May-June 2018 - American Car Collector

Profiles

Auctions

Leake, Oklahoma City, OK, February 23–24, 2018

McCormick’s, Palm Springs, CA, February 23–25, 2018

GAA, Greensboro, NC, March 1–3, 2018

Bonhams, Amelia Island, FL, March 8, 2018

Gooding & Co., Amelia Island, FL, March 9, 2018

Motostalgia, Amelia Island, FL, March 10, 2018

RM Sotheby’s, Amelia Island, FL, March 10, 2018

Mecum, Kansas City, MO, March 16–17, 2018

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CAR COLLECTOR Volume 7 • Issue 39 • May–June 2018 The Scoop CORVETTE 1957 CHEVROLET CORVETTE 283/270 $80k / GAA The dual-four 283 ’Vette is a great value vs. its Fuelie siblings — Tom Glatch Page 52 GM 1970 OLDSMOBILE 442 W-30 2-DOOR HARD TOP $74k / Bonhams An excellent example sneaks in under the money — Dale Novak Page 54 Eight Sales That Define the Market MOPAR 1998 DODGE VIPER GTS-R COUPE $91k / Bonhams Under-median money for a lightly used GTS-R — John L. Stein Page 58 FoMoCo 1993 FORD MUSTANG SVT COBRA $21k / GAA A barn-fresh Cobra brings proper money for its miles — Sam Stockham Page 56 AMERICAN ™ 8 AmericanCarCollector.com Keith Martin's

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HOT ROD 1920 FORD T-BUCKET $22k / Leake A bunch of hot-rod fun for the dollar — John Boyle Page 60 AMERICANA RACE 1936 FORD DELUXE CABRIOLET $45k / Bonhams What’s next for this classic Ford — keep it stock or rod it? — Ken Gross Page 62 1959 KELLISON J-4R COUPE $28k / Bonhams The cheapest first-class ticket you’ll ever buy — Jeff Zurschmeide Page 64 TRUCK 1978 INTERNATIONAL SCOUT II TRAVELTOP $31k / GAA Twice the money for half the engine — B. Mitchell Carlson Page 66 Cover photo: 1970 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 coupe Courtesy of Bonhams 1959 Kellison J-4R coupe, p. 64 Courtesy of Bonhams May–June 2018 9

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The Rundown COLUMNS 12 Torque: A Mustang joins the ACC garage — Jim Pickering 44 Cheap Thrills: 1974–78 Chrysler New Yorker — B. Mitchell Carlson 46 Horsepower: Get out and drive your old car — Jay Harden 48 On the Market: Zigging and zagging into Model A ownership — John L. Stein 50 Featured Perspective: How a single truck can turn into an inadvertent collection — Elana Scherr 134 Surfing Around: Must-have automobilia — Carl Bomstead FEATURES 20 Good Reads: GTO Data and ID Guide, The Definitive Chevelle SS Guide, 1001 Corvette Facts and the Standard Catalog of American Muscle Cars — Mark Wigginton 24 Desktop Classics: 1932 Chrysler Imperial Speedster — Marshall Buck 26 Snapshots 1: Images of American iron from Amelia Island — Chad Taylor 28 Snapshots 2: Teaching the next generation of car lovers — Jim Pickering 83 Market Moment 1: 1972 Ford Maverick Grabber 2-door sedan — Chad Taylor 88 Market Moment 2: 1957 Chevrolet 210 Custom 4-door 4x4 — Jay Harden 126 Junkyard Treasures: Desert Valley Auto Parts, Part II — Phil Skinner USEFUL STUFF 14 What’s Happening: Car events of note 16 Crossing the Block: Upcoming auctions 22 Parts Time: Aftermarket pieces for your car 24 Cool Stuff: Items to protect your investment 10 AmericanCarCollector.com 30 Wrenching: Replacing a worn original timing set in a 289 Ford 38 Your Turn: Goofs, Ford bias, and more trucks 40 Readers’ Forum: What car should you have kept? 70 Buy It Now: Station wagons 1960–69 — Chad Tyson 122 One to Watch: 1984–87 Pontiac Fiero — Chad Taylor 124 The Parts Hunter: Tracking down rare parts and pieces on the market — Pat Smith 128 Showcase Gallery: Sell your car in ACC’s classifieds section 130 Resource Directory: Get to know our advertisers 133 Advertiser Index AUCTIONS 68 Market Overview Top 10 auction sales and best buys, and the market tries to shake off the winter blues — Chad Tyson 72 GAA — Greensboro, NC A $13.5m total for 405 cars sold in North Carolina — Mark Moskowitz and Jeff Trepel 84 Leake — Oklahoma City, OK 256 cars sell at this year’s OKC auction, bringing $6.7m total — B. Mitchell Carlson 96 McCormick’s — Palm Springs, CA 346 cars sell at the 64th annual auction, bringing in more than $6.3m — Carl Bomstead 106 Mecum — Kansas City, MO Springtime in KC brings $6.3m on 308 of 510 cars sold — Brett Hatfield 116 Roundup American vehicles from Gooding & Company, RM Sotheby’s, Bonhams and Motostalgia in Amelia Island, FL — Pierre Hedary and Elaine Spiller, Carl Bomstead, Mark Moskowitz and Jeff Trepel, and John Hoshstrasser

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Torque Jim Pickering ACC’s New Horse O n March 26, 1966, Glenn and June Anderson jumped into their 1959 Ford Thunderbird and cruised from their home in Tarzana, CA, to Cutter Ford Sales in North Hollywood. Waiting on the lot for them was a Wimbledon White 1966 Ford Mustang, which had been assembled just a month earlier in San Jose and shipped to the dealership via truck convoy. Sticker price on the new Mustang was $3,525. The couple traded in their T-bird and bought the factory-fresh Mustang, which was optioned with the base-level 2-bbl, 200-hp 289, C4 automatic transmission with console, black vinyl top, power steering, air conditioning, AM radio, deluxe seat belts and California emissions equipment. The couple then had the dealership add power brakes and replace a set of Styled Steel wheels with some steelies with wire wheel covers. The car then spent the next 36 years in SoCal with the Andersons. June drove the car sparingly. At some point the passenger’s side fender and door were damaged and replaced — including an obvious fix to the door jamb — and the car was resprayed in its original color. In the early 2000s, a college kid named Thomas, who was dating June’s daughter at the time, bought the car. At the time, the Mustang was still totally stock, down to its wire wheel covers. Thomas brought the car to Oregon. Over a few years, he added stainless headers and exhaust with a GT-style rear panel and trumpets, a 4-bbl intake and carburetor, chrome valve covers, an aluminum radiator, Styled Steel wheels and disc brakes up front. He also had a local Mustang shop lower the car an inch all around and fit sway bars front and rear. He kept up with June, sending her pics and info about what he was up to with the car until her death. This past March, Thomas listed the 56,000-mile Mustang for sale on Craigslist for $19,500. I saw the ad — and then saw the Mustang, nestled in the garage Thomas built for it. A new home for a horse I’d been hunting Mustangs for a while, as ACC’s garage was short of something interesting to drive and fix after the $52,000 sale of our Dodge Viper on Bring A Trailer. While early Mustangs are common, it’s 12 AmericanCarCollector.com surprisingly hard to find one that’s more or less solid throughout. At least here in the Northwest, these cars all tend to rust in the same hard-to-fix areas. Semi-hidden rot ruled out at least two cars that appeared to be decent at first. I also didn’t want a 6-cylinder car, and I didn’t want to convert a six to a V8, either. That made things a little harder, as most of the decent untouched originals I found were low-option six-bangers. Thomas’ car, however, looked solid, and the documentation proved why. This car lived most of its life in the North Hollywood area, and as it was a 56,000-mile car, it clearly saw only light use when it was there. The condition I could see — original quarter panels with no rust, clean chassis that had been undercoated from new — was backed up by the documentation that came with the car and spelled out its story. We made a deal, and $17,000 later, the Mustang came to the ACC garage. We’re its third owner. The power of documentation It’s funny how original documents change your perspective of a classic car. Knowing where our Mustang was sold, and to whom, gives the car more weight over other examples in similar overall condition. Because June saw fit to save everything, from the original sales invoice to the window sticker, business cards, insurance card, original stock tag, warranty plate, key tag and more, we’ve got a great picture of just what this car was when new — and through History plays a big role in car valuation — and our Mustang is no exception June Anderson and her 1966 Mustang. Now her history is part of our history the preservation of what many would have thrown away, a good idea of what this car meant to her. We have photos of June with her beloved car. The market translates these docs, relics and photos to value — even on a lower-horse, non-GT example like ours. We at ACC value them because they’re cool and real. We could go in several directions here, from returning the car to stock and restoring it all the way to changing fundamentals, such as the engine, transmission and suspension in the name of modern drivability. Ultimately, it’s a tough call — this car is mostly stock, but it’s not completely stock. It’s low-miles, but not minty. It’s nice, but by no means perfect. It’s optioned, but not rare. So what’s next? What’s the best value move? Our plan is to clean up the car where needed and to make it a better overall driver without losing what’s still original about it. To that end, we’ve already started — this month we installed a roller timing set in place of the original worn unit. See the story on p. 30. And we’re working on preserving the original documentation, too, using RideCache’s online services (see “Cool Stuff,” p. 24). At the end of the day, our goal for this classic Mustang is to make it a great driver with a great story and the right paperwork to back it all up. AI think June would have liked it that way.

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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. L88 Cor Bloomingto Corvettes — t This year’s cel originality brin L88 Corvettes t L88 cars will t around that fam This is the 4 running Corve of Corvette lov This is the pla original Corve hope their car i to win a covete Certification, a Survivor Award or the top-of-themountain Benchmark Award. This is m than a judging e has dozens of C area, driving t (IN) 1969 Chevrolet L88 Corvette AACA Grand National Meet in Pennsylvania The AACA Grand National Meet rolls into Greensburg, PA, from May 31 through June 2, with a “Gathering of the Best of the Best” AACA Senior Award and Grand National Award cars. The University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg is hosting the event. Don’t miss the self-drive tours to private Shelby Cobra CSX2409 McPherson College Motoring Festival and Car and Motorcycle Show The world-famous McPherson College Automotive Restoration Program and the school’s C.A.R.S. Club will feature the Shelby Cobra CSX2409 at their Motoring Festival and the 19th Annual Car and Motorcycle Show. Graduates of this program help keep our old cars running! Professors and students will put on technical displays. The day also features shop tours and bands. More than 275 cars and thousands of gearheads will arrive on campus on May 5 to celebrate 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. There will be a downtown cruise-in on May 4. Students organize and run this event, and the McPherson College Campus, at 1600 E. Euclid Street, McPherson, KS, is the place to be. The show is free to all, but entering your car for judging costs $20. For more information, visit www.mcpherson.edu/autorestoration/cars (KS) 14 AmericanCarCollector.com car collections, the judging school or the barbecue picnic. 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) A

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CROSSINGTHE Upcoming Auctions (Images are courtesy of the respective auction houses unless otherwise noted) BLOCK Bonhams Where: Greenwich, CT When: June 3 Web: www.bonhams.com Last year: 89/90 cars sold / $7.3m Leake Where: Tulsa, OK When: June 7–10 Web: www.leakecar.com Last year: 356/525 cars sold / $8.2m Star Car: 2006 Ford GT at RM auctions in auburn, In May Vicari Where: Nocona, TX When: May 3–5 Web: www.vicariauction.com RM Auctions Where: Auburn, IN When: May 10–12 Web: www.rmsothebys.com Last year: 237/343 cars sold / $9m Featured cars: Silver Where: Missoula, MT When: May 12 Web: www.silverauctions.com Lucky Old Car Where: Tacoma, WA When: May 12–13 Web: www.luckyoldcar.com Last year: 98/185 cars sold / $1.1m • Star Car: 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle LS6 convertible • 1941 Lincoln Zephyr • Star Car: 2006 Ford GT • 1965 Pontiac GTO convertible VanDerBrink Where: Stillwater, OK When: May 19 Web: www.vanderbrinkauctions.com Mecum Where: Denver, CO When: June 8–9 Web: www.mecum.com Last year: 411/598 cars sold / $11.4m Featured cars: • 1971 Ford Bronco • 1939 Chevrolet Street Rod coupe • 1957 Ford Thunderbird Russo and Steele Where: Newport Beach, CA When: June 8–10 Web: www.russoandsteele.com VanDerBrink Where: Mansfield, SD When: June 9 Web: www.vanderbrinkauctions.com Featured cars: • 1946 Hudson pickup • 1956 Buick Roadmaster 4-door hard top • 1958 Ford Ranchero pickup Dan Kruse Classics Where: Midland, TX When: May 26 Web: www.dankruseclassics.com Last year: 67/138 cars sold / $1.3m Featured cars: • 1916 Paige Ardmore roadster • 1964 Lincoln Continental convertible • 1956 Chevrolet Nomad wagon Featured cars: • 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 • 1967 Chevrolet Corvette L88 coupe • The Golden Sahara II 16 AmericanCarCollector.com Mecum Where: Indianapolis, IN When: May 15–19 Web: www.mecum.com Last year: 1,218/1,671 cars sold / $54.3m June Mecum Where: Las Vegas, NV When: June 1–2 Web: www.mecum.com Wheeler Where: Norman, OK When: June 1–3 Web: www.wheelerauctiongroup.com Carlisle Where: Carlisle, PA When: June 16 Web: www.carlisleauctions.com VanDerBrink Where: Basehor, KS When: June 16 Web: www.vanderbrinkauctions.com Mecum Where: Portland, OR When: June 22–23 Web: www.mecum.com Last year: 282/462 cars sold / $8.3m Featured cars: • 1961 Chrysler 300G • 1964 Chevrolet Impala SS RM Auctions Where: Hampton, NH When: June 23–24 Web: www.rmsothebys.com Featured cars: • 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 SCJ • 1979 Pontiac Trans Am • 1950 Cadillac Series 62 convertible Southern Classic Where: Murfreesboro, TN When: June 30 Web: www.southernclassicauctions.com A by Chad Tyson

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Publisher’s Note Keith Martin CAR COLLECTOR Volume 7, number 39 May–June 2018 GeT In TOuCh email: comments@americancarcollector.com Publisher Keith Martin executive editor Chester Allen editor Jim Pickering Art Director Dave Tomaro Digital Media Director Jeff Stites auction editor Chad Tyson Senior Data editor Chad Taylor editor at Large Jay Harden Copy editors Yael Abel, Dave Tomaro auction analysts Andy Staugaard Dan Grunwald Mark Moskowitz Adam Blumenthal Bob DeKorne Doug Schultz Pierre Hedary Daren Kloes Brett Hatfield Larry Trepel Beginning a new life half a century after its birth If Cars Could Talk car is rust-free, it has some paintwork that indicates some sheet-metal replacement in the past. Why? We’ll never know. If cars could talk, we’d ask it what it was like to be delivered to its T first owner. In 1966, having a V8 Mustang, and especially one with a trendy vinyl roof, set you apart from the crowd. I’d ask the car how it got so few miles over all these years, or what it felt like to be driven just a couple of times a year. And now that it’s under the care of Jim, I’d ask it how it feels to have care and affection lavished on it on a near-daily basis. Jim and the gang here will report on what it’s like as they come to understand what kind of life this car has had. And what it takes to keep it on the road, half a century after it was born. This issue also brings Elana Scherr, longtime Hot Rod magazine columnist, who shares the story of her massive — literally — truck collection.A aking ownership of a classic car is the beginning of a journey back through time. Editor Jim Pickering has had a hankering for a Ford car to add to our collection here, and after several months of looking, he found a two-owner, 56,000-mile 1966 Mustang. Every old car tells the tale of its past life. In this case, although the Contributors Carl Bomstead Ken Gross Tom Glatch John L. Stein Mark Wigginton Jeff Zurschmeide Elana Scherr Information Technology Brian Baker SeO Consultant Michael Cottam advertising and events Manager Erin Olson Financial Manager Cheryl Ann Cox Advertising Coordinator Jessi Kramer aDVeRTISInG SaLeS advertising executives Darren Frank darren.frank@AmericanCarCollector.com 877-219-2605 x 214 Cindy Meitle cindy.meitle@AmericanCarCollector.com 877-219-2605 x 213 SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions and Customer Service Coordinator Susan L. Loeb Subscriptions 877-219-2605 x 1 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., M–F service@AmericanCarCollector.com 503-253-2234 fax @AmericanCCMag CORReSpOnDenCe Phone 503-261-0555 Fax 503-253-2234 General P.O. Box 4797 Portland, Oregon 97208 Fedex/DhL/upS 401 NE 19th Street, Suite 100 Portland, Oregon 97232 email help@AmericanCarCollector.com Feedback comments@AmericanCarCollector.com Web www.AmericanCarCollector.com Get a peek at elana Scherr’s truck collection on p. 50 18 AmericanCarCollector.com American Car Collector magazine (ISSN# 2164-1323) is published bimonthly by Automotive Investor Media Group, 401 NE 19th Street, Suite 100, Portland, OR 97232. pOSTMaSTeR: Send address changes to American Car Collector, PO Box 4797, Portland, OR 97208. The information in American Car Collector magazine is compiled from a variety of reliable sources. However, we disclaim and deny any responsibility or liability for the timeliness, use, interpretation, accuracy and completeness of the information presented. All material, data, formats, and intellectual concepts in this issue © 2018 by American Car Collector, LLC, Automotive Investor Media Group, Inc., and Automotive Investor in this format and any other used by American Car Collector magazine. Copyright registered with the United States copyright office. PRINTED IN USA AMERICAN JOIN US Travis Shetler Pat Campion Jeremy Da Rosa John Boyle Michael Leven Cody Tayloe Joe Seminetta Jeff Trepel Morgan Eldridge B. Mitchell Carlson John Draneas Michael Pierce Marshall Buck Dale Novak Phil Skinner Keith Martin's

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GOODREADS by Mark Wigginton GTO Data and ID Guide: 1964–1974 by Peter C. Sessler, CarTech, 192 pages, $24.46, Amazon The introduction of the GTO by Pontiac in 1963 was a pivotal moment in American car culture — the creation of the muscle car (oh, don’t start with me, Olds Rocket 88 fanboys). The notion was simple: stuff a big motor in an intermediate sedan and sell performance. The reaction was so strong it created a brand-new market segment. Coming at the same time as the introduction of the Mustang, the popularity of the fast intermediate-sedan market took off. By the end of the 10year run, more than 500,000 GTOs left showrooms. And now those same cars have a strong presence in the collector-car world. If you need help, Peter Sessler has the answers with his essential guide for a potential buyer. It’s less written than collected, with every number and code you need to make sure the car you are tire-kicking is what you expect it to be, along with some helpful tips for buyers and rebuilders. If you are on the hunt, this belongs in your pocket. Lineage: ( Fit and finish: is best) 1001 Corvette Facts by Steve Magnante, CarTech, 360 pages, $24.95, Amazon Steve Magnante is a popular fixture at Barrett-Jackson auction coverage, and his command of facts, from mundane to obscure, makes him the leading contender in the inevitable B-J/“Jeopardy” mash-up show. 1001 Corvette Facts s exactly what you expect, especially in context of his similar books on Mustangs and muscle cars, plus other books in the line from other authors. Organized by model, from C1 to C7, each chapter is replete with the arcane details that so delight the Corvette crowd. Pick a page, any page, and prepare to learn something, even if you never use it again. It’s all fascinating stuff, from design dead ends to contemporaneous awards and enthusiast magazine coverage. And no pesky narrative, so you can pick it up and put it down at your whim and enjoy it every time. Lineage: Fit and finish: 20 AmericanCarCollector.com Drivability: Drivability: Lineage: Fit and finish: The Definitive Chevelle SS Guide: 1964–1972 by Dale McIntosh, CarTech, 192 pages, $33.44, Amazon If the Chevelle Super Sport is the apple of your eye, this guide by Dale McIntosh will keep you on the straight and narrow. Although the SS designation was only an option package (rather than its own series) starting in 1969, that doesn’t diminish its appeal. The Chevelle turned out to be a huge success for GM, being built in at least five different factories in an ever-changing series of mid-year modifications. It’s a nightmare of record keeping and historical detective work to find out if a particular car coming to market now is a “right” car. McIntosh is your patient teacher, showing you how to decode the codes and make sure your SS started out that way — or was, uh, enhanced. Plenty of data and tips for the collector, plus great photos, is a great combo. Drivability: Standard Catalog of American Muscle Cars: 1960–1972 by John Gunnell, Krause Publishing, 320 pages, $38.25, Amazon This book came out in 2006, and I wanted to include it because it is a handy, basic reference for the editors of American Car Collector. Author John Gunnell set about to create a list of the truly muscular of the muscle cars, rather than a complete list of all the cars merely wearing muscle shirts. This means only the hottest need apply. Each car gets a page, with image, tightly written history, basics on numbers, and a rundown on engines and options. Like other books in the series, it uses a standard, repeatable format. To tell you how use- ful it is, when I slipped it off the shelf here at ACC Central, somehow the Boss knew it was missing and wanted it back. So, all I really need to say is, “ACC tested and Pickering approved.” Lineage: Fit and finish: Drivability:

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PARTSTIME by Jim Pickering New Products to Modernize Your S All in the Details POR-15 Detail Paint provides a professional-grade finish that reproduces the original look of cast parts. It’s perfect for water pumps, intake manifolds and master cylinders. Designed to protect against rust, it’s available in several colors, all of which have a low sheen and will not yellow. It’s formulated to provide maximum corrosion resistance and protect metal substrates against weather, sunlight, oil and water. Use it on bare metal, or for the ultimate protection, use over POR-15 Rust Preventive Coating. $27.20 at www.por15.com. The Right Spindles Scott Drake’s new 1964–66 F s Ford’s original (and longtime discontinued) units. They’re built of forged JIS S45C-grade steel, and the spindle snouts have been heat treated via induction hardening. From there, all surfaces are precision machined. It’s a critical component and a vital upgrade for those of you who want to drop a V8 in your original 6-cylinder car. Available in May from www.drakeautomotivegroup.com for $199.95 per side. Tri-Five Vent Windows Got a shoebox Chevy with vent-window That M/T Look Holley’s bringing back that Day Two look with their old-school M/T valve covers. These vintage-style units are made of cast aluminum and offer knock-out plugs for the stock PCV system. They’ll look just right under the hood next to a set of white-painted headers and a Holley double pumper. Pair these with a set of steel-core rubber valvecover gaskets and kiss your oil leaks goodbye. Available for small-block Chevy ($129.95) and big-block Chevy ($149.95) at www.holley.com. 22 AmericanCarCollector.com woes? Classic Industries now sells a complete vent-window assembly for hard-top, sedan, wagon and convertible models. The units come complete with inner frame, outer frame, rubber seals and the vertical division bar, all assembled and ready for installation. Available with clear, green tinted or smoked glass. Sold individually. $279.99 each at www.classicindustries.com.

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COOLSTUFF Finishing Touches A period-correct license Digital Documentation Our classic cars all have history. Discovering that history is a big task, but can add value to your car. RideCache is a software system created to help you keep all that information organized and protected. The program allows you to upload and organize historic documents, magazine articles and appraisals. You can also upload photos of restoration, track awards the car has won, and record maintenance that has been performed, plus so much more. The software starts at $50 per year, allowing you to manage eight vehicles with options to manage up to 100. Get all the information at ridecache.com. Under-Hood Helper How many times have you been draped over the fender of your car, searching for a free spot to set all of your tools and parts until your hands are free? E the Moroso Carburetor-Top Tool Tray. This is a 10-by13-inch tray that sits on top of your carburetor. Made of aluminum, the tray will accommodate 16 spark plugs, eight plug wires, and any tools you need. Plus you can make sure nothing is dropped into your car’s intake. Pick up yours from summitracing.com for $103.97 Car-Cover Conundrum Generic car covers can scratch paint — especially outside in the wind. But there’s a better solution available from CoverCar Concepts. Made from anodized aluminum tubing, plastic connectors, and a cover that is breathable, SPF protected and water resistant, CoverCar is a free-standing car cover. Simply drive your car under it and slide the cover back to protect it. The cover comes in two sizes and starts at $879. The full-time outdoor version is coming in the summer of 2018. Find out all the details at covercarconcepts.com. DESKTOPCLASSICS by Marshall Buck 1932 Chrysler Imperial Speedster This is a fabulous miniature of the one-off car originally built for Walter P. Chrysler. It was also the Best of Show winner at the Pebble Beach Concours in 1991. The model replicates the car as-restored. This was the first release from the USA- based model specialist B&G Historic Line, and was produced in Ukraine, where each model was hand-built by true craftsmen. The fidelity of detail is phenomenal. Perfect fit and finish, exact match of the custom-color paint, with delicate little parts everywhere: leaping-ram mascot, correct engraved Chrysler font on the wheels’ center caps, and cables attached to the windshield-wiper motors. All plated parts are made of brass — then nickel plated and polished. These are also true limited-edition models. The run was split between top-up or -down versions. They were never widely marketed, hence a few are still available from B&G. 24 AmericanCarCollector.com Detailing Scale: 1:43 Available colors: Chestnut Quantity: 250 (125 open, 125 closed) Price: $325 Production date: 2007 Web: msbash@gmail.com Ratings Detailing: Accuracy: Overall quality: Overall value: is best plate is just the thing for your freshly restored classic — especially at your local car show. Acquiring a true original in good condition, however, can be difficult. Get a new license plate with that vintage look at LicensePlates. tv. There are many state license plates available in a number of different years, or you can create a custom plate specific to your car. Make a custom license-plate frame to match. The state plates start at $95 with near-endless options. Find or create the exact plate you need at licenseplates.tv. by Chad Taylor

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SNAPSHOTS Photos by Chad Taylor Images from Amelia Island an attention-getting barn-find 1967 Shelby 427 Cobra crosses the block at Gooding & Company, eventually selling for $1m 1968 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Le Mans Racer at the amelia Island Concours d’elegance 26 AmericanCarCollector.com

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a 1972 Dodge Charger awaits a new home at Bonhams, eventually selling for $42,560 ed “Big Daddy” Roth shop truck: 1956 Ford F-100 restored by Galpin Motors of Van nuys, Ca 1941 Chrysler Thunderbolt concept car 1963 “Mysterion” replica by Galpin Motors at the amelia Island Concours 2004 Shelby Cobra concept at the amelia Island Concours May–June 2018 27

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SNAPSHOTS Shop Class Reborn World of Speed is teaching the next-generation car enthusiast Story and photos by Jim Pickering I t’s not a stretch to say that the vast majority of car people got their start in the hobby during their high-school days — back when they could learn how to do an oil change or adjust a set of valves right on campus. Most of today’s kids don’t have that op- tion anymore because of a lack of funding, a shift of focus, or both, in today’s schools. World of Speed, the motorsports museum in Wilsonville, OR, is changing that. The building that houses World of Speed used to be a Chrysler dealership. Renovations turned most of the inside space into the museum — but the servicedepartment layout, complete with auto lifts, remained. The education program, which uses that space and instructors from the museum and nearby Clackamas Community College, kicked off in fall 2015, with just 22 students. Today, 10 area high schools are involved, with more than 130 students busing, driving or skateboarding to the museum for a few hours of shop time each week. Courses cover Automotive Fundamentals, General Auto Repair and Small-Engine Repair, and they’re offered at no cost to the student via funding from other sources, including local school districts. Fridays are open-shop days, where students can work on their own cars with assistance from the staff and their friends in the program. And it’s not just for fun. These kids earn both high-school and college credits through the auto courses taught at World of Speed. “Kids with good GPAs are often first considered for this program,” said R. Lewis Ferguson, World of Speed’s Director of Education. “But we find that it’s the kids who are having trouble with traditional subjects who often benefit the most from the program. Some who were struggling to graduate have actually turned their grades around here. Some are even graduating early.” That level of dedication from the students is clear. “I love it here,” said Lucas Bachman, leaning over the engine in his Toyota as he pulled the #3 spark plug to perform a leakdown test with the help of his instructor. “It adds time to the school day, but to get to do this stuff… it’s worth it.” Learn more about the program, and ways that you can get involved, at www. worldofspeed.org.A 28 AmericanCarCollector.com Kids can work on their own cars during open-shop Fridays “We find that it’s the kids who are having trouble with traditional subjects who often benefit the most from the program” — R. Lewis Ferguson, World of Speed’s Director of Education

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WRENCHINGHOW-TO KEEPING TIME in a Classic Mustang A If your low-miles V8 engine still has its original plastic-tooth timing set, it’s a ticking time bomb by Jim Pickering and Chad Tyson CC’s 1966 Mustang has only 56,000 original miles. Under the hood it looks mostly original, save for a few aftermarket additions. Overall, it sounds and feels like a low-miles 289 should. But low-mile engines can be deceiving. In the 1960s, the Big Three used plastic-tooth timing sets in a number of engines. The reasoning behind it? To eliminate noise caused by metal timing gear sets. These plastic sets needed to be replaced within about 60,000 miles. Let one go too long, and you’d potentially have a stretched, worn chain that easily could skip a tooth on the timing gear and break pieces off. This could lead to any number of problems, from plastic shavings blocking the oil-pump pickup tube to a catastrophic meeting of pistons and valves. As such, timing-set replacements on these cars were common in the 1970s and 1980s, using longer-lasting all-metal parts. Fast-forward to 2018, where low-miles cars are sought-after in the 30 AmericanCarCollector.com classic market. Any lightly used car from that era probably missed the era of common timing-set replacements, and since most engine builders have used metal gears since the 1980s, you might not even realize that your no-miles prize has a plastic gear and stretched chain driving its valvetrain. And now, that plastic gear — which was already frail — is aged well past its expected service life. Since your original engine is a key component to the value of your original car, that gearset needs to go before it fails. Fortunately, this job is a straightforward one. We tore into our original 289 to see how bad our gears and chain were, and using parts from Scott Drake and Summit Racing, we replaced it with a modern roller-style steel timing set. Scott Drake has a great selection of Mustang restoration parts, and Summit Racing stocks the entire Drake catalog, making these parts even easier to get. Here’s how we did the job.

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SCOTT DRAKE PARTS LIST (www.scottdrake.com) P/N C5ZZ-6268-RK, Cloyes roller timing set, $55.95 P/N C4OZ-6020-A, timing-cover gasket set, $34.95 P/N C6ZE-8260/86-B, 1966 concours-correct radiator hoses for 289, $27.95 P/N C5ZZ8287-8 2-65, date-coded V8 hose clamp set, $21.95 P/N C2DZ-8597-A, coolant bypass hose, $5.95 SUMMIT RACING PARTS LIST (www.summitracing.com) P/N WMR-W89711, harmonic balancer installer/puller, $69.99 P/N WMR-W136P, three-jaw gear puller, $14.97 P/N LUC-10679-1, Lucas Oil 10W30, $35.97 P/N MOF-FL1A, Motorcraft oil filter for 289, $3.97 OTHER PARTS Super Clean, 1 gallon, $18.25 Evapo-Rust, 1 gallon, $19.06 Permatex Right Stuff, 5 oz., $21.49 Prestone antifreeze, 1 gallon, $18.34 Loctite thread sealant, 4 oz., $9.17 TIME SPENT: Five hours DIFFICULTY: J J J (J J J J J is toughest) 1 aside from an aftermarket 4-bbl intake, carb, openelement air cleaner and some other minor service replacements, our 289 is an all-original mill — complete with its original timing set. 2 Before starting the tear-down, we elected to degrease the engine using a 50/50 mix of Super Clean degreaser and water. The idea here is to limit what might fall into the oil pan when removing the tim- ing cover — but to not damage any original finishes. We covered the alternator with a plastic sheet and sprayed the front of the engine down with a spray bottle, let it sit, and then rinsed it with water. We repeated this several times and then let it dry. 3 The water pump has to come off to access the timing cover, so after disconnecting and removing the battery, we drained the cooling system in preparation for the tear-down. May–June 2018 31

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WRENCHINGHOW-TO 4 next up were the upper and lower radiator hoses, and this crossover hose. Even with the system drained, be ready for a mess, especially when you remove the lower hose. If new hoses are part of your plan, these can be sliced lengthwise at each end with a razor blade for easier removal. 5 The alternator belt, alternator, and its associated brackets were next — just a few bolts held everything in place. We elected to not disconnect the alternator’s wiring. Instead, we just set it aside and out of the way. We used plastic sandwich bags and a Sharpie to sort and label the hardware as it came off the engine. 6 Four 7/16-inch bolts held the fan to the water pump. It’s easiest to remove these with the powersteering belt in place but loose — pushing on the belt stopped the fan pulley from rotating, which let us loosen each bolt. 7 9 after removing the remaining a/c brackets, we removed the power-steering pump from the front of the engine. Three bolts held it to the cylinder head and the water pump. We then strapped it to the fender to keep it out of the way. Before going any further, we wanted to make sure the engine was at top dead center. Doing so gives a reference point for both the cam and the crank, which is vital in making sure the engine is positioned properly for the new chain and gears. We rotated the engine by hand using a ½-inch-drive ratchet, watching for the timing mark on the balancer to line up with the pointer (1) and making sure that the distributor rotor was also pointing at the #1 spark-plug wire on the cap (2). The #1 spark plug on a Ford is the passenger’s side front. 32 AmericanCarCollector.com 8 2 1 10 Our lower pulley had been on the car since February of 1966. A little extra help from a pneumatic impact wrench broke the bolts loose, and a few taps with a rubber mallet popped it off the front of the harmonic balancer. With the heater hose disconnected, the water pump bolts were next, and then the water pump itself, followed by the fuel pump.

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WRENCHINGHOW-TO 11 after removing the 15/16-inch retainer bolt at the front of the crank, we needed to remove the balancer. Summit Racing sells this Performance Tool universal harmonic-balancer removal and installation tool. For $70, it’ll handle just about any engine, including our 289. 12 pulling a few more bolts freed the timing cover, which then exposed the chain. Note the visible slack in the chain — nearly an inch of play. We also stuffed a rag in the coolant port on the driver’s side of the block, as it was dribbling antifreeze down into the open oil pan. 15 14 ment. 34 AmericanCarCollector.com In addition to the sloppy chain slack, note the missing plastic teeth on the cam gear. This set was ripe for replace- This Perfor-mance Tool gear puller (p/n WMRW136p, $14.97) is just the right size to pull the lower timing gear off the crankshaft if it’s stuck in place. Ours slid right off by hand. 13 With the fuel-pump eccentric unbolted and out of the way, the upper gear is next. It can be walked off carefully with a pair of prying tools. We also stuffed clean rags in the oil-pan opening to eliminate debris entering the oiling system.

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WRENCHINGHOW-TO 16 With our parts removed, it was time to think about whether to break out a can of Ford Blue paint. Here’s why we didn’t — note the difference in color between new paint and the old paint. We may restore this engine compartment at a later date, but it won’t be done piecemeal. For now, we chose to leave our remaining factory finishes intact. 17 The timing cover was coated in years-thick sludge, so more Super Clean was in order — this time with an old toothbrush to get into the hard-to-reach areas. 18 Our factory timing cover cleaned up well (right), but many originals become pitted and leaky over time. If you need it, Scott Drake’s got you covered with an OEstyle replacement (P/N C4AZ-6019-B, $125.95, left). A concours-correct version is also in the works, available in a few months. 20 next up was the freshly cleaned fuel-pump eccentric and bolt, which we torqued to 35 ft-lbs. We also refitted the original oil slinger in front of the lower gear. Note the cleaned-up block and pan mating surfaces — a razor-blade scraper made quick work of gasket remnants, and some brake cleaner on a rag finished off the job. We then lubed up the chain with assembly lube. 36 AmericanCarCollector.com 19 The heart of this project is the Cloyes Roller timing set. The lower gear has three keyways, with one advanced setting, one retarded setting, and one straight-up setting. We installed ours straight up, aligning the pointers at the upper and lower gear. 21 The original cover, fitted with a new crank seal, was next. The Scott Drake timing-cover gasket set came with replacement oil-pan corner gaskets, which we elected not to use in favor of a thick coat of gasket maker. Permatex Right Stuff is our preferred sealant, as it dries quickly and is thick, making it easy to work with. We used a healthy amount and made sure to run it into the corners at the block to eliminate any possible oil leaks.

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22 24 early Ford 289s don’t have alignment dowels that center the timing cover at the crank, so before tightening down the timing-cover bolts, and before installing the four that come up from the oil pan, the harmonic balancer must be reinstalled to center the cover with respect to the oil seal at the crank. We then tightened down the cover bolts, reinstalled the four that come up from the oil pan, and used a razor blade to cut off the excess sealant that squeezed out from the cover. A quick coat of Right Stuff on the waterpump gasket helped seal it to the timing cover and the water pump, and a little Loctite thread sealant kept the bolts that pass into the engine’s water jacket from becoming sources of coolant leaks. 23 Our rusty water pump was next, and rather than replace it, we elected to clean it. Evapo-Rust is a biodegradable, non-toxic, non-corrosive rust remover that’s really easy to use. An hour under EvapoRust-soaked paper towels was all it took to make this pump presentable again. 25 Re assembly is easy if you bagged each component’s bolts and marked them correctly. We took extra time to clean everything as we reassembled. 26 Scott Drake’s concours upper and lower radiator hoses have all the proper markings of the originals. Pairing them with their reproduction datecoded hose clamps finishes off the look for OE cars. Since our plan is to go back to stock with this car over time, they were a great fit for us. 27 With the cooling system refilled and the battery reinstalled, all that’s left is a quick oil change to eliminate any cool- ant that might have found its way into the oil pan. For an original flat-tappet engine, Lucas Oil’s Hot Rod and Classic Motor Oil in 10W30 is just the thing — it has high levels of zinc and phosphorus, which flat-tappet engines require to reduce wear. 28 A quick once-over for leaks was the last step before firing up the Mustang, which went into a nice, high idle. No more timing worries here — the roller chain should help keep that original engine run- ning for years to come. A May–June 2018 37

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YOUR TURN Tell Us What’s On Your Mind Goofs and Goofy Commentary Thanks for a great magazine. Maybe I’m looking forward too much to finding goofs instead of just enjoying American Car Collector, but the March–April 2018 issue had me puzzled here and there. We have the ’64 Studebaker Hawk on p. 112 “one of only 1,548 V8s produced that year.” Since all GT Hawks were V8s, I would’ve appreciated knowing which 289 it was, presumably not an R2 or R3, because the car’s not listed as supercharged. More strange is the commentary on the ‘69 GTX, p. 100. Why is it compared to a VIP? The two models were in completely different market segments; the only thing they had in common was that they were both Plymouths. The writer states that the GTX “would give the top-end Fury VIP a run for its money” only to double-down with “[T]here’s no doubt that the GTX would easily outrun the VIP.” If he were saying a ‘65-’66 GTO could/couldn’t outrun a ‘65-’66 2+2, that would make for an interesting discussion; but his points about the Plymouths don’t add up. In the very next listing, of the lime-green ‘70 Challenger, there’s another meandering discussion. This time it involves the fact that this car, unusually, has a bench seat. His comment that a bench made cuddling easier is right. But he follows that up with “nevermind that seat-belt-use enforcement didn’t exist back then.” Then another long sentence on belts. Since motorists didn’t have to use belts in that era, why “nevermind” that they didn’t? It’s as though he implies that people were getting away with something that wasn’t illegal. I can figure out what the commentator(s) is getting at, but, with space so limited on each car covered, I would rather have opinions, which, no matter whether I agree or not, at least focus on the car, rather than observations, which seem to lead the narrative further afield. In fact, skipping the italicized comments altogether and adding to the descriptions might be a better use of space. I was intrigued by the Studebaker “Ice Princess” on p. 122. But again, an apt description, with an obscure commentary. Well, what is it? A Studebaker show/dream car, a mid-’50s custom, or something cooked up much later? The Elvis, Liberace, Timothy Leary stuff is kind of funny, but, as in the other commentaries I’ve griped about, the writer has more the perspective of a bemused reader rather than the expert that he surely is. I only bring up these issues because of the care taken with your arrangement of words and pictures that artfully express the collector-car experience. — David Carniglia, Placerville, CA Chad Tyson, Auction Editor, responds: 38 AmericanCarCollector.com Contact us at: American Car Collector, P.O. Box 4797, Portland, OR 97208 or online at comments@americancarcollector.com lightweight built by Holman-Moody and raced by Jack Sears in the 1963 British Saloon Car Championship. It sold at Bonhams Goodwood in the U.K. for $623,561 (ACC# 6852258) last September. As for any Ford bias, I should point out that Chad Tyson, our Auction Editor, is a trueblue Ford man. Also, check out our new ’66 Mustang on p. 12. 1950 Studebaker “Ice princess.” Well, what the hell is it? Thanks for the extensive note, David. I’m glad you’re reading carefully. I can appreciate the need to gobble up every little scrap of automotive knowledge, but I also see the need to entertain while informing. B. Mitchell Carlson, target of your goofy- commentary remarks for the Plymouth and Dodge, covers half a dozen or so auctions a year for us. He brings a wry perspective to his coverage that works for some more than others. Regarding the Ice Princess: You’re right, we should have mentioned it was built in the late-’80s by Richard Fletcher, a Barris-type custom-car maker. Thanks for your thoughts. It’s always a fine-tuning process, and you’ve helped us in doing so. Anti-FoMoCo Bias? I have a real problem with Morgan Eldrige’s coverage of this year’s Mecum Kissimmee auction (March–April 2018, p. 82). A 1964 Ford Galaxie convertible (Lot F117) sold for $225,000, which has to be a world record for a Galaxie. If that doesn’t rate coverage, can you tell me what does? In addition, he covered only three FoMoCo offerings out of the 18 summaries. Sounds like bias to me. Other than that, Automotive Investor Media Group’s publications are excellent and I eagerly await my next issue of ACC. Keep up the good work. — Terry Mason, Seattle, WA ACC Editor Jim Pickering responds: Hey Terry, thanks for the note. When covering auctions, our reporters often pick the cars they’re going to cover during the auction preview. As such, they don’t know what the sale price will be, or even if a car will sell, before they start writing it up. An auction such as Kissimmee has thousands of cars on offer, and while our contributors can usually identify what’s going to be important and expensive when they see it, we can’t cover everything. That Galaxie was indeed expensive, but it wasn’t a record. The most expensive one in our database was the 1963 NASCAR-spec Keep on Truckin’ Wow! Am I a very happy guy. I just got ACC #38 and holy cow! Look at all the nice things y’all said about trucks! I feel like Sally Field the year she won her Oscar: “You like me, you really like me!” To have the issue, basically, be about trucks, well, I was just thrilled! I especially liked reading Keith Martin’s Publishers Note, “Welcome to Truck World.” That cracked me up as it’s been “truck world” for me, and thousands more, for a very, very long time. Then the “Snapshots” piece on Chevy Trucks Turning 100 was fantastic. A two-page spread seemed a little light, but I’m just being biased. The “Readers’ Forum” was a nice read, although I had to take Bill Warner’s comment with a little grimace. And John Boyle’s backhanded compliment also left me cold. I guess we’re destined to stay the “Rodney Dangerfield” of collectors — no respect, no respect at all. Half of me likes that. We’ll stay within a certain range, and the over-the-top restored, highly optioned trucks will command a larger piece of the pie. And then the other half of me thinks, “We spend a great deal of time, money and sweat building and caring for these trucks, so why can’t we have the same return as a Tri-Five or Camaro pricing?” But I guess it’s just as well. If these were to get into the upper range, then more young guys would be priced out and our trucks would wind up being “just another high-dollar vehicle I can’t afford.” That ’72 Cheyenne from the B-J auction was just amazing! I’d like to have seen the original SPID too, because as we both know, we could add those “options” via catalogs all day. There are trucks out there that would have all these options, but as far as I know, they’re few and far between. Great issue. Thanks! — Gary Binge, via emailA Oops In the March–April 2018 issue of ACC, our Truck Profile on the “Fall Guy” replica (p. 64) misidentified the vehicle as a Chevrolet in the headline. It was actually a GMC.

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READERS’ FORUM 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 The Ones That Got Away This month’s Readers’ Forum question: Everybody has a story about a car they shouldn’t have sold. I’d bet most of us have several. Looking back, what’s the one car you should have kept? What prompted you to sell it, and what did you get for it at sale time? What was so great about that specific car? Would you buy it back today if given the chance to do so? Readers respond: n n n Without question the car I should never have gotten rid of was a 1969 Mustang Mach I with the 428 Cobra Jet. The car was six months old when I bought it and was a perfect example. The problem came when I got the insurance bill for the car. Insurance cost more per month than the car payment. I kept it a little over a year and finally had to give in and trade it as I simply could not afford the insurance. But there has never been a question in my mind — that was the one I should have kept! — Dave Hollen, Glasgow, PA n n n In 1981, I purchased my first car, a 1968 Pontiac Firebird, from a little old lady in Pasadena. Literally. She was selling her deceased husband’s car for $1,200. There it was in the backyard, oxidized baby blue with a perfect body and chrome. The interior was original and in perfect condition, as were the rims, rear-view mirrors and emblems. I will never forget that beautiful old muscle-car smell. I sat in the car for half an hour, surrounded by tall grass, and fell in love with it. I immediately put four new bias-ply tires on it and drove the car straight up the 101 to Pismo Beach, onto the sand, and took photos with the car the very same day. Its overhead-cam six ran perfectly there and back to my home in West Los Angeles. Eventually, I purchased a LeMans 350 from a junkyard and dropped it into the car, added a 4-barrel carburetor, headers, a mild racing cam, turbo shifter, dual turbo mufflers and three-inch pipe. I set off car alarms no matter where I went by simply idling. I attracted the cops quite a bit simply by revving the engine. I beat everyone who tried to race me from a red light or on the highway. I painted the car dark brown with slight metal flake. Everywhere I went, older men would try to buy the car from me for $7,500 to $10,000 — a lot of money back then, and I wouldn’t give in. I should have kept my first car, and definitely the original overhead-cam engine. I’ve seen them offered at auction and by private treaty for as much as 35 times what I paid that little old lady from Pasadena back in 1981. Over the next decade, I owned four more 1968 Firebirds and two 1967 Firebirds with hood tachs, most of them hard tops, plus two convertibles. I plan to purchase another 1967 or 1968 convertible Pontiac Firebird over the next year and I will probably have it until the day I die. My bucket list includes taking my two grandkids on a road trip in one, because words cannot describe the feeling. It must be experienced firsthand. Early American muscle is deep in my veins, so representing ACC is a perfect fit for me. — Cindy Meitle, ACC Advertising Executive 40 AmericanCarCollector.com A 1958/59 Corvette, which I bought from a lady who was re- cently widowed. She said she hated the car and wanted it gone. It was sitting in her garage with garden tools and other garage stuff on and around it. At the time, I was buying, fixing and selling classics, trying to accumulate enough money for my dream car — a classic Shelby. I met the bargain price on the Corvette and got it home. I bought an early Corvette data book and started getting it ready to sell. It was already in good shape with no flaws in the fiberglass and the interior was good. Mostly just mechanical work needed to get it ready. The problem was that the dash was more like a ’58 in the data book, with a 160-mph speedometer, and the engine compartment had the generator on the wrong side. The only ID on the car was a tag attached to the door pillar with one screw, which identified the car as a 1959. I knew this Ford guy was in over his head, so I made a special trip to a Corvette meet about 100 miles away armed with some pictures and a blank look. Those nice folks gave me some excellent information, and when I got home I was able to determine that I actually had an early 1958 fuel-injected Corvette. Sounds good, you think? What I actually had was a rare car without a good title that could have been stolen. I asked the police department for help and they did a computer run on it without anything showing up, but I still had a car without a good title. I let the car sit in my shop for months, not knowing what to do. Finally, a Corvette collector I had met at a swapmeet bought the car from me for what I had in it. — Robert Bailey, Lebanon, MO n n n 1953 Bosley. The person I sold it to became a very close friend over the years. Road & Track did a seven-page article on the car in 1994. In 1996 it was invited to Pebble Beach, were it took first in the sports car class. I flew out for that weekend; things were great. I can still tell people that I used to own a car that took first place at Pebble (unfortunately, not when I owned it). — Bill Hebal, via email

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Two of Dale hartzfeld’s four: 1968 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 (left) and 1967 Buick GS 400 n n n If I had to narrow it down, it would be my first four cars. My first car was a used 1964 Chevy Impala SS — white with red interior, 327 automatic. Very nice and practical for a new (1966) college graduate. Had a new job with GM, had money and needed more speed. Also wanted a car that not everybody had, so my second car was a 1967 Buick GS 400. Ordered it new. Four-speed, fun to drive, a lot faster than the au- tomatic 327 and best of all, everyone didn’t have one. Within the first six months, it blew its first water pump, and then another one, and finally, the third or fourth pump went out late one Saturday night in downtown Detroit (about 50 miles from my apartment). Got to go car shopping. The day I traded it in, I found out that a friend who worked at Buick had made arrangements to have some Buick engineers take a look at the car to find out what was wrong. Still would like to know what they would have found. Then I found a dark blue 1968 Chevy Chevelle SS 396. A 350-hp automatic (on column) with a bench seat. Installed headers with custom-made asbestos header gaskets (regular gaskets kept burning out). Again, it was a faster car. But next year I’m reading an article about the upcoming 1969 Hurst Olds (390-horse 455). Called my local Olds dealer, who happened to be getting two of them. He said I could buy the first one if I would agree to let him have it in the showroom for a couple of months (until his second car arrived). Put down a deposit and paid full sticker price. It finally arrived and after only two weeks, the dealer called me to come pick it up since he could not keep people out of the car and he was afraid something might happen to it. Most fun car I ever had. It really stood out and it definitely was a car that no one else seemed to have. What put a stop to buying muscle cars? Instead of going to Woodstock, I got married that weekend. — Dale Hartzfeld, Waterford, MI n n n Originally, it was dark blue-green (code 48) with a Camel interior. After a couple of years, I decided to have it painted in Porsche Guards Red. It was a stunner in so many of the late-’70s ways — eventually I installed 70-inch sidepipes, a Jensen sound system and even a CB radio. Life gets in the way, and when I was transferred out of New York, I sold it for a $9,000 down payment on my very first house. I have regretted it ever since. I heard through the grapevine that the new owner wrapped it around a telephone pole at a local high school, but I could never verify that story. I have been looking for it ever since. I would buy it back in a second. I now have a 1978 Z/28 in Dark Camel with 2,900 miles on it. It’s a survivor down to its original Goodyear Steelgard tires. But while it does everything well, it isn’t the car I purchased at 23 years old. Sometimes, the very best cars from your past are not the most expensive cars today. This car, my 1978 Z/28, was the best car I ever had. — Ralph Gilson, via email n n n 1970 T/A Challenger. On paper I was the first owner. Daddy owned a Dodge dealership and gave it to a classmate for her 17th birthday, added dealer a/c and power windows. She was terrified of the car (stick shift), so he gave her a 340 Dart after a few months and the car sat in back. I made an offer and he took it. The car had a 3:55 Posi. I put a Doug Nash 5-speed in it, some I really miss the 1971 Torino Cobra with a 429 CJ and 4-speed that I once owned. Never should have sold it! —Steve Janczyk, via email n n n My 1978 Chevy Z/28 was a great car for more reasons that I can remember: looks, T-tops, power accessories, I could go on and on. suspension mods, etc. Had that thing for 29 years. I always told my daughter I wanted to be buried in it. With proper tires, I could run with most of the pricier imported toys up to about 150 mph. After that, the front end lifted. It wanted to fly. My wife got sick and I had to sell it. There are probably still Porsche and Ferrari guys who run backroads in the Sierras wondering what the hell that orange car was. — Mike Storm, via emailA May–June 2018 41 But this was my first really “expensive car.” I bought it in 1979 from the first owner. After a light negotiation, I paid $5,500. It seemed like a lot of money at the time — and it was to someone young and just starting out. The first owner told me it was the best car he ever owned, and it did not disappoint.

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Cheap Thrills B. Mitchell Carlson BIG-BLOCK ap Thrills B. Mitchell Carlson BIG-BLOCK The The New Yorker was Chrysler’s last stand for big, cheap horsepower 1977 Chrysler New Yorker Brougham h on the dragstrip, but anyone who espouses the credo of “Mopar or no car” will tell you that the 440 was the one to beat on the street. One could almost call the 440 “Mopar Performance for T Dummies” — unlike the Hemi, it was cheap, plentiful, and made reliable power all the time, with the added bonus of gobs of torque on the bottom end. Introduced in 1966, it was offered for more than a dozen years in Chrysler cars, and it was the option choice to make as the muscle car era went from wild to mild to malaise. However, the final car version wasn’t shoehorned in a muscle car — it was under the hood of the Chrysler New Yorker Brougham. Bad timing To put it mildly, 1974 was not a good year to introduce a new full-sized car. The OPEC oil embargo that year made any 44 AmericanCarCollector.com 2-door hard top Cheap Thr Cheap Thr Cheap Thr Cheap Thr Cheap Thr Cheap Thr Cheap Thr lls B. Mitchell Carlson BIG-BLOCK The New Yorker was Chrysler’s last stand for big, cheap horsepower 1977 Chrysler New Yorker Brougham h on the dragstrip, but anyone hrills B. Mitchell Carlson BIG-BLOCK The New Yorker was Chrysler’s last stand for big, cheap horsepower 1977 Chrysler New Yorker Brougham h on the dragstrip, but anyone who espouses the credo of “Mopar or no car” will tell you that the 440 was the one to beat on the street. One could almost call the 440 “Mopar Performance for T Dummies” — unlike the Hemi, it was cheap, plentiful, and made reliable power all the time, with the added bonus of gobs of torque on the bottom end. Introduced in 1966, it was offered for more than a dozen years in Chrysler cars, and it was the option choice to make as the muscle car era went from wild to mild to malaise. However, the final car version wasn’t shoehorned in a muscle car — it was under the hood of the Chrysler New Yorker Brougham. Bad timing To put it mildly, 1974 was not a good year to introduce a new full-sized car. The OPEC oil embargo that year made any 44 AmericanCarCollector.com 2-door hard top (Fury), (Fury), Dodge (Monaco), Chrysler (Newport and New Yorker) — in 4-door sedan, 2-door and 4-door hard tops, plus a wagon. It was also used for the last two years of the Imperial (Crown). All could be optioned with the 440. The latter two models (Chrysler New Yorker and Imperial Crown) had the 440 standard. In 1976, Chrysler introduced the Lean Burn electronic ignition control system for the 400, which made it to the 440 in 1977. Known in some circles as the Valve Burn system, the technology was well intended and usually worked, but the electronics weren’t quite up to snuff for long-term reliability. The final year for the Dodge Royal Monaco, Plymouth Grand Fury and all wagons was also 1977, with a 440 available until the end. For 1978, when the full-sized Chrysler went it alone, the 400 was standard, while the 440 moved to the options list.

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Driver or donor For decades, nobody seemed to love these cars. The big Mopar was the beater du jour for demolition derbies at county fairs throughout the land. That is, if the motor didn’t get yanked by someone 0 Roadrunner out of a 318 Satellite. ry few of the big Mopars for the 21st century. ow moved up (albeit slowly) to the point that gine donor candidate” have been removed from t in rough-and-rusty cases. There are a few of r someone seeking a 440, this is still a possible . But since these engines are fitted with the , it’s not exactly an engine out/engine in swap scle car — it’s a core to build up a big block to river or donor For decades, nobody seemed to love these cars. The big Mopar was the beater du jour for demolition derbies at county fairs through- out the land. That is, if the motor didn’t get yanked by someone 0 Roadrunner out of a 318 Satellite. ry few of the big Mopars for the 21st century. ow moved up (albeit slowly) to the point that gine donor candidate” have been removed from t in rough-and-rusty cases. There are a few of r someone seeking a 440, this is still a possible . But since these engines are fitted with the , it’s not exactly an engine out/engine in swap scle car — it’s a core to build up a big block to n n addition to increased interest in 1970s-era s in general, big luxobarges are feeling the ove from the “Hooptie car” movement in urban culture, too. The uptick there is for someone looking to shift a lesser example. A car that might falter at a collector-car auction can now find eager buyers looking for a stylin’ ride on he cheap to serve as a canvas for big wheels other mods. o look for t bet, as with any car, is to get the best example d and afford. These cars are beyond daunting mplate restoring, due to tons of power-assisted d extinct trim — all of which was made when g to get by on the cheap. Being a unibody, rust-out is fatal. If anything, the powertrain is relatively easy to deal with — especially if you’re not in an area where you have to worry about emissions controls. That 440 is capable of making real horsepower with careful parts swapping. That’s somewhat true of the standard 400 too, but it needs to take a trip out of the car to go to rehab first. While these have increased in value, they’re still below the radar compared with contemporary Cadillac DeVilles, Fleetwoods and Lincoln Continentals. Yet like the other two makes, 2-doors only command a slight price premium here — a lot of folks would rather have two doors per side than one huge door that they can’t open in their garage. Finally, thanks to torsion-bar front suspension, you’ll find that these things actually handle surprisingly well considering their mass and girth — especially compared to the competition. So before you yank that 440 Detailing out of late Uncle Leroy’s 52kmile New Yorker Brougham and put it in a ’69 Charger that had a 318, consider that medium- and heavy-duty Dodge trucks also used the 440 until 1978, including vans and motor homes. Find a rusty beat-up one of these in a junkyard, score your 440 there, and let the big-block Mopar yacht sail another day. A Years produced: 1974–78 Number produced: 36,497 (1978 New Yorkers) Original list price: $7,715 Current ACC Median Valuation: $4,825 Tune-up cost: $250 Distributor cap: $20 VIN location: Base of the windshield Clubs: www.chryslerclub.org, www.imperialclub.com Alternatives: 1973–78 Lincoln Continental, 1970–76 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham, 1975–78 Mercury Grand Marquis, with optional 460 ACC Investment Grade: D May–June 2018 45

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Horsepower Jay Harden TheHOT ROD CHALLENGE It’s time for your classic to be about the drive, not the destination evening for the Beaches Cruise-In (http://beachesrestaurantandbar. com/community/cruisin/) — a laid-back show-n-shine that takes place alongside PIR’s Wednesday night bracket racing. On the last Wednesday of this past September, we were treated to T an exceptionally beautiful afternoon — cool, but not cold, and without a single cloud in the sky. The brisk air and the low sun and the faraway smell of a wood fire was everything one could hope for when wrapping another summer up and retiring it for the winter. I spent the majority of last year’s sunny months underneath my ’69 Chevelle, so my boys and I were chompin’ at the bit to get some seat time. I left work early that afternoon, and when I pulled up at the house, the boys were jumping around shirtless in the front yard like a couple 46 AmericanCarCollector.com he Pacific Northwest isn’t exactly well known for being a hot-rod hot spot, but Portland International Raceway hosts what must be one of the best weekly cruise-ins in the country. From June to September, hundreds of classic and collectible cars converge at the racetrack every Wednesday Dave Tomaro of miniature headbangers in the middle of a mosh pit of two. I was pretty excited as well. With my wife double-checking that we had enough supplies in the car to last us through the winter, I herded the boys into the back seat while they reminded me a minimum of 45 times that we were: A) Going to the car show, and B) That the “Vlachelle” is super-fast like a rocket. But not a space rocket — just a ground rocket. But that’s okay because ground rockets are still pretty fast. With all the windows down and the 4-barrel opened up, a quick glance in the rearview proved that at least three of the four of us had nowhere else we’d rather be. Cruisin’ When we pulled up at the entrance to the track, row upon row of hot rods, restorations, four-bys, stockers and race cars were sprawled out across the grounds. We would later hear over the loudspeakers that more than 1,000 cars were in attendance, and that number was

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easy to believe. We weren’t late, but we certainly weren’t early either, so we chugged our way through a crowd mostly wearing the same goofy grin that the boys and I were. No one in front or behind was in a rush to get anywhere. Idling aimlessly never seemed so purposeful. Later, as we chomped on hot dogs and pretended the sun wasn’t sinking, I couldn’t help but wonder why I had spent so many afternoons not doing this. And, more importantly, why had I allowed myself to get to the point where a cruise-in was a necessary destination. And what about everyone else? I’m constantly driving all over town, and I hardly ever see Bel Airs in grocery store parking lots, or Galaxies in the drive-thru at Wendy’s, or Deuce Roadsters at Home Depot. Why not? Are we all so petrified our cars will break down on the freeway? Are we all so paranoid that we’ll get a door-ding and want to fistfight a stranger? Have we become so concerned with potentially risking the monetary value associated with our vehicles that we’re unwilling to use those vehicles for their intended purpose? What’s the point of owning an old car that never gets used? We jump in our appliance-mobiles to save wear and tear on the oldies, but all that means is that we spend all our time driving appliancemobiles! The oldies then sit. Batteries go dead, gaskets dry out and fluids begin to leak. Now we have real issues. The best way to make sure your car is roadworthy is not to guess at what’s wrong, but to drive the heck out of it and dial it in as you go. Personally, I had resolved myself to just about every excuse available over the past couple of years. I was too busy or too tired or too lazy to fix what I needed to fix. The weather wasn’t cooperating. Moving car seats is a pain. Traffic is too soul-crushing. Gas is too expensive. Pathetic excuses, all of them. So right then and there, with a mouth full of hot dog, I decided, “To hell with this.” My old Chevelle has flaws, for sure, but it also has a big-block, sounds tough, and can burn the tires off as long as you’re willing to stay in it. That should be enough. A challenge is born The next day, I sent Editor Pickering a picture of my car idling in the driveway, and then a second with my oldest in the backseat, ready for a ride to school. Thus, the Hot Rod Challenge was born. What exactly is the Hot Rod Challenge? Well, it’s a work in progress, but it might as well be called the “Quit Making Excuses and Drive Your Car Challenge.” I’ll now challenge you just like I did Pickering a few months back to get that old car of yours fired up and on the road. I’m making up the rules of the Challenge as I go here, but here are the basics: • Only driving to non-car events counts for credit. No cruise-ins, no car shows. Get in that thing and go to the grocery store. And then the hardware store. And then to dinner. The more stops, the better. • Bonus points awarded for each passenger. • Double points if the passenger was born in a different generation. • Double points for each child seat. • Add another point if it’s raining. • Two more for hitting rush hour. Want to know how that cooling system will hold up? Here’s your chance. Challenge yourselves to get out there. Allow that old rig to remind you why you were so willing to part with your hard-earned cash to own it. Being remembered for driving a cool old car is very different from being remembered for owning one. What kind of experience are you searching for? Send your challenge stories to comments@americancarcollector.com.A May–June 2018 47

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On the Market John L. Stein JOINING theA-TEAM You can have your $50k GTO and your $3m Hemi ’Cuda convertible. Next time, I’m getting a Model A A like-minded friend Unbeknownst to me, my friend Scott Young, who lives just a few miles away, did bid. Even though the auction closed with the bidding not meeting reserve, he later worked a deal with the selling dealer and secured the car for $8,200. The car’s now in transit from Pennsylvania to the Left Coast. “Wow,” I thought. “A running, drivable 89-year-old American classic for the price of a bad month’s credit card bill.” (Or close, anyway. The last time our dog visited the vet, the tab was nearly $5,000.) This made me think. Model As and Model Ts have been stuck in the mud in terms of value for as long as I can remember. Essentially, for the same price as a used Kia Soul, a guy can go visit our American motoring early days for as long as he likes, have fun with an easily and infinitely repairable car, and then sell it on for about the same price later. Put another way, how could you not adopt an early Ford — or some other affordable 1920s or 1930s car? This 1929 Ford Model a Tudor provided a tempting target in the $7,000 range on Bring A Trailer $50k GTO Judge at auction that we badly want but can’t afford. It’s the neighbor’s Mustang Boss 429 once advertised in the local paper for a song, but now worth $300,000. Or that Hemi ’Cuda convertible of our youthful dreams, today a $3 million car. It seems “Who Moved My Cheese?” isn’t just one man’s problem, but everyone’s who finds that just-out-of-reach car, well, perpetually just out of reach. Last week, I discovered a black-ops workaround for the constantly moving auto- I motive “cheese”: Zig when the others zag. Zig-zagging worked for the British Royal Navy in World War I, and it can work for us today. Here’s how. Last week, as usual, I perused Bring A Trailer to see what tempting old cars, bikes or boats might be on offer. There, amidst the high-priced jobs, was something of a rarity for the site — a 1929 Ford Model A Tudor. Although offered on reserve, the bidding was reasonable — in the $7,000 range near the auction’s end. I checked daily, and it never got much past that until the final minutes, when it hit $7,500. The car looked nice, honest and authentic. Being busy and already having a full garage, I didn’t bid. 48 AmericanCarCollector.com n the immortal words of Dr. Spencer Johnson, “Who Moved My Cheese?” In Spencer’s popular book, the cheese represents an elusive quest (e.g., money, career, relationship or possessions in real life) shared by four characters in a mouse maze. We car guys know the scene all too well. It’s that glorious Carousel Red Functional fun The BaT Model A buyer found it irresistible. “I could have had one of those things my entire life but never had a reason until now,” Young says. “What triggered me was Jonathan Klinger’s blog about driving a Model A for a year. It was fascinating to me. He’d drive it to the airport and leave it, drive it to see his parents in the winter for the holidays, and take his girlfriend out. He had problems with the car, but fewer than you would think.” An advertising agency partner, Young was actually looking for a 1959 T-bird, a Bullet Bird or maybe a GTO — in his words, “A ‘functional collector car’ that I can drive.” Like many of us, he looks at BaT every day. “I thought the Ford looked cool and it was scruffy and neat, and bidding was very cheap. I looked at it three or four times over the week. On the last day, I thought, ‘I can easily afford this, and if something else comes along I can sell it and move on.’ And at the price I got it for, I can keep it stock or modify it to make it more useful, such as with ‘juice’ brakes — whatever I want. This will be the oldest car I’ve ever owned, and I’m looking forward to it.”

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From models to Model A Longtime friend John Jaeger, a lifelong enthusiast who loves building cars to his tastes, bought a needy 1931 Ford 5-window coupe for $5,000 several years ago with the intention of creating the hot rod he always wanted. He quickly dispatched the frame, engine, transmission and rear axle — essentially keeping just the body — and then ordered a new 1932 Ford frame from So-Cal Speed Shop, its main rails pinched to fit the ’31 body’s narrower firewall. Then he found a 327 V8 from a 1967 Camaro for $1,500, a rebuildable TH350 automatic for $200, and a Ford nine-inch axle for a bit more. “It’s the makings of a traditional daily-driver hot rod,” Jaeger explains. “It will have the skinny wheels and tires, no fenders and a chopped top. The engine won’t be fancy — just the small-block Chevy with a mild cam and three deuces.” Jaeger’s interest in building an old Ford started in his early teens, as he converted plastic model kits into hot rods with a hot knife, vision and ingenuity. “Getting my driver’s license led me to racing sports cars and Formula cars at Road America, and the hot-rodding side of things went dark because of that interest,” he notes. “But now I’m glad to say I’m finally building the real version of the car I always liked and created as a kid.” Budget time machine Already the owner of a 2007 C6 Corvette and a fuel-injected fiberglass hot-rod replica, retired print gallery owner Earl Brinkman bought a fully done 1930 Model A 5-window coupe for $17,000 last year. A friend’s dad had lovingly built it up decades ago from parts, and it needed nothing but to be loved and driven. After seeing it tucked away in the friend’s garage, he bought the Model A on the spot. It is the earliest car he’s ever owned. “When I grew up, these were throwaway cars, and you could buy them for $15 or so,” Brinkman explains. “In high school, I ran around with wealthy kids who had everything, but this was the only kind of car I could afford.” Brinkman readily admits buying the Model A basically for nostalgia. “I was born in 1929 and the car is a ’30, and so having it has really brought back my high-school years,” he says. “At John Jaeger a used Kia Soul, a guy can have fun with an easily and infinitely repairable car, and then sell it on for about the same price later. $17k it was not expensive — but the experience means the world to me.” Zigging and zagging: Navy ships, running backs, sheepdogs and lawyers all do it, so why not us car guys too? And so you can have your $50k GTO, your $300k Boss 429 and your $3m Hemi ’Cuda. Sure, I’m jealous! But next time, I’m joining “The A-Team” instead.A Essentially, for the same price as May–June 2018 49

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Featured Perspective TOO MANY TRUCKS Somehow I ended up with seven old trucks. How did this happen? by Elana Scherr people who deny needing a truck are just a yard project or a movingday away from being a great annoyance to their truck-owning friends. Truck ownership is even more crucial if you own a classic car, W because there comes a day (perhaps long from now, perhaps with regularity) when you will need to retrieve that car from somewhere where it has ceased to do car things and reverted to a static work of art. You’re probably nodding your head now, saying, “Yes, Elana, we are all in the same faulty-wired, what’s-that-knocking-sound boat. We all own a truck and trailer. Why are you telling us these things we know so well?” Hang with me here. If you have a classic truck, it is subject to the same eventual breakdown as a car, and the only thing that can tow a truck is another, bigger truck, so obviously you need two trucks. I expect that alone is enough explanation for how the 1993 Dodge 50 AmericanCarCollector.com e have a lot of trucks. In our household of two people, there’s a good seven haulers on the property. One for every day of the week. It’s a well-known fact that everyone needs a truck, and Ramping up Here’s where things start getting out of control. Do you remember when the famous drag racer Don “The Snake” Prudhomme found and restored the Hot Wheels “Snake and Mongoose” Funny Car haulers? They went to Barrett-Jackson in January 2014, where they sold for $990,000 as a package with two Funny Cars (ACC profiled them in issue No. 14). Curses on The Snake, because those trucks lit a fire in our household and nothing would do but to find a Dodge D700 ramp truck of our own. Which we did. It ended up being the Dick Landy Dodge Super Car Clinic hauler from the racer’s 1970 Pro Stock season. Price: $3,000. The acquisition of that truck is a story all its own, so let’s just say it involved a stuntshow vampire, many men with nicknames like “Rocket,” and “Hemi,” and an agricultural pest lesson about gypsy moths. Also, so much rust. So much rust and some butchery in the intervening years between Landy’s ownership and ours led to the need for another 1968 cab to repair all the holes, so that brought us up to 3.5 trucks in the yard. Photos by Elana Scherr W250 Cummins turbo diesel and the 1978 Dodge Adventurer dually came to live in our driveway. So far, pretty sensible, right?

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a screw loose? naw, elana just loves old trucks Parts for big 1968 Dodges were surprisingly easy to come by, but in some cases, buying an entire truck proved cheaper than buying bits, which is how a $1,500 1968 D800 dump truck rumbled and backfired 60 miles from Pomona, CA, to our house in the San Fernando Valley. Once we got the D800 home, we were so pleased with it, we couldn’t bear to strip it down. Now it sits in the backyard, lording it over the other trucks like a full-size Tonka toy and greatly entertaining my niece and nephew when they visit. Elana’s home for trucks Once word of our growing truck rescue got out, trucks started to find us. At no point was a 1965 Ford F-350 tow truck on our to-do list, but when the original owner of one offered it to us for free, “Only take it home — I can’t bear to scrap it,” what were we to do? I’ll admit that the enormity, both literal and financial, of the ramp truck might have been overwhelming us, and it was lovely to have a project that needed only points, a new seat, a brake job and a water pump. Sometimes you need a mid-project project to revive your enthusiasm for your main project. Can you see how things are starting to get out of hand? They’re starting to get emotional, which is the best and worst approach to car collecting. Something has to be done. Something has to be sold. Did I mention the 1978 Datsun 620 I bought a few years back to teach myself how to drive a manual? I didn’t know how, and the turbo diesel seat didn’t go far enough forward for me to learn. Anyhow, I learned, and I sold it and that cleared up exactly half of one trucksized parking space, which clearly meant that we should purchase a 1968 D800 dump truck — cheaper whole than its parts clean, low-mile 1978 crewcab Dodge dually out of the Auto Trader, which we did, for $10,000. You can stop me again here. “Elana, didn’t you start off by saying you had a 1978 Dodge dually?” Yes, but we had a brown clubcab and this was a custom-painted yellow crewcab. A crewcab! And it came with a Lionel Richie cassette tape. Who could resist? For sale? At this point, even we felt we were heading into hoarder territory, so plans were made to sell the brown ’78, but then the transmission on the ’93 broke, and we had to tow it home with the brown truck, as the new yellow truck wasn’t yet roadworthy, and the Ford wrecker, well, they are called “wreckers,” for a reason. You don’t really want to hook up to them if you can help it. At least, I don’t want to hook up my own car. I’ll happily tow yours with it. Where were we? Ah yes, brown ’78 is put into daily truck duty and the diesel is undergoing surgery, which takes us away again from ramp truck and the new yellow ’78. The dump truck is supervising. Our yard is getting crowded. All this diesel wrenching revives a long-held desire to do a diesel swap into something. The yellow truck maybe? Next thing you know, there’s a $3,000 1989 diesel dually puffing and smoking its way into our lives. This time we harden our hearts. We will not be tricked into adopting this one, even if it is a really nice, clean first-gen. No! Tear it down. Start the swap. Then we’ll sell the remnants, and the other brown dually, and get down to a nice normal number of trucks, like five. One for every day of the work week. A 1978 crewcab Dodge dually — with Lionel Richie cassette! In for surgery: 1989 Dodge D350 Cummins turbo diesel May–June 2018 51

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PROFILE CORVETTE 1957 CHEVROLET CORVETTE 283/270 Value and Performance I’ve always thought the 270-hp ’57s have been a great value compared to the Fuelies. It seems the rest of the world is starting to believe likewise 52 AmericanCarCollector.com 52 AmericanCarCollector.com VIN: E57S105900 by Tom Glatch • Fresh body-off restoration from an NCRS vice chairman • Matching-numbers, 283-ci, 270-hp, dual-quad engine • 4-speed manual transmission • Wonder Bar radio • Heater • Windshield washers • Parking-brake alarm • Two-tone paint • New chrome • BF Goodrich Silvertown wide whitewalls • Painted to meet current NCRS judging ACC Analysis This car, Lot FR0247, sold for $80,250, including buyer’s pre- mium, at GAA Classic Cars’ Spring Sale auction in Greensboro, NC, on March 2, 2018. The 1957 Corvette has always been one of America’s favorite collector cars. It’s one of those rare automobiles that hits that sweet spot between design and performance. That’s why the ’57 Corvette is on so many collectors’ bucket lists — it appeals to more than just Chevy or Corvette enthusiasts. Of those ’57s, the fuel-injected cars have com- manded top dollar, at least since the 1970s. They should; they’re the ultimate, right? Certainly the 1957 “Fuelies” are rare, as just 756 of the 283-hp cars were built out of 6,339 Corvettes total. They were supremely powerful, too, hitting that magic one-horsepower-per-cubic-inch mark. Just as important, they performed at a world-class level, winning the GT class at the 12 Hours of Sebring, and dominating the SCCA B Production class. Carbs vs. injection But perceptions can be less than accurate. Engineer John Dolza created the famed mechanical fuel-injection system not for additional horsepower — although these engines were rated at 13 more horses than the top carbureted engine — but to prevent fuel starvation and flooding in high-performance roadrace conditions. It was a condition most carburetors experienced, and rather than use the expensive Italian Weber carbs preferred by Ferrari and other European makers, GM came up with their own solution. It worked great on the racetrack and was rushed into production as an expensive option on Pontiac and Chevrolet sedans and Corvettes at the urging of Harlow Curtice, GM Executive Vice President of North America. But on the street, the system was hard to start when hot and only a few mechanics knew how to properly maintain or tune it. Many street Fuelies were converted back to the dual 4-barrel setup of the 270-hp Corvettes, although in fairness to GM, within a few Buyavette, courtesy of GAA Classic Cars

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COLLeCTOR’S ReSOuRCe: You can easily track a car’s value over time with the ACC Premium Auction Database, featuring more than 125,000 American cars searchable by year, model, VIN and more. Sign up for just $59 at www.americanCarCollector.com! Detailing Year produced: 1957 Number produced: 6,339 (1,621 270-hp) Original list price: $3,756.47 Current ACC Median Valuation: $97,500 (270 hp) Club: National Corvette Restorers Society years they were able to iron out the limitations of the Rochester “Ram-Jet” fuel injection system and make it a fine street performer. For street use, the carbureted Corvettes were just fine, and for those looking for serious performance (or just an impressive show under the hood), the optional dual-carburetor engines delivered either 245 hp or 270 hp without the temperament of the fuel-injected cars, and with at least a $300 savings on the sticker. Sports Car Illustrated magazine (forerunner of Car and Driver) drove both and reported: “The cold figures, available for your inspection, are pretty phenomenal. Injected and carb-fed Corvettes are closely comparable in performance, and both qualify as the fastest-accelerating genuine production cars SCI has ever tested. In fact, up to 80 they’re not so far from the data posted by the Mercedes 300SLR coupe, which is generally regarded as the world’s fastest road car. In low, the Corvettes zoomed up to 55 mph in a shade over five seconds, and in another nine they surged to 95 in second with very exciting verve.” But when SCI drove their fuel-injected Corvette hard, then tried to restart it, “Nothing happened; the starter ground on and on and the engine didn’t even cough. So we tried treating it like a flooded carbureted engine and put the throttle on the floor. The engine caught within three spins.” The numbers and the look True 270-hp RPO 469C Corvettes are a compelling option for someone looking for a ’57 to both show and drive, like our feature ’Vette. Onyx Black was the most popular color by far in 1957, and with the code 440 “Two Tone Paint” option (a $19.40 upgrade), you can see why. This Corvette does not have either of the necessary pedigrees for maximum value: Bloomington Gold certification or a Top Flight award from the National Corvette Restorers Society, but the fact an “NCRS Vice Chairman” restored the car implies it might be near the level of accuracy needed to attain either of those honors. The seller wisely included photos of the undercar- riage, which, along with the engine compartment, looks to be at or near the 95% of factory-original condition that both awards mandate. The seller also states the Corvette is “numbers matching,” which doesn’t necessarily signify originality, but it does show the restorer made the effort to have all major castings and components dated within a reasonable timeframe of when the car was assembled. Altogether this seems like a first-class Corvette. A fine value Maybe it’s my frugal and pragmatic Midwestern nature, but a Corvette like this really appeals to me. It’s not a 283-hp fuel-injected model — the pinnacle of Corvette perfection in 1957 — it’s just a notch below that, and for that reason, the 270-hp ’57s have historically been a fine value compared to the Fuelies. It seems the rest of the world is starting to believe likewise. The 2018 ACC Pocket Price Guide shows the median sale price for a 1957 fuel-injected 283-hp Corvette at $92,500, while the 270-hp model’s median is $97,500. As these are median prices (where the number displayed is the middle in a series of values arranged from smallest to largest), the recent data suggest there have been more sales of high-dollar 270-hp cars than of high-dollar Fuelies. Either way, the recent trend in prices has shown these options to be close to each other in terms of value. Though our feature Corvette doesn’t seem to have any history or documentation, it is a very well-restored example and logically would command at least the median, which it failed to achieve at its $80,250 sale price. But this sale wasn’t this Corvette’s first rodeo; it was sold via the same auction house on July 28, 2016, for $58,300. I’m assuming the seller made significant improve- ments to the quality of the Corvette’s condition in that time, and that certainly helped the price, but it’s doubtful that he recouped his restoration costs. That makes this 270-hp Corvette not only a great value, but for the buyer, it was very well bought. A (Introductory description courtesy of GAA Classic Cars.) May–June 2018 53CC 53 1957 Chevrolet Corvette 283/270 Engine # location: Pad on front of block below right cylinder head Tune-up/major service: $250 Distributor cap: $19.99 VIN location: Plate on driver’s side body-hinge pillar Web: www.ncrs.org Alternatives: 1957 Chevrolet Corvette 283/283, 1957 Ford Thunderbird E-code, 1958 Chrysler 300D convertible ACC Investment Grade: B Comps 1957 Chevrolet Corvette 283/270 Not sold at $65,000 Lot S134, VIN: E57S104153 Condition: 3+ Mecum Auctions, Kansas City, MO, 11/30/2017 ACC# 6856427 Lot S98.1, VIN: E57S105395 Condition: 2 Sold at $86,400 Mecum Auctions, Kansas City, MO, 4/25/2015 ACC# 264774 1957 Chevrolet Corvette 283/270 Lot 431, VIN: E57S101033 Condition: 2Sold at $137,500 Barrett-Jackson, Palm Beach, FL, 4/19/2015 ACC# 265002

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PROFILE GM Unrestored Bargain 1970 OLDSMOBILE 442 W-30 2-DOOR HARD TOP Courtesy of Bonhams We are seeing a torpedo shot in valuation movement on great, original 442s — meaning that you need to lead the target a good bit to own a really nice example VIN: 344870M182832 by Dale Novak 4-speed, the W-30 package and Twilight Blue paint over matching vinyl interior. Gaganis took meticulous care of his Olds, driving it O about 75,000 miles in total. In 1998, he sold it to James Voight. During Voight’s tenure, the engine was rebuilt and fitted with hardened valve seats. From there, the car moved to the Wisconsin collection of well-known muscle car enthusiast Colin Comer. Comer reported the car to be “the finest original W-30 I have ever seen.” The car later came west to the Calabasas, CA, collection of Vic Preisler before being acquired by the studious Texas collector Jim Fasnacht. It was driven fewer than 500 miles during Fasnacht’s ownership. The present vendor acquired the car in November 2016. The paint is understood to be largely that which was applied at the factory, and the interior has also remained largely untouched. The numbers-matching engine sits under the hood. It has covered only 6,000 additional miles since coming out of the care of its original owner. ACC Analysis This car, Lot 122, sold for $73,920, including buyer’s pre- mium, at Bonhams’ Amelia Island Auction at the Fernandina Beach Golf Club on March 8, 2018. It was offered without reserve. The Oldsmobile 442 was first introduced as an option package on the 1964 F-85 and Cutlass. The idea behind it was to compete with the new-for-1964 Pontiac GTO, 54 AmericanCarCollector.com rdered from Olympic Oldsmobile in Chicago on October 1, 1969, Mr. Vilinis “Vil” Gaganis optioned this car with the G80 performance axle package, heavy-duty radiator, the M21 close-ratio in an attempt to keep the brand-loyal Oldsmobile buyer within the Oldsmobile family of cars. Oldsmobile buyers had a tendency to fit in a more well-heeled demographic. So the idea of a performance 2-door hard top was more of a conceptual stretch than for a typical Chevrolet or Pontiac buyer. Even with some great performance added to the package, Olds buyers were more inclined to demand a higher trim level than a Chevelle or GTO buyer. The name came from the original 442 performance configuration of a 4-barrel carb, 4-speed gearbox and a dual exhaust system. Beginning in 1968, the 442 was no longer an option package, but its own model. That run lasted from 1968 to 1971. The W-30 secret weapon Beginning in 1966, 442 buyers could step up to the already spunky high-performance L69 360-hp 400 engine by adding the RPO (Regular Production Order) W-30 “outside air induction” engine package. This created the most potent weapon you could put under the hood of a factory-built Oldsmobile. By 1970, the W-30 option package was now a “gloves off” beast of American iron and perhaps the most underrated muscle car on the street, with a massive 455 V8 putting out 370 hp and a monstrous 500 foot-pounds of tire-shredding torque. Not only was the 442 W-30 fitted with a beast of an engine, it truly was a case of “father knows best.” All sorts of performance modifications were included, such as a fiberglass hood with a wicked dual-snorkel functional air-intake hood (one of the coolest musclecar hoods ever designed), weight-saving bright red plastic inner fenders, special camshaft, heads, distributor and carburetor. There even was a special aluminum differential housing. With the right tuning

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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: 1968–71 Number produced: 3,100 Original list price: $3,900 Current ACC Median Valuation: $83,500 Tune-up/major service: $300 VIN location: Base of windshield, driver’s side Engine # location: Partial VIN on block pad, driver’s side front, below cylinder head Club: Oldsmobile Club of America and a good hook-up, the “not your father’s” W-30 1970 Oldsmobile 442 could score a 13.7-second run in the quarter mile. That’s pretty impressive for a muscle car that wrapped the driver in a luxurious, well-appointed interior. All things 442 The market for the best years of the brutal-yet- dignified Oldsmobile 442 has been on fire as of late. Just about anything out there with a 442 badge on it is doing very well. In recent years, the 442 market has been hot and cool and hot again. During the big muscle car run-up, it took a while for the 442s to catch on. But once they did, their values shot up quickly, especially for the W-30 convertibles. Today, we are seeing a torpedo shot in valua- tions — meaning that you’ve got to lead the target a good bit to own a really nice example. I’ve personally witnessed very nice 442 W-30s moving up the ladder at a fairly brisk pace. Even well done clones (especially convertibles) compete for very strong money on the auction block. The ACC Pocket Price Guide reflects this push on the values. We are currently at plus-13% over the last guide, and that is a very strong indicator of the rush back to the auction block to grab one while you can — and values are responding accordingly. Valuing the hot Olds Our subject car is about as good as you’ll ever find. The ownership chain includes plenty of well-known collectors, and that certainly adds additional credibility to the condition and value dynamics. This car last sold at Mecum’s Dallas, TX, sale in November 2016 as part of the Jim Fasnacht Collection, for $110,000 (ACC# 6814167). Today, a well-sorted 1970 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 2-door hard top can easily swing from about $70,000 to $100,000 or more. Some of the best cars out there usually will have an asking price north of $110,000. These are the best of the best — with very little repopped catalog parts on them — those with the original drivetrains, plenty of OEM parts and a full jacket of documentation. Air tight, no stories, no excuses, no asterisks. This is one of those cars, and true comparables are nearly impossible to find. I think it may be fair to say that this could be the best example of an unrestored W-30 442 that’s actually been driven. We could all Monday-morning-quarterback this and come up with all sorts of speculative answers as to why the car sold for $110,000 in November of 2017 and $73,920 in March of 2018. Granted, the Amelia Island sales, in general, are not the epicenter of American iron muscle-car sales. They’re more wine and cheese than beer and jalapeño poppers. But given the past owners and the probability that the car could sell for $100k, you can’t really pick on the venue. You needed some deep-pocket buyers, and they are stumbling over each other at Amelia. There are always a few cars that fall through the cracks at auctions — always. This one did, and the new owner should be overjoyed by it. The math here isn’t hard to do. With our median value pegged at $83,500 (without the bump for the 4-speed), a recent past sale of the car at $110,000, and values on the rise, this fantastic W-30 was an incredible buy on an incredible car. And I think Mr. Vilinis “Vil” Gaganis, the original owner, deserves a special acknowledgement for preserving the old gal for future generations. Well done. A (Introductory description courtesy of Bonhams.) Web: www.oldsmobileclub.org Alternatives: 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 LS6, 1970 Plymouth ’Cuda 440 Six Pack, 1970 Pontiac GTO Judge Ram Air III ACC Investment Grade: B Comps 1970 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 2-door hard top Barrett-Jackson, Uncasville, CT, 6/21/2017 ACC# 6839562 Lot 722, VIN: 344870M277583 Condition: 1Sold at $66,000 1970 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 2-door hard top Lot S737, VIN: 344870M271171 Condition: 2+ Sold at $165,000 Russo and Steele, Scottsdale, AZ, 1/18/2017 ACC# 6817045 1970 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 2-door hard top Lot 422, VIN: 344870M374974 Condition: 2 Sold at $77,000 Barrett-Jackson, Palm Beach, FL, 4/12/2014 ACC# 243169 May–June 2018 55

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PROFILE FOMOCO Barn Snake 1993 FORD MUSTANG SVT COBRA YAZTEC Automotive, courtesy of GAA Classic Cars I too find mystery in a barn-stored 427 Shelby Cobra that last raced in the ’60s and still sits under a canvas cover with a busted gearbox. Sorry, Mustang fans, this Cobra isn’t the same 56 AmericanCarCollector.com 56 AmericanCarCollector.com VIN: 1FACP42D3PF136958 by Sam Stockham • 1993 Mustang SVT Cobra with Vortech supercharger • 60k actual miles • Owner’s manual and two sets of original keys • Number 378 of 4,993 built, with certificate from Ford • Parked in a barn since 2005, brought back to life with new fuel tank, fuel pump, alternator, water pump, radiator, drilled and slotted rotors, shocks and struts, tires and sport exhaust ACC Analysis This car, Lot FR0079, sold for $20,865, including buyer’s pre- mium, at GAA’s auction in Greensboro, NC, on March 2, 2018. If there is one thing I have learned in life, it’s that trends are cyclical. Without fail, what was really cool to everyone one day is garbage to the same group the next day. Some trends are so popular that they create their own market and the public watches in amazement as the trend behaves in defiance of common logic. Remember Beanie Babies? If you invested in them, I’d bet you do. Another little nugget of knowledge I have kept with me is to not take the investment advice of people who are spouting overheard rhetoric. This is the equivalent of the kid with the shine box giving advice on stock picks. Please don’t listen, because that is a sure sign of a trend bubble getting ready to burst. The other day, a friend sent me an ad for buckets of genuine barn dust for the wise-investment sum of $500 per bucket. The ad instructs you to take a $5,000 car, dump dust all over it, and voilà — you have a $25,000 car. How could you lose? This reminds me of another life lesson — logic-defying trends often bring out the scoundrels on their way to becoming a trend bubble getting ready to burst. Barn-fresh Scoundrels have little to do with the recent sale of a nice-looking barn-find 1993 Mustang Cobra. In fact, I am rather pleased with the presentation of the car, considering it could have been completely exploited as a barn find. For the record, I don’t care for the barn-find trend. Being dirty, neglected and covered in owl droppings does not raise the value of a car, especially if it was mass-produced. The risk of rat-borne hantavirus lurking within the musty confines of a dormant interior is in no way appealing to me. Maybe I’m a germaphobe, but I have to always question the person willing to pay a premium for these attributes. Before you get your ink pot and quill out to yell at me, I too find mystery in the likes of a barn-find Ferrari 250 GT California found under boxes in France or a 427 Cobra that last raced in the ’60s and still sits under a canvas cover with a busted gearbox. Sorry, Mustang fans, this isn’t the same. I like patina too, but I like clean patina, and there is a difference. That brings us back to the ’93 Cobra, which the seller washed prior to the auction. Oh dear! Did they devalue that poor car? No, they gave it a much-deserved bath to present it in its best light at auction.

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COLLeCTOR’S ReSOuRCe: You can easily track a car’s value over time with the ACC Premium Auction Database, featuring more than 125,000 American cars searchable by year, model, VIN and more. Sign up for just $59 at www.americanCarCollector.com! Detailing Club: SVT Cobra Mustang Club (SCMC) Engine # location: Partial VIN stamped on rear of block, behind intake manifold Foxes on the rise If you haven’t noticed, the depreciation curve of the Fox-body Mustang is no longer flat. If you assumed that it was, I would assume that you live under a rock. 1979–93 Mustangs are going up. In typical form for any model, leading the charge are special-edition cars. Among Ford’s factory-built Foxes, the Cobra is king. I specify Ford-built because tuners such as Saleen, whose cars were sold in Ford dealerships, are well ahead of the typical Fox Mustang appreciation and have seen more of an exponential curve with regard to their appreciation. The 1993 Cobra was the last hurrah for a model that was getting old. The basic unibody design of the Fox platform dated back to the mid-1970s and suffered from the noise, vibration and harshness that were quickly becoming engineered out of other modern chassis of the day. As the public became more acutely aware of the civility that modern cars were capable of, the limitations of the Fox platform became evident. Ford realized that subframe connectors and sounddeadening material can only go so far. The ’93 Mustang Cobra utilized the best pieces from the Ford Motorsport catalog, which had been rebranded as SVT in 1993. As a result, the ’93 Cobra became the first production Mustang to actually have a horsepower increase from the 225 horsepower spec that the 5.0 engine had put out since 1987. GT-40 heads, a different cam (not custom and not the E-303 like many think), 1.7-ratio roller rockers and a cast intake that looked eerily similar to what was on the V8 Explorer was good for a reported 10 horsepower increase to 235. Today it doesn’t really seem worth the effort, but SVT needed something to market. Rear disc brakes were also standard, but the car did not get the five-lug conversion kit. Therefore, the Thunderbird wheels of the same era will not work on a stock Cobra. Make sure the original Cobra wheels are not marred too much when looking for a nice example. Custom valving was also used on the shocks and front struts, and the Cobra-spec factory units are all but impossible to find anymore, so if concours judging is your thing, check to make sure your potential purchase still has factory units. Not a stock time capsule There are items detracting from this particular car. Obviously, the Vortech supercharger kit sticks out. The aluminum radiator, the red plug wires and distributor cap, and the caster plates at the top of the shock towers are mentionable because they’re non-original items, and with minty cars, anything that detracts from originality also pulls away value. Then again, some Mustang circles see these mods as tasteful and needed. Either way, if done right, none of it should sway values here based on mileage and overall condition, which I peg at #3. While the 1993 Cobra was conceived as a special edition, they are not really rare. Ford made 4,993 of them. There are still plenty out there that are lowmiles, garage-fresh cars that will lead in price, but it’s pretty easy to find a bargain-basement junker, too. The price paid was reasonable in the current mar- ket, but the car was certainly not stolen off the block. I think the seller did just fine. If the price feels high, just wait. Hopefully, Fox Mustang values increase at a reasonable rate as to not attract scoundrels, buckets of dust and kids offering free Fox-body investment advice with a shoeshine. For now, this was a good deal for all involved. A (Introductory description courtesy of GAA Classic Cars.) Year produced: 1993 Number produced: 4,993 Original list price: $18,505 Current ACC Median Valuation: $27,500 Tune-up/major service: $200 VIN location: Door tag, driver’s door; plate at base of windshield on driver’s side Web: www.svtcobraclub.com Alternatives: 1989 Chevrolet Camaro 1LE, 1989 Pontiac Trans Am Turbo 20th Anniversary, 1994 Ford Mustang Cobra ACC Investment Grade: D Comps 1993 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra Lot 281, VIN: 1FACP42D7PF176220 Condition: 2Sold at $14,850 Dan Kruse Classics, Austin, TX, 9/27/2014 ACC# 252409 1993 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra Lot 2415, VIN: 1FACP42D3PF176036 Condition: 2Sold at $13,750 Leake Auctions, Dallas, TX, 4/25/2014 ACC# 243389 1993 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra R Lot 2195, VIN: 1FACP42D6PF169212 Condition: 1Sold at $42,350 RM Auctions, Kensington, NH, 6/10/2006 ACC# 42191 March–April 2018 May–June 2018 57 57CC

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PROFILE MOPAR Hyper Viper 1998 DODGE VIPER GTS-R COUPE Courtesy of Bonhams In a sense, the GTS-R is a modern-day version of the Cobra 427 S/C, with race-bred features grafted onto a street-legal chassis VIN: 1B3ER69E4WV401030 by John L. Stein • Well-preserved second-generation Viper • One of 100 GTS-R specification cars • About 10,000 miles • 488-ci, overhead-valve V10 engine • Electronic fuel injection • 460 hp at 4,600 rpm • 6-speed manual transmission • Four-wheel independent suspension • Four-wheel disc brakes • Aerodynamic package • White with blue stripes • Racing harnesses ACC Analysis This car, Lot 166, sold for $90,720, including buyer’s pre- mium, at Bonhams’ Amelia Island auction at the Fernandina Beach Golf Club in Amelia Island, FL, on March 8, 2018. When it launched for the 1992 model year, the Dodge Viper was just like America at its best — big and brash. Akin to the Terminator on four wheels, it boasted a huge 8-liter, truck-derived V10 engine and a pugnacious roadster body that just barely covered the enormous engine and wheels. Unlike today’s sophisticated supercars, the original Viper was miles away from offering any semblance of balance between performance and civility. Instead, it was all performance. With the big engine’s reported 465 foot-pounds of torque (later upgraded to 600 ft-lb) and a lack of today’s ubiquitous stability control, one clumsy jab of the right pedal could turn the Viper around, giving occupants an 58 AmericanCarCollector.com 58 AmericanCarCollector.com excellent view of where they’d just been. And the ride quality was little better, delivering a kidney punch over every pothole and a karate chop over every pavement crack. We owe a lot to that original, untamed Viper. It put Dodge on a pathway that now rewards us with cars like the Challenger SRT Hellcat and Demon. Like Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.” album, after decades of assault on American might by overseas competitors and governmental regulations, it flew the flag for unabashed, 1960s-style Yankee performance once again. And the Viper also represented a viable U.S. competitor for Corvette, whose creators had recently launched the “King of the Hill” ZR-1. Although in truth, the Viper was a far less sophisticated piece. One giant leap for Viperkind I have never heard anyone describe the original Viper roadster as pretty, or even nice-looking. But that changed in 1996 when the Viper GTS coupe arrived. The goofy, Halloween-pumpkin face remained, but replacing the roadster’s awkward mid- and tail sections was a svelte hard-top structure that, spiritually, seemed to have been lifted straight off of Peter Brock’s lovely Cobra Daytona coupe. All of a sudden, the Viper was a GT racing con- tender. And contend it did in many series, most notably at Le Mans with the French Viper Team ORECA. During this time, the ORECA Viper coupes battled with the Pratt & Miller-built factory Corvette C5-Rs. As a side note, a highlight of my car life was at Le Mans in 2000, standing in the hot pits at night, when

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COLLeCTOR’S ReSOuRCe: You can easily track a car’s value over time with the ACC Premium Auction Database, featuring more than 125,000 American cars searchable by year, model, VIN and more. Sign up for just $59 at www.americanCarCollector.com! Detailing Club: Viper Club of America Web: www.viperclub.org Alternatives: 1971 Chevrolet Corvette LS6 coupe, 1987 Buick GNX, 2012 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Centennial Edition Engine # location: Lower right-front cylinder block the Viper and Corvette came in simultaneously while battling for the GTS class lead. Possessing 18 heathen cylinders and displacing some 15 liters between them, they were like giant gladiators waging a deadly battle amongst an array of field mice. Incidentally, Viper won that contest, and the FIA GT World Championship five out of six years. Real racing aero Fast-forward two years, and Dodge created 100 race-replica GTS-R Viper coupes, one of which is featured here. In a sense, they were a modern-day equivalent of the Cobra 427 S/C, in that they featured various racing-derived modifications fitted to a streetlegal chassis. This wasn’t just for show, as including these com- ponents homologated the Viper for additional racing series. Aerodynamic mods included a front splitter, plus canards reminiscent of the Chaparral 2C of 1965. Naturally, a rear wing was fitted, as were special rear ducts. The rear diffusers now common on performance road cars (and even EVs and hybrids!) were not yet in vogue. Appropriate for the time, replica BBS racing wheels were fitted. Finished in Stone White with Viper Blue stripes, this GTS-R logically channels the Team ORECA Vipers, and also the long-ago 1953 Cunningham C-4RK. But the GTS-R wasn’t just for show, as subtle engine upgrades bounced the output up to 460 horsepower — a 2% gain over the standard 450-hp Viper GTS. Meanwhile, inside, the GTS-R served notice of its serious intent with multi-point racing harnesses and even a fire bottle. Bargain or blunder? Nearly 20 years have rushed by since this Viper GTS-R was sold to the first of four owners. However, even after such a long time, its $90,720 sale at Amelia Island shows a gain of just 6.5% above the original $85,200 MSRP. It’s interesting to compare this with other American exotics, most particularly the four-cam 1990 Corvette ZR-1 and the supercharged 2005 Ford GT. Originally listing for $58,995, the first-year C4 Corvette ZR-1 is valued at a mere $21,000 today — a 64% loss. In contrast, the 2005 Ford GT retailed for $149,995, and now trades for about $305,000 — more than double its original MSRP. This quick balance sheet shows the one-year-only Viper GTS-R occupies a flat “middle zone” in return between the deserving but still unrecognized ZR-1 and the strongly appreciated and valued Ford GT. How come? Here’s how I see the strikingly differ- ent long-term returns for the Corvette, Ford GT and Viper. First, the Corvette. The ZR-1 came to market like Chuck Norris entering a biker bar wearing a tuxedo — well-dressed and fully equipped for the fight. Nonetheless, the aluminum block, 32-valve, Lotusdesigned and Mercury Marine-built V8 engine was a far-out proposition for the Corvette faithful at the time. And besides, it was expensive. Its sales suffered then, and its value continues to suffer today. The Ford GT traded on historic provenance, thanks to Ford’s four consecutive Le Mans wins from 1966 to ’69 — especially the magical ’67 event with the Ford GT40 Mark IV, which was powered by an American 427 engine and was driven by Americans A.J. Foyt and Dan Gurney, ran American tires and was fielded by Shelby American. The reincarnated Ford GT of ’05 thus hit the salesroom floor running, saw price bumps immediately, and never faded. Although not every Ford GT is a $400,000 car today, gaveling at $300,000-plus is a common result. And that brings us back to the well-kept, 10,000- mile Viper GTS-R sold by Bonhams. This model has a lot going for it, including racing-derived bodywork, a factory power boost, the distinction as a oneyear-only offering, and very limited production. The 2018 American Car Collector Pocket Price Guide pegs the car at a median value of $97,500 — a price this car missed hitting by 7%. Considering that the sale price was well less than a third of a 2005 Ford GT’s value and well under the MSRP of the final-year 2017 Viper GTS, the 2018 Corvette ZR1 and even the 2018 Tesla Model S P90D, I’ll call this classic snake well bought. A (Introductory description courtesy of Bonhams.) May–June 2018 May–June 2018 59 ACC Investment Grade: B Comps Year produced: 1998 Number produced: 100 Original list price: $85,200 Current ACC Median Valuation: $97,500 Tune-up/major service: $200 VIN location: Plate at base of windshield 1996 Dodge Viper RT/10 Carroll Shelby roadster Lot 1016, VIN: 1B3BR65E4TV100682 Condition: 1Sold at $88,000 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ, 1/13/2018 ACC# 6857942 2002 Dodge Viper GTS Final Edition Lot K236, VIN: 1B3ER69E72V102920 Condition: 1 Not sold at $65,000 Mecum Auctions, Kissimmee, FL, 1/5/2018 ACC# 6857868 1996 Dodge Viper GTS coupe Lot F2, VIN: 1B3ER69E7TV200055 Condition: 2+ Sold at $59,400 Mecum Auctions, Kissimmee, FL, 1/5/2018 ACC# 6858077

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PROFILE HOT ROD & CUSTOM 1920 FORD T-BUCKET E HOT ROD & CUSTOM 1920 FORD T-BUCKET Unlike Unlike the radically altered customs of the day, you didn’t have to be a budding George Barris with access to a full shop to build a T-bucket 60 AmericanCarCollector.com VIN: RX140061 by John Boyle • Chevrolet 350-ci V8 • GM Turbo 400 automatic transmission • Disc brakes • Jaguar limited-slip IRS • Extended front end • Part of the Rolland Collection ACC Analysis This car, Lot 501, sold for $22,000, including buyer’s pre- mium, at Leake’s auction in Oklahoma City, OK, on February 24, 2018. It was offered without reserve. In the beginning, Ford created the Model T. From it sprang the American hot-rod and custom-car culture — and later industry. Cheap and plentiful, Henry’s Ts (as well as As and their various ’30s siblings) were the blank canvas upon which generations of custom-car builders would practice their art. The birth of the bucket Pinpointing the birthdate of custom Model Ts is dif- ficult, as many Ts were modified while they were still in production, with owners fitting speed parts in an attempt to coax more than the stock 20 hp from their four cylinders. Bucket-seat speedster and torpedostyle fenderless racers weren’t far behind, but what we know as the T-bucket came about shortly after World War II, when V8s were dropped into T roadsters (Runabouts, in Ford-speak). As you might expect, the Ford flathead V8 was often used, but all manner of engines found their way into the cars — Cadillacs, Olds, Nailhead Buicks, Chryslers, etc. It didn’t take long after 1955 for the then-new small-block Chevy to find its way into a T. The genre was popularized when cars by drag racer “TV” Tommy Ivo and pioneer rod builder Norm Grabowski were featured in magazines of the day. And proving that nothing helps a car quite like film exposure, when Grabowski’s T-bucket was featured on TV’s “77 Sunset Strip” as the “Kookie Car,” the Fords became the thing to have. Any way you like it In the automotive landscape of the 1950s, with chrome-laden Detroit behemoths and wild chopped, channeled and candy-colored customs, T-buckets stood out due to their basic nature. A roadster body — usually fiberglass after the late ’50s — was placed on a ladder-type chassis. The chassis might be from a T, A, Deuce or similar. The amount it differed from stock usually depended on what the builder had at hand and what he could afford. The choice of drivetrain and virtually everything else came down to availability. Massive blowers were common, but so were various carb arrangements. But the basic shape was set: hoodless, fenderless, and with narrow tires up front and wide rubber on the rear. Courtesy of Leake Auction Company

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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: 1908–27 Number produced: 995,498 (all 1920 Model Ts); 15,007,033 (all Ts, 1908–27) Many retained their factory trunk/turtledeck, but another popular style was to replace it with a small pickup bed just large enough to hold the cylindrical fuel tank and a cooler. Some had soft tops, but a tall windshield was always part of the look. A T radiator shell — a brass/chromed pre-’15 unit or painted ’20s piece — did its best to keep the engine cool. Interiors consisted of a basic bench seat. Paint finishes ran the gamut of simple one-color finishes to complex Ed Roth-style pinstripes, lace patterns, “endless” tape designs or faded panels, depending on the era of the build. In short, here was a custom the average car guy could build. Unlike the radically altered customs of the day, you didn’t have to be a budding George Barris with access to a full shop to build one. Newer build, “old-school” looks This recently built example presents as a car you might have seen in the mid-’60s, with nothing too extreme or dated. The body-color small-block Chevy features a blower-style intake scoop atop an AFB carburetor and all the accessories are chromed or polished. I don’t think they had color-matching sparkplug wires back in the day, but they’re here and help the car’s clean appearance. The firewall is polished, and a modern electric fan shows this was meant to be more than just a showpiece. The wheels are key to giving the car its mid-’60s look: in front, narrow chrome wires with faux knockoffs, and in the back, wide chrome reverse units with Baby Moon hubcaps. Likewise, the interior is bench-seat basic with only newer (and nicer than available in-period) antique-looking gauges and nice leather to belie its age. Likewise, this chassis looks the part of a high-end build. The stretched frame features the ubiquitous dropped front axle and transverse leaf spring, but its showpiece is tucked under the bucket. Hot-rod lore says some guys in the Bay Area were the first to put a Jaguar independent rear suspension under a rod in the mid-’60s. The unit, with limited-slip differential and four coil-over shocks, gave the cars a much nicer ride and better handling than solid axles. The inboard disc brakes reduced unsprung weight but came at the expense of turning a simple brake job into an all-day affair. The good news was the ringand-pinion gears were Dana/Spicer parts and readily available. Performance aside, the unit looked great, and when chromed, became as much a showpiece as the engine. Hot-rod historian and author Pat Ganahl describes their appeal: ”When chromed and fully exposed at the rear of a T-bucket, watching the axles twirl and suspension work was almost mesmerizing, especially at night.” A great buy At $22,000, this car, with fewer than 300 miles, was well bought. Coming out of a prominent race-themed collection, it was clearly a well-built, well-equipped car and easily outsold the other two T-buckets on offer by the same consignor ($11k and $12k, respectively) at the same sale. As you might guess given their nature, T-buckets are generally affordable. While comparables are thin on the ground in the ACC Premium Auction Database, the high-dollar outliers are well-known period builds with magazine and show history. A check of the Internet shows plenty available. As I write this, one classified website has 26 on offer with prices ranging from $9,500 to $43,000, with most around $20k. And being a rod, if you find one and it’s not quite what you want, you’re free to change it without concern for authenticity. If you can’t find the one you want, an online speed shop sells nearly complete kits with fiberglass bodies, frame, SBC and TH350 tranny, wheels, interiors and lights — but without paint, glass and various small items, for $19,715, highlighting the value of this car. A slice of history Like the A and the Deuce, the T-bucket holds a special place in rod/custom history. I’ll let Ganahl have the last word (from his book Lost Hot Rods II): “They’re not as comfortable as a coupe or even a ’32–’34 roadster. But they’re better than a motorcycle, and at least as exciting. That’s what T-buckets are all about: wind, noise, spinning tires, everything hanging out in the breeze — pure, essential hot rod.” A (Introductory description courtesy of Leake Auction Co.) May–June 2018 61 1923 Ford T-bucket 1926 Ford T-bucket Lot 325, VIN: 14314622 Condition: 4 Not sold at $8,000 ACC# 117710 Silver Auctions, Reno, NV, 8/2/2008 Club: Goodguys Rod & Custom Association Tune-up/major service: $150 VIN location: Varies Engine # location: Pad on front of engine block, below passenger’s side cylinder head (SBC) Original list price: $618.20 (1920 Runabout with starter) Web: www.good-guys.com Alternatives: 1927–31 Ford Model A hot rod, 1932–34 Ford hot rod ACC Investment Grade: D Comps 1923 Ford T-bucket Lot 23, VIN: OR66300 Condition: 1Sold at $15,120 Petersen Auctions, Salem, OR, 2/1/2014 ACC# 232357 (with helicopter jet turbine) Lot 755, VIN: NOVIN755 Condition: 1 Not sold at $70,000 Silver Auctions, Reno, NV, 8/2/2008 ACC# 117718

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PROFILE AMERICANA 1936 FORD DELUXE CABRIOLET Stock or Rod? Courtesy of Bonhams The buyer can keep this cabriolet just as-is, or perform a few discreet mechanical upgrades and probably not lose any money VIN: 182583480 by Ken Gross • Desirable open-top ’36 cabriolet model with rumble seat • Elegant black with Apple Green pinstripe • 221-ci Ford flathead V8 with dual exhaust • Classic styling and reliable engineering ACC Analysis This car, Lot 118, sold for $44,800, including buyer’s pre- mium, at Bonhams’ Amelia Island Auction at the Fernandina Beach Golf Club on March 8, 2018. It was offered without reserve. Early Ford V8s, built from 1932 to 1948, have a strong following today. They are delightful cars to own and drive in stock form, as this example was, and they offer great potential as rods or customs. A banner year 1936 was a terrific sales year for Ford Motor Company. Despite the mid-Depression economy, Ford outsold its archrival Chevrolet — although a strike at Chevy probably helped. The ’36 Fords were basically face-lifted 1935 models, updated with a more modern vee’d grille, refreshed hood vents and reshaped rear fenders. Steel disc wheels replaced traditional wires. Cabriolet models, like this car, carried two passengers inside and two outside in a rumble seat. In 1936, that model was joined by the new Club Cabriolet, which had a trunk and enclosed all four passengers inside. 62 AmericanCarCollector.com 62 AmericanCarCollector.com When World War II ended in 1945, brand-new cars were in high demand and short supply. Detroit’s OEMs quickly tooled up for new cars — Ford built the first of its 1946 models in July 1945, and Harry Truman received the first completed Tudor sedan. Pent-up demand (civilian car production had ended in February 1942) and the challenges of converting “The Arsenal of Democracy” from guns, tanks and bomber manufacturing back to civilian-appealing automobiles meant that although independents like Studebaker and Hudson offered all-new cars in 1947 and 1948, the Big Three waited until 1949 before releasing their all-new models. A matter of style Hot-rodders and customizers in the early post-war period typically modified pre-war cars. Readily available and relatively inexpensive, 1934 and earliermodel cars were hot-rodded and often modified with fenders removed to make them lighter and faster. Generally, 1935 and later cars were customized. Their bodies were restyled and reshaped. Chopped tops and even sectioned bodies yielded sleeker, lower silhouettes and a more expensive appearance. Some shops, like the Berardini Brothers, in South Central LA, did a thriving business fixing up late models in the ’50s. They reconditioned Fords, did semicustom work and resold them. Pat Berardini said, “We sold beautiful Fords — ’36s, ’39s, ’40s, mostly coupes. We’d lower them, add fender skirts, install duals — I’d

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COLLeCTOR’S ReSOuRCe: You can easily track a car’s value over time with the ACC Premium Auction Database, featuring more than 125,000 American cars searchable by year, model, VIN and more. Sign up for just $59 at www.americanCarCollector.com! Detailing Year produced: 1936 Number produced: Ford sold 4,616 cabriolets and Club Cabriolets in 1936 Original list price: $675 Current ACC Median Valuation: $37,400 Tune-up/major service: Estimated $150 Engine # location: On bellhousing buy grilles by the dozen. We did nosing, decking, and removed the excess trim. Then I’d repaint them in lacquer. The most popular color was a Ruby Maroon shade. We did a lot of cars in black. One of the most popular colors was metallic Tokay Beige — kind of an off-white shade. Guys could buy one of our used, mildly customized cars all ready to go. They paid more for our cars than for clean stock models — but they were worth it.” In contrast, George and Sam Barris, the Ayala Brothers, Clay Jensen and Neil Emory at Valley Custom, Gene Winfield and other LA area greats created full-on custom cars, both for street and show use, with major body restyling. The customizing principles and techniques they established are still in use today in the rod and custom community. Rod it or not? So here’s a cute little ’36 Ford cabriolet that sold for about what these are worth today in clean, stock condition. The most popular ’36 Ford body styles to modify are the roadster and the three-window coupe. While other ’36 Ford models, like 5-window coupes, have been customized, they’re just not as cool. Roadsters have a rakish bolt-on windshield that’s begging to be chopped. The ’36 Ford 3-window coupes resemble 7/8ths-scale Lincoln-Zephyrs. Both these body styles, when hammered, stretched a bit, lowered and modified, are really attractive. The cabriolets like this one, not so much. If this were a ’36 roadster, you could chop the wind- shield three inches, fabricate a padded, Carson-style top, lower it considerably front and rear (or give it a taildragger-style rear bias), de-chrome the body, fit fender skirts and ’38 DeSoto ribbed bumpers, fair in the headlights and taillights, and you’d have a serious ’40s-era custom. Add a modified ¾-race flathead crate motor from H&H or another top builder and you’ve easily spent $50k to $60k. Now you have a $100,000 early Ford custom, with no previous custom history, but you could still get $75,000, recouping some of your “investment” if you sold it. Not so fast But this is a cabriolet. They’re simply not as desir- able. If it were mine, I’d replace the “push and pray” mechanical brakes with later Ford hydraulic drum brakes — that’s basically a bolt-in procedure — dress up the flatty with headers, an Eddie Meyer dual-carb manifold and finned high-compression heads for 21-stud V8s, install a vintage Columbia 2-speed rear axle, and lower the car three inches all around with a dropped front axle with reversed spring eyes and slightly longer shackles in back. That work would cost about $7,500, and you’d likely get that money back when you sold it. At $44,800, this ’36 Ford cabriolet was a good deal for the buyer and the seller. An identical car was offered in March in the AACA magazine for $48,000. The buyer can keep this cabriolet just as-is, or perform a few discreet mechanical upgrades and probably not lose any money. The Early Ford V-8 Club of America even has a “Touring Class” that welcomes mildly modified cars with period-style improvements. The new owner can have his or her choice — either way, this is a right-money ’36 Ford they can love.A (Introductory description courtesy of Bonhams.) 1936 Ford DeLuxe roadster Lot 162, VIN: 1830322721 Condition: 2+ Sold at $85,000 Silver Auctions, Coeur d’Alene, ID, 6/17/2017 ACC# 6839414 VIN location: Stamped on frame in front of firewall, driver’s side Clubs: Early Ford V-8 Club of America, Goodguys, National Street Rod Association (NSRA) Web: www.earlyfordv8.org, www.goodguys.com, www. nsra.com Alternatives: Other mid-’30sera period Ford V8s ACC Investment Grade: C Comps 1936 Ford DeLuxe cabriolet Lot 39, VIN: 1908742 Condition: 2Sold at $52,250 Worldwide Auctioneers, Montgomery, TX, 5/3/2014 ACC# 243577 1936 Ford DeLuxe cabriolet Lot 113, VIN: 183200770 Condition: 1Sold at $126,500 RM Auctions, Amelia Island, FL, 3/8/2014 ACC# 239235 May–June 2018 63CC 63

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PROFILE RACE 1959 KELLISON J-4R COUPE Fiberglass Flash for Less Cash Courtesy of Bonhams If you’ve been sitting in the stands because you can’t afford to put an expensive and irreplaceable car at risk on the track, maybe it’s time to think again VIN: 3970020 by Jeff Zurschmeide signals and a windshield wiper were all installed to meet compliance. It has since been impeccably maintained and has T taken part in the New England 1000, among other events. It has a full SVRA Group 4 logbook and is ready to compete in vintage events or road rallies. ACC Analysis This car, Lot 180, sold for $28,000, including buyer’s pre- mium, at Bonhams’ Amelia Island Auction at the Fernandina Beach Golf Club in Fernandina Beach, FL, on March 8, 2018. Most American boys born in the 20th century have doodled designs for low-slung, wicked-looking race cars, usually inside a schoolbook. More than a few conceived something very much like a Kellison J-Series coupe. The squat stature and muscular shape must be part of some shared cultural memory, because you don’t even have to squint to see the influence on the Dodge Viper coupes that arrived several decades later. The Kellison coupe is a true original. It’s also one of the best deals going if you want a bargain-priced first-class ticket to the highest levels of vintage racing. What is a Kellison? Jim Kellison was a serial entrepreneur. Contrary to many published reports, he was never a fighter pilot in Korea, but he later stated that he drew inspiration from the jet planes he had observed while stationed 64 AmericanCarCollector.com his particular Kellison was purchased new by SCCA Executive Director Don Rodimer. In 2001 the car passed to its current owner. As he wished to use the car in driver events, the car was made fully street legal. Lights, turn stateside in the Air Force. He was honorably discharged in 1954 at the age of 22, and went to work first in an auto body shop and then as a civilian employee at Travis Air Force Base before starting his customcar business in his own garage. By 1958, Kellison had designs for both a coupe and a roadster body, made in sizes to fit cars as small as a Crosley and as large as a Corvette. The J-4 model was the first to get some media attention, when Motor Trend magazine got a hold of one for a test. “From any angle you look at it, it’s a brute,” Len Griffing stated in the magazine’s December 1959 issue. According to the story, the body was mounted on Motor Trend’s tired and much modified “workhorse” 1956 Corvette chassis, which had horrible oversteer issues. Nevertheless, California racer Andy Porterfield bravely drove the prototype Kellison in a couple of races while they worked out the kinks. Once the body was placed on suitable platforms, Kellisons started winning races. Kellison credibly claimed his cars could achieve 170 mph on the fast straights at Riverside and Vacaville, and speeds up to 132 mph in drag races. A racer named Nolan White took a Kellison K-3 up to 224.477 mph at Bonneville in 1966. That all led to Kellison becoming a respected name in the racing world, but it didn’t lead to financial success. In the original production run in 1958–59, it’s estimated that about 350 J-4 bodies were made. Kellison created the larger J-5 in 1960, and the J-6 in 1962, but money troubles forced Kellison to take on Max Germaine and his Allied Fiberglass company as a partner in 1961. Allied continued to make the J-4, J-5 and J-6 bodies, but branded them as Astras. Kellison later parted ways with Germaine and made

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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 fiberglass parts for everything from Model T Fords to dune buggies. Both Kellison and Allied Fiberglass made additional J-4 bodies until at least 1969, so exact production numbers are unknown. A storied J-4 The subject car was originally purchased in 1959 by Don Rodimer, who was a founding member of the Northern New Jersey Region SCCA. When Rodimer passed away in 1985, racer and writer Rich Taylor inherited the car. He restored it for vintage racing and documented the process. “As you might expect from a car that sat untouched in a barn for 25 years, our Kellison J-4R was a mess,” Taylor wrote in the June 1987 issue of Popular Mechanics. One thing to mention — there’s not really any such thing as a J-4R. That name was retroactively applied to J-4 cars used for racing. Kellison sold a J-4 “Competition Body” or “Kit B” that was only a shell, without dashboard, firewall, seat buckets or inner fender panels. None of the available catalogs from 1958 to ’70 list a J-4R as an option. Taylor brought the car up to mid-’80s vintage specs with an entirely new frame, driveline and running gear, spending about $20,000 in the process. He then went vintage racing at Sebring, putting the Kellison on track against a large field including Stirling Moss in a Birdcage Maserati and Peter Sachs in a Ferrari Testa Rossa. The Kellison finished 3rd. “I’m not pretending to be racing against Stirling Moss,” Taylor wrote, “I am racing Stirling Moss.” “Exotic-car chump change” That right there is the magic of a Kellison. Even in 1987, the cars that Taylor was racing against cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, and he was racing for less than the price of a new Corvette. “When was the last time Augie Pabst came over to compliment you on your car and bench race about Scarabs for a while?” Taylor asked. When Taylor sold this Kellison in 2001 (ACC# 27992), the car went for $36,300. The sale made the pages of ACC’s sister publication, Sports Car Market, where Pat Braden wrote, “The real value of this car is the entry it provides to exclusive venues for what amounts to exotic-car chump change.” Since that time, this car was made street legal to run classic-car rallies as well as the vintage-racing circuit. It’s got a built small-block engine good for almost 500 horsepower and 463 foot-pounds of Oh My God torque, mated to a close-ratio 4-speed transmission in a 2,650-pound package, and it’s all fully sorted and ready to race. Bonhams’ estimate for this sale was $35,000 to $55,000, and the car is certainly worth every penny of that. Yet the car sold for just $28,000, making this vintage racer very well bought indeed. But before we boggle too much at that low price, consider that other condition 1 and 2 Kellisons have seen auction bids top out at about $38,000, with lessdesirable cars selling far lower. Furthermore, Kellison prices have been more or less static since 1993. The craziest thing is, this sale wasn’t that far out of the mainstream. The obvious takeaway lesson here is “consider a Kellison for your race car.” But more than that, take a close look at who’s running up front in Vintage contests. It’s not always the high-dollar machinery. If you’ve been sitting in the stands because you can’t afford to put an irreplaceable car at risk, maybe it’s time to think again. A (Introductory description courtesy of Bonhams.) 1969 Kellison Astra GT Lot 367, VIN: DRF90525 Condition: 2+ Sold at $38,500 Barrett-Jackson, Las Vegas, NV, 9/27/2014 ACC# 6711513 Club: Kellison Registry Web: www.kellisoncars.com Alternatives: Any vintage kit-sourced car, including Devin and Kurtis ACC Investment Grade: C Comps Current ACC Median Valuation: $31,900 Tune-up/major service: $225 VIN location: Firewall Engine # location: Varies by engine, pad on front of block below passenger’s cylinder head (SBC) Years produced: 1958–69 Number produced: Unknown, at least 350 Original list price: $6,700 (turn-key) 1969 Kellison Astra GT Lot 55, VIN: DRF90525 Condition: 1Sold at $27,500 Petersen Auctions, Roseburg, OR, 7/7/2012 ACC# 4774689 1962 Kellison J-4 Lot 248, VIN: 208675114231 Condition: 3 Sold at $33,000 RM Auctions, Monterey, CA, 8/17/2007 ACC# 1570610 May–June 2018 65

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PROFILE TRUCK 1978 INTERNATIONAL SCOUT II TRAVELTOP Scouting With Half an Engine While the 196 proved to be an adequate engine (rated at 86 horses in our example), today’s vintage SUV buyer isn’t shopping for adequate 66 AmericanCarCollector.com 66 AmericanCarCollector.com VIN: H0062HGD28434 by B. Mitchell Carlson • Bought new in Hickory, NC • The original build sheet is still in glovebox • Fold-down windshield • Removable full-length hard top with all the original plastic inside covers • Rallye stripe package • 4x4 • New 31x10.50x15 BFGoodrich T/A tires • Factory AM radio • One repaint • Garage-kept ACC Analysis This truck, Lot FR0269, sold for $31,030, including buyer’s pre- mium, at GAA Classic Cars’ Spring Sale auction in Greensboro, NC, on March 2, 2018. Last of the line finally gets respect After 1976, the Scout II had to go it alone as International Harvester’s sole light-duty truck. Sure, they introduced the Terra pickup and Traveler 2-door wagon that year, but they were, for all intents and purposes, long-wheelbase Scout IIs. Mechanically and cosmetically, the Scout II remained generally consistent until what proved to be its swan-song year of 1980. For that year, there were a number of cosmetic changes (such as large rectangular headlights) and mechanical changes (a turbocharged diesel engine). However, a UAW strike from November 1979 through April 1980, plus a downturn in the U.S. economy, spelled disaster for the company. The last Scout II was built in October 1980. For three decades since, Scout IIs have been the bastard children of the older used-SUV market. There have always been Scout loyalists, but for the general public — especially the younger generations that have become interested in older off-roaders more recently — it’s a little hard to sell them on a vehicle that they never realized was built. Yet within the past eight years, vintage SUVs of all stripes have taken off in value. In the span of a few years, the Scout IIs that you couldn’t give away for $3,500 are now seeing $35k and upward when well equipped and either well restored or original. With the uptick in interest, it seems that the limelight is on those SUVs that are equipped the way most buyers want — namely with a V8 under the hood. What they seem to forget is that for the entire production run of Scouts and all but two years of Scout IIs, they Moore’s Auto Sales, courtesy of GAA Classic Cars

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COLLeCTOR’S ReSOuRCe: The easiest way to track a car’s value over time is the ACC Premium Auction Database, featuring more than 125,000 American cars searchable by year, make, model, VIN and more. Sign up at www.AmericanCarCollector.com. Detailing Years produced: 1971–80 Number produced: 26,369 (1978) came standard with a four-banger that was actually half of a V8. Block cutting for cost cutting The slant-four engine was a child of 1961 — as it was the powerplant in both Pontiac’s and International’s all-new vehicles (the Tempest and Scout, respectively). Working independently, but with SAE research papers providing some guidance, each company developed an inline four that was essentially the right bank of one of their existing V8s. This made development costs far less than a new inline four from scratch. International initially halved their 304-ci V8 for a 152-ci four. As production continued through the early 1960s, performance (or lack thereof) became a growing customer complaint, so they turbocharged the 152 for 1965. The better solution was to halve the heavy truck 392-ci V8 to create the 196-ci four, which at least had some semblance of low-end torque. Even with various IH- and AMC-made gas 6-cylin- ders and the later Nissan diesel engines that became available in Scouts, the 196 soldiered on through 1980 (although they weren’t available in 1973 and ’74). While the 196 proved to be an adequate engine (rated at 86 horses in our example), today’s vintage SUV buyer isn’t shopping for adequate. Rallye ’round the Line Setting Ticket Since data automation came to the automotive world, most domestic manufacturers used some sort of build sheet for vehicle production at assembly plants. The amount of information varies between manufacturers, but one supplied gross intimate detail beyond even what the Big Three provided. International Harvester’s truck division used what they called a Line Setting Ticket (LST) for all truck manufacturing in the post-World War II era. Not only did this show basics like the ordering dealer, the sales zone it was in, which powertrain and options went into it, and how it was to be shipped, it also showed additional components needed as part of an option (such as different springs for different axle assemblies) and additional labor to install some components (especially involved assemblies). The reasoning for this level of detail lies in IH’s catering to the whims of truck fleets to spec out one or a fleet of trucks to exactly what the customer wanted. Thanks to the Line Setting Ticket (which, if it wasn’t still with the truck, is still available for all IH trucks after 1954 from the Wisconsin Historical Society or parts vendors through them), we can prove this Scout II was made into a wannabe Rallye after it was repainted. First and foremost, the $795 Rallye Package (code 10969) doesn’t appear on the LST. Even without the LST, the Rallye stripes don’t match the original production units. OE units had a different font for “rallye” and the hash marks were all within the door. As such, these aren’t even the correct reproduction graphics. Still, it did have the Deluxe Exterior Trim Package (code 16835), which got you chrome bumpers and lower body-side moldings. In addition, the spoke steel wheels (known as “wagon wheels” back in the day) have also been added post-production. The LST shows the standard disc wheels with H78-15 tires. Four cylinders, less interest While this Scout II has a somewhat unusual combi- nation of equipment and is in good shape, as a 4-cylinder, the list of interested buyers is markedly thin. The vast majority of buyers for Scout IIs want a V8 — the bigger, the better. The consignor also knew this, as there were zero references to the engine (in fact, more mention was made of it still having its original AM radio). Even the diesels generate more interest today than the four-banger. Indeed, one can also be certain that the pool of potential buyers includes those who’d pick it up cheap if they could and then drop a V8 into it — either to keep that way or for a quick flip. On top of that, with the repaint, stripes, wheels, plus some reupholstery work, it’s not the minty virgin survivor that some may hope it to be. Hopefully, the bidder knew this and was buying on the rising tide and not on this one’s originality — and hopefully he looked at the left side of the engine compartment — otherwise there might be one helluva surprise when it gets to its new home. “This thing runs out like it only has half of an engine.” Well sold. A (Introductory description courtesy of GAA Classic Cars.) May–June 2018 67CC 67 1976 International Scout II Lot F64, VIN: F0062FGD39628 Condition: 3 Sold at $17,050 Mecum Auctions, Portland, OR, 6/17/2016 ACC# 6803698 1973 International Scout II Lot 2027, VIN: 3S8S8CGD40477 Condition: 3 Sold at $22,550 Auctions America by RM, Auburn, IN, 5/11/2017 ACC# 6835894 Clubs: National International Harvester Collectors Club Inc. Engine # location: Driver’s side front of the block Web: www.nationalihcollectors.com, https://oldihc. wordpress.com Alternatives: 1974–83 Jeep Cherokee, 1966–77 Ford Bronco, 1973–80 Chevrolet Blazer/GMC Jimmy ACC Investment Grade: C Comps Original list price: $6,409 Current ACC Median Valuation: $20,350 Tune-up/major service: $200 VIN location: Driver’s side frame rail, aft of the bumper bracket; weight-rating plate on the edge of the driver’s side door 1978 International Scout II SS-II replica Lot 290, VIN: H0062HGD17192 Condition: 1Sold at $43,990 Smith Auctions, Overland Park, KS, 10/21/2017 ACC# 6852416

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MaRKeT OVERVIEW The Market Isn’t Frozen, It’s Stable Late winter sales, from North Carolina to California, pick up right where they left off QUICK TAKE Car auctions during the few pre-war Fords from the Gary Copeland Collection earned respect and high bids at Gaa’s 2018 auction by Chad Tyson G AA kicked off their classic-car sales year on March 1–3 with an impressive pull of $13,479,250 from 404 cars sold. That total was a touch down from their 2017 spring sale, but only by $172,189 and with 19 fewer cars sold. Mark Moskowitz and Jeff Trepel give their report from the Piedmont of North Carolina, where the overall high sale was a 2006 Ford GT reaching a marketcorrect $301,740. Leake presented their first auction under new owners, industrial auction veteran Richie Bros., in Oklahoma City, OK, on February 23–24. Veteran analyst B. Mitchell Carlson noted they instituted a few structural changes, such as taking two auction turntables down to one and eliminating the Sunday portion of the sale. None of it seemed to change the results much on a per-car basis. The sell-through rate topped 70% for the seventh year in a row, and, while total cars offered dropped by 195, the per-car average increased by $615. All in all, 256 cars sold for $6,738,710. The February 2018 edition of McCormick’s Palm Springs sale held pace with previous years’ efforts, bringing in $6,370,035 on 346 cars sold. That total is actually up, by $538,746, over last year’s auction. Carl Bomstead shows us the good, the odd, and the deals to be found in the California desert resort. Mecum stops by Kansas City twice a year. This year’s spring KC auction, on March 16 and 17, reached nearly $6.3m in car sales. Brett Hatfield crossed the Missouri River to cover the event, noting that of the 510 vehicles offered, 308 found new addresses by the end of the two-day affair. This issue’s Roundup report shares select American highlights from the Amelia Island sales of RM Sotheby’s, Bonhams, Motostalgia and Gooding & Co.A BEST BUYS 1951 hudson hornet Brougham convertible, $72,800—RM Sotheby’s, FL, p. 122 68 AmericanCarCollector.com 1956 Cadillac Series 62 convertible, $39,375—McCormick’s, Ca, p. 98 1973 Jeep Jeepster Commando SuV, $14,850—Mecum auctions, MO, p. 114 1954 hudson hornet Brougham convertible, $62,720—Bonhams, FL, p. 123 1965 Shelby Cobra Superformance replica roadster, $57,750— McCormick’s, Ca, p. 102 months after the Arizona Car Week extravaganza, where winter recedes at different paces around the U.S., tend to reflect the momentum (or lack of it) gained during those bustling days in Scottsdale. It affects, to a larger degree, the sales weeks in Paris and Amelia Island, but it can also impact market confidence as far from Scottsdale as North Carolina. After several years (2010–15) of ever-increasing totals and sell-through rates, the past few years have been more of a mixed bag. Not many companies are crowing about recent record-setting sales totals, but the tried-and-true auction arenas are still filling with consignments, buyers and people just wanting to look at some cool cars. The auctions featured in this issue of ACC follow a similar theme from Arizona — stability. Some were up a little, some were down a little, but it was good enough for everyone to come back again. And we’ll do it all over next year. — Chad Tyson

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MaRKeT OVERVIEW TOp 10 SALES THIS ISSUE Buy It now What to purchase in today’s market — and why 1 1967 Shelby Cobra $1,045,000—Gooding & Co., FL, p. 118 2 1932 Stutz DV-32 $544,000—RM Sotheby’s, FL, p. 116 3 2005 Ford GT GAA, NC, p. 82 4 1969 Dodge coupe, $301,740— top, $247,500—Leake, OK, p. 95 roadster, $158,400— Motostalgia, FL, p. 118 roadster, $144,450— GAA, NC, p. 80 vertible, $112,000— Bonhams, FL, p. 116 8 1967 Mercury Daytona 2-dr hard 5 1965 Shelby Cobra CSX continuation 6 1965 Shelby Cobra CSX continuation 7 1937 Cord 812 SC Sportsman con- sedan, $107,000—GAA, Greensboro, NC, p. 82 9 1942 Oldsmobile convertible, $95,200— Bonhams, FL, p. 117 10 1970 Chevrolet 98 Custom Cruiser vertible, $88,275—GAA, Greensboro, NC, p. 76 70 AmericanCarCollector.com Chevelle SS conComet 202 2-dr convertible, Station Wagons 1960–69 You won’t find as many 1960s wagons at auction these days as you will versions from the 1950s, as a quick perusal through the following pages will reveal. But manufacturers pumped out hundreds of thousands of wagons in the 1960s, so finding one in your budget is as easy as pulling up your Web browser. The best thing about wagons, other than a business-in-the-front, family-in-the-back vibe, is that every manufacturer made some version of one. There’s a flavor for all the brand fans. GM offered a wagon not only in most every brand, but within many model lines within each make. In 1963, Chevrolet made a wagon for every series of Nova, plus one for Biscayne, Bel Air and Impala. We can’t leave out the Town & Country series of wagons dotted throughout the Chrysler lineup. If you want a wagon from Ford, you can pick from pretty much any model, except the Mustang and Thunderbird. Even then, customizers can help make that a reality. Traditional wagons stand out in today’s world of jellybean crossovers, and good originals are going to get harder to find. If you want one, now’s the time. — Chad Tyson Auctions and Totals in This Issue $35.8m $10m $15m $20m $25m $30m $35m $40m $5m $0 February 23–24, 2018 February 23–25, 2018 Oklahoma City, OK Leake Palm Springs, CA McCormick’s Greensboro, NC March 1–3, 2018 GAA Amelia Island, FL March 8, 2018 Bonhams Amelia Island, FL March 9, 2018 Gooding & Co. Amelia Island, FL March 10, 2018 Motostalgia Amelia Island, FL March 10, 2018 RM Sotheby’s Kansas City, MO March 16–17, 2018 Mecum $27.6m 427 roadster, $13.5m $6.7m $6.4m $2.4m $13.2m $6.3m

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GAA // Greensboro, NC GAA Spring 2018 The highest-selling muscle car was a real rarity, a 1967 Mercury Comet 202 with the Super Cyclone 427 at $107,000 GAA Greensboro, NC March 1–3, 2018 Auctioneers: Eli Detweiler, Ben DeBruhl, Ricky Parks, Mike Anderson automotive lots sold/ offered: 405/531 Sales rate: 76% Sales total: $13,507,605 High sale: 2005 Ford GT coupe, sold at $301,740 Buyer’s premium: 7%, $700 minimum, included in sold prices near-unicorn R-code 427 Comet, one of 22 — 1967 Mercury Comet 202 2-door sedan, sold at $107,000 Report and photos by Mark Moskowitz and Jeff Trepel Intro by Jeff Trepel 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 72 AmericanCarCollector.com AA Classic Cars is an affiliate of a group of new-car dealerships and Greensboro Auto Auctions, which sells late-model dealer and fleet consignments. Its footprint covers many city blocks, and its jewel is The Palace, a modern, bright facility that can accommodate 350 cars. Apart from Keith McCormick’s operation out west, I cannot think of another major American auction company that conducts all of its auctions in a single, dedicated location — a dramatically different business model from the major auction houses. As a result, GAA has less national exposure, but its costs are predictable and controllable. No astronomically expensive tent setups, no flying the staff and equipment around the country to high-cost venues. GAA’s sales commission to both consignors and buyers is 7% for most cars, appreciably lower than that of other major auction houses. Another predictable characteristic of each GAA Classic Cars auction is that the high sale will likely be a Ford GT selling for around $300,000. True to form, a low-mileage 2005 GT, yellow with black stripes, sold for $301,740 (including premium), the top sale of this auction. Several C2 Corvette Sting Rays sold in the over-$100,000 range, including a beautiful Elkhart Blue 1967 427 coupe from the Davis Collection for $139,100. An aluminum-bodied Shelby Cobra continu- ation car sold for $144,450, far more than your typical fiberglass Cobra replica. The high sale in the musclecar category was a real rarity, a 1967 Mercury Comet 202 with the Super Cyclone 427, one of 22 built for the model year, selling at $107,000. Most of us have never seen one — I certainly had not. On the Bowtie side of the ledger, another rarity, a 1967 Camaro Z28 Rally Sport, sold for $90,950, and a red 1970 Chevelle SS 396 L78 (4-barrel carb) convertible found a new home at $88,275. The number of pre-war cars offered at GAA (and elsewhere) seems to be dwindling, so I was happy to see that pre-war Fords from the Gary Copeland Collection earned respect and high bids. There were 14 1930s Fords offered at no reserve, along with a 2009 Shelby GT500 with nine miles on the odometer. Most were 1932 and 1934 models in a variety of body styles. These ranged from stock restorations, to lightly modified, to a couple of outright rods. Two of the 1934 cars sold for over $100,000, and all garnered substantial bids. At the other end of the date spectrum, late-model American sports cars were represented by a near-perfect, very low-mileage 2008 Dodge Viper SRT/10 in outstanding colors, selling for $81,320, and two 2016 Corvettes, which sold for $70,620 and $80,250. We can expect to see more late-model sports cars and semiexotics at GAA, in keeping with the national trend. We will look for them, and hopefully a still-sizeable representation of earlier models, at the July sale. If you’ve never attended a GAA auction, I suggest putting one on your list. A

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GAA // Greensboro, NC GM #ST0176-1931 CADILLAC 355A 7-passenger sedan. VIN: 83570. Black/blue cloth. Odo: 7,714 miles. Apparent older restoration holding up well. Superb door shut and panel fit, probably as when new. Older good-quality paint doesn’t look new but doesn’t warrant repaint either. Same with plated parts. Painted wire wheels and hubcaps show age and could be improved. Inside, cloth seats, door panels and headliner are very nice, but carpet looks incorrect and stuffing underneath is coming up in front. Pedals very worn with no pads. Jump seats in cavernous rear compartment make this a 7-passenger car. Cond: 3+. or mottling. Inside, I had to look hard to find some minor wear to a few soft trim pieces, and a floppy driver’s sun visor. Engine compartment excellent and not over-restored. Just a few small steps from perfection. Cond: 1-. NOT SOLD AT $120,000. Only 630 1957 Bonnevilles were produced, one per dealer and all fuel-injected. The high bid here was much too light for the quality of the car, but if I was a bidder at this price level, I would want to see more documentation. SOLD AT $33,170. I don’t think I’ve ever seen an 87-year-old car with less documentation or provenance than this Cadillac, i.e., zero. Perhaps the car speaks for itself. It was good to see this example without blingy chromed wheels and whitewalls. Painted wheels and blackwalls were much more typical for how these sedans were equipped when new. I worry about the future market for this kind of old dowager. Gigantic, closed pre-war cars are generally not bringing much money, as evident here, but I am glad that someone loved it enough to pay threequarters of the price of the much-more-common 1934 Ford sedan (Lot ST0106). I still think some semblance of documentation would have helped. #ST077.1-1957 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE convertible. VIN: P857H36313. White/ white canvas/red & white leather & vinyl. Odo: 52,957 miles. 347-ci fuel-injected V8, auto. Equipped with power windows, seat and antenna and Wonder Bar radio. Stated to have undergone a frame-off restoration, and still looks great, but utterly no detail given as to where or when. Flawless paint, clear glass and well-fitted white canvas top, with clear rear window. A few chrome pieces inside and out show light scratching #FR0190-1961 CHEVROLET PARKWOOD wagon. VIN: 11635N125212. Tuxedo Black & Ermine White/red vinyl. Odo: 56,098 miles. 283-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Heavily optioned with factory a/c, power steering and brakes, tinted glass, seat belts and more. Frame-up restoration at unspecified time and place—at least several years ago. Miles claimed to be original. Older highquality repaint still presentable, but with numerous minor flaws. Chrome decent, but not new-looking. Inside, the seats and carpets excellent, but the cargo-area vinyl looks aged and some interior chrome pitted. Light cracking in steering wheel. Underhood is neat and clean with correct finishes, but not detailed. Cond: 3+. lent U.S. mags, with relatively new 17-inch Nexen low-profile tires. Cond: 3+. NOT SOLD AT $26,500. One year ago, this might have been the right price for a smallblock, automatic Chevelle convertible in this condition, but the lower end of the market is hot, and I believe the seller will be rewarded for waiting for a future sale. #FR0166-1966 CHEVROLET IMPALA SS 2-dr hard top. VIN: 168376N145567. Marina Blue/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 24,321 miles. 283-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Neatas-a-pin Impala looking sharp in Marina Blue, with a surprisingly nice black vinyl top. Slight orange peel here and there. Decent chrome ranges from original to older replated. Equally sharp bucket-seat interior with accessory factory tissue dispenser the only unusual option. Allegedly removed from “20 years of storage,” per windshield card, but not one word on post-storage condition, or what work was done to the car and when. Very neat and tidy underhood. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $28,355. The Parkwood was Chevrolet’s middle station-wagon trim level for 1961, equivalent to a Bel Air. Attractive, original North Carolina wagon highly evocative of 1960s suburbia. Restoration unraveling a bit but remains rather delightful. Bidders must have agreed, as the sale price was about $4k higher than I expected. Well sold, but also a good-quality, fun acquisition for the buyer. #ST0047-1966 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE Malibu convertible. VIN: 136676B179606. Lemonwood Yellow/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 46,158 miles. 283-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Said to have been painted approximately eight months ago. Even paint, but some inclusions and orange peel noted. Some overspray on chrome and rubber. Panels are straight and fit is good. Most chrome and trim above average; some fit problems along rear fender wells—and trim dented along right front fender well. Beautiful replacement seat covers and carpet. No pitting of dash. Steering wheel very good. Door chrome shows some age. Engine repainted in car. Replacement chrome brake servo for new front discs. Spark-plug wires very long, and other wiring not neat. Excel- 74 AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $19,260. This lightly optioned, mild-283, Powerglide Impala won’t get you any bragging rights, but if you don’t care about high performance, it’s a real headturner, which will draw a lot of looks at the local cruise-in. Not much in the way of documentation or provenance with the car, but the quality of the car speaks for itself to some degree. The price here was quite modest, somewhat below price-guide values, and a good deal for the buyer. #FR0198-1967 OLDSMOBILE 442 convertible. VIN: 338677Z112980. Red/black canvas/red vinyl. Odo: 27,032 miles. 400-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Factory AM/FM, no a/c. Presented as having had a ground-up restoration, but doesn’t say when. Passenger’s side door fit not great. Very good paint, but chrome ranges from below average to merely decent. Excellent soft top. Inside,

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GAA // Greensboro, NC the vinyl bucket seats are rock hard, but look good. Steering wheel nice—except for crack in hub. Minor cracks in dashpad. Tach reads 500 rpm with engine off. Very nice factory-type Magnum 500 wheels on Redlines. Extra-clean under the hood. Cond: 2-. via a 4-bbl carb, dual exhausts and the H.O. side stripes. You might infer that the farmore-rare Firebird would be worth more than a Camaro SS, but that does not appear to be the case. The high bid here was about what I expected this car to bring, and slightly above price-guide values for a condition 2 example. Yes, it’s rare, but I am not sure the owner is going to find more money elsewhere. NOT SOLD AT $40,000. This 4-speed convertible is the most desirable 442 configuration. 3,080 442 convertibles were produced for 1967. This was a very nice presentation, but perhaps not as great as consignor seemed to think. Previously sold at RM’s 2006 Monterey auction for $38,500 (ACC# 1567230). According to information presented there, it was restored in 2004. Apparently only driven 682 miles in the 12 years since that auction. (Come on, people, drive the cars!) High bid here likely represents a profit to seller of less than zero, but I think it was pretty close to market. Perhaps a few thousand more possibly can be found at another time or place. #FR0088-1968 PONTIAC FIREBIRD H.O. coupe. VIN: 223378U124300. Verdoro Green/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 70,461 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Attractive second-year Firebird in iconic Verdoro Green. Nice sub-show-quality paint, good panel fit—except hood up slightly on left. Chrome shows general mild cloudiness. Slight delamination on edges of windshield glass. Small, subtle Firebird emblems on side glass a nice touch. Very tidy inside with good-looking, but rock-hard, vinyl seats; especially nice steering wheel. Claimed rebuilt matching-numbers engine with optional 4-sp (3-sp on the column was standard!). Power steering and brakes, no a/c. Very nice driver and local show winner. Cond: 2-. #ST0046-1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO Z/28 coupe. VIN: 124379N657676. Dusk Blue/blue vinyl. Odo: 80,228 miles. 302-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Presented as an unrestored, four-owner, matching-numbers X77 (base) Z/28. Signs of wear from polishing, or from car cover rubbing on fenders, front and rear. Much of the rest of the paint intact and attractive, with rare scratches and some parking-lot paint loss on right door. Vinyl on dash and seats extremely well preserved. Carpets clean, and with consistent color, but thinned in certain areas. Engine compartment relatively clean, but shows wear. Aftermarket electronic ignition, modern yellow spark-plug wires, headers, and carburetor a replacement Holley. Valve-cover extensions—suggesting altered rocker arms. Factory bellhousing and fan are in the trunk, with Lakewood bellhousing mounted. Power steering, power brakes and 12-bolt 4.10 rear end. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $52,430. Cloning it seemed to raise the price, but not to the level of a real Hurst/Olds. It seemed a fair price for buyer and seller—although further appreciation is not anticipated. #ST0113-1970 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE SS 396 convertible. VIN: 136670K123620. Cranberry Red/ black vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 1,042 miles. 396-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Stunning red paint without flaw. Trunk fit slightly off. Excellent chrome and window trim. Panels are straight. Lower portion of dash appears to have been restained in red, and it’s not the same quality as rest of interior. Door panels and seat upholstery excellent. Detached clutch pedal cover. Faded console cover. Two holes drilled in right side of console. Engine is immaculate and well detailed, with factory chalk marks. Loose relay behind left headlight. Options included special instrumentation, L78 396, Positraction, power convertible top and power steering. Accompanied by original window sticker. Cond: 2. 10 SOLD AT $51,360. It will take some work to bring the engine compartment to stock configuration, but a great foundation and a potential show-stopper. The morning before it appeared on the block, it had commanded 740 views. Camaros typically garner approximately 400 views on the GAA website. Bought at Mecum Kissimmee for $45,360 three years ago (ACC# 6775476). Buyer and seller should both be happy. NOT SOLD AT $33,250. GM built about 235,000 1968 Camaros and about 107,000 1968 Firebirds, but there are probably 10 Camaros for every Firebird at auctions and shows. This extra-rare 350 H.O. bridged the gap from ordinary 350s to the Firebird 400, 76 AmericanCarCollector.com #ST0049-1969 OLDSMOBILE 442 convertible. VIN: 344679M124134. Cameo White & Firefrost Gold/white vinyl/white vinyl. Odo: 27,133 miles. 455-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Clearly presented as real 442 convertible cloned to the Hurst Package. Later (likely 1970) W-30 heads and intake. Paint smoothly applied without inclusion or run. A few scratches touched up. Panels and gaps okay. Chrome taillight surround and interior console and handle chrome is pitted. Excellent upholstery, soft top and engine compartment. F41 suspension. Upgraded sway bars. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $88,275. Interesting that Chevrolet sold half as many L78 Chevelles in 1970 as they did the bigger, more-powerful and more-famous LS6-equipped models, although I doubt the fact confers value for the smaller-displacement Chevelle. Did not sell a week earlier at Leake’s Oklahoma City sale for an $89k bid (ACC# 6863606). A bit above SCM’s median value for these Grade B collectibles, but with the increased action in quality sub-$100k cars, the price seemed right, even if it was under the bid from a week before. #TH0065-1970 BUICK WILDCAT convertible. VIN: 466670X128148. White/black canvas/black vinyl. Odo: 86,997 miles. 455ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Second attempt to sell this Wildcat at GAA, following a no-sale in November. Noted then that the car was surprisingly dirty, but it looked somewhat less dingy this time. Very nice convertible top, although never shown in the down position. TOP 10

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GAA // Greensboro, NC Still with LeSabre grille insert and missing tri-shield emblem on front bumper. Heavily optioned, but missing the famous Buick road wheels, which might make the bland color combination pop a bit more. Decent paint, okay chrome, very nice bucket seats, decent interior and restored engine compartment make for an appealing driver and local-show car. Cond: 3+. CORVETTE SOLD AT $14,445. By 1970, its last year, the Wildcat had become rather tame, with little but trim variations to distinguish it from a LeSabre 455. This is a rare car, one of only 1,244 Wildcat convertibles for 1970. In November the car was a no-sale here at $11,500 (ACC# 6852516), but it eked out a bid of $2,000 more this time—enough to meet reserve. Even accounting for the grille/ bumper issue, this still seems like a very good deal for the buyer, provided there are no major mechanical problems. I thought it might bring at least another $2k–$3k, but the market has spoken. #FR0195-2002 CHEVROLET CAMARO SS Brickyard Edition convertible. VIN: 2G1FP32G022159662. Sebring Silver/black canvas/ black leather. Odo: 4,663 miles. 5.7-L fuel-injected V8, auto. Said to have transported Tony Stewart and Linda Vaughn. No chips. Excellent paint and graphics. Minimal interior wear. Engine and bay dusty. Cond: 2. #FR0244-1960 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 00867S103102. Roman Red & white/white canvas/red vinyl. Odo: 5,786 miles. 283-ci 290-hp fuel-injected V8, 4-sp. Stated to be a matching-numbers 290-horse Fuelie model, and indeed some sources list a 290-hp version. In any event, only 859 1960 Corvettes (out of over 10,000 units produced) were Fuelies. Good panel fit for a C1; paint a bit thick, with light orange peel all over. Chrome decent but older. Interior finishes done well, although the fabrics are clearly not new. Uncomfortable seats look good, but vinyl is squeaky. Small cracks in steering-wheel spokes. Seat belts, Wonder Bar radio and (wait for it!) working clock. Convertible top shows age and slight shrinkage, no sign of a hard top. Used but very serviceable and authentic appearance under the hood. Massachusetts inspection stickers from 1960 and 2018. Cond: 2-. NOT SOLD AT $115,000. One of 60 Corvettes offered at GAA this weekend. Little documentation appeared with this car. I suspect that’s what held back the bidding. Show it, grade it and document it, and expect a better price next time. #ST0143-2016 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 coupe. VIN: 1G1YS2D61G5605741. Red/black leather. Odo: 527 miles. 6.2-L 650-hp supercharged V8, auto. Offered with little paperwork or info. No option list present. An auction representative said, “The wife did not enjoy driving it.” As mileage suggests, the car is near new. Cond: 1-. NOT SOLD AT $90,000. Most Corvette sources show two fuel-injected 283 engine choices for 1960, with 275 hp or 315 hp (with higher compression and solid lifters). The windshield card stated “In show condition, ready for Bloomington Gold or NCRS judging.” Sure, ready to receive a middling score. Not a bad C1 Corvette, but certainly not a great one, either. Even so, the high bid here was probably rather light for a fuelinjected car, so appropriate for seller to wait for another day. NOT SOLD AT $23,000. Last year of the fourth generation of Camaros, and one of 57 Silver Brickyard Pace Cars built. The Z7D designation was used to add 35th Anniversary wheels to the package. Bid to an acceptable, and perhaps optimistic, amount for a low-mileage, 16-year-old SS Camaro convertible. The flashy graphics and exclusivity of the package do confer value, and might bring the car attention at a local show. And in four years, it will be a great car for AACA tours. Prices of these vary, and on a very good day one might find a Tony Stewart fan who offers 25% more. 78 AmericanCarCollector.com #ST0097-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 194677S106724. Sunfire Yellow/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 57,543 miles. 427-ci 435-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Product of a frame-off restoration, said to cost over $120k. Lovely Sunfire Yellow paint smoothly applied, without obvious flaw. Panel fit excellent. Perfect chrome, interior. Telescopic steering column, power steering, power brakes, power windows. Sidepipes. Trim and VIN tags appropriate. Part of Davis Collection. Cond: 1. SOLD AT $70,620. These cars listed new for $79,400. Some documentation might have helped the sale. The day before, another automatic Z06, with more miles, paperwork and the 3LZ package, received a $9,000 higher bid! The auction house seemed to do well for both sellers. FOMOCO #ST0107-1934 FORD MODEL 40 coupe. VIN: 18595521. Black/black composite/ brown mohair. Odo: 55,178 miles. Said to be the product of a five-year-old restoration of an all-steel Henry Ford body. Glossy black paint with random pits and inclusions on fenders, roof, trunk and especially on the left side of the hood. Panels straight. Chrome excellent, with occasional polishing marks. Missing windshield wiper. Beautiful mohair upholstery. Multiple cracks of correct steering wheel. Accessory gauges. Floor covering and pedals are pristine. Wood surrounding windows is excellent. Engine block dirty with peeling generator paint and areas of oxidation. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $58,850. Part of a collection of multiple 1930s Fords offered at no reserve. It was among the closest to stock of the

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GAA // Greensboro, NC group. This is not a hot segment, and the auctioneer worked extremely hard for the last $10,000. Well sold. #ST0106-1934 FORD V8 Deluxe sedan. VIN: 18967920. Black/tan cloth. Odo: 223 miles. Looks stock, but has a 1948 Ford flathead V8, hydraulic brakes and a 12-volt electrical system. Several accessories including greyhound hood mascot, fan on steering column, and clock in rearview mirror. Per catalog, had a frame-off restoration in 2010. Excellent panel fit. Smooth paint, better than some other cars in this collection. Most chrome excellent, but headlights and spotlights not as good. Charming interior with only minor stains on the door panels to detract. Mohair seats under clear plastic covers—which are not very pleasant to sit on but provide protection. Engine compartment very clean but not detailed. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $50,290. This is a step down from the top-of-the-line Crown Victoria. An attractively colored car from a year of attractively colored cars. It would be difficult to reproduce for this price; yet sale was well above current valuation. Well sold. #FR0252-1957 FORD FAIRLANE 500 Sunliner convertible. VIN: E7RC208526. Starmist Blue & Dresden Blue/blue canvas/ blue vinyl. Odo: 312 miles. 312-ci V8, 2x4bbl, auto. Quality restoration at an unknown time and place. Heavily optioned with factory a/c and power steering, brakes, windows and seats. Not sure which of those were original. Even more loaded down with period geegaws like spotlight and fender skirts. Mercifully free of Continental kit, though. Very nice paint—a touch thick in places, but showing little deterioration. High-quality, well-fitted convertible top. Signs of age are pitting chrome and yellowing whitewalls. Interior also nice, but dash chrome showing age. Driver’s side door handle falling off. Cond: 2-. vested, I am not certain more will be spent to buy it in the future. #ST0128-1963 FORD GALAXIE 500 XL 2-dr hard top. VIN: 3W68R155115. Heritage Burgundy/black vinyl. Odo: 57,422 miles. 427-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Actually a 1963½ R-code Galaxie. Said to have been in storage since restoration at Dennis Carpenter’s museum. Paint, trim, wheels, interior and engine are just impressive. Appropriate chalk markings noted. Cond: 1. SOLD AT $40,125. The only 4-door sedan in the Gary Copeland Collection of pre-war Fords. Ford was one of the best-looking cars in 1934, even in common 4-door guise, plus it had a V8 engine. Now 4-door sedans are more rare. This was a fine example with desirable modifications for touring. Not 100% stock, but certainly not a resto-rod. Bidders apparently appreciated the quality of this charming car, as it sold for at least $5k more than I anticipated. A good result for all parties. #ST0057-1956 FORD FAIRLANE Victoria 2-dr hard top. VIN: P6LV167455. Meadow Mist & Colonial White/Light Green vinyl & Medium Green cloth. Odo: 6,061 miles. 312-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Said to have undergone nut-and-bolt, frame-off restoration by well-respected restorer in 2017. Straight panels, excellent paint. Some dents in trim around driver’s side door; other trim as-new. Spotless interior and engine compartment. Power steering, dual exhaust. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $61,525. There were at least three 1957 Fairlane 500 convertibles at this auction. This was an attractive and welldone car, as reflected in the price realized, well above price-guide values. Quite well sold, but buyer can be happy too. There’s life in the Fabulous ’50s yet. #ST0076-1957 FORD FAIRLANE Sunliner convertible. VIN: D7UC103850. Black/ black canvas/black & white vinyl. Odo: 1 miles. 312-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Exceptional restoration followed by museum storage. Paint, trim and interior as flawless as one can reasonably expect, as is the engine compartment. Appears to be factory air, but I am not certain it was original to the car. Power steering, windows and seats. Dual exhaust. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $73,830. Dennis is a well-known Ford parts supplier, and most things from his shop are among the best of the best. Two years ago this was bid to $87,000 and not sold. As it plainly states in the GAA Terms & Conditions, “The auctioneer has the right to place a bid for consignor up to the reserve amount,” so an $87k bidder may not have been in the audience. A $69,000 bid was accepted for probably among the best of the 3,857 1963½ Galaxie R-code hard tops in existence. A solid deal for both, with a nod to the buyer. #ST0149-1965 SHELBY COBRA CSX continuation roadster. VIN: CSX4259. Yellow/black leather. Odo: 2,920 miles. 468-ci V8, 4-bbl, 5-sp. A continuation Shelby with an aluminum Kirkham body and a stroked 427. Presentation is professional with excellent paint, interior and engine compartment. It rides on Goodyear Eagle track-day tires. Cond: 1-. 6 NOT SOLD AT $68,000. An outstanding restoration of a mid-level car. Two 4-barrel and supercharged engines were available in this body. While I am sure more was in- 80 AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $144,450. As a continuation car, it commands more than the average 427 Cobra replica. Recently listed at RK Motors for $229,900. The tires make me want to evaluate this car a bit more than the standard auction format allows. If the engine checks out as healthy, then considering the low mileage and great presentation, the Cobra was bid to a market price and appropriately sold. TOP 10

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GAA // Greensboro, NC 8 miles. 427-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Could be your granny’s base Comet, with a 289 or even a six, with poverty caps and whitewalls to fool the masses. Then you see the 427 emblems on fenders and the 4-sp shifter inside. “Three year nut & bolt restoration,” according to windshield card; accompanied by Marti Report, with owner history. Several interesting options for a drag racer, including AM radio, tinted glass, remote left mirror and power disc brakes. Good panel fit and smooth paint, except for some orange peel on the roof. Chrome mostly good but rear trim appliqué and emblems dull. Excellent interior looks almost new. But it’s what under the hood that counts with this car. Cond: 2+. #ST0146-1967 MERCURY COMET 202 2-dr sedan. VIN: 7H01R546391. Black/red vinyl. Odo: 13,996 McIntosh stereo, stripes and BBS wheels. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $301,740. One of auction’s featured cars. Probably fewer than 200 yellow Ford GTs made throughout production, but is that important? Probably not—although Heritage colors seem to make a difference. Bought and sold at market. MOPAR SOLD AT $107,000. Talk about a sleeper! Near-unicorn R-code 427 Comet, one of 22 for 1967. Two 427 variants were available, one with a single carb and this Super Cyclone, with dual carbs and 15 more horsepower. The Comet 202 weighed about 300 pounds less than the Cyclone, so this car must be absolutely ferocious to drive. Apparently was known as “The Earthshaker II” during brief 1967–68 drag racing career. A difficult car to value, but the price guide says to add $20k for a 427 in a Cyclone. More than that was added here. Given the Comet’s extreme rarity, and excellent restoration and documentation, I would say this was a fair deal for a muscle-car collector. #ST0062.1-2005 FORD GT coupe. VIN: 1FAFP90S15Y401681. Speed Yellow/black leather. Odo: 4,543 miles. 5.4-L supercharged V8, 6-sp. Paint and stripes are flawless. Gaps are appropriate in a relatively untouched new car. Polishing scratches on door sills and some scuffs on console cover, otherwise interior is pristine. Engine compartment excellent. Wheels without curb rash. Black calipers, 3 #FR0255-1956 CHRYSLER WINDSOR Newport 2-dr hard top. VIN: W5663461. Sand Dune Beige & Rosewood/Sand Dune Beige & Rosewood cloth & vinyl. Odo: 42,442 miles. 331-ci V8, 2x2-bbl, auto. Little history given, but evidently received a highquality restoration at an unknown date. Panel fit mediocre by today’s standards, but probably better than in 1956. Smooth paint, with a little orange peel around the drip rails. Chrome mostly excellent, with slight scuffing and pitting here and there. Clear glass. Inside, cloth seat inserts are lovely, but vinyl parts are very hard. Uncracked steering wheel, handsome dash. Oil-change stickers from 1950s. Non-original KelseyHayes wire wheels look great, but Chrysler Pentastar emblem on wheel centers is from 10 years later. Has dual carbs and batwing air cleaner, but a single Carter carb would be correct for this model. Engine compartment near show-quality. Cond: 2. become a ferocious 413 Ramcharger Max Wedge Dart, a formidable competitor in early 1960s drag racing. Said to have undergone a “complete rotisserie restoration.” Ultra-bright red paint perhaps a bit too glossy. Door fit a bit off on both sides. Original glass with mild delamination in places. Inside, convincing but incorrect bucket seats replace the original bench. Dog-dish hubcaps on steel wheels a good look. In addition to the 413 Max Wedge engine and a 4-sp (only a 3-sp manual was available in 1962), this car has power steering and disc brakes. Underhood, the chromed alternator stands out against blingy red paint, otherwise reasonably authentic. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $46,010. The second year of Virgil Exner’s 100 Million Dollar Look, which preceded the dart-shaped 1957 Forward Look models. The Newport was the fancier of two Windsor 2-door hard tops for 1956. This was a very appealing, partially original/ partially restored car, which would still show well at AACA meets, but would also be great to drive. I could not find any direct comparable sales, but this Windsor blew through price-guide values and sold at a price at or close to values for a 1956 300B. Together with the price for the ’57 Fairlane 500 convertible three lots preceding (FR0252), this sale makes me wonder if we are seeing an uptick in prices for colorful ’50s cruisers. #ST0136-1962 DODGE DART 330 custom 2-dr sedan. VIN: 4122160345. Red/red vinyl. Odo: 15,965 miles. 413-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. First digit of VIN indicates this car started out life as a lowly Slant Six. Now it’s 82 AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $37,450. Too cool for school! Full disclosure: I’m one of probably fewer than a dozen people in the U.S. who think this body style is quite good-looking. In the early 1960s, Chrysler couldn’t decide what size car the Dodge Dart should be. In 1960–61 it was a full-size car, but on 118-inch wheelbase (same as Plymouth Fury)—four inches shorter than the big Polara. In 1962, Dart and Polara became mid-size cars, with the big car renamed Custom 880. In 1963 and thereafter, the Dart name was affixed to a senior compact derivative of the Valiant, and the midsize car carried only the trim level names of 330, 440 and Polara. This 1962 car is properly called a Dart 330. Mods to this car were thoughtfully conceived and executed, so that it’s the next best thing to a real (but unobtainable) 1962 Ramcharger. Sold strongly here, but I think the buyer made out well, too. One of my favorite cars in the auction. #ST0044-1970 DODGE CHALLENGER T/A 2-dr hard top. VIN: JH23J0B308798. F4 Lime Green Iridescent/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 67,761 miles. 340-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, auto. VIN codes out to a genuine T/A. Low mileage quite believable. Very nice repaint in tasteful, if not very exciting, original green. Vinyl top claimed to be original and in remarkable condition. Chrome bumpers okay, but other shiny bits, like door handles and window surround trim, quite dull and dingy. Cheap and dark Mopar interior fittings of the era surprisingly well preserved. Tear in headliner. Extra-clean underhood, although not quite show-quality. A fine presentation overall. Cond: 2-. TOP 10 TOP 10

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GAA // Greensboro, NC MARKETMOMENT 1972 Ford Maverick Grabber 2-Door Sedan NOT SOLD AT $52,000. The 1970-only Challenger T/A was a limited-production homologation special built to legalize the Challenger for SCCA Trans Am racing. Along with the AAR ’Cuda, the T/A was Chrysler’s response to the Camaro Z/28 and Mustang Boss 302. About 2,500 were built at a base price well above other Challengers. The T/A boasted a 340 V8 Six Pack, with three 2-barrel carbs. The high bid on this car was short of what it deserved by at least $10k. Maybe most buyers want Hemis, 4-speeds and bright colors. Often taking a car to a different auction makes no difference, but in this case I would try. The right buyer for this rare and desirable Challenger is out there. #ST0069-2008 DODGE VIPER SRT-10 convertible. VIN: 1B3JZ65Z88V201410. Viper Blue/black cloth/black cloth & leather. Odo: 1,867 miles. 8.4-L fuel-injected V10, 6-sp. Little discussion of condition required, as this is essentially a brand-new fourthgeneration 2008 Viper convertible. Accessories like front license-tag holder and extra key fob still wrapped in plastic. Hopefully 1,800 miles in 10 years is enough to keep everything lubricated. Looks great in Viper Blue, with silver stripes, perfect for Carolina Panthers fan (or player). Cond: 1. SOLD at $18,190 GAA, Greensboro, NC, March 1–3, 2018, Lot TH0047 VIN: 2X93F244297 Roger’s Used Cars, courtesy of GAA Classic Cars but there is a whole niche market looking for something outside of the norm. Launched in the middle of 1969, the Ford Maverick was created to compete with the increas- Mustangs and Camaros may be the heartthrobs of muscle cars, ing number of small, efficient import cars. Based on the aging Falcon chassis, the new model was given a mini-muscle-car look, but was originally only offered with a 170-ci or 200-ci 6-cylinder, which kept it from performing like its larger brethren. In 1971, FoMoCo decided to up the ante and offer the Maverick Grabber, complete with a 302 V8. The engine used a 2-barrel carb and sent 210 hp to the rear wheels. Though improved, this still kept the Maverick at an entry-level price and away from the holy ground of the Mustang. When we dream about cars from the 1960s and ’70s, the Maverick is not going to be the first thing to pop into our heads. But that does not mean there is no market for them. Take this 1972 Medium Lime Metallic Maverick Grabber selling for over $18k, for instance. In addition to that 302, this car came complete with the chrome window surrounds, black grille, special graphics, and unique hood with scoops — all Grabber-specific. Additionally, the car was accompanied by a Deluxe Marti Report and build sheet. If you were looking for a Maverick, this was the one to buy. In my mind, the Maverick is only slightly up-market from a Gremlin or Pinto and a sub- $10k car at best. When looking at previous sales, however, this result lands about in the middle. Mecum has sold five of these since 2016. The lowest sale was $9,350, while the high was SOLD AT $81,320. One of 712 Viper convertibles for 2008, one of 30 in Viper Blue. The fourth-generation Viper (ZBII) was far more refined than earlier Vipers, but retained the towering performance—which still impresses 10 years later. Vipers seemed to be out of favor the past few years, along with poor sales of new Vipers. Perhaps the end of Viper production in 2017 is now generating an uptick of prices for excellent examples such as this one. Very well sold at a level well above price-guide values and comparables I found, but buyer has an unrepeatably new Viper. A $29,150 for a modified car. Two sold for about $20k and look very comparable to our subject car, making this sale seem market correct. To some, this may seem like absurd money for a Maverick, but for those wanting something a little more offbeat, something like this will stand out from the Pony Car crowd and still have a Ford 302 ripe for modification.A — Chad Taylor May-June 2018 May-June 2018 83

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LEAKE // Oklahoma City, OK Leake Oklahoma City 2018 A 1969 Dodge Daytona, born with a 440 and now sporting a Hemi, is the top American car sold, at $247,500 Leake Auction Company Oklahoma City, OK February 23–24, 2018 Auctioneers: Jim Richie, Dillon Hall, Clint Cunningham automotive lots sold/ offered: 256/354 Sales rate: 72% Sales total: $6,738,710 High American sale: 1969 Dodge Daytona 2-door hard top, sold at $247,500 Buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold prices Mopar big-fin and big-wing performance — 1959 Chrysler 300e and 1969 Dodge Daytona prepped and ready for the block Report and photos by B. Mitchell Carlson 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 L 84 AmericanCarCollector.com eake Auction Company’s annual Oklahoma City auction tends to get a fair amount of attention, as it’s one of the few auctions between the Arizona auction mêlée in January and Amelia Island in March — both figuratively and literally. This year, there were a couple of new twists. First and foremost, this was the first auction they conducted as a subsidiary of their new owners, industrial-equipment auctioneers Ritchie Bros. While there were several familiar faces that were no longer there, by and large you’d be hard pressed to tell that there was a change of ownership unless you were bidding online, as they were selling with a larger Webbased audience. The second major change this year was that the auction was conducted on one ring — rather than the traditional two rings — and only on Friday and Saturday, with no-reserve Sunday going by the wayside. One would think that this would make for two very long days, but with significantly fewer cars consigned this year (down by 195), each day ended between 6 and 7 p.m. While there were fewer consignments, the general percentages were consistent overall. The sell-through rate only dropped 1.4% from last year (73.7% vs. 72.3%), and the per-car average actually increased by $615. Still, it’s fewer cars, and that’s been a trend here for the past three years. That’ll explain the overall total drop from last year’s $10.4m to this year’s $6.7m. Some of the big dollars came by way of a couple of high-quality collections offered here — most notably the Rolland Collection of performance and race cars. It was originally slated to be offered at no reserve at a stand-alone event in Southern California on December 9, but due to the wildfires in close proximity at a that time, everything was relocated to OKC. While it may seem to be an odd change of venue, especially with the logistics of moving it halfway across the country, in today’s online-auction world you can pretty much conduct an auction at any remote area of the country with a DSL connection and be successful, such as Pierce, NE. The top sale of an American car here was actually a post-block deal. The 1969 Dodge Daytona — a 440 car as built, but with a Hemi now under the hood — originally failed to sell on the block at $200k. Yet later on Saturday, it was announced from the block that a deal had been done and it was moving on to a new home. While Oklahoma City may be off the radar as a collector-car center for most folks, Leake has made this a notable venue for what would otherwise be a drab winter month between two major events in the collector-car industry. A

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LEAKE // Oklahoma City, OK GM #297-1957 CHEVROLET 3100 pickup. VIN: 3A57K137481. Maroon/maroon vinyl. Odo: 2,094 miles. 235-ci I6, 2x1-bbl, 4-sp. Lightly modified, with fuel tank relocated to under the back of cargo box (and stock filler-neck hole filled in). After the cab modification, bodywork got a better-quality repaint but now shows a few light scratches from use over past few years. Light chipping on door and edges from previous alignment issues. Chrome, trim refurbished at same time truck was redone—now starting to lose some luster. Aftermarket high-gloss varnished wood bed, with a flush, stainless fuel-filler cover. Interior appears stock except for modern a/c ducts under dash. Engine has an Offenhauser dual-carburetor intake manifold, split exhaust system, castaluminum valve cover, a one-wire alternator and rotary a/c compressor. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $32,450. Looking at any Impala that’s purported to be an original 425-hp car, I usually get the feeling that something just isn’t right, and this one more so than most. With the reserve being dropped at $28,500, that didn’t ease any of my concerns, either, yet it took a couple more bids to sell to someone braver than me. At least at this price, it’s a good cruiser—regardless of which 409 is under the hood, and if it’s correct or not. SOLD AT $24,200. I rather liked that the modifications done looked subtle at a casual glance (with the hood shut), and that they were done more to enhance drivability. That, and I also liked that they kept a perfectly good Stovebolt six under the hood, and gave it some period mods to enhance it rather than to attempt to make it a performance car that it isn’t. The period growl from the split manifold makes it worth it. With the reserve lifted when the bidding dried up, I feel that the new owner should feel like it’s worth it, too. #446-1964 CHEVROLET IMPALA SS 2-dr hard top. VIN: 41447R121371. Ermine White/red vinyl. Odo: 62,920 miles. 409-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Stated to have correct boxed rear frame for a factory-installed 425hp 409 V8. Also equipped with ps, tachometer, tilt steering column and a/c—although there’s no a/c hardware underhood. Decent trim-off repaint, with some overspray on chassis (that is, where a fresh layer of undercoating didn’t cover it). Mostly original red SS interior, with heavier soiling in pleats and seams, plus lightly mottled surface on vinyl. Selective interior trim replacement, but mostly original. Hurst shifter. Somewhat clean underhood. Chromed intake manifold and alternator. Modern aftermarket carburetors, headers, and cast-aluminum valve covers. More-robust-than-stock exhaust note. Cond: 3. 86 AmericanCarCollector.com #448-1966 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE Malibu convertible. VIN: 136676K126247. Red/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 9,168 miles. 283-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Originally Sandalwood Tan with Fawn Beige vinyl benchseat interior. Factory a/c, ps and power top. Trim-off repaint, with light coverage at top of windshield frame and some clear-coat layer issues on hood. Doors need a concerted effort to latch properly. New replacement windshield, likely done in concert with repaint, as there are no masking lines around framing. Mostly reproduction emblems and trim, with economy-grade bumper replating. Steering column and wheel appear to have been painted with rest of car. Well-fitted replacement seat upholstery and carpeting. Clean and generally stock underhood. Newer engine repaint, but already starting to burn off, and has some fuel staining. Routing of a/c lines a bit haphazard. Cond: 3+. V8 powering it. Currently has a YN-code 250-hp 326 V8, with aftermarket induction. Engine somewhat clean and sort of stocklooking, but the all-black rattle-can fender aprons and radiator support have a ton of fisheyes. Average repaint, but they did a good job of squaring up the door-to-cowl-tohood gaps. Mix of polished original and reproduction brightwork. All-reproduction interior soft trim—expertly fitted and showing no appreciable wear. Aftermarket triplegauge pack mounted below dash. Paint on rear parcel shelf sloppy. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $19,250. Faking a LeMans? C’mon, how desperate are you to flip a Tempest Custom? I’d be far more impressed if they made it a fakey-doo Tempest Sprint with the OHV six. In Verdoro Green. As the old saying goes: Every butt has a seat, and this one managed to convince someone to spend just shy of $20k to park theirs on a pair of buckets. Reserve was off at $17k, and car managed one more bid before hammering sold. I really won’t be surprised to see this as a faked GTO—like the rest of the surviving examples of these—at one of my next auctions down the pike. And people have to wonder why pickup trucks are becoming more popular than muscle cars with younger buyers. SOLD AT $27,500. Credit where credit is due, at least it’s not a fakey-doo SS 396. It should be just fine as a local cruiser as-is— nothing more, nothing less. The reserve was dropped when the bidding dried up, for a fair-enough sale for all involved. #437-1967 PONTIAC LEMANS replica 2-dr hard top. VIN: 235177B113089. White/red vinyl. Odo: 89,172 miles. 326-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Originally a Regimental Red Tempest Custom (the lowest-trim-level hard top) with a black vinyl bench-seat interior, which at best could’ve had a 285-hp 326-ci #252-1968 PONTIAC GTO convertible. VIN: 242678P330494. Medium blue metallic/ white vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 72,048 miles. 400-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Originally Solar Red. PHS documentation shows it was originally equipped with a/c, headlight doors, ps, pb, tilt steering column, remote trunk release, center console and wheel covers. The latter have given way to repop Rally II wheels on radials. Evidence visible in trunk that it was hit hard in right rear at one time. Okay color-change repaint in recent years. Endura nose sits canted forward. Hood alignment isn’t all that great, either. Mediocre door fit. Newer seats, door panels and carpeting. Repainted engine and very select ancillary detailing. “Hurst Equipped” badge on deck lid, Dual-gate shifter in console. Cond: 3+.

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LEAKE // Oklahoma City, OK MARKETMOMENT 1957 Chevrolet 210 SOLD AT $32,450. I get the general impression that the last half century for this Goat was not one of being coddled—more like thrashed and bashed. As such, it sold very well. Custom 4-Door 4x4 Sedan SOLD at $21,450 Leake Auctions, Oklahoma City, OK, February 23–24, 2018, Lot 531 VIN: B57K132434 #471-1970 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE SS 396 convertible. VIN: 136670K123620. Cranberry Red/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 1,041 miles. 396-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. L78 engine with L89 aluminum heads. Other factory-installed options on original Monroney sticker include a/c, full tinted glass, Strato buckets with center console, Cowl Induction hood, Comfortilt steering wheel and AM radio. Recent professional restoration, leaving no stone unturned (or not removed from undercarriage). Body fit, paint prep, paint application and brightwork sheen better than original build quality. Driver’s door cants down and out ever so slightly, trunk lid slightly bowed, but otherwise all panels fit well. Concours-quality detailing underhood and under body. All correctly restored interior, to include Muncie shifter and how-to-use tags on all five seat belts. Cond: 1-. Courtesy of Leake Auction Company bying just about anything with wheels, but this conglomeration falls way short of its potential. First off, if you’re going to drop an iconic American classic, 4-door or not, onto a 4wd chas- This is going to be difficult. On the one hand, I’m a fan of four- sis, elevating said chassis with puny 31-inch “light duty” rubber simply will not abide. It’s like wearing boot-cut Calvin Klein jeans to a rodeo — you’re trying to look country, but not that country. Step with pride, my friend. The builder should have ponied up the cash for some 40s, minimum. Then we’d be speaking the same language. Also, I’m always a little wary of any vehicle rocking cheap blue wire loom and a fake Fuelie hat under the hood. What was the builder trying to convince me to not look at? Now I’m distracted. And confused. Some of you may argue that my nitpicks are easy fixes, and you’re not wrong, but that ship sailed $15,000 ago. If this thing had hammered at $5k, we’d be having a very different conversation: I’d be hootin’, you’d be hollerin’, the wives would be crying and the neighbors would be calling the cops. Best day ever. But at just shy of $20,000, I’m ready to stage an intervention — unless our buyer was an Arab sheik or Warren Buffet. Money doesn’t grow on trees, ya know. I’m sure this thing will be a hoot to drive and I really do like it, but $20,000 is just way too much for me to justify, no matter how red my neck may be. Calling this old girl well sold may be the understatement of this relatively new year. A 88 AmericanCarCollector.com AmericanCarCollector.com NOT SOLD AT $89,000. Stated that this was one of 13–15 Chevelle SS 396s with L89 aluminum-head option. Add that to a real-deal red-on-red drop-top, restored to the nines, and one can expect a top-dollar sale. As such, it was no surprise that it failed to sell at $89k when it crossed the block, with the announcer’s statement that “it takes $100,000 right now.” There were rumblings of a post-block deal, but car was still listed unsold in the final results from the auction company. — Jay Harden #292-1971 CHEVROLET C10 Cheyenne pickup. VIN: CE141A613883. Dark green metallic & white/dark green vinyl & nylon. Odo: 96,866 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Service ID label on glovebox door removed when it was chrome plated (and not tightened down when reinstalled). Recent highquality base/clear repaint. Replated bumpers, plus essentially all reproduction trim and emblems. New non-OEM windshield in a new gasket, plus new door and glass seals. Reproduction seat upholstery, with aftermarket armrest/cup holder belted to center. Reproduction dashboard with tachometer, door panels, and carpet—latter starting to show moderate wear. Aftermarket induction from manifold to air cleaner,

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LEAKE // Oklahoma City, OK headers, HEI distributor and radial a/c compressor. Light surface rust on wheels. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $28,050. There wasn’t much done on this Chevy to hurt the value on it, with the possible exception of the quasi cowl-induction hood. Even at that, more folks are likely put off by the green and white color than the hood. Lightly tweaked for eye appeal and drivability, it reflects what drives most buyers of 1967–72 Chevy pickups (and to some extent GMC buyers, too), so the builder pretty much hit the 80th percentile for marketing it. With lots of interest and bidding activity, the reserve lifted when the bidding ceased; it’s hard to argue otherwise. #284-1981 CHEVROLET CAMARO Z/28 coupe. VIN: 1G1AP87L6BL112827. Blue metallic/blue velour. Odo: 59,387 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Factory-optional a/c, tilt steering column and cruise control. Base/ clear repaint, with some light orange peel. Decent job of masking off inner-door data tags. Doors need some effort to latch properly (due in some part to new door and glass seals), but rattle (can’t blame that on the seals). Original windshield has heavily delamination at base of passenger’s side. By and large, correctly restored underhood. Some additional electrical wiring added, and some is a bit scruffy (like the cruise-control module). Reproduction engine-bay decals. Underside of hood rusty, and all insulation gone. Correctly reupholstered seats. Most hard-plastic interior trim redyed, and not all matches. Cond: 3+. #270-1985 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN K1500 Silverado SUV. VIN: 1G8EK16L0FF153940. Desert Sand & Doeskin/Saddle Tan velour. Odo: 94,469 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Rear dual-barn-door configuration. Factory options include ps, pb, pw, a/c, AM/FM/cassette stereo, tilt steering column, power door locks, privacy glass and Rally wheels. Mostly original paint, but heavily buffed out to the point that there’s cutthrough on hood and cowl, plus less sheen as it got closer to window seals. All six doors fit well. Undercarriage a bit scruffy and corroded, plus it’ll need a new exhaust system in the not-so-distant future. Good original interior, although front seat has moderate sun fade. Recent wash-up of engine bay. Bone-stock engine and shows regular maintenance. New NAPA radiator hose (tag still on it) and battery. Cond: 3. NOT SOLD AT $63,000. This could be one of 390 Arctic Blue ’56s made—the secondrarest color that year behind Cascade Green. The consignor made a big deal out of the record player, but since it’s not GM marked (or one of its subsidiaries—looks like it could be an Audiovox), it’s more of a sideshow to anything about the car—on top of making a very uncomfortable ride for any passenger older than 8, as there’s minimal leg room (which will be consumed once unit is opened up). Best bet is to pull it from the car and sell it, then add an MP3 interface to original AM radio. Not to sound like a broken record, but the car was sufficiently bid. Seller should have let it go. SOLD AT $10,750. Of all the vehicles that ran across the turntable, this is the one that killed its motor. Granted, they had it barely parked on it, so it did throw off the weight balance. But still, it does give some impression on how much of a big beast a 4x4 Suburban is (and this was only the half-ton—a ¾-ton may have crushed the podium). Considering that it’s basically a driver that looks good at 10 feet, selling price shows how heavy they also are in the current marketplace. Actually, this was a reasonably decent deal, if a tow rig to go with your 1984 Airstream is what you’re looking for, or taking the whole neighborhood with you on vacation. CORVETTE SOLD AT $14,300. It’s interesting to note that in this last year of the second-gen Fbodies, the biggest engine Pontiac could muster up for the Trans Am was the Chevy 305-ci small block (with their turbo and naturally aspirated 301 also available), while the Z/28 came standard with the 5.7-L (350ci) V8. When it looked like all this example could muster beyond the $10k opening bid was $13,000, the consignor cut it loose for a nearly immediate sale. 90 AmericanCarCollector.com #459-1956 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: E56S003355. Arctic Blue & silver/beige vinyl/beige vinyl. Odo: 8,457 miles. 265-ci 225-hp V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. Unlabeled, period 45-rpm record player mounted below dashboard on passenger’s side. Engine pad has been overstamped, with the most logical combination indicating that it could be a 225 hp with Powergilde. Otherwise stock dress for a 225-hp, dualquad-induction 283, with light soiling. Good older repaint holding up well. Doors protrude slightly from body. Trunk gap could be better or worse. New aftermarket windshield, with reproduction 1959 NHRA National Drags participant sticker on driver’s side. Driver’s door panel separating from door at the top. Early 1960s-style modernproduction seat belts added. Bias-ply whitewalls starting to yellow. Cond: 3+. #457-1965 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 194675S103279. Red/red hard top/black vinyl. Odo: 21,305 miles. 350ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Aftermarket a/c system, the plenum of which is mounted up against body and VIN tags, so neither can be seen without disassembly. Mediocre paint job in recent years, with less-than-expert masking in door jambs. Some reinforcing over rear wheelwells added. 1960s-era GT-1 decal on hard top’s cloudy backlight. Windshield scratched where wipers had gone from being wipers to scrapers. Decent door gaps and brightwork. Engine repainted not long ago, and somewhat clean. Newer carburetor, with a stainless-steel heat shield between it and intake manifold. Rats’ nest of additional wiring. Ignition shielding gone, replaced with modern silicone wires. Newer seats and door panels, older carpeting showing some wear and fading along transmission tunnel. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $47,300. I’m hoping that the folks who do the VIN checks here either had a good-enough mirror to see the tag behind the a/c plenum, or that they found the serial number on the chassis. Originally a no-sale across the block at $39k, this was an eventual post-block deal—with someone who

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LEAKE // Oklahoma City, OK has vastly more faith in the car than I ever would. #469-1969 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 194678S413499. Cordovan Maroon/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 7,999 miles. 427-ci 435-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Concours-quality restoration completed almost a decade ago. Excellent body prep and paint application, with period-correct sheen. Better door gaps and fit than stock, even if they do sound hollow. Bumper replating better quality than original, yet not over-thetop show chrome. All-reproduction emblems. Authentically detailed engine bay, to include smog pump and all ancillary plumbing. Replacement top and interior soft trim still look freshly installed. Fitted with teakwood steering wheel and AM/FM radio. Stock exhaust system generally bright, and balance of undercarriage is quite clean, but also has all uncoated steel surfaces flashrusted. Cond: 2. actual, and that the car is essentially original, aside from battery and fluids. Retains original window sticker from when it sold new by Gordon Chevrolet/GEO of Tampa, FL. Bloomington Gold-certified in 2014, although certification states that owner then declared the motor as being a replacement. Grand Sport Registry and Missouri inspection decals on windshield. Well-cared-for paint, with just a hint of GM orange peel. Near-show-quality engine-bay presentation. Cond: 2-. heads. Single-pod instrumentation in center of dash, with a small-diameter billet banjo steering wheel. Custom leather seating and carpeting barely worn. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $66,000. Recent NCRS shipping report states that it was sold new by Malcolm Konner Chevrolet of Paramus, NJ. With hit-or-miss build quality 50 years ago when these were built for first year of the C3 generation, there’s no doubt that this is a better car than when it was new. While 435hp C3s have trailed 435-hp C2s in value, the gap is tightening up. Reserve here was lifted when bidding dried up at this point, for a deal that the consignor should be pleased with and yet the buyer didn’t do too badly on, either—especially if they were keen on a maroon C3 convertible near the top of its game. #519-1996 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Grand Sport coupe. VIN: 1G1YY2254T5600567. Admiral Blue/black leather. Odo: 9,215 miles. 5.7-L 330-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. Optional Selective Real Time Dampening and Preferred Equipment Group 1. Consignor states that indicated miles are “ NOT SOLD AT $38,000. One of 206 Grand Sport coupes with black leather and active suspension. To me, at least, if you get a Grand Sport, it should have the unique—albeit gaudy—red leather seats instead of the blah-black leather like most every car from 1996 and since. As the C4 at the top of the pecking order for desirability and value, this should’ve sold for the final bid. Yes, that’s partially due to the black seats, but also since 9k miles is almost considered high mileage for the genre—which can be readily found mint and in the box on the original MSO. FOMOCO #494-1933 FORD MODEL 18 custom roadster. VIN: 18403399. Copper red metallic/tan cloth/brown leather. Odo: 3,549 miles. Modern-production street-rod body by Zipper, along with their windshield support, frame, suspension and quick-change rear axle. For what little bodywork is here, it’s well painted and expertly fitted, with frame-rail cladding painted to match. Mostly chromed suspension, the balance being silver powder coated. Also powder coated silver: grille and a set of Woodlite headlight shells retrofitted with LEDs. Tightly fitted bikini top, may or may not be foldable. Small-block Ford V8 (stated to be 4.6 L), mostly painted black, yet with aluminum As the C4 at the top of the pecking order for desirability and value, this should’ve sold for the final bid. 1996 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport coupe 92 AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $25,300. With a non-conforming VIN statement, one wonders if there’s actually any 1933 Ford in this. I get the impression that there’s more original Woodlite than ’33 Ford, since the VIN tag is freshly minted and pop-riveted to the frame. An interesting build, selling at no reserve in close proximity to the cost of the parts—and not on the black side of the ledger, either. #517-1958 FORD FAIRLANE 500 Skyliner retractable hard top. VIN: G8RW150690. Sun Gold & Gunmetal/light yellow vinyl & gray nylon. Odo: 65,775 miles. 352-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Originally built at San Jose Assembly Plant in solid Sun Gold, with black and white interior, powered by a 332-ci V8. Sold on Arkansas rebuilt title. Decent trimoff paint job. Heavily faded original plastic emblems, dull gold-tone Skyliner scripts on C-pillars. Newer engine repaint with better—but not entirely accurate—detailing. Driver’s side exhaust manifold looks patched in a couple of places before recent coat of dressing. Reproduction door panels, seats and dashpad. Noticeable yellowing of plastic dash knobs. Modern seat belts added, front and rear. Dingy undercarriage, with a rusty single exhaust system. Old Remington bias-ply tires. Cond: 3+. ” SOLD AT $28,600. One can almost make the argument that this is a worst-case scenario for a restored ’50s Ford retractable. 1958 is the least-liked year of just about any Ford in history, the Style-Tone color scheme and engine are not original, and it has a branded title. What could possibly go wrong? As such, it’s more of a surprise that bidders continued on after the reserve was met at $25k. Yet it looks good, and the top does cycle with the car on a flat surface. Just don’t expect to make anything on it, especially on a quick flip, but even in the long term.

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LEAKE // Oklahoma City, OK #223-1965 MERCURY MONTEREY convertible. VIN: 5Z45Y565731. Palomino Red/white vinyl/red & white vinyl. Odo: 25,099 miles. 390-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Optional power front seat and power top. Repainted quite well in recent years, but just as a trim-off respray. Modern, non-authentic tape pinstriping. Decent shut lines, but doors rattle. Front bumper chrome a bit dull, back one replated recently, and rest of brightwork is pretty decent. Heavier wear on side glass seals. Well-fitted replacement top. Reupholstered seats and door panels, somewhat along the lines of the original pattern, but not quite there. Recent superb engine detailing; actually went a bit over the top, as stamped Mercury script and lightning bolt on valve covers now highlighted in white paint. Dingy, but solid, undercarriage. Cond: 3+. NOT SOLD AT $85,000. While this was one of 224 Shelbys for Hertz in 1968, it’s all but a moot point, since one could easily just call this a resto-mod and be done with it. By rights this should’ve sold for this bid, but there was no way the consignor was going to taper off his reserve when a reality TV personality was bidding on it, as was the case here. NOT SOLD AT $20,000. Back in 1965, a Mercury was far more than a Ford with lock washers and different badges. Only The Big M had a 2-bbl version of this example’s standard 390-ci FE block, in addition to the Mercury-only optional 410-ci V8 (which was not the same 410 used in the 1958 Edsel Corsairs and Citations). Certainly not a car you run into at every auction, yet mid-market brands (such as Olds and Buick) tend not to sell much better than their basic and originally better-selling Ford and Chevy brethren. Reran late on Saturday, to $500 dollars less. Original offer should’ve made the car get a new ZIP code. #479-1968 SHELBY GT350 H fastback. VIN: 8T02J14939101190. Lime Gold/black vinyl. Odo: 4,288 miles. 347-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Marti Report states this was a Hertz Rent-A-Racer, optioned with power steering, front-disc power brakes, a/c, tach, Interior Décor Group, Visibility Group, wheel-lip moldings and AM radio. While it retains the original 302 block, it’s been rebuilt in recent years—bored out to 347, along with being fitted with alloy heads, serpentine-belt system, MSD ignition system, rotary a/c compressor, tube headers and aftermarket induction. Original C4 swapped with an AOD. Also has rack-and-pinion steering, aluminum radiator with electric fans, and Strange 9-inch rear end, with adjustable shocks. Good repaint, but not spectacular. Retro-look replacement gauges throughout, in addition to a billet tilt steering column and modern AM/FM/aux input sound system. Good workmanship on the repop seats, door panels and carpeting. Cond: 2-. 94 AmericanCarCollector.com #212-1977 FORD F-100 Explorer Custom Series pickup. VIN: F10HUY06508. Black/ black vinyl & red nylon. Odo: 23,973 miles. 302-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Equipped with the Explorer “C” package, which added a/c to the power-steering- and auto-transequipped Explorer “B” package. Recent low-budget repaint, with dust in it, and no attempt at wet sanding. More and better effort put into applying reproduction stripes than body prep and paint application. Spray-on bed liner in whole box. Wheelcover inserts custom painted to match stripes (best paint job on truck), with wheels fitted with economy-grade radials. Redyed dashpad and lower seat-belt plastic guide, but belts are original and heavily faded. Rattle-can FoMoCo Blue on valve covers and air cleaner (although latter was originally silver). Matte black sprayed on most everything else around engine. Cond: 3. Explorers. By 1977 those covers were a generally available option. They’re attached with dummy lug nuts, which were frequently destroyed by dummies who either used an air wrench to spin them off (thinking it was a styled steel wheel), or broke the cover when trying to pry it off. Also worth noting that the bed-top trim rails—which came with all Explorer packages—are missing here. Despite consignors claiming they “have 18 grand into it”—by the looks of it, $15k of that was cases of Keystone Light—the reserve was met at $7,700 and the car got a few more bids. That fact that this sold this well says more about how the market for 1970s-era pickups is exploding than about whether this Explorer is really worth this. MOPAR #555-1959 CHRYSLER 300E 2-dr hard top. VIN: M591100657. White/blue leather. Odo: 9,722 miles. 413-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. Optional a/c, Auto-Pilot cruise control and rear-window defogger. Imperial/Chryslerstyle wire wheels and radials on the ground, while stock wheel covers are in trunk. Very old repaint, but presents quite well on outside. In door jambs, sloppy masking around original seals and light overspray on door panels and window trim. Mostly original interior, with replacement pinchweld moldings and some redying done over the years—yet not on door-panel armrests, as they have most of their dye worn off. Old matte black engine paint job, with rest of motor not really detailed but somewhat cleaned up. Overspray on horns, yet has an original inspection stamp on driver’s fender apron. Taped-off a/c lines. Modern chambered mufflers on a bland undercarriage. Cond: 3. “ SOLD AT $8,910. The wheel covers, first used on the mid-1975 Explorer package, became something of a signature piece for SOLD AT $64,900. The fifth year into the 300 model, this was the first to not be powered by a Hemi, yet final year for body-on- The reserve was met at $7,700 and the car got a few more bids. That fact that this sold this well says more about how the market for 1970s-era pickups is exploding than about whether this Explorer is really worth this. 1977 Ford F-100 Explorer Custom Series pickup ”

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LEAKE // Oklahoma City, OK frame Forward Look generation—making ’59s somewhat unusual. Also somewhat unusual was its condition. Most are either high-buck restorations or ratty (albeit potent) runners, so this one is essentially a family’s second car that’s had some work done on it, comes off looking original, and looks presentable but a long way from being a show queen. We could actually use a few more like this out there, to make them more accessible to the hobby rather than perfectly restored artwork for the wealthy that never get used. Yet with the $45k reserve easily passed by like they kicked in both 4-bbl carburetors on this Mopar, the seller should be quite pleased. #530-1969 PLYMOUTH ROAD RUNNER 2-dr sedan. VIN: RM21N0E125322. Dark green metallic/two-tone green vinyl. Odo: 1 miles. 383-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Factory-optional a/c, ps and Road Runner Décor Group. Body obviously painted at a different time than trunk, hood and plastic fittings, due to slight shifts in hues. Still, panel fit is at least as good as original build quality. New generic door seals spliced to original ends. Replacement door panels not fitted with the best workmanship, and doors show holes from previous use of screws to keep the panels on. Replacement seats, dashpad and carpeting are far better fitted—along with showing appreciable wear. Belts and hose clamps are only non-OEM components underhood—even the battery is a Mopar replica. Cond: 2-. num 500 wheels on Redline radials. Per body tag, retains power steering, front-disc power brakes, Trak Pak with 3.54 Sure Grip differential, tach and solid-state AM radio. Professional, state-of-the-art restoration in recent years, showing minimal use since. Modern OEM windshield, surrounded by professionally refurbished trim. Better-quality bumper replating and reproduction emblems. Undercarriage paint as good as on rest of car, correctly detailed with inspection markings. Replacement 1968 Hemi correctly trimmed to look authentic for this setting, with exception of a modern coil. New dashpad to go with new seats, door panels and carpeting. Replacement headliner wrinkling around rear window. Cond: 2+. Heavier wrinkling in replacement door panels, while seat covering installation done far better. Heavily faded speedometer face. Generally clean and kinda looks stock underhood, despite horn brackets having overspray halfway up. Cond: 3+. NOT SOLD AT $46,000. The 500 was the midmarket Charger with slightly better appointments (wood-grained interior trim, two-tone bucket seats, clock, and wheelwell trim moldings), but without the standard engine upgrade of the R/T. A month earlier, it was at Barrett-Jackson, selling for $45,100 (ACC# 6862524). Not certain if this was a fresh car for this consignor, who was thinking it could be flipped for more (which rarely works when you buy from an auction house that consistently sells at retail-plus), or if this was a B-J no-reserve that was bought back. Either way at either event, this potential poseur was bid more that it deserved. AMERICANA SOLD AT $247,500. One of 503 winged warriors made for 1969. Since this is actually one of the 433 that were originally built with a 440, the Hemi underhood neither helps nor hurts the value much—if at all. It ends up being more of a case of a bidder deciding definitively yes or no for even bidding on it, versus bidding on it if the price is right. When it crossed the block, it was a no-sale at a somewhat light $200k, which seemed to make sense in the big picture of current Mopar values. However, Leake announced publicly from the block, near the end of the auction, that they reached a postsale deal on it, making this the top-selling domestic car here this weekend. Which also seemed to make sense for everyone concerned. NOT SOLD AT $31,000. The consignor mentioned to me that he was told that this was possibly one of several identical Road Runners bought by the U.S. Army for recruiting. The story is that they competed at local dragstrips against blue Chevelle SS 396s that U.S. Air Force recruiters had. This was news to my Mopar-centric assistant, who was with me at OKC, and who had joined the Marines by the time this car was built, and I had never heard of this before, yet my time in the Air Force was a little over a decade later. It’ll take a better story—and better-quality paint and assembly—to make this worth more than what was sufficiently bid for it. 4 miles. 426-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Originally a 440-powered car with a black interior. Mag- #905-1969 DODGE DAYTONA 2-dr hard top. VIN: XX29L9B410786. White/red vinyl. Odo: 37,951 #585-1970 DODGE CHARGER 500 2-dr hard top. VIN: XP29G0G207812. Vitamin C/black vinyl/burnt orange vinyl. Odo: 84,462 miles. 440-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Retrolooking modern 16-inch Magnum 500-style alloy wheels on radials. Originally equipped with a 318-ci V8. Since body tag is AWOL, we can only speculate on what else is correct or changed. Currently fitted with ps, pb, rear window defogger and push-button AM radio. Average repaint could stand one more session of wet sanding. Doors rattle, since stop bumpers are missing. Wider forward door gaps, on both sides of car. #508-1950 KURTIS-KRAFT MIDGET racer. VIN: N/A. Off-white & brown/black vinyl. 134-ci fuel-injected I4. Has a brass Kurtis-Kraft builder’s tag on dashboard, but serial-number pad blank. Powered by a modified Ford 134-ci OHV four, with a direct-drive gearbox. Consignor speculates, but can’t definitively prove, that car may have been driven by Johnny Rutherford during 1963 season. Decent older repaint, in colors of last driver/team. Chromed tube bumper customized with initial of last name of last owner. Alloy 12-inch knockoff wheels, with equal-sized rear tires and smaller left front than right front for dirt circle-track work. Engine repainted not too many years ago, and is generally clean. Magneto ignition system. Sold on a bill of sale, no title. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $14,850. Kurtis-Kraft was one of the pre-eminent builders of Midget racers back in the day. This was especially true in the early post-war era when this example was built. This was one of several Midget racers here that were part of the Rolland Collection, most of which were fitted with somewhat mundane powerplants like this Ford. That, combined with the niche appeal of dirt-track Midget racers and not much use for anything else aside from garage ornamentation, kept the selling prices close to what this one garnered. A May-June 2018 95 TOP 10

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MCCORMICK’S // Palm Springs, CA McCormick’s 64th Collector-Car Auction One of the better buys from the sale proved to be a 1956 Cadillac Series 62 convertible McCormick’s Auctions Palm Springs, CA February 23–25, 2018 Auctioneers: Frank Bizzarro, Jeff Stokes, Rob Row, Gary Dahler automotive lots sold/ offered: 346/529 Sales rate: 65% Sales total: $6,370,035 High sale: 1965 Ford Mustang GT fastback, 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Fuelie convertible, both sold at $78,750 each Buyer’s premium: 5%, included in sold prices ACC 1–6 scale condition rating for vehicles in Market Reports 1. perfect: National show standard 2. excellent: Club show-worthy, some small flaws 3. average: Daily driver in decent condition 4. Meh: Still a driver, with some visible flaws 5. Questionable: A problem-plagued beast that somehow manages to run 6. Lost cause: Salvageable for parts 96 AmericanCarCollector.com What a deal — 1956 Cadillac Series 62 convertible, sold at $39,375 Report and photos by Carl Bomstead Market opinions in italics no fluke, shortly after the conclusion of their 64th auction, Keith and Delsey celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. The latest auction, held February 23–25, was K exceptional. The offerings were greatly enhanced, and as a result, the revenue was up by $538,746 over last February’s event, and up by $249,007 over the November 2017 sale. This is an accomplishment as the Arizona auctions, as a general statement, were off, so the increase in revenue goes against current trends. Now, that’s not to say that they did not have a few quirky items cross the block — they always do. When was the last time you had an opportunity to acquire a King Midget? It sold for $5,250, and I sincerely doubt if the new owner will get in any trouble with it, as a ninehorsepower motor powers it. Two well-restored tractors, a 1939 John Deere and a 1940 Farmall, sold for $4,515 and $3,570, respectively. Packards were the special of the day, with six being offered. They ranged from a 1929 640 Town Car, which eith McCormick and family have produced their semi-annual collector-car auction in Palm Springs for 32 years, which has got to be some sort of record for an auction company. Proving that their longevity is failed to sell when bid to $50,000, to a 1958 Hawk that was Packard’s swan song. It also failed to sell when bid to only $22,000, but many view it as just a Studebaker with an ugly guppy nose. An exceedingly rare 1950 Custom Eight convertible sold for $52,000. It was one of only 85 produced, and they rarely change hands. The top American-made sale was a tie between a 1965 Ford Mustang GT fastback and a 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Fuelie convertible, both achieving $78,750. A wonderful 1961 Corvette brought $63,000, while a 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air 2-door sedan reached $67,200 — providing some pushback to the narrative that the prices for those cars are in a free fall. One of the better buys from the sale proved to be a 1956 Cadillac Series 62 convertible — selling for nearly half of the ACC Pocket Price Guide median. If you want to be entertained, then you should arrive a little early for Friday’s auction, as the auctioneers, led by Jeff Stokes, warm up the audience. For example, Stokes will ask how many people are from out of town, and when they raise their hands, he counts it as a bid. A little corny, but worth the price of admission, which is free on Friday. McCormick’s 65th auction will be on their traditional weekend before Thanksgiving, and, as in the past, will bring out some interesting and desirable collector cars, with a few other quirky offerings thrown in. Well worth the visit to Palm Springs in mid-November.A

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MCCORMICK’S // Palm Springs, CA GM #309-1954 CHEVROLET 3100 pickup. VIN: H54K022929. Aqua/black vinyl. Odo: 84,038 miles. 235-ci I6, 1-bbl, 4-sp. A very impressive restoration with a grille painted white. An aftermarket radio sits in dash. Converted to 12 volts. Interior in good order, and paint—although not an original hue—is very attractive. Cond: 1-. nal-seeking radio. New paint in need of fluffand-buff to really sparkle. Interior in good order. Brightwork acceptable. One of only about 8,000 built in 1956. Cond: 2. price of restoration. Well bought and properly sold. SOLD AT $39,375. If Sonic Blue is a favored color, then this is a heck of a deal. The ACC Pocket Price Guide Median Value is $77,000, and the condition of this example justifies numbers near that value. As such, this was well bought. NOT SOLD AT $24,500. The 3100 half-ton pickup was restyled for 1954. It had a onepiece windshield and a new grille. Price bid was close, but considering the quality of the restoration, it fell short. I think $30k was closer to the number, and with the current popularity of pickups, I also think he should get his number next time out. #307-1954 CHEVROLET 3100 pickup. VIN: 0869218F54X. Red/tan vinyl. Odo: 61,914 miles. 235-ci I6, 1-bbl, 3-sp. A restyled 3100 half-ton pickup that’s well restored. Owned by same family for over 60 years. It had been converted to 12 volts. There are a few bubbles in the original glass. Grille painted an attractive but incorrect beige that complements the red. Interior crisp and engine bay clean and tidy. Not your average go-to-the-dump pickup. Cond: 1-. #209-1958 PONTIAC STAR CHIEF 2-dr hard top. VIN: C858H3476. Light blue/light blue leather. Odo: 26,302 miles. 370-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Trunk and rear-window trim dented. Plastic horn button trashed. Engine bay filthy. Attractive recent respray. Leather interior a no-cost option; other choice was Lustrex. Not-so-white whitewall tires. Cond: 3+. #201-1966 CHEVROLET CORVAIR Monza convertible. VIN: 10567W107382. Light blue/white vinyl/white vinyl. Odo: 34,705 miles. 164-ci H6, 2x1-bbl, 4-sp. This one was tucked away for many years before being brought back to life—including new base/clear paint. The Monza package has a stylized badge on lower front fender, bucket seats and full wheels. Owner states engine has 15k miles after rebuild. No real issues noted, but nothing special, either. Cond: 2. NOT SOLD AT $25,000. Advertised as “something really special” in Pontiac’s brochures, the Star Chief had four stars in the concave rear insert panels and stardustpattern carpeting. For 1958 Pontiac advertised 92 color combinations available for the model. Considering all I’m looking at here was a quick respray, I can’t see where this is worth a whole lot more than was bid here. I think the seller made an error. SOLD AT $22,575. Not the pickup for the purist (sorry, B. Mitchell), but an attractive, fun driver. Price paid was very realistic in a market that favors pickups. New owner needs to get out and about in this new toy. Blue/white vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 70,069 miles. 365-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. A recent respray with overspray. Slight delamination of passenger’s side window. Has Autronic Eye automatic headlamp dimmer and sig- #482-1956 CADILLAC SERIES 62 convertible. VIN: 5662060612. Sonic 98 AmericanCarCollector.com #227-1960 CHEVROLET IMPALA convertible. VIN: 01867B232620. Roman Red/ white vinyl/red houndstooth, white vinyl. Odo: 28,075 miles. 348-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, auto. A stunning example of a 348-ci Tri-Power convertible. Fitted with all the goodies, including skirts and dual aerials. Striking Roman Red with white top—that fits properly. Interior as good as new. Great color combination and restored to the nines. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $39,900. Last seen at Russo and Steele’s August 2011 Monterey sale, where it realized $47,300 (ACC# 6765786). The market has shifted, and the price paid here is now market-correct. Buyer has a noquestions example at a cost below the SOLD AT $15,488. The Corvair was introduced in 1959 and continued until 1969, when Ralph Nader’s 1965 book effectively killed the car’s market. Motor Trend named it their Car of the Year in 1960. Fair price for a rather plain Corvair, but it is a convertible and perfect for top-down driving in the desert sun. All should be happy here. #295-1966 PONTIAC CATALINA 2+2 convertible. VIN: 254676R131946. Black/black canvas/red vinyl. Odo: 35,649 miles. 421-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Vertical air slots behind doors, twin-lens taillights, special badges and the 421 motor with Hurst linkage transmission highlight the Catalina 2+2 package. PHS certified. Aftermarket mag wheels. Black paint sparkles in SoCal sun. A banker’s hot rod. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $39,900. The Catalina 2+2 was a separate series for 1966, and Pontiac produced a total of 6,383—4,175 with the Hydramatic. An aggressive price, but a most desirable example. You would be quickly upside down bringing a lesser example to BEST BUY

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MCCORMICK’S // Palm Springs, CA this level. Better to pay a bit too much and have a no-questions car that will bring the thumbs up. CORVETTE #340-1954 CHEVROLET CORVETTE roadster. VIN: E54S0003089. Polo White/ beige canvas/red vinyl. Odo: 67,232 miles. 235-ci 150-hp I6, 3x1-bbl, auto. A very average example with a long list of needs. Now, these were not a quality build when new, but this one has gone down the slippery slope. The paint is badly scratched around the headlamps, and the rest needs some attention. The top fit is horrible and the hood fit is way off also. Interior about average. Cond: 3. miles. 283-ci 230-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Finished in Jewel Blue, which was only offered in 1961, and only 855 cars were done in this shade. Luggage rack mounted on trunk, with matching suitcases. Trim fit around headlamps to usual poor standard. First year for four taillamps, which became a Corvette trademark. New interior properly installed. Engine clean and tidy. A solid package. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $78,750. I watched this cross the block at McCormick’s November 2017 sale, when it failed to meet seller’s expectations when bid to $72,500 (ACC# 6856677). Another few grand made the difference, and it sold this time around. An exciting example at a realistic price even in a slightly depressed Corvette market. Fair all around here, with a slight edge to the buyer. SOLD AT $57,750. Price paid was market correct, if a little under, for a rather basic Corvette. The unusual Jewel Blue hue added to the package, but the base engine sure didn’t. Now get those wheels on the road and have some fun. NOT SOLD AT $56,000. The ACC Pocket Price Guide states the median price for a ’54 Corvette is $77,000. I think it would take at least $20k to bring this one up to that level, so the bid does not look that out of line. Problem is no one believes their child is unattractive, so the seller ends up unwilling to accept reality here. #458-1961 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 10867S103450. Jewel Blue & white/white vinyl/blue vinyl. Odo: 38,433 #233-1965 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 194675S100927. Rally Red/ beige vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 41,197 miles. 327-ci 375-hp fuel-injected V8, 4-sp. An exciting Corvette that was a 2016 Top Flight award winner. Equipped with original castaluminum knockoffs that were only ordered on 1,116 Corvettes. First-year four-wheel disc brakes were standard, and last year for fuel injection, until the throttle body introduced in 1982. One of only 771 L84 Corvettes produced in 1965. A very desirable Corvette. Cond: 1-. #483-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Grand Sport replica roadster. VIN: FLA40057. Red/black vinyl. Odo: 43,162 miles. 427-ci 490-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. A replica of the famed Grand Sport with 427-ci motor—stated to produce 490 horsepower. Has the bruises of use, but also appears well cared for otherwise. Titled as a 1996. Would be a hoot to drive, but no idea what or where it is eligible to run. Lot of explaining to do. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $26,250. If this were the real thing, the price would be seven figures, but—as it sits—it’s a conversation piece. Would be fun for a few hot laps, and perhaps the new owner has access to a track. Other than that, it’s sure to keep the neighbors awake when buyer is working on the motor in the late evening hours. FOMOCO #287-1946 FORD DELUXE wagon. VIN: 79A1090677. Red/black vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 42,994 miles. 239-ci V8, 2-bbl, 3-sp. 100 AmericanCarCollector.com

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MCCORMICK’S // Palm Springs, CA Someone took a number of liberties here, as red was never used on ’46 Ford woodies. Also, tan leather is the correct interior, rather than red vinyl tuck ’n’ roll. Fitted with later taillights. Dash trim and horn ring pitted. Has radio, sun visor and heater. Cond: 3+. NOT SOLD AT $40,000. If only the owner of this Ford woodie had restored it correctly, the price bid would have been more to his liking. In this case, it will cost a bunch to right the wrongs. The value as it sits is about what was bid here. #457-1951 MERCURY EIGHT convertible. VIN: 51ME24838M. Yellow/blue fabric/ yellow vinyl. Odo: 92,041 miles. 255-ci V8, 2-bbl, 3-sp. The iconic Merc convertible. One of few that has not been turned into a hot rod. Finished in bold shade of yellow. Interior also yellow with blue piping. Paint with a few minor issues, but still respectable. Chrome and stainless in good order. Blue fabric top continues color theme. Cond: 2+. but the market has changed the last few years and he just may regret this decision. #219-1956 FORD FAIRLANE Sunliner convertible. VIN: P6FC359066. Coral Mist/white vinyl/black & white vinyl. Odo: 36,728 miles. 312-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. An attractive Sunliner that is finished in Coral Mist. Powered by the P-code Thunderbird Special V8. Brightwork very respectable, with issues in only a couple areas. Power top inoperative. Fuel and temp gauges also inoperable, but new ones with car. Decent interior. Cond: 2+. Africa and motors installed by dealers. This one had the 427-ci V8 that was estimated at 512 horsepower. A well-done replica. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $57,750. I found several of these advertised for much closer to $100k, so this was well-bought indeed. A handful to drive with that much power under the hood, but for the sake of journalistic integrity, I’m willing to give it a try. SOLD AT $26,775. If seller goes to the trouble to buy the necessary parts, I don’t understand why they don’t install them and eliminate any questions. As a result, this car sold under the money, as buyers just might wonder what else the seller did not take care of. Buyer may have a bargain, or he may have his hands full with repairs. A roll of the dice. NOT SOLD AT $55,000. This was last seen at Mecum’s February 2015 Vegas sale, where it realized $56,160 (ACC# 6792073). Seller wasn’t willing to take a small hit here, SP2253. Sunset red/black leather. Odo: 3,447 miles. 427-ci V8, 4-bbl, 5-sp. A Shelby Cobra replica produced by Superformance, and, as such, licensed by Carroll Shelby Licensing. Body hand built in South #220-1965 SHELBY COBRA Superformance replica roadster. VIN: SOLD AT $30,975. Would not take much to bring this up a notch, but why worry about it? Just drive and enjoy. Sure to get prime parking at your favorite dining spot—if the parking spot is big enough. Price paid was on the money, at just slightly under the ACC median value. #257-1971 FORD MUSTANG Mach 1 replica fastback. VIN: 1F02H144027. Grabber Green/black vinyl. Odo: 78,484 miles. 351ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Equipped with a/c, power steering and AM radio. Documented with Marti Report, but it is a clone (or whatever), as VIN indicates it is just a regular SportsRoof ’Stang. Paint in good order, with no noticeable issues. Interior clean. Rides on Magnum 500 wheels. Also fitted with rear spoiler. A very desirable example. Cond: 2. #270-1967 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL convertible. VIN: 7Y8G821289. White/white vinyl/tan leather. Odo: 98,869 miles. 462-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Rides on a 124-inch chassis. Leather interior standard. Equipped with six-way power seat, a/c and radio. Door handles are pitted, and a few rust bubbles pop up on the body. Otherwise, body straight with no dings or nicks on the slab sides. Tan leather interior in good order. Cond: 2. 102 AmericanCarCollector.com BEST BUY

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MCCORMICK’S // Palm Springs, CA SOLD AT $21,000. The Mach 1 for 1971 had new bumpers and grille, and the nonfunctional hood was standard equipment. Price paid here is difficult to understand, as this is a replica that sold close to the price of the real deal. Also wondering what the advertised Marti Report has to say, but it wasn’t with the car. Hope the buyer knew what they were buying, as this was an overthe-top amount for a made-up car. Similarly, it was well sold. MOPAR #402-1969 DODGE DAYTONA replica 2-dr hard top. VIN: XS29L9B228695. Bright green/black buckets. Odo: 1,926 miles. 440-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. The Daytona had an 18-inch nose cone attached to the front of the car and a high wing mounted on the rear. The VIN tells us that the 440 motor is correct for this car, but no proof that this is one of the 503 real Daytonas. Fortunately, the auction company didn’t even try, calling it a Charger R/T in the catalog. This much green is an acquired taste. Cond: 2-. NOT SOLD AT $57,500. If this were a real Daytona, we would be looking at serious money, but as such, there was not a lot of interest here. The nose and wing were a tough sell in the era, and a made-up example is even more difficult today—which continues the narrative for this car: no-sales at Mecum L.A. in February at $45k (ACC# 6865411), Mecum Las Vegas November 2017 ($60k, ACC# 6854501), and Mecum Monterey 2017 ($60k, ACC# 6846951). It did, however, sell at Mecum Portland 2017 for $60,500 (ACC# 6839453). I think it’s pretty obvious what the market thinks this replica is worth. AMERICANA #311-1961 RAMBLER AMBASSADOR 4-dr hard top. VIN: H135782. Jasmine Rose & Fireglow Red/red vinyl. Odo: 82,602 miles. 327-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Has Flash-OMatic push-button transmission and Weather-Eye climate control air. Numerous rust bubbles to note on hood and paint badly chipped. Rust on wheels. Trim pitted. Features fold-down rear seat that is the envy of any red-blooded high school student. Problem is car looks like someone lived in it. Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $4,988. We watched this cross the block at McCormick’s February 2015 event, where it failed to sell when bid to $5,500 (ACC# 6772820). At their November 2014 sale, it also failed to sell when bid to $7,950 (ACC# 6711225). One low bid, who knows. Two could be a coincidence, but the third certainly marks a trend. Seller finally realized he was headed in the wrong direction and took what was offered before it got even worse. As we have said before at auction, often the first offer is the best offer. A 104 AmericanCarCollector.com

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MECUM AUCTIONS // Kansas City, MO Mecum Kansas City Spring 2018 An honest 1970 RS/SS Camaro sold at $33,550, representing the continued rise of second-gen Camaros Mecum Auctions Kansas City, MO March 16–17, 2018 Auctioneers: Mark Delzell, Jimmy Landis, Matt Moravec automotive lots sold/ offered: 308/510 Sales rate: 60% Sales total: $6,299,150 High sale: 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon coupe, sold at $130,900 Buyer’s premium: 10%, $500 minimum, included in sold prices Originality backed-up with documentation — 1970 Chevrolet Camaro RS/SS coupe, sold at $33,550 Report and photos by Brett Hatfield 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 I 106 AmericanCarCollector.com f you wanted to find a unique collector car, you needed to look no further than Mecum Auctions’ Kansas City Spring 2018 event. Everything from Alfa to Zimmer was present, with some exceptional examples and a few true bargains. There were lots of domestics: Mustangs, Corvettes, Chevelles, GTOs, pickups, hot rods and all the things you would look for at your average Saturday night cruise. Also present were Astons, Bentleys, BMWs, Mercedes, Porsches, and other offerings from around the world. Muscle cars and custom builds have long been a hallmark of the Mecum KC auctions, and this one was no exception. A 1968 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 coupe, with a claimed 4,100 original miles, sat amongst the featured lots. It was a stunning example, and would have to be among the lowest-mileage, first-generation Camaros anywhere. It didn’t sell at a $61k high bid. An honest 1970 RS/SS Camaro sold at $33,500, representing the continued rise of second-gen Camaros. A 1932 Ford custom-bodied roadster — featuring and all-aluminum 427 and stunning job in black with old school flames — crossed the block at $57,500, but failed to find a new owner. A 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon, Mopar’s brand-new dragstrip terror and one of two at this sale, went to a new home for a staggering $130,900. This was quite a premium over the base window sticker price of $84k. There was a spotless 2005 Ford GT, resplendent in Quick Silver Metallic, which was a no-sale at $300,000. As rare as Ford GTs supposedly are, I cannot remember an auction in the past few years that didn’t feature at least one. The Kansas City sales are always rich with Corvettes. Consignors brought in 60 of America’s original sports cars this time. Jack Wallace, owner of local dealership Vintage Vettes, claimed to have entered more than 30 Corvettes in the two-day sale. There were quite a number of returning lots and unsold offerings from previous Mecum auctions. Many of those had been seen at multiple Mecum evens in the past several months. One could be forgiven for wondering if it had anything to do with Mecum’s new transportation service and a possible discount on unsold cars being taken to the next auction location. Of 510 lots offered, 308 found new homes, with a 60% sell-through rate, pulling in a $6,299,150 total take. This is down from the December 2017 KC auction, which saw a sell-through rate of 66%, yielding $8,220,833 and February 2017, where 309 of 496 sold for $7,364,900. Was this a sign of a softening collector car market, a lack of higher-end offerings (only five lots in the entire sale bid to over $100,000), or just collectors slow to wake from a dismal winter? Only time will tell, and there is plenty of time until the next KC sale in December. A

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MECUM AUCTIONS // Kansas City, MO GM #F114-1948 BUICK SUPER convertible. VIN: 14931012. Regency Blue/tan cloth/red leather. Odo: 81,801 miles. 248-ci I8, 2-bbl, auto. Paint looks as if it’s more recent than the balance of the exterior. It is glossy with some minor marks in it that have to be caught in the right light to be seen. The stainless and chrome are both showing more patina, with haze and pitting present. Red leather bench seats have mild creasing. Interior trim is in good nick, save for the steering wheel. Driving lights and spotlights add to the appearance. Some work would really make this pop. Cond: 3. time and funds to create a next-level car. As the prices for the best examples are only in the mid-$20k range, it’s likely the owner couldn’t justify the outlay. As it sat, this was a lot of car for not a ton of money. Well bought, especially considering how close this is to a Bel Air. #S76-1957 CHEVROLET BEL AIR 2-dr hard top. VIN: VC57N191541. Inca Silver/ black & silver cloth. Odo: 10,444 miles. 283ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Great care toward prep shows in this brilliant Inca Silver finish. Panel gaps consistent throughout. Chrome and stainless in near-new condition. Tires are wide-white radials but look as they should against the polished stock hubcaps. Fender skirts and Continental kit, combined with all the correct gold-tone Bel Air emblems, help complete the look. The engine compartment looks showroom fresh. Interior appears as-new, with no untoward signs of wear. Glass clear; weatherstrip new. Only flaws present are a speedo lens that shows light patina, and three small nicks on the outside band around the spare on the Continental kit. Cond: 2+. NOT SOLD AT $32,000. Offered at the Mecum auction in Kissimmee, FL, in January, this example was a no-sale at $32,000 (ACC# 6859084). This was a sharp car despite needing some attention. The state of the brightwork did detract from an otherwise handsome package. With high values more than double what was bid here, it seems a bit of investment may have garnered a better return. Still, two bids in three months at the same price should tell the consignor something. #S140.1-1955 PONTIAC CHIEFTAIN 2-dr hard top. VIN: C755H15291. Turquoise Blue & White Mist/blue & white vinyl. Odo: 84,728 miles. 287-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Older restoration that is beginning to show its age. Chrome around headlights and stainless could stand to be polished, as the driver’s side-mirror chrome is pitted and hazy. Paint still decent, with a few chips scattered about. Glass is good. Interior chrome shows similar patina. A little TLC could preserve it for a time, but it will need more effort to truly shine. Cond: 3+. offered. Classic trucks have been on the rise, and as such, the owner was smart to hold out for more. #S128.1-1966 CADILLAC ELDORADO convertible. VIN: E6127265. Red/white vinyl/black leather. Odo: 57,425 miles. 429ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Bright red paint probably not a factory color, at least not in any book I found. Prep is decent, however. Lots of eyeball despite some buffer swirl. Chrome showing its age, with light pitting and haze throughout. Stainless could stand to be buffed. Engine compartment largely stock, which means a maze of wires and hoses for all the power accessories. Black leather interior shows appropriate patina without being overly worn. A great Saturday cruiser. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $47,300. This restoration had to represent double or triple the high bid. I hated to give it a 2+. The flaws were small, and the rest of the car really was that good. The Inca Silver was a nice change from the usual reds and blacks. The price was a bit above median, but it was certainly worth it. Well bought. SOLD AT $15,400. This one had lots of appeal. Some light cleaning and polishing would have improved the appearance, but it would have taken a serious investment of 108 AmericanCarCollector.com #S33-1959 CHEVROLET APACHE pickup. VIN: 3B59J101859. Maroon & white/maroon vinyl. Odo: 12,409 miles. 235-ci I6, 1-bbl, 3-sp. Good-quality paint and nicely refurbished oak bed are held back a bit by chrome and stainless trim that have advancing patina. Delaminating quarter windows help remind you this is a nearly 60-year-old truck. Interior bench appears fairly recent, while the steering wheel shows every day of the truck’s age. A tidy engine compartment rounds out a truck that is too nice to use for chores but still needs a bit for shows. Cond: 3. NOT SOLD AT $17,000. This Apache was a sharp looker that just needed to be finished up. A bit more time and effort would have produced something special. What had been done looked to have been done well. With that said, this was worth more than the bid NOT SOLD AT $28,000. This massive Caddy was beginning to show advancing age. The chrome looked to be going downhill, as more haze and pitting was taking hold. This would have been a great sunny day/cool evening/wash-and-shine car, but appeared it was soon going to need real cosmetic attention. The high bid was a bit higher than its previous sale price at the McCormick’s Palm Springs auction two years ago ($26,250, ACC# 6798819). Given the upcoming needs and the bid just over median value, the owner should have reconsidered. #F44-1966 CHEVROLET CORVAIR convertible. VIN: 105676W127045. Marina Blue/white vinyl/blue vinyl. Odo: 45,012 miles. 164-ci H6, 2x1-bbl, auto. Marina Blue paint has been poorly executed, with plenty of inclusions, runs, overspray. Radio antenna looks to have been hastily masked rather than removed. Stainless is dull, chrome pitting. Interior is fairly clean, without excessive wear. Good from afar, but far from good. Cond: 3-.

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MECUM AUCTIONS // Kansas City, MO needs present. Interior shows only slight wear on the driver’s side seat piping. Engine bay shows only the lightest bit of dust, likely stirred up at the auction. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $7,975. Claimed to be original miles. The paint job really pulled this one down. It could be a fun little sunny-day driver, but a quality re-shoot would make all the difference in the world. Sold well below book value, for obvious reasons. #S86.1-1967 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE 2-dr hard top. VIN: 136177A143821. Medium blue metallic/black vinyl. Odo: 68,554 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Sharp and shiny from five feet away, but closer inspection reveals some shortcomings. The paint has good gloss, but there are some drips and signs that prep could have been better. Panel gaps at trunk are bit off, and trunk doesn’t sit flush. Stainless around windshield and on wiper arms needs to be better polished. Aftermarket Torq Thrust wheels look sharp wrapped in bias-ply Redline tires. Glass shows minimal pepper. Engine compartment features a generic 350. Interior is clean, with a teak-style steering wheel. Cond: 3+. comparable examples with so few miles. This same car reached a high bid of $70k at the Mecum Kissimmee auction in January (ACC# 6859320). Can’t say I blame them for trying again, but the price is trending the wrong way. #F161-1970 CHEVROLET CAMARO RS/ SS coupe. VIN: 124870N516926. Astro Blue/blue vinyl. Odo: 61,685 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Paint is glossy, with the only flaws a couple of small bubbles in the driver’s side rain tray. SS stripes are painted, not stickers. Engine compartment is correct but a little dusty. Stainless trim could be shined up a bit. Chrome bumpers are shiny, with minimal buff marks. Blue vinyl is a nice departure from the standard black, and shows little wear. Cond: 2-. NOT SOLD AT $80,000. Accompanied by heavy documentation, this professionally restored 442 W-30 was packed with highperformance factory options. As equipped, this Olds has an ACC Pocket Price Guide value just over $100k. Having reached a high bid in the mid-$80k range on three recent outings (Mecum Harrisburg 2017, ACC# 6844301; Louisville 2017, ACC# 6850896; Kissimmee 2018, ACC# 6861210), it is clear the seller is wisely holding out for more. It might get a little shopworn before then, however. #S53-1970 PONTIAC GTO The Judge 2-dr hard top. VIN: 242370B120377. Green Metallic/Parchment vinyl. Odo: 54,107 miles. 400-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. An excellent quality restoration. Paint, chrome, stainless all clean and shiny. Interior is nearly new, with light creasing on the driver’s side seat bottom. Steering wheel looks to be from 1970s or ’80s Trans-Am. Hurst T-handle on shifter. Engine bay is clean and correct. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $21,450. The blue looked sharp on this, the interior was better than average, wheels added a little style, and the paint was fairly shiny. All this combined for an attractive cruiser. It was sharp enough to turn heads, but not so nice you’d be afraid to take it out on a sunny day or worry about the miles. Nobody got hurt here. #S154-1968 CHEVROLET CAMARO Z/28 coupe. VIN: 124378N447670. Matador Red/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 4,151 miles. 302-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Panel gaps consistent throughout. Paint glossy with great execution. Brightwork shiny, nicely polished. Black vinyl interior shows little sign of use. Engine compartment is as-new. Beautiful car. Cond: 1-. NOT SOLD AT $61,000. Claimed mileage was a scant 4,151 from new. With one repaint that appears to have been done to a high standard, this Camaro is as original and clean as one could ever ask. The high bid was well above book value, but it is tough to find 110 AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $33,550. Generous documentation supported claims of originality. This was an honest car with nothing to hide. Secondgeneration Camaros are on the rise, and this one was a solid, numbers-matching car for a sale price that was a few thousand below book. Well bought. #S119-1970 OLDSMOBILE 442 W-30 2-dr hard top. VIN: 344870M248299. Twilight Blue metallic/blue vinyl. Odo: 87,497 miles. 455-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. The overall condition here is outstanding. Paint, chrome, stainless and glass are all excellent with no “ NOT SOLD AT $50,000. Shows up in ACC Premium Auction Database as purchased for $53,900 at the Mecum Harrisburg auction in August 2017; this GTO has been an auction queen ever since. Offered at three This was an honest car with nothing to hide. Second-generation Camaros are on the rise, and this one was a solid, numbers-matching car for a sale price that was a few thousand below book. 1970 Chevrolet Camaro RS/SS coupe ”

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MECUM AUCTIONS // Kansas City, MO different Mecum auctions since September of last year, but the high bid never got high enough to match the price paid (although it was within $2k at Mecum Louisville, ACC# 6850936). Most recently sold at Mecum Kissimmee 2018 for $46,200 (ACC# 6861407). This example was in great condition with heavy documentation. The buyer may have to hope for an uptick in prices or a GTO fan looking for an above-average restoration. FOMOCO #S126-1932 FORD STREET ROD roadster. VIN: 181765334. Black/black cloth/ black leather. Odo: 41 miles. Fresh build shows great effort. Consistent panel gaps. Obvious attention to paint prep, with resulting excellent deep-gloss paint. Flame job is first-rate, with old-school colors and blue outline. Glass and chrome are both new. Lots of polish on exposed front suspension. Polished billet vented drum brakes on all four corners. Engine compartment is very shiny throughout, with lots of chrome and billet to complement the paint. Interior exactly what you would expect from a fresh, high-quality custom build. Almost too nice to drive. Cond: 1-. NOT SOLD AT $50,000. I’ve always liked the look of ’40 Fords. The restoration has held up nicely, and probably would be good for several years to come. This was not a show winner, but a tidy example just beginning to show its age. It has been featured at two other Mecum auctions in the past few months, garnering high bids ranging from $45k to $57k without finding a new home. This represented the middle of the price range for this car. #F93-1955 MERCURY MONTEREY wagon. VIN: 55ME82758M. Canyon Cordovan Red/red & white vinyl. Odo: 83,019 miles. 292-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Paint is shiny, with light buff marks. Chrome on bumpers and hood emblem is bright, without pitting. Red vinyl seats look to have been nicely re-upholstered. Black rubber floor mat is dirty. Plenty of patina on interior chrome. Stainless sill plate is dull. Wavy door panels. Cond: 3. on the radiator top hose. Cond: 1-. NOT SOLD AT $80,000. Claimed to be the subject of a $93k frame-off rotisserie restoration, this heavily optioned Skyliner looked every inch the part. The mocha color contrasted beautifully with the light pastel pink. The attention to detail throughout was stunning. The seller was wise not to let go at this time. #F60-1964 FORD THUNDERBIRD convertible. VIN: 10704412051318. Rangoon Red/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 37,367 miles. 390-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Chrome wire wheels in decent condition. Older repaint could stand to be polished. Same for chrome and stainless. Panel gaps are inconsistent, particularly around the rear of the car. Taillights are hazy. Black vinyl seats each have a small seam split at the top of the seat backs. Much patina to be found on the interior. Things are beginning to let go. Cond: 3-. NOT SOLD AT $57,500. This thing was cool from every angle. The paint was swimming-pool deep, with one of the best flame jobs I’ve ever seen. The polished vented drum brakes were stunning, but you had to wonder if they would be enough to scrub off the speed generated by the aluminum block/aluminum head, dual-quad-topped 427. The build quality here could not be denied. There was no good reason to own this, which is exactly the reason you would want to own it. This wasn’t the right venue for the car, as the high bid of $57,500 couldn’t have been half the build cost. #S132-1940 FORD DELUXE convertible. VIN: 185263227. Maroon/white vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 11,156 miles. An older restoration that is just beginning to show signs of patina in the chrome and stainless. Paint is shiny, with signs of buffer swirl present. The rubber-covered running boards look like they could stand to be cleaned. The white vinyl soft top is in good nick, with minimal wrinkling. The vinyl bench seat shows little wear. A clean old ragtop with that great prewar Ford style. Cond: 3+. 112 AmericanCarCollector.com NOT SOLD AT $21,000. This Mercury wagon last changed hands at the Auctions America Auburn, IN, sale in August of 2014, for $17,600 (ACC# 6710928). The exterior cosmetics were in good shape, but the interior needed more attention. A good cruiser if you have kids/stuff to haul. High bid was right at average for the model. More money out of this likely requires more money invested. #S95.1-1957 FORD FAIRLANE 500 Skyliner retractable hard top. VIN: D7KW168770. Pink & mocha metallic/mocha metallic/pink & mocha vinyl. Odo: 24 miles. 312-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Paint, chrome, stainless, glass, weatherstrip, engine bay and interior all appear in remarkable condition. Tons of time and money invested here has made this Ford better than new. Next to nothing to fault here, save the white residue NOT SOLD AT $25,000. I wanted to like this T-bird, as these years always looked so cool, but this one was needy. With median Thunderbird ragtop prices around $28k, the needs this car had would exceed the return on investment. The seller would have been wise to let this one go here. #S53.1-1969 MERCURY COUGAR XR-7 convertible. VIN: 9F94H510213. Dark Ivy Green Metallic/tan vinyl/Medium Saddle leather. Odo: 725 miles. 351-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. A striking color combo. 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 is an older restoration that is holding up very well. Complete with heavy documentation and a Deluxe Marti Report. Cond: 2+. NOT SOLD AT $26,000. A quick online search for the VIN revealed a dealer who was asking around $34k. This Cougar has been to three other auctions that we have tracked in the past couple of years

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(ACC# 6832401, 6854808, 6865609). The most recent was Mecum’s Los Angeles auction in February, where it garnered a high bid of $29,000. With the high bids all hovering around median value, and the fees for shipping accumulating, maybe the seller should have sold. #S146.1-1971 FORD RANCHERO pickup. VIN: 1A47H187695. Green metallic/black vinyl. Odo: 43,778 miles. 351-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Shiny green paint has several runs. Stainless could be better polished, but chrome is bright. Black vinyl tonneau cover on bed in good condition. Black vinyl bench seat shows very little wear. Carpet looks recent, but the driver’s side seat belt is dirty and twisted. Engine compartment is clean, but the block and heads are painted an incorrect shade of blue. Magnum 500 wheels were a nice touch. Cond: 3. NOT SOLD AT $14,000. This was a decentenough refresh on a model that isn’t often seen. With the recent uptick in classic truck prices, it seems more people have been pulling old ones out of barns and garages, dolling them up and heading to auction. This was a decent cruiser that could be pressed into more practical service. The high bid here was just a bit below average. The owner may have been able to squeeze a bit more out of it with additional detailing. #S90-1993 FORD MUSTANG LX convertible. VIN: 1FACP44E5PF205574. Vibrant White/white vinyl/white leather. Odo: 178 miles. 5.0-L fuel-injected V8, 5-sp. The easiest thing to describe is a brand-new car. This is a brand-new 1993 Mustang ragtop wearing a scant 178 miles. Everything about the car appears new, with the window sticker still in the window. It is claimed the convertible top has never been lowered. The rear seat is still covered in plastic. Cond: 1. NOT SOLD AT $32,000. This was quite possibly the world’s lowest-mileage 1993 Mustang. Having covered fewer than 180 miles from new, it was positively showroom fresh. If you always wanted a new triple-white ‘Stang convertible, this was May-June 2018 113

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MECUM AUCTIONS // Kansas City, MO cruiser you could park in questionable parking lots without fear. Sale price was reflective of exterior condition. AMERICANA your chance. It’s tough to say if that level of originality was worth the premium the owner was seeking. MOPAR #S47.1-1965 CHRYSLER NEWPORT convertible. VIN: C156206659. Daffodil Yellow/ black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 98,466 miles. 383-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Older paint showing its age with dirt, runs and numerous chips— some touched up, some not. Panel gaps inconsistent; particularly at hood, which has a large gap on one side, and is so tight you couldn’t slide a business card in the other. Window felts coming apart, stainless and chrome show age and wear. Interior shows surprisingly light wear. Black vinyl top is lightly faded but otherwise serviceable. Cond: 3-. #S150-1955 PACKARD CARIBBEAN convertible. VIN: 55881466. White Jade, Jade & Emerald/white vinyl/white, mint green & turquoise leather. Odo: 36,343 miles. 352-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. Chrome wires in excellent nick wearing radial wide whites. Exterior stainless is nicely polished. Chrome shows some light buff marks. Paint quality is indicative of quality prep and application. Trunk missing the lock cylinder. Engine compartment is tidy. A bit of weatherstrip pulling loose inside door jamb below A-pillar. Bench seat shows minor creasing. Interior driver’s side door sill is rather dull. An older resto is beginning to show signs of age. Lots of presence, just needs a bit of freshening. Cond: 3+. black paint. Glass and weatherstrip both look recent. The tidy engine compartment has a new GM 350, backed by a 3-speed automatic. New gray vinyl adorns the interior, and is likely an upgrade from the original upholstery. Well executed. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $14,850. Although not original, the change to V8 power likely made this Jeep more useful. This appeared to have been done with an eye for quality. These were notorious for rusting all over, and the work done represented a solid effort. The buyer paid a fraction of the cost involved. Very well bought. SOLD AT $66,000. Packard Caribbeans are quite rare, and always a treat to see— this was only the third Caribbean I have seen in the wild. We last saw this example cross the block at the Mecum Auction in Schaumburg, IL, in October of last year. Having traded hands for just $50,600 (ACC# 6852074), this was a tidy turn. Sold at about market value, fair deal all around. SOLD AT $8,800. Another example of a car that looked decent from a distance, but closer inspection revealed it had been ridden hard and put away wet. This would have been a good top-down, clear-day Black/gray vinyl. Odo: 26,319 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. A rare Commando pickup bed, this Jeepster variant sports shiny new #F33-1973 JEEP JEEPSTER Commando SUV. VIN: J3A88HVA36078. #F6-1979 INTERNATIONAL SCOUT II Midas Edition SUV. VIN: J0102JGD44818. Tan & white/brown plaid cloth. Odo: 106,635 miles. 392-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Claimed fresh paint in factory colors is shiny, but feels like it is covered in overspray. The weatherstrip looks older than the truck. Small rust bubbles adorn the door jambs. The interior has multiple rips and tears. Components for a/c are in a box in the back seat. There are twin aftermarket pop-up moon roofs over the front seats. Nothing here is pretty. Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $13,200. There was so much ugly here, it was difficult to quantify. The Midas Edition was what looked like a homebuilt custom van from the 1970s done in repugnant brown plaid. Adding insult to injury, the plaid was in poor condition. The Scout had been painted, but not well. These weren’t great-looking new, and time has not been kind. Not sure if nostalgia or the growing popularity of classic trucks got this sold, but whatever it was, the seller walked away a winner. A 114 AmericanCarCollector.com BEST BUY

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GLOBAL ROUNDUP Selected Sales Combined in One Comprehensive Report American Highlights at Four Auctions CLASSICS 2 #151-1932 STUTZ DV-32 convertible. VIN: DV1282012. Maroon/ black canvas/black leather. Odo: 395 miles. Modified in the 1980s with DV-32 motor installed and body altered to resemble a Rollston design. Previously modified in the ’50s, with lowered windshield and redesigned beltline. Large Ryan-Lite headlamps and Pilot Rays. Interior with light patina from use, and engine bay sparkles. A wonderful—albeit non-authentic—presentation. Cond: 2+. The top seller at Gooding & Company’s amelia Island auction — 1967 Ford GT40 Mk IV coupe, sold at $1,925,000 SOLD AT $544,000. This was last seen at the Milhous sale in Boca Raton, FL, that was conducted by RM in February 2012, where it sold for $522,500 (ACC# 4776301). It has been driven a little over 100 miles since, and sold for a touch more. The amount paid is surprising since the modification may place it in the rebodied class at most every major event. No idea how it received CCCA recognition, as that would not happen today. A very striking design, and if authenticity is not of interest, a delightful automobile. RM Sotheby’s, Amelia Island, FL, 03/18. Gooding & Company amelia Island, FL — March 9, 2018 Auctioneer: Charlie Ross automotive lots sold/offered: 82/86 Sales rate: 95% Sales total: $35,794,250 High American sale: 1967 Ford GT40 Mk IV coupe, sold at $1,925,000 Buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold prices Report and photos by Pierre Hedary and Elaine Spiller RM Sotheby’s amelia Island, FL — March 10, 2018 Auctioneers: Maarten ten Holder automotive lots sold/offered: 87/102 Sales rate: 85% Sales total: $27,563,720 High American sale: 1931 Marmon Sixteen coupe, sold at $1,050,000 Buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold prices Report and photos by Carl Bomstead 116 AmericanCarCollector.com Bonhams amelia Island, FL — March 8, 2018 Auctioneers: Rupert Banner automotive lots sold/offered: 88/101 Sales rate: 87% Sales total: $13,177,679 High American sale: 1919 Pierce-Arrow Model 51 tourer, sold at $280,000 Buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold prices Report and photos by Mark Moskowitz and Jeff Trepel Motostalgia amelia Island, FL — March 10, 2018 Auctioneers: Duncan Brown automotive lots sold/offered: 50/67 Sales rate: 75% Sales total: $2,440,790 High American sale: 1965 Shelby Cobra aluminum replica roadster, sold at $158,400 Buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold prices Report and photos by John Hoshstrasser #151-1937 CORD 812 SC Sportsman convertible. VIN: 31631F. Eng. # FC2136. Light maroon/tan cloth/tan leather. Odo: 1,010 miles. According to the catalog, this Sportsman “...never left the factory officially in its present configuration, but was assembled over a thirtyyear period using original Cord 810/812 parts.” Great engineering job, looks to be completely authentic. Excellent panel fit and very nice chrome. Authentic maroon-brown color much more attractive in person versus photos. Older paint very nice, with a few chips. Beautiful seats and door panels with slight soiling. Small gap between the seat squab and backrest did not seem right to me. Certainly not right for a sedan, but I could not locate interior photos of a Sportsman to verify. Replacement supercharged 7 TOP 10 TOP 10

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ROUNDUP GLOBAL engine installed in 2013, looks clean and correct. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $112,000. The rarest Cord body style, with a checkered past, but nicely presented. If this Cord was a vintage Bentley, the British might call it a “bitsa,” a car later assembled on an original chassis from parts sourced elsewhere. “Bits of this, bits of that.” This is a fine bitsa, really indistinguishable from a factory Sportsman, but a bitsa nonetheless. As such, the hammer price was $40k below the low estimate, and the all-in price was about half of the 2018 ACC Pocket Price Guide median for a supercharged 812 Sportsman. If it drives as good as it looks, a relatively inexpensive way to get into a desirable Cord. Bonhams, Amelia Island, FL, 03/18. GM 9 Foam Green/tan cloth/green cloth & leather. Odo: 762 miles. Deep and smooth paint, with an imperfection here and there. Panel fit excellent except perhaps at junction of doors and pontoon fenders, likely per factory original. Excellent chrome, even on complex, layered grille and intricate emblems. Art Deco instruments unreadable but artistic. Early Hydramatic without any Park position. Interior fabrics and hardware now a bit short of perfection, but no restoration needed. Likewise under the hood. A pleasure to sit in and hopefully the same to drive. Cond: 2+. #173-1942 OLDSMOBILE 98 Custom Cruiser convertible. VIN: 9828403. Eng. # 8-106845HS. Sea SOLD AT $23,100. The last year for Harley Earl’s Torpedo, being renamed the Chieftain for 1949. The fastback styling is pleasing to my eye. A good weekend or two of cleaning would do wonders for this car and make it a large, stylish cruiser. The reserve was lifted at the hammer price. Values for these cars have been flat the past couple of years, and the market for Torpedos is small and getting smaller. Well sold. Motostalgia, Amelia Island, FL, 03/18. SOLD AT $95,200. This rare (one of 216 in the war-shortened 1942 model year) and characterful Oldsmobile was last sold at RM Scottsdale 2004 for $58,000 (ACC# 1558410). It now wears a 2006 AACA National Senior First Place badge, so the current restoration was likely following that sale. Apparently then had a color change from yellow with a red interior to the current Sea Foam Green—a perfect color for this car. Sold at the lower end of Bonhams’ estimate. Comparables difficult to find, but I think the buyer received excellent value for the money. Should be fun to own, drive and show. Bonhams, Amelia Island, FL, 03/18. #52-1948 PONTIAC TORPEDO 2-dr sedan. VIN: K8PA3979. Cream/gray cloth. 249-ci I8, 2-bbl, 3-sp. Good paint over dent- #135-1953 PONTIAC CHIEFTAIN Deluxe Eight convertible. VIN: P8XH88350. Continental Maroon/black canvas/black vinyl. Odo: 51,973 miles. 268-ci I8, 2-bbl, auto. Tired brown-ish paint, with multiple chips. In a few spots where paint is worn, one sees both black and gray beneath. Brightwork shows age but exhibits minimal pitting and no significant dents. Rare dings in bodywork and gaps appropriate. Shiny black upholstery separated in spots. No pitting of dashboard trim. Underhood looks very original, with amazing touches including original light and GM glass windshield-washer bottle. Mild oxidation on exhaust header and some paint loss on coil. Appears to have replacement convertible top. Spare, jack, manuals and build sheet included. Cond: 3-. less body. Exterior chrome and stainless trim need buffing. Chrome hubcaps and tires dirty. Sunshade looks good. New cloth interior excellent. Some wear on driver’s side bolster. Faux wood trim on top of doors worn. Steering wheel cracked. Gauges clean and clear. Equipped with optional Silver Streak inline 8-cylinder and columnshifted 3-speed. Engine grimy with surface rust on non-painted components but looks stock and complete. Battery tender installed at preview. Cond: 2-. OUNDUP AL SOLD AT $39,760. Apparently genuine May-June 2018 117 TOP 10

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GLOBAL ROUNDUP surviving car imbued with enough style and chrome to make it a standout. Sold in the mid-range of estimates. Not much room for appreciation, but a fair exchange for buyer and seller. Bonhams, Amelia Island, FL, 03/18. #3-1989 CADILLAC BROUGHAM sedan. VIN: 1G6DW51Y3KR716443. Dark blue metallic/dark blue vinyl/dark blue leather. Odo: 67,647 miles. 307-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Paint holding up well, but could use a good buffing. Exterior brightwork good. Small dent in grille. Vinyl top in good condition. All glass is clear. Wire hubcaps good over new Hankook tires. Exterior mirrors show some pitting on top surfaces. Interior excellent, with only slight creasing to driver’s seat leather. All other seats look unused. Fully loaded with every electric gadget. Blue carpet a little discolored due to aging. Slight cracking to leather wheel. Engine bay a little dirty, but complete. Cond: 2. Competition Sport Package Corvettes in 2009), and lightened and strengthened where appropriate, and is probably more collectible. Had it been driven, the value might have gone down as little as $10k. Assuming the seller was the original owner, this represents a lost experiential opportunity, and a significant financial loss considering the $78,000 cost of purchase and the cost of the hold. A reasonable purchase for the buyer. Bonhams, Amelia Island, FL, 03/18. FOMOCO #107-1956 LINCOLN PREMIERE convertible. VIN: 56WA29939L. Admiralty Blue/tan vinyl/tan leather. Odo: 11,332 miles. 368-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. A quality restoration by Hibernia Restoration. Finished in unusual shade of Admiralty Blue, with tan leather interior. Top of the line for Lincoln and first year for wrap-around windshield. Loaded with goodies that were all operable: power windows, radio, clock, power steering, power antenna and heater. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $158,400. Leaf-spring, aluminumbody continuation version with bulging fenders. Most of these continuation cars had fiberglass bodies, so the aluminum body here should command a premium. These are technically real Shelby cars for about 1/7th the price of an original Cobra. Well bought and sold. Motostalgia, Amelia Island, FL, 03/18. 1 SOLD AT $5,200. This car was clearly pampered and stored indoors for all its life. All electric options, including a/c, seemed to work just fine. If this is your thing, a good weekend cleaning is all this car needs to be excellent. Sold where it should—both buyer and seller should be happy. Motostalgia, Amelia Island, FL, 03/18. CORVETTE #204-2009 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 coupe. VIN: 1G1YZ25E395114480. Black/ Ebony leather. Odo: 40 miles. 7.0-L 505-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. Corvette’s 2009 track-day car presented in condition expected for a 40-mile car. A few competition graphics on doors and hood. Corvette Racing Jake and CSR logos on B-pillars, center armrest and headrests. Cond: 1. SOLD AT $86,240. Ads stated that women felt it was easier to drive than a small car. Doubt if they would use that ad today. The Continental Mark II was the big news for ’56, but the Premiere was their best effort to catch up with Cadillac in terms of volume. Promoted True-Power V8 with new-thisyear 368-ci motor. Price paid exceeded expectations, but doubt if it covered the cost of restoration. Even so, it was well sold. RM Sotheby’s, Amelia Island, FL, 03/18. 5 V8, 8x1-bbl, 4-sp. Shelby CSX Series 7000 continuation titled as a 1965. Some chips to nose. Unique under-car exhaust exits behind doors. One scratch on supple leather #14-1965 SHELBY COBRA CSX continuation roadster. VIN: CSX7006. White/black leather. 289-ci SOLD AT $1,045,000. A real barn find, or SOLD AT $49,280. The casual buyer may have been put off, as this car lacked the most powerful engine offered at the time— the supercharged 638-hp in the ZR1. This car was built in smaller numbers (just 72 118 AmericanCarCollector.com “ If it were mine, I would start by wiping it down with an oily rag and changing the fluids, sorting the ignition, checking and repairing the brakes and clutch if needed, and then drive it. 1967 Shelby Cobra 427 roadster 428-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Looks like it’s been in long storage. Underneath all of the dust, unpolished paint has a few swirl marks, but honestly does not look too bad. Halibrand wheels present and also in very good shape. Interior full of dust and dirt, with very nice leather and salvageable carpet, although there is some oxidation present on bright trim. Front windshield also in very good shape but with some hardware missing. Overall, this car is much better than it looks. Cond: 3-. #16-1967 SHELBY COBRA 427 roadster. VIN: CSX3278. Red/ black leather. Odo: 18,002 miles. driver’s seat. Carpet ripped around driver’s pedals. Some pitting to exterior chrome. Fire-suppression system added. Clean engine bay sports eight 1-barrel carbs, but bright red spark-plug wires detract. Cond: 2. ” TOP 10 TOP 10

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GLOBAL GLOBAL GLOBAL ROUNDUP just stored in a dirty garage? The video about the Ferrari and the Cobra, which is also on YouTube, courtesy of Barn Find Hunter, paints an unclear picture. It seems that these cars were stored in a suburban garage in a nice neighborhood. If it were mine, I would start by wiping it down with an oily rag and changing the fluids, sorting the ignition, checking and repairing the brakes and clutch if needed, and then drive it. Anything else may likely be excessive. Gooding & Co., Amelia Island, FL, 03/18. #5-1984 FORD MUSTANG LX convertible. VIN: 1FABP273XEF216884. Blue/white vinyl/white vinyl. Odo: 34,405 miles. 3.8-L fuel-injected V6, auto. Paint good overall, but black paint on rear bumper wearing through. Aftermarket alloy wheels dull and dirty. Paint on front grille flaking off. Aftermarket rubber antenna in factory location. Convertible top dirty but looks okay, with clear glass rear window. Driver’s seat back tearing along seam. Door panels a little wavy. Dash looks good. Front carpet very dirty. Doors close well. 3.8-L V6 underhood is grimy and shows surface corrosion on non-painted areas. Modern discount battery. Cond: 3. outer side bolster. Shelby logos everywhere inside in case you forgot what you were sitting in. Interior is as-new and still smells like it. Underhood shows some surface corrosion to aluminum components, but all else is clean. Cond: 1-. NOT SOLD AT $45,000. Ford entered into a new business agreement with Carroll Shelby in 2006, and the 2007 Shelby GT500 was one of the results. The GT500 was at the top of the Shelby Mustang heap until the GT500 KR came along in 2008; then came the Super Snake, consigning these GT500s to the second and then third tier. The value add to this example is the low mileage, so it probably won’t be driven much more. The right buyer was not in the room and the hammer price fell short. The owner was right to take this example back home. Motostalgia, Amelia Island, FL, 03/18. MOPAR #207-1941 CHRYSLER WINDSOR sedan. VIN: 7931407. Gunmetal/blue cloth. Odo: 20,367 miles. A very original Windsor sedan that has been restored as needed. Features a number of accessories including fog lights, bumper guards, MoPar Deluxe heater and Fluid Drive transmission. Number of issues including delaminating wind wing, dash plastic cracking and wear on the fabric interior. The catalog called the upholstery color Dove Grey, but it’s surely more blue than that. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $5,500. Quad-headlight Fox-body Mustang. The upside is that it’s a convertible, the downside is the automatic transmission and V6. At least it didn’t have the base inline-four cylinder. Easy convertible cruising for credit-card money, but this was still well sold. Motostalgia, Amelia Island, FL, 03/18. #27-2007 SHELBY GT500 coupe. VIN: 1ZVHT88S675225497. White/black leather. Odo: 2,280 miles. 5.4-L supercharged V8, 6-sp. Number 74 out of 500 40th Anniversary Shelby GT500s produced for 2007. One small chip on hood touched up. Carbon-fiber front air dam unmarked. Wheels unblemished. Minor creasing to driver’s seat SOLD AT $14,560. A rather basic 1941 sedan that is a decent starter car. Part of a major consignor’s collection, as I doubt it would have been accepted for this auction on its own. Perhaps it brings back interesting memories for the new owner, and, if so, then no issue with the price paid. RM Sotheby’s, Amelia Island, FL, 03/18. #104-1993 DODGE VIPER RT/10 roadster. VIN: 1B3BR65E2PV200706. Viper Red/ black fabric/gray leather. Odo: 586 miles. 8.0-L fuel-injected V10, 6-sp. Part of an estate said to have over 20 Vipers. Headlight plexiglass blemish. Multiple cracks in the clearcoat on the hood. Panels are straight. Interior wear is minimal. Dent on top side of driver’s side exhaust. A few dings in fuelinjector covers. Wheels without curb rash. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $42,560. CARFAX stated it to be a two-owner car, but it has changed hands since then at Leake’s OKC 120 AmericanCarCollector.com

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GLOBAL ROUNDUP ONETO WATCH Median Sold Price By Year Cars With Values on the Move $10,000 $8,000 $7,000 $6,100 $6,000 $4,000 $2,000 $0 $4,394 $4,620 $7,700 auction in 2014 ($47,850, ACC# 6697717). A four-year hold and 88 miles of use netted a $5k loss; yet the Viper roadster still sold slightly above market. Dodge made over 1,000 of these in 1993. They remain a Grade B collectible. It’s an oft-used statement—the most value will come from driving these fast and ferocious Dodges. Bonhams, Amelia Island, FL, 03/18. AMERICANA 2013 2014 2015 2016 1984–87 Pontiac Fiero T he Fiero is about as ’80s as shoulder pads, big hair and neon colors. The new Pontiac model was even a sponsor of ’80s music legends Hall and Oates and their “Big Bam Boom” tour. Coincidentally, that is the same sound the Fiero makes when one of its notoriously weak pushrods fails. The development of the Fiero was long and filled with obstacles. GM management fought the idea and continuously hit the project with budget cuts, which kept the design team modifying what they could find in the GM spare-parts bin. The only innovations were the plastic body panels and the newly engineered space frame. The final result was a heavy and underpowered sports car that wasn’t great to drive. Eventually, a 2.8-L V6 was added and an updated suspension was developed, but the Fiero already had a bad reputation and sales were dropping. GM cut the model after 1988. With more than 350,000 built and the fact that many are still Detailing Years built: 1984–87 Number produced: Number sold at auction in the past 12 343,766 Average price of those cars: $7,510 months: 14 Number listed in the ACC Premium Database: 157 Current ACC Median Valuation: $7,700 considered used junkers, finding a Fiero is an easy task — but they’re not quite as cheap as they were a few years ago. In 2013, seven out of the 10 cars we documented had a final price under $4,000. By 2017, 50% of our recorded Fiero prices were over $7,000, with customized cars bringing top dollar. That makes sense considering there are a vast number of engine swaps and upgrades that can improve the performance of your Fiero. Nostalgia is a funny thing that seems to be driving the market up in this case, so get one while the prices are relatively cheap. Who knows, the market might catch fire, just like a Fiero engine dripping oil on a hot manifold.A 122 AmericanCarCollector.com AmericanCarCollector.com — Chad Taylor 2017 #6-1949 NASH AIRFLYTE 600 sedan. VIN: K280520. Black/gray mohair. Odo: 5,621 miles. 172-ci I6, 1-bbl, 3-sp. An unusual consignment for this auction. Original lowmileage car. Very straight, older Nash with aging paint. With a little bit of detailing, it has the potential to shine. The interior might also be original. Chrome beautifully clouded with very little, if any, damage. Interior has a delightful, distinctive musty smell. Rubber seals starting to show cracks around edges. From the auction block, I can tell it runs and drives nicely, with a very smooth, quiet engine. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $88,000. A gamble that proved to be a big win—it seems as if this Nash was more desirable than anticipated. While the fragility of its preserved condition worried me, the high price paid leaves no doubt that it will likely be kept in climate-controlled storage by a new, meticulous owner. Gooding & Co., Amelia Island, FL, 03/18. #186-1951 HUDSON HORNET Brougham convertible. VIN: 7A122578. Newport Gray/black fabric/maroon leather. 308-ci I6, 2x1-bbl, auto. Powered by the Twin H-Power I6 with Dual Range Hydramatic. Fitted with Kelsey-Hayes wires and sun visor. Restored by marque expert to high standard. A very strong example. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $72,800. An example of the legendary “step down” Hudson, with a BEST BUY

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ROUNDUP GLOBAL lower center of gravity than most of its contemporaries. This was one of the reasons they were so successful in NASCAR. This Hudson was last seen at Bonham’s August 2016 Quail auction, where it realized an amazing $192,500 (ACC# 6806611). Less found in typical Detroit cars of the era. Very nice dash, but, oddly, clock missing a hand. Very clean and correct engine compartment, although some wiring looks aged. Twin H-Power dual-carb setup, with distinctive orange air cleaners, is too cool. Cond: 2. Won National First at AACA judging. Cond: 2. than two years later, a $120,000 haircut. The price paid at Bonhams’ was clearly a case of auction fever, but the price paid here was a bit light. Two extremes, with Bonhams’ sale over the top and the sale here well under the money. You offer without reserve and you take your chances. An absolute bargain. RM Sotheby’s, Amelia Island, FL, 03/18. #125-1954 HUDSON HORNET Brougham convertible. VIN: 7291982. Red/black cloth/red leather. Odo: 6,578 miles. 308-ci I6, 2x1-bbl, auto. Enchanting Convertible Brougham restored about 20 years ago. Well equipped with Dual Range Hydramatic (purchased from GM), power steering, brakes and windows. Lovely, dark red paint holding up well, if perhaps a little thick in places. Doors a bit rattly with windows down. Chrome okay but beginning to show haze inside and out. Inside, beautiful maroon leather has settled in nicely. Gorgeous door panels far more elegant than SOLD AT $62,720. A rare car when new, with Hudson producing only 290 Convertible Broughams in 1954. Given the rarity, quality and condition of this Hornet, I thought it might bring several thousand more. Comparables are limited, but I thought the auction estimate of $65k–$75k was fair, maybe even slightly conservative. With the premium, the all-in price came in slightly below the low estimate. The buyer purchased a lot of car for the money and should be very pleased with the value. Bonhams, Amelia Island, FL, 03/18. #106-1955 STUDEBAKER CHAMPION REGAL Conestoga wagon. VIN: G1323474. Pima Red/tan & blue cloth. Odo: 23,163 miles. 224-ci V8, 2-bbl, 3-sp. Sold to benefit Spina Bifida of Jacksonville. The Conestoga was a 2-door wagon that was offered with both a 6- or 8-cylinder motor. Restored as needed with AM radio, accessory visor and dual outside mirrors. SOLD AT $33,040. An unusual wagon that will be a fun Sunday driver. The fact that this was benefiting a very good cause most likely added $5k–$10k to the final bid. New owner has a fun wagon and helped a good cause. RM Sotheby’s, Amelia Island, FL, 03/18. A CAR COLLECTOR SUBSCRIBE TO ACC AmericanCarCollector.com/subscribe 877.219.2605 Ext. 1 AMERICAN ™ May-June 2018 123 BEST BUY Keith Martin’s

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The Parts Hunter Pat Smith Hubcaps and Mufflers in the Box Rare parts can make or break you. It depends on skill and luck shape but has a ZZ code as well and old FoMoCo script and is black instead of bright metal The 1965–68 Mustang dash speaker is completely different and has a ZZ code as well. A little bit of decoding of the part number can save you money. At $95, this wasn’t a big loss and it will work. A correct-numbered piece would set you back $300, so we can call it a fair deal for a driver car. #162894028579 1961–63 Buick Special, Skylark NOS muffler, p/n 1355856. Item condition: New. 8 photos. eBay. Munger, MI, 2/8/2018. “This is a 1961 Buick Special Skylark muffler found in an old Buick dealership loft. It fits the following models: Special 40-4100 2-barrel except 4054 4-door wagon 3-seat, Special 40-4100 police car, Special 4045 H.P. and police car, Skylark 4300 4-barrel, 1962 Skylark and Special 40-41-4300 V8 4-barrel and police car option, 1963 Special and Skylark 40-41-4300 V8.” Sold at $99.99. Early 1960s Buick exhaust systems were pretty weird. The Special and Skylark system is clean compared to the nightmare spaghetti setup used in the Invicta. The price is right since it’s half what a nice reproduction style would cost you. If you have the time to put together a complete system from NOS parts, go for it. I can see this going underneath a loaded V8 215 1963-ci convertible for maximum show value. The 8-62 date code on the muffler pretty much forces the owner to use it on a ’63 model. Fairly priced. 124 AmericanCarCollector.com #362229963869 1974–76 Bricklin SV1 rims. Item condition: Used. 12 photos. eBay. Riverside, CA, 2/1/2018. “These are very nice polished original Bricklin SV1 rims with new center spinners and lug nuts. As you can see from the photos, they would be a very nice addition to your car. Sold as pictured.” Sold at $1,250. This is actually a decent price for a fairly obscure set of wheels with all the extras like the correct spinners and logos. Price paid was market. ton wheel. The ¾-ton hubcap is identified by the six black windows, whereas the half-ton has fewer. At least the dimensions are given in ad along with plenty of photos and factory part number. Price paid is high, but then again, how many new-in-box hubcaps are still around? #112733246888 NOS 1973–91 GMC 12-inch dog-dish hubcap. Item condition: new. 8 photos. eBay. Coos Bay, OR, 1/4/2018. “New Old Stock 1973–91 GMC C, K, V, P pickup and van 12-inch dog dish hub cap. OEM# 362014.” Sold at $46.50. Not mentioned in the listing is that only the ¾-ton and heavier trucks use this hubcap and that it will not fit a half- #222784399938 1970 Pontiac LeMans Sport fender gills (8) originals LH RH. Item condition: Used. 12 photos. eBay. Jefferson, WI. 1/5/2018. “Up for auction is a set of 1970-only Pontiac LeMans #112528469890 1964–68 Ford Mustang and Falcon NOS dash speaker. Item condition: New. 4 photos. eBay. Bedford, VA. 2/9/2018. “Original NOS never-used Ford part! Original OEM-quality 4x10 dash speaker used on 1964–68 Mustangs and many other Fords that came with a dash speaker.” Sold at $95. About the only correct sentence in the ad is that it is a Ford dash speaker. The part code tells us it’s a 1969 Ford full-size and truck speaker. The 1964–66 Mustang speaker is the same Sport fender gill emblems with the nuts. These will work on the LH and RH fender. Eight is enough for both fenders. They are correct for 1970. These are originals and are in nice driver-quality shape, in my opinion. Need to be restored to be perfect.” Sold at $120. Obscure, one-year-only parts are always a nightmare to locate and buy. Now that GTOs are so expensive, the LeMans Sports and T-37 cars are gaining popularity. The fender gills are high-visibility items and stand out like a sore thumb if they’re pitted or broken — especially on a new paint job. This is a great price for a nice set. The chrome front bumper and these gills are the shiny bits that’ll break the bank on this model. Very well bought.A

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JUNKYARDTREASURES The Good Stuff in the Desert pre-World War II, grand but not a Full Classic, this 1938 LaSalle Series 50 sedan still could contribute to a quality restoration A look at Desert Valley Auto Parts’ second location Story and photos by Phil Skinner J ason McClure has enjoyed a lot of success with his Phoenix-area Desert Valley Auto Parts business, so when an opportunity to expand came along, he jumped on board. It was one of his better decisions. For many years, a business had operated in Casa Grande, AZ, about an hour’s drive from downtown Phoenix. Wiseman’s Auto Parts had a respected worldwide reputation for dealing with cars from the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s. When Mr. Wiseman died, the family decided to auction off the 5,000-plus vehicles on the property. A sale was conducted, and McClure made an offer for all the leftover stock as well as the property. His offer was accepted and DVAP-2 was born. Detailing What: Desert Valley Auto Parts Yard 2 Where: 900 W. Hours: Monday–Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Closed Sunday. Check for holiday season operations Phone: 800-798-2465 Web: www.dvap.com 126 AmericanCarCollector.com Cottonwood Lane, Casa Grande, AZ 85222 In packard’s Clipper line for 1956, the Custom Constellation 2-door hard top was top dog Today, the yard is very well stocked. I did find a few miscellaneous makes and models scattered about, but generally if you were looking for a Chevrolet from the 1950s or a Plymouth from the 1960s, the helpful office staff can point you in the right direction. Many of the cars in current inventory have been here since the Wiseman days. But I also noted quite a few vehicles have been saved from crushers or shredders. McClure is constantly adding to his stock, and if you are looking for some solid, good old USA metal, this place should be on top of your list. A Though stripped of trim, the quarter panels, hood and fenders were solid on this 1958 edsel Corsair 2-door hard top

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Showcase Gallery Sell Your Car Here! Includes ACC website listing. Showcase Gallery color photo ad just $66/month ($88 non-subscribers) Text-Only Classified ad just $15/month ($25 non-subscribers) Three ways to submit your ad: Web: Visit americancarcollector.com/classifieds/place-ad to upload your photo (300 dpi jpg) and text, or text only. Secure online VISA/MC payments. Email: Send photo (300 dpi jpg) and text, or text only, to classifieds@ americancarcollector.com. We will contact you for payment information. Snail mail: ACC Showcase, PO Box 4797, Portland, OR 97208-4797, with VISA/MC or check. 25 words max, subject to editing. Deadline: 1st of each month, one month prior to publication. Advertisers assume all liability for the content of their advertisements. The publisher of American Car Collector Magazine is not responsible for any omissions, erroneous, false and/or misleading statements of its advertisers. GM 1958 Chevrolet Impala convertible 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle COPO 2-door hard top S/N 20867S1033S3. Roman Red/black. 50,000 miles. V8, 4-spd manual. Beautifully restored. Original matching-numbers fuelinjected car. 4-speed manual transmission. Complete with both hard and soft tops. Call or email Alex for more info. $87,500 OBO. Dragone Classic Motorcars. Contact Alex, Ph: 203.218.1903, email: alexdragone1@ gmail.com. (CT) 1966 Chevrolet Corvette 427/390 coupe S/N F58T270830. Tropical Turquoise/ turqoise, gray & black. 53,100 miles. V8, automatic. Rust-free example of this older frame-off restoration from the early 2000s with every nut and bolt replaced. Very few miles since being restored, and mostly all original. 348/250hp big-block V8 with 4-bbl Rochester carburetor and Powerglide 2-speed automatic transmission. Beautiful repainted original Tropical Turquoise (paint code 914) factory color paint and with absolutely beautiful all-new and original-spec turquoise, gray & black (trim code 837) tri-tone-colored interior. $110,000 OBO. West Coast Classics LLC. Contact Simon, Ph: 310.399.3990, email: wcclassics@aol. com. Website: www.TheWestCoastClassics. com. (CA) 1959 Cadillac DeVille custom coupe S/N 59J075040. Black/red Leather. 57 miles. V8, automatic. Absolutely exceptional and beautiful example of this wonderful, no-expense-spared custom Cadillac, which received a full frame-off restoration and customization. Lowered using an Air Ride Technologies suspension by its previous owner with a 502-ci crate motor with 502 hp and 567 ft-lb of torque mated to a monster 700R4 transmission. Finished in a striking custom black color with a sumptuous red leather interior. Ready to show or cruise. $110,000 OBO. West Coast Classics LLC. Contact Simon, Ph: 310.399.3990, email: wcclassics@aol.com. Website: www.TheWestCoastClassics.com. (CA) 128 AmericanCarCollector.com S/N 344870E166189. Nugget Gold (55)/ black. 8,000 miles. V8, 4-spd automatic. Engine rebuilt, power windows, doors, locks, trunk, vinyl top, AM radio/8-track, Tic-TocTach. New paint 2017, two sets of tires and wheels; Rally and poverty caps. Car is in as-new condition. $70,000. Contact Jerry, Ph: 262.497.3747, email: mr1970olds@att. net. (WI) 1974 Pontiac Trans Am Super Duty 455 coupe S/N 136379B404108. Fathom Green/green. 42,583 miles. V8, 3-spd manual. Multishow-winning, concours-level restoration. Fully documented and certified. Listed on the COPO registry. Highest-option COPO Chevelle known to exist. L72 427ci/425 hp V8 engine. M22 Rock Crusher Muncie 4-speed transmission. 4.10:1 ring and pinion. Chambered exhaust pipes. Full gauges and factory tachometer. $149,900. Daniel Schmitt & Co. Contact Daniel, Ph: 314.291.7000, email: info@schmitt.com. Website: https:// www.schmitt.com/inventory/1969-chevroletchevelle-copo-2-door-hardtop/. (MO) 1970 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 replica 2-door hard top Numbers-matching, one of 943 built, rare red & black interior. Car has been carefully maintained and restored as needed. Heavily optioned car in excellent condition with cold a/c, power brakes and steering, tilt column, 8-track player and power locks and windows. Originally sold at the famous Monk King Pontiac in Denton, TX. Build sheet and PHS documented. Runs and drives fantastic. Listed on the Super Duty Registry and has been kept in private collections for the past 34 years. $92,500 OBO. Munroe, Park & Johnson. Contact Bruce, Ph: 210.722.4188, email: bruce@mpjonline.com. (TX) CORVETTE 1962 Chevrolet Corvette convertible 1967 Chevrolet Corvette convertible S/N 194677S114709. Marlboro Red/black. 51,100 miles. V8, manual. Exceptional example, frame-off restored convertible with matching numbers 427/390-hp L36 V8 IL-code engine mated to original 4-speed manual transmission. Refinished in its original Marlboro Maroon color (code 988) paint with its original matching black stinger hood stripe and black standard interior trim (code 467) with black soft top. Aluminum bolt-on wheels. $155,000 OBO. West Coast Classics, LLC. Contact Simon, Ph: 310.399.3990, email: wcclassics@aol.com. Website: www. TheWestCoastClassics.com. (CA) 1969 Chevrolet Corvette coupe S/N 194379S722158. LeMans Blue/Bright Blue. 73,800 miles. V8, automatic. Matchingnumbers 350 with automatic, factory a/c, power steering, brakes and windows, tilt column and fender louver trim. $20,900 OBO. Car Care Center. Contact Jeff, Ph: 309.837.7575, email: ccvettes@macomb. com. Website: www.carcarecorvettes.com. (IL) 1982 Chevrolet Corvette coupe S/N 194376S108677. Nassau Blue/blue & white. 1,000 miles. V8, 4-spd manual. Frame-on restored, all original and correct 427/390 hp. Loaded with 4-speed, ps, pb, factory a/c, sidepipes, knockoffs, wood steering wheel. No-hit body. A greatdriving car that could easily be NCRS Top Flight. $89,900 OBO. Contact Kent, Ph: 404.323.3822, email: kenthussey@yahoo. com. (GA) 1966 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray coupe S/N 1G1AY878XC5111663. Silver/silver gray. 84,000 miles. V8, automatic. Exterior paint and new interior installed past five years. Paint has a few road chips. Numbers matching, exhaust modified to dual, aftermarket stereo. Only 711 produced in silver, with fewer than 300 with silver gray interior. This is a garage-kept, well serviced and maintained C3. All invoices, receipts, photos, extra parts, memorabilia and service history goes with car. $16,000. Contact John, Ph: 321.360.2382, email: vettejack03@yahoo. com. (FL) 1990 Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 coupe S/N 2V87X4N120054. Buccaneer Red/red & black. 78,400 miles. V8, 3-spd automatic. Mossport Green/green. 55,362 miles. V8, Mossport Green (982) with dark green interior, rare high-performance Stingray equipped with a 427/390-hp V8 engine and 4-speed transmission, outfitted with many factory options including air conditioning, power steering, power windows, power brakes, teak steering wheel, original AM/FM radio, side exhaust and knockoff wheels. Complete with handbook. A great example of performance American muscle. $89,500. Heritage Classics Motorcar Company. Ph: 310.657.9699, email: sales@heritageclassics.com. Website: www.heritageclassics.com. (CA) S/N 1G1YZ23J2L5803031. Torch Red/red. 11,010 miles. V8, 6-spd manual. 375hp DOHC LT5 engine, 6-speed manual transmission, Posi rear end. This ZR-1 is in concours condition, with just low original miles, and VERY well documented with plenty of factory and dealer literature as well

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Showcase Gallery as service records since new. Highly recognized by the National Corvette Restoration Society (NCRS) as the first ZR-1 to achieve the 4 Star Cross Flag Award, along with Top Flight three times, Performance Verification and the Dave McLellan Mark of Excellence. The McLellan Award recognizes individuals for the restoration and preservation of 1975– 92 Corvettes. $33,495. Contact Sam, Ph: 912.604.9553, email: samgallagher82nd@ comcast.net. (GA) FOMOCO 1959 Ford Skyliner retractable hard top convertible boot, four-owner example with low original miles. Equipped with decor bucket seats, power top, 428-ci V8 engine, 4-speed transmission, power steering, power front disc brakes, AM radio, complete with Marti Report, original factory invoice, build sheet and original handbook. A beautiful restored American classic with excellent documentation. $149,497. Heritage Classics Motorcar Company. Ph: 310.657.9699, email: sales@ heritageclassics.com. Website: www.heritageclassics.com/inventory/detail/1376-shel-by-mustang-gt500-convertible.html. (CA) 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 428 SJC fastback S/N B9KW143305. Raven Black/Torch Red & Raven Black with Silver Strand. 77,200 miles. V8, 3-spd automatic. A beautifully restored and great daily driving vehicle. Completely rust-free example of a very rare and desirable Retractable with the 332-ci 225-hp big-block FE Thunderbird Special V8 engine with dual exhausts. Factory specifications including the Cruise-O-Matic automatic transmission, Magic Air heater and defroster, AM radio, electric clock, full wheel covers, white sidewall tires and its fully functional hydraulic power operated retractable hardtop roof! This particular example has been restored with absolutely no expense spared in its beautiful original factory Raven Black color. $45,500. West Coast Classics LLC. Contact Simon, Ph: 310.399.3990, email: wcclassics@aol.com. Website: www.TheWestCoastClassics.com. (CA) 1967 Shelby GT500E “Eleanor” Super Snake fastback S/N 9R02R178103. Royal Maroon/black. 0 miles. V8, 4-spd manual. Unbelievable oneof-one 428 SJC. Completely restored by Dan Green Restorations. Full Marti Report, original engine and drivetrain. Call for more info and pictures. $109,500 OBO. Contact Alan, Ph: 858.232.3392, email: along54072@ gmail.com. (CA) 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302 coupe S/N 26793014. Sunset Red/black leather. 3,500 miles. Inline 8, 3-spd automatic. An absolutely exceptional with a no-expensespared restoration. Senior 327-ci (same engine as the Caribbean) nine-main-bearing straight 8-cylinder engine with a Carter 4-bbl carburetor. Upgraded rebuilt automatic 3-speed TorqueFlite conversion Chrysler transmission from the original speed Ultramatic. Beautifully restored both mechanically and cosmetically by a long-time member of both Packard’s International and The Packard Club. $49,500. West Coast Classics LLC. Contact Simon, Ph: 310.779.0526, email: wcclassics@aol.com. Website: www.TheWestCoastClassics.com. (CA) 1958 Dual-Ghia convertible S/N 0F02G164204. Yellow/black. V8, Original engine, transmission, deck spoiler, front spoiler, louvered rear window slats, Magnum 500 wheels, power steering, tachometer, radio and tinted glass with documented restoration (exhaust, carburetor and battery). Built in Dearborn, MI, and sold to Haberfelde Ford in Bakersfield, CA. California car with Ford factory build sheet and Marti Report. $55,000. Grand Prix Classics. Contact Mark, Ph: 858.459.3500, email: info@grandprixclassics.com. Website: www.grandprixclassics.com/1970-ford-boss-302-yellow/. (CA) 2005 Ford Mustang Roush coupe S/N 7F02C127606. Dark gray/black. 200 miles. V8, manual. In the Shelby American registry. One of only 43 Continuation Super Snakes produced. Shelby s/n: CSE67431F11SS016, less than 200 miles since completion of build, clean title, Shelby letter of authenticity and Marti Report to accompany sale. 452-ci Shelby Performance aluminum V8, Vortech V-2 S-Trim Supercharger, Tremec TKO600 5-speed manual transmission, Unique Performance suspension, custom leather interior, Old Air Products Hurricane a/c. Total Control power rack-andpinion steering, four-wheel Baer/Touring disc brakes, Currie 9-inch rear axle/Torsen differential and 17-inch American Racing Shelby Cobra wheels. $255,000 OBO. Contact Glen, Ph: 954.920.3303, email: info@thecreativeworkshop.com. (FL) 1968 Shelby GT500 convertible It’s so S/N 1ZVFT82H755173959. Black/black & silver. 15,500 miles. V8, 4-spd automatic. Like new, original owner, 4.6-L, 350 hp, auto, low miles, engine and transmission reprogrammed, performs beautifully. Has never seen a raindrop. A great deal. $19,000. Contact George, Ph: 503.364.8703, email: geopatterson@gmail.com. (OR) MOPAR 1955 Chrysler C300 2-door hard top easy! We’ve made uploading your Showcase Gallery listings online easier. As an added bonus, we now feature multiple images for our web listings. Wimbledon White/black. 52,678 miles. V8, Black interior and matching soft top with S/N 3N551076. White/tan. 105,980 miles. V8, 2-spd automatic. All original except for lower front seat leather. Hemi, two 4-bbl www.americanCarCollector.com/classifieds May–June 2018 129 S/N 197. Midnight Blue/tan. 1,378 miles. V8, automatic. Concours-level restoration by marque specialist. One of approximately 100 produced, one of approximately 30 known to exist. One of the last few built. 2010 Pebble Beach award winner. Previous Ghia collec- Red/black. Inline 4, manual. Early frame-rail midget! Believed to be built by Leo “Pop” Faulkner, sponsored by Earl Gilmore, driven by Carl Rosenthal and others. Documented part of Bill Harrah Collection. 1928 Van Blerck aluminum-block marine engine. Complete 10-year-old restoration. Not raced since. Amelia award winner. $43,000. Contact Jeff, Ph: 615.438.1063, email: jeff.brock. music@gmail.com. (TN)A carbs, power steering, brakes, windows and seat. Superb unmolested condition, great driver, always garaged, all service records since 1994. Additional photos available. $41,999. Contact Albert, Ph: 814.466.6115, email: bav1140@comcast.net. (PA) AMERICANA 1953 Packard 2679 convertible tor ownership. Rare optional D-500 260-hp Red Ram Hemi V8 engine. Recent service including a full transmission rebuild performed by marque specialist. Documentation includes Pebble Beach paperwork, copies of Dual-Ghia factory papers, marque history, concours photos and more. $499,900. Daniel Schmitt & Co. Contact Daniel, Ph: 314.291.7000, email: info@schmitt. com. Website: https://www.schmitt.com/ inventory/1958-dual-ghia-convertible/. (MO) 1984 Jeep Grand Wagoneer SUV Burgundy/tan. V8, automatic. 360-ci engine. Interior just redone. Power steering, brakes and windows. AM/FM stereo. Newer tires, lots of new parts. Florida truck. $10,995 OBO. Contact Greg, Ph: 269.271.4724, email: greg.gorzelanny@yahoo.com. (MI) RACE 1934 Gilmore Special Van Blerck Midget race car

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RESOURCE DIRECTORY Put your company in the ACC Resource Directory. Call 877.219.2605 Ext. 218, or email advert@americancarcollector.com Auction Companies 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 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) 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) 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 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 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) Wheeler Auction Group. 833.599.8999. Collector Car Auction company specializing in the marketing and sale of pre-war, classic, vintage, antique, muscle and exotic automobiles. What sets Wheeler apart from other auction companies in their industry is the quality and quantity of marketing that they do for their clients, combined with some of the lowest selling commissions in the industry. Contact them today to discuss the marketing of your vehicle or collection! Info@WheelerAuctionGroup.com www.WheelerAuctionGroup.com Buy/Sell/General 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, 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. 130 AmericanCarCollector.com 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 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 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 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. Ideal Classic Cars. 855-324-0394. Our goal as a company is to showcase the highest investment-quality, restored classic cars to the world; while offering these vehicles at a fair market price. Our attention to detail is unsurpassed. If you are looking for a true investment car that will go

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up in value...contact us. We have a full sales and service department. We also provide shipping worldwide. We are in business simply because of our love and passion for classic cars, trucks and motorcycles. Let us share that with you. www.idealclassiccars. net (FL) Classic Car Transport 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 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, 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) 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. quality of 1953–96 Corvette parts and experience in the industry. Our catalogs and website are filled with hundreds of helpful schematics, photos and tech-tips. Our Vintage Department has a treasure chest of NOS and used parts. Look up our Stick With Us Discount Program and our firstonline-order savings. Call us or visit www.paragoncorvette.com to order today. (MI) 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 West Coast Classics. 310.399.3990. West Coast Classics are internationally renowned California Classic Car Dealers who specialize in buying and selling of rare and classic European and American classic cars. Two branch locations in Southern California; 1205 Bow Avenue in Torrance, and 1918 Lincoln Blvd in Santa Monica. We ship throughout the world and will provide you with unparalleled service of your rare, sports, exotic, luxury, collector or classic car needs. www.WestCoastClassics. com info@WestCoastClassics. com (CA) 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. RideCache. 512-751-8450. A professional, ad-free software tool and service that helps you manage your collection, digitally preserve your valuable documentation and securely share with those that need access. Manage your collection with our DIY tools or use our RideCache Build service and let our professional team build your account. Learn more at http://ridecache.com/ACC RideCache – Organize, Manage, Preserve your Collection. 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) Reliable Carriers Inc. 800-5216393. As the country’s largest enclosed-auto transport company, Reliable Carriers faithfully serves Paragon Corvette Reproductions. 800-882-4688. At Paragon, you’ll receive the finest 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 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) 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) FOLLOW ACC May–June 2018 131

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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 Insurance 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 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) Concours d’Elegance of America. 2018 marks the 40th Annual Concours d’Elegance of America, July 27th–29th, at the Inn at St. John’s in Plymouth, Michigan. We continue to be one of the most recognized automotive events in the world. A weekend filled with over 15 events for automobile enthusiasts of all ages. Sunday’s field will host 300 spectacular automobiles from around the world. www.concoursusa.org (MI) 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. 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) Leasing-Finance 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! 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) 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) 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) 132 AmericanCarCollector.com 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) LeMay Family Collection Foundation. LeMay Family Collection Foundation at Marymount Events Center near Tacoma, WA, hosts an epic backdrop for your next event. Home to 500 fabulous collector cars, worldclass art exhibits, and assorted ephemera, consider your next event here. Weddings, 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 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 Custom Autosound Manufacturing. 800-888-8637. Since 1977 providing audio solutions for classic car and trucks. Covering over 400 application our radios and speakers fit the original location without modification. Keep the classic look of your vehicle while enjoying state-of-the-art audio. Check out all of our products at www.customautosound. com. Or if you’d like a free catalog, call 800-888-8637 (CA) 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

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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) 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) 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: Classic Garage Automobile Restoration. 208.755.3334. Classic Garage is a full service, classic car shop offering full-restoration and partial-restoration work, including custom builds. Our specialty is high-end, show-quality body and paint work. We work with many reputable shops around the country that send us their projects for bodywork and paint. We also offer classic car collection management, storage, consulting and classic car valuations. www.classicgaragellc.com (ID) 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 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) 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) 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) Metal Rescue® Rust Remover is your clean, safe, easy-to-use rust remover for iron and steel. From small parts that can be soaked to large parts that can’t, our ready-touse BATH, CONCENTRATE, or on-the-spot GEL are extremely effective at removing rust. The entire line of Metal Rescue offers non-toxic, environmentally-safe rust removal without the use of harmful or corrosive acids. From hubcaps to headlights to spot-rust on doors and hoods, Metal Rescue from Workshop Hero™ has got you covered! Visit www.workshophero.com Corvette America. 800-458-3475. The No. 1 manufacturer and supplier of interiors, parts and wheels Advertisers Index Original Parts Group Inc. With over 30 years’ experience, OPGI manufactures and stocks over 75,000 of the finest restoration parts and accessories for GM classics, at the best prices anywhere. The largest selection of Chevelle, El Camino, Monte Carlo, GTO, Le Mans, Tempest, Gran Prix, Bonneville, Catalina, Cutlass, 442, Skylark, GS, Riviera and Cadillac classic parts anywhere. Visit www.OPGI.com or call 800-243-8355. (CA) Super Chevrolet Parts Co. 503-256-0098. Restoring Classic Chevrolets Since 1980. Serving the Chevrolet enthusiast for over 25 Agents For Montana Titles ..............123 Asset Marketing Services, LLC .......109 Barrett-Jackson .................................39 Camaro Central .................................99 Chevs of the 40’s ............................117 Corvette America ............................. 4–5 CoverCar Concepts .........................111 Custom Autosound Mfg., Inc ..........113 EMS Automotive ..............................121 Evapo-Rust ........................................33 Factory Five Racing ...........................73 Gallivan Auctioneers ........................ 6–7 Greensboro Auto Auction ..................93 Grundy Insurance ..............................19 Hagerty Insurance Agency, Inc. ........71 Hot August Nights .............................42 JC Taylor .........................................101 Mercedes-Benz Classic Center. 1-866-MB-CLASSIC. (1-866-6225277). The trusted center of competence for all classic Mercedes-Benz enthusiasts. 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. Jim Meyer Racing Products Inc. .....114 JJ Best Banc & Co ..........................105 JJ Rods .............................................87 Larry’s Thunderbird and Mustang Parts ..13 Law Offices of Bruce Shaw .............115 Leake Auction Company .....................3 LicensePlates.tv ..............................102 Lucas Oil Products, Inc. ....................85 Lucky Collector Car Auctions ............81 Lutty’s Chevy Warehouse ...............111 MBP Motorcars ...............................119 McCollister’s Auto Transport...........132 Metal Rescue ...................................127 Michael Irvine Studios .......................97 Mid America Motorworks ..................15 Motorsport Auction Group LLC .........43 National Corvette Museum ..............104 National Parts Depot .........................35 New England Auto Auction .............107 Obsolete & Classic Auto Parts, Inc. 125 Original Parts Group ..........................25 Paragon Corvette Reproductions ......91 Park Place LTD ..................................77 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 Passport Transport ............................69 Performance Racing Oils .................120 Petersen Collector Car Auction .......100 Pilkington Classics Automotive Glass ..2 POR-15 ..............................................23 Premier Auction Group ......................75 Restoration Supply Company .........104 RM Auction Holdings Inc. ..................11 Russo and Steele LLC .......................17 Shelby American Collection ..............29 St Bernard Church...........................113 Steve’s Auto Restorations Inc. ..........47 Summit Racing Equipment ................89 Superformance ..................................21 Taraba Illustration Art ......................125 The Chevy Store Inc ........................119 Thomas C Sunday Inc .....................123 Trump Properties Concours ............103 Volunteer Vette Products ..................79 West Coast Classics, LLC ...............121 Wheeler Auctions ............................131 Zip Products, Inc. ..............................49 zMAX .................................................45 May–June 2018 133

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Surfing Around Carl Bomstead Automobilia at Auction Carl’s thought: Heritage Auctions, at their February 22 Comics and Comic Art Auction, sold the 1940 #1 Batman comic for $334,600. Now, Batman, the Joker and Catwoman had appeared a year earlier in Detective #27, but this was the first stand-alone Batman comic. One in similar condition sold in 2013 for $120,000, so this has been a solid investment. It is rated #5 in value in Overstreet’s Top 100 Golden Age Comics. I just wish my mother had not thrown out my comic collection when I left for college! EBAY #273087972601— 1903 MASSACHUSETTS MOTORCYCLE PORCELAIN LICENSE PLATE. Number of bids: 36. SOLD AT $8,509. Date sold: 3/6/2018. This porcelain license plate was in very acceptable condition, with some staining on the “3.” Massachusetts was the first state to issue plates, and this was the first year of issue. From 1903 to 1907 they stated “Mass Automobile Register” along the top. Firsts bring a premium, and that was certainly the case here. EBAY #253318046778—1932 FOR GRILLE SHELL BADGE. Number of bids: 22. SOLD AT $642. Date sold: 12/27/2017. These grille-shell porcelain badges are reproduced and are priced between $60 and $130. This badge was in exceptiona condition, and a quality original part always trumps a reproduction. Price paid was within reason and will give an authentic look to the new owner’s “Deuce” project. EBAY #122991567556— BATMOBILE TIN TOY BY BANDI. Number of bids: 2. SOLD AT $8,100. Date sold: 3/6/2018. This delightful Batmobile tin toy was in unplayed-with condition and was complete with Robin and Batman in the front seat. To complete the package it even had the original box, which was also in excellent condition. The battery box even sparkled. An unusual toy that was in exceptional condition. Expensive, but a whole lot cheaper than the Batman comic. 134 AmericanCarCollector.com EBAY #162804316837— 1940s MOPAR PARTS AND ACCESSORIES TIN EMBOSSED SIGN. Number of bids: 66. SOLD AT $3,300. Date sold: 12/24/2017. This was a very presentable tin sign that measured 59x17. It had a few scratches, but that was to be expected considering the sign was about 70 years old. Vibrant colors, but not very graphic. Definitely of interest if you had a period Chrysler product in your car barn. EBAY #222864587376—ED “BIG DADDY” ROTH RAT FINK GREEN JACKET. Number of bids: Buy-It-Now. SOLD AT $700. Date sold: 3/3/2018. Roth was an icon of the 1950s and ’60s, designing and building wild cars such as the “Beatnik Bandit” and “Outlaw.” He also sold T-shirts by the thousands that were adorned with his bizarre artwork. He was also known for his wild pinstriping. He developed Rat Fink as Mickey Mouse’s evil twin. This jacket is of the era and sold for a most reasonable price — especially if you are fortunate enough to own one of his creations. EBAY #162778662475—1954 CORVETTE PEDAL CAR. Number of bids: Buy-It-Now. SOLD AT $1,500. Date sold: 1/22/2018. This was the 62nd of 300 Corvette pedal cars produced by Pedal Cars of America to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Corvette. It had a tubular-steel frame and an ABS solid body. If it were one of the original Corvette pedal cars, just add a zero to the price paid here. A cool go-with for the Corvette in the garage. EBAY #312034858062— 1930s VINDEX CAST-IRON TOY DUMP TRUCK. Number of bids: 16. SOLD AT: $2,146.21. Date sold: 1/8/2018. Vindex made 10 different cast-iron farm toys. In the 1930s, they were used as rewards for selling magazine subscriptions. This one was missing the tailgate but was otherwise in good condition with the decal intact. Price seemed a bit aggressive considering the missing piece.A