 1 42 61 10 10
www.bonhams.com/motors
126 AmericanCarCollector.com
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
(OR)
Leake Auctions. 800-722-9942.
Leake Auction Company was
established in 1972 as one of the
first car auctions in the country.
More than 40 years later, Leake
has sold over 34,000 cars and
currently operates auctions in
Tulsa, Oklahoma City and Dallas.
Recently they have been featured
on several episodes of three
different reality TV series — “Fast
N Loud” on Discovery, “Dallas Car
Sharks” on Velocity and “The Car
Chasers” on CNBC Prime.
www.leakecar.com. (OK)
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.
Join us for the Gulf Coast
Classic March 17 & 18, in Punta
Gorda, FL.
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)
RM Sotheby’s, Inc. 800-2114371.
RM Sotheby’s is the world’s
largest collector car auction house
for investment-quality automobiles.
With 35 years’ experience, RM
Sotheby’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.RMSothebys.com. (CAN)
Palm Springs Auctions Inc.
Keith McCormick. 760-320-3290.
Family owned and operated for
28 years. Producing two large
classic car auctions per year in
Palm Springs, CA. Each auction
features over 500 cars. Held in
November and February every
year. www.classic-carauction.com
39th St., Phoenix, AZ 85040.
info@russoandsteele.com,
www.russoandsteele.com. (AZ)
Silver Auctions. 800-255-4485.
2020 N. Monroe, Spokane, WA
99205. silver@silverauctions.com.
www.silverauctions.com. (WA)
Worldwide Auctioneers. 866273-6394.
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)
Buy/Sell/General
21 South Auto Gallery. 480-9866460.
Located in Mesa, AZ, 21
South Auto Gallery specializes in
the sale of high-quality European
sports cars and American muscle.
Whether you are looking for an
investment-grade collector car or
a fun weekend cruiser, we would
love to make your dreams a reality.
We also buy classic cars in any
condition. (AZ)
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 County Fairgrounds,
Russo and Steele Collector
Automobiles. 602-252-2697.
Specializing in the finest American
muscle, hot rods and custom
automobiles and European sports;
Russo and Steele hosts three
record-breaking auctions per year;
Newport Beach in June; Monterey,
CA, every August; and Scottsdale,
AZ, every January. As one of
the premier auction events in the
United States, Russo and Steele
has developed a reputation for its
superior customer service and for
having the most experienced and
informed experts in the industry.
Fax: 602.252.6260. 5230 South
Allard Motor Works LLC. The
Allard Motor Works J2X is a handcrafted
version of the famed British
competition roadster that stirred
the crowds in Europe and the
Americas in the early 1950s. Our
modern J2X MkIII, recognized by
the Allard Register, integrates the
latest technology into the original
design, to provide a safe, comfortable
and reliable vehicle without
compromising performance.
www.allardj2x.com • info@
allardj2x.com • 877-J2X-1953 •
facebook.com/allardj2x.com
Page 125
Classic Car Dashes.
Sales@ClassicCarDashes.com.
Specializing in reproduction and
replacement dash pads for many
of your favorite cars, trucks and
SUVs. Each pad is manufactured
as close as possible to original
specs. All dash pads offer quality
in both fit and appearance and are
manufactured in the U.S.
www.ClassicCarDashes.com (PA)
Classic Fit Covers.
sales@ClassicFitCovers.com.
Welcome to Classic Fit Covers.
We specialize in custom fit car
covers and seat protectors for
classic and modern vehicles. At
Classic Fit Covers you get quality
materials, superior craftsmanship
and fast delivery...all at a great
price. We have you covered!
www.ClassicFitCovers.com (PA)
our dealership is locally owned and
independently operated. The fouracre
Park Place Center features
an Aston Martin sales and service
center, a Lotus dealership, and we
have one of the largest selections
of collector & exotic cars available
in the Northwest. We consign, buy
and sell all types of vehicles. We
also have an in-house service center
and high-end Auto Salon.
www.ParkPlaceLtd.com (WA)
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
classic 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
Passport Transport. 800-7360575.
Since our founding in 1970,
we have shipped thousands of
treasured vehicles door-to-door
with our fully enclosed auto transporters.
Whether your prized possession
is your daily driver, a
vintage race car, a classic, a ’60s
muscle car or a modern exotic,
you can depend on Passport
Transport to give you the premium
service it deserves. We share your
appreciation for fine automobiles,
and it shows.
www.PassportTransport.com.
binders susceptible to loss or
damage. Let our professionals
take those binders and turn them
into organized, protected, transferable
digital resources — all for
less than the cost of a high-end
detailing service. Learn more at
ridecache.com/ACC.
Corvette Parts &
Restoration
Mid America Motorworks.
800-500-1500. America’s leader
in 1953–2016 Corvette parts
and accessories. Request a free
catalog at www.mamotorworks.
com. (IL)
Motorcar Portfolio LLC. 330-4538900.
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 website
www.motorcarportfolio.com (OH)
Intercity Lines Inc. 800-221-3936.
Gripping the wheel of your dream
car and starting the engine for the
first time is a high point for any
enthusiast. We are the premier
enclosed auto transport company
that will ensure your car arrives
safely for that experience. For over
35 years our standards for excellence
have clients returning time
and time again. Trust the Best.
Trust Intercity Lines.
www.Intercitylines.com.
Mustang America. 844-249-5135.
Mustang America is a new company
initially specializing in first
generation (1965–1973) Mustang
parts, interiors and accessories.
Launched by Corvette America,
Mustang America provides the
same level of world-class customer
service, product quality and
fast delivery. We look forward to
serving the vintage Mustang enthusiast.
www.MustangAmerica.com (PA)
Park Place LTD. 425-562-1000.
Founded in 1987 in Bellevue, WA,
Reliable Carriers Inc. 877-7447889.
As the country’s largest
enclosed-auto transport company,
Reliable Carriers faithfully serves
all 48 contiguous United States
and Canada. Whether you’ve entered
a concours event, need a
relocation, are attending a corporate
event or shipping the car of
your dreams from one location to
another, one American transportation
company does it all.
www.reliablecarriers.com
Volunteer Vette Products. 865521-9100.
1963–2004 Corvette
Parts and Accessories. Supplying
Corvette restoration parts and
accessories for 30 years. Visit our
website at
www.volvette.com and take advantage
of the Free Shipping offer
on orders over $150. You can also
speak with us directly by calling
865-521-9100. New parts are
added daily, so if you can’t find it,
give us a call. (TN)
McCollister’s Auto Transport.
800-748-3160.
Thomas C. Sunday Inc. 800541-6601.
Established in 1970,
Thomas C. Sunday Inc. provides
clients with fully enclosed, crosscountry,
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:
We have transported thousands of
collector vehicles over the past 35
years all across the United States,
whether they are moving an
exotic, street rod, vintage racer or
muscle car. With our experienced
drivers trained to ensure the finest
protection and our customized,
lift-gated, air-ride trailers, we make
sure your vehicle safely arrives
on time. www.McCollisters.com/
AutoTransport
info@sundayautotransport.com
Collection Management
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
RideCache – Organize, Manage,
Preserve your Collection. Your
documentation represents 5% or
more of your vehicle’s value — yet
it is fading away in folders and
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! 503256-5384
(p), 503-256-4767 (f)
www.thechevystore.com (OR)
May–June 2017 127
Page 126
RESOURCE DIRECTORY
Put your company in the ACC Resource Directory. Call 877.219.2605 Ext. 218,
or email advert@americancarcollector.com
Events—Concours,
Car Shows
Leasing-Finance
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.
The Quail, A Motorsports
Gathering. 831-620-8879.
A prominent component of
Monterey Car Week, The Quail
is a world-renowned motorsports
event featuring one of the world’s
finest and rarest collections of
vintage automobiles and motorcycles.
The Quail maintains its
intimacy and exclusivity by limiting
admission through lottery ticket
allocations. Admission is inclusive
of six gourmet culinary pavilions,
caviar, oysters, fine wines,
specialty cocktails, champagne,
and more. Web: signatureevents.
peninsula.com. (CA)
J.J. BEST BANC & CO. provides
financing on classic cars ranging
from 1900 to today. Visit our website
at www.jjbest.com or call
1-800-USA-1965 and get a loan
approval in as little as five minutes!
Grundy Insurance. 888-6478639.
James A. Grundy invented
Agreed Value Insurance in 1947;
no one knows more about insuring
collector cars than Grundy! With
no mileage limitations, zero deductible*,
low rates, and high liability
limits, our coverages are
specifically designed for collector
car owners. Grundy can also insure
your daily drivers, pickup
trucks, trailers, motorhomes and
more — all on one policy and all at
their Agreed Value.
www.grundy.com (PA)
Riverside Military Academy
Champions and Heroes.
404-237-2633.. June 2–4, 2017
A 3-day hijinx competitive rally,
1-mile driver time trial and
juried Contest of Elegance for
Champions and Heroes (race
cars through 1974) from the
Carmel Concours on the Avenue
producer. info@rmachampionsandheroes.com,
www.rmacham-
pionsandheroes.com (CA)
Insurance
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)
Premier Financial Services. 877973-7700.
Since 1997, renowned
customer service and honest leasing
practices have made Premier
the nation’s leading lessor of luxury
and performance motorcars.
We are small enough to ensure
your business gets the attention it
deserves, and large enough to
finance any new, used, or vintage
car over $50,000. Contact Premier
at 877-973-7700 or info@pfsllc.
com. www.premierfinancialservices.com
(CT)
drop for your next event. Home to
500 fabulous collector cars, worldclass
art exhibits, and assorted
ephemera, consider your next
event here. Weddings, swapmeets,
conventions, auctions. The
facility can likely exceed your expectations.
Visit during the 37th
annual open house along with
13,000 other enthusiasts. 253272-2336
www.lemaymarymount.org. (WA)
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
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 (NJ)
128 AmericanCarCollector.com
J.C. Taylor Insurance. 800-3458290.
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)
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)
Museums
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.
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.
LeMay Family Collection
Foundation. LeMay Family
Collection Foundation at
Marymount Events Center near
Tacoma, WA, hosts an epic back-
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
Page 127
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)
manufactures and stocks over
75,000 of the finest restoration parts
and accessories for GM classics, at
the best prices anywhere. The largest
selection of Chevelle, El Camino,
Monte Carlo, GTO, Le Mans,
Tempest, Gran Prix, Bonneville,
Catalina, Cutlass, 442, Skylark, GS,
Riviera and Cadillac classic parts
anywhere. Visit www.OPGI.com or
call 800-243-8355. (CA)
Evans Waterless Coolant is the
solution to running too hot. With a
boiling point of 375°F, our revolutionary
liquid formulation is a superior
alternative to water-based
coolants. Evans eliminates water
vapor, hotspots and boil-over,
resulting in a less pressurized,
more efficient cooling system and
preventing corrosion, electrolysis
and pump cavitation. Evans also
protects down to -40°F and lasts
the lifetime of the engine.
See how it works at
www.evanscoolant.com (CT)
Race Ramps. 866-464-2788.
Lighter. Safer. Stronger. Offering
the ultimate way to display and
work on collector cars — including
detailing, restyling and general
maintenance. Race Ramps provides
solutions even for low clearance
cars. Complete line includes
Trailer Ramps, Service Ramps,
Rack and Lift Ramps, and the bestselling
FlatStoppers to prevent tires
from flat spotting during long periods
of storage. www.raceramps.
com. (MI)
Evapo-Rust® 888-329-9877.
Evapo-Rust® rust remover is safe
on skin and all materials except
rust! It’s also biodegradable and
earth-friendly. Water soluble and
pH-neutral, Evapo-Rust® is nontoxic,
non-corrosive, non-flammable,
and contains no acids, bases
or solvents. Evapo-Rust® is simply
the safest rust remover.
www.evapo-rust.com
info@evapo-rust.com (AR)
Super Chevrolet Parts Co.
503-256-0098. Restoring Classic
Chevrolets Since 1980. Serving
the Chevrolet enthusiast for over 25
years. Since 1980, we have provided
the highest quality restoration
parts and accessories for:
1967–1981 Camaro
1964–1972 Chevelle & El Camino
1962–1972 Nova
Store Hours:
Tuesday–Friday 9:00 am–5:00 pm,
Saturday 10:00 am–3:00 pm.
Closed Sunday and Monday. 8705
SE Stark St, Portland OR 97216.
sales@superchev.com
www.superchev.com (OR)
Restoration—General
National Parts Depot. 800-8747595.
We stock huge inventories
of concours-correct restoration
parts for:
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
Cosmopolitan Motors LLC. 206467-6531.
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.cosmopolitanmotors.com
(WA)
Located in Irvine, CA, the Classic
Center is the only sales and restoration
facility in the U.S. exclusively
operated by Mercedes-Benz. Over
50,000 Genuine Mercedes-Benz
Classic Parts in its assortment.
From small services to full groundup
restorations, work is always true
to original. Ever-changing showcase
of for-sale vehicles. We are
your trusted source. www.mbclassiccenter.com.
(CA)
Mercedes-Benz Classic Center.
1-866-MB-CLASSIC. (1-866-6225277).
The trusted center of competence
for all classic
Mercedes-Benz enthusiasts.
Park Place LTD. 425-562-1000.
Founded in 1987 in Bellevue, WA,
our dealership is locally owned and
independently operated. Our restoration
department works full time to
restore vehicles of every year,
make and model to provide an
award-winning finish. We consign,
buy and sell all types of vehicles.
We also have an in-house service
center and high-end Auto Salon.
www.ParkPlaceLtd.com A
Advertisers Index
Corvette America. 800-458-3475.
The No. 1 manufacturer and supplier
of interiors, parts and wheels
for all generations of Corvettes.
Our Pennsylvania manufacturing
facility produces the finest quality
Corvette interiors and our distribution
center is stocked with thousands
of additional Corvetterelated
products. Corvette America
is a member of the RPUI family of
companies. Visit
www.CorvetteAmerica.com (PA)
Original Parts Group Inc. With
over 30 years’ experience, OPGI
American Car Collector ....................... 97
Auctions America ................................ 11
Autosport Groups ................................ 89
Barrett-Jackson ................................... 31
Barron Publishing Company ............... 49
Camaro Central ................................... 99
CarCapsule USA ................................. 47
Chevs of the 40’s .............................. 111
Classic Car Dashes ............................... 5
Classic Fit Covers.................................. 5
Coker Tire ............................................ 17
Corvette America ................................... 4
Custom Autosound Mfg., Inc .............. 81
Dr. ColorChip Corporation ................ 106
EMS Automotive ................................ 109
Evapo-Rust .......................................... 39
Greensboro Auto Auction .................... 83
Griot’s Garage, Inc. ............................. 37
Grundy Insurance ................................ 21
Hagerty Insurance Agency, Inc. .......... 43
Heggen Law Office, P.C. ..................... 84
Hot August Nights ............................... 12
JC Taylor ............................................. 91
Jim Meyer Racing Products Inc. ......... 80
JJ Best Banc & Co ............................ 103
JJ Rods ............................................... 27
Leake Auction Company ....................... 3
Lucas Oil Products, Inc. ...................... 79
Lucky Collector Car Auctions .............. 73
Lutty’s Chevy Warehouse ................. 125
McCollister’s Auto Transport............. 132
Metal Rescue ..................................... 123
Michael Irvine Studios ....................... 131
Mid America Motorworks .................... 15
Motorsport Auction Group LLC ........... 13
Moultrie Swap Meet .......................... 101
Mustang America .................................. 4
National Corvette Museum ................ 121
National Parts Depot ........................... 75
New England Auto Auction ............... 121
Obsolete & Classic Auto Parts, Inc. .. 113
Original Parts Group ............................ 23
Park Place LTD .................................... 95
Passport Transport .............................. 71
Performance Racing Oils ..................... 85
Petersen Collector Car Auction ......... 125
Pilkington Classics Automotive Glass ... 9
POR-15 ................................................ 25
Race Ramps ........................................ 19
RK Motors of Charlotte ......................... 2
Ronald McDonald House .................. 107
Russo and Steele LLC ......................... 41
St Bernard Church............................... 81
Steve’s Auto Restorations Inc. ............ 51
The Chevy Store Inc .......................... 113
The WheelSmith ................................ 119
Thomas C Sunday Inc ....................... 119
VanDerBrink Auctions ......................... 77
Volunteer Vette Products .................... 33
Weezy .................................................. 87
Zip Products, Inc. ................................ 53
zMAX ................................................. 109
May–June 2017 129
Page 128
Surfing Around
Carl Bomstead
Automobilia at Auction
Carl’s thought: Heritage, at their February 26–27 Sports Collectibles Auction, sold Mickey Mantle’s 1968 game
worn jersey for $486,000 including fees. This was an interesting jersey in that it was the one worn when he broke the
home-run record he shared with Jimmie Foxx. It was known as “The Gift,” as Detroit pitcher Denny McLain served
up a fastball in the middle of the plate for Mantle to tee-off on. I think we all like Mickey, but we’re more into car
stuff, so the items below might be a bit more interesting.
EBAY#262850916839—
TWINS “1931 CADILLAC”
HOOD ORNAMENT. Number
of bids: 21. SOLD AT: $4,998.
Date sold: 2/26/2017. I have
no idea where the seller came
up with the 1931 Cadillac, but
this was known as “Whirligig”
and was an accessory mascot
made by St. Paul Ornament
Co. As the car moved,
the propeller spins and the
men crank. The misnomer
worked, however, as these
usually sell at or around a grand. Seller hit a home run.
EBAY #201813539371—
1931 ARIZONA COPPER
LICENSE PLATE.
Number of bids: 32. SOLD
AT: $938.57. Date sold:
2/26/2017. Making Arizona
license plates was the
owner’s responsibility prior
to statehood in 1912. In 1932, 1933 and 1934, Arizona issued plates
made of copper, and they are very collectible today. Price paid
here was a bit on the light side, so the buyer did just fine and has a
unique plate for his collection.
MILLER AUCTION COMPANY
LOT 239—FRONTIER GASOLINE
60-INCH PORCELAIN
SIGN. Number of bids: 23. SOLD
AT: $27,000. Date sold: 2/11/2017.
Frontier Oil was a Denver refiner/
marketer that was founded in the
mid-1930s and was acquired by
Husky Oil in 1968. Their logo
featured a rearing horse and usually
had the slogan “Rarin’ to Go!” This double-sided porcelain sign
was rather mundane and sold for a surprising sum. The desirable
example is red with the slogan and more detail.
EBAY #391668926873—
1930s AIRFLOW PLAYBOY
PEDAL DUMP
TRUCK. Number of bids:
28. SOLD AT: $1,825.
Date sold: 1/15/2017. This
pedal dump truck was in
130 AmericanCarCollector.com
exceptional original condition. The paint h
scratches and chips that are to be expected after 80 years or
so, and the decals were still readable. The truck lift mechanism still
worked, and the only issue was a missing headlight lens. Considering
the condition of this Art Deco pedal truck, I’m surprised it did not
sell for a touch more.
EBAY #302189237383—1969
DODGE CHARGER PRESSRELEASE
PACKET. Number of
bids: 24. SOLD AT: $448. Date
sold: 1/13/2017. The Daytona
is the best-known 1969 Dodge
Charger, but they were all synonymous
with performance. This
press packet included performance
data, diagrams and a several-page packet on the Charger’s
virtues. Not the most elaborate of press packets, but if a Charger is
in the car barn, it would be most desirable.
EBAY #222396040436—
1/4-SCALE CORVETTE
427 WORKING ENGINE
WITH STAND. Number
of bids: 37. SOLD
AT: $7,866. Date sold:
2/6/2017. This quarterscale
427 motor was
made by Conley, and they are still in business today. The 427 was
an option on the 1966–69 Corvette, and this scale engine was
stated to have actually have been started some 10 years back.
Would be a cool “go-with” next to your period Corvette.
EBAY #282272377492—
NOS GOLD TIN “PISTON”
BATMOBILE IN
ORIGINAL BOX. Number
of bids: 27, SOLD
AT: $2,000. Date sold:
12/5/2016. This Mystery
Action Batmobile tin toy
was as crisp and clean
as they come. It had no
signs of play wear and
was complete with the
original box. The lights
blinked and flashed and the siren made an obnoxious sound. The
maker took all kinds of liberties making the toy, as it had a piston
motor and had very little resemblance to the real Batmobile. Still, a
cool toy that was new in the box. A