Profiles
- GM - 1960 Chevrolet Impala Convertible
- Ford - 1965 Shelby GT350
- Americana - 1955 Packard Caribbean convertible
- Corvette - 1972 Chevrolet Corvette Custom
- Hot Rod - 1931 Ford Model A “unknown roadster”
- Mopar - 1971 Plymouth GTX
- Truck - 1962 Studebaker 7E45E 2-Ton Road Tractor
- Race - 1976 Ford F-100 Off-Road Race Truck
Search This Issue
Page 4
CAR COLLECTOR
Volume 3 • Issue 18 • November-December 2014
The Scoop: Profiles
CORVETTE
1972 CHEVROLET
CORVETTE CUSTOM
$21k / Mecum
Does the nostalgia factor
outweigh bad taste?
— Jay Harden
Page 40
GM
1960 CHEVROLET IMPALA
CONVERTIBLE
$77k / Bonhams
Space Age kitsch aside, bigfin
Impalas are seeing some
upside — Tom Glatch
Page 42
FoMoCo
1965 SHELBY GT350
$286k / Mecum
A big price for a GT350 with
a few stories
— Dale Novak
Page 44
MOPAR
1971 PLYMOUTH GTX
$74k / Auctions America
The last of Mopar’s original
muscle packs a punch in the
market
— Patrick Smith
Page 46
AMERICAN
™
6 AmericanCarCollector.com
Keith Martin's
Page 5
HOT ROD
1931 FORD MODEL A “THE
UNKNOWN ROADSTER”
$78k / Auctions America
What’s the value of a known
history?
— Ken Gross
Page 48
AMERICANA RACE
1955 PACKARD
CARIBBEAN CONVERTIBLE
$66k / RM
Lukewarm market price for a
last-gasp Packard
— Carl Bomstead
Page 50
1976 FORD F-100
OFF-ROAD RACE TRUCK
$41k / Auctions America
Class wins at Baja make this
rig a genuine historical piece
— John L. Stein
Page 52
TRUCK
1962 STUDEBAKER 7E45E
2-TON ROAD TRACTOR
$7k / Auctions America
A big truck for little money.
Was it a deal?
— B. Mitchell Carlson
Page 54
Cover photo: 1965 Shelby GT350
John Hollansworth Jr., courtesy of Mecum Auctions
1960 Chevrolet Impala convertible, p. 42
Pawel Litwinski, courtesy of Bonhams
November-December 2014
7
Page 6
The Rundown
EXPERTS’
COLUMNS
10 Torque
Making a muscle car fit
— Jim Pickering
32 Cheap Thrills
Monterey’s most affordable —
B. Mitchell Carlson
36 Horsepower
A changing perspective?
— Colin Comer
38 Corvette Market
The true story of Jan & Dean’s
“Dead Man’s Curve”
— John L. Stein
114 Surfing Around
Must-have automobilia
— Carl Bomstead
AUCTIONS
58 Auctions America California
AA delivers the goods, selling 252 out of 399 cars for $17.2m
— Victor Van Tress
66 Barrett-Jackson — Hot August Nights Auction
Street rods and customs make $9.9m in Reno, and 304 of 318 sell
— Travis Shetler
78 Mecum Auctions — Monterey 2014
643 cars cross the block at Monterey’s biggest auction, 361 find new
owners, and sales total $34.6m — B. Mitchell Carlson
86 Russo and Steele — Monterey 2014
A Boss 429 tops the American sales at $402k, pushing totals to $12m
with 102 of 189 cars sold — Pierre Hedary
96 Roundup
American iron from coast to coast — Michael Leven, Carl Bomstead,
Bob DeKorne, Kevin Coakley
8 AmericanCarCollector.com
FUN
RIDES
18 Good Reads
Von Dutch: The Art, The Myth,
The Legend — Mark Wigginton
20 Desktop Classics
1940 Packard 180 Custom 8
by Darrin— Marshall Buck
22 Snapshots
Hot August Nights in pictures
— Jim Pickering & Chad Tyson
24 Snapshots
Inside World of Speed’s
Collection — Jim Pickering
28 Feature: How to take
a great car photo
Getting the most for your car
when it’s time to sell
m Glatch
SERV
DEPA
12 What’s
Car events of note
14 Crossing the Block
Upcoming auctions and
highlighted star cars
18 Parts Time
Cool parts to keep your car
on the road
20 Cool Stuff
The ultimate NOS wrench and
a table that fits in your hand
26 Insider’s View
What’s the best way to get kids
involved with cars?
76 Glovebox Notes
2015 Dodge Challenger SRT
Hellcat
82 Quick Takes
1971 Chevrolet Corvette coupe
— Jim Pickering
107 1992 Vector W8 Twin Turbo
— Jay Harden
90 One to Watch
1973–79 Ford F-Series
— Chad Tyson
92 Our Cars
2,000 miles in a C5 Corvette
— B. Mitchell Carlson
108 The Parts Hunter
Rare parts and pieces for
your classic
110 Showcase Gallery
Sell your car in ACC’s
classifieds section
110 Advertiser Index
112 Resource Directory
Get to know our advertisers
Page 8
Torque
Jim Pickering
Making a muscle car fit
I
’ve had my ’66 Chevrolet Caprice for
what seems like forever. It was my first
car, bought for $1,900 when I turned
15. It was a cool first car — big-block
454 with an LS7 cam, TH400 automatic
and 12-bolt rear. But it was in rough shape. I
have a vague memory of my father, standing
at the seller’s house, asking me if I was sure
I wanted to buy this car. Of course I was —
that big block’s lopey idle seduced me. Was
it actually usable? Didn’t matter.
The car sits in my garage today, 17 years
later and now restored, and I’m still crazy
about the way it sounds, although now it’s a
little bit nastier thanks to a roller-cammed
468 big block and a lot of other speed parts
I’ve added. I drag-raced it for years, eventually
running low 12s when that was still considered
fast. I cruised it all over the place,
bending myself and any passengers I might
have to its ragged-edge needs, like running
the defroster full blast on a 100-degree day
to keep the engine temp in check. But life
has changed, and the car’s been sitting more
and more.
In August, I took the car on a quick
freeway run down to World of Speed (see
the “Snapshots” piece on p. 24). The 468 big
block, TH400, and 3.73 gear combination
makes the car launch like crazy, but it also
turns a screaming 3,300 rpm on the freeway,
and that’s not much fun. When I got back to
town, I found myself thinking, for the first
time ever, that the car’s just become too hard
to use.
I’m now living in a world of kids’ car
seats, daycare, commuting in traffic, long-distance
freeway drives, people merging without
signals, and slow-moving hybrids. In that
world, there’s little room for needy machines
with eye-wateringly rich idles, overheating
tendencies, and the need to watch every
gauge closely. My other car, a Charger SRT8,
is perfect for that world, with its smooth idle,
air conditioning, LATCH tie-downs, doubledigit
mileage, and big power. In that car, all
you have to watch is the road in front of you. I
love that car too, but it’s just too easy. It’s not
the same experience.
Time for a change
A few days after buzzing my big block
down to World of Speed, I got together with
ACC contributor Jay Harden for a quick
10 AmericanCarCollector.com
No need to part ways if the right parts will make it livable
lunch to talk about the Corvette he profiled
on p. 40. This is a ritual he and I tend to have
— I send him a car I’m thinking of having
him profile, and he and I bat around some
ideas about it before he sits down to write.
Jay and I are both about the same age.
Like me, he’s got a house, a wife, and a
young kid. He’s also got a Chevelle that
he built back in high school, also with a
warmed-up big block.
Jay said something at lunch that struck a
chord with me. “I’ve been trying to drive the
Chevelle more this summer, but I’m thinking
about swapping to an LS motor. Commuting,
sitting in traffic… It’s just hard to use.”
Hard to use. There it was again.
I finally understood why so many muscle
car owners sold their cars as their lives
moved on, only to pay more to get the same
cars back later on in life. We’re both seeing
priorities change, or maybe we’re just getting
older. Either way, we’re both facing the
same dilemma: We need to make our cars
more usable for where we are now in life, or
they’ll just sit — but we can’t sanitize them
and erase their rough identities, because that
would miss the point completely.
The wave of the future
This issue is full of advice from our
readers all about how to get young people
into cars. I’ve written about that a lot in this
column over the past three years. You can see
what everyone had to say about it on p. 26.
The notion that people like Jay and me
have gone soft and are parking our muscle
cars because of the very things that made us
love them in the first place really bothers me.
Especially considering that our lack of use is
also our kids’ lack of use, too. And they sure
won’t fall in love with a car’s lopey idle if
it’s never running.
So with that, I’ve been eyeing some
changes I can make to my Caprice that’ll
make it more fun and easier to use while
still maintaining its tear-your-face-off attitude.
Hurst Driveline Conversions offers
a complete T56 6-speed conversion kit that
comes with everything I’d need to swap out
my TH400 for double overdrives and a third
pedal, minus a 4-speed console I’d have to
source from somewhere. Going from 3,300
rpm on the freeway to 1,200 or so opens up
a wider world for that car, and it’d run cooler
in the process, too. The biggest bonus? The
changes would be more or less reversible for
the day that I inevitably decide I miss that
old automatic.
The swap would run about $5k —money
I’ll probably never see back out of the car.
My wife’s already asked me if I’m sure I
want to do that. But for the fun of it, and
for more time in the car with my daughter,
who already squeals with delight every time
I light ’em up, I’m not sure I can afford not
to.A
WHEN YOUR CAR SITS BECAUSE IT’S BECOME TOO HARD TO USE, IT’S
TIME FOR A CHANGE
Page 10
WHAT’SHAPPENING
Fitzgerald to direct
Hagerty Education
Program
Diane Fitzgerald is the new
national director of the Hagerty
Education Program at the
LeMay — America’s Car
Museum in
Tacoma, WA.
The program
awards scholarships
and grants
to young adults
training for
careers in car
preservation
and restoration.
Fitzgerald
Al Rogers
Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals
The Class of 1964, featuring the Birth of the Chrysler Hemi and R-code Ford Galaxie 427 convert-
ibles, and the Class of 1969, featuring 440+6 Mopars, the ZL1, COPO 427 Camaros and Corvettes and
Ford Mustang Boss 302 and 429 cars, are the stars at this year’s Muscle Car & Corvette Nationals on
November 22–23 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Chicago, IL. Show hours are 9 a.m. to 9
p.m. on November 22 and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on November 23. This is the sixth year of this massive, popular
event, which brings hundreds of Corvettes and muscle cars — and thousands of gearheads — to a happy
whirl of a swapmeet, seminars and displays. Mecum Auctions is the title sponsor. Admission is $25 for
adults. Kids 12 and younger are admitted free. More information and discount tickets are available at
www.mcacn.com.
ACC’s Comer adds another book to the shelf
ACC Editor at Large Colin Comer has just
published a terrific new book: Shelby Mustang
Fifty Years. Comer, who is also the author of The
Complete Book of Shelby Automobiles and Shelby
Cobra Fifty Years, is an expert on all things Shelby.
This new book is a must-buy for all gearheads.
Comer, a noted collector, restorer and vintage racer,
also wrote Million-Dollar Muscle Cars. Motorbooks
is the publisher (www.motorbooks.com). The book
is available at www.colincomerbooks.com.
“Diane’s dedication to preserving
America’s automotive
history through her work with
Club Auto aligns perfectly
with the Hagerty Education
Program,” said David Madeira,
museum president. “Diane’s
extensive background and
innate industry knowledge will
serve as a valuable resource
for the Hagerty Education
Program and its mission to
provide hands-on learning in
the preservation and restoration
of collector vehicles.” www.
lemaymuseum.org
Keep warm while
viewing hot cars
Most of the car collecting
Comer
AMC fans to gather near Vegas
The ninth annual Las Vegas AMC Reunion
brings a parade of Marlin, Matador, Rambler,
Metropolitan, AMX and even Pacer cars to the
Railroad Pass Hotel & Casino in Henderson,
NV, on November 7–8. Any cars from American
Motors Company’s history are welcome. The first
day of this event is the last day of SEMA, and
this is a chance to join the car show, parts swapmeet
and more. The hotel is 25 minutes from Las
Vegas. www.snamc.amcrc.com
12 AmericanCarCollector.com
world is sliding toward months
of cold, rain and snow right
now, but Florida rocks sunshine
and summer all year long. So
why not head to Carlisle Events’
Zephyrhills Fall AutoFest
just north of Tampa? Crowds
of American car addicts will
gather at Festival Park from
November 13 to 16 for a huge
swapmeet, auction, private
sales corral and other events.
More than 500 cars — and
short-sleeve weather — are
expected. Adult admission is $8
on Thursday, $10 on Friday and
Saturday, and $5 on Sunday.
www.carsatcarlisle.com
A
1972 AMC Matador
Page 12
CROSSINGTHE
Upcoming auctions (Images are courtesy of the respective auction houses unless otherwise noted)
BLOCK
Star Car: Completely documented 1970 Chevelle SS LS6, reunited with its
original engine after 40 years, at Leake Dallas
NoVember
VanDerBrink — The Friday
Collection
Where: Atlantic, IA
When: November 1
More: www.vanderbrinkauctions.com
GAA — Classic Cars at the Palace
Where: Greensboro, NC
When: November 6–8
Featured cars:
• 1936 Ford 5-window coupe
• 1969 Shelby GT500, offered at
no reserve
• 1957 Ford Thunderbird F-code
Star Car: 1967 Shelby 427 Cobra
More: www.rmauctions.com
Featured cars:
• 1931 Chrysler CG Imperial roadster
by LeBaron
Shannons — Sydney Late Spring
Classic Auction
Where: Sydney, AUS
When: November 17, 2014
More: www.shannons.com.au
Leake — Dallas 2014
Where: Dallas, TX
When: November 21–23
Last year: 365/588 cars sold / $9.4m
Featured cars:
• 1919 Packard Twin Six 3-35
Star Car: 1970 Chevelle SS LS6, now
reunited with its original engine after
40 years, with complete documentation
More: www.leakecarauction.com
Star Car: 1966 Chevrolet Corvette
427/425 convertible
More: www.gaaclassiccars.com
Smith’s — Pacudah 2014
Where: Paducah, KY
When: November 8
More: www.smithsauctioncompany.com
Mecum — Anaheim 2013
Where: Anaheim, CA
When: November 13–15
Last year: 412/785 cars sold / $13.6m
More: www.mecum.com
RM Auctions — The Sam Pack
Collection
Where: Farmers Branch, TX
When: November 15
14 AmericanCarCollector.com
Star Car: 1967 Shelby 427 Cobra, part of the Sam Pack Collection at rm in
Farmers branch, tX
McCormick’s — 56th Palm Springs
Classic Car Auction
Where: Palm Springs, CA
When: November 21–23
More: www.classic-carauction.com
Last year: 370/533 cars sold / $6.1m
Featured cars:
• 1960 Chevrolet Corvette
• 1941 Buick Super convertible
Star Car: 1969 Chevrolet Camaro
RS/SS
Dan Kruse Classics — Houston
November 2014
Where: Houston, TX
When: November 28–29
More: www.dankruseclassics.com
Silver — Arizona in the Fall 2014
Where: Fort McDowell, AZ
When: November 28–29
More: www.silverauctions.com
DeCember
Mecum — Kansas City 2014
Where: Kansas City, MO
When: December 4–6
Last year: 505/794 / cars sold / $11.3m
More: www.mecum.com
Raleigh Classic
Where: Raleigh, NC
When: December 5–6
More: www.raleighclassic.com
Shannons — Melbourne Summer
Classic Auction
Where: Melbourne, AUS
When: December 8
More: www.shannons.com.au
Mecum — Austin
Where: Austin, TX
When: December 12–13, 2014
Star Car: “Eleanor,” one of three hero
cars from the film “Gone in 60 Seconds”
More: www.mecum.comA
by Tony Piff
Page 14
Publisher’s
Note
Keith Martin
Alex has been driving manual-shift cars since she was 13 years old,
so I wasn’t surprised when she asked if we could take the ACC Viper
GTS on a two-day trip to Mt. Hood.
She had just graduated from Oregon State University and thought
I
a road trip would be a perfect graduation present.
ACC Editor Jim Pickering mentioned to us that we “might want to
try out the adjustable pedals in the Viper.”
He pointed out the knob under the dash that allowed the pedals to
move up to four inches. This was transformational for Alex, as it allowed
her to get the seat right, and then the pedals right. At five-foottwo,
she often has to sit uncomfortably close to the steering wheel to
be able to fully depress the clutch pedal in a performance car.
She has previously taken our 1964 Nova Wagon on a four-day trip
through Central Oregon, and so was no stranger to road trips.
The trip was a delight from start to finish. The Viper was surpris-
ingly easy to drive, and its 460-hp V10 made passing on two-lane
roads a snap.
Most important, my daughter got some more seat time in a col-
lectible car. The more she drives them, the more comfortable she
becomes, and the more likely she is to have vintage cars as a part of
her life.
How do we get kids involved? It’s simple. Involve them. Let your
kids and grandkids drive your cars. Smile when they stall the cars
as they figure out the release point of the clutch. Don’t pay too much
attention when they ask where the touch-screen navigation system is.
Just get into the car and go with them. You’re making memories
you’ll never forget, and you’re passing on your love of cars to the next
generation as well. A
Put them behind
the wheel
n this month’s “Insider’s View,” which begins on p. 26, readers
tell us how they would get young kids involved with the car
hobby. It’s a question that is on all of our minds, as teenagers
today have so many more options for communication and fraternization
than we did when we were young.
I can tell you what has worked for me. My 23-year-old daughter
CAR COLLECTOR
Volume 3, Number 6
November-December 2014
Publisher Keith Martin
executive editor Chester Allen
editor Jim Pickering
art Director Dave Tomaro
Digital media Director Jeff Stites
editor at Large Colin Comer
auctions editor Tony Piff
associate editor Chad Tyson
Copy editors Yael Abel, Dave Tomaro
auction analysts B. Mitchell Carlson
Kevin Coakley
Pat Campion
Dale Novak
Adam Blumenthal
Michael Leven
Cody Tayloe
Contributors Carl Bomstead
Colin Comer
John Draneas
Michael Pierce
Jay Harden
Mark Wigginton
Information technology Brian Baker
Lead Web Developer Scott Correy
Seo Consultant Michael Cottam
advertising and events
manager Erin Olson
Financial manager Cheryl Ann Cox
Print media buyer Wendie Martin
aDVertISINg SaLeS
advertising executives Darren Frank
darren.frank@AmericanCarCollector.com
877.219.2605 x 214
Cindy Meitle
cindy.meitle@AmericanCarCollector.com
877.219.2605 x 5
Steve Kittrell
steve.kittrell@AmericanCarCollector.com
877.219.2605 x 5
SubSCrIPtIoNS
Subscriptions manager Sarah Willis
Subscriptions 877.219.2605 x 1
9 a.m. to 5 p.m., M–F
service@AmericanCarCollector.com
503.253.2234 fax
@AmericanCCMag
CorreSPoNDeNCe
Phone 503.261.0555
Fax 503.253.2234
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email help@AmericanCarCollector.com
Feedback comments@AmericanCarCollector.com
Web www.AmericanCarCollector.com
Daniel Grunwald
Jack Tockston
Norm Mort
Phil Skinner
John Boyle
Doug Schultz
B. Mitchell Carlson
Ken Gross
Tom Glatch
John L. Stein
Marshall Buck
Dale Novak
AMERICAN
JOIN US
there’s no substitute for seat time
16 AmericanCarCollector.com
American Car Collector magazine (ISSN# 2164-1323) is published bimonthly by
Automotive Investor Media Group, 401 NE 19th Street, Suite 100, Portland, OR 97232.
PoStmaSter: Send address changes to American Car Collector, PO Box 4797, Portland,
OR 97208. The information in American Car Collector magazine is compiled from
a variety of reliable sources. However, we disclaim and deny any responsibility or liability
for the timeliness, use, interpretation, accuracy and completeness of the information
presented. All material, data, formats, and intellectual concepts in this issue © 2014 by
American Car Collector, LLC, Automotive Investor Media Group, Inc., and Automotive
Investor in this format and any other used by American Car Collector magazine.
Copyright registered with the United States copyright office. PRINTED IN USA
Keith Martin's
Page 16
GOODREADS by Mark Wigginton
Von Dutch: The Art, The Myth, The Legend
by Pat Ganahl, CarTech, 192 pages, $22.31 (Amazon)
Von Dutch is a big name today, even a brand, but what goes into that brand is as hard to track
down as a recipe for the original Coke.
Sure, the basics are pretty well known. Born Kenneth Howard, the self-named Von Dutch was the
godfather of early ’50s pin-striping, creator of a zoomy logo
for himself and a nifty eyeball-with-wings motif. At his core,
and probably the way he saw himself, was as essentially a
pretty good itinerant sign painter, as was his father before
him, constantly on the move and just getting by.
Author Pat Ganahl tries to unravel the mystery, tries to
explain how and what and why Von Dutch worked, didn’t
work, excelled and failed, but mostly remained a human
enigma, likely as not found on a tractor seat in the back of
a shop in Compton or Hollywood. There people could find
him, give him $25 and a few hours, and he’d create statements
in thin compound curves.
Von Dutch tries to pry apart the artist’s story with
interviews from stars of the period, Dean Jeffries and Ed
“Big Daddy” Roth, or from car owners who found him
through whispered questions on shop floors. They then
delivered their cars or motorcycles, leaving Von Dutch
to do what he did — create art on a budget with simple
elegance in a few strokes that put everyone else on the trailer.
Of course, with art often comes a large helping of crazy, and Von Dutch rarely disappointed.
Ganahl chases down stories and rumors of a man who loved his wine and handguns and hated
being pigeon-holed, badgered with questions or burdened with expectations beyond a job finished
— his own way.
The years pin-striping was really hot were few, and much of the Von Dutch legend is hard to
pin down precisely because he was only a big deal for such a small window. He counted Steve
McQueen and other stars as his friends, and yet never achieved much fame in his own time.
It’s an interesting, rewarding journey through Von Dutch as you work with the author to piece
together a picture of the man and put his work in context.
PARTSTIME by Chad Tyson
New products to modernize your street machine
alloy uSa Performance rear axle Shafts
It’s tough getting anywhere with a broken axle —
whether it is from an u
wrong, or that 12-bol
torquey 572-ci big bl
help is here.
Back in August, A
Dakota Digital VHX Instrument Systems
LCD message displays, backlit faces, fully lit needles — you won’t have any
problems reading your new gauges from Dakota Digital. The company stepped
away from their traditional digital readout, opting instead for the more familiar
needle-sweeping form. Standard features for most sets include speedo, tach, oil
pressure, water temp, volts, fuel and more. All the functions are orchestrated by
an outboard control module, giving you locating options and keeping the wiring
fuss down.
If Dakota Digital made an instrument cluster for your car before, you can
bet there is a VHX system ready to go. This collection ranges from ’67 Impalas
like mine to ’33–34 Ford cars to ’55 Willys CJs to even ’68–70 Chargers. Light
colors run the American-flag spectrum over either black or silver faces, promising
a combination that’ll work well with your car. Visit www.dakotadigital.com
to search their catalog or to locate a dealer.
18 AmericanCarCollector.com
their line of heavy-du
for Dodge, Ford, GM
International and Jee
trucks and cars.
The manufactur-
ing process starts
with 4140 chromoly
steel. The shafts are
heat-treated, tempere
induction-hardened t
a product that withstands use and abuse. Stress points
at the splines are reduced by cold rolling — rather than
cutting — them. Alloy USA’s production method gives
its axles up to 35% more strength than the stock pieces.
That’s probably why they can give their axles an industryleading
10-year warranty.
Call 770.614.6101 or click to www.alloyusa.com for
the complete line of products and a list of retailers. A
motorsports author and hot rodder,
including stints as editor of Street
Rodder, Hot Rod, Rod & Custom and
The Rodder’s Journal.
Fit and finish:
As I’ve said before, the CarTech
formula is always predictable. It is,
however, full of modestly well printed
images of work done by the artist.
this book, but it was pretty tough sledding.
Much of the book is transcriptions
of interviews, and that isn’t the
place you should stop. Biographers
keep digging and generally settle
on the best, most reasonable facts
and weave them into a tale. Instead
Ganahl spends a lot of time doing
notebook dumps, helpfully pointing
out contradictions and throwing his
hands up, hoping you, the reader, will
decide. Still, Von Dutch is the most
complete look at an artist who looms
larger in history than he did in his
own time.
is best
Drivability:
I learned a lot about Von Dutch in
Lineage:
Pat Ganahl is an award-winning
Page 18
COOLSTUFF
Best chair ever, now with matching table
My family does a lot of camping, car shows, concerts and picnics,
and our Kermit chairs ($139 each) always come along. The chairs
fold flat for easy stowage, and when space is really a premium, they
break down and fit inside a compact cloth pouch. It’s not just the convenience,
though. These things are comfortable. I’m sitting in one on
my porch right now, typing this on my laptop. Kermit’s new camping
table ($75) adds a level of portable luxury that I now take for granted.
All items are hand-made in Tennessee using marine-grade wood,
metal, and canvas. www.kermitchair.com
High-tech handle
Kershaw’s slim, slick
Skyline offers a ton of quality
for its sub-$50 price point. Now
they’ve sweetened the deal
with a carbon-fiber grip option.
Choose the “stonewash” silver
blade for $105 or go stealthy
black for $110 — or get both
with matching serial numbers
for $220. Locking blade, 3.125
inches, reversible pocket clip.
Available in limited quantities.
www.bladehq.com
Scanner in your pocket
Is your “check engine” light on? BlueDriver is a Bluetooth OBDII
scanner that’s small enough to fit in your glovebox, but don’t let its
size fool you — it’s a powerful little tool. Working wirelessly with
your Apple iOS or Android smartphone, it’ll read and clear trouble
codes, as well as give you suggested fixes to solve your problem. It’ll
also show live and freeze-frame data, so you can see what your car’s
sensors are doing in real time. Works with all makes and models
1996 or newer sold in the U.S. or Canada. $99.95 from www.lemurmonitors.com
DESKTOPCLASSICS by Marshall Buck
1940 Packard 180 Custom 8 by Darrin
Packard’s famous advertising line was “Ask the man
who owns one.” I’ll take a little liberty here by applying
it to the model shown, which I own. Although no one
may have asked, I’ll give you some answers anyway.
This model beautifully captures the car. It’s not
great, but it is still very good, and maybe even more so
considering it’s an older mass-production piece by the
Franklin Mint.
This is the second of three color versions, with the only other difference being that the first
release in Burgundy does not have the solid sterling-silver “Goddess of Speed” mascot. All have
the same working features: opening doors, hood, trunk, folding luggage rack, operating suspension,
rotating drive shaft, side windows raise and lower, steering sort of works. Two top parts are
included — either up as shown or with boot cover on. Good chassis and engine detail too.
Negatives: door hinges should be body color, front seats positioned too far forward, working
windows fit poorly.
20 AmericanCarCollector.com
by Tony Piff
NOS wrench
When used with care, AN wrenches let you adjust fittings without
marring the finish. This special wrench has openings for 3-AN,
4-AN, 6-AN and 8-AN lines, plus a 1¼-inch wrench for bottle nuts.
The short handle prevents over-tightening. It’s a must-have tool for
anyone running NOS. Anodized black and laser-etched. $40 from
www.summitracing.com
Detailing
Scale: 1:24
Available colors and quantities: Burgundy, at least
10,000; Miami Sand (shown), 1,500; Cubana Tan, 2,500
Price: $100–$175 for mint boxed
Production date: First, 1998; second, 2000; third,
2006
Web: Franklin Mint no longer sells model cars. Try
eBay
Ratings
Detailing:
Accuracy:
Overall quality:
Overall value:
is best
Page 20
SNAPSHOTS
Customized, stock or hot-rodded — it didn’t
matter, as Hot August Nights welcomes
cars, trucks and emergency vehicles built
1976 or earlier. This year, ACC Editor Jim
Pickering and I cruised down from Portland
in our 2000 Dodge Viper ACR — too new to
participate, but a great road-trip car nonetheless.
Cars are the biggest draw, but rock ’n’
roll is the other half of Hot August Nights.
Free concerts are scheduled every night
and mostly include remaining members of
popular bands from the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s.
The Righteous Brothers’ Bill Medley was
the main attraction this year, and country
singer Darryl Worley was in town on Friday
night. Barrett-Jackson returned with their
Hot August Nights auction for the second
year, too, selling 304 of 318 cars for $9.9m.
The real highlights of each evening are
the cruises. Mile-long loops in downtown
Reno and Sparks gave spectators all we
could look at (and listen to) for hours.
Occasionally, cruise participants tossed
candy to children along the street barriers
— only adding to the parade feel. Fireworks
rivaling some Fourth of July celebrations
capped the day’s festivities at 10 p.m. on
Friday and Saturday night.
Next year’s event will take over The
Biggest Little City in the World from August
4 to August 9. Register for the event and
book a (casino) hotel room early — this is
one car celebration you shouldn’t miss. A
Rolling through
T
by Chad Tyson
he 2014 edition of Hot August
Nights took over the Reno, NV,
area from July 29 through August
3. Participants registered more than
6,000 cars for this year’s event.
Jim Pickering
22 AmericanCarCollector.com
Jim Pickering
Page 21
Hot August Nights
Chad Tyson
Chad Tyson
Jim Pickering
Jim Pickering
Chad Tyson
Chad Tyson
November-December 2014 23
Page 22
SNAPSHOTS
Tony Piff
Hemis, slicks and simulators
INSIDE THE WORLD OF SPEED’S
SECRET AUTOMOTIVE STASH
by Jim Pickering
J
ust off Interstate 5 in Wilsonville, OR, the building and displays
at a new nonprofit automotive experiential motorsports
exhibition called World of Speed are coming together. But
the true stars of the show aren’t yet in place. They lurk in a
dim warehouse a short distance away, waiting for their turn
in the spotlight. This summer, ACC got a couple of exclusive looks
inside the collection.
Associate Editor Chad Tyson joined me for our first visit, and once
inside, we marveled at a legit Z11 Impala, a one-of-one Hemi ’Cuda,
a Plymouth Max Wedge Stage II car, several high-profile NASCAR
racers, several vintage drag rails, a P-38 belly tanker, a crazy Fuel
Altered known as “Nanook,” two Jungle Jim Nova funny cars,
and two Mickey Thompson racers: Attempt 1 and Assault
1. Scattered around all this were vintage speed parts —
Hemi heads, Hilborn injectors, and every bug catcher
known to man. Not far away sat a real-deal NASCAR
racer, converted to a hyper-realistic simulator with a
curved screen in front of it and feedback from all its
controls. It’s one of several being designed and built
for the museum.
Ron Huegli, the collection’s curator, couldn’t resist
firing up the Max Wedge for us, and Executive Director
Tony Thacker suggested we come back the next time
they take some of the muscle cars out for a spin, as all are
regularly exercised. How could we say no to that?
Rowing the gears
So, three weeks later, Auctions Editor Tony Piff and I returned
and climbed into the museum’s ’67 Hemi GTX with Ron. Minutes
later, we were running up a back road on all eight barrels as he
banged it through the gears. “Four-speed therapy. That’s what I call
this,” he said. The car is an older resto — solid #2 condition — and
it’s quick. “Legitimate 450 horsepower,” says Ron. It’s a real-deal
Hemi — one of 300 built that year. On our return to the warehouse,
he ran it at a higher RPM in first rather than cruising in second. “A lot
of guys bog these things down. Loading them up just kills the plugs.”
24 AmericanCarCollector.com
Jim Pickering
Chad discovers his inner Dale earnhardt in a simulator
Soon after, we were roaring up the same stretch of road in an all-
original ’69 Hemi Charger Daytona — this one an automatic. While
you’d think it’d feel similar to the GTX, it was a completely different
animal, with longer legs and a much better chassis. “This thing will
ke a scalded dog. Better tires and urethane bushings would
make it incredible,” said Ron. As we merged on the freeway,
he punched the throttle and the car jumped to attention,
running through 50, 60, and 70 mph in a blink, yet it
was composed and dead solid at speed. Meanwhile, Ron
talked all about the aero mods, the NASA engineers
who made them happen, and the wing, situated just high
enough to get the trunk lid open.
My favorite of the day was a Fathom Green ’70 Chevelle
SS 454 LS6. While not as rare as either Mopar, it had that
distinctive Muncie Rock Crusher whine, cowl flapper, and
neck-snapping throttle response. “I promised I wouldn’t power shift
this,” said Ron as he handled the sloppy Muncie linkage. But it was
extremely quick nonetheless, especially on a long stretch of straight
back road, where Ron let its LS6 scream.
Coming April 2015
Experiential education is what this place is all about, filling a void
left by schools that have dropped auto shop from their curriculums.
From the cool cars to the simulators and experiential programs,
this place is the real deal, and it’s sure to be a big draw for Pacific
Northwest gearheads, both new and seasoned. Opening day is April
24, 2015. Learn more at www.worldofspeed.org. A
Page 24
INSIDER’S VIEW
Passing
the torch
The ACC question: Today’s kids
have a lot of things going on in their lives.
And as a lot of older gearheads will tell you,
it doesn’t seem like cars are often at the top
of their to-do lists.
What’s the best way to get kids
involved with old cars?
Jim Pickering
Crowd-sourcing an answer to your queries
To be on the mailing list for next month’s question, go to AmericanCarCollector.com and sign up for our biweekly newsletter.
Readers respond:
Manuel Mata Jr., Texas City, TX: The only kids I’ve seen at any
type of car gathering for the last few years are the ones that have the
money or Mom and Dad do. It’s just that we have priced our cars right
away from the kids who still have an interest in old cars or hot rods.
There just are no cars available for a few hundred dollars that can be
bought and fixed up with some new parts or even junkyard parts that
don’t cost an arm and a leg.
Even with that said, the main thing that needs to be done is get
those young ones to lay those iPads down and get Mom, Dad, brother
or sis to take them to a car show and build some
interest in old cars.
Nan Leventhal, via email: The best way to
get kids involved in cars is simply to expose them
to it. My husband has a ’69 RS/SS Camaro, a ’70
Chevelle convertible, a Stage 3 Roush Mustang
convertible and a 2008 GT500. My kids have
been in these cars and going to car shows since they were babies. I
was pregnant with my son and went with my husband to Car Craft
Nationals and watched the burnout competition. Maybe the smell
of burning rubber seeped into him! Now he’s almost 17 and gets to
drive the cars too. And our daughter just turned 15… with a permit
just around the corner, she can’t wait to get behind the wheel of her
daddy’s muscle cars.
me with my projects. Even just handing me tools makes her feel like
she is really helping me — and she is — and she is really happy when
I tell her, “Thank you so much for helping. I couldn’t have done it
without you.” Another thing I did was hand down a 1968 Camaro to
my son, a car I bought in 1980 right out of high school. He knows
how much that car means to me, and for me to give it to him really
got the ambition going for us to restore it. Last year we completely
restored the car. Now we are going to car shows together. He has
installed a new stereo, new wheels, and really takes pride in owning
his dad’s old car. Makes me very proud.
“Enthusiasm is
as contagious
as we’ll let it be”
RetroRick, via ACC Blog: As a toy store
owner and longtime car nut, I see kids who are into
model and toy cars at a very early age and are as
passionate about them as I was. Most kids are not.
I tend to think we car nuts are truly born with
gasoline in our veins. We can fan the flames of en-
thusiasm in those who have the passion by encouraging them to build
a model collection, going to car shows, recommending movies where
cars are the stars, good reads, websites and magazines like ACC, and
engaging them in “favorite car?” discussions and the like. Enthusiasm
is as contagious as we’ll let it be.
Michael Horrigan, via ACC Blog: Rural kids are still motorTexRancher,
via ACC Blog: I took my son with me to car shows
and swapmeets and talked to him about anything that he showed
interest in. Then I promised him that he could buy (with Ol’ Dad’s
help) a car to work on when he was 14, provided that his grades warranted
it.
His first was a ’69 Chevelle, followed by a ’63 Impala SS, both
of which he sold, working towards his real prize, a GTO which he
eventually got. (1967 400, 4-speed) He worked two years restoring it
and finished in time to drive to school the last day of his junior year
in high school.
Toby Schelin, Silver Bow, MT: You need to get them involved as
soon as possible. My granddaughter loves being in the shop helping
26 AmericanCarCollector.com
heads. Most of the rural kids need a car to get to a job, so this is also
motivation. The city kids only know videogames and cable TV; they
are also used to walking or taking public transportation to work, if
they are motivated enough to get a job. I do not see the motivation in
the city that I see in the country. The majority of kids I employ in the
city are in their late teens or early 20s before they try to get a license.
I was waiting at the door of the DMV the day I turned 16.
Brian Induni, Oregon City, OR: Get them involved with sci-
ence, technology, engineering, and math. If you can show the younger
generation how cool and relevant physics is, they will begin to ask
questions like “what happens when you push on the gas pedal?” and
“why does the car smell funny when you push on the brake pedal for
a long time going down a mountain?” Once they begin to NOTICE
Page 25
technology, they will begin to notice how cool classic
cars are.
Get kids involved WITH you in a hands-on
technology discussion and follow it up with lots of
fun. Build a model rocket and then go fly it. Rebuild a
lawn-mower engine, then start it. Teach them how to
DRIVE a car instead of guiding it. Then pass it on to
them.
Sparky, via ACC Blog: Get them to car shows
early on. If you own a classic car, take the time to talk
to the youngsters who come to look. I had a youngster
come by me 20 years ago. Spent some time talking
to him. He came up to me at a car show last year and
remembered my car. He thanked me for the time I
spent with him 20 years ago, and showed me the Road
Runner he had just restored. It brought a tear to my
eye, and still does when I think about it.
John Vervoort, Waldwick, NJ: You have to start
them at a young age — 3 to 4 years old. Take them to
car shows, talk to them about cars that they like. Buy
them Hot Wheels cars. I have two grown daughters,
who never caught the bug. While I think they appreciate
my love for them, they don’t share the same
passion.
I have two teenage nephews who live close by. I
started them young and look for any excuse to ask
them to help me in the restoration of my Model A.
Help with lifting or holding the nuts while I screw on
the fender. They tend to ask good questions, and I use
this as an opportunity to teach about the evolution of
cars they ride in today. This also allows me to spend
time with them, as well as hopefully generate some
interest and passion.
“You have to start them at a young age —
3 to 4 years old”
Jim Pickering
I have them ride in parades in the old car and see the excitement that it generates.
Invite their friends as well.
Will it take...? I don’t know for sure, as they are now young men getting ready
for a license and have many distractions such as girls, studies and friends. I suspect
their interest will drift away for a while and then perhaps be rekindled when they get
on track with life’s journey on their own. A
Comments with your subscription renewals
We love to hear from our readers, and here’s what some of you had to say when you re-upped your subscriptions. Thank you!
Congratulations
on the quality of the
magazine. Starting a
new publication is not
easy in the best of times.
So launching ACC with
all the competition plus
the seismic changes in
publishing occurring
now is a great gamble.
But SCM has such a
great reputation for
the quality of its contributors
and interesting
content, that it wasn’t
much of a gamble after
all. Keep up the good
work. — John Motroni,
San Francisco, CA
Have section for
Corvettes for sale.
Charge a fee to list cars
for sale so you make
money and provide a
service. — Richard
Hutto, Baytown, TX
Have a truck-focused
issue or a third magazine
added to your lineup
(ACC plus SCM). —
Daniel Mix, Grove City,
OH
More ’Vettes! Less
Dodges. — Mike
Mazany, Burlingame,
CA
I love American Car
Collector. You guys do
a bang-up magazine
— let’s have a parts
for sale section. Thank
you. — Jerry McGrann,
Hayden, ID
It’s great. Don’t
change anything. I have
owned seven Corvettes,
and I see a few in your
magazine. Old friends.
— Rodney Emerson,
Albertville, MN
More 1964 and
1971 Hemi cars and
VINs. — Joseph Sica,
Wethersfield, CT
Love the format and
brevity — don’t change
anything. — Wayne
Linn, Pennsville, NJ
More ’50s–’60s. Less
Corvette, especially C4
through C6. — Todd L.
Duhnke, Wichita, KS
Articles on Chevy
trucks. — David
Franco, Los Angeles,
CA
Auctions, overall
market commentary,
pricing trends. Feature
on Chevrolet SSRs (collectible
or not?). — Dick
Leinbaugh, Clive, IA
More coverage across
the board! Much less
Corvettes. — Charles
Clarke, West Simsbury,
CT
More preserved cars,
less overpowered 6-mpg
muscle cars. — Don
Scott, Calistoga, CA
Please note if
Corvettes have been
NCRS or Bloomington
Gold judged. Thanks.
— Kevin Sullivan,
Plymouth, MN
More complete
coverage of major auctions.
Use auction sales
data over several years
to present trends,
up or down, for
specific types of cars.
— Richard Robinson,
Fort Washington, PA
Enjoy each issue;
look forward to the next.
— Nicholas G. Kaleel,
Boynton Beach, FL
Report on AMC
cars. — Lloyd Mathis,
Arnold, MO
Add more issues. —
Craig Golz, Aberdeen,
SD
Understanding
the market, its shifts
and direction, from a
collector’s perspective.
Thanks! — Dennis
Zentner, Calgary,
Alberta, CAN
November-December 2014 27
FEATURE!
NEW
Page 26
CAR
STAR
to make images of their most important lots for both their print and
Web catalogs. Don’t have a $38 million Ferrari GTO to sell? Don’t
worry, you can do it yourself, and we’ll show you how.
Forget anything you may have learned about photography — shoot-
I
ing an automobile is very different from a portrait or landscape. An
automobile is highly reflective, with large areas of paint and chrome
that need to be treated properly to make your car most appealing.
I’ve photographed hundreds of cars and trucks for magazines,
books and calendars over the past 30 years, and have learned a few
tricks along the way. Here’s how I do it.
Prepare your car
The car or truck you are selling need not be detailed to perfection.
The camera just won’t “see” it. But it does need to be clean, inside
and out. Make sure you remove any small stones that may have been
imbedded in the carpeting, floor mats or tires, as they will stand out
like acne on a supermodel.
Equipment
The best images are made with a “prosumer”-grade digital single-
lens-reflex (DSLR) camera. Ideally, you’ll use a wide-angle lens and
a mild telephoto lens, or a zoom that covers both. It doesn’t have to be
the latest equipment — my 10-year-old Canon EOS Rebel still takes
good images.
If you don’t own or can’t borrow a DSLR, a good zoom point-
and-shoot digital camera can do an acceptable job. Whether DSLR
or point-and-shoot, the important thing is to be able to zoom to the
28 AmericanCarCollector.com
t’s an old maxim, but it’s a good one — you never get a second
chance to make a first impression. That first impression is the
most lasting one, and when you are selling a car (or truck) at
auction or online, the photos you take are very important. The
big auction houses hire professional automotive photographers
FEATUREGET THE MOST FOR YOUR CAR
Making your
the
Great car photos can make a huge
difference when it’s time to sell.
With a few simple tricks,
you can take them yourself
by Tom Glatch
It was already past the two-hour window of “magic”
light when I photographed Dennis Zainer’s 2007
mustang, but by keeping the sun to the rear of the car,
I could make it work. avoid direct sunlight on the car,
Page 27
today’s digital cameras all can take great photos.
the best images will be made with a “prosumer”grade
digital single-lens-reflex (DSLr) camera with
a wide-angle to telephoto zoom lens. a good zoom
point-and-shoot digital camera can do an acceptable
job, too. You could use a high-quality smartphone or
tablet, but their fixed-focal-length lens prevents the
most flattering angles.
it’s better when it’s shining to the side of the view
or slightly behind. Focal length should be 50 mm (or
equivalent) or more for exterior shots. Canon eoS
rebel XSi with zoom lens at 55 mm focal length.
rather than move the
camera to photograph
the opposite side, turn
the car around and put it
in the same spot on the
pavement. Front “quarter”
shots look best
with the front wheels
straight, but turning the
front wheels outward
looks great for the rear
“three-quarter” view.
(Canon EOS Rebel XSi
with zoom lens at 70-mm
focal length)
50-mm or longer equivalent focal length for the exterior shots, and
28-mm equivalent or less for interiors and engines. Also, if at all
possible, use a tripod — it can make the photos much sharper, and it
slows you down and makes you more deliberate.
While not ideal, you could use a high-quality smartphone or tablet
— the image quality is good, but the fixed-focal-length lens prevents
the most flattering shots. And don’t use “digital zoom.” It degrades
the image quality badly.
Location, location, location
Now comes the greatest challenge, finding the right location to take
your photographs.
Whenever possible, photograph on asphalt, or paving bricks or
stones. These will provide the best contrast to make your car “pop.”
Avoid concrete unless it’s stained and stamped into a brick- or stonelike
pattern. And never park on grass — you don’t drive on grass, and
it implies the car is immobile.
If at all possible, the location you choose should be oriented
roughly east-west, as this will help keep the sun facing your car in the
correct direction, which is from the side, not over your shoulder.
Behind this pavement should be a background that is simple yet
adds interest to your car. I like using a fence, a stone wall, a winding
road, or a stand of trees — something that is simple while providing
contrast for the color of your car. Just my opinion, but I’ve never
liked any automotive photo with nothing but grass or blue sky in the
background.
Also, the location you choose should have little vehicle or pedes-
trian traffic. It’s much too easy to get these in the photo, and they’re
very distracting. And don’t even think of putting a pretty friend/wife
in any of the photos; beyond degrading, it reeks of desperation and
instantly ruins your credibility as a seller.
November-December 2014 29
Page 28
FEATURE GET THE MOST FOR YOUR CAR
It’s showtime
Plan to photograph your car no later than two hours after sunrise,
or no earlier than two hours before sunset, and never shoot anywhere
near high noon. If possible, wet down the pavement before moving
your car in place, as it adds even more “pop.” Also, remove your
license plates, or cover them with black construction paper. It’s one
less distraction, and it won’t give away who owns the vehicle or
where it’s located.
Now we’re going to work with the light. If the sun is shining from
the right side of your location, you should photograph from the left
side. If the sun is shining toward the rear of your car, you’ll want to
photograph the front “quarter” view. Front wheels should be straight
when photographing the front of the car, and can be turned outward
when shooting the rear.
Now take your car, turn it around 180°, and put it in the same spot
on the pavement. From the same place you were standing for the first
photos, shoot the other end of the vehicle.
When you are done, you should have good front quarter and rear
three-quarter views of your car. This is your first impression.
Then take a good wide-angle interior image (make sure the steer-
ing wheel is straight if it is visible) and, if it is clean and detailed, an
engine image. Any other shots you take should only show interesting
or unique features. Better to have a few excellent images to submit
than many low-quality or redundant shots.
If you are unsure of what looks best, take a look at the photos of
high-value automobiles in various auction catalogs. I really like the
work David Newhardt does for Mecum on their “Star” lots and major
collections. Even though he often works under tight deadlines and
less-than-ideal conditions, he always makes those vehicles look their
best. That’s the goal, and with a little preparation and practice, you
too can make your car a star. Now fire away!A
my 8-year-old Nikon point-and-shoot would have
taken a fine photo, except it was difficult to shade
the lens from the sun. (Nikon COOLPIX L18 at 55-mm
equivalent focal length)
take a good wide-angle interior shot. No need to use
flash, which can sometime cause a glare, especially if
you are using a tripod. Do the same for the engine, if it
is clean and well detailed. these are your four “money
shots.” any other photos you take should only show
interesting or unique features. (Canon EOS Rebel XSi
with zoom lens at 28 mm focal length)
my iPhone 5 actually took a very good image, but the
lack of a true zoom lens made the angle less than
flattering. Don’t use digital zoom — it greatly degrades
the image.
a beautiful 1932 Nash 1070 4-door sedan in a great
location, but always watch out for trees or lamp posts
“growing” out of the car. moving the Nash a few feet
forward resulted in a much better image.
30 AmericanCarCollector.com
there is a reason why we never photograph at high
noon. even a very expensive Swiss 4x5 view camera
couldn’t save this image — and it was never published.
Page 30
Cheap Thrills
B. Mitchell Carlson
Monterey’sMOST
THE BOTTOM-FEEDER’S GUIDE
TO THE MOST EXPENSIVE
AUCTION WEEK IN HISTORY
easy to forget the other end of the spectrum. For every world-record
sale (1962–63 Ferrari GTO, sold for $38 million at Bonhams Carmel,
for those of you keeping track), there was also a car at each auction
that sat at the bottom of the price list too.
So, as a service to us frugal enthusiasts, I present to you my third
O
Dave Tomaro
1
1936 Ford DeLuxe 4-door woodie wagon
Gooding & Company Lot 27, sold at $99,000
Purported to have been sold new to the Florsheim family (famous
for shoes), this car had only had four owners since and was restored
in 1995 by an Early Ford V-8 Club member. Since then, it’s been used
sparingly, showing the lightest of wear. While not a concours lawn
ornament, it showed and ran well. There’s no embarrassment to have
this as the cheapest car at this venue — as either the buyer or seller.
Woodie wagon prices have seen a rise and fall almost like the tide
32 AmericanCarCollector.com
annual bottom-feeder’s review of Monterey: the cheapest domestically
built car from Gooding & Company, RM Auctions, Bonhams,
Russo and Steele, Mecum, and Rick Cole.
Remember, there are no bad cars — just possible entrants for next
year’s Concours d’LeMons.
1
ne week of auctions, $464 million in sales. That was
the big story out of Monterey’s auctions this past
August. The average price per car? $564,000.
With Ferraris selling at prices exceeding the Gross
National Product of several Third World countries, it’s
Daniel Olivares ©2014, courtesy of RM Auctions
2 1939 Lincoln Zephyr 3-window coupe
The 3-window coupe was delayed a year after the rest of the
RM Auctions Lot 157, sold at $99,000
Zephyr line was introduced in 1936. By 1939, it was the second-mostpopular
body style. Initially penned by John Tjaarda and further
refined by 1939 by E.T. “Bob” Gregorie, it was one of the most stylish
and beautiful designs of the pre-war era. It’s no wonder that it became
as highly coveted as the later Continentals by collectors — and even
more so by street-rodders.
This example was restored a few years back, and received a few
minor driveline tweaks and regular maintenance to improve its drivability.
It looked good as it sat, but showed some light use upon closer
scrutiny.
The street-rod community seems to have moved on to another
car du jour, and the generation that grew up with these when they
were new has all but died off. So interest has cooled somewhat in the
general market, with us Lincoln enthusiasts now being the ones with
the last paddles in the air. A decade ago, you had to pay retail-plus to
get one of the few available; today this is close to the going rate.
3 1936 Ford DeLuxe phaeton
Rick Cole Lot 840, sold at $37,768
The original and most established name in the Monterey auction
scene was now the new kid on the block this year, with Rick Cole
returning to the foray with an online-only auction. When all was said
and done, this 1936 Ford phaeton was the cheapest car sold here.
With single-family ownership since it was purchased from the
original owner in 1941, this Ford was last restored around the time
when a Ford was president. The lacquer paint was worn and lightly
cracked to the point that it could almost come off as original patina to
the untrained eye. Somewhere along the line, it was repowered by a
post-war Ford flathead V8. More recently, it got a new top.
Granted, this Ford won’t win any shows, but you won’t have to
be overly paranoid about parking it at Dairy Queen, either — unlike
pretty much everything else that was in the room here. Selling price
was in that range between a good buy on a well-restored example and
an expensive lesser driver. Need I say any more?
AFFORDABLE
in recent years. They seem to be back on an upswing lately, but more
on a glacial scale this time. For the price paid here, it can either be
well bought or well sold, depending on the swing of the market. As of
now, I’ll take the easy road and just call it market-correct.
2
Page 32
Cheap Thrills
B. Mitchell Carlson
3
4
B. Mitchell Carlson
4 1930 Ford model a Victoria coupe
The biggest surprise about this car was the fact that Bonhams even
Bonhams Lot 281, sold at $17,600
consigned it in the first place. Heck, they had memorabilia that sold for
more than this car brought on the same day. On the other hand, they
also had a scrapper’s row of European “barn finds” that all but made
the high rollers in the crowd have their personal assistants run out to
get more hand sanitizer and surgical masks from their Maybachs.
This A was a pretty decent car. First off, the Victoria was one of
the rarer body styles, built for Ford by Murray. In total, 6,306 were
made after being introduced late in the year (in fact, the car was titled
as a 1931, but has 1930 production features).
This was an older restoration, kitted out with a full accoutrement
of period and modern add-on trinkets such as cast-aluminum step
plates, grille guard (with a period “Portland — City of Roses” cast
tourist emblem; sure to make points with the ACC staffers), quail
radiator cap, and chrome trunk rack. However, the hokiest thing was
the reupholstered roof. It was redone in a vinyl that looks like it was
stolen from a pool-table cover — and not well installed to boot.
Still, you could do a lot worse on a Model A, and they even
seem to be making something of a comeback. Offered at no reserve,
Bonhams’ pre-auction guesstimate was a bit liberal at $25k to $35k
— even for the rarified surroundings — but regardless, this was still
a decent buy.
5 1993 Chevrolet Corvette convertible
High-energy Russo and Steele tends to have a pretty eclectic mix
Russo and Steele Lot TH226, sold at $8,800
of cars, but only rarely do they have a clunker. This year, their lowest
sale was actually a pretty darn good car, and it can also be called the
best buy of the bottom bunch.
5
B. Mitchell Carlson
C4 Corvettes continue to have some staying power in the collector
car market, despite all the other data from the real car world that
suggests that they should be worth about the same as a commensurate
vintage Silverado. The 1990s-era C4s in particular continue to hold
their own, and not just the ragtops either.
Our example was from the 40th anniversary year of production,
but was not a 40th Anniversary package. Ignoring that, this car still
had a lot going for it. Polo Green was a short-lived color, and tends
to work on a C4 — especially with the tan top and interior. It was
a lower-mile (53k) original with the 6-speed manual transmission.
Tossing in the newer Michelin Pilot all-season tires means it could
be a no-brainer cruiser or road-trip car. Offered at no reserve, it was
changing hands anyway, but was still well bought.
6 1951 Studebaker Champion 2-door sedan
This year, Mecum once again had the most affordable American car
Mecum Lot T82, sold at $4,500
on the Peninsula. That shouldn’t be too much of a shocker, as of all the
auction houses, they are the most attuned to the entry-level market.
However, they still had a good number of high-end cars, too,
helped to some extent by having the most cars at one venue during
the weekend.
Wearing a paint job that could either have been brushed or rolled
on and then buffed out — or like World War I Doughboy helmets,
intentionally covered with dirt and then painted — Mr. Bullet Nose
certainly didn’t shine out among its peers. More like reflected light
in some way. However, it did seem to run out decently, owing mostly
to its virtually indestructible flathead 6-cylinder engine. Still, Bullet
Nose Studes are true icons of the ’50s, so regardless of its intended
use (restore, rod, or continue to run into the ground), this one sold
reasonably well. A
6
B. Mitchell Carlson
34 AmericanCarCollector.com
B. Mitchell Carlson
Page 34
Horsepower
Rewriting
Colin Comer
THE RULES
of car collecting
INSANE, OVER-THE-TOP RESTORED MUSCLE CARS CAN’T TAKE US
BACK TO BEING 16 AGAIN WITH A TURN OF THE KEY
Trending toward fun
These “Day Two” modifications are not
a new phenomenon in the restoration world,
but they seem to have really come on strong
lately.
Why? Have we all strived to restore cars
to factory-fresh, bone-stock, NOS-air-inthe-tires
condition for too long? Is having a
COPO Camaro identical to the three other
ones at the show now passé? Did that first
drive in your concours-restored muscle car
not match your memory of the ride your
older sister’s boyfriend gave you in a similar
car in 1970? Or has sitting in a lawn chair
looking at a 440 6-barrel Road Runner as a
moveable art installation at a show grown
tiresome? Do we enjoy rumbling into a
cruise night more than wheezing onto a
concours lawn?
All are good reasons, but whatever the
Cooler than a Cobra?
crayons. Instead, we’re giving a big nanny-nanny-boo-boo to the
established rules of car collecting.
How? Here are two examples:
I
1 “Hopping up” cars that were or are
expected to be restored to concours level
When ’60s and ’70s muscle cars were new, keeping them bone-
stock didn’t speak to the owner’s individuality or offer anywhere near
optimized tire-shredding performance.
The “Day Two” moniker refers to what most guys did the day after
they bought a new muscle car. Out went the power-robbing smog
systems, wheezy exhaust systems, skinny stock tires, and anything
else deemed unnecessary or uncool. Headers, traction bars, glasspack
mufflers, Cragar mags, big tires, and even more invasive hot-rod
techniques like camshafts and steep rear gears were the norm.
36 AmericanCarCollector.com
’m not a mental-health professional, but lately I’ve observed
some very distinct cases of childlike behavior in both myself and
those around me. Well, at least as it pertains to our cars. Don’t
get me wrong — we’re not driving through candy store windows
and looting all the Now & Laters or drawing on our seats with
case, I think the bottom line is this: A lot
of us are over building a car for others or
to “factory-correct” condition. We just
want a car that makes us happy. We want to hear a big cam and
high-compression slugs loud and clear through the pipes. We want a
car that scares the tar out of our passengers when it goes sideways in
third gear. Most of these modifications are not hard to reverse, and
most make a better, more enjoyable car to drive. Maybe as we’ve aged
we’ve remembered why we wanted this stuff in the first place?
I see a lot of people having more fun with “Day Two” or sensibly
dialed-in 97%-correct restored cars than with trailer queens. After
all, nothing makes you feel more like a kid again that doing a wicked
big burnout or showing up that teenager in the Honda next to you.
With a professional driver on a closed course, of course.
2 Laughing with the cars we once laughed at
I don’t know about you, but when I was (regrettably, much,
much) younger, I had an “I’d rather walk than ride in that” attitude
about certain cars. And I hated walking then as much as I do now.
Even when I had no wheels and some of these cars were available
for little more than pocket change, I did a Nancy Reagan and just
said no. Guess what? I’m now finding some of these cars offer a lot
more fun than the Holy Grail aspirational cars we all dreamt (and still
dream) of owning.
Page 35
Once uncool, now collectible?
Case in point: A very good friend of mine (who has perhaps the
finest collection of one-off muscle cars and significant Cobras on the
planet — a guy who is one of those all-NOS/assembly-line-part-only
dweebs who counts the flutes on plastic valve-stem caps and never
drives any of these great cars because he is a weenie) bought a killer
all-original 1972 Gremlin last year. He called to tell me how awesome
it was and how all of his weenie friends were teasing him about it.
Now, remember — I am from Wisconsin, and even here NONE
of us wanted an “Ain’t My Car” Gremlin, ever, even when they were
new. But as soon as I saw the pictures, something came over me and I
said, “Let me know when you’re done with it and I’ll buy it.”
As luck would have it, a few months ago my buddy calls and says
“I need the room. Were you really serious about the Gremlin?” So,
let me tell you about my new Gremlin... it’s as horrible as I remember
and I absolutely love it. Shockingly, it seems I am not alone in liking
these cute little Hornets with the back hacked off. You can’t drive it
anywhere without a crowd forming. Everybody who comes to my
garage sprints past the Cobras to see the Gremlin. It’s insane.
And my weenie buddy? As soon as he sold me the Gremlin, he
found an Opel Manta GT and bought it. Why? He had one as his first
car. And that’s something all the insane over-the-top muscle cars
can’t do for any of us — they can’t take us back to being 16 again
with a turn of the key.
What’s old is new
A few years ago, my wife saw an early Bronco driving around in
Arizona and loved it. I explained to her how I hated them because I
fixed way too many rusty Bronco plow trucks in my youth and how
Willingly traded a mustang gt for ... a bronco?
she would
hate driving
one. But,
as anybody
who is
married
knows, you
can indeed
lose a oneto-one
vote,
so I was
tasked with
finding her
a Bronco.
We
found
a nice,
rust-free 1977 (last year, with auto, PS, a/c, and power disc brakes) in
Phoenix, AZ. All it took was one test drive for her to be hooked. She
even drove it from Arizona to Wisconsin along Route 66 — about
2,300 miles — to get it home. It has now become her car of choice —
so much so that we ended up selling her 2008 Mustang GT because
she never drove it after getting the Bronco. Now she is looking for a
vintage Ford pickup — another vehicle none of us would have traded
a Mustang GT for in our formative years
I could offer a third example after a trip to the local appliance
store recently where I witnessed “retro”-colored appliances, but I
refuse to acknowledge this movement. Yet. But check back with me
in a few years. Who knows, by then I may be waxing a vintage olive
green Kelvinator in my kitchen. Perspective. God help us. A
November-December 2014 37
Page 36
Corvette Market
John L. Stein
DEAD
MAN’S
CURVE
Dean Torrence
on the story of
“THE XKE WAS A SNOOTY CAR, AND WE WANTED TO WIPE OUT
SOMETHING THAT WASN’T AMERICAN”
“Hey Little Cobra.” But for Corvette fans, there can only be one anthem:
Jan & Dean’s 1964 top-10 hit “Dead Man’s Curve.”
In case you were not yet hatched by the 1960s, the song is about a
F
street race between vocalist Jan Berry in his Corvette and a rival driver
in a Jaguar E-type, culminating in a wreck at fictitious Dead Man’s
rom Jackie Brenston’s 1951 “Rocket 88” to Keith Urban’s 2013
“Red Camaro,” car songs have magically withstood the test of
time. Depending on what’s in the garage, we’ve probably all
got our personal favorites, like The Beach Boys’ “Little Deuce
Coupe,” Ronny & The Daytonas’ “G.T.O.”, or the Rip Chords’
Curve. The song lists some of the most famous streets in Los Angeles,
and having grown up nearby, I’d wondered about the back-story since
first hearing the song. Thus, only 50 years behind schedule, I decided to
call Dean Torrence and find out. Here is his tale.
A new direction
After the release of 1963’s “Surf City” album, the LA duo figured
they needed a fresh approach, and car songs were charting pretty
well. “The song ‘Drag City’ became our opening statement on which
direction we were going — and that was So-Cal car culture,” Torrence
For more information about Jan & Dean, go to www.jananddean.com
Hollywood
and Vine
38 AmericanCarCollector.com
Page 37
recalls. “But we needed 12 songs for our next album, and ‘Dead Man’s
Curve’ became one of them.
“A group of us were sitting around kicking around ideas, at first just
trying to come up with automotive titles. Somehow the ‘Dead Man’s
Curve’ idea seemed like it had never been done before, and at the time
we were also experimenting with satire and humor. We knew we could
do it straight as another ‘Tell Laura I Love Her,’ but we thought if we
made it melodramatic but also a little tongue-in-cheek, it could make a
great record.”
With both Jan and Dean having grown up near Hollywood, it made
sense to use the winding streets they knew so well in the song. So quite
literally, “Dead Man’s Curve” is a trip from the intersection of Sunset
Boulevard and Vine Street in Hollywood, westward along Sunset to a
diabolical corner they personally regarded as Dead Man’s Curve. Today
MapQuest shows the route as 8.1 miles.
“We wanted to paint a picture of the Hollywood area, someplace
close to the Sunset Strip,” Torrence explains. “Sunset and Vine was
and is a historic intersection, so that became our starting point. The
‘Schwab’s’ mentioned in the second verse was actually the Schwab’s
Pharmacy owned by the father of a high-school friend, Alan Schwab.
We threw it in for various reasons. Other streets like La Brea and
Doheny were landmark intersections that also happened to work well
lyrically, so we used them too.” With some poetic license, all the elements
were arranged perfectly.
Car music icon
The climax of the song is, of course, Dead Man’s Curve. “Probably
everyone in the United States had a turn they regarded as ‘Dead Man’s
Curve,’” Dean notes. “Ours happened to be up above UCLA, just a bit
east of the Bel Air gates. It had not been christened the Dead Man’s
Curve, but it certainly was that to us. There had been several fatalities
there, and we knew it as a curve to be reckoned with. And so, if you
Jim Pickering
Sting ray vs. e-type — only one makes it out alive
wanted to be considered a good street racer, you had to come to terms
with that curve. It was a cresting turn that was also crowned so water
would run off. Because of the crest you couldn’t see over or around it,
and if you went too fast in the outside lane, you were in big trouble.”
As for the cars, both Jan and Dean had a series of Corvettes at the
time, and to Dean at least, the one that mattered most was a Sting Ray
coupe. His was Daytona Blue with a black interior, and of course a fourspeed
gearbox. It had minimalist button hubcaps, and at one point Dean
even had drag slicks fitted in back. So naturally the hero car had to be
a Corvette. As for choosing a Jaguar as the competition? “The XKE
was a snooty car, and we wanted to wipe out something that wasn’t
American,” Torrence reveals. “A Jag was what the jazz guys would have
been driving, not us rock-and-rollers!”
Now 50 years on, it’s nice to know Dean Torrence still likes the
recording. “That record had melody, harmony and everything you
could do technically in rock and roll at the time, including an orchestra,
strings and castanets, and 40 different vocal parts,” he says. “It showed
Jan’s genius to get all that instrumentation on a two-track tape recorder,
and for me it’s our number-one best work. I love everything about it, and
there isn’t one thing I would change today.” A
November-December 2014 39
Page 38
PROFILE CORVETTE
1972 CHEVROLET CORVETTE CUSTOM
Fiberglass, gold and nostalgia
Courtesy of Mecum Auctions
If you
wonder what
becomes of
high-dollar
customs
once their
cutting-edge
styling
begins to
dull, then
there’s a lot
we can learn
from this
$20k ’72
Stingray
40 AmericanCarCollector.com
40 AmericanCarCollector.com
VIN: 1Z37K2S514091
by Jay Harden
• This ISCA award-winning 1972 Corvette coupe
has been fully customized in every possible
respect
• Every piece able to be chromed (except engine
block and frame) has been gold- or chrome-plated
• This stand-out coupe was the result of thousands
of hours of work
• Documentation from the original owner
• The seller traced this car back to its original
owner, who completed all of the customization
work and showed this car across the Midwest
• This custom won first place in every show it
entered and claimed top honors at the ISCA show
in Chicago
• The original owner compiled a complete record
of the car’s success, including receipts of the work
completed, magazines the cars was featured in,
photos of the car during the build process, and
photos of the car at the ISCA show in Chicago
ACC Analysis This Corvette custom, Lot F291,
sold for $20,520, including buy-
er’s premium, at Mecum’s sale in Harrisburg, PA, on
July 24–27, 2014.
Holy hoodscoops! Pinstripes and sidepipes and gold-
plated fuel bowls?! Right on! I know it doesn’t get much
more out of date or out of favor than our “Corvette
Summer”-era coupe here, but I dig it, man. If you often
wonder what becomes of high-dollar customs once their
cutting-edge styling begins to dull, then there’s a lot we
can learn from this $20k ’72 Stingray.
It’s all about the look
I typically prefer flames to floral engraving, but the
longer I study this Corvette, the more convinced I am
that I should grow a moustache. I imagine driving
such a lavish beast is much like escorting a glamorous
debutante in an evening gown — you have to dress for
the occasion and you have to own the moment. Silk
shirts and exposed chest hair aren’t my best looks, but
I don’t think T-shirts and flip-flops are an option here.
I think we can safely assume several decades have
passed since this car was initially customized, and
the simple fact that the paint and flares have survived
is a pretty clear indicator of the quality of the work.
Even if this coupe has covered more miles inside a
shag-carpet-lined tow-rig than under its own power,
decades of polishing and trailering can take a heavy
toll. This car has been loved, and its state of preservation
proves it.
Snapshot of the show scene
Unfortunately, the state in which this car has been
preserved is one that has not, at least up to this point,
been looked upon with the same rose-colored glasses
that were so popular during the time of its creation.
The mid- to late-’70s is generally recognized as an
era totally devoid of performance and a time in which
gaudiness overwhelmed tasteful restraint. Although
you’d be hard-pressed to describe this car as subtle,
it certainly has a sharpness and character that still
stand up quite well if you give it a chance.
Fender flares and gold-plating may be easy to ridi
Page 39
Detailing
Original list price: $5,533
Current ACC Valuation:
$18,500–$39,500 (stock
small-block coupe)
Tune-up/major service: $300
Distributor cap: $15
VIN location: VIN plate under
lower left windshield corner
Engine # location: On block
in front of right cylinder
head
Year produced: 1972
Number produced: 20,496
(coupes)
ow, but they were once as in vogue as custom
chassis and mini-tubs are today. Both sets of
modifications are equally permanent in
the sense that some serious effort would be
required to reverse them, and both dramatically
affect the character of the car. Luckily
r us, the current customization trends favor
rmance and drivability over ornamentation
d flamboyance, but who can predict how much
re time the current movement has before it too
ins to fade into obsolescence? How well will
e extensive mods required to accommodate a
mail-order frame hold up over the next 40 years? If
we use our Corvette here as a reference, we can safely
assume that many such cars will age gracefully, but
many more will not.
What do you value?
You can argue that customization of any kind ulti-
mately ruins the long-term value of any car, both in
terms of a car’s dollar worth and its historical worth.
The Bloomington Gold organization formed precisely
to support the notion that Corvette originality should
be valued, with the customization of cars like our
Dancing Queen serving as ripples that energized the
wave. As a result, the Bloomington Gold standard has
proven to be an enormous influence on the monetary
valuation of preserved and restored Corvettes. But
for hot-rodders like me, scrutinizing hose clamps and
evaluating overspray is a total snoozefest.
When I see bone-stock, low-mileage muscle at a
show, the nerd-alert alarm goes off inside my head and
I keep on moving. Of course those cars are valuable
and interesting and worth preserving, but that responsibility
is better left to someone other than me. I enjoy
cars that tell stories of adventure, of tragedy, and of
redemption. As with some of my favorite people, I don’t
even mind if they’re a little rough around the edges.
Unfortunately, character and adventure rarely
return a profit. The preservation crowd has proven that
the safest way to utilize an automobile as an investment
is to keep it completely stock and wait. It may be
boring, but it’s true. To be fair, I found an ACC record
that indicates our Corvette was previously sold in 2005
at a Kruse auction in Chicago, IL, for $45,360 (ACC#
37629). In a time when comparable stock or lightly
modified ’Vettes are on the rise, this car’s current valuation
has fallen by more than 50%. Yikes. This is where
the preservation crowd says, “Told ya so.”
However, there is a variable at play here — a ter-
ribly unpredictable and irrational variable that goes
by the name of Nostalgia. The slow and steady approach
may have won the day, but history has shown
that doesn’t mean a whole heck of a lot. The desire to
recapture an experience or relive a moment can be a
ludicrously expensive pursuit, but that hardly slows
the crazy train once it leaves the station. Gassers, for
example, were part of a short-lived phenomenon, were
scary to drive, and were an exercise in engineering
regression. Yet, here we are, throwing money at them
all over again. Disco-era ’Vettes obviously haven’t hit
their stride yet on the way to a comeback, and who’s to
say they ever will? Regardless, I’ll call this particular
one well bought, and our buyer can just go on with his
bad self. A
(Introductory description courtesy of Mecum
Auctions.)
Club: Goodguys
More: www.good-guys.com
Alternatives: Any period-built
(1970–80) Corvette custom
in good condition
ACC Investment Grade: C
Comps
1976 Chevrolet Corvette
custom
Lot 76.1, VIN:
1Z37L6S418760
Condition: 2+
Sold at $16,500
Barrett-Jackson, Costa Mesa,
CA, 6/25/2011
ACC# 182129
1968 Chevrolet Corvette
custom
Lot S18, VIN:
Condition: 3Not
sold at $14,500
Mecum Auctions, St. Charles,
IL, 6/27/2009
1943778S410742
ACC# 120922
1972 Chevrolet Corvette
custom (subject car)
Lot 733, VIN: 1Z37K2S514091
Condition: 2+
Sold at $45,360
Kruse International, Chicago,
IL, 3/12/2005
ACC# 37629
November-December 2014
41CC
41
Page 40
PROFILE GM
Space-Age Chevrolet
1960 CHEVROLET IMPALA CONVERTIBLE
Pawel Litwinski, courtesy of Bonhams
You can
almost
imagine
George
Jetson
blasting off
with his
family to a
’60s-sleek
Bob’s Big
Boy in one of
these rockets
VIN: 01867A155463
by Tom Glatch
W
42 AmericanCarCollector.com
ith just 16,200 miles and few devoted
owners from new, this 1960 Impala
convertible must be one of most original
examples left.
Equipped with the high-output
348-ci engine, this exceptional Chevrolet has been a
cornerstone of the current owner’s exquisite Southern
California collection for decades, and was purchased
by him from the second owner, who had used the car
sparingly for parades and other special occasions.
“It took me about 12 years to purchase this unique
Chevy,” states the owner. “I was fascinated by the
originality and how amazingly well it was preserved. I
had to keep calling the guy for 12 years until he let me
buy the car.”
At the 1994 AACA fall meet in Hershey, PA, the
Impala earned a 1st Junior Award. Well maintained
and started and run regularly, this highly original
Impala even retains the factory-optioned tissue box
underneath the dash — still intact with a very old box
of tissues — and an oil-change decal dating to 1963 is
affixed to the door jamb.
ACC Analysis This car, Lot 215, sold for
$77,000, including buyer’s pre-
mium, at Bonhams’ Quail Lodge Auction, Carmel, CA,
on August 15, 2014.
High-flying fins
On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched the
first man-made satellite into orbit: Sputnik 1. The Jet
Age was instantly old news. The Space Age was here!
By the time the first human orbited the earth in
1961, nearly a half million Americans had purchased
a “spaceship” all their own: the 1959 and 1960
Chevrolets. Only the legendary Tom McCahill could
describe this car properly. Writing of the ’59 Impala
in the November 1958 issue of Mechanix Illustrated,
McCahill opined: “This is the Queen Mother of the
camp and as wild a departure from earlier models as
Santa Claus without a beard. The rear-deck treatment
is pure Louis Armstrong... gone, man, gone! Instead of
last year’s neatly sculptured, somehow sort of foreignlooking
backside, the view from the rear is strictly
Spaceship 1989. It carries tremendous horizontal fins
which hover over teardrop-shaped taillight clusters to
give the whole thing a kind of two-story effect. My first
reaction when I saw this rear flight deck, which curves
downward from either side in a slow V, was, ‘What a
spot to land a Piper Cub!’ It’s crazy... but craziness in
good taste.”
The public seemed to want crazy, too. That timeless
classic, the ’57 Chevy, was actually out-sold by Ford
that year. The unloved ’58 Chevrolet model sold even
less, but thanks to Ford’s even more dismal sales in
1958, the Bowtie was back on top of the sales race.
Still, GM wanted to fix the problem, and the 1959
Chevrolet was their solution to their decline in sales.
It was an almost desperate reaction of design chief
Harley Earl to Chrysler’s very successful “Forward
Look,” directed by Virgil Exner. Sales climbed back,
just missing 1957 numbers. But there had to be a feel
Page 41
ing within the hallowed halls of GM Design that the
’59 cars really could have sold even better with a little
less craziness. That would come in 1960.
A sharper design
“So start the ’60s right with the finest Chevy ever.
Strong. Silent. Sensibly new. The 1960 Impala convert.”
So gushed actor Eddie Albert in a
t aired in October 1959.
ed a new decade — a new begin-
fect time to break from the past.
d taken the reins of GM Design
’s retirement, and he espoused the
f cleaner, crisper forms.
oo late for a completely new Chevy
t would have to wait until 1961 — but
h relatively minor sheet-metal and
hanges, the 1960 Chevrolets were
rovement, or as GM’s marketing
e called them, “ fresh-minted models
ery taste.” Well, maybe every taste
a 1960, but today the 1959–60 Chevys
e a definite Space Age kitsch. You can
st imagine George Jetson blasting off
s family to a ’60s-sleek Bob’s Big Boy
e rockets. There was even room for
, in the cavernous cockpit. But as with
des kitsch, some people will love it,
within the hallowed halls of GM Design that the
’59 cars really could have sold even better with a little
less craziness. That would come in 1960.
A sharper design
“So start the ’60s right with the finest Chevy ever.
Strong. Silent. Sensibly new. The 1960 Impala convert-
.” So gushed actor Eddie Albert in a
t aired in October 1959.
ed a new decade — a new begin-
fect time to break from the past.
d taken the reins of GM Design
’s retirement, and he espoused the
f cleaner, crisper forms.
oo late for a completely new Chevy
t would have to wait until 1961 — but
h relatively minor sheet-metal and
hanges, the 1960 Chevrolets were
rovement, or as GM’s marketing
e called them, “ fresh-minted models
ery taste.” Well, maybe every taste
a 1960, but today the 1959–60 Chevys
e a definite Space Age kitsch. You can
st imagine George Jetson blasting off
s family to a ’60s-sleek Bob’s Big Boy
e rockets. There was even room for
, in the cavernous cockpit. But as with
des kitsch, some people will love it,
This
This car
This ’60 Impala has a lot going for it: A Roman Red
convertible with 348 V8 power is about as good as it
gets for this model. Of course, there is the incredibly
low mileage and extraordinary showroom-fresh condition
of this example, which few, if any, ’60 Chevys
on this planet can match.
But the 1959–60 Chevys have never had the follow-
ing of the ’55–’57 Tri-Five Chevys or the later ’60s
Impalas, and they probably never will, even though
their values have taken off recently.
$77,000 is very good money for a ’60 ragtop, but
not top money. A few (all restored Roman Red convertibles,
by the way) have sold for as much as $112k,
which is a complete mystery to me — no amount of
money can reproduce originality, and in the purely
logical world of Mr. Spock of “Star Trek,” this timetraveling
’60 must be at the top of the money list. But
the market is rarely driven by logic, so that makes this
Chevrolet a unique find and a great bargain. Very well
bought.A
(Introductory description courtesy of Bonhams.)
Detailing
Club: Vintage Chevrolet Club
of America
More: www.vcca.org
Alternatives: 1960 Ford
Galaxie convertible, 1960
Plymouth Belvedere
convertible, 1960 Cadillac
Series 62 convertible
ACC Investment Grade: C
Comps
Years produced: 1960
Number produced: 79,903
Original list price: $2,954
Current ACC Valuation:
$30,000–$65,000
Tune-up/major service: $150
Distributor cap: $6.67
VIN location: Plate on the
left front body hinge pillar
below the upper door hinge
Engine # location: Stamped
on the block in front of the
right-hand cylinder head
1960 Chevrolet Impala
convertible
Lot 163, VIN: 01867F212448
Condition: 2+
Sold at $90,750
RM Auctions, Fort Worth, TX,
4/27/2013
ACC# 216134
1960 Chevrolet Impala
convertible
Lot 276, VIN: 01867S187289
Condition: 3
Sold at $85,250
RM Auctions, North Palm
Beach, FL, 12/1/2012
ACC# 214332
1960 Chevrolet Impala
convertible
Lot 175, VIN: 01867N170240
Condition: 2
Sold at $82,500
RM Auctions, Anaheim, CA,
6/27/2008
ACC# 117284
November-December 2014 43
Page 42
PROFILE FOMOCO
Big money for a driver Shelby
1965 SHELBY GT350
John Hollansworth Jr., courtesy of Mecum Auctions
All Shelbys
may have
been created
equal, but
they certainly
don’t remain
so today
VIN: SFM5S260
by Dale Novak
Registry keeps detailed records of each Shelbymodified
Mustang made; the 1965 GT350 presented
here is a solid, documented example treated to a
high-quality restoration several years ago. It remains
in excellent, well-preserved condition.
S/N SFM5S260, the car was originally shipped
R
44 AmericanCarCollector.com
44 AmericanCarCollector.com
to Koons Ford in Falls Church, VA, in June 1965
and sold to Dr. John Clift of Vienna, VA; it has a
well-established ownership record that is documented
in the Shelby Registry. Carroll Shelby signed the
glovebox, a very nice personal touch for one of his
creations. Finished in Wimbledon White with Blue
Le Mans stripes and correctly styled Shelby Cragar
wheels (including the spare), it is an easily appreciated
example that will be right at home in any collection of
significant performance cars or any show venue.
ACC Analysis This car, Lot S156, sold for
$286,200, including buyer’s pre-
mium, at Mecum’s Monterey sale held in Monterey,
CA, on August 14–16, 2014.
arely are automobiles as sought-after and
seemingly immune to market fluctuations
as Carroll Shelby’s GT350, and the firstyear
editions are consistently the most
valuable of that breed.
The Shelby American Automobile Club’s World
Tuning up the Mustang
With the popularity of the Mustang, introduced in
the summer of 1964, Ford knew it had a winner in
the stable. The car built using parts grabbed from
the Ford Falcon bins went on to become one of the
fastest-selling cars in America, selling over 680,000
units by the end of the 1965 production run. It was a
sales success for sure — not only because the car was
well received by the public, but also because it was
fueled by a massive advertising and public-relations
blitz by Ford.
Ford knew that adding a hot high-performance
model, or at least the appearance of one, to the
Mustang line would be good for business. Ultimately,
Ford tapped Carroll Shelby for that job, not only
because he was a master salesman, but also because
he knew how to get things done quickly and make cars
go fast. Even better, it didn’t hurt that his Cobra and
Ford’s GT40 were already tied to the Ford/Shelby
brand and winning races all over the world.
Shelby knew that the best place to hang your hat for
a performance image was to quickly attach the car to
the SCCA. It was there that Shelby and John Bishop,
Executive Director of the SCCA, laid out a plan for
the new Mustang performance car to be eligible for
B-Production racing. The directive would be to transform
the car, according to the rules, to a race-spec
example. Then, Ford and team Shelby would need to
homologate them by producing 100 examples.
Page 43
Detailing
Original list price: $4,547
Current ACC Valuation:
$300,000–$390,000
Tune-up/major service: $500
Distributor cap: $10
VIN location: Left side of
front fender unibody
structure above wheelwell
(pop-riveted tag over the
stamped Ford-issued VIN)
Engine # location: Ford VIN
stamped onto pad on block
at passenger’s side front
corner
Year produced: 1965
Number produced: 562 (all
variants)
From pony to thoroughbred
Shelby turned to the team of Ken Miles, Bob
Bondurant and Klaus Arning to dial in the suspension
on the GT350. The original design work was accomplished
on two notchback prototype model Mustangs,
but the basic dynamics of the build didn’t change once
the more rakish fastback model was in play. After the
cars were turned over to Shelby, Pete Brock continued
to tweak the visual aspects of the GT350, which ultimately
led to the final version. At the end of the 1965
model run, 521 street cars had been built along with
36 R models.
Interestingly, the name of the GT350 comes from a
typically Shelby-like “old farmer” simplification. The
number 350 was an estimate of the distance between
Shelby American’s office and its shop. Additionally,
as the story goes, Shelby thought the meeting about
the name of the new performance Mustang was taking
too long. Shelby responded, “If it was a good car, the
name wouldn’t matter; if it was a poor one, the name
wouldn’t save it.”
Chassis number 260
GT350s rarely slide under the radar. Checking up
on this one reveals a colorful past.
According to several sources close to the car and
the Shelby Registry, chassis number 260 is sporting
an older restoration that was accomplished by a
well-known Shelby aficionado in the 1980s. Beyond
that, the car was reported to have been damaged at
one point, which required some repairs to the chassis.
It also had some rust issues, which were repaired with
new quarter panels and a reported new trunk pan.
Our subject car also carries more than its share of
reproduction parts required to round out its presentation.
The engine is said to be a correct mill, but it’s not
original to the car. The transmission was also reported
to be incorrect for the car, but that’s likely not
a game-changer given the car’s overall configuration.
All that said, chassis 260 is also said to be dialed in
mechanically and ready for tours, road rallys or some
enjoyable winding country roads. In essence, it’s a
good driver-quality car that might not be as pure as
other GT350s in the market.
Shifting it down
This car showed up at auction a few times in the
past, starting as a no-sale at Auctions America’s Fall
Auburn sale in 2012, with a high bid of $180,000.
Afterward, it was then reported to have been “sorted
out further” by a respected Shelby expert and found
its way to Auctions America a second time, this time at
its premier Fort Lauderdale sale in 2014, selling there
for a tidy $217,000 including the buyer’s premium.
Ultimately, chassis 260 then sold at the aforementioned
Mecum Monterey venue, finding a healthy
$286,200.
By the books, a 1965 GT350 is perhaps the most
desirable of the Shelby Mustang series other than the
36 1965 R models, which are infinitely rare and fetch a
substantial premium over the street versions. The cars
changed slightly and production ramped up for ’66,
with 1,368 street editions produced and an additional
999 Hertz models in play. Discontinued for 1966 were
things like side-exit exhaust, traction bars, and a
trunk-mounted battery — to purists, these items are
part of what makes the ’65 package so desirable.
A market price?
The ACC Pocket Price Guide places the value of a
well-represented #2 condition GT350 in the $300,000
to $390,000 range. Keep in mind that the value range
represents a well-sorted and likely documented very
nice #2 example. Given the research and discussions
about chassis 260, I don’t think it would fit into that
category. All Shelbys may have been created equal,
but they certainly don’t remain so today — and the
best examples in the market will carry a premium over
those with more stories, especially stories with an
uncomfortable ending.
Chassis 260 isn’t a bad Shelby by any means. It’s
just not as desirable as a more minty one with more
OEM parts might be in the market. This is a GT350
you could actually drive and enjoy rather just use as
some sort of pristine garage furniture.
All things considered, and given what we know about
the car and what other similar cars have changed hands
for recently, I’d say this one was well sold.A
(Introductory description courtesy of Mecum
Auctions.)
November-December 2014
45CC
45
Club: Shelby American Auto
Club (SAAC)
More: www.saac.com
Alternatives: 1966 Shelby
GT350, 1963–63 Shelby
Cobra 289, 1967–69
Chevrolet Camaro Yenko
S/C
ACC Investment Grade: A
Comps
1965 Shelby GT350
Lot 139, VIN: SFM5S226
Condition: 1Sold
at $242,000
RM Auctions, Amelia Island,
FL, 3/9/2013
ACC# 215668
1965 Shelby GT350
Lot 163, VIN: SMF5S472
Condition: 2
Sold at $172,500
RM Auctions, Phoenix, AZ,
1/18/2013
ACC# 215026
1965 Shelby GT350
Lot 344, VIN: SFM5S549
Condition: 3+
Sold at $159,000
Bonhams, Scottsdale, AZ,
1/17/2013
ACC# 215085
Page 44
PROFILE MOPAR
1971 PLYMOUTH GTX
Last-chance Mopar muscle
Teddy Pieper © 2014, courtesy of Auctions America
It’s not
flashy like
Muhammad
Ali — this
GTX is more
like Joe
Frazier: cool
and deadly
VIN: RS23V1G118505
by Patrick Smith
desirable Air Grabber hood, A33 Trak Pak option,
power disc brakes, split-back bench seat, pistol-grip
floor shifter, and very rare add-on non-console stereo
cassette player/recorder setup.
Records indicate that this is one of 62 440+6 pack
O
46 AmericanCarCollector.com
46 AmericanCarCollector.com
manual transmission GTX hard tops produced in 1971.
Given the options on this example, it is very likely the
only one of its kind ever constructed.
ACC Analysis This car, Lot 5076, sold for
$74,250, including buyer’s pre-
mium, at Auctions America’s Auburn Autumn sale in
Auburn, IN, on August 30, 2014.
The Plymouth GTX was born in 1967 as an upscale
Satellite with a special high-performance 440 4-barrel
engine. That engine showcased the new “915”
cylinder heads and matching exhaust manifolds,
performance cam and related hardware. The GTX had
its own appearance package with dual hood scoops,
twin stripes, and flashy chrome-styled road wheels
and chrome exhaust tips.
In 1968, the low-budget Road Runner made serious
waves and stole the GTX’s thunder, as it shared the
same Satellite shell as GTX. The two models coexisted
uneasily, but the cheaper stripped-down Road
ffered not only with the powerful 440+6
engine package and manual 4-speed
transmission, this Autumn Bronze
Metallic GTX is also presented with
a few very unusual features. It has the
Runner eventually gained the upper hand in sales to a
market obsessed with power and speed.
Performance reshaped
Plymouth opted for a major change in styling for
their 1971 B-bodies. Stylist John Herlitz was tapped
for the job, and he plunged into it with relish. While
the press hailed the 1971 GTX and Road Runner as
Chrysler’s latest examples of fuselage styling, Herlitz
called it “form and curvature in sheet metal.” It was
a move away from Mopar’s practice of linear design,
which GM had abandoned in the mid-1960s.
Herlitz was inspired by the McDonnell Douglas F4
Phantom fighter jet’s side intakes for the shape and
form of the grille. The side view and optional hood
stripes drew attention to the wheelwells. Marketers
added an Elastomeric bumper option to counter the
Pontiac GTO’s Endura nose. There were several stripe
combinations available, and a hood scoop was offered
with its own special graphics. A GTX could look
smooth as glass or like a rolling billboard, depending
on the owner’s preferences and checkbook.
The GTX was still the top of the line, with more
features than a Road Runner, and it came standard
with the Super Commando 440 4-barrel and columnshift
Torqueflite 727 transmission. The bucket seats,
wood-grain dash and door panels were also included
but a console was extra cost. You also got gun-barrel
exhaust tips, dual horns and heavy-duty suspension.
Optional engines were the 440+6, of which only 135
Page 45
Detailing
re made, and the 426 Hemi.
The Six Pack engine option was cheap at $125,
ut the Hemi was a brutal $746.50, and that
xplains why only 30 Hemi GTXs were made.
ny GTX is rare, as Plymouth only made 2,942
hem that year — the once-proud nameplate
e just an option on the Road Runner by 1972.
uilding it right
n era in which many manufacturers were
backing down from the horsepower wars,
this car, particularly the Six Pack-equipped
version, still packed a pretty healthy punch.
Power was down on the 440, but it was still rated
at 385 horsepower — only about five horsepower
below the 1970 version.
But this Mopar wasn’t king of the hill out of the box.
A Six Pack GTX runs the quarter in the 14.80-second
range. A Boss 351 was a full second faster, and a W-30
Olds offered the same level of comfort and speed. At
nearly 4,000 pounds, weight was this car’s enemy,
so to make it fly, you needed the right options — the
Super Trak Pak gave you 4.10 gears, axles and cooling,
while the Air Grabber hood improved breathing.
Most owners modified their cars from there to give
them even more of a performance edge, and that’s
also had an impact on how many really good stock
ones are out there today.
This car has some choice options. An early-build
car from September 1970, it came with stereo cassette
tape system with microphone, N96 Air Grabber hood
scoop, 4-speed manual transmission with pistolgrip
shifter, A33 Trak Pak, power brakes, Rallye
wheels and a split bench seat with folding arm rest.
Considering how rare V-code GTXs are, you’ll be
waiting a long time before you come across another
with this same good stuff.
Cool and deadly
When it comes to values, muscle cars must have the
go-fast stuff and be in primo condition. High-impact
paint and a wild interior help as well. This particular
GTX is not flashy like Muhammad Ali — it’s more like
Joe Frazier: cool and deadly.
GTXs were affordable in the early 2000s. You could
get a Six Pack for around $23,000 back then. Sales
shot up to the $80,000 range in 2007, and from there,
values plunged steeply as part of a market adjustment
before leveling to the mid-$40,000 range. Of course,
condition and originality affect the price on one
of these markedly. An engine replacement or color
change usually shows up in the sale price. Today, nice
condition, numbers matching, no-stories cars go over
$70,000, but they’re super-rare — prices on these cars
reflect the fact that there are so few to choose from.
Buyers do pay sky-high prices for Mopars, but
they can be reasonably sure about what they’re really
getting thanks to Chrysler’s inclusion of engine information
in each of their cars’ VIN sequences — in this
case, that V in the fifth spot. That said, all the features
mentioned have been duplicated in the past, so you
still must check any car thoroughly before plopping
down a stack of cash.
A car that’s been in a notable collection raises the
comfort level for buyers. This one had been offered as
part of the Disiere Collection, which is another plus.
While $74k was strong money for the model, it
wasn’t a record. The buyer of this car paid a market
price for now, and considering how few there really
are like this, I think by the next time one comes
available, this deal could look like a bargain. Well
bought.A
(Introductory description courtesy of Auctions
America.)
1971 Plymouth GTX 440
Six Pack
Lot 789, VIN:
Condition: #3
Sold at: $35,100
Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale,
AZ, 1/16/2003
RS23V1G144516
ACC# 30204
Club: National B-Body
Owners Association
Year produced: 1971
Number produced: 135; 62
4-speeds, 73 automatics
Original list price: $3,733
(with 440 4-barrel)
Current ACC Valuation:
$52,900–$75,500
Tune-up/major service: $350
Distributor cap: $22.58
VIN location: Top of left
side of dash panel, visible
through windshield
Engine # location: V code,
fifth digit of VIN. Partial VIN
on rad cradle and oil-pan
rail passenger’s side
More: www.wwnboa.org
Alternatives: 1971
Oldsmobile W30 442, 1971
Ford Mustang Boss 351,
1971 Dodge Charger 440
ACC Investment Grade: C
Comps
1971 Plymouth GTX 440
Lot 38, VIN: R523U1G117934
Condition: 3Sold
at $23,220
Silver Auctions, Spokane, WA,
5/7/2014
ACC# 243676
1971 Plymouth GTX 440
Six Pack
Lot 1045, VIN: R23V1G12043
Condition: 1Sold
at: $77,000
Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale,
AZ, 1/18/2007
ACC# 44179
November-December 2014
November-December 2014 47
Page 46
PROFILE HOT ROD & CUSTOM
1931 FORD MODEL A “UNKNOWN ROADSTER”
Barn-find bargain
Nathan Leduc Photography, courtesy of Auctions America
While this
roadster is
obviously a
period piece,
its actual
history
remains
obscure
VIN: A5987981
by Ken Gross
• ’31 Ford roadster body channeled over a ’32 Ford
frame
• An authentic “barn find,” intact since the
early ’60s
• Fresh 286-ci Vern Tardel-built three-carb
flathead V8
• Featured in Pat Ganahl’s book Lost Hot Rods II
ACC Analysis This car, Lot 3115, sold for
Dusty and rusty
Most car enthusiasts fantasize about barn finds.
Hot-rodders are no different. This car’s auction seller,
Greg Hopkins, from Dothan, AL, had just finished
building a chopped Model A coupe when he saw this
bitchin’ old roadster advertised on Craigslist. He
partnered with his father-in-law to buy it, flew to
Broomfield, CO, and drove it home — some 1,800
miles, most of them on two-lane backroads.
Although the car had been dormant for years, the
Craigslist seller, Frank Vahling, was confident the
roadster was ready for a long haul. He’d installed
a ’52 Mercury flathead, four new whitewalls and a
fresh pair of batteries (the car used two), along with
new belts and hoses. Jerry Weatherman freshened the
white vinyl tuck-and-roll interior.
Five days after he bought the roadster, Hopkins
48
AmericanCarCollector.com
$78,100, including buyer’s pre-
mium, at Auction America’s California sale on July
31–August 2, 2014.
rolled into Dothan, with lots of stories to tell from
people he’d met along the way who were mesmerized
by the sight of that old hot rod.
Still a mystery
No one knows who initially built this car. It
languished in storage from 1967 to 2012. A car transporter/dealer
named Bob Connor watched it for about
18 years before he acquired it from its then-owner, a
land developer who knew nothing about it. Connor
then sold it, without an engine, to Gary Vahling, who
then resold it to his brother Frank.
Features in Hop Up, The Rodder’s Journal, Ol’
Skool Rodz, and an appearance on the cover of Pat
Ganahl’s book, Lost Hot Rods II, have failed to yield
any clues to its origins. Hopkins carefully cleaned
off a coat of gray primer to reveal a weathered ’53
DeSoto Spring Green finish. He found a ’32 Ford VIN
on the chassis when he lifted the body, and traced that
number to the registration of a ’32 Ford roadster near
Mechanicsburg, PA, in the fall of 1958.
What is known is that this is a very well-built,
strictly East Coast-style lowboy, channeled over a ’32
frame that was substantially Zee-ed, front and rear,
and fitted with a late ‘30s Ford X-member. The car
appears to have been built in the early ’50s. The steering
box is from a ’40 Ford, with hand-crafted hairpin
radius rods. Fasteners under the car indicate it had a
full belly pan at one time.
Rolled and louvered frame valances made from
Ford roof sections, and a custom rear pan, with
Page 47
Detailing
Year produced: 1931, modified
in early 1950s
Number produced: 58,496
(Standard 5,499; DeLuxe
52,997)
Current ACC Valuation: For
a stock model, $20k–$25k
(depending on restoration
quality, history and
condition)
twin protruding exhaust tips, plus neatly fitted cycle
fenders, attest to excellent craftsmanship. A ’40 Ford
dash was molded in, the taillights are ’41 Chevy, and
the custom three-piece hood has louvered sides. That
classy split windshield, made from ’38-to-’39 Ford
and Model T components, is one of this car’s many
visual highlights. The newest part on the roadster was
a parking brake handle from a ’55 Chevy – and there’s
a 1955 dime in the center of the steering wheel. Tabs
welded to the front axle appear to be for a tow-bar.
Perhaps it was raced. Who knows?
A blast from the past
The chassis number trace indicated the roadster
originally came from back East, but it was located for
a time in the San Bernardino, CA, area. Greg Hopkins
learned that when the roadster was in California, it
was owned by Pete “Tom” Leeland, a USAF airman.
Bob Flagger, an engineering student in Colorado,
owned it in 1962. And that’s where the known owner
trail stops. To our knowledge, this car was never
featured in a period hot rod publication, hence its
nickname, “The Unknown Roadster.”
After his epic cross-country drive, Hopkins
installed a fresh 286-ci Vern Tardel-built flathead V8
topped with a Cyclone 3-carb intake, Cyclone highcompression
heads, a four-inch Mercury crank and a
full-race Isky cam. The transmission is still a Lincoln
three-speed with Borg-Warner overdrive. Greg
Hopkins told Auctions America this car “could have
been the belle of the ball in its heyday. Whoever built
this car,” he said, “poured their heart into it.”
Jim Taylor from Gloversville, NY, was the high
bidder. “I have several unrestored cars in my collection,”
he said, “and I didn’t have a hot rod. So this car
was perfect.” Although Auctions America estimated
$100,000 to $125,000, the high bid was substantially
less. Several other hot rods sold decently in the same
sale, including a reproduction of Gene Winfield’s shop
truck (Lot 3134), which brought $143,000.
Drive it like you stole it
It’s safe to say that patina isn’t for everyone. You
can’t polish cars like this, and they always look
scruffy. That annoys people who love a gleaming
finish. Channeled cars have “the look,” but they are
tough to drive, because you’re basically sitting on
the floor, with just a thin cushion as a seat squab.
Your legs are extended straight out in front of you,
so driving a car like this for any long distance can be
downright painful — especially for a tall person.
While this roadster is obviously a period piece,
despite its new engine (which is a plus if you want to
drive it), its actual history remains obscure. If more
details were known, or if the car had appeared in a
hot-rodding magazine in the ’50s, that would increase
its value. As you can see from comparable sales,
historic channeled ’32 roadsters have sold very well
in the past. Although this is a handsome car, it’s still a
Model A Ford on Deuce rails, rather than a more coveted
’32 roadster body. That might deter some buyers.
Bottom line, an old-style, channeled roadster
like this one, with a serious flathead, could not be
professionally built for $78,100. On top of that, there’s
authentic patina, which can’t be duplicated, plus a
serious flatty with Cyclone speed equipment, and a
host of magazine coverage already. For the price paid,
I think this was a terrific buy. A
(Introductory description courtesy of Auctions
America.)
VIN location: Stamped on top
of driver’s side frame rail
(for original frame)
Engine # location: Stamped
on pad on right front of
block, below cylinder head
(for original block)
Tune-up, major service:
$150
Clubs: Goodguys, National
Street Rod Association
More: www.good-guys.com,
www.nsra.com
Alternatives: Any 1928–32
hot rod roadster
ACC Investment Grade: C
Comps
Lot 157, VIN: SW08036PA
Condition: 3+
Sold at $90,750
RM Auctions, Amelia Island,
FL, 3/9/2013
1932 Ford Model B
“Golden Rod”
ACC# 215680
1932 Ford Highboy Khougaz
roadster
Lot 241, VIN: 18155453
Condition: 1Sold
at $385,000
RM Auctions, Monterey, CA,
8/17/2007
ACC# 46256
1932 Ford roadster “Ricky
Nelson”
Lot 552, VIN: N/A
Condition: 2
Sold at $192,000
Bonhams, Carmel, CA,
8/15/2003
ACC# 35964
November-December 2014 49
Page 48
PROFILE AMERICANA
1955 PACKARD CARIBBEAN CONVERTIBLE
Premium package, market price
Darin Schnabel ©2014, courtesy of RM Auctions
Either this
car’s buyer
overpaid
in 2007, or
the market
for 1955
Caribbeans
has softened
VIN: 55881220
by Carl Bomstead
P
50 AmericanCarCollector.com
50 AmericanCarCollector.com
ackard’s last prestigious, low-production offering
was the Caribbean convertible of 1955
and 1956. This top-of-the-line model was
completely redesigned for ’55, and it sported
a new high-output overhead-valve V8 engine
with dual four-barrel carburetors, which could produce
an amazing 310 horsepower, put to the rear wheels
through a new push-button Twin Ultramatic transmission.
An innovative, new torsion-bar suspension
on the chassis featured automatic leveling to suit the
road surface, making the 1955 Packard Caribbean the
smoothest-riding and best-handling full-size car of its
era.
At $5,932, the Caribbean was breathtaking in more
ways than one. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Packard built a
mere 500 examples in 1955. The survivors are treasured
by enthusiasts of 1950s automobiles and are known as
“the last great Packards,” with some even saying that
they are the finest luxury convertibles of their era.
ACC Analysis This car, Lot 112, sold for
$66,000, including buyer’s pre-
mium, at RM’s Motor City auction in Plymouth, MI,
on July 26, 2014.
Packard built their first car in 1899. Having
survived the Depression and the after-effects of World
War II, their last true Packard rolled off the assembly
line on June 25, 1956.
Their demise — stemming from a bit of bad luck
and a healthy dose of mismanagement — is the
topic for a business-school case-study. The plain
and simple explanation is that, after World War II,
Packard conceded the luxury-car market to Cadillac
and instead concentrated on the volume mid-market.
Some say that their senior-model body dies had been
left out to rust and were unusable, while others say
that Roosevelt had given those same dies to Russia for
the ZIS-110. The simple facts, however, are that raw
materials were scarce, thus limiting their intended
volume production. And in 1953, their body supplier
Briggs had been acquired by Chrysler, and that forced
Packard to scramble to produce their own bodies.
A return to luxury
Packard did not have their first true post-war
redesign until 1951, and in 1952 they recommitted to
the luxury-car market. In 1953 they introduced the
Caribbean convertible, which was based on the 1952
Pan American concept car displayed at the New York
International Motor Sports Show. It was well received,
and 750 Caribbeans left the dealers’ showrooms.
For 1955, Richard Teague redesigned the top-of
Page 49
Detailing
Club: Packard International
Motor Car Club
Years produced: 1955
Number produced: 500
Original list price: $5,932
Current ACC Valuation:
$70,000–$85,000
VIN location: Plate attached
to left front door post
Engine # location: Boss
upper left side of engine
block
More: www.packardsinternational.com
Alternatives: 1953 Buick
Skylark, 1955 Cadillac
Eldorado convertible, 1956
Lincoln Premiere
e Caribbean. The front scoop was split
, “finned” headlamps were incorpoCathedral
window” rear taillights were
, and striking two- or three-tone paint
ered.
ckard’s first overhead-valve V8 was
r the hood, and its 352 cubic inches
uced 275 horsepower. A distinctive
ing” air cleaner covered a pair of
r 4-barrels. It had self-leveling torsionpension
and 3-speed Twin-Ultramatic
utton transmission. Every option with
eption of air-conditioning was stant
a price of $5,932, it was about $2,000
e than a Cadillac, but a problematic oil
pump and the self leveling, which often shorted out,
led to reliability issues and created adverse publicity.
Production continued into the following year with
only minor changes. A hard top was added, but only
276 convertibles and 263 of the new hard tops were
produced. By this point, a merger with Studebaker
was under way, and the powers that be at Packard
had not done their due diligence in determining
Studebaker’s financial viability. The end was in sight.
A fresh example, but a lesser price
This example was the 220th convertible built. It
was a special order from the Packard dealership in
Scottsbluff, NE, and after limited use, it was sold back
to the dealer, where it remained for the next 25 years.
It was purchased from that dealer in July 1986,
and as the RM catalog copy states, that buyer could
have very well been the last person to buy a “used”
Packard from its original salesroom. In 2004, the car
underwent a complete cosmetic and mechanical restoration.
In addition to an engine rebuild and an interior
reupholstering, the body was stripped and repainted
in its correct three-tone color scheme of White Jade,
Turquoise, and Gray Pearl.
RM sold this 1955 Caribbean at their 2007 Amelia
Island auction for $88,000 (ACC# 44623). Seven years
later, having been properly maintained, it realized
$22,000 less. What happened?
There are two possibilities. You can argue that the
buyer overpaid in 2007, or perhaps the market for
1955 Caribbeans has softened. I’d say both of those
factors had something to do with this car’s most recent
sale price.
While the almost identical 1956s continue to sell
for well into six figures, the ACC database indicates
a steady succession of ’55s selling for less than what
was paid here. In fact, RM at this same auction sold
another identical Caribbean, albeit in lesser condition
and with a Chrysler transmission for $44,000.
Considering the market climate at the time, the
2007 sale was very much in the seller’s favor, too. At
the end of the day, the price paid here was marketcorrect
considering the car’s condition. With that, I’d
call this a fair deal for all involved. A
(Introductory description courtesy of RM Auctions.)
ACC Investment Grade: B
Comps
1955 Packard Caribbean
convertible
Lot 70, VIN: 55881174
Condition: 4Sold
at $26,400
Worldwide Auctioneers, Lake
Forest, IL, 9/21/2013
ACC# 228186
1955 Packard Caribbean
convertible
Lot 191, VIN: 55881144
Condition: 3Sold
at $51,150
RM Auctions, Grapevine, TX,
10/20/2012
ACC# 213870
1955 Packard Caribbean
convertible
Lot 128, VIN: 55881335
Condition: 3Sold
at $41,250
RM Auctions, Plymouth, MI,
7/28/2012
ACC# 209044
November-December 2014
51CC
51
Page 50
PROFILE RACE
1976 FORD F-100 OFF-ROAD RACE TRUCK
Mud, sweat and tears
Courtesy of Auctions America
Baja race
provenance
and
marqueename
ownership
are no match
for a quality
restoration
of a popular
production
model in
today’s
market
52
AmericanCarCollector.com
VIN: N/A
by John L. Stein
race to Vessels due to the introduction of BFGoodrich
Radial tires for the first time in the off-road racing
world. Vessels played a role in the development of the
first generation of these tires and looked to benefit
from this improvement.
The F-100 is equipped with a 404-ci Ford V8
T
engine paired with an Art Carr-built Ford C6 transmission
and a Chrisman rear end. This truck’s engine
was propane-powered when it raced. The IMPCO
Company did this to demonstrate the versatility of the
fuel.
Equipped with many components including Rough
Country shocks, custom brakes, American Racing
wheels, BFGoodrich Radial T/A tires, and F-250
spindles with knockoff hubs, this truck is not your
normal F-100. It was displayed at the 2006 Off-Road
Motorsports Hall of Fame, where Vessels was inducted
for his contributions to off-road motorsports. Sold on
bill of sale.
ACC Analysis This truck, Lot 2018, sold for
California sale in Burbank, CA, on August 1, 2014.
$41,250 at Auctions America’s
his 1976 Ford F-100 was built by Charlie
Haga and accomplished Class 8 victories
in the 1977 Baja 500 and Baja 1000. Haga
built the truck for Frank “Scoop” Vessels in
1976, and the ’77 Baja 500 was an important
The natural progression of car collecting has swept
trucks and off-road vehicles along in its wake. This is
good, because particularly in the Southwest, desert
exploring and racing has been an important part of
motor culture for over 60 years. And no event was
more significant for the genre than the original 1967
Mexican 1000, which ran from Tijuana (just across
the border from San Diego) southward to La Paz at
the tip of Baja California.
The event ultimately led to the term “Baja” becom-
ing almost synonymous for “tough.”
Nearly twice as long as the Indy 500, the original
event (later renamed “Baja 1000”) subjected cars,
trucks, buggies and motorcycles and their pilots to
around-the-clock physical torture. I can attest to
this personally, having ridden in a support truck in
the Baja 1000, and also riding shotgun in the SoCal
desert in a Baja 1000-winning Trophy Truck. Every
few seconds I thought we were going to crash in a big
way. That’s nerve wracking for a half hour; imagine it
stretched out over nearly 24 hours.
Not quite famous
This two-wheel-drive Ford was not one of the origi-
nal late-’60s Baja race trucks, nor is it as famous as
vehicles like “Big Oly,” the Olympia Beer-sponsored
winged Bronco that Bill Stroppe built for himself and
Indy 500 winner Parnelli Jones to race. However, its
Page 51
Detailing
Year produced: 1976
Number produced: 225,154
Original list price: N/A
Current ACC Valuation:
$35,000–$40,000
Tune-up cost: $500
VIN location: Driver’s door and
passenger’s-side frame rail
Engine # location: N/A
Club: Ford Truck Club
More: www.fordtruckclub.net
Alternatives: 1973–80
Chevrolet C10, 1972–80
Dodge D100
ACC Investment Grade: C
Comps
class wins in both the ’77 Baja 500 and Baja 1000
establish it as a genuine historical piece. Also, compared
with the 1968 Chevrolet C10 Mexican 1000 race
truck owned briefly by Steve McQueen that Mecum
sold for $60,000 at its Santa Monica sale in July 2013,
this truck seems like a relative bargain.
The restoration appears thoughtful and authentic,
and today this truck can carry right on as a desert
toy — a tool for getting you where uppity folks in their
Mercedes MLs may dare not go, or perhaps even enjoy
such “dirty” road events as British Columbia’s Spring
Thaw. Then and now, versatility creates big appeal
for trucks. And you certainly won’t be able to abuse
this one any more than Vessels did in the day. A minor
historical point is its role in proving the merit of offroad
radials, although no one but a Baja or tire geek
is likely to care.
Photos raise questions
There are a few noteworthy issues that may have
held bidding back here.
Significantly, the truck does not bear much
resemblance to the period race photos provided for
the auction. In these, the original race truck has a
smooth Styleside bed, whereas the truck on offer has
a Flareside bed. The photos also suggest the original
race truck had a longer wheelbase and/or bed than the
truck offered for sale.
It’s hard to imagine how this discrepancy would
not be noted in the literature, so we’re left wondering.
One possible explanation is that the original truck,
hammered and bent as off-road racers often were,
eventually was rebuilt to a different specification.
The bed style and wheelbase that originally worked
in Baja’s Class 8 may have been a detriment and thus
were later modified in closed-course races, and thus
they were likely modified. Having a bill of sale instead
of a regular title didn’t help.
Such things happen with race cars all the time,
leaving the owner to decide on a “point in time”
target for the restoration. However in this case, the
photographic discrepancy — and the lack of any
explanation in the sales materials — didn’t help build
value. Unless you knew the truck and ownership
history personally, you’d be excused for resisting any
serious hand-waving on the day. And on top of it all,
this just wasn’t a well-known race vehicle, and that
counts for a lot.
All of this may explain why an otherwise nicely
presented race truck traded for just 69% of the nomore-remarkable
’68 Chevrolet C10 racer that Mecum
sold in Santa Monica last year. But the real surprise
is that even with its McQueen connection, that Chevy
brought only 84% of the price of a restored Toyota
FJ40 Land Cruiser that Bonhams sold for $71,500 at
Scottsdale in January 2014 (Lot 143).
On the basis of these few sales, it appears that at
present, even a combination of Baja race provenance
and marquee-name ownership is no match for a
quality restoration of a well-regarded but ordinary
production model. Given the mud, sweat and tears
that such race trucks have endured and survived,
that’s kind of sad. But it is what it is, and I reluctantly
give the win to the seller on this one. A
(Introductory description courtesy of Auctions
America.)
1977 Ford F-250 XLT Ranger
Lot S207, VIN: F25HCZ11692
Condition: 2Not
sold at $21,000
Mecum Auctions, Kansas City,
MO, 4/27/2013
ACC# 216483
1976 Ford Bronco
Lot 2454, VIN: U15GLA10124
Condition: 1Sold
at $71,500
Leake Auctions, Dallas, TX,
4/25/2014
ACC# 243383
1967 Hurst Baja Boot
Lot 64, VIN: MICH67229
Condition: 3
Sold at $220,000
Gooding & Co., Pebble Beach,
CA, 8/14/2010
ACC# 165726
November-December 2014 53
Page 52
PROFILE TRUCK
1962 STUDEBAKER 7E45E 2-TON ROAD TRACTOR
Big-rig best buy?
Once you get
larger than a
garage stall,
the potential
pool of
owners starts
to evaporate,
and both
the potential
market and
the truck’s
value shrink
54 AmericanCarCollector.com
54 AmericanCarCollector.com
VIN: E45458
by B. Mitchell Carlson
standing vehicles.
This Studebaker Road Tractor is finished in red with
T
black undercarriage, wheels and running gear, and has
a tan and red interior. The truck runs with a 4-cylinder,
2-stroke, supercharged Detroit Diesel engine connected
to a 5-speed manual transmission and features a 2-speed
rear end. Additional features include air brakes, stackstyle
exhaust, cab roof lights and a roof-mounted horn.
ACC Analysis This truck, Lot 7046, was offered
a devoted group of collectors who lovingly restore,
preserve and use them. So what happened with this
seemingly nice Studebaker sold at just $7,150? Let’s
take a look.
at no reserve and sold for $7,150,
including buyer’s premium, at Auctions America’s Fall
Auburn event in Auburn, IN, on August 31, 2014.
Classic big rigs have a market all their own, with
his nicely frame-off restored dually Studebaker
tractor is another fine offering from the estate
of William “Bill” Kirby. He amassed a wellrespected
collection of heavy-duty equipment
and was a regular at events displaying his out-
America’s original truck builder
First, some background. When the Studebaker
brothers formed their company in 1852, wagons
were their trade, with working wagons — such as the
famous Conestogas — their specialty.
When the company went to electric and then
internal-combustion propulsion before finally ditching
the horse, large trucks were an on-and-off product.
Studebaker developed a good market for trucks in the
1920s, but management miscues saw the company go
away from them and get into financial trouble. New
management put in place during The New Deal saw
Studebaker re-enter the truck market with great zeal,
and with great style. Their trucks from the late 1930s
were at the height of Art Deco styling.
In 1938 through 1939, France, Holland and Belgium
bought Studebaker trucks to equip their armies. During
the Nazi blitzkrieg through the Low Countries, the
Wehrmacht took a fancy to Studes for their power and
durability, and gave their artillery crews orders not
to destroy them so they could repatriate them for their
own use. Some of these made it as far as the Russian
front, where they faced newer Studes supplied to the
Soviets through Lend Lease. The Soviets loved their
Courtesy of Auctions America
Page 53
Studebaker trucks, too — not only did the state industry
copy these trucks during the Cold War era, but even
today “Studebaker” is Russian slang that’s akin to our
“Built like a Mack truck.”
Last-ditch line-hauler
You’d think with the lessons learned during World
War II that Stude would have been one of the big players
in the heavy-duty post-war truck market. It wasn’t.
After the war, their truck efforts concentrated almost
exclusively on the light- and middle-duty segments.
It wasn’t until the reality of the ill-fated StudebakerPackard
merger of 1954 sank in that Stude scrambled
back into the bigger truck market to offset their losses.
By the end of the 1950s, Studebaker had realized
that the industry was going diesel in a big way, so they
started to offer GM diesels in medium-duty models.
Yet it wasn’t until 1962 that they got serious about the
semi-truck market with the introduction of their linehaul
diesel-powered trucks.
All trucks used Studebaker’s evergreen R-series
cab, which dated to 1948, plus the usual Transtar
grille design from 1957. In addition, these new 7E45A
and 7E45E semi tractors had an all-new front clip.
To make the shortest possible bumper-to-back-of-cab
length (BBC), they developed a new flat-face front fascia
made from the plastic polymer Royalite. Looking
for all the world like someone cut off the front two feet
of the truck, it did allow these trucks to pull a 40-foot
trailer in states that had 50-foot total length limits.
These rigs were mostly built with off-the-shelf chas-
sis components, such as Spicer and Clark transmissions,
Timken rear axles, plus Budd or Dayton wheels.
With available wheelbases of 131, 143, 155, 171, and
195 inches, their largest weight ratings were 42,000
GCVW as a semi combination.
There were only minor changes for 1963, with
model names for all trucks becoming 8-series; in the
case of their largest models, 8E45A and 8E45E. Just
like their car market, truck sales didn’t come close
to desired projections, and if anything, additional
losses from the trucks just compounded Studebaker’s
problems. While 1964 models were cataloged (really
just the same 1963s titled as 1964s — along with
unsold 1962s with new serial numbers), they were but
a trickle before Studebaker shut off production on
December 27, 1963.
The classic big-truck market
Over 50 years after the last Stude truck was built,
essentially all have left revenue service, and the few
survivors are coveted mostly by fans of the brand —
more so than by truck-specific collectors, for the most
part.
Semi-tractor collectors tend to gravitate towards
Detailing
Years produced: 1962–64
Number produced: 349
(1962)
truck-specific manufacturers — Peterbilt, Kenworth,
Diamond T, Brockway, Autocar, and Sterling generally
being at the highest pinnacle of desirability (and
price) by originally having a premium product tailored
primarily to semis. A rung below are International,
Mack, White, and REO — truck-specific builders,
but with smaller and broader market products. At
the lower end are the car manufacturers that also
built trucks — Chevrolet, GMC, Ford, Dodge and
Studebaker. Prices tend to follow suit.
Vintage semi collectors also tend to be extensions
of the working trucking industry. It’s the nature of the
beast. Semi trucks are expensive to restore, and they
continue to be expensive to maintain once they are
done. Only a select few insurance carriers will cover
them, and even fewer will underwrite them if they haul
anything. As such, most classic trucks tend to be part
of an active trucking company, with a handful being
owned by individuals. Most collectors only have one
to three.
The garage-stall factor
One plus with this rig is that it’s a single-axle rear
with a shorter wheelbase, so it can actually fit in a
standard car-sized parking spot.
Having the pickup-based cab means that it’s also
shorter than a typical Mack or Peterbilt, but folks with
a nine-foot-tall garage door better get a tape measure
to make sure it’ll fit. And therein lies the quandary
with collectible semis — along with other trucks and
farm tractors.
I call it the garage-stall factor. If it will fit in a
standard garage stall, it will bring top money, since
anyone who can have a car can find a place to park
it (even if the wife’s Camry has to sit outside once in
a while). Once you get larger than a garage stall, the
potential pool of owners starts to evaporate, and consequently,
both the potential market and the truck’s
value shrink.
So, while this truck may not have been a first-tier
big-truck collectible, it was small enough to be attractive
to a larger core audience. The auction company’s
pre-sale guesstimate on this truck was not overly
optimistic at $20k to $30k — after all, it was in nice
restored condition. But that same money will buy you
a show-quality 1962 Studebaker Champ pickup in
today’s market, and that’ll be enough truck for most
Studebaker collectors — and there’s no worries about
12-foot garage doors or CDLs with those.
The selling price here was an absolute bargain —
but only for someone who understands what it takes to
support a heavy-duty diesel truck. For that buyer, I’d
call this very well bought. A
(Introductory description courtesy of Auctions
America.)
November-December 2014 55
November-December 2013
55CC
Engine # location: Top front
corner of driver’s side of
the engine block
Clubs: The Studebaker
Drivers Club
More: www.studebakerdrivers
club.com
Additional: American Truck
Historical Society
More: www.aths.org
Alternatives: 1950–56
International L-, R- and
S-series, 1955–64 Mack
B-series, 1953–56 Ford
F-800, 1948–54 GMC
“cannonball” COE truck
ACC Investment Grade: C
Comps
Original list price: $5,726
Current ACC Valuation:
$15,000–$25,000
Tune-up cost: $1,000
Distributor cap: N/A
VIN location: Data plate on
the driver’s side of the cab,
above the step, on the
seat riser
1979 Chevrolet C70 Custom
Deluxe 5-ton
Lot 77L, VIN:
C17DE9V157500
ACC# 227880
Condition: 5+
Sold at $16,275
VanDerBrink Auctions, Pierce,
NE, 9/28/2013
1952 Studebaker R17A 2-ton
flatbed
Lot 16, VIN: R17A29322
Condition: 4
Sold at $5,775
US Auctioneers, Friesland, WI,
7/25/2013
ACC# 226890
1963 Studebaker Champ
pickup
Lot 1628.1, VIN: E720879
Condition: 1Sold
at $28,600
Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale,
AZ, 1/15/2013
ACC# 214892
Page 54
market OVERVIEW
Pondering the wagon market
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR THE HUMBLE PEOPLE-MOVER?
by Tony Piff
TOP 10
sales this issue
1. 1948 tucker 48 torpedo
sedan, $2,035,000—
G&Co., p. 105
2. 1966 Shelby Cobra 427
roadster, $1,705,000—
rm, p. 102
3. 1934 Packard twelve
1108 convertible sedan,
$1,350,000—WWa, p. 105
4. 1936 auburn 852 SC
boattail Speedster,
$1,210,000—g&Co., p. 97
5. 1965 Shelby Cobra 427
roadster, $1,080,000—
mec, p. 84
6. 1966 Shelby Cobra 427
roadster, $962,500—aaCa,
p. 62
7. 1965 Shelby GT350
prototype fastback,
$572,000—rm, p. 102
8. 1936 auburn 852
Supercharged
Speedster, $550,000—
rm, p. 97
9. 1912 Packard model
30 7-passenger tourer,
$550,000—g&Co., p. 104
10. 1935 auburn 851 SC
boattail Speedster,
$445,500—WWa, p. 96
BEST BUYS
1967 Shelby gt500 fastback,
$93,500—r&S, p. 94
56 AmericanCarCollector.com
lecting isn’t just about
retroactively aspirational
purchases — i.e.,
“I couldn’t afford it
then, but I can afford it
now.” Trucks have transcended
their utilitarian
workhorse nature, and
collectors now see them
as nostalgic icons of
Americana. The same
phenomenon is driving
VW hippie buses into
the six-figure range as
we speak, as it did for “woodies” decades ago.
These high-production vehicles are only rare now
T
he still-strongand-rising
classic-truck
market reminds
us that col-
Longroofs are where it’s at. this 43k-mile 1963 Ford Falcon wagon sold for
$10,725 at barrett-Jackson’s reno auction.
because they were undervalued for so long, with most
examples being sent to the crusher. So it goes with the
great American station wagon.
The wagon market has been burbling for a while,
but few models other than the Chevy Nomad have
made it to the $50k mark. In August, a 1963 Ford
Falcon wagon with a 260-ci V8 sold for just $10,725
at Barrett-Jackson Hot August Nights, and a 1955
Mercury Custom Series wagon sold for $17,600 at
Auctions America Auburn. A 1975 Pontiac Grand
Safari at Mecum Monterey sold for an incredible
$77k, but George Barris had modified it for long-term
owner John Wayne, so the winning bidder bought a
whole lot more than just a malaise-era grocery-getter.
You could make the case that all three of these
were market-correct transactions. I don’t know if
values for most ’60s and ’70s wagons will ever rise
to the Nomad level, but it seems fair to speculate that
they’ll probably never be cheaper than they are at this
moment. If you have any interest in these cars, now is
the time to buy.
And if this line of thinking gets you fired up, here’s
one more prediction to chew on: In 30 years, we’ll be
having this same discussion about… minivans. A
auctions america,
burbank, Ca
July 31–aug 2
auctions in this issue
$17.2m
barrett-Jackson,
reno, NV
July 31–aug 2
mecum,
monterey, Ca
august 14–16
russo and Steele,
monterey, Ca
august 14–16
rm,
monterey, Ca
august 15–16
gooding & Co,
Pebble beach, Ca
august 16–17
auctions america,
auburn, IN
august 27–31
Worldwide,
auburn, IN
august 30
$0
$25.4m
$6m
$30m
$60m
$90m
$120m
$150m
$106m
$9.9m
$34.6m
$12.1m
$143.4m
1969 Dodge Super bee 2-dr hard
top, $77,000—b-J, p. 74
1955 mercury Custom Series
wagon, $17,600—aa-IN, p. 101
1969 Pontiac gto 2-dr hard top,
$18,150—b-J, p. 70
t OVERVIEW
Pondering the wagon market
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR THE HUMBLE PEOPLE-MOVER?
by Tony Piff
TOP 10
sales this issue
1. 1948 tucker 48 torpedo
sedan, $2,035,000—
G&Co., p. 105
2. 1966 Shelby Cobra 427
roadster, $1,705,000—
rm, p. 102
3. 1934 Packard twelve
1108 convertible sedan,
$1,350,000—WWa, p. 105
4. 1936 auburn 852 SC
boattail Speedster,
$1,210,000—g&Co., p. 97
5. 1965 Shelby Cobra 427
roadster, $1,080,000—
mec, p. 84
6. 1966 Shelby Cobra 427
roadster, $962,500—aa-
Ca, p. 62
7. 1965 Shelby GT350
prototype fastback,
$572,000—rm, p. 102
8. 1936 auburn 852
Supercharged
Speedster, $550,000—
rm, p. 97
9. 1912 Packard model
30 7-passenger tourer,
$550,000—g&Co., p. 104
10. 1935 auburn 851 SC
boattail Speedster,
$445,500—WWa, p. 96
BEST BUYS
1967 Shelby gt500 fastback,
$93,500—r&S, p. 94
56 AmericanCarCollector.com
lecting isn’t just about
retroactively aspira-
tional purchases — i.e.,
“I couldn’t afford it
then, but I can afford it
now.” Trucks have tran-
scended their utilitarian
workhorse nature, and
collectors now see them
as nostalgic icons of
Americana. The same
phenomenon is driving
VW hippie buses into
the six-figure range as
we speak, as it did for “woodies” decades ago.
These high-production vehicles are only rare now
T
he still-strong-
and-rising
classic-truck
market reminds
us that col-
Longroofs are where it’s at. this 43k-mile 1963 Ford Falcon wagon sold for
$10,725 at barrett-Jackson’s reno auction.
because they were undervalued for so long, with most
examples being sent to the crusher. So it goes with the
great American station wagon.
The wagon market has been burbling for a while,
but few models other than the Chevy Nomad have
made it to the $50k mark. In August, a 1963 Ford
Falcon wagon with a 260-ci V8 sold for just $10,725
at Barrett-Jackson Hot August Nights, and a 1955
Mercury Custom Series wagon sold for $17,600 at
Auctions America Auburn. A 1975 Pontiac Grand
Safari at Mecum Monterey sold for an incredible
$77k, but George Barris had modified it for long-term
owner John Wayne, so the winning bidder bought a
whole lot more than just a malaise-era grocery-getter.
You could make the case that all three of these
were market-correct transactions. I don’t know if
values for most ’60s and ’70s wagons will ever rise
to the Nomad level, but it seems fair to speculate that
they’ll probably never be cheaper than they are at this
moment. If you have any interest in these cars, now is
the time to buy.
And if this line of thinking gets you fired up, here’s
one more prediction to chew on: In 30 years, we’ll be
having this same discussion about… minivans. A
auctions america,
burbank, Ca
July 31–aug 2
auctions in this issue
$17.2m
barrett-Jackson,
reno, NV
July 31–aug 2
mecum,
monterey, Ca
august 14–16
russo and Steele,
monterey, Ca
august 14–16
rm,
monterey, Ca
august 15–16
gooding & Co,
Pebble beach, Ca
august 16–17
auctions america,
auburn, IN
august 27–31
Worldwide,
auburn, IN
august 30
$0
$25.4m
$6m
$30m
$60m
$90m
$120m
$150m
$106m
$9.9m
$34.6m
$12.1m
$143.4m
1969 Dodge Super bee 2-dr hard
top, $77,000—b-J, p. 74
1955 mercury Custom Series
wagon, $17,600—aa-IN, p. 101
1969 Pontiac gto 2-dr hard top,
$18,150—b-J, p. 70
ible,
ible, $26,400—b-J, p. 72
Page 56
AUCTIONS AMERICA // Burbank, CA
Auctions America California
AN ULTRA-RARE 1946 MERCURY EIGHT SPORTSMAN COMPLETED
THE PODIUM AT A STRONG $237K
Auctions
America
Burbank, CA
July 31–August 2,
2014
auctioneers: Brent
Earlywine, Mike
Shackleton
automotive lots sold/
offered: 252/399
Sales rate: 63%
Sales total:
$17,218,025
High american sale:
1966 Shelby Cobra 427,
sold at $962,500
buyer’s premium:
10%, included in sold
prices
With only 205 built in 1946, this hard-to-find 1946 mercury eight Sportsman convertible sold at $236,500
Report and photos by Victor Van Tress
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
P
laying to the tastes of the people who reside
in and around Southern California, Auctions
America rounded up an eclectic mix of automobiles
representing something for every car
enthusiast. From the entry-level collector cars
to the blue-chip investments, the cars that crossed the
block July 31–August 2 ran the gamut from hot rods to
rare 4x4s to European roadsters and microcars.
Appropriate for the sale’s Los Angeles setting,
several vehicles boasted celebrity provenance. The
Hollywood influence even extended to the live broadcast
on NBCSN, with car-collecting comedian Jay Leno
traveling from his famed “Big Dog Garage” up the
street to provide broadcast commentary. Formula One’s
Steve Matchett delivered color commentary as well, and
“Storage Wars” reality TV star Barry Weiss offered his
unique insights on Saturday. Of the 399 cars offered,
252 hammered for a sell-through rate of more than 60%.
A 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 was the biggest American
sale at $963k. A Ford GT was next at $275k. An
über-rare 1946 Mercury Eight Sportsman nut-and-bolt
restored to stock configuration completed the top-seller
podium at a strong $237k.
The celebrity cars on offer included the Buick
Roadmaster convertible believed to have been featured
in “Rain Man,” the 1988 Barry Levinson Academy
1966 Shelby Cobra 427 roadster, sold at $962,500
Award winner starring Dustin Hoffman and Tom
Cruise. It failed to sell at a high bid of $135k. A 1944
Ford GPW jeep formerly owned by Paramount Pictures
sold for $29k. Several films featured the rig, including
“Hell is for Heroes,” starring Steve McQueen, and “Is
Paris Burning?” written by Gore Vidal and Francis Ford
Coppola.
Californians love cars, and AA is delivering the
goods.A
Page 58
AUCTIONS AMERICA // Burbank, CA
GM
#3105-1929 CADILLAC 341B roadster.
VIN: 323782. White & green/gray canvas/
green leather. Odo: 661 miles. CCCA Full
Classic. Frame-off, bare-metal, nut-and-bolt
restoration completed in 2008. Fitted with
dual sidemount spares, trunk rack, windwings,
“goddess” radiator ornament, wire
wheels, dual taillights, golf club storage
area. Has original toolkit, jack. Original
manuals and record books. Cond: 1-.
torque. No power steering, and the brakes
are unassisted drums. Cond: 3-.
inside and out. Has power steering and
8-track. Engine bay is well detailed. Cond:
2. SOLD AT $18,700. Sold for $19,260 at
Mecum Monterey one year ago (ACC#
230960). The buyer here has gotten a very
nice Firebird. The bench seat with column
shift may be unusual but actually works very
comfortably. The car’s condition shows that
it has always been well taken care of and
will give great service for a long time. Fairly
bought, I’d say.
CORVETTE
SOLD AT $9,240. Called the “Corvair 95”
for its 95-inch wheelbase. The Rampside
Pickup offered a large drop-down door on
the right side of the bed, creating a ramp for
heavier loads to be rolled in. For having
only a paint job, new seat covers and an
engine rebuild, I’d call this well sold. The
dry-rotted window seals and weatherchecked
tires will require money, but the
engine is already done at least.
SOLD AT $132,000. Well known as a former
John “Buddy” Walton car and featured
over the years in numerous publications.
341Bs in the ACC Premium Auction Database
have ranged between $75k and $150k
in recent years, making this look like a fair
deal for both seller and buyer.
#2121-1957 CHEVROLET CAMEO pickup.
VIN: V3A570115831. Red & white/red &
white vinyl. Odo: 90,814 miles. 283-ci V8,
2-bbl, auto. Restored four years ago, driven
little since. Presents well for show or go.
Reportedly optioned with Hydramatic transmission,
radio, heater and chrome mirrors.
Oak and chrome bed. Cond: 1-.
#3047-1967 OLDSMOBILE VISTA
CRUISER 8-passenger wagon. VIN: 338657M308179.
White & faux wood/burgundy
vinyl. Odo: 51,372 miles. 330-ci V8, 2-bbl,
auto. Nice paint, pitted stainless. Well-preserved
original interior, although driver’s
seat stitching has an issue. Optional a/c,
3-speed automatic transmission, factory
AM/FM radio, simulated wood paneling,
wire wheel knock-off hubcaps and forwardfacing
third row. Exhaust manifolds have
been off. Cond: 3-.
#3133-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. VIN: 194676S103648. Eng. #
T10191P. Sunfire Yellow/black vinyl/black
vinyl. Odo: 35,251 miles. 427-ci 450-hp V8,
4-bbl, 4-sp. Said to be early 1966 big-block
car with its “original and more powerful
427/450 engine,” meaning that it still has
the 450-hp sticker. Paint touched up at different
times but has never had a full
respray. Panel gaps tidy throughout,
chrome and brightwork well preserved. Interior
appears original and in good, if not
show, condition. Engine compartment clean;
hoses, clamps, battery and radiator cap
incorrect. Wiring appears original, with
some fraying around wiper motor. Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $17,600. A pretty good car, all in
all. A similar car sold for $12,230 at Collector
Car Productions’ Toronto sale in April of
2013 (ACC# 221757), making this one look
a little expensive. Well sold, or at least leading
the market.
NOT SOLD AT $55,000. Extremely clean
and correct. These sold solidly in the $40k–
$50k range all last year. Seller should have
taken the offer.
#1054-1963 CHEVROLET CORVAIR 95
Rampside pickup. VIN: 3R124S107127.
Blue/blue vinyl & gray cloth. Odo: 69,990
miles. 145-ci H6, 2x1-bbl, 4-sp. Decent cosmetics
in appealing color combo. Window
and windshield seals are toast, but there’s
no rust seen. Dash is from a Turbo Spyder.
The flat 6 air-cooled engine makes only 80
hp but has a more respectable 128 ft-lbs of
60 AmericanCarCollector.com
#1026-1968 PONTIAC FIREBIRD coupe.
VIN: 223378U146396. Burgundy/ivory vinyl/
black vinyl. Odo: 60,300 miles. 400-ci V8,
4-bbl, auto. First-year Firebird presents well
NOT SOLD AT $80,000. This car sold for
$56,700 at RM Auctions in Novi, MI, in April
2007 (ACC# 45211) but did not sell at
$85,000 at Worldwide Auctioneers, Hilton
Head, SC, in November 2007 (then showing
33,243 miles on it, ACC# 47621). Driverquality
car, but seller should get more
money if he hangs on.
FOMOCO
#2063-1932 FORD MODEL B pickup. VIN:
AB5018056. Black/black leather. Odo:
27,928 miles. Restored to driver standard.
Fitted with 205-ci 4-cylinder engine with
automatic spark advance, mated to a
3-speed manual transmission. Original steel
body. Interior was replaced in period style.
Upgraded to four-wheel hydraulic drum
brakes. 600 miles since restoration. Roadready.
Cond: 2. SOLD AT $26,950. Now
that this car’s been converted to “juice
brakes,” one can take advantage of the
early Ford groups and gatherings without
fear of being completely incompatible with
Page 60
AUCTIONS AMERICA // Burbank, CA
NOT SOLD AT $80,000. An excellent build.
Seen a year ago at Mecum Anaheim in November
of 2013, not sold at $85k (ACC#
238403). A year before that, it no-saled at
Mecum Anaheim 2012 at $65k (ACC#
214011). Those outings confirm today’s
market-correct high bid.
modern traffic. This truck sold for $23,100 at
Worldwide Auburn back in September 2012,
and we called it fairly bought and sold
(ACC# 216675). Same goes for today.
#3112-1946 MERCURY EIGHT Sportsman
convertible. VIN: 99A1115872. Green/tan
canvas/brown vinyl. Odo: 0 miles. 239-ci
V8, 2-bbl, 3-sp. Very rare, with just 205 built
in 1946. Nut-and-bolt, body-off, interior-out
restoration completed in 2014. New wood
expertly varnished and beautiful to look at.
Power top and windows. The dashboard is
well finished in correct mahogany and includes
radio, heater and a clock. Zero miles
on odo, 5 on trip meter. Cond: 1-.
#3135-1954 MERCURY MONTEREY custom
coupe. VIN: 54ME236802. Turquoise
& white/white & turquoise vinyl. Odo: 59,242
miles. 331-ci V8, 6x2-bbl, auto. Six Stromberg
97 carburetors fuel the Cadillac 331
V8, which is coupled to a Hydramatic transmission
with modern brakes. Two-tone turquoise-and-white
exterior and a matching
interior with front and rear passenger’s
bench seats, all riding on wide whitewall
tires. Chopped roof, frenched headlights,
original hood scoop was made functional,
and door handles have been shaved. An
old-schooler’s custom pride and joy.
Cond: 2+.
woodgrain was replaced. A perfect opportunity
to purchase a classic car that can be
used on the weekends, or even to haul the
whole family. Cond: 3+. NOT SOLD AT
$28,000. The 352-ci V8, power steering and
power brakes are creature comforts that will
make this a pleasurable and easy classic
car to drive on modern roads. The three
Country Squires sold at auction this year
went for $76, $78k and $143k, but prior to
2014 the market price was $20k–$40k. This
offer seemed reasonable, but holding out
for more seems reasonable, too.
black vinyl. Odo: 30,181 miles. 427-ci V8,
2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Built by Shelby for Stark
Hickey Ford in 1966 in Royal Oak, MI,
CSX3259 left the USA for England in 1979
with a 428-ci engine, where it subsequently
received SC upgrades and more. Excellent
chrome and superb detailing throughout.
The brightwork, Halibrand wheels, glass
and lights are all excellent, as are the gaps
and fit of the bodywork. The interior is extremely
nice, with superb fit and quality. The
instruments are correct Smiths items. Top
Loader 4-speed manual transmission.
Cond: 1-.
6
#2149-1966 SHELBY COBRA 427
roadster. VIN: CSX3259. Red/
SOLD AT $236,500. Among the rarest of
Ford-built cars. Great example—well restored
and well bought.
#2139-1951 FORD COUNTRY SQUIRE
woodie wagon. VIN: B1DA223796. Red &
wood/tan leather. 350-ci fuel-injected V8,
auto. Resto-rodded to perfection. Bright red
paint with maple and mahogany all very well
done. 350 V8 with automatic transmission,
a/c, power steering and brakes. CD and
DVD players. Leather seats, billet handles
and door levers. Let down only by the dryrotted
vent window rubber. Cond: 2+.
NOT SOLD AT $60,000. This Bill Laymanbuilt
custom Mercury has been exquisitely
constructed and brings with it a great history
and provenance. It has been featured in
Rodder’s Journal and Custom Rodder.
However to be a driver today, a/c and power
brakes and steering would complete the
package. The old school wouldn’t have it,
but oh well. Customs are hard to valuate
because they are all unique. That being
said, it would take twice the offer or more to
make one of these. It will find somebody.
#2088-1959 FORD COUNTRY SQUIRE
wagon. VIN: H9RY141083. Black & faux
wood/red & white vinyl. Odo: 2,449 miles.
352-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. “Wagon Wheels
Ranch” graphics. 900 miles since comprehensive
restoration. Original owner was Bill
Woggon, the creator of the comic book Katy
Keene. Engine, transmission, brake system,
dealer-installed Polaraire a/c have been
rebuilt. The car was repainted in its original
color combination, and all the exterior
SOLD AT $962,500. Said to have its original
“pink slip” California title and original bill
of sale. According to SAAC records, it was
twice sold in Indiana, then Beverly Hills,
then West Germany. The ACC Premium
Auction Database show it no-saled for
$600k in 2010 at Bonhams Carmel (ACC#
165564), sold for $644k in 2011 at RM
Phoenix (ACC# 168714) and sold again for
$836k in 2013 at RM Amelia Island (ACC#
215663). Priced right on schedule today.
MOPAR
#2107-1934 DODGE DELUXE rumbleseat
coupe. VIN: 3694021. Brown/brown velour.
Odo: 28,536 miles. In extremely good condition.
While the paint is relatively new,
most of the rest of the car is original, including
the engine—reportedly never opened.
The carpet, wheels, hubcaps, step pad,
driving lights and running boards are all said
to be factory-original. No reserve. Cond: 2-.
SOLD AT $37,400. Well sold, but it’s an
62 AmericanCarCollector.com
TOP 10
Page 62
AUCTIONS AMERICA // Burbank, CA
flawless. Rear liquor cabinet with tables is
beautifully done in wood, with veneers
showing the image of a branch with sprouting
leaves. The soft top lifts completely off.
Odo rolled back. Cond: 2. SOLD AT
$173,250. Bold colors, bold details, and well
executed. Well bought and sold. Should be
a fun tourer.
unusual car in well-preserved condition with
relatively low miles, so call it well bought,
too.
#3113-1957 CHRYSLER NEW YORKER
convertible. VIN: N5731076. Saturn Blue &
white/white canvas/Saturn Blue vinyl. Odo:
56,994 miles. 392-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Sixyear,
no-expense-spared restoration. Finished
in original colors. Has power steering
and brakes, radio with rear speaker, dual
antennas, dual mirrors, FirePower Chrysler
V8, and push-button automatic transmission.
Cond: 1-.
SOLD AT $143,000. Previously owned by
the Blackhawk Collection. Chrysler made
just 1,049 New Yorker convertibles in 1957,
and they are obviously even rarer to see on
the roads today. I thought it brave to sell
this with no reserve, but it appears the seller
knew what he was doing.
AMERICANA
#3094-1938 PIERCE-ARROW TWELVE
phaeton. VIN: 3190011. Plum/tan canvas/
tan leather. miles. 462-ci V12, 1-bbl, 3-sp.
Presents extremely well. Restored from the
ground up in the past four years by Tyree
Auto Restorations and has only been driven
a few times. Leather interior, metallic plum
paint and engine bay all present as
NOT SOLD AT $30,000. With the doors
closed, this is not a vehicle for the claustrophobic.
In its original configuration, the
doors would be open most of the time while
one was making deliveries (in fact some
had a “butt bar” to lean against rather than a
driver’s seat—I know from personal experience,
as a milk truck was the first vehicle I
ever drove). A lot of time and money went
into this, but rarely can one get his money
out of such a project. You can’t blame the
milkman this time.
#3078-1951 HUDSON HORNET convertible.
VIN: 39081. Toro Red/red canvas/red
leather. Odo: 26,735 miles. 308-ci I6, 2x1bbl,
3-sp. Museum-fresh and said to be
“readily driveable.” Toro Red exterior
matches the red leather interior. Extensive
restoration in 2009. Fitted with period-correct
driver’s side spotlight. Desirable Twin-H
carb setup. Cond: 2.
#2161-1946 DIVCO MILK TRUCK custom.
VIN: 306F00125. Yellow/gray velour. Odo:
5,009 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Lowered
and chopped, riding on airbags, giving it a
relatively aerodynamic look—for a milk
truck, anyway. Decent paint and interior
work. SBC power. Cond: 3.
NOT SOLD AT $85,000. In some of “Madman”
Muntz’s commercials, he would promise
to take a sledgehammer and smash a
car on television if the car wasn’t sold that
day. “I buy them retail and sell ’em wholesale,”
he’d say. “It’s more fun that way!” The
company managed to produce only about
400 cars 1951–54, and due to the high
manufacturing cost, Muntz himself estimated
that his company lost about $1,000
on each car. The auction estimate was
$150k–$200k, but the top sale in recent
years was just $82,500 (RM Rochester, MI,
2010, ACC# 166155).
#2083-1953 STUDEBAKER STARLIGHT
coupe. VIN: 1051474. Ultra Glow Orange/
tan leather. 350-ci fuel-injected V8, auto.
Robert Digman performed all of the bodywork,
which included removing about 70%
of the chrome and shaving the door handles.
LT1 V8 painted body color, HPCcoated
headers, a/c, custom radiator, Heidts
springs, chrome pro shocks, Magnum 11inch
disc brakes, Ford rear end, Billet Specialties
rims, Studebaker Hawk dashboard,
and Dakota digital instrumentation. Cond: 2.
#3020-1953 MUNTZ JET convertible. VIN:
53M527. Yellow/black canvas/red leather.
Odo: 5 miles. 337-ci V8, 2x2-bbl, auto.
High-quality restoration. Equipment includes
Deluxe heater, spotlights and outside mirror.
No Muntz stereo in it, but the 8-track is
a nice period touch. Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $99,000. One of an estimated
500 produced in 1951. $90k used to be top
of the market for Hornet convertibles, but
prices are now topping $100k. Market-correct
price. Well bought and sold.
64 AmericanCarCollector.com
NOT SOLD AT $29,000. The 1953–54
Studebaker coupe design is one of the alltime
greats, and they are aerodynamic
enough to be still racing Bonneville today.
The smooth Starliner hard top and companion
Starlight fixed-pillar coupe were mainly
the work of Robert E. Bourke, chief of the
Raymond Loewy studios. This car has to be
worth twice the offer, even if the seller has
four times the offer invested. A
Page 64
BARRETT-JACKSON // Reno, NV
Barrett-Jackson — Hot August
Nights Auction
A ONE-OWNER 1962 CORVAIR SOLD FOR $6,600, AND A CUSTOM
1952 CADILLAC ROADSTER BROUGHT $88K
BarrettJackson
Reno, NV
July 31–August 2,
2014
Auctioneer: Tom
“Spanky” Assiter and
Associates
automotive lots sold/
offered: 304/318
Sales rate: 96%
Sales total:
$9,905,445
High american sale:
1932 Ford custom
roadster, sold at
$110,000
buyer’s premium:
10%, included in sold
prices
a near-perfect, one-owner 1962 Chevrolet Corvair 2-dr sedan sold at $6,600
ACC 1–6 scale
condition rating
for vehicles in
Market Reports
1. Perfect: National
show standard
2. excellent: Club
show-worthy, some
small flaws
3. average: Daily driver
in decent condition
4. meh: Still a driver,
with some visible flaws
5. Questionable: A
problem-plagued beast
that somehow
manages to run
6. Lost cause:
Salvageable for parts
Report by Travis Shetler, images courtesy
of Barrett-Jackson
Market opinions in italics
B
arrett-Jackson returned for the second time
to northern Nevada for Hot August Nights
2014. The sale had a strong 96% sales rate, as
nearly all of the vehicles sold with no reserve.
Barrett-Jackson reported that there were
more bidders and consignors this year and that as a
result of their diverse docket, they attracted a broader
collector audience. There were fewer six-figure sales
this year. The traveling show booths that accompany
a Barrett-Jackson production were in full swing with
everything from the new Hellcat to new Chevrolets
and Fords, as well as custom trailers, art, boots, and car
builders.
The offerings came from all points of the automotive
world. Barrett-Jackson buyers had their choice of pickups,
customs, hot rods, resto-mods, muscle cars, classic
European and American sports cars as well as factorynew
restorations and a few boats and motorcycles. The
overall selection included a large percentage of highquality
vehicles in #1 and #2 condition, especially Hot
August Nights-appropriate customs and street rods. One
of my faves was a 1952 Cadillac that had been built into
a stunningly beautiful roadster in red metallic pearl. It
found a new owner for $88k.
At the affordable end was a one-owner 1962 Corvair,
sold at $6,600.
The Barrett-Jackson Cup competition returned
this year with $110k in prizes. Ultimate Best of Show
Winner went to a 1957 Chevrolet pickup built by Hot
Rod Garage over the course of five years. It was a
completely custom truck that had modifications to every
body panel. In addition to the glory, the winners took
home $30k in cash and a massive prize pack of parts
and tools.
Barrett-Jackson is here to sell cars— and have lots
of fun. A
Page 66
BARRETT-JACKSON // Reno, NV
GM
#24-1926 CHEVROLET pickup. VIN:
12X1500. Rust & wood/black vinyl/gray
leather. Odo: 8,869 miles. The definition of
patina. Time and weather result in wood
smoother than hundreds of hours of hand
sanding could ever attain. #4 interior with
re-covered seat. Low miles showing. Engine
and running gear have been attended to.
New correct wiring installed. Reportedly
runs well. Cond: 4.
per and bumper guards, as well as hazing
to the small plastic pieces on top of the taillights.
Added chrome runningboard and
fender skirt options make it look even longer.
Excellent interior with hydraulic windows
looks and smells just right. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $88,000. This was one of five or
six custom cars brought from an Arizona
builder. All were done to show-car standards
and finished in jet black except this
one. Very strong price for a very strong car.
Well sold, but buyer is happy.
#736-1962 CHEVROLET BEL AIR 2-dr
hard top. VIN: 21537L173727. Roman
Red/red vinyl. Odo: 62,616 miles. 409-ci V8,
2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Perfectly beautiful 409 with
outstanding paint. Chrome and undercarriage
are factory-fresh. #1 interior has crisp
floormats and genuine GM smell. Cond: 1-.
SOLD AT $49,500. Well bought and sold.
While it misses CCCA Classic status by one
year, this Cadillac had all the gravitas one
could hope for short of a V12 or V16.
NOT SOLD AT $18,700. No one expected
to find this vehicle here, and it charmed everyone
I spoke with. Bid to a price that
seemed correct.
#411-1932 CHEVROLET CONFEDERATE
2-dr sedan. VIN: 3BA0422077. Pink Raspberry
Pearl/white & pink leather. Odo:
51,729 miles. Eye-popping perfect pink custom
show car. Former centerfold feature car
in Car Kulture DeLuxe magazine. Paint expertly
applied. Flawless interior has every
custom feature and then some. Barrel
swivel seats in white with matching pink
piping echo the white with pink accents and
buttons in the headliner. Drivetrain painted
and chromed in every way. Cond: 1-.
#681-1949 CHEVROLET 3100 custom
pickup. VIN: KS133047. Champagne &
emerald green/buckskin leather. Odo: 2,779
miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Gorgeously
constructed resto-mod with mirror finish.
Colors combine with beautiful wooden bed
to make this show-quality vehicle the prettiest
Advance Design pickup at the auction.
Interior just as striking as the outside. Extensive
chassis, drivetrain and convenience
modifications make this the truck for cruising
Hot August Nights. Cond: 1-.
SOLD AT $55,000. Very well priced, just
over market value. Seller may be disappointed,
as car was just purchased at Mecum’s
Anaheim, CA, auction in November
of 2013 for $55,640 (ACC# 238124). 409s
are always collectible, and this red-on-red
car will appreciate while looking stunning
the whole time.
#6-1962 CHEVROLET CORVAIR 2-dr sedan.
VIN: 209270126499. White/gold &
gray vinyl. 145-ci H6, 2x1-bbl, auto. Presents
as nearly perfect. One owner, a Chevrolet
dealership family. Repainted in the
past to high standard. Chipping on driver’s
side near taillight panel. No visible interior
issues. I can’t imagine there’s a nicer
Corvair to be found outside of a museum.
Odometer illegible. Cond: 1-.
SOLD AT $42,350. Originality is always the
best investment, but the modifications didn’t
decrease the value of this pickup. (They
didn’t increase the value either.) Well
bought and sold.
SOLD AT $29,700. Well bought and sold.
Buyer could never re-create for price, and
seller received good money. This is the airconditioned
“Kandy-Kolored Pink-Flake
Streamline Baby” (sorry, Mr. Wolfe) which is
absolutely needed for at least one evening
of cruising during Hot August Nights.
#409-1949 CADILLAC SERIES 75 limousine.
VIN: 497520498. Dark blue/gray cloth.
Odo: 13,311 miles. 331-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto.
Car presents a mature and handsome face
to the crowds. Deep blue paint looks gorgeous
and has an imposing presence.
(What a grille!) Some paint chips around the
bustle trunk lid, scratches on the rear bum-
68 AmericanCarCollector.com
#7001-1952 CADILLAC roadster. VIN:
526255302. Red metallic pearl/tan leather.
350-ci fuel-injected V8, auto. Concoursquality
tri-stage red metallic pearl over an
amazingly soft tan leather interior. Trim is
100% fresh. Chopped roadster windshield is
raked and looks right. The #1 interior is
beautifully done with a custom console between
formed bucket seats and a full rear
seat. Attention to detail is everywhere, and
the leather completely covers the doors,
kick panels and even the firewall. Super
cool. Cond: 1.
SOLD AT $6,600. Well bought and sold.
Corvairs just have a tough time bringing a
lot of money, so the seller should not be too
despondent. The buyer made a good purchase
of a very nice car.
#712-1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO Z/28
coupe. VIN: 124379N582709. Rallye Green
& white/green vinyl/green vinyl. 302-ci V8,
4-bbl, 4-sp. Magnificently restored Z/28.
Perfect paint nicely offsets sparkling chrome
trim, brilliant white striping highlighting the
cowl induction and the halo vinyl top.
Scratch to right rear fender and also hood
and trunk alignment problems. Interior only
held back by tired A-pillar trim and an odd
mark on console. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT
$70,400. Very well sold and bought. Slightly
above the market, but the colors and the
Page 68
BARRETT-JACKSON // Reno, NV
glows deep into the finish, which is beautifully
applied. Seam between roof and rear
window panel of the cab vaguely visible but
does not detract. Lowered ride over aftermarket
wheels, which look perfect. Very
good interior is redone in a black with
leather trim in the original pattern. Cond: 1-.
presentation of this highly collectible car
justify the price.
Brown/black vinyl/tan & gold vinyl. Odo:
4,731 miles. 400-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Funky
but attractive “Espresso” green-brown paint
is fine. Rebuilt hood-mounted tachometer
and vinyl halo roof look nice. New headlight
doors misaligned, especially on the right.
Nice interior looks good, with typical GM
console lid curling up at front edge. Engine
rebuilt 2,000 miles previously. Cond: 3+.
#366-1969 PONTIAC GTO 2-dr hard
top. VIN: 242379A100577. Espresso
SOLD AT $25,300. Well bought and sold.
This is the last year of this very appealing
body style. Easy and comfortable to drive,
they scratch the classic car/justifiable truck/
pretty-hot-rod itch with aplomb.
SOLD AT $18,150. Very well bought by at
least several thousand dollars. This car will
go up in value. Enjoy driving it while fixing a
few details.
#702-1970 PONTIAC GTO convertible.
VIN: 242670Z142237. Starlight Black/black
vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 95,997 miles. 400-ci
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Triple-black PHS-documented
vehicle with “upgraded” 4-speed.
Presents as a good-looking older restoration.
Some problems with paint on the trunk
and passenger’s door. #2 interior displays
patina with no specific issues. Highly optioned.
Cond: 2-.
#399-1972 CHEVROLET CAMARO Z/28
coupe. VIN: 1Q87L2N160140. Flame
Orange/black vinyl. Odo: 7,308 miles. 350ci
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Absolutely fantastic orange
finish on a car restored to show-car
standards. One tiny flaw in the paint by the
Camaro emblem above the grille. Bumpers,
lenses, rubber, and stripes are without issue.
#1 interior is perfect. There are several
individual plastic pieces inside these second-generation
Camaros that are rarely
aligned. However, this one has everything
lined up nicely, even by the glovebox. Sold
new in Needles, CA. Cond: 1-.
exhaust splits behind the cab and exits to
either side. Modified suspension. Custom
#1 interior with transmission selector and
window switches moved to console.
Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $31,900. Well bought
and sold. Horribly expensive to build, but
the seller’s pride is evident throughout.
Buyer got $100k of tricks and head-turning
style for pennies on the dollar.
CORVETTE
#757-1957 CHEVROLET CORVETTE custom
convertible. VIN: E57S100158. Black/
black canvas/tan leather. 427-ci fuel-injected
V8, auto. Custom nut-and-bolt restomod
that is show-car perfect. Paint, engine
bay, powder-coated chassis and adjustable
suspension are spectacular. Fantastic interior
finished in custom soft leather with
push-button start. This car is perfect, with
too many upgrades to count. Cond: 1-.
SOLD AT $75,900. Very well bought and
sold. Just below the top of the market
range, which is hard to do on a custom car.
Purchaser will have nothing but enjoyment
and should break even when finished, if he
is ever able to part with it.
SOLD AT $38,500. A well-optioned, fully
documented, and gorgeous car. Very well
sold and bought with a price near the top of
the value range. Highly collectible and so
beautifully finished in a stunning color. Everyone
involved must be pleased.
SOLD AT $36,300. Quite well sold, with a
sales price just above market. Four-speed
is preferable, but no information on what it
was previously. Buyer has a vehicle that
may be enjoyed as it is and will likely increase
in value over time.
#372-1972 CHEVROLET C10 pickup. VIN:
CCS142Z178874. Royal Ruby Red/black
cloth. Odo: 6,704 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl,
auto. Gleaming show truck. Burgundy paint
70 AmericanCarCollector.com
#718-1978 CHEVROLET C10 pickup. VIN:
CCL448Z201491. Maroon/red cloth. 454-ci
V8, 4-bbl, auto. Custom show truck with
$136k invested, and it shows. Mirror-finish
paint with zero issues. Chopped top, suicide
doors, tilt front and bed. Engine bay with
completely customized firewall. Exceptional
#765-1965 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible.
VIN: 194675S116640. Tuxedo
Black/silver vinyl/silver leather. Odo: 59,753
miles. 396-ci 425-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Previously
restored L78 with unusual silver
leather interior. Black paint is high quality
and well cared for. Excellent interior. Some
patina to the seats and maybe a slight misalignment
to the passenger’s side. First
year for the big block and standard 4-wheel
disc brakes. Desirably optioned with knockoffs,
teak wheel and headrests, among others.
Cond: 1-.
SOLD AT $82,500. Extremely well bought
at the very bottom of the value range. As
with the fuel-injected models, these are sixfigure
cars at the top of the food chain for
mid-’60s Corvettes.
#768-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible.
VIN: 194677S110274. Sunfire
BEST
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Page 70
BARRETT-JACKSON // Reno, NV
Yellow/black leather. Odo: 1,025 miles. 327ci
350-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Perfect yellow
L79. Only flaws in paint are where top
meets the body behind the doors. Trim very
nice, with a small issue at the left rear bumper.
Superb interior with slight patina to
seats and typically grubby GM gray rearview
mirror safety rubber. Cond: 1-.
#639-1968 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. VIN: 194378S426951. British
Green/black vinyl. Odo: 28,988 miles. 327ci
300-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Garage-find Corvette
with good options, documentation and
history. One owner until 2010. Terrible
checking to paint, with some stress-fracture
cracking and deep scratches on driver’s
door. Respectable authenticity, but beyond
patina—every panel needs to be redone.
Door handles uniformly sprung and missing
chrome finish. Interior nice but for scrapes
on the painted trim. Originally purchased in
La Habra, CA, for owner’s son who did not
return from Vietnam. Fully serviced.
Cond: 3-.
SOLD AT $73,700. Quite well bought, almost
in the middle of the current market
value. Sold in 2012 at Mecum’s Houston
auction for $71,550 (ACC# 211443). Lots of
room for increase here.
#422-1968 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible.
VIN: 194678S427381. Bronze/
bronze hard top/black leather. Odo: 19,620
miles. 427-ci 390-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. A striking
numbers-matching ’68 with expert paint.
Small hole in fiberglass below bumper on
driver’s side. Well-executed interior with the
matching hard top. Cond: 1-.
SOLD AT $22,000. Well bought and sold.
Slightly above the bottom of the market
range. Compelling story definitely a factor in
this sale.
#405-1969 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. VIN: 194379S705737. Tuxedo
Black/black hard top/black leather. Odo:
26,550 miles. 350-ci 350-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp.
Triple black and presents very well. No
paint issues noted. Removable rear window
with fit issues and window felt stands out as
the rest of the car is so nice. Very well optioned.
Cond: 1-.
SOLD AT $33,000. Well bought just under
market value. Perhaps a few more options
would have helped, but this was one of the
prettiest C3s in Reno.
Polar White/red vinyl. Odo: 96,925 miles.
327-ci 350-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Proper rotisserie
restoration on a numbers-matching
L79 convertible in a sharp original color
combination. Minor issues include paint chip
behind passenger’s door, rock chip to side
window and scruffy chrome header where
top joins windshield. Excellent interior and
engine bay nicely put together. Cond: 1-.
#638-1968 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. VIN: 194678S404316.
SOLD AT $44,000. Well sold above market.
Well bought also, as nice cars bring extra
value.
FOMOCO
#675-1928 FORD MODEL A lakester. VIN:
NCS89796. White & red/dark tan vinyl. SoCal
lakebed racer with detailed period style.
Vintage E&J headlamps and carburetor
stacks add to the car’s presence. Some
SOLD AT $26,400. Very well bought. The
seller claimed to have $35k in receipts for
the rebuild. No question buyer has plenty of
upside.
72 AmericanCarCollector.com
SOLD AT $39,600. Designed to be the
most luxurious vehicle available in 1956; the
original price was near $10,000, and the
cars were very well optioned. Many unique
parts, but fantastically attractive and richlooking.
Nicely bought, just above the bottom
of the market range. Lots of upside
here.
SOLD AT $42,900. Well bought and sold
near the top of the current market. This was
the nicest Thunderbird at this year’s auction,
and the buyer should be more than
pleased.
#677-1956 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL
MARK II coupe. VIN: C56D2830. Cream
white/tan leather. Odo: 59,626 miles. 368-ci
V8, 4-bbl, auto. Adventurous European styling
for a 1950s American. Old paint with
issues in the rain gutters and also in the
rear fender intake vent scoops. Chrome trim
in very nice order with some rubber issues
around the windshield. #2+ interior recovered
in Scottish Bridge of Weir leather with
cloth inserts that look exquisite except for
trim problems on the door panels. Cond: 3.
bubbling in #2 paint job. #1 interior coupled
with almost innumerable custom accents,
modifications and accessories. Featured in
June 2012 Street Rodder magazine.
Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $41,800. Last seen
one year ago at Mecum Monterey, not sold
at $31k (ACC# 230794). Price is well below
cost, but probably fair. Fantastic for vintage
events, not too pure to use, and definitely
unique.
#696-1956 FORD THUNDERBIRD convertible.
VIN: P6FH287818. Fiesta Red/red
hard top/red & white vinyl. Odo: 33,221
miles. 312-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. A properly
painted, correct-color Thunderbird that
looks very sharp. Minor paint issue above
the grille and some chrome defects. Restored
in 1988 and garaged since, still
standing confident. The Miramar Naval Air
Station sticker on the windshield contributes
to the solid feeling. Interior nearly perfect,
with just speedometer hazing and an updated
stereo to distract the eye. Cond: 2+.
BEST
BUY
Page 72
BARRETT-JACKSON // Reno, NV
#12-1963 FORD FALCON wagon. VIN:
3R24F177312. Wimbledon White/red vinyl.
Odo: 33,960 miles. 260-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto.
Pretty little wagon, especially with the red
interior. Owned by one Reno family since
new, with a recent, decent-quality repaint.
Trim around windows is worn, chrome on
body and the wavy rear bumper are a little
tired and pitted. Very good interior is bright
but shows puckering around the window
cranks. Cond: 2.
289-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Stunning frame-off
restoration down to each nut and bolt.
Frame painted to match. No issues in the
paint or the trim. Interior also great. Lots of
modernization, including suspension, drivetrain,
custom dash and gauges. Cond: 1-.
SOLD AT $37,400. Well sold. People get
worked up about these early Broncos being
cut at the wheelwells, but even with the
modifications, this truck presents just as it
should.
SOLD AT $10,725. Well bought and sold.
The one-desert-owner history adds to the
value. While Lot 391 (the resto-mod Falcon
woodie wagon) sold for $44k, price here
was good money for this car, which still had
a number of needs. Easy fixes and lots to
enjoy while dialing everything in.
#35-1965 FORD MUSTANG coupe. VIN:
5R07C163651. Poppy Red/black vinyl. Odo:
57,043 miles. 289-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Presents
as a completely perfect early Mustang.
Paint is very nice, with just some of the
chrome showing as a little tired, especially
the window trim. Interior is very nice but for
the package shelf cover, which looks like it
should have been in a different car, as the
new material is lumpy. The dash cover
raises questions. A beautiful little Mustang
with low mileage and everything already
done. Cond: 2+.
#636-1969 FORD TORINO Talladega fastback.
VIN: 9A46Q189831. Presidential
Blue/black vinyl. Odo: 46,445 miles. 428-ci
V8, 4-bbl, auto. Rare NASCAR homologation
car presented an imposing, purposebuilt
demeanor. Professionally restored,
with minute rubber fit issues around headlight
trim in the aero-nose. Excellent interior
looks almost too plain for even a fleet vehicle.
Talladegas were very subtly and secretly
modified down to the rocker panel
stampings for every possible advantage.
Cond: 3.
top of the value range. Buyer should also be
happy for the unique provenance and the
fact that this car will only appreciate.
MOPAR
Green metallic/white vinyl/white vinyl. Odo:
11,828 miles. 440-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp.
1969½ M-code Super Bee with an absolutely
flawless finish. Wearing an incredible
color combination with perfect white stripes,
white top and #1 white interior. The only
problem found is scratches and scuffs in the
rear window glass. Under the factory fiberglass
hood, the motor and engine bay are
better than original. One of 826 440 Six
Pack-equipped hard tops with rare options.
Absolutely a visually stunning Mopar. Rebuilt
1969 engine and matching-numbers
4-speed. Cond: 1-.
#726-1969 DODGE SUPER BEE 2-dr
hard top. VIN: WM23M9A302906.
SOLD AT $48,950. Very well bought. These
cars are less valuable than the Superbirds
that Mopar was forced to design and produce
in response to Ford’s nearly 30 wins
during 1969. They may never catch up in
value, but pricing on these cars will not decline.
Previously sold four months age at
Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach this year for
$44k (ACC# 243175), which makes this
look like a fair price.
SOLD AT $16,500. Well bought and sold.
Slightly above market value, but such a
sharp car with the right additions. It is possible
to find a similar one for less, but it
would need paint and/or a motor. This one
is done and ready to drive.
#404-1968 FORD BRONCO pickup. VIN:
U14NLC84454. Red & gray/black leather.
#770-1970 SHELBY GT350 fastback. VIN:
0F02M482496. Gulfstream Aqua/aqua
steel/white vinyl. Odo: 53,209 miles. Onefamily-owned
car purchased in 1992 by the
current owner’s uncle. Show-winning, original
car which has been garaged since new.
Some touch-up to spots on the rear decklid
and the surrounding area. Fantastic taillights
and exhaust tips. Unusual shallow
buckling on passenger B-pillar. #3 interior
has a split seam on the driver’s seat and
also a hole in the left armrest. Carroll
Shelby signature on right sunvisor.
Cond: 3-.
SOLD AT $77,000. Very well bought and
sold. The M40 package adds 25% to the
high market value of $65,500, according to
the ACC Pocket Price Guide. Everyone
should be happy, but it is likely the buyer
who is happiest. The perfect muscle car,
highly collectible and sought-after with a
screaming color scheme. It could not be
restored for this amount of money, and the
value is only going up.
AMERICANA
#56-1952 WILLYS JEEP. VIN: 22599. Olive
drab/olive drab canvas/green vinyl. Odo:
41,329 miles. 134-ci I4, 1-bbl, 4-sp. The
sheet metal on this military Jeep is a bit
rough and wavy but could have been built
that way. Spotless outside and inside. Paint
set off nicely by the re-covered seats.
Underhood finished to museum quality.
Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $77,000. Quite well sold at the
74 AmericanCarCollector.com
SOLD AT $16,500. Well sold and well
bought. This is likely all of the money, but it
BEST
BUY
Page 74
GLOVEBOXNOTES By John L. Stein
2015 Dodge Challenger Srt Hellcat
would be tough to find as much Jeep for the
same price.
Price as tested: $62,080
equipment: Supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi SRT Hellcat V8 engine with 707 hp and
650 lb-ft of torque, 6-speed manual Tremec transmission, anti-spin 3.70 differential,
5-link rear suspension, 20x9.5-inch forged aluminum wheels, 275/40ZR20 Pirelli
summer tires, Brembo six-piston brakes, Bilstein three-mode active suspension,
electronic stability control, all-speed traction control, functional hood scoop, projector
headlamps, back-up camera, quad exhausts, dual-zone automatic temperature
control, Harman Kardon audio system with 18 speakers and subwoofer, 8.4-inch
touch-screen display, Uconnect, 200-mph speedometer.
ePa mileage: 13/21
Likes: This car has fantastic bandwidth. It can idle through traffic, tour in supreme
comfort, and dispatch almost anything else on the road. It’s subtle enough that most
people won’t notice the “Supercharged” fender badges, huge 20-inch rubber, gaping
cold-air inlet or aluminum intercooler. But those who get it will go ape. The touchscreen
adjustable suspension, Brembo brakes, stability control and exhaust-note
settings are terrific, as are the rocking HD audio, Pandora, Wi-Fi system and more.
The huge trunk adds utility.
Dislikes: At 4,488 pounds, the Hellcat outweighs a 2015 Corvette Z06 by nearly a
half-ton, and seat-of-the-pants driving impressions confirm it. While fast, the chunky
Hellcat is not the pin-your-ears-back Superbike experience I’d expected. Despite
great cornering manners on smooth roads, when the pavement undulates, the car’s
heft really becomes apparent. I found the growling exhaust too loud at idle and the
Tremec 6-speed manual stiff shifting, and the low front air dam loves curbs.
Verdict: This is a Hot August Nights or Woodward Dream Cruiser more than a
Corvette killer. It’s as big and heavy as it is powerful, making it an unlikely candidate
for racetrack supremacy. That said, Dodge did a tremendous job pouring functionality
and refinement into the Hellcat, from huge power to emphatic styling, and from
creature comforts to advanced
electronics. So while 707 horsepower
is what most people will remember
about the Hellcat, in reality, the
tremendous overall package is what
makes it special.
Fun to drive:
Fun to look at:
overall experience:
76
SOLD AT $21,450. Very well bought with
good potential for future appreciation. Finding
another one-owner, fully documented,
and numbers-matching supercharged
Avanti is not likely. The history obtained
from the owner left me biased (especially
the family road trip to Canada and down the
West Coast), but this was just magnificent.
Seller likely happy, too, as sale will provide
for the smaller car in which he will tour the
country with a small sleeper trailer three
months of each year. A
AmericanCarCollector.com
SOLD AT $30,250. A true custom unlike
anything else. This appealed to me, and I
could imagine it appealing to a lot of people
like me for a long time. Well bought and
sold.
#363-1963 STUDEBAKER AVANTI R2
coupe. VIN: 63R3906. Avanti Red/red
leather. Odo: 132,632 miles. 289-ci V8, supercharged,
4-sp. Original-owner Avanti.
One of 738 with supercharger. Nicely repainted
to Avanti Red with traces of original
turquoise visible underhood. Some bumper
and trim issues. Seats re-covered in red
with dash, doors and trim finished in “airliner”
light gray. Vanity mirror drawer
mounted in glovebox adds to the vibe. One
of the first disc brake-equipped American
production autos that broke nearly 30 Bonneville
records. Super-sharp Studebaker.
Cond: 2+.
#359-1956 STUDEBAKER GOLDEN
HAWK coupe. VIN: 6032159. Brown &
beige/tan leather. Odo: 30,088 miles. 352-ci
V8, 4-bbl, 3-sp. Absolutely gorgeous and
imposing automobile in a pleasing color
combination. No issues with paint. Some
pitting on the chrome trim—specifically the
hood ornament and the dummy hood scoop.
Fender-top turn signals are echoed at the
rear with the backup lights. Interior beautifully
reupholstered with stunning turned aluminum
trim. Rear seat armrest rises on four
hinged pedestals for comfort—an unexpected
touch. Cond: 2+.
Page 76
MECUM AUCTIONS // Monterey, CA
Mecum — The Daytime Auction
A 1965 FORD F-100 THAT WAS SPECIAL-ORDERED BY ITS LONGTIME
OWNER AND NEVER RESTORED SOLD FOR A PROPER $18K
Mecum
Auctions
Monterey, CA
August 14–16, 2014
auctioneers: Mark
Delzell, Mike Hagerman,
Jim Landis, Bobby
McGlothlen, Matt
Moravec
automotive lots sold/
offered: 361/643
Sales rate: 56%
Sales total:
$34,582,960
High american sale:
1930 Duesenberg
Model J Torpedo
Berline, sold at
$1,539,000
buyer’s premium:
8% ($500 minimum),
included in sold prices
unrestored, original-paint 1965 Ford F-100 Custom Cab pickup, sold at $18,360
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
biggest selection.
The final numbers all looked good for Mecum.
M
Despite 34 fewer consigned cars than last year, a slightly
higher percentage sold (56% over last year’s 55%),
generating more than $3 million in additional sales.
They also had seven cars bring over a million bucks —
compared to four last year.
Topping the sales of American cars was a Duesey —
literally. The 1930 Duesenberg Model J Torpedo Berline
offered here was very well traveled and documented in
Classic circles. The new owner stepped into it for $1.5m
shortly after the consignor elected to drop the reserve.
Next down the domestic high-sale list was a car that may
not be an American purebred but is still revered in the
muscle car world: a 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 (converted
to S/C spec), sold at $1.1m.
Standouts below the hundred-grand mark included
a 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A at $67k and a 1966
Oldsmobile 442 F-85 at $55k. A 1965 Ford F-100 that
was special-ordered by its longtime owner and never
restored sold for a proper $18k.
top seller: 1930 Duesenberg model J torpedo
berline, sold at $1,539,000
ecum’s “Daytime Auction” once again
earned the title of largest auction in
total consignments on the Monterey
Peninsula. Mecum may not have had
the biggest purse; but they did have the
As in past years, Mecum’s plentiful and helpful staff,
excellent single-lot catalogs for the star cars, and stressfree
parking were again appreciated. Mecum’s top-notch
staff makes attending one of their events a pleasure —
whether you’re a buyer, seller, or even a tire-kicker.
Filling a unique niche in the auction schedule here,
Mecum continues to deliver good results, and success
should continue as long as they maintain their focus. A
Page 78
MECUM AUCTIONS // Monterey, CA
GM
#S209-1938 CADILLAC SERIES 65 4-dr
convertible sedan. VIN: 7270907. Beige
metallic/parchment cloth soft top/brown
leather. Odo: 21,860 km. GM Continental
factory export car to Antwerp, Belgium; originally
sold to Queen Wilhelmina of The
Netherlands. Fitted with dual sidemounts,
trafficators, bullet-resistant glass, Marchal
driving lights, and radio calibrated for European
broadcast. Muted but presentable old
paint. Some brightwork, such as the bumpers,
was replated, but the bulk of the trim
is original. Heavily faded but intact and cool
early post-war Aral gasoline decals on the
windshield. Light weathering and wrinkling
to the top. Upholstery seems too crudely
done to be factory-original, especially the
seams, even if there’s some patina to it.
Heavily cracked steering-wheel rim, which
is missing the horn button. Maintained-butdingy
engine bay. Bill of sale, no title.
Cond: 3.
in that it didn’t state explicitly that this was
the original engine that came with the car. It
read, “Correct rebuilt 348 ci...” You make
the call. A fairly strong sale.
#F227-1960 OLDSMOBILE DYNAMIC 88
Fiesta wagon. VIN: 607C03798. White &
light green/green cloth & white vinyl. Odo:
87,491 miles. 371-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Optional
power steering, brakes and rear window.
Period-accessory a/c. Repainted stock
color scheme, but with pinstriping added.
Some body cracking at corners around the
door jambs. Replated bumpers, buffed-out
trim. Dog-dish hubcaps in lieu of full wheel
covers. Original dry-rotted vent window
seals and pitted vent glass. Seats and door
panels reupholstered in stock patterns but
with modern automotive fabric. Condensation
staining on the replacement carpet by
the a/c unit. Recent cosmetic redo under
the hood. Cond: 3+.
better than original. All repro interior soft
trim; some carpet soiling. Modern retro-look
tape deck. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $67,500.
The blackwalls and dog dishes looked weird
at first, but after you look at it for a little
while, it works. My ’62 Corvair Monza convertible
originally came in this Twilight Turquoise,
and looking at this Impala, maybe I
shouldn’t have changed it. (Two decades
ago I thought it looked too plain.) A strong
car for strong money.
#F46-1963 CHEVROLET C10 Custom
Suburban SUV. VIN: 3C146S178270. Light
green & white/gray & white vinyl. Odo:
42,476 miles. 230-ci I6, 1-bbl, 4-sp. Poor
prep and paint, lifting in places. Missing trim
pieces accentuate masking errors. Repro
grille and replated bumpers. Crooked aftermarket
antenna. Generic modern seat
NOT SOLD AT $62,000. It’s interesting that
Her Majesty only ordered a mid-level
Fisher-bodied series 65, rather than a Fleetwood-bodied
series 75. Perhaps it was in
the interest of looking less flashy or more
prudent, in that a 65 sits on a 132-inch
wheelbase rather than the 75’s 141-inch for
being more nimble on smaller European
roads. Then again, she was also quite loyal
to The General, also buying a McLaughlinBuick
in 1938. Bid slightly rich for an example
without ownership provenance, but
one wonders how much better this welldocumented
example would do even in Holland.
#S48-1958 CHEVROLET IMPALA convertible.
VIN: F58S187624. White/white
vinyl/red, black and silver vinyl. Odo: 239
miles. 348-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, auto. Optional
power steering, brakes, windows, top, and
Wonderbar AM radio with twin rear antennas.
Also fitted with Continental kit, fender
skirts, and twin mirror spotlights. VIN tag
pop-riveted back into place after a quick
frame-off restoration. Excellent body prep
and paint. Missing a couple of door-to-body
rubber bumpers. Excellent door and panel
fit. Minimal wear on fully restored interior.
Engine bay and undercarriage starting to
show light soiling, but otherwise were well
restored. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $91,800. The
auction description was carefully worded,
80 AmericanCarCollector.com
NOT SOLD AT $23,000. Bidding pretty
much flatlined at the $20k point, which is
probably market-correct. Still, I can easily
justify it being worth a little more.
#F189-1962 CHEVROLET IMPALA convertible.
VIN: 21867B257297. Twilight
Turquoise/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo:
5,501 miles. 409-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp.
Equipped with 409-horse 409, 4-speed,
power top and clock. Restored well enough
in the previous decade to have won an
AACA National First; scored 997 out of
1,000 points in a Vintage Chevrolet Club of
America national meet. Odometer reset at
restoration, with the car showing 5k miles of
light wear. Excellent prep and paint. Good
door fit. Replated bumpers and mostly reproduction
trim. Replacement top is fitted
upholstery with period-style seatbelts. Gaping
holes in dash where the radio was;
wires hanging below. Aftermarket babymoon
hubcaps and small radial tires on the
stock steel wheels. Cond: 3-. SOLD AT
$9,990. 1962 and ’63 are special years for
Chevy trucks, as ’62 was the first year for
the new, cleaner-designed hood, and ’63
was the last year for the wrap-around windshield.
This was a half-hearted attempt at
restoration, so no wonder the consignor put
it up for sale. Regardless of the continuing
escalation of vintage truck values, this sold
well.
#T47-1963 CHEVROLET CORVAIR 95
Rampside pickup. VIN: 3R124S108332.
Red & white/red vinyl. Odo: 315 miles. 164ci
H6, 2x1-bbl, 4-sp. Described as a “barn
find” but with a repaint inside and out.
Floors non-stock battleship gray. NOM 110hp
motor with 4-speed. Later-vintage widerthan-stock
steel wheels. Engine bay has a
fair amount of overspray on most everything
to some extent—including the large quantities
of added wiring with crimp connectors
and interduct. Odd interior redo: While the
seat was reupholstered with correct nylon,
the dash and interior steel was painted
Page 80
MECUM AUCTIONS // Monterey, CA
QUICKTAKE
1971 Chevrolet Corvette
coupe
SoLD at $44,280
Mecum Auctions, Harrisburg, PA, 7/24-27/2014, Lot F107
VIN: 194371S110716
L71, LS6, L88.
When it comes to
Corvettes, the biggest
of the big blocks tend
to sell for the biggest
money. And it should be
no real surprise that collectors
love them. These were
the highest-performance
Corvettes of their day, and
most of today’s buyers want the hottest-spec versions for both their performance and bragging
rights.
But what about usability? A 427/435 Corvette is fully drivable, but it’s not what you might
call easy to use. A high-compression engine with solid lifters and massive induction (three
carbs in the case of the L71) tends to be finicky. Cruising on a cool night is one thing. What
about sitting in traffic on a warm summer day?
That’s why I love cars like this Corvette coupe. The
LS5 454 is just a little bit tamer than the solid-lifter LS6,
but because of that, it’s a lot more drivable out in the
real world. You still get a mountain of torque that only a
big block can deliver, but you also get hydraulic lifters,
a Q-jet carb and oval-port heads, all of which lowers
where the engine’s power band kicks in, and makes for
less maintenance and fewer headaches. That raises its
fun factor in the real world. And as an added plus, the
premium you’d pay for a headlining engine isn’t there.
This Corvette came with the 365-hp LS5, a TH400
automatic, power steering, power brakes, air conditioning,
and more. It looked great inside and out, with what
appear to be all the right parts in all the right places. The
color is also claimed to be original, too.
At $44k, this car was near the upper end of the
$26,000 to $56,500 ACC Pocket Price Guide range —
but its condition warranted the money. It should be a
great driver, too, regardless of where you want to take it,
or how long it takes to get there. Well bought. A
— Jim Pickering
bright gold instead of dull Fawn Beige.
Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $15,120. To tell
whether a Forward Control has the correct
engine (if you didn’t know that the 110 was
never offered in a truck), look for the oil-fill
tube. An original truck engine will have a
different casting on the rear to allow for
easy oil fill-up from the “mail slot” out back.
(Otherwise, you have to unbolt the top engine
cover—which is not designed for easy
removal.) With the reserve off at $11k, it
must have been easy to spot the consignor
at the hotel that night—he’d be the guy buying
everyone drinks.
#T102-1964 PONTIAC GTO 2-dr hard top.
VIN: 824F30946. Black/black vinyl. Odo:
57,961 miles. 389-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. PHS
documentation and window sticker not displayed
but reportedly confirm it’s a real TriPower.
Also equipped with power steering
and brakes, center console, and wire wheelcovers.
Better-quality repaint done a few
years back. Solid door fit with decent gaps.
All interior soft trim redone with reproduction
pieces around the time the car was repainted.
Gauges show some yellowing, interior
brightwork has some scuffing and
pitting. Cond: 2-.
NOT SOLD AT $43,000. The thing I really
liked about this car was the wire wheelcovers.
Since everyone puts either steelies with
dog-dish caps or Rally I/Rally II wheels on
these when they get restored, you rarely
see wheelcovers on GTOs anymore. More
often than not, they were sold with full wheel
covers, and yes, that included fake wires.
Bid strong enough for a good car that’s
been enjoyed since restoration.
#T5-1965 CHEVROLET CORVAIR Monza
2-dr hard top. VIN: 105375L112074. Blue
metallic/black vinyl. Odo: 27,940 miles. 164ci
H6, 2x1-bbl, 4-sp. Factory a/c with a modern
compressor. Optional 110-hp engine.
Miles believed actual. Has been repainted
and cosmetically refurbished. Mix of original
and repro brightwork. Minimal seat wear,
moderate carpet wear. Aftermarket retrolook
tape deck. Modern radial tires. Various
home fixes and changes under the hood:
modern silicone plug wires, cut-off switch,
new economy-grade battery cables, and
enough additional wiring with crimp connectors
to make me nervous to drive it.Cond:
3+. SOLD AT $9,720. While the seller may
think that it’s a low-mile original, I’m not
82
AmericanCarCollector.com
Page 81
MECUM AUCTIONS // Monterey, CA
drinking that Kool-Aid. I’ve worked on more
than enough to know a minty low-mile original
from an arid-climate daily driver from a
beat-up rusty dog. This car is the middle
category. There’s far too much corrosion on
the engine components and undercarriage
for it to be a low-mile baby. If it is low miles,
it’s been ran hard and stored poorly at various
times over its nearly 50 years. Hopefully
the buyer knew what he was buying.
#F73-1966 OLDSMOBILE 442 F-85 2-dr
sedan. VIN: 334076M383445. Red/red vinyl.
Odo: 32,298 miles. 400-ci V8, 3x2-bbl,
4-sp. Optional W-30 Ram Air package, M21
4-speed and 4.11 differential. Restored in
past few years. Vastly-better-than-stock
repaint. Stated to retain its original interior
soft trim, body panels and glass. Almost
looks too good to be original for the interior
vinyl. Miles claimed actual. Excellent doorto-cowl-to-hood
fit, but driver’s door doesn’t
latch well. Authentically restored under the
hood. Tidy undercarriage. Cond: 2+.
Tidy engine bay and undercarriage, with
non-OEM muffler. Light wear starting to
show on the floor mats and carpeting, minimal
wrinkling on seats. Cond: 2. NOT
SOLD AT $71,000. Something of a frequent
flier, this last shows up in our database at
B&T Specialty’s auction in Reno in 2012,
then a no-sale at $85k (ACC# 213461). Not
getting much better with age—and banged
around from being hauled all over the West
Coast. Watch this space for it to rear its
head again.
#T71-1971 BUICK SKYLARK GS Stage 1
replica 2-dr hard top. VIN: 434371Z114593.
Saturn Yellow/black vinyl. Odo:
54,701 miles. 455-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. NOM
455 and converted from column-shift automatic
to 4-speed; column shift collar still
there, as well as the column-shift automatic
speedometer. Good color-change repaint
with GSX graphics and spoiler added. Factory
power steering and power front discs.
Doors don’t fit flush to the body in several
spots, but at least they shut okay. Wavy
replated back bumper. Newer kit-sourced
interior soft trim. Aftermarket leather steering-wheel
rim cover and race tachometer
with shift light mounted on the A-pillar.
Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $76,680. Doing the math: $50k is
due to the car being owned by John Wayne
until death did he part, $20k is for the Barris
modification (the uncharacteristic restraint
and good taste may even warrant a bonus),
and we are correctly left with a nice $6,680
wagon. Works for me.
#T22-1976 CHEVROLET CAPRICE CLASSIC
4-dr hard top. VIN: 1N39S6J158162.
White/maroon vinyl/maroon velour. Odo:
135 miles. 454-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. 123 actual
miles since built, as it was pickled by the
original dealer and is still on the MSO. Optional
454 V8, a/c, power windows, seats,
locks, and trunk, rear-window defogger, tilt
steering column, color-keyed seatbelts, light
group, wire wheel covers, and 8-track. Fabulously
well kept and all original. Recent
cleanup and fluid change. No more flaws in
the paint and bodywork than what GM originally
put there. Undercarriage shows light
corrosion from sitting. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $55,080. Stated that this is one of
54 ’66 W-30s. If so, I’ve been lucky to have
tripped over two well-restored examples so
far this year at Mecum auctions. The last
one was at their Spring Classic in May. It
failed to sell at $60k, so I feel that this one
was a decent buy.
#F95.1-1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO Z/28
coupe. VIN: 124379N693672. Le Mans
Blue/black vinyl. Odo: 35,406 miles. 302-ci
V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Factory options include
JL8 4-wheel power disc brakes, power
steering, spoiler, gauge-pack center console,
Rosewood steering wheel, radio delete.
Also fitted with Cross Ram induction
and steel cowl-induction hood. High-quality
repaint done a few years ago, now starting
to show light edge-chipping and polishing
swirls. Modern replacement windshield.
NOT SOLD AT $22,500. Two hits on our
radar in 2012. First, declared sold at Mecum’s
Spring Classic in Indy at $29k (ACC#
204483), then declared sold at $25k at Barrett-Jackson
Orange County (ACC#
209807). Bids for less each time offered.
Not a good trend.
#S79-1975 PONTIAC GRAND SAFARI
wagon. VIN: 2P45W5X156068. Gunmetal
metallic/black vinyl/maroon vinyl. Odo:
33,649 miles. 455-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Originally
sold new to Batjac Productions, which
was John Wayne’s production company.
Immediately shipped to George Barris and
fitted with a taller roof over the passenger’s
compartment so the Duke didn’t have to
take his hat off to drive. Light cosmetic restoration
completed by Barris’ shop earlier
this year. Good repaint. New carpets, good
original seats, some re-dyed vinyl and plastic.
Period Western alloy wheels. Hole
where antenna used to be. Cond: 2-.
SOLD AT $23,760. For once, a GM dealer
that didn’t tuck away a ’76 Eldorado convertible
or ’78 Corvette Pace Car, but the
last year of the unabashed GM full-sized
road barge. Each month, you can find tons
of the two former cars in any publication
catering to collector car sales. Good luck
finding another ’76 Caprice 4-door in anywhere
near this condition, much less still on
the MSO. Since it’s still cheaper than a
2014 Impala, I’m calling it well bought.
CORVETTE
#S56-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible.
VIN: 194676S100415. White/white
hard top/black soft top/black leather. Odo:
41,490 miles. 427-ci 425-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp.
Non-original engine in the car, but the consignor
stated that he’ll ship the original
block to the new owner if requested. Rear
wheelwells were radiused back in the day,
but were also filled in, so they don’t help
much for big back tires. Okay repaint.
Equipped with sidepipes, power brakes,
November-December 2014 83
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MECUM AUCTIONS // Monterey, CA
alloy wheels, and AM/FM radio with power
antenna. Leather seats moderately wrinkled.
Generally clean under the hood; no
engine call-out decal on air-cleaner lid.
Older whitewall radial tires. Cond: 3+. NOT
SOLD AT $55,000. Well, the consignor
needn’t worry about fetching a pallet to mail
off what’s left of the original motor. There
was enough going on here that nobody
looked seriously at the car. High bid should
have been enough.
FOMOCO
#F201-1965 FORD F-100 Custom Cab
pickup. VIN: F10BK690878. Pastel blue/
blue vinyl. Odo: 9,912 miles. 300-ci I6,
2-bbl, 4-sp. One-owner truck until recently;
special-ordered from the Ford dealer in Corvallis,
OR. Dealer-installed under-dash a/c.
Period auxiliary fuel tank, CB radio screams
1975, side marker lights are anywhere in
between. Well-cared-for lightly nicked original
paint throughout. Heavier wear in the
pickup box, so it wasn’t babied. Nice original
seat with dealer-installed vinyl cover.
Recently washed-off engine bay, various
quality replacement service parts. Older
radial tires. Cond: 3.
the seller, nearly doubling his money in four
years. As for the buyer, thanks for helping
anchor 427 Cobras in the million-dollar club.
#T103-1969 FORD BRONCO SUV. VIN:
U15GLF14948. Pagoda Green & white/
parchment vinyl. Odo: 39,871 miles. 302-ci
V8, 2-bbl, 3-sp. Dual fuel tanks. Period-accessory
Koenig winch. Converted to a Hurst
floor shift from the original column shift, with
the nub still on the column. Cut-out wheelwells
with aftermarket fiberglass flares.
Good repaint. Most of the trim is whitepainted.
Floppy, sloppy door fit. Modern
aftermarket radio antenna, dual exhaust,
Class III hitch, steering wheel, and poorly
fitted carpeting. Reproduction seat upholstery
front and rear. Cond: 3+.
their pony car there using the original project
code name for it: the T5. This continued
until the trademark expired in 1978. Even if
it’s the only ’71 T5 Mach 1 in North America,
this bid should have been sufficient.
MOPAR
#F152-1948 CHRYSLER WINDSOR Town
& Country sedan. VIN: C38152342. Seafoam
green & wood/green leather & plaid
cloth. Odo: 64,299 miles. 251-ci I6, 1-bbl,
other. Equipped with Fluid Drive, spotlights,
and driving lamps. Original paint on fenders
has moderate chipping and scratching.
Older bumper replate. Three of four doors fit
relatively well; left rear has a rope tied
through the vent window to keep it latched.
Reupholstered seats done up in a Highlander-based
pattern. Original carpet getting
threadbare along the edges. Older enginebay
detailing is still generally tidy but not
show-quality. Cond: 3.
SOLD AT $18,360. Not only was 1965 the
first year for the fabled Twin-I-Beam front
suspension, but also the just-as-evergreen
300-cube inline six. Both survived with updates
until 1996, the latter using EFI beginning
in 1987. The reserve was surpassed at
$17k, so no one should complain about
what it brought. Especially those out there
who think that old pickups are still $3,500
on their best day.
black leather. Odo: 8,218 miles. 427-ci V8,
4-bbl, 4-sp. Last restored in early 1990s,
when it was repainted to original all-black
scheme and converted to S/C spec. Decent
repaint showing a few light chips on panel
edges. Windshield seals starting to check.
Minor track abrasions and dusting on undercarriage.
Light wear on reupholstered seats
and carpeting. Chrome fire extinguisher
mounted behind passenger’s seat. Engine
compartment neither detailed nor grungy.
Halibrand knockoff wheels shod with modern
radials. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT
$1,080,000. Last seen at Mecum’s 2010
Spring Classic in Indy, then selling for
$663k (ACC# 162753). Not a bad deal for
5
#S173-1965 SHELBY COBRA 427
roadster. VIN: CSX3172. Black/
84 AmericanCarCollector.com
NOT SOLD AT $24,000. Windshield card
called this a “Hard to find, unaltered 1969
early Ford Bronco.” Let’s see. Hard to find?
Naw, since they’re the flavor of the day, with
one at almost every auction. Unaltered? It
may not have a flame paint job, but the tin
snips were worn out after the floor shifter
and rear wheelwell work. Actually, a flame
paint job would be a lot easier to fix than the
wheelwells. Bid to all the money in the
world.
#T165-1971 FORD MUSTANG Mach 1 T5
fastback. VIN: 1F05M162347. Medium blue
metallic/black vinyl. Odo: 35,633 km. 351-ci
V8, 4-bbl, auto. German market “T5” Mustang.
Claimed actual miles. Professionally
restored in recent years. Has Marti Report
confirming its provenance and shipping documents
back and forth across the Atlantic,
but not displayed. Excellent prep and paint.
Good door fit, but trunk gaps are all over the
place. T5 dashboard with unique top center
parcel shelf created with the removal of the
“Mustang”-labeled panel. Light interior wear.
Show-quality engine bay. Cond: 2-. NOT
SOLD AT $25,000. Since “Mustang” was
trademarked for automotive use in West
Germany by a different company, Ford sold
NOT SOLD AT $40,000. These tend to get
pilfered for parts for the more-desirable T&C
convertibles. While those are still at the top
of the pecking order, everything has shifted
up significantly in the past decade, so no
one will be parting out this example anytime
soon. Seller would be advised to deal with
things like the door-latch issue before attempting
again.
#T159-1959 DODGE D100 pickup. VIN:
M8D1L12653. White/gold & tan vinyl. Odo:
80,417 miles. 318-ci V8, 2-bbl, 4-sp. Oneowner
truck from new. Restored 2007. Superb
repaint. Excellent door and panel fit.
No Dodge lettering on the replacement tailgate.
All chrome trim replated, as well as
originally painted Barden rear bumper.
High-gloss oak box flooring. Fitted with
modern swing-away mirrors and modern
radial tires. Authentically reupholstered seat
and door panels. Fitted with optional AM
radio on the ceiling and Sun tach in the
dashboard. Well-detailed and exceptionally
clean engine compartment overlooks some
details. Cond: 2.
TOP 10
Page 83
MECUM AUCTIONS // Monterey, CA
hood has a pronounced overbite over the
grille. Pretty good door fit for a woodie. Top
heavily wrinkled along the edging; better
workmanship on the three bench seats inside.
Original-style gauges rebuilt with modern
componentry and lettering. Clean and
generally correct engine bay. Converted to
a 12-volt. Cond: 2-.
NOT SOLD AT $25,000. You’ll actually see
more Sweptsides than regular-issue pickups
today, since everyone saved those and
parted out stepsides like this for their restorations.
On top of that, when you do see a
Utiline (as Dodge called their stepsides), it’ll
more often than not be a work truck and not
one done to this level. Actually, this was a
classic case of over-restoration, but that’s
what’s popular today in a lot of circles. The
owner of 55 years stated that he needed to
get over $30k out of it, so back home it
went.
#F211-1970 DODGE CHALLENGER T/A
2-dr hard top. VIN: JH23J0B304171.
Green metallic/black vinyl/green vinyl. Odo:
34,858 miles. 340-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp.
Miles believed actual. Equipped with power
steering, power front discs and AM radio
with rear antenna. Recently restored to regional-show
standard. Excellent paint and
graphics application. Door gaps a bit wide
up front, but great panel fit. All-reproduction
interior soft trim. Well detailed under the
hood and under the body. Runs out bonestock
and quite well. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $54,000. Previously no-saled at
Russo and Steele Monterey 2010 at an undisclosed
high bid (ACC# 165829). The
twin-ignition Eight-powered Nashes were
marketed under the slogan “Eighty miles an
hour in three blocks,” and having driven one
on several occasions, I can tell you they are
sleepers in the market. One model too small
to be a Full Classic model 990, but they
look nearly identical. While this one is starting
to show some unwinding from the older
restoration, it’s still bought well.
#S62-1940 WILLYS 440 pickup. VIN:
44021745. Dark blue/brown vinyl. Odo: 20
miles. 134-ci I4, 1-bbl, 3-sp. Better-quality
bare-body repaint with some light orange
peel in curves; box sides didn’t get sanded
out. Tags removed and pop-riveted back on
after repaint. Chrome has been replated,
stainless trim professionally buffed out.
Clamp-on mirrors added to each door.
Layer of highly polished wood on top of the
original cargo box floor. Better-than-original
upholstery, including the vinyl-covered door
panels and headliner (originally cardboard).
Gauges rebuilt with modern components.
Detailed to stock under the hood. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $66,960. Mopar muscle was in
thin supply around here this weekend, but
that’s usually the case in Monterey. Once
the bidding ceased at $58k, it was announced
that the reserve was $62k, which
the last bidder raised his own bid to. Well
bought and sold.
AMERICANA
#S42-1932 NASH SERIES 981 convertible
Victoria. VIN: B62720. Gunmetal metallic/
black cloth/maroon leather. Odo: 53,099
miles. Professionally restored well over a
decade ago, likely in Europe based on the
shop decal and an empty British tax disc.
High-quality prep and paint, now with some
light edge chipping. Good door fit. Wellfitted
interior, with a hint of light wear to
make it look period and cozy. Aside from
the engine block being the wrong color, it’s
well detailed and only showing light wear
under the hood. The Bijur lubricator is in
need of a refill. Dual sidemounts and removable
trunk. Cond: 2-.
NOT SOLD AT $75,000. One of the idiosyncrasies
of the K and KB Series Cornbinders
is that the hoods just don’t fit well.
Generally, they have wide, uneven gaps at
the cowl. While they tamed the cowl gaps
on this one, it was at the expense of the fit
up front. High bid was low but within reasonable
selling range.
#S118-1951 MUNTZ JET convertible. VIN:
M125. Resale Red/black cloth hard top/
snakeskin vinyl. Odo: 40,361 miles. 337-ci
V8, 2x2-bbl, auto. Lincoln flathead V8 with
GM Hydra-Matic transmission. Edmunds
finned aluminum heads and dual 2-barrel
intake manifold. Three of four spark-plug
wires are disconnected, and one plug is
removed. Pulled out of storage of at least
20 years and won’t run. Repainted a long
time ago. Rattly doors. Pitted chrome. Delaminating
windshield. Carson-style hard
top is about the most solid thing about the
car. Entire interior in snakeskin vinyl.
Cond: 4-.
NOT SOLD AT $40,000. The “Go Devil”
4-cylinder in this truck soon also found a
home in the ubiquitous G503 jeep built by
both Willys and Ford during WWII. Indeed, it
was this engine that essentially won over
the procurement board and got Willys the
initial jeep contract. Rare to find a pre-war
Willys pickup that’s basically stock. (They
usually end up big-block-powered ProStreet
monsters.) But this bid should’ve still gotten
it sold, considering the less-than-original or
less-than-professional deviations.
#S37-1941 INTERNATIONAL K-1 woodie
wagon. VIN: 27245. Green & wood/tan
vinyl/brown vinyl. Odo: 1 miles. Restored in
recent years generally fairly well. Good prep
and paint on the tin (likely red when new),
good refinishing of the wood—although
there probably aren’t a lot of original sticks
left in the woodpile. Good gaps at cowl, but
SOLD AT $54,000. Initially started with Cadillac
V8 (the hot ticket for an out-of-the-box
engine in 1951), but in short order Muntz
went to Lincolns—mostly because they cost
him less. They also bolted right up to a Hydra-Matic,
since that’s what Lincoln used in
their cars at the time in lieu of the corporate
2-speed Ford-O-Matic/Merc-O-Matic.
Rougher than a cob but rarer than hen’s
teeth, and no reserve helps make sense of
the price. A
November-December 2014 85
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RUSSO AND STEELE // Monterey, CA
Russo and Steele —
Monterey 2014
THE BIG FISH IN THE ROOM WAS THE FORD MUSTANG BOSS 429,
WHICH TOOK THE HIGH-SALE SLOT AT $402K
Russo and
Steele
Monterey, CA
August 14–16, 2014
auctioneers: Jeff
Stokes, Robb Row,
Frank Bizzaro, Marty
Hill, Dan Roush
automotive lots sold/
offered: 102/189
Sales rate: 54%
Sales total:
$12,115,175
High american sale:
1969 Ford Mustang
Boss 429, sold at
$401,500
buyer’s premium:
10%, included in sold
prices
ACC 1–6 scale
condition rating
for vehicles in
Market Reports
1. Perfect: National
show standard
2. excellent: Club
show-worthy, some
small flaws
3. average: Daily driver
in decent condition
4. meh: Still a driver,
with some visible flaws
5. Questionable: A
problem-plagued beast
that somehow
manages to run
6. Lost cause:
Salvageable for parts
top of the russo and Steele sales podium — 1969 Ford mustang boss 429 fastback, sold at $401,500
Report and photos by Pierre Hedary
Market opinions in italics
D
rew Alcazar and the Russo team turned up
the heat in Monterey this year, nailing $12
million in sales among 102 vehicles sold,
for an average price per car of nearly $120k.
That’s a big jump from last Monterey’s
$7.1m, 89 cars sold, and $80k average. Bidders turned
out in force to be part of the fun, exciting auction atmosphere,
scoring quality cars at realistic prices.
Thursday’s sale blessed some lucky buyer with a
very solid ’38 Ford Humpback for $23k. A 1953 Ford
woodie wagon brought an honest $39k, which was an
encouraging result, as I sized it up and decided the
buyer got a deal by at least $7k. Another good sale on
Thursday was Lot TH259, the 1958 Cadillac Eldorado
Biarritz. It sold for $153k, which was strong, healthy
money in the face of a number of very similar cars on
offer.
Friday saw many excellent sales come to fruition. A
1962 Chevrolet Corvette Fuelie convertible in #2 condition
sold for a realistic $90k, and a 1948 Ford Deluxe
woodie sold for $77k. The big fish in the room was the
Ford Mustang Boss 429, which took the high-sale slot
for American cars at $402k.
The intensity built on Saturday. Early in the day, a
1955 Cadillac Eldorado sold for a bargain $57k. A 1967
Shelby GT500 sold at $94k, which was very fair for the
condition. Finally, a 2006 Ford GT with 8 miles brought
$297k. Sales like these pounded the sales total steadily
toward its final $12m figure, and Russo finished out
Monterey Car Week in excellent form. A
1962 Chevrolet Corvette convertible, sold at $90,000
Page 86
RUSSO AND STEELE // Monterey, CA
GM
#S620-1930 CADILLAC 353 coupe. VIN:
510930. Black & blue/black vinyl/gray
broadcloth. Odo: 1,841 miles. Very nice
early Caddy V8 with good paint and gaps,
but a few liberal touches from flamboyant
’80s-style restoration. Now settling a bit, like
plastic surgery on an 80-year-old lady, but
still with some good qualities. Brightwork a
bit dull. Interior done very well and unused.
Rust in radiator, and rest of engine dilapidated,
suggesting it needs help. Cond: 2-.
Interior very well done, but grease stain on
driver’s seat. Engine just as good as rest of
car, and shows no sign of being run in
awhile. Wire wheels are bright and shiny.
Cond: 2.
narrow tastes, you’re alienating potential
future buyers if you ever decide to sell. High
bid was plenty.
NOT SOLD AT $52,250. A previous no-sale
at Russo Scottsdale 2014 at $75k (ACC#
232319). This large, red Buick was quite a
bit for the eyes. While it needed some work
to get back to being a driver, the cosmetic
presentation was decent, and the car looked
solid. While there was a lot of activity on the
block, the high bid was not within market
value.
NOT SOLD AT $68,750. This was right
there with the other Cadillac and the Brewster.
Last sold at $88k one year ago here
(ACC# 227113), with no appreciation since.
Looks like the needs of this old coupe were
never addressed, and it did not attract the
well-heeled bidders.
#F404-1932 CADILLAC 370B sedan. VIN:
1300909. White & black/tan broadcloth.
Odo: 19,504 miles. Older restoration of a
fine V12 Caddy, now needing another restoration.
Paint cracking and shrinking everywhere.
Doors and hood fit lacking in
symmetry, but in the ’70s I suppose it did
not matter as much. Chrome trim and interior
wood aging. Interior much nicer, with
good glass, broadcloth and dash. Engine a
bit drippy but very quiet and smooth. CCCA
Full Classic. Cond: 3-.
#F459-1957 CADILLAC ELDORADO Biarritz
convertible. VIN: 5762032115. Light
green metallic/green canvas/green vinyl.
365-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Very nice top stands
out. Trim has a few scratches. Paint is good
and even with lots of shiny metal flake.
Bumper cones dull. Interior as-new. All gold
plating nice. Cowl vent pitted. Engine superclean
and looks trustworthy. Bottom dry and
dirty, with no suspension lube. Cond: 2.
#TH259-1958 CADILLAC ELDORADO
Biarritz convertible. VIN: 58E063922.
Desert Bronze/tan vinyl/tan vinyl. Odo:
93,496 miles. 365-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Paint
very nice from 10 feet, but like many cars
here, too heavy on the metal flake. Hood
does not match. Body very straight for such
a giant car, but driver’s door fit needs help.
Chrome needs to be polished. Seats done
well, and dash presents no flaws. Engine
clean and hardly used. Same underneath.
Air suspension removed. Cond: 3+.
NOT SOLD AT $104,500. By far the most
eye-catching Eldo at this auction. While ’55
and ’58 Eldos sold, this car went back
home. High bid was fair for a non-a/c car
with some remaining cosmetic needs.
NOT SOLD AT $42,900. Sold here a year
ago for $32k (ACC# 227032). High bid reflects
market value for such a car with many
needs.
#F441-1955 BUICK CENTURY convertible.
VIN: 6B2008295. Red/white fabric/red
& white vinyl. Odo: 10,236 miles. 322-ci V8,
4-bbl, auto. Ex-Volo Auto Museum. Looks
very fresh and unused. High-quality paint,
but passenger’s door fit off. All other gaps
are good. Most chrome is good, with a few
cloudy bits around doors and windshield.
88 AmericanCarCollector.com
#F412-1957 CHEVROLET BEL AIR convertible.
VIN: VC57L168822. Black Cherry
& white/light gray vinyl/light gray vinyl. Odo:
8,523 miles. 350-ci fuel-injected V8, auto.
Resto-mod with color change. Swirl marks
in paint. Gaps all very good, as is chrome.
With a/c added. Funky gold gauges look like
old chronometers and are out of place. Under
hood is a modern 350 with injection.
Wears chrome dog-dishes. Very usable.
Cond: 2-. NOT SOLD AT $56,100. The only
’57 at this auction, and while it was very well
done and driver-friendly, the purple paint
and gold gauges may have put bidders off.
Resto-modders need to remember that
when you build a car to suit your own
SOLD AT $153,000. While the green 1957
car was better cosmetically, this one
brought a good bit more than I expected.
What peeved me was the removal of the air
suspension, which is what sets the Biarritz
apart. Without it, it is just another oversized
garage ornament. Any time you are considering
a car with specialized equipment, it is
often a bad sign when the specialized
equipment has been removed—meaning
that the person who “sorted” the car really
didn’t know what he was doing or had to
deal with budget constraints.
#TH260-1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO
Yenko/SC coupe. VIN: 124379N614999.
Green metallic/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo:
38,776 miles. 427-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Supposedly
a real Yenko. Paint has a good luster,
but too much metal flake. Lots of tiny
Page 88
RUSSO AND STEELE // Monterey, CA
ONETO WATCH
A focus on cars that are showing some financial upside
scratches, especially on rear left. Trunk fit
poor. Engine looks very clean, but non-period
hoses and clamps fitted. Original seats
and dash in excellent shape. Overall very
solid. Cond: 2-. NOT SOLD AT $198,000.
Big muscle was selling this weekend, but it
had to be perfect. This car raised too many
eyebrows, and while it should have found a
new home at top bid, that funky trunk fit and
the other quickie details scared some people
off.
#F436-1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO ZL1
replica coupe. VIN: 124379L520137.
Orange/black vinyl. Odo: 72 miles. 427-ci
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Z/28 transformed into a ZL1
replica. Originally with 4-speed and in original
colors. Superb paint, interior and trim.
Gaps better than new. Alloy block sourced
through GM from a small production run 10
years ago. Heads original, with 1969
stamps. All ZL1 internals and manifold.
Cond: 1-.
1973–79 Ford F-Series
pickups
W
Average price of those
months: 19
cars: $14,272
Current ACC
Valuation:
$13,500–$24,000
90
ith an abundant parts supply, decent styling and an average price better
handled by a credit card than a tax exchange, Ford’s sixth generation of
pickups are starting to see more market interest.
Production spanned 1973 to 1979 and initially included the F-100, F-250
and F-350. This generation featured some significant milestones for the
brand. In 1973, Ford offered its first SuperCab, responding to Dodge’s extended cab from
the year prior. Ford introduced the F-150 in 1975. At the end of 1977, Ford’s F-series was
named the best-selling vehicle in America — a title it has yet to relinquish.
We’ve seen remarkable gains in the truck market as a whole over the past few years,
but it isn’t fully priced. There appears to be plenty of room for
many makes and generations to move up further. Yes, 1968–72
Chevrolets lead the charge for rising prices, but that perfect storm
of availability and good looks mixed with enough people interested
in spending Camaro SS money for a matching Bowtie parts hauler
is unlikely to be repeated anytime soon.
These Fords have just as much changeability and customization
Years built: 1973–79
Number produced:
Number sold at auction
in the past 12
Detailing
5,101,124
potential as their General equivalents, but at a much lower entry
point. So far in 2014, 1968–72 Chevy pickups averaged $22.6k.
Only two handfuls of sixth-gen Ford pickups have ever sold for
over $20k. Last year, the average price paid for a sixth-gen Ford
was just under $10k. This year those trucks have averaged a hair
over $15k.
Here’s the top end: Auctions America sold a 1976 F-100 for
$41,250 at their California sale at the start of August. It was a special truck, however. See
the profile, p. 52. If we remove this sale from the 2014 data, the average price drops to
$12,409 — still a respectable gain over the 2013 average.
There are still some bargain buys. For every $20k truck in 2014, there has been a sub-
$5k sale. But as shown by the rapidly rising average — and the increased attention these
trucks will receive as a result — these deals are disappearing. A
AmericanCarCollector.com
— Chad Tyson
NOT SOLD AT $74,800. ZL1s are a hot
commodity, so it makes sense to buy this
replica and actually use it. Car was practically
new, with a perfect undercarriage, so it
might be a shame to get it dirty. Owner was
there to represent car, and he was very
helpful. But with the word “clone” attached
to it, market value is only a fraction of what
an original would bring.
CORVETTE
#S646-1953 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
roadster. VIN: E53F001149. White/black
canvas/burgundy vinyl. Odo: 83,498 miles.
235-ci 150-hp I6, 3x1-bbl, auto. The most
original ’53 on the Peninsula, with one repaint
way back in the early ’60s. Fiberglass
showing through paint. Gaps a study in GMology.
Interior also original, with vinyl splitting.
Underhood, motor looks authentic.
Head has been off twice to repair a crack
(and cast iron does not weld nicely). Fuel
system has a pressure gauge added. A very
Page 89
RUSSO AND STEELE // Monterey, CA
well-loved West Coast example. Cond: 2-.
SOLD AT $123,200. This car had been kept
out of the elements, but it still struggled to
stay together. Looked very delicate, and
while it showed a valiant preservation effort,
the whole thing seemed held together by a
string. If this is your thing, then you are going
to have a lot of parenting to do. Hats off
to buyer.
#F442-1962 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. VIN: 20867S102637. Red/
black canvas/black vinyl. Odo: 19,506 miles.
327-ci 360-hp fuel-injected V8, 4-sp. Very
clean C1, with fuel injection. Well-loved car,
with some aging to paint and good body.
Gaps better than new. Used often for a
’Vette, and runs well. Owner fired it up and
it runs with no issues. Interior also very
good and clean. All correct fuel-injection
components in place. Cond: 2-.
SOLD AT $90,000. The owner was on hand
to make sure his car was treated right. I was
happy to hear it run, and he let it go at no
reserve. This was fair money for such a
good car, and better than anything fresh out
of restoration. Time to go get some dirt on
the rear fenders!
#F454-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. VIN: 194676S113854. Nassau
Blue Metallic/tan canvas/tan vinyl. Odo:
43,562 miles. 427-ci 390-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp.
Very good paint, very pretty. Fiberglass free
of cracks. Gaps all per factory. Repro interior,
with little to fault. Very nice engine, with
good details. Real 427 car, with manual
box. Top also very good. One of several
late blue cars from this era at the sale.
Cond: 2.
This was a very clean, documented car, but
it had a lot of competition. With only so
many buyers for these late Sting Rays, several
people were destined to end up taking
their cars back home.
#TH247-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. VIN: 194676S124085. Nassau
Blue Metallic/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo:
20,435 miles. 427-ci 390-hp V8, 2x4-bbl,
4-sp. Good paintwork and a nice repro interior.
Under the hood is a 427 of unknown
origin, with most of the little details neglected.
Loud chrome wheels. Found dilapidated
in 1981 with no engine and said to be
a real 427 car. Cond: 2-.
NOT SOLD AT $83,430. Previously nosaled
at Russo’s Newport Beach sale in
June at a high bid of $93k (ACC# 244408).
NOT SOLD AT $68,750. Last seen at McCormick’s
Palm Springs in November of
2013, not sold at $92k (ACC# 242743). This
car did not have solid documentation to
back up its 427 status, but there were pictures
of the engineless hulk as discovered.
The most valuable tool
in your box
AmericanCarCollector.com
817.219.2605 Ext. 1
SUBSCRIBE TODAY!
November-December 2014 91
Page 90
RUSSO AND STEELE // Monterey, CA
OURCARS
Monterey by C5 Corvette
Even though I was trying to make time, I was still
seeing and experiencing more of the country than I
ever would from 35,000 feet
by B. Mitchell Carlson
enjoy, so I elected to drive
there this year. Thing is, I
live on the east side of the
Mississippi River, so this was
going to be one long road
trip — 2,153 miles long, to be
exact.
Usually I fly to events like
I
this. But every flight I’ve
had in 2014 has ranged from
problematic to multi-day
nightmare (I’m looking at you, United), so I was keen to fly at significantly lower altitudes
with me at the controls.
My 2004 Corvette Commemorative Edition coupe has served me well for going to auctions
over almost six years and 60k miles. It had just gone though the full 90k-mile scheduled servicing,
including new brakes, spark plugs, and all fluids. In short, it was as ready to go as ever
will be for traveling over halfway across the continent, so I hopped in and pointed it west.
My route was essentially all interstate: I-35, picking up westbound I-80 at Des Moines,
going on until I saw the Pacific Ocean, then hanging a left on U.S. 101 to Monterey.
High-velocity economy car
I tend to refer to my C5 as “the high-velocity economy car,” and this trip further cemented
that. I averaged 29.25 miles per gallon for the entire trip (actually dragged down by puttering
around in always-congested Monterey traffic once I got there). On the road, I was getting from
28.8 to 32 mpg per tank.
Some trips we take to enjoy the ride; some to get from Point A to Point B as quickly as
practical. My run was the latter. Even though I was trying to make time, I was still seeing and
experiencing more of the country than I ever would from 35,000 feet. I had factored being on
the road for either two full days each way or three days at a leisurely pace. For this first run, I
elected to go for a two-full-day drive out since it was an unproved trip for me — then possibly
a more leisurely three-day return.
Running time in the car came to 29 hours, 33 minutes. The two-full-day run out worked
well, but I was also helped by gaining two hours crossing time zones, which also kept my body
clock more constant than flying there and being two hours out of whack.
Cheaper, but worth it?
By the time the C5 was back in my garage, I had spent $528.20 on fuel at 12 gas stops. Two
nights in motels cost $193.21. Using last year’s data, I spent $481.80 to fly on Delta (including
baggage fees) and rented a Ford Taurus from Enterprise for $488.64, including the bring-itback-empty
option so I didn’t need to buy a tank of gas. So I did save money by driving my
own car. However, had I driven my Ford F-150, I would’ve almost doubled my fuel use. So to
make it worth the effort, you need an efficient car.
Is your time is better spent on the road for four days or in the air for two partial days? For
Yours Truly, as one who writes about cars and their attributes, I’d rather be behind a steering
wheel.A
92
AmericanCarCollector.com
NOT SOLD AT $53,900. That ridiculous
green pinstripe usurped this car’s original,
patinated look. If this car could have been
had at high bid, it would have made sense,
as not everyone needs a fully restored car
that is pristine in every way. However, this
gave the nagging impression that it was a
cleaned-up garage ornament. With the work
needed, anything over the high bid was
generous.
#F462-1938 LINCOLN CUSTOM roadster.
VIN: 86H720930. Red/red & black leather.
’ve attended the
Monterey auctions for
the past few years. There
are some wonderful
roads in the area to
While it sounded nice, remember that even
the auction companies cannot prove or disprove
some stories, and it is up to the buyer
to make these decisions. Bidding went as
high as can be expected considering the
lack of documentation.
#TH226-1993 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. VIN: 1G1YY33 P4P5118970.
Polo Green II Metallic/tan cloth/white vinyl.
5.7-L 300-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. Very
clean C4 with a few swirls in the paint, but
nothing else. Interior near-perfect, with just
minor wear on driver’s seat. Engine clean
and detailed, and suspension looks just as
good. Very nice colors and good care.
Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $8,800. Although the digital
odometer did not give me mileage access,
this very clean C4 looked like a sub-40k
mile example. Price paid was a bargain.
FOMOCO
#F424-1936 FORD MODEL 68 phaeton.
VIN: 182708821. Black/burgundy vinyl.
Odo: 1,197 miles. Clean ’36, but with dirty
paint and some cracking on minor surfaces.
Small scratches in chrome and paint. Odd
green pinstripe does not fit car very well.
Gaps are messy, and top is soiled. Interior
mix of new and original, but all wood bits
are quite good. Engine not available for inspection.
Cond: 3+.
Page 91
RUSSO AND STEELE // Monterey, CA
392-ci fuel-injected V8, auto. Boyd Coddington’s
last car. Acres of excellent paint. Gaps
are very good, with good craftsmanship.
Interior dead-simple with nice touches—
maybe gauges are a bit elaborate. Engine is
an unusual V12 unit with plenums at each
cylinder. Beautiful details. Cond: 1-.
because of its condition. Flathead looks
great, too. Underside as nice as rest of car.
Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $56,100. The ’40
NOT SOLD AT $385,000. This car went
above and beyond “hot rod.” While all of the
work on it was done to a very high standard,
it has only limited market appeal. It’ll be
hard to use, it has no real history, and even
if Mr. Coddington built it, it is still just a cool
custom, and that’s about it. This was fair
money.
#S615-1940 FORD DELUXE business
coupe. VIN: 185884167. Black/tan mohair.
Odo: 8 miles. Super-original coupe, with no
paint issues, panel fit issues or chrome issues.
Could use a bath. Interior is very well
put together, with only a hint it is a repro
business coupe is one of the best-looking
pre-war Fords ever, and this unmodified car
had a number of fans. The sale price of
$56k might have looked expensive a few
years ago, but today, it is a screaming deal.
#F417-1941 FORD pickup. VIN: 186573810.
Black/green vinyl. Odo: 2 miles. 221-ci
V8, 2-bbl, 3-sp. Excellent and authentic restoration
of a great truck. Paint better than
new, and so are gaps. Entire body free of
flaws. Inside, interior painstakingly restored,
with no concessions made to “improve” anything.
Engine spartan and super, undercarriage
restored just as well. Cond: 1-. SOLD
AT $66,000. When I see people restore
vehicles that don’t fit within the typical
norms of collecting, it makes me beam with
delight. It is always a fitting tribute to the
people who built this country—soldiers,
farmers, workers—to restore the vehicles
they used on a daily basis. When I see an
old truck like this, I think of the person who
might have bought it in 1941. No doubt, for
it to survive all of these years they must
have saved up to buy it and taken great
care of it. Buyer did very well.
#S636-1957 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL
MARK II coupe. VIN: C56N3539. Medium
tan iridescedent/tan & white vinyl. Odo:
53,743 miles. 368-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. A very
original Lincoln, with claimed factory paint. If
you are trying to figure out how metallic
paint should be sprayed, this was very informative.
It did not have excessive metal
November-December 2014 93
Page 92
RUSSO AND STEELE // Monterey, CA
flake, either. The interior was in great
shape, with all-original finishes. Engine similar,
but overall I have a hard time buying
into the “unrestored original car” statement.
Cond: 2.
Clean Shelby with no hood stripes. White
paint better than new. Chrome also good.
Interior free of issues. Engine seems to be
in good order. SAAC stickers inspire some
confidence. Automatic trans may be a dealkiller.
Cond: 2. NOT SOLD AT $148,500.
There were plenty of Shelbys at this auction,
but this was the purest, most honest
example. The tame exterior and automatic
transmission were not what you expect on a
Shelby and perhaps held it back.
SOLD AT $132,000. Just as nice as an
Eldo, and sold for good money on the block.
A hard car to find in this condition, and surprisingly,
commanded a ton of attention.
This sale proves the magic of Monterey.
#S665-1964 SHELBY KING COBRA racer.
VIN: CM564. Blue & white/black vinyl. 289ci
V8, 4x2-bbl, 4-sp. Paint gets the job
done, as does panel fit. Original interior is in
very good shape. Chassis doesn’t show any
old wounds. Engine also appears periodcorrect.
Car shown with impressive display
that documents entire history. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $93,500. Another nice Shelby. It
did not appear to sell on the block, but
Russo worked a post-auction deal, and it
was listed sold in the final results. Well
bought, even factoring in the automatic.
NOT SOLD AT $500,500. Of all the old
race cars here, this was arguably the most
important. However, just because something
is important doesn’t mean there is a
market for it. While the display was admirable,
and the car itself is rock-solid—both
historically and structurally—selling something
like this will never be easy. Seller can’t
be faulted for turning down the high bid, but
getting more will be tough.
#F447-1966 SHELBY GT350 fastback.
VIN: SFM6S527. White & blue/black vinyl.
Odo: 5,828 miles. 289-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto.
SOLD AT $401,500. Strong-but-fair price
for an excellent example. The new owner
should celebrate his purchase at the first
possible stoplight, melting some rubber for
all to see, hear and smell.
#TH252-1970 SHELBY GT350 fastback.
VIN: 0F02M482496. Blue metallic/white
vinyl. Odo: 53,214 miles. 351-ci V8, 4-bbl,
94 AmericanCarCollector.com
#F464-1969 FORD MUSTANG Boss 429
fastback. VIN: 9F02Z150412. Royal
Maroon/black vinyl. Odo: 26,319 miles. 429ci
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Paint is dead-on, with
little to fault. Same for chrome. Gaps asfactory,
doors open and close as expected.
Interior presents well, as does engine bay.
Underside ready for mirrors. Cosmetically a
very high level of restoration, with Marti Report
and all work by Kar Kraft documented.
Cond: 1-.
metallic/black vinyl. Odo: 73,751 miles. 428ci
V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. Very clean Shelby with
lots of SAAC documentation. Nice paint, but
door fit needs help. Bright trim all original.
Interior flawless, as is very aggressive engine
bay. Cond: 2.
#S647-1967 SHELBY GT500 fastback.
VIN: 67410F8A02991. Light blue
NOT SOLD AT $82,250. Sold very recently
at Barrett-Jackson’s Hot August Nights auction
in Reno for $77k (ACC# 245072). This
auction had Shelbys galore, but this particular
car attracted me because I thought it to
be the most “affordable” one here, and if
someone wanted to get into a Shelby at a
reasonable price, this could have been the
car. High bid should have taken it.
#F444-1999 SHELBY SERIES I convertible.
VIN: 5CXSA1815XL000184. Silver/
black & gray leather. Odo: 2,829 miles.
4.0-L fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. Barely used,
with paint, gaps, and rubber trim as per factory.
Interior has no wear either. Panels are
shoddy and do not seem to fit well. Basically
an unused car with no serious blemishes.
Cond: 2.
auto. Driver-level Shelby with some
scratches on passenger’s door. Hood and
trunk fit are so-so, and doors require some
work to close. Aftermarket gauges. Rest of
interior shows no issues—may even be
original. Automatic transmission is a letdown.
Cond: 2-.
SOLD AT $72,600. While Shelby tried to
make these come together, they never really
seemed to materialize, and they have a
kind of a kit-car feel. No idea how well this
example runs or drives; perhaps the reason
it sold was the signature on the dash.
MOPAR
#S640-1961 CHRYSLER 300G 2-dr hard
top. VIN: 8413159853. Black/tan leather.
413-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. Very attractive big
Mopar, with great paint and good gaps.
BEST
BUY
Page 93
RUSSO AND STEELE // Monterey, CA
Doors open and shut well. Chrome tired in
some areas. Most interior parts original.
Seats look like leather, but I could be wrong.
Some gentle creasing, but dash, carpets
and door panels look unworn. Engine very
authentic and mean, with cross ram setup.
Sounds amazing and very quiet. Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $61,600. A no-reserve car, this
sold for a relative bargain. Not a bad deal
for the money, and will run circles around
the GM and Ford stuff.
#S617-1969 DODGE SUPER BEE 440 Six
Pack 2-dr hard top. VIN: WM23M9A284056.
Lime green metallic/white vinyl. Odo:
76,208 miles. 440-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Genuine
A12, with very bright paint. Typical
Dodge panel fit, and very authentic presentation.
Pop-up tent hood fits well. Interior
also good, although a bit dark and cavernous.
Engine presents like you would expect
it to, so everyone knows it’s a 440.
Cond: 1-.
NOT SOLD AT $63,800. Built to go too fast
and look ridiculous with no concessions for
comfort or practicality, this car was sinister
just sitting still. It last sold at Barrett-Jackson
Palm Beach in April 2012 for $81k (ACC#
197614); more recently, a $66k no-sale at
Russo Newport Beach in June (ACC#
244451) suggests that the seller needs to
cut his losses and let it go.
#F410-1971 DODGE CHALLENGER R/T
replica 2-dr hard top. VIN: JH23G1B352211.
Green & black/white leather. 440-ci
V8, 3x2-bbl, auto. Very convincing R/T
clone, with super graphics and very wellapplied
paint. Doors are locked, but interior
looks fine. Bottom of engine nice and clean,
as is undercarriage. No idea what this
started out with, but overall a nice job. Supposedly
drives well. Cond: 1-.
out the financial burden. It looked like a fun
car to own, and the work that went into it
was certainly less than high bid.
#S633-1971 PLYMOUTH ’CUDA 440 Six
Pack replica 2-dr hard top. VIN: BH23G1B419393.
Lime green & black/black vinyl.
Odo: 2,198 miles. 440-ci V8, 3x2-bbl,
auto. Replica done well enough so that this
guy was fooled from a distance, with nice
engine and good detailing underhood. Very
clean, with paint applied well. Gaps are all
typical Mopar. Doors open and close like
they are full of screws, and seats look great,
but—surprise!—feel like a giant pool noodle.
Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $39,050. As long as you don’t
think it is worth real money, having a clone
affords you all of the fun of the original with-
NOT SOLD AT $81,400. Recently no-saled
at Russo’s Newport Beach sale in June at
$80k (ACC# 244449). People will pay real
money for the real thing, but not for a fake.
As cool as this car was, the rule applies
here, too. A
November-December 2014 95
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Selected Sales Combined in One Comprehensive Report
Highlights at
four auctions
CLASSICS
#33-1931 CORD L-29 convertible sedan.
VIN: 2928812. Dark blue & silver/dark blue
cloth/blue leather. Odo: 377 miles. Highquality
Full Classic, and originally built right
here in Auburn, IN, in this very building.
Well presented with spectacular deep dark
blue paint and striking silver accents. Excellent
chrome and trim throughout, with flawless
chrome wire wheels and wide
whites—all six of them, counting the sidemounted
spares. A lovely blue leather interior
accents the Art Deco dash. Spotless
underhood. ACD Category One certification.
Nothing to quibble with here—quality all the
way. Cond: 2+.
Standing on the top box at rm’s monterey auction — 1965 Ford gt40 prototype
roadster, sold at $6,930,000
Auctions America
auburn, IN — august 27–31, 2014
auctioneers: Brent Earlywine, Mike Shackelton
automotive lots sold/offered: 715/1,047
Sales rate: 68%
Sales total: $25,436,595
High sale: 1935 Duesenberg Model SJ, sold at
$1,265,000
buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold prices
Report and photos by Kevin Coakley
Worldwide Auctioneers
auburn, IN — august 30, 2014
auctioneers: John Kruse, Rod Egan
automotive lots sold/offered: 73/84
Sales rate: 87%
Sales total: $6,027,856
High sale: 1934 Packard Twelve 1108 convertible
sedan, sold at $1,350,000
buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold prices
Report and photos by Bob DeKorne
RM Auctions
monterey, Ca — august 15–16, 2014
Auctioneer: Max Girardo
automotive lots sold/offered: 118/129
Sales rate: 91%
Sales total: $143,420,850
High american sale: 1965 Ford GT40 prototype
roadster, sold at $6,930,000
buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold prices
Report and photos by Carl Bomstead
Gooding & Company
Pebble beach, Ca — august 16–17, 2014
Auctioneer: Charlie Ross
automotive lots sold/offered: 107/121
Sales rate: 88%
Sales total: $106,004,800
High american sale: 1967 Ford GT40 Mk I, sold
at $3,520,000
buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold prices
Report and photos by Michael Leven
SOLD AT $258,500. This car represents a
ticket to nearly any classic auto event you
might like to enter and would be an impressive
addition to any collection. The L-29s
were more traditionally styled than the Boattail
Speedsters but were also a bit more
advanced in their engineering, featuring
front-wheel drive way ahead of its time. All
the nice extras are in place, including the
rear trunk and chrome guards, and it sold
squarely mid-estimate. Fair for all. Worldwide
Auctioneers, Auburn, IN, 08/14.
Cream/red leather. Odo: 68,188 miles.
Known in ACD circles as the “Honeymoon
Auburn,” the owners courted in this car,
toured the country in it on their honeymoon,
and owned it for seven decades. Unique
headlamp treatment done by the owner
looks great. Maintained and repaired consistently
but never restored; body has never
left the chassis. The GG block was replaced
in period by the GH in place today, #8835.
A very nice interior with perfect patina for
the car, and obviously freshly serviced mechanically.
Cond: 2-.
10
#17-1935 AUBURN 851 SC Boattail
Speedster. VIN: 32184E.
courtesy of Worldwide Auctioneers
Worldwide auctioneers sold a 1934 Packard twelve 1108 convertible sedan for
$1,350,000 at their august auburn auction
96 AmericanCarCollector.com
SOLD AT $445,500. Certified Category
One by the ACD Club in 1982, making it the
16th vehicle given that honor. Nicely docu-
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mented by the long-term owner and well
serviced by the current caretaker; the single
repaint survives with a few touch-ups and
still looks good. A well-known example that
gives the new owner access to all the ACD
and CCCA events he wishes to enter, it sold
right on the money in the room to a collector
who will continue to display and enjoy it. A
happy outcome for everyone and a wonderful
addition to the new owner’s garage.
Worldwide Auctioneers, Auburn, IN,
08/14.
leather. Odo: 520 miles. Designed by Gordon
Buehrig and was Auburn’s swan song.
Fitted with Schwitzer-Cummins blower,
which provided 35 additional horsepower,
and Columbia dual-ratio rear axle. Recent
respray and class winner at Villa d’Este.
One of the most impressive American Full
Classics. Cond: 2+.
8
#146-1936 AUBURN 852 Speedster.
VIN: 35209E. Black/maroon
SOLD AT $1,210,000. Another sign that the
Classic market is alive and well. People will
always pay up for the best, and this price is
proof, tying the world-record $1,210,000
paid for another Speedster at RM New York
in November of 2013 (ACC# 231621). It has
to be considered well sold. Gooding & Co.,
Pebble Beach, CA, 08/14.
GM
#30-1947 BUICK ROADMASTER Series
70 2-dr sedan. VIN: 48066417. Two-tone
gray/gray cloth. Odo: 1,505 miles. 320-ci I8,
2-bbl, 3-sp. An attractive and unusual shape
for a Buick. Nice, straight bodywork, older
repaint in good condition, very good
chrome. Tidy interior with very cool steering
wheel. Wide whites, chrome caps and rings
are a nice touch. Solid engine bay and quite
clean underneath. Cond: 2-.
Dash chrome badly pitted. Recently donated
to the George W. Bush Institute; door panel
signed by #43 himself. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT
$280,000. This was a charity lot, with proceeds
going to the Military Service Initiative
to further veteran recognition and community
engagement after their service. Spirited
bidding ensued between two gentlemen in
the room, and the winning bid was $300k.
The new owner immediately donated the
car back to the Initiative, and it was then
offered to the underbidder at his final bid of
$280k. Gooding waived their commission on
both sales, and a total of $580k was raised
for a truly worthy cause. Gooding & Co.,
Pebble Beach, CA, 08/14.
#4092-1959 OLDSMOBILE 98 convertible.
VIN: 599M27041. Gold Mist/white vinyl/tritone
gold leather. Odo: 84,060 miles. 394-ci
V8, 4-bbl, auto. Paint in decent shape, couple
of chips on leading edge of hood, but no
big deal. Excellent exterior brightwork. Wide
whites really set it off. Interior worn a bit
beyond patina. Otherwise a nice, wellequipped
package. Cond: 2-.
SOLD AT $550,000. This was last seen at
RM’s 2008 Monterey sale, where it realized
$534k wearing whitewalls (ACC# 117426).
Since then it has been certified by ACD
Club as Category One. Properly documented
Auburn Speedsters continue to appreciate,
and this example should follow
that trend. A market-correct price. RM Auctions,
Monterey, CA, 08/14.
Maroon/black cloth/black leather. Odo:
2,904 miles. Second-to-last Speedster produced.
Restored to ACD guidelines and
overseen by club’s senior judge for 1934–36
Auburns; ACD-certified in 2013. Shown at
Pebble Beach; Best of Show at Ironstone
Concours. Paint impeccable—rich and luscious.
Top and interior excellent. Consigned
by the same gentleman who sold another
gorgeously restored Speedster here in
2012. Cond: 1-.
4
#138-1936 AUBURN 852 SC Boattail
Speedster. VIN: 35863E.
SOLD AT $49,500. The car’s simple elegance
attracted a lot of attention in the
L-29 building. The understated, almost
bland paint color somehow accentuated the
fender line swooping all the way back to the
streamlined rear end. It appeared to have
been stored for a while and looked like the
paint could be brought up a notch with
some effort. For me it’s all about the impressive
shape here, and it’s unusual enough to
merit the bidding. I’d say slightly well sold,
but try and find another one. Worldwide
Auctioneers, Auburn, IN, 08/14.
#47-1957 BUICK CABALLERO wagon.
VIN: 6D2016949. Metallic red & white/red &
white vinyl. Odo: 646 miles. 363-ci V8,
4-bbl, auto. Single ownership from new to
2012; restoration appears fairly old. Well
painted some time ago; now with numerous
touch-ins along door edges, elsewhere.
Acres of chrome serviceable; stainless trim
badly scratched and pitted in places, especially
around driver’s door. Vinyl seating
worn and slightly soiled, as are carpets.
SOLD AT $51,700. I knew this car looked
familiar—I wrote it up at the Auctions America
Spring sale this year in May. Then it sold
for $43,450 (ACC# 243719). My comment
was, “A #2 car for #3 money. This could
have gone for another $10k and still been a
good deal. Well bought. New owner is the
one with a big smile on his face.” Well, after
three long months he’s got a bigger smile
on his face and a few extra bucks in his wallet.
Still not a bad deal for the new owner.
Auctions America, Auburn, IN, 08/14.
#5059-1960 CHEVROLET IMPALA 2-dr
hard top. VIN: 01637A180958. Roman Red
& white/red vinyl & houndstooth. Odo:
38,332 miles. 283-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Roman
Red paint looks fresh and didn’t make it into
the door jambs. White paint shows some
bubbling on the roof. Decent exterior
brightwork. Wheelcovers and wide whites
pop nicely. Glass shows some delamination
November-December 2014 97
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emerging on the side windows. Driver-quality
engine detail with battery topper. Interior
looks original and in good shape. Equipped
with power steering and brakes. New tires,
exhaust and battery. Cond: 3. SOLD AT
$28,000. Between the 1959 bat-wing Impalas
and the 1960 flat-fins, I’ve always favored
the ’60—cleaner lines, and the
quarter-panel side spear is just awesome.
The result here was spot-on for the current
market, and both parties should be pleased
with the result. Auctions America, Auburn,
IN, 08/14.
#2153-1962 CHEVROLET C10 pickup.
VIN: 2C15K123195. Black & silver/black
vinyl. Odo: 93,302 miles. 283-ci V8, 4-bbl,
4-sp. Paint shows some minor touch-ups,
but overall very nice. Exterior brightwork
has some wear and tear, but, like the paint,
looks decent. Very well-detailed engine bay.
Corvette Rally wheels with rings, caps and
blackwall tires look sharp. Fresh bed wood
with natural finish. Interior very tidy and well
done. Equipped with power steering, power
brakes and aftermarket stereo. Cond: 3+.
283. A wild creation by any standards, and
a cool piece of drag-racing history. Cond:
2-. SOLD AT $16,500. If there was a car
that truly fits the motto “Fast N’ Loud,” this
one is it. Already built with a proven drivetrain,
and you’ll never have a hard time finding
some paint on it that will match your
favorite racing suit. These are tough to
value, but have both show-car and historicdrag
appeal. Well bought by Richard Rawlings
for the Gas Monkey Garage in Dallas,
and I’d bet we’ll see him smoking these tires
on the show soon. A good deal for a guy
like Richard, but who else really needs one?
Have fun, boys. Worldwide Auctioneers,
Auburn, IN, 08/14.
#5164-1965 PONTIAC CATALINA 2+2
convertible. VIN: 252675C141019. Montero
Red/white vinyl/pearl vinyl. Odo: 1,062
miles. 421-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Twelve-ishyear-old
paint holding up well. Exceptional
exterior brightwork. Eight-lug wheels look
neat and tidy. Poorly fit top looking a little
grungy. Glass showing lots of scratches.
Engine compartment is well presented, except
for evidence of gas leaks on the intake
manifold. Interior in good condition. Factory
tach and vacuum gauge. Provided with PHS
documentation. Cond: 2-.
SOLD AT $20,350. If this car had the 427
offered in 1966, you could triple the sales
result. That being said, there’s no shame
with the 327 motivating this example. It appeared
to be a solid, honest offering and
was well bought at this price. Auctions
America, Auburn, IN, 08/14.
#37-1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO Z/28
coupe. VIN: 124379N644001. Hugger
Orange/black vinyl/black vinyl & houndstooth
cloth. Odo: 32,093 miles. 302-ci V8,
2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Ex-Otis Chandler. One of 206
examples ordered with JL8 disc-brake option,
and one of 50 with the staggered, dual
4-barrel intake. Paint mostly excellent; horrible
orange peel on spoiler, sanding marks
on left rear quarter. Optional fiberglass hood
way, way out at right rear. Black vinyl roof
well done; restored seats look overstuffed.
Sold at no reserve. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $22,550. Pickups continue the
steady upward trend. This one sold well, but
considering the whole package, it looked
like a good deal for the buyer. Fair deal all
around. Auctions America, Auburn, IN,
08/14.
#47-1965 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE Malibu
NHRA Super Stock convertible. VIN:
136675B161347. White and everything
else/black vinyl/black and white. A real-deal
NHRA Super Stock four-time class-record
holder, sporting a very groovy period paint
scheme. Let’s just say you wouldn’t lose it
in the WalMart parking lot. Rosebush Bros.
livery out of Bay City, MI. Ran 11.98 in
1978, but today is fully restored and carries
enough of an interior to not look completely
stripped out. Custom paint carries right into
the interior as well and is nicely applied.
Doug Nash toploader 4-speed with a built
SOLD AT $57,200. Driven 11 miles since
last seen at auction two years ago (Mecum
Indy, May 2012, $53k, ACC# 201916), and
the reporter at that time noted the restoration
was completed approximately 10 years
prior. So assuming the odometer was set to
zero, that’s less than 100 miles per year. My
concern would be for issues associated with
lack of use. Assuming all is well mechanically,
a win for the buyer. Considering associated
fees, it was probably a small loss
for the seller. Auctions America, Auburn,
IN, 08/14.
#2178-1966 CHEVROLET IMPALA SS
2-dr hard top. VIN: 168376C118540. Madeira
Maroon/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo:
31,270 miles. 327-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Paint
shows well, with minor chips and scratches,
exterior brightwork condition commensurate
with age. Really nice vinyl top seems to
have a subtle snakeskin pattern—not sure
it’s correct, but it looks good. Very neat engine
compartment with battery topper. Interior
carpet looks fresh with original
upholstery in good condition. Gauge-pod
plating well worn. With power brakes and
steering; factory a/c updated with R134a.
Cond: 3.
98 AmericanCarCollector.com
SOLD AT $156,750. If you wanted an ultimate-spec
Z/28 with impeccable provenance,
this was it. Database shows two
prior trips to the auction block: once in 2007
(Bonhams Quail Lodge), where it sold for a
whopping $172k and “in the right value
range” (ACC# 46243) and again in ’09 for
$115k at Gooding Scottsdale, where we
said, “advantage buyer” (ACC# 119119).
Today, while the muscle market has come
back with a vengeance, this sale still looks a
bit strong given the car’s condition; well
sold. Gooding & Co., Pebble Beach, CA,
08/14.
CORVETTE
#4072-1965 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. VIN: 194375505172. Ermine White/
red vinyl. Odo: 57,124 miles. 327-ci 300-hp
V8, 4-bbl, auto. Paint shows chips on the
nose. Nice knockoff wheels. Grungy engine
compartment. Decent interior. Equipped
with clock, power steering and brakes, and
factory a/c. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $47,850.
This vanilla ’Vette sold for a bit of a premium,
but not crazy money. Maybe the
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factory air gave it a little bump. Well sold.
Auctions America, Auburn, IN, 08/14.
FOMOCO
#4061-1929 FORD MODEL A highboy.
VIN: OR43172. Matte black/bamboo. Odo:
1,744 miles. Paintwork, WWII “Bamboo
Bomber” graphics and woven bamboo seats
look well done. Engine has some nice period
upgrades, including high-compression
aluminum heads, 2x2 high-rise intake, electronic
ignition, and headers. Red steel
wheels, beauty rings, poverty caps, and
wide whites complete the look. Cond: 3.
clean top to bottom. The paint is very nice,
as is the minimal trim. Spartan interior is still
correctly spartan. Very nice underhood with
a modern air cleaner for convenience. Not
much to nitpick here—a very solid truck.
Cond: 2. SOLD AT $17,600. This looked
like a nice buy on a clean AA truck, which
will be a star at any Model A meet you attend.
The new owner bought a truck for the
price of a passenger car, which seems like
a good deal if you have a use for it. Maybe
as a trade show or showroom attraction,
and certainly parade-worthy. A fair deal
both ways, with a slight win for the new
owner because it’s very nicely presented
and deserves a good home. I hope he has a
big garage. Worldwide Auctioneers, Auburn,
IN, 08/14.
#27-1936 FORD DELUXE woodie wagon.
VIN: 182234668. Desert Sand/black vinyl/
brown vinyl. Odo: 619 miles. Restored to a
very nice standard more than 20 years ago
and holding up quite well. Paint with some
dry spots and now with some light dimpling.
Wood looks original and very good; varnish
starting to dry in some areas. Red-painted
wheels a handsome touch to the otherwise
conservative scheme. With recent brake
and front suspension work, cooling and fuelsystem
service, and engine tuning, it’s
ready to use. Sold at no reserve. Cond: 2-.
here was well within reason, but new owner
needs to attend to the minor issues. RM
Auctions, Monterey, CA, 08/14.
#165-1939 LINCOLN ZEPHYR Type 96H74
convertible sedan. VIN: H82566. Ardmore
Green/tan canvas/red leather. Odo:
58,842 miles. Said to be one of only 302
L-Z convertible sedans produced in 1939.
Powered by V12 motor and finished in oneyear-only
Ardmore Green. Fully restored
and scored 98.75 points at LZOC regional
meet in 2008. Needs a bit of attention now.
A rolling Art Deco masterpiece. Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $15,400. Offered without reserve,
and I expect the consignor was hoping for a
better result. I’ve seen many rougher rat
rods with much higher asking prices. This
looked like a good deal for the buyer. Auctions
America, Auburn, IN, 08/14.
#37-1931 FORD MODEL AA C-cab delivery
truck. VIN: CA397112. White & black/
black vinyl/black vinyl. Ford’s AA trucks
were sold in a few factory body styles as
well as as a bare chassis, and thus appear
in dozens of configurations. This one suggests
urban delivery of meat, dairy, or other
refrigerated cargo. It’s obviously not been
used much since restoration, and remains
SOLD AT $99,000. Presents as very honest
and solid. Woodies will always have a following,
and good cars continue to bring
good money. If the new owner stays on top
of things, this classy ride should provide
years of enjoyment and a relatively low cost
of ownership when it comes time to sell.
Fairly bought. Gooding & Co., Pebble
Beach, CA, 08/14.
#157-1939 LINCOLN ZEPHYR Type 72
coupe. VIN: H70816. Red/tan leather. Odo:
5,987 miles. Pioneering streamlined design.
Very modern, with low windshield and fully
integrated fenders. Only 2,500 coupes produced
in 1939. Wears an older restoration
with blemishes in the paint and worn carpets.
The door rubbers are worn, window
rubber cracked. Seats with a mild patina. An
attractive mix of aircraft and Deco styling.
Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $99,000. Always popular
due to the styling and extended rear
deck. The V12 can be a problem, but with
proper care it will be reliable. Price paid
100 AmericanCarCollector.com
SOLD AT $154,000. These are not Full
CCCA Classics, but the Lincoln-Zephyr
owners’ group is very active. Once a second
cousin to the later Continentals, they
have come into their own, due to the distinctive
styling. Price paid was well under the
$175k–$200k estimate, but still strong
money. Let’s call it well sold at this price.
RM Auctions, Monterey, CA, 08/14.
#5118-1950 MERCURY EIGHT convertible.
VIN: 50SL81334. Yellow/black
canvas/two-tone brown vinyl. Odo: 1,040
miles. 255-ci V8, 2-bbl, 3-sp. Paint looks
great under the hall lights. Excellent exterior
brightwork. Top looks good and well fit.
Very nice engine compartment detail. Good
interior. Cond: 2-.
SOLD AT $59,400. Offered with no reserve;
last record shows this car sold at Mecum
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Indy in May of 2012 for a market-correct
$87k (ACC# 205950). Big loss for a little
over two years. Well bought. Auctions
America, Auburn, IN, 08/14.
simmon Red & white/red & white vinyl. Odo:
82,835 miles. 292-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Paint
showing some chips. Decent exterior
brightwork. Glass showing some delamination.
Tidy engine compartment. Interior in
good condition. Still carries 6-volt electrics.
With AM radio, push-button heat, and threerow
seating. Cond: 3.
#4076-1955 MERCURY CUSTOM SERIES
wagon. VIN: 55ME82758M. Per-
#5137-1957 FORD THUNDERBIRD F-code
convertible. VIN: F7FH343179. Raven
Black/ black hard top/red leather. Odo: 567
miles. 312-ci supercharged V8, 3-sp. Black
paint shows lots of micro-scratching under
the hall lights. Excellent exterior brightwork.
Black steel wheels with blackwall tires and
poverty caps. Very well-detailed engine
compartment with period-correct battery.
Exceptional interior. Cond: 3+.
Carlo Red/white vinyl/red, white & black
vinyl. Odo: 6,040 miles. 352-ci V8, 4-bbl,
auto. Paint shows a few touch-ups; otherwise
very nice. Side windows don’t line up
well with convertible top. Engine compartment
looks decent but could use a detailing.
Interior very good, no excessive wear.
Equipped with power steering and brakes.
Cond: 3.
SOLD AT $17,600. Maybe wagons are
cooling off; I suspect the consignor might
have some regrets with this no-reserve offering.
This was a great deal, and another
$10k wouldn’t have surprised me. Very well
bought. Auctions America, Auburn, IN,
08/14.
SOLD AT $187,000. The F-code option
cost a whopping $340 back in the day. Who
knew the impact checking that box would
have almost 60 years later? A comparable
standard T-bird would probably sell in the
$40k range today, making that initial investment
return many, many times its cost. Well
sold but not at an unrealistic price. Auctions
America, Auburn, IN, 08/14.
#2097-1960 FORD GALAXIE Sunliner
convertible. VIN: OC554136481. Monte
SOLD AT $26,400. Nice car. Price was
pretty much dead-on for the current market
value, or maybe a bit of a bargain. I’ll call it
a fair deal all around. Auctions America,
Auburn, IN, 08/14.
#53-1965 FORD MUSTANG K-code convertible.
VIN: 5F08K187120. Poppy
Red/white vinyl/white vinyl. 289-ci V8, 4-bbl,
4-sp. Very rare 1964½ K-code convertible;
seven known to survive for 50 years. Original
paint, one owner, actual miles. Very nice
body and paint in a great classic color, good
white-and-black interior, very nice chrome,
November-December 2014 101
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and a clean but not obsessive engine bay.
All K-code performance parts are intact. Not
perfect anywhere, but close everywhere.
Cond: 2.
last seen at Mecum’s May 2010 Indianapolis
sale, where it realized $127k and sold to
Carroll Shelby (ACC# 164469). Sold after
his death to an East Coast collector. Condition
and a title in Shelby’s name make the
package. Strong money, but strong car with
the Shelby heritage makes it all worthwhile.
RM Auctions, Monterey, CA, 08/14.
SOLD AT $123,750. Only tires and battery
replaced. If that’s true, the new owner will
certainly be thrilled. If not, it’s still a beauty
of an early Mustang with the type of drivetrain
that would eventually be the recipe for
the GT350. A sure star at any MCA or Ford
meet. Nicely documented; it was well sold in
the room just inside the estimates. No one
got hurt, and I’m sure everyone is glad this
deal came together. Worldwide Auctioneers,
Auburn, IN, 08/14.
Wimbledon White/black vinyl. Odo: 54,435
miles. 289-ci supercharged V8, 4-sp. Said
to be one of just two 1965 Paxton-supercharged
prototypes. Used as factory demonstrator.
Has original Shelby-Cragar mag
wheels. Engine replaced in the ’60s, but
original relocated 2005 and rebuilt. Numerous
paint issues along with a few touch-ups.
A piece of Shelby lore. Cond: 2-.
7
#149-1965 SHELBY GT350 prototype
fastback. VIN: SFM5S425.
hard to miss. We profiled this car in ACC #3
when it sold at Barrett-Jackson’s 2012
Scottsdale sale for $38,500 and called it
well bought (ACC# 193644). Offered without
reserve here, I imagine it came up short
of the consignor’s expectations. Well bought
again. Auctions America, Auburn, IN,
08/14.
Red/black leather. Odo: 1,825 miles. 427-ci
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. The second-to-last 427 produced,
and completely documented SAAC
Registry history. Only 314 of the Shelby
big-block cars produced. Known ownership
from new includes several well-known collectors.
Restored in 2004 with body left on
chassis. Original seats retained and complete
with original “sunburst” wheels. A
stunning example. Cond: 1-.
2
#129-1966 SHELBY COBRA 427
roadster. VIN: CSX3359. Monza
#39-1969 SHELBY GT500 convertible.
VIN: 9FO3R482705. Grabber Blue/white
vinyl/white vinyl. Odo: 81,602 miles. 428-ci
V8, 4-bbl, auto. Great color for a numbersmatching
convertible. Unusual factory a/c.
All Shelby bits are clean and correct. Nice,
smooth panels and good door gaps. Sharp
Shelby wheels with the correct Goodyear
Polyglas GT “No Size” tires. Interior is clean
and fresh, with immaculate white upholstery
and cool floor shifter. Top fits well and is
power operated. Cobra Jet engine is highly
detailed and very impressive. Looks to be
well restored and used sparingly. Deluxe
Marti Report and original invoices included.
Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $572,000. This prototype is well
documented and was recently reunited with
its original motor. Mags add a bunch here
as well. A rare package that sold for expected
money. All should be happy here.
RM Auctions, Monterey, CA, 08/14.
#4056-1966 FORD FAIRLANE XL gasser.
VIN: 6K47C182142. Black/black vinyl. Odo:
12,955 miles. 390-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp.
Crazy gasser suspension modifications (I
doubt it corners well); over-the-top engine
modifications including high-rise dual-quad
intake and custom white headers, all very
well presented. Paint looks decent, as does
the exterior brightwork. Very nice interior
with full roll cage. Cond: 3. SOLD AT
$28,600. This is one of those oddball cars—
for what it is, it’s very well done, but what do
you do with it? I believe I saw it motoring up
and down Woodward at the Dream Cruise a
couple weeks prior to the auction—it was
102 AmericanCarCollector.com
SOLD AT $1,705,000. A strong price for a
427 Cobra, but look at what it offers: known
history, low miles, recent restoration and
correct wheels and blue-dot tires. Problem
is that it is almost too good to drive. Last
sold for $268k at RM Monterey 1998 (ACC#
3818). RM Auctions, Monterey, CA, 08/14.
#202-1966 SHELBY GT350 H fastback.
VIN: SFM6S1822. Black/black vinyl. Odo:
62,754 miles. 289-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. The
famed Hertz “rent-a-racer.” At $17 a day
and 17 cents a mile, a lot of their miles were
a quarter-mile at a time on Saturday night.
Known ownership from new and fully restored
to black and gold livery in ’90s. Few
minor issues noted, but nothing serious.
Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $156,200. A significant car with a
unique mix of features. Bidding stopped well
short of the owner’s expectations, but he
saw the writing on the wall and let it go.
Seemed like a prudent decision to me, as
the room was full and the market was
speaking. Worldwide Auctioneers, Auburn,
IN, 08/14.
#5085-2001 FORD EX concept ORV. VIN:
N/A. Bronze/black buckets. Odo: 579 miles.
4.0-L supercharged V6, 5-sp. Tubular chromoly
frame with composite body panels,
dual air bags, swing-away steering column
with gauge cluster. Interior designed for
hose-down cleaning. Seats show some
wear. Decent engine compartment. Sold on
bill of sale. Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $220,000. This Hertz Shelby was
SOLD AT $96,250. Seems like a lot of
money for a glorified ATV that can’t be
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driven on the street. Collecting is about rarity,
and it doesn’t get any rarer than one of
one. Buyer presumably knew what he was
doing. Auctions America, Auburn, IN,
08/14.
MOPAR
#35-1936 CHRYSLER IMPERIAL AIRFLOW
coupe. VIN: 7015637. Light tan/red
leather. Odo: 70,959 miles. A nice, solid car
out of a renowned Chrysler collection.
AACA National First in 2014. Admirable
panel fit and bodywork with excellent
chrome and paint. Clean and correct red
leather interior with desirable automatic
overdrive transmission. Very nice
underhood and equally impressive underneath.
In a love-’em-or-hate-’em market, the
enthusiasts will love this one. Cond: 2.
ered the most pleasing. They have lagged
in the market for a long time, but maybe this
result is an indication that they are finally
getting their due. With the skirts and rare
sunburst wheels, this one was nicer than
average for a higher-than-average price,
and thus sold right on the money. Worldwide
Auctioneers, Auburn, IN, 08/14.
#44-1949 CHRYSLER NEW YORKER
Town & Country convertible. VIN: 7410640.
Noel Green/tan cloth/green leather.
323-ci I8, 1-bbl, auto. There’s not much
wood on a ’49 T&C, but what is there was
outstanding on this car. Properly done in a
satin finish that is impressive. Beautiful
paint and taut, clean soft top finish off a very
attractive package. Original firewall left intact
in the clean engine bay to show the
condition prior to restoration. Original
leather upholstery was removed, cleaned,
replaced, and looks great. A really honest,
SOLD AT $104,500. Nice to see that the
CCCA has finally recognized these Airflows
as Full Classics. This one is strong in all
areas, with the ’36 Airflows widely consid-
November-December 2014 103
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well-cared-for classic that would fit in nearly
any collection. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT
$104,500. A very impressive car that looked
great inside and out. Would be at home at
the country club or the concours. The lucky
bidder got on it early and stayed on it until
the finish. A good result for all parties, and a
big, comfortable car that was well sorted
out, so everything works for the new owner.
Market-correct, so everyone wins this time,
and a car with few questions left unanswered.
Worldwide Auctioneers, Auburn,
IN, 08/14.
#2072-1957 DODGE CORONET 2-dr hard
top. VIN: 35209841. Two-tone green/gray
vinyl & cloth. Odo: 68,455 miles. 325-ci V8,
2-bbl, auto. Okay paint, lots of pot-metal
pitting on exterior brightwork. Driver-quality
engine detail. Interior showing its age but
still presentable. With power steering and
brakes, AM radio, and Continental kit.
Cond: 3-.
#5151-1968 PLYMOUTH ROAD RUNNER
2-dr sedan. VIN: RM21J8G215766. Matador
Red/black vinyl. Odo: 7,538 miles. 426ci
V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Fresh out of rotisserie
resoration. Paint is brilliant. Door gaps on
leading edge seem a bit wide. Minimal exterior
brightwork is excellent. Magnum 500
wheels with Redlines. Show-quality engine
detailing. Spotless bare-bones interior. Super
Trak Pak 4:10:1 rear end with Dana 60
heavy-duty rear axles. Confirmed by Mopar
Motors-Detroit to be one of 499 produced in
1968 with RM21 2-door sedan configuration.
Cond: 2-.
With fantastic provenance and still in winning
form after all these years, you knew
this was going to go big. And so it did, exceeding
its high estimate by 10%. With all
the focus on post-war sports cars, glad to
see strength in the Brass market. Well sold,
well bought. Gooding & Co., Pebble
Beach, CA, 08/14.
#16-1916 PIERCE-ARROW 38 tourer. VIN:
37269. Dark blue/black vinyl/black leather.
RHD. Odo: 69,723 miles. Ex-Harrah car
toured regularly over past five years. Recently
granted Full Classic status by CCCA.
Cast-aluminum body in excellent condition.
Paint well done some time ago; pits and
cracks throughout. Nickel in good shape but
needs a polish. Newish roof. Interior partly
original and in fair condition; rear seat redone.
Wood rims solid, with gigantic rear
drum brakes. Original P-A toolkit. Cond: 3-.
SOLD AT $20,000. My initial reaction to this
sale was, “Wow, that looks like a great
deal,” but my reference resources don’t
agree. But I’m going with my gut on this
one—great colors and styling, and the presentable
condition is holding up very well.
Looks like a good buy to me, and the seller
should be well pleased with the outcome.
Auctions America, Auburn, IN, 08/14.
#5163-1967 DODGE CORONET R/T convertible.
VIN: WS276L77171437. Red/white
vinyl/black & white vinyl. Odo: 4,923 miles.
440-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Paint looks fresh-ish.
Magnum 500 wheels look to be new. Top
yellowing and ripped. Missing hood-pin retainer.
Driver-quality engine detail. Interior
yellowing, console top needs a refurbish.
Could use a good cleaning. Cond: 3.
SOLD AT $93,500. Yes, folks, this is the
one you want. Having crashed back in ’08
along with everything else, these models
are slowly picking up steam. Time will tell if
we ever see full recovery to the levels before
the bubble burst—I doubt it will be anytime
soon. This was a nice one, and I
wouldn’t have been shocked to see it sell
within the reasonable $100k–$120k presale
estimate. Looks like a bit of a bargain.
Auctions America, Auburn, IN, 08/14.
AMERICANA
9
Dark blue/black vinyl/black leather. RHD.
Odo: 12,867 miles. From the Phil Hill Family
Collection; Rod Blood Collection prior to
that. Forty-year-old restoration in remarkable
condition. Three-time winner at Pebble
Beach, including in 2013. Tri-tone paint still
very good. Vinyl top excellent. Windshield
starting to delaminate. Whitewalls yellowed.
Brass nicely polished. Black leather interior
still looks great. Offered at no reserve.
Cond: 2.
#121-1912 PACKARD MODEL 30
7-passenger tourer. VIN: 21099.
SOLD AT $170,500. This car oozed character,
and it’s clear it was loved and well cared
for—and enjoyed. Restoration probably
dates to Bill Harrah’s ownership, which ran
from the ’50s until his death in the ’80s.
Sale price may be high for condition, but
actually looks darn reasonable when compared
with the 1912 Phil Hill Packard 38
(Lot 121) that sold for $550k the following
night. Gooding & Co., Pebble Beach, CA,
08/14.
#12-1920 MERCER RACEABOUT Series
5 roadster. VIN: 5111. Yellow/beige
leather. Four owners from new, three of
whom account for 70 years of ownership in
consignor’s family. Completely original except
floorboards, upholstery and paint,
which was done by Earl Scheib in the ’60s
for $19.95—really! Seats appear to be of
similar age. Cast dash with lovely patina;
SOLD AT $24,200. Offered with no reserve
and coming in as a bit of a bargain. It
wouldn’t take a huge investment to move it
up a few notches. Auctions America, Auburn,
IN, 08/14.
104 AmericanCarCollector.com
SOLD AT $550,000. Always great to see
how big and grand the early Packards are.
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scalloped wood steering wheel held to center
with “jigsaw” pieces and dowels. Titled
on engine number. Engine difficult to start
but runs out well. Cond: 4. SOLD AT
$308,000. Perhaps a little less frightening
than its doorless older siblings, this was no
doubt a handful to drive quickly in period. All
that power and torque from the big 4-cylinder
with only 2-wheel brakes still would
have separated the men from the boys.
While the sale of this wonderful car may
have been a bit strong, the tight circle of
ownership confers a lot of value. Well sold,
well bought. Gooding & Co., Pebble
Beach, CA, 08/14.
#140-1929 PACKARD 640 convertible
coupe. VIN: 173884. Black/black cloth/ burgundy
leather. Odo: 16,355 miles. Owned
from new until 1960 by the Hershey (chocolate)
family. Awarded AACA First Junior
status in 2012. One blemish on left front of
hood, paint otherwise flawless. Seating surfaces
lightly broken in. Equipped with mirrors
on dual sidemounts, Trippe lights, and
a unique disappearing tonneau windscreen
for the rumble-seat passengers. Chrome
spoked wheels with red painted centers
very stylish. Cond: 1-.
under the hood, and the car is surprisingly
clean underneath. Cond: 3.
and although it hammered close but unsold
in the room, the Worldwide staff had a deal
put together by the next day that proved to
be the high-dollar sale of the entire ACD
Festival weekend. The new owner must be
thrilled, and I’d bet the seller feels good,
too. A slight nod to the lucky new owner.
Worldwide Auctioneers, Auburn, IN,
08/14.
#122-1938 PACKARD TWELVE Model
1608 all-weather cabriolet. VIN: 6082022.
Maroon/tan canvas/brown leather. Odo:
44,519 miles. From the Phil Hill Family Collection.
The car of choice for Hill family weddings,
bringing babies home from the
hospital, and other major events. Said to be
one of three all-weather cabs built in ’38.
Old restoration still great but no longer razor-sharp.
Paint excellent, with some nicks
on nose, door edges. Chrome, bright trim
need polishing. Interior tight and unmarked.
Per a quote from the auction catalog, Hill’s
favorite car. Offered at no reserve.
Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $220,000. I think this car suffered
a little bit from its placement in a corner of
the tent. I walked by it several times before I
gave it a second look. Glad I did, though,
and glad it got some love on the block, because
I’m sure some folks just plain missed
it. Sold right in the middle of the estimate
range, so fairly bought. Gooding & Co.,
Pebble Beach, CA, 08/14.
VIN: A600415. Two-tone green/black cloth/
tan leather. Lovely and imposing car in a
striking paint scheme. Well-known ownership
includes Lorin Tryon and Harry Rinker.
(Known throughout the CCCA as the Rinker
Dietrich, with a club First Place Award acknowledging
its condition.) Sumptuous paint
and great chrome in a body style that looks
fantastic with top up or down. The dashboard
is a work of art, and the engine bay,
too. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $1,350,000. It’s no
wonder these Dietrich-bodied Twelves have
always been investment-grade vehicles.
They rarely change hands, and one needs
to pay attention when the opportunity arises.
Quite a few folks were watching this result,
3
#55-1934 PACKARD TWELVE
Model 1108 convertible sedan.
SOLD AT $12,100. Big four-door sedans
are an affordable entry into the old-car
hobby. Packard’s One-Twenty sedan was a
step up from the Fords, Olds, and Buicks of
the day, but times they were a-changin’.
The late pre-war Packards still retain many
cues from the 1930s—running boards, dual
sidemounts, and that classic grille behind
dual bumper guards. Cool third side window
opens for ventilation and gives it a long
greenhouse. This is a lot of honest old car
for the money, and the wear is in all the
right places, so I call it slightly well bought.
Worldwide Auctioneers, Auburn, IN,
08/14.
ric. Odo: 13,515 miles. 335-ci H6, 2-bbl,
4-sp. Third pilot production car. Many parts
and updates unique to this car. Restored in
2008 by consignor. Very handsome in Maroon;
12 of the 51 Tuckers originally painted
this color. Paint extremely well applied over
sometimes terrible prep; sporadic blotches
of sanding marks found all over the car.
Brightwork scratched throughout. Tan mohair
interior very inviting. Has 4-speed preselector
transmission. Cond: 2.
1
#49-1948 TUCKER 48 Torpedo
sedan. VIN: 1003. Maroon/tan fab-
SOLD AT $440,000. On this day you could
own Phil Hill’s favorite personal car, and at
least two people very much wanted to do
so. Sold almost $150k over the high estimate,
the sale of this and the other Hill
Packard (Lot 121) speak to the quality of
the Hill and Vaughn restoration and the legacy
of America’s first Formula One World
Champion. Very expensive, but well bought.
Gooding & Co., Pebble Beach, CA, 08/14.
#7-1940 PACKARD ONE-TWENTY sedan.
VIN: 1392 15539. Black/tan cloth. RHD.
Odo: 10,397 miles. Has been stored for
quite a while. Quite well presented, nothing
perfect, but also nothing horribly awry either.
RHD caught me by surprise. Older
repaint with nice original chrome and a
newer cloth interior. Dash is unrestored and
a bit rough, with mostly dead gauges. A
driver-condition Packard inline eight lies
SOLD AT $2,035,000. This car spent nearly
30 years in the museum of well-known collector,
William Pettit III, who sold it to
George Lucas, who owned it for almost 20
years after he produced the movie “Tucker:
The Man and His Dream.” A $1.47m nosale
in March of 2013 at RM Amelia Island
(ACC# 215665), the consignor’s steel and
patience clearly paid off here. Well sold, at
nearly 20% over high estimate. Gooding &
Co., Pebble Beach, CA, 08/14.
November-December 2014 105
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#11-1949 PACKARD SUPER EIGHT Deluxe
sedan. VIN: G423422C. Black/ burgundy
leather. Odo: 56,255 miles. 327-ci I8,
2-bbl, 3-sp. A massive car that tips the
scales at 4,600 pounds with a 141-inch
wheelbase. Nice, straight body with older
black paint that still looks good. Skirts, bumper
guards, spotlight, and wide whites—
what’s not to love? Some chrome showing
its age. Throw in a pretty nice original interior
with good wood trim, and legroom for
seven with limo-style footrests in the rear.
Just barely a driver-quality engine bay.
Measure your garage before you bid.
Cond: 2-.
WHAT’S YOUR CAR
WORTH? FIND OUT AT
SOLD AT $8,800. Fueling it will be expensive,
but I really think this would make an
outstanding party wagon in Vegas for someone’s
bachelor party. From the inside, this
thing reminded me of those big Mercedes
600 limos but without the air suspension
headaches. One of about a dozen no-reserve
Packards at the start of the sale. My
heart says it sold under the money, but my
brain says this is all they are worth. A lot of
car for the money by sheer tonnage, but
probably market-correct. Worldwide Auctioneers,
Auburn, IN, 08/14.
#74-1954 KAISER-DARRIN 161 roadster.
VIN: 161001137. Yellow Satin/ivory vinyl/tan
vinyl. 161-ci I6, 1-bbl, 3-sp. Hard to describe
the panel fit on a car with sliding doors—is
“adequate” a proper description? Tired interior
could be original. Sold as a 32k-mile
three-owner car. Decent chrome, but a
mixed bag underneath. Average condition
under the hood. Cute matching pedal car
included. Not known to be a fast car, but will
win you a ton of thumbs up. Cond: 3-.
NOW FREE! The world’s largest collector car
price guide based on over 500,000 sold
transactions from
collectorcarpricetracker.com
106 AmericanCarCollector.com
. Updated weekly.
SOLD AT $68,200. These were not very
refined cars to begin with, and the styling is
an acquired taste, but the Darrin holds a
unique place in automotive history. The
crude fiberglass bodies are tough to work
with and repair, so you have to forgive the
finish on this car. Known for the sliding
doors and early fiberglass construction
Page 105
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more than any actual “performance.” A few
have broached six figures in the past, but
this one is more of a driver than a looker.
Sold just over the low estimate at a price
everyone could live with. Well done by all.
Worldwide Auctioneers, Auburn, IN,
08/14.
#31-1954 KURTIS 500S roadster. VIN:
KK500S024. Red/black leather. Odo: 4,730
miles. Built up from an original Kurtis chassis
purchased by Frank Kurtis himself in the
’90s. Uses both period and modern parts.
Upgrades include a new 350 Chevy,
Tremec 5-speed, and Wilwood brakes. Retains
original torsion-bar suspension. Bodywork
all nicely fitted. Paint well done but
with marks from use in multiple tours. Engine
bay tidy. Rolls on modern Halibrandstyle
mags. Sold at no reserve. Cond: 2-.
QUICKTAKE
1992 Vector W8 Twin Turbo
SoLD at $275,000
RM Auctions, Monterey, CA, August 15–16, 2014, Lot 144
VIN: 1V9VW2626NW048003
SOLD AT $170,500. While the modern upgrades
probably make this a (slightly) more
civilized proposition for touring, make no
mistake, this is a race car at its heart; it will
never be comfortable or something most
folks will want to spend 1,000 miles in. That
it was built up by the man himself and his
son for personal use certainly adds value to
this car, but it’s still a bitsa. Even so, well
bought for the provenance. Gooding & Co.,
Pebble Beach, CA, 08/14. A
CAR COLLECTOR
AMERICAN
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taste. But I sometimes wonder if Gerald Wiegert had a dream in which a Lamborghini
Countach and Doc Brown’s DeLorean met at a bar one night and consumed a few too many
gallons of high-test together. The resulting W8 is a mish-mash of angles, scoops, and beepbop-boop
interior lifted straight from a 1990s graphing calculator, and it’s neither as sexy nor
as functional as Wiegert surely supposed.
Although these cars are super-rare, with only 19 having been built, I’m not sure that I
Discussion of design and style certainly comes down to personal
understand how exactly one justifies spending over a quarter of a million dollars on one. Only
19 W8s were built for a reason — they were overpriced, underperformed, and were birthed
from a dysfunctional company rife with drama and instability. Unlike most high-end exotics,
Vectors lack a history steeped in racing livery, and simply can’t compete with the big dogs in
terms of heritage, design or quality. But they are cool.
So, does dropping $275,000 on this sale make sense? As always, it depends on who you
ask. If I wanted to spend big money on a finicky exotic to impress at the country club, I’d
probably look for a nameplate that doesn’t require moon boots to pedal. On the other hand, if
I were looking for American V8 power, I’d probably go with something a bit more traditional,
a bit more celebrated in its Americaness. Of course, if I wanted a little of both, had money to
burn, and was looking for that one car that promised to always raise eyebrows, well, I guess I’d
buy a Vector. A
— Jay Harden
877.219.2605 Ext. 1
AmericanCarCollector.com
November-December 2014 107
Keith Martin’s
Page 106
The Parts Hunter
Chad Tyson
Big-money parts and
accessories from around the country
sures about 26x12x9 inches. It is in excellent condition, with very little wear and no cracks,
breaks, or repairs that I can see or know about. It turns over very easily by hand. Even the
chain sprocket is in good condition. This has a brass frame. This engine is in near-pristine
condition for being almost 115 years old! These engines hardly ever turn up in the wild or
even at swapmeets, so if you need one for a project or just for a conversation piece, here it
is. The pictures tell the story.” 7 bids. Sold at $2,751.
Maybe it was ACC Editor Pickering’s incessant gushing about Jay Leno’s Doble steam car
after their interview a couple of months ago, but I realized I knew very little about steam
power. Here’s one reason why: There are remarkably few examples of automobile steam
engines I could find to buy. This seems to be a good one, so well bought.
#261521625860—Mason
steam engine. 8 photos.
Item condition: Used. eBay,
Lexington, KY.
“This is a real nice original
and very early 2-cylinder
steam engine for an early
automobile. It was made
by Mason and was used in
some of the Stanley and
Locomobile cars. It mea-
#380955529564—1962 Pontiac
421 Super Duty aluminum
exhaust manifolds. 7 photos. Item
condition: Used. eBay, USA.
“You are bidding on a set of original
421 Super Duty aluminum exhaust
manifolds. These have the correct
part numbers on both the manifolds
and collectors. There appears to
have some work done on the collector
area on the mounting ears,
but looks like a pro did the work.” 23
bids. Sold at $2,715.
High-performance aluminum
exhaust manifold? Yep. I assume
some of these are still around because the cars they were in didn’t see a lot of time on the
drag strip — otherwise they’d melt into a puddle during a long, hot afternoon. These are
rare, and nobody is making replica parts, but that’s because headers work. Well sold.
#121420875181—Kong Ignition Ford
flathead V8 distributor. 12 photos. Item
condition: Used. eBay, Monterey, CA.
“This iconic Kong flathead Ford V8 ignition
was manufactured by Kong Jackson shortly
after World War II. Kong distributors are
highly prized by collectors because they
work extremely well in both a street and
race application. Their extremely hard-tofind
distributor caps were originally used on
Lincoln passenger-car engines in the late
1920s and early 1930s. I have owned this
freshly rebuilt Kong distributor for at least
10 years. Don’t miss this opportunity to
purchase a ready-to-bolt-on example with
a pristine original cap.” Buy It Now. Sold at
$2,200.
Charles “Kong” Jackson spent a lot of his
time before, during and after his Air Force
career racing around dried lake beds in
Ford roadsters. He pioneered a design to
fix Ford’s flathead weakness: ignition. He
even included a manual cable so drivers
could adjust the advance from the driver’s
seat. No cable included in this sale. I could
only find anecdotal evidence of sales in
recent years. Well bought, considering its
rarity.
A similar set sold less than two weeks prior to this for $2k less (eBay #161403555572) with half of the bids. The pair featured here was in
better condition (rechroming will do that, I hear), but not by nearly double. Well sold.
108 AmericanCarCollector.com
#121429401821—1959–60 Chevrolet Impala Trailmaster spotlight pair. 12
photos. Item condition: Used. eBay, Saint Charles, MO.
“Up for auction is a real-deal set of 1959–60 GM Trailmaster spotlights.
These were removed from a 1959 Impala show car. They are originals and
are stamped F601. The mirrors are nice and clear. Were NOS lights that were
purchased in the ’90s for the ’59. They had minor box wear and he had them
rechromed. They were installed on the car, which was a show car that never
saw a drop of rain. They look very nice! They are in extremely good condition
and both work just as they should. They were just removed from the car today,
and both worked great. They both have their original GE bulbs.” 36 bids. Sold at
$4,300.
Page 107
#181505299114—1970–71 Plymouth
’Cuda/Dodge Challenger 440 Six Pack/
Hemi Leaf Springs. 4 photos. Item condition:
Used. eBay, Rochester, MN.
“Hard-to-find original 1970-1 Plymouth
’Cuda/Dodge Challenger 440+6/426 Hemi
rear leaf springs. (They also used these
on the A66 1970 Challenger 340 package.)
Correct numbers stamped on the bottom
leaves #3400024 and #3400034.These
came out of Texas. There is some slight
pitting on the bottom leaf where the shock
plate sits, otherwise should clean up very
well and look awesome once restored.
Reproductions are nowhere near the same
in appearance. Once again, when only real
Mopar will do.” 39 bids. Sold at $859.
The seller isn’t wrong: Modern leaf replacements
do not look the same as these
originals. However, I’m not sure they won’t
function similarly. Those repop springs run
around $450 for the pair. Reasonable price
paid for useable original bits. A
November-December 2014 109
Page 108
Showcase Gallery
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GM
1964 Cadillac Eldorado
convertible
Yellow/129,000 miles. V8,
automatic. In same family for
more than 25 years. Have history
from original sale. Runs
and drives very well, everything
works. Driver condition
3+ out of 5. Original 429-ci
engine and automatic transmission.
Only thing changed is
upholstery and top. Also have
a 1964 Fleetwood available.
$26,000 OBO. Contact Rick,
970.859.7392, Email: wr_woodard@msn.com
(CO)
1965 Cadillac Eldorado
convertible
S/N E5215113. Jade
Firemist/black leather. V8,
automatic. Fully loaded, twoowner
Southern California
car with no surprises. Simply
gorgeous and very original car
throughout, with no accidents
or rust, in striking original
color. $35,000 OBO. Contact
Simon, West Coast Classics,
LLC, 310.399.3990, Email: wcclassics@aol.com
Web: www.
WestCoastClassics.com (CA)
S/N 1FAFP90S35Y400516.
Red/black. 1,350 miles. V8,
6-sp manual. Low miles on
this very collectible Ford GT.
100% factory original. $300,000
OBO. Contact Steve, RPM,
802.877.2645, Email: rpm@
rpmvt.com Web: www.rpmvt.
com (VT)
MOPAR
r1994 Dodge Viper RT/10
oadster
S/N 1B3BR65E8RV100872.
Black/gray leather. 22,400
miles. V10, 6-sp manual. Leather
interior, original low mileage,
a/c, soft top, side windows,
cockpit cover, recent tires, just
Advertisers Index
Adamson Industries..............................65
American Car Collector ................91, 107
Auctions America .................................15
Barrett-Jackson ...............................4-5, 9
Bennett Law Office .............................109
Blue Bars ............................................111
Camaro Central ....................................71
Carlisle Events ......................................35
Chubb Personal Insurance ...................31
Corvette America ..................................39
Corvette Repair Inc. .............................11
County Corvette .....................................2
110 AmericanCarCollector.com
Genuine Hotrod Hardware ...................21
Grundy Worldwide ................................37
Infinity Insurance Companies .............116
JC Taylor ..............................................67
Jim Meyer Racing Products Inc. ........109
Leake Auction Company ......................17
Lutty’s Chevy Warehouse ....................99
Mac Neil Automotive Products Ltd ....106
MCACN, LLC ........................................61
Michael Irvine Studios ..........................79
Mid America Motorworks .....................19
Mustangs Unlimited .............................95
National Corvette Museum .................109
National Corvette Restorers Society ..101
National Parts Depot ............................25
Old Forge Motor Cars Inc. ..................103
Original Parts Group .............................59
Palm Springs Exotic Car Auctions .......81
Paragon Corvette Reproductions .........73
Park Place LTD .....................................75
Petersen Collector Car Auction ..........109
Planet Shelby Cobra.............................63
Putnam Leasing ......................................3
Reliable Carriers ...................................57
V8, 3-sp manual. Gorgeous and
very original car finished in dark
blue with correct brown interior.
Owned for many years by a
collector/enthusiast. Wood has
been professionally refinished.
A great driver. $55,000. Contact
Matt, Matthew L. deGarmo
Ltd., 203.852.1670, Email:
mattcars@aol.com (CT)
2005 Ford GT coupe
FOMOCO
1938 Ford woodie wagon
serviced and inspected by the
local dealer, one owner since
new, clean AutoCheck. $32,500
OBO. Contact Brian, Buxton
Motorsports Inc., 812.760.5513,
Email: brianbuxton@buxtonmotorsports.com
Web: www.
BuxtonMotorsports.com (IN)
AMERICANA
1932 Packard 903 rearmount
spare convertible
Pearl Blue/off-white. I8, 4-sp
manual. Meticulously and
beautiful total restoration. A
must-see car. Only 4k miles
since restoration. Rare (one of
five) factory rear-mount spare
tire. For more vehicles, see
our website. Keep them rolling.
$220,000. Contact Bill, Old Iron
AZ, LLC, 520.390.7180, Email:
oldironaz@outlook.com Web:
www.oldironaz.com (AZ)
1953 Packard woodie
wagon
Black/red. 39 miles. I8, 3-sp
manual. One-off woodie built
from styling proposal by Packard.
Special prototype that
was displayed at the Packard
Museum in Dayton, OH, until
several years ago. It has recently
undergone a complete
powertrain restoration and is
in outstanding overall condition.
Financing available on
approved credit. $54,995 OBO.
Contact Andy, Laguna Classic
Cars, 949.715.4555, Email:
andyc@lagunaclassiccars.com
Web: www.lagunaclassiccars.
com (CA)A
RM Auctions .........................................13
Route 32 Restorations ..........................77
Silver Collector Car Auctions ...............33
Sports Car Market ..............................111
The Chevy Store Inc .............................99
Thomas C Sunday Inc ........................103
TYCTA ..................................................87
Velocity Channel ...................................89
Volo Classic Cars .................................69
Watchworks ........................................113
ZClip ...................................................115
Zip Products .........................................93
Page 109
Sports Car Market
Keith Martin’s
The Insider’s Guide to Collecting, Investing, Values, and Trends
™
Showcase Gallery
Subscribe to SCM
today and become a
collector car insider
www.sportscarmarket.com
It’s so
easy!
We’ve made
uploading your
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www.americanCarCollector.com/classifieds
November-December 2014 111
Page 110
RESOURCE DIRECTORY
Put your company in the ACC Resource Directory. Call 877.219.2605 Ext. 218,
or email advert@americancarcollector.com
Auction Companies
Auctions America, 877.906.2437,
5540 CR llA Auburn, IN 46706.
Home of the 480-acre Auction
Park in Auburn, IN, where the
annual Labor Day Auction is held
in conjunction with the Auburn
Cord Duesenberg Festival.
www.auctionsamerica.com. (IN)
Petersen Auction Group of
Oregon. 541.689.6824. Hosting
car auctions in Oregon since 1962.
We have three annual Auctions:
February--Oregon State
Fairgrounds, Salem, OR; July-Douglas
Co. Fairgrounds,
Roseburg, OR; September-Oregon
State Fairgrounds, Salem,
OR. On the I-5 Corridor. We offer
knowledgeable, fast, friendly “hassle
free” transactions. Oregon’s #1
Collector Car Auction www.petersencollectorcars.com
Leake Auctions. 800.722.9942,
Join Leake Auction Company as
they celebrate 40 years in the collector
car auction industry. Their
unsurpassed customer service
and fast-paced two-lane auction
ring makes them a leader in the
business. Leake currently operates
auctions in Tulsa, Oklahoma
City, Dallas and San Antonio. Visit
them online at www.leakecar.com
or call 800.722.9942.
Russo and Steele Collector
Automobiles. 602.252.2697,
602.252.6260. 5230 South 39th
St., Phoenix, AZ 85040.
info@russoandsteele.com;
www.russoandsteele.com. (AZ)
Silver Auctions. 800.255.4485,
2020 N. Monroe, Spokane, WA
99205. silver@silverauctions.com.
www.silverauctions.com. (WA)
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)
Worldwide Auctioneers.
866.273.6394. Established by
John Kruse and Rod C. Egan, The
Worldwide Group—Auctioneers,
Appraisers and Brokers—is one
of the world’s premier auction
houses, specializing in the
procurement and sale of the
world’s finest automobiles
and vintage watercraft. www.
worldwide-auctioneers.com. (IN)
Classic Car Transport
Palm Springs Auctions, Inc.
Keith McCormick. 760.320.3290.
Family owned & operated for 28
years. Producing 2 large classic
car auctions per year in Palm
Springs, California. Each auction
features over 500 cars. Held in
November & February every year.
www.classic-carauction.com
112 AmericanCarCollector.com
L.A. Prep. 562.997.0170, L.A.
Prep brings its 30 years of experience
transporting vehicles for the
automotive industry’s top manufacturers
to discriminating luxury
and exotic car owners and collectors
across the United States.
Its highly-skilled and experienced
staff delivers an unsurpassed
level of service and takes care of
your car with the highest quality
equipment available in trucks and
trailers that are as clean and well
maintained as the valuable assets
that they carry.
www.LAPrepTransport.com
Intercity Lines, Inc. 800.221.3936,
413.436.9422. Rapid, hassle-free,
coast-to-coast service. Insured
enclosed transport for your
valuable car at affordable prices.
State-of-the-art satellite transport
tracking. Complete service for
vintage races, auctions, relocations.
www.intercitylines.com. (MA)
Passport Transport.
800.736.0575, Since our founding
in 1970, we have shipped thousands
of treasured vehicles doorto-door
with our fully enclosed
auto transporters. Whether your
prized possession is your daily
driver, a vintage race car, a classic,
a ’60s muscle car or a modern
exotic, you can depend on
Passport Transport to give you the
premium service it deserves. We
share your appreciation for fine
automobiles, and it shows.
www.PassportTransport.com.
catalogs on the market today
and produce a different catalog
for each Corvette generation. All
catalogs are also online with full
search and order features. From
Blue Flame 6 to the C6, only
Corvette Central has it all.
www.corvettecentral.com. (MI)
County Corvette. 610.696.7888.
Sales, service, parts and restoration.
When it must be right.
www.countycorvette.com. (PA)
Reliable Carriers, Inc.
877.744.7889, As the country’s
largest enclosed-auto transport
company, Reliable Carriers faithfully
serves all 48 contiguous
United States and Canada.
Whether you’ve entered a
concours event, need a relocation,
are attending a corporate event or
shipping the car of your dreams
from one location to another, one
American transportation company
does it all. www.reliablecarriers.
com
Corvette Parts &
Restoration
AutoBahn Power. Performance
+ Looks + Durability + Comfort
= Autobahn Power! Autobahn
Power is a veteran of vehicle
modifications, parts and accessories.
Our specialty has been to
carry products that are better than
original equipment in performance,
safety and quality. Our warehouse,
service shop and retail store are
located in the Midwest for good
access to all parts of the USA. We
have completed literally hundreds
of project cars. These performance
vehicles are in enthusiasts’
hands across the USA. Many of
the cars are in daily use, proving
the durability of our workmanship
and products. Check us out at
www.autobahnpower.com.
Corvette Central . Parts and
accessories for all Corvettes.
Corvette Central has been a leading
manufacturer and distributor
of Corvette parts and accessories
since 1975. We offer the most
comprehensive and detailed parts
Corvette Repair. The Leader
and most recognized NCRS,
Bloomington Gold & Triple
Diamond Award winning
Corvette repair shop in America.
Breathtaking state of the art restorations,
with the highest attention
to detail and workmanship to any
C1, C2 or C3 Corvettes. Compare
our hourly rate and be surprised...
or shocked. Contact Kevin J.
Mackay at 516.568.1959
www.corvetterepair.com (NY)
Mid America Motorworks.
800.500.1500. America’s leader in
1953–2008 Corvette parts and accessories.
Request a free catalog
at www.mamotorworks.com. (IL)
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)
Street Shop, Inc. 256.233.5809.
Custom 1953–1982 Corvette
replacement chassis and driveline
components.
www.streetshopinc.com. (AL)
Page 111
Corvettes for Sale
County Corvette. 610.696.7888.
The most modern and bestequipped
Corvette-only facility in
the nation.
www.countycorvette.com. (PA)
The Chevy Store. At The Chevy
Store, you will find only the
highest-grade, investment-quality
Corvette and specialty Chevrolet
automobiles. We take pride in
providing our clients with the finest
selection anywhere. Offering
investment-quality Corvettes and
Chevrolets for over 30 years!
503.256.5384(p) 503.256.4767(f)
www.thechevystore.com. (OR)
Insurance
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.
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)
Leasing
Putnam Leasing. 866.90.LEASE.
For over 25 years, Putnam
Leasing has been the leader in
exotic, luxury, and collector car
leasing. This honor comes from
Putnam’s unique ability to match
the car of your dreams with a
lease designed just for you. Every
Putnam Lease is written to provide
maximum flexibility while conserving
capital, lowering monthly
payments, and maximizing tax
advantages. It’s Putnam’s way of
letting you drive more car for less
money. For leases ranging from
$50,000 to more than $1 million,
with terms extending up to 84
months visit www.putnamleasing.
com or call 1.866.90.LEASE. (CT)
Legal
Grundy Worldwide.
888.647.8639, Grundy Worldwide
offers agreed value insurance with
no mileage limitations, zero deductible*,
and high liability limits.
Our coverages are specifically
designed for collectible-car owners.
From classic cars to muscle
cars, Grundy Worldwide has you
covered. (*Zero deductible available
in most states.)
888.6GRUNDY (888.647.8639).
www.grundyworldwide.com. (PA)
Law Offices of Bruce Shaw,
Collector Car Fraud Specialists,
www.shawlaws.com. A motorhead
law firm with real practical
knowledge and experience in the
Collector Car Field. Experience:
Chain of speed shops, Body
Shops, Car Dealerships, former
NCRS judge as well as licensed
attorneys. Estate planning and
divorce settlements concerning
Collector Cars. 50 State
Representation. 215.657.2377
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.
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.
Restoration—General
Mustangs Unlimited. Since
1976, Mustangs Unlimited has
been the source for Restoration,
Performance, and Accessory
parts for 1965–present Mustang,
1967–1973 Mercury Cougar, and
Cosmopolitan Motors, LLC.
206.467.6531, Experts in worldwide
acquisition, collection management,
disposition and
appraisal. For more than a quarter
century, Cosmopolitan Motors has
lived by its motto, “We covet the
rare and unusual, whether pedigreed
or proletarian.” Absurdly
eclectic and proud of it. Find your
treasure here, or pass it along to
the next generation. www.cosmo-
politanmotors.com (WA)A
November-December 2014 113
Museums
LeMay Family Collection
Foundation. LeMay Family
Collection Foundation at
Marymount Events Center near
Tacoma, WA, hosts an epic
backdrop for your next event.
Home to 500 fabulous collector
cars, world-class art exhibits, and
assorted ephemera, consider your
next event here. Weddings, swap
meets, conventions, auctions.
The facility can likely exceed your
expectations. Visit during the
37th annual open house along
with 13,000 other enthusiasts.
253.272.2336
www.lemaymarymount.org
National Corvette Museum. 80053-VETTE.
The National Corvette
Museum in Bowling Green, KY,
was established as a 501(c)3 notfor-profit
foundation with a mission
of celebrating the invention of the
Corvette and preserving its past,
present and future. www.corvettemuseum.com.
(KY)
Parts—General
1965–1970 Shelby Mustang.
More than 55,000 available parts
in 2 fully stocked warehouses,
Mustangs Unlimited is YOUR
Mustang Parts SUPERSTORE!
FREE Shipping on orders over
$300.
Visit www.mustangsunlimited.com
or call 800.243.7278.
National Parts Depot.
800.874.7585, We stock huge
inventories of concours-correct
restoration parts for:
1965–73 and 1979–93 Mustang
1967–81 Camaro & Firebird
1964–72 GTO, Tempest & Lemans
1964–87 Chevelle, Malibu &
El Camino
1948–29 and 1980–96 F-Series
Ford Truck
1966–96 Bronco
1955–57 Thunderbird
Delivery of your parts averages
just 1–3 days!
www.nationalpartsdepot.com
Page 112
Surfing Around
Carl Bomstead
Automobilia on eBay
and beyond
Carl’s thought: EBay recently offered a perfect copy — rated CGC 9.0 — of the June 1938 issue of Action
Comics #1, and after 48 bids, it sold for an astonishing $3,207,852. The comic is significant in that it is the first
appearance of Superman, Clark Kent and Lois Lane. Another 9.0 example sold a few years ago for $2.1 million
but this was stated to be a far better example with perfect white pages. It is thought that only 50 to 100 copies of
the comic exist, and for an example to be in perfect condition after 75 years is amazing. But then again, so was
the price paid.
Here are a few more interesting items I stumbled across over the past few months.
EBAY #361012382585—
1948 GM FISHER CRAFTSMAN
GUILD CONCEPT
CAR IN ORIGINAL WOOD
BOX. Number of bids: 22.
SOLD AT: $1,026.11. Date
sold: 8/10/2014. This was not
the most attractive styling
concept I’ve ever seen, and brown never seems to be the best color
for presenting a car, but this was certainly unique. It was in acceptable
condition and was complete with the wooden shipping box
and all the labels. The plaster and metal model measured about 15
inches in length, and the price paid did not seem unreasonable.
EBAY #111424885173—
BOYCE MOTOMETER
WOOD DISPLAY. Number of
bids: 22. SOLD AT: $1,304.
Date sold: 8/8/2014. Boyce
MotoMeters served as a
decorative hood ornament as
well as a temperature gauge,
and in the day they were heavily promoted. I have not seen this 20inch
wood display piece with the five different styles of MotoMeters
and their prices before, and unfortunately, I found it too late to try
to make a stab at being an owner. Price seemed more than fair for
such an unusual piece.
EBAY #251614895262—
1950s BELL 500TX
HELMET AND GOGGLES.
Number of bids: 10. SOLD
AT: $1,813. Date sold:
8/12/2014. This period Bell
helmet and Stadium Mark
9-DG goggles were from the
estate of a California racer who was regular participant at Sears
Point events in years past. The helmet was in nice condition and
the goggles and box were in excellent condition as well. A very cool
period set, but the helmet was rather small, so it might be difficult to
actually put to practical use.
114 AmericanCarCollector.com
EBAY #321495716991—VELTEX
ONE-QUART OIL CAN. Number
of bids: 13. SOLD AT: $640.
Date sold: 8/25/2014. Veltex was
the brand name for the Fletcher
Oil Company, headquartered in
Boise, ID. They had service stations throughout the West. This was
an unopened and colorful can that is very collectible. Good oil cans
have been making a slight comeback of late — in the heyday of can
collecting, I doubt if this Veltex can would have sold for this much,
so it looks like two bidders had to have it and were willing to pay
whatever.
EBAY #380956498064—
1948 TUCKER HOOD ORNAMENT.
Number of bids:
8. SOLD AT: $2,655. Date
sold: 9/28/2014. This was
described by the seller as
being a boat or rat-rod hood
ornament as well as being
for a Tucker. It had some pitting, and the red paint in the spaceship
windows was a bit worn. It had the 200675 part number stamped
on the bottom, and without actually seeing it, it looked like the real
deal. With only 51 cars produced, this is rare as heck, and while
expensive, the price was not out of line.
EBAY #380925506113—MATTEL
HOT WHEELS CUSTOM
1967 CORVETTE IN ORIGINAL
PACKAGING. Number of bids:
51. SOLD AT: $850. Date sold:
6/17/2014. The pictures presented
with this listing were almost illegible
but that did not stop a few determined
bidders. The unopened
package included the button and
was part of the red-line series. Price paid seems like a ton, but then
again, Hot Wheels are not on my radar.
EBAY #261577074309—
1952–53 YONEZAWA INDY
“CHAMPIONS 98” TIN
RACER. Number of bids: 14.
SOLD AT: $2,247. Date sold:
9/7/2014. This 18-inch tin
lithographed “Champions 98”
racer was in excellent condition,
with bright and vibrant
colors. It did not have any of
the fading normally associated
with this toy. It had a few minor scratches, but considering the
age, it must have been played with by a very gentle child. A very
cool toy.A