Profiles
- Hot Rod - 1932 Ford 3-window coupe
- Mopar - 1999 Plymouth Prowler
- GM - 1970 Pontiac GTO Judge
- Ford - 1962 Lincoln Continental convertible
- Americana - 1928 Pierce-Arrow Model 81 Four-door sedan
- Corvette - 1967 Chevrolet Corvette 427/435
- Profiles - 1979 Dodge Li’l red express
- Profiles - 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Search This Issue
Page -1
5 AMERICAN
1970 GTO Judge
KEN GROSS: Making
a quick $9k on a ’32 Ford
5
Best buys in
used ’Vettes
6
CAR COLLECTOR
Auctions • Values • Previews • Events
Tips to modernize
your muscle car
™
Corvette Market
INSIDE: Readers weigh
in on how Shelby’s death
will affect the market
September-October 2012
1967 Corvette 427/435
1979 Dodge Li’l Red Express
Low-priced
muscle truck
www.AmericanCarCollector.com
$122k
First-rate collector investment
$11k
Keith Martin's
verdict: $51k
includes
Page 4
CAR COLLECTOR
Vol. 1 • Issue 5 • September-October 2012
AMERICAN
Corvette Market
The Scoop: Profiles
CORVETTE
1967 427/435
CONVERTIBLE
$122k / Mecum
1967 Tri-Powers are among
the most sought-after cars
ever — Michael Pierce
Page 40
GM
1970 PONTIAC
GTO JUDGE
$51k / Mecum
One of the most iconic GTO
models, it will appreciate in
coming years — Tom Glatch
Page 42
FoMoCo
1962 LINCOLN
CONTINENTAL
$88k / RM
This black beauty may
signal a rising price trend —
Dale Novak
Page 44
MOPAR
1999 PLYMOUTH
PROWLER
$42k / Mecum
Ultra-low-mile Prowlers can
achieve nearly their factory
sticker price — Tom Glatch
Page 46
N
Corvette Market
The Scoop: Profiles
CORVETTE
1967 427/435
CONVERTIBLE
$122k / Mecum
1967 Tri-Powers are among
the most sought-after cars
ever — Michael Pierce
Page 40
GM
1970 PONTIAC
GTO JUDGE
$51k / Mecum
One of the most iconic GTO
models, it will appreciate in
coming years — Tom Glatch
Page 42
FoMoCo
1962 LINCOLN
CONTINENTAL
$88k / RM
This black beauty may
signal a rising price trend —
Dale Novak
Page 44
MOPAR
1999 PLYMOUTH
PROWLER
$42k / Mecum
Ultra-low-mile Prowlers can
achieve nearly their factory
sticker price — Tom Glatch
Page 46
Keith Martin's
includes
Page 5
HOT ROD
1932 FORD
3-WINDOW COUPE
$49k / Barrett-Jackson
Buying someone else’s build
is a popular shortcut to a
cool ride at minimal expense
— Ken Gross
Page 48
CLASSIC
1928 PIERCE-ARROW
MODEL 81
$28k / Leake
A Full Classic for under
$30k. What can brown do
for you? — Carl Bomstead
Page 50
RACE
1969 CHEVROLET
CAMARO ZL1
$424k / Mecum
COPO Camaros are rare
cars, but the ZL1 is in a
class by itself — Tom
Glatch
Page 52
TRUCK
1979 DODGE LI’L RED
EXPRESS
$11k / Barrett-Jackson
The last factory muscle car
wasn’t a car at all — Jim
Pickering
Page 54
ACC ANYTIME, ANYWHER
Download our FREE app from the
Apple iTunes store, and enjoy ACC
wherever you go!
1962 Lincoln Continental convertible, p. 44
Courtesy of RM Auctions
September-October 2012
Page 6
Inside
COLUMNS
10 Torque
Drive your collectible or let it sit? – Jim Pickering
32 Cheap Thrills
1966 Chevrolet Corvair Monza 2-dr hard top
– B. Mitchell Carlson
34 Corvette Market
Five Corvettes you should buy right now
– John L. Stein
36 Horsepower
Driving vintage American iron on the
Copperstate 1000 – Colin Comer
114 Surfing Around
Gotta-have automobilia on eBay – Carl Bomstead
FUN RIDES
20 Desktop Classics
1965 Plymouth Belvedere – Marshall Buck
22 Good Reads
How to Make your Muscle Car Handle
– Mark Wigginton
28 Under the Hood
Six hidden muscle car upgrades that won’t
sacrifice value – Jim Pickering
SERVICE DEPARTMENT
12 What’s Happening
Corvette Funfest, Barris at Glenmoor,
Goodguys shows
14 Crossing the Block
Upcoming auctions – Tony Piff
20 Contributors
22 Parts Time
Sway bars and carbs – Chad Tyson
24 Cool Stuff
Bungee octopi, wall art and more – Tony Piff
26 Snapshots
Corvette and High Performance Meet,
Greystone Concours d’Elegance
30 Insider’s View
Will Carroll Shelby’s death affect Shelby values?
38 Q&A
Should you go stock or custom with pickups?
58 Anatomy of a Market Report
Find out how ACC rates auction cars
78 Auction Tip
How to spot engine problems early
110 Parts Hunting
Auburn wheels, Crossram intake and more
112 Resource Directory
Get to know our advertisers
112 Advertiser Index
Photo: Vintage American iron gains ground
in European-style rallies, p. 36
Courtesy of Copperstate 1000
AUCTIONS
60 Barrett-Jackson Orange County
400 muscle cars, hot rods, rat rods and pickups hit $13.8m
68 Mecum St. Charles
Bloomington Gold takes in $2.8m before move
Custom classics and restored muscle bring $440k
92 Vanderbrink Bismarck
100 Roundup
Rusting hulks break the half-million mark
American vehicles from coast to coast
A ’41 Willys street rod snags the spotlight at $90k
82 Silver Coeur d’Alene
74 Mecum St. Paul
Page 8
Torque
Jim Pickering
Drive it or let it sit?
I
n June, Mecum Auctions sold a 2002
Camaro SS for $34,100 at its Salmon
Brothers Collection auction. The car
was red with black leather interior, and
had T-tops and an automatic transmis-
sion. When I saw it, I had to do a double
take, as it was pretty much identical to one
I sold a few months ago when I bought my
Charger SRT8.
$34,100. You can buy a decent fifth-gen-
eration Camaro SS for that money now. So
why was this fourth-gen SS valued so high?
Simple. It had 15 miles on the odometer.
Instant fun
I bought my Camaro in 2007 out of a
mint farmer’s collection in Turner, OR. It
was a 2001 SS, in red like the Mecum car,
but with a 6-speed manual, chrome 10-spoke
SS wheels, and 35,000 miles. Visually and
mechanically, the car was immaculate,
without even a single rock chip.
The seller was the second owner of the
car, and he had treated it like an instant
collectible, putting only a couple thousand
miles on it over the course of five years. It
sat in a line of Chevrolets inside his barn,
next to a 50th anniversary C5 Corvette, a
’68 Camaro and a beautiful stock ’56 Chevy
pickup.
The price was firm at $18k, which was
a lot for an SS in ’07 — about $3k higher
than market for a generally okay car. But I
felt like I knew exactly what I was doing. I’d
been looking for the right car for a while,
and considering this one’s condition and
mileage, I had no trouble paying the price.
After all, you can pay up for a great car — or
pay to fix up a not-so-great car.
I didn’t tell the seller that my plan was to
drive it daily — until I had the title in hand.
When I finally did tell him, he was visibly
bothered, as I was about to tear down the
pedestal his Camaro sat on and make it into
a real car again. Rainy days, rock chips and
all.
In the time I owned it, all it needed was
a set of brakes and a set of tires. I didn’t
even do a tune-up. It was a blast to drive, got
decent mileage and never gave me trouble. I
drag-raced it, took it to my friend’s ranch in
10 AmericanCarCollector.com
2001 Camaro SS — sometimes the real value lies in the fun of driving it, not the
return on your investment
Idaho a couple of times, and drove it daily
until my wife had our baby girl this past
November. By the time I was done with it,
the odometer had just rolled past 73,000
miles. I got $11k out of it when it moved on,
which was about what I expected, considering
the market for SS cars with miles.
Where’s the value
That Mecum 2002 Camaro SS will prob-
ably never be a real car again. It was simply
too expensive due to its rarely seen, factoryfresh
condition. And this is the problem with
any number of ultra-low-mile collectibles
— using them will completely destroy their
monetary value. And what’s the fun in owning
a performance car that you can’t drive?
If you’re a Camaro collector and the
Mecum SS filled a hole in your collection,
the price wasn’t out of line. And you probably
have other Camaros to drive.
But for me, the value of my Camaro
didn’t come from its low miles or the experience
of seeing it sit in my garage. The value
was in the fun of revving it up and dumping
the clutch, running at 80 on the highway
with the T-tops off, and teaching my wife to
drive stick when we were still dating. At a
$7k loss, or about 18 cents per mile, I paid
for the privilege, but for the experiences it
provided, I think the price paid was absolutely
worth it.
Should you drive your instant collectible?
That depends on you. But if you put a value
on the experience, a few miles traveled is a
great return on the investment.
ACC new features
Starting with the next issue, ACC will
feature classified listings of cars for sale.
For $66, we’ll put a full-color listing in the
magazine, and it’ll appear online instantly.
Learn more and submit yours at www.
americancarcollector.com/classifieds. And
in this issue, we’ve added an Auction Tip on
p. 78, and B. Mitchell Carlson takes an indepth
look at how ACC rates our cars in the
Market Reports. Check it out on p. 58. A
ARE YOU BETTER OFF USING YOUR CAR, OR SHOULD YOU PARK IT,
HOPING IT’LL GO UP IN VALUE SOMEDAY?
Page 10
WHAT’SHAPPENING
Corvette Funfest
Mid America Motorworks’
annual Corvette Funfest —
this is the 19th year — brings
thousands of Corvettes and
Corvette lovers to Effingham,
IL, for one of the biggest
parties of the year. This year’s
bash is September 13–16. The
1963 Split-Window is one of
the stars, and there will be a
special parking area for these
famous cars. We at ACC still
wish we hadn’t sold our 1963
Split-Window! Don’t miss the
Fun Dome, which is packed
with Corvette swag and
memorabilia. A giant corral
of Corvettes for sale is always
a reliable attraction, and the
big swapmeet, parties and
food are always popular. “The
Quest,” the movie about Chip
Miller’s search to find and
restore the Le Mans-winning
1960 Corvette, will be shown.
(IL)
www.corvettefunfest.
com
Barris at Glenmoor
Gathering
George Barris, the “King
of Kustomizers,” will hold
court throughout this year’s
Glenmoor Gathering from
September 14 to 16 at the
Glenmoor Country Club in
Canton, OH. Barris roared to
fame during the 1960s, when
his hot rod design and
building skills took him
to Hollywood, where he
designed and built the original
Batmobile, the Munster Koach
and other cars. The Hirohata
Mercury is one of Barris’s
most famous custom cars.
(OH)
www.glenmoorgathering.
com
The 19th Corvette Funfest will put a spotlight on the 1963 Split-Window
Goodguys in Kansas City,
Indy and Fort Worth
Goodguys shows will celebrate hot rods and
custom cars at shows in Kansas City, Indianapolis
Motor Speedway and Fort Worth during the next
two months.
The Kansas Speedway will host the 11th Mid-
Western Nationals from August 31 to September
2. Look for the huge swapmeet, vendor booths,
car sale corral, show-and-shine, autocross and
just good times with friends.
The 2nd WIX Filters Speedway Nationals
comes to Indy on September 21–23, and any
vehicle from 1972 or older is welcome to enter
the Show and Shine. Cars built after 1972 are
welcome at the Super Sunday Get-Together.
More than 2,500 rods, customs and classics are
expected, and the big swapmeet and Indy 500
Track Cruise are always popular.
The 20th Lone Star Nationals will bring
2,000 customs, classics and hot rods to Texas
Motor Speedway from October 5 to 7. The track
cruise, swapmeet and Super Sunday Get-Together
are highlights of this year’s event.
www.goodguys.com
The Glenmoor Gathering will shake things
up with a visit by George Barris
12 AmericanCarCollector.com
Page 12
CROSSINGTHE
Upcoming auctions
SEpTEMBEr
BLOCK
1969 Chevrolet COpO Camaro at Mecum Dallas
Mecum—Dallas 2012
Where: Dallas, TX
When: September 6–8
More: www.mecum.com
Last year: 519/760 cars sold / $20.7m
Heavy hitters at this second annual sale include a 1969
by Tony Piff
Dan Kruse—Hill Country Classic
Where: Austin, TX
When: September 15
More: www.kruseclassics.com
Dan Kruse moves their Hill Country Classic from San Marcos
to Austin this year. Among the headliners are a Boyd Coddingtonbuilt
1940 Ford Deluxe street rod; a custom 1948 Oldsmobile 88
custom convertible in Metallic Black Cherry over white leather; a
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible with Super Turbo-Fire 283-ci
V8, 4-bbl, power brakes, steering and top; a 1964 Plymouth Fury
convertible; a 1947 Buick Roadmaster custom convertible; a 1947
Mercury M-47 shortbed pickup; a fresh rotisserie-restored 1968
Shelby GT500 convertible in Acapulco Blue, reportedly one of three
so optioned; and a 1960 Jeep DJ3 Series Surrey Gala, believed
used on the TV series “Fantasy Island” (matching Cushman scooter
included).
Chevrolet COPO Camaro, delivered with 427/425 V8 and 4.10
12-bolt rear end, both original and documented; an award-winning
1937 Ford street rod; a 1970 Plymouth Hemi ’Cuda with 4-speed,
documented by broadcast sheet, in Vitamin C Orange with black
hockey stripe and black interior; an unrestored 1970 Oldsmobile
442 with 19,000 miles, two build sheets and window sticker; and a
1963 Pontiac Catalina, regarded as the most famous of 14 “Swiss
Cheese” Catalinas ever built.
Classic Motorcar Auctions—Grande Salon Auction
Where: Canton, OH
When: September 15
More: www.classicmotorcarauctions.com
Last year: 48/119 cars sold / $997k
This annual sale is held in conjunction with the Glenmoor
Gathering Concours d’Elegance. The auction will feature more than
150 antique, classic and sports cars. Notable early consignments
include a 1912 Ford Model T prototype 6-cylinder Speedster once
owned by Edsel Ford; a 1949 Lincoln Cosmopolitan convertible —
one of 1,230 built; and a restored 1930 Indian Scout 101 motorcycle
from the John Addams estate.
1964 plymouth Fury convertible at the Dan Kruse Hill Country Classic
14 AmericanCarCollector.com
Page 14
CROSSINGTHEBLOCK
1954 Mercury Monterey convertible at Tom Mack’s Annual Big Thursday Auction
indoors at the Metrolina Tradeshow Exposition Center. Featured
consignments include a restored 1939 Ford Standard coupe, with
original tool kit still in trunk; a 1954 Mercury Monterey convertible,
recently rotisserie restored, finished in rare Bittersweet Coral; and
an AACA National Senior Award-winning 1940 Chevrolet Deluxe
coupe, equipped with virtually every period option available.
Tom Mack—Annual Big Thursday Auction
Where: Charlotte, NC
When: September 20
More: www.tommackclassics.com
150 collector cars are expected for this annual auction, held
Barrett-Jackson—Las Vegas 2012
Where: Las Vegas, NV
When: September 20–22
More: www.barrett-jackson.com
Last year: 576/581 cars sold / $24.2m
At Barrett’s final sale of the year, look for a premium selection
When: October 8
More: www.bonhams.com
This new auction will take place at the Simeone Foundation
Museum in Philadelphia. Featured early consignments include a 1915
Packard Model 3-38 Gentleman’s Roadster, offered for the first time
in 84 years; a 1928 Packard 443 seven-passenger touring, in samefamily
ownership for over 40 years; a 1903 Knox; a 1904 Buckmobile;
a 1912 Metz; and a 1936 Lincoln Model K sedan by Brunn.
RM—Vintage Motorcars of Hershey
Where: Hershey, PA
When: October 11–12
More: www.rmauctions.com
Last year: 97/115 cars sold / $10m
Pre-war Big Classics are the stars at this annual sale, which
of muscle, hot rods, street rods, customs and pickups. Early consignments
include a 1923 Ford T-Bucket custom roadster, a 1970
Chevrolet Chevelle SS LS6, a 2010 Chevrolet Camaro RS/SS, a
1970 Plymouth Hemi Superbird, a 1956 GMC 100 pickup, and a
1956 Ford C-800 flatbed tow truck.
OCTOBEr
AA’s annual sale takes place right alongside. Count on an impressive
array of domestic iron from every automotive genre and across
a range of five-digit price points.
Auctions America by RM—Fall Carlisle
Where: Carlisle, PA
When: October 4–5
More: www.auctionsamerica.com
Last year: 150/273 cars sold / $2.8m
Fall Carlisle is considered the world’s largest car swapmeet, and
Bonhams—Preserving the Automobile
Where: Philadelphia, PA
16 AmericanCarCollector.com
coincides with the AACA Eastern Division Fall Meet. Last year, the
average price per car broke $100k.
The Branson Auction
Where: Branson, MO
When: October 12–13
More: www.bransonauction.com
This long-running sale takes place in historic downtown Branson,
MO, and always sees an interesting mix of quality collector cars.
Look for excellent restored Detroit muscle, quality post-war Classics
and premium pre-war heavy iron.
RM—The Charlie Thomas Collection
Where: Grapevine, TX
When: October 20
More: www.rmauctions.com
Charlie Thomas built one of the largest auto dealership networks
in the country and formerly owned the Houston Rockets. More
than 150 cars will be offered without reserve at this sale of wellequipped,
well-optioned and well-restored American automobiles,
ranging from Classics, to early flatheads, to ’50s convertibles and
’60s muscle and sports cars. A
Page 16
Publisher’s
Note
Keith Martin
Getting to know
our Nova
it appeared that the engine was original to the car — we were able to
confirm that the chassis was originally equipped with a V8, and the
date codes on the block checked out.
It had a 3-speed manual, so converting to a 4-speed wouldn’t be a
I
problem.
And finally, I just liked the crisp, right-sized look of the car.
It had hardly any rust, and seemed like a candidate for a straight-
forward restoration — especially as the engine ran well and didn’t
seem like it would need anything.
Nearly three years and $50,000 later (no surprise, right?), we’ve
got a great little car. We’ve put in SS buckets and the gauge package,
as well as a floor-mounted Saginaw 4-speed with Hurst linkage, and
have done a bare-metal, engine-out respray with every bit of chrome
redone where possible, and replaced where necessary.
I’ve been driving the car the past month, and it’s a treat. The
engine (enhanced with an Edelbrock Performer intake manifold and
4-barrel carburetor, carefully hidden under the stock air cleaner) pulls
strong and makes a great sound through the dual exhaust.
We were able to save all the original “Nova 400” badges, so the
car really has every neat bit and piece it was born with.
I’ve restored a lot of cars in my time, and I must say this Nova
wagon is among the most satisfying to drive. The combination of
light weight and horsepower is appealing, it handles well enough,
and, as a wagon, it’s actually practical for carrying ACC stuff to
events.
If you’re at an event and see the ACC booth, look around and I’ll
bet you see the ACC Nova parked not far away. A
t was November 10, 2009, when I bought the ACC Nova for
$2,400. I had found the car on Craigslist, and it was appealing
for a variety of reasons.
First, it was a 1964 model with a 283 V8, the first year that a
V8 was available in this line. Second, after inspecting the car,
CAR COLLECTOR
Volume 1, no. 5
September-October 2012
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
Tom Glatch
Daniel Grunwald
John Clucas
Chip Lamb
Norm Mort
Dale Novak
Phil Skinner
Contributors Carl Bomstead
B. Mitchell Carlson
Colin Comer
John Draneas
Michael Pierce
John L. Stein
Jay Harden
Marshall Buck
Jeremy Da Rosa
Mark Wigginton
Information Technology/
Internet Bryan Wolfe
Lead Web Developer Marc Emerson
SEO Consultant Michael Cottam
Advertising Coordinator/
Web Content Administrator Erin Olson
Financial Manager Therese McCann
print Media Buyer Wendie Martin
ADVErTISInG SALES
Advertising Executives Jeff Brinkley
jeff.brinkley@AmericanCarCollector.com
877.219.2605 x 213
Randy Zussman
randy.zussman@AmericanCarCollector.com
877.219.2605 x 214
SuBSCrIpTIOnS
Subscriptions Manager Rich Coparanis
Subscriptions 877.219.2605 x 1
9 a.m. to 5 p.m., M–F
service@AmericanCarCollector.com
503.253.2234 fax
@acc_help
COrrESpOnDEnCE
phone 503.261.0555
Fax 503.253.2234
General P.O. Box 4797
Portland, Oregon 97208
FedEx/DHL/upS 401 NE 19th Street, Suite 100
Portland, Oregon 97232
Email help@AmericanCarCollector.com
Web www.AmericanCarCollector.com
AMERICAN
Corvette Market
JOIN US
practicality with a V8 punch — a perfect grocery-getter
18 AmericanCarCollector.com
American Car Collector magazine (ISSN# 2164-1323) is published bimonthly by
Automotive Investor Media Group, 401 NE 19th Street, Suite 100, Portland, OR 97232.
pOSTMASTEr: Send address changes to American Car Collector, PO Box 4797, Portland,
OR 97208. The information in American Car Collector magazine is compiled from
a variety of reliable sources. However, we disclaim and deny any responsibility or liability
for the timeliness, use, interpretation, accuracy and completeness of the information
presented. All material, data, formats, and intellectual concepts in this issue © 2012 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
includes
Page 18
CONTRIBUTORS
DAVE TOMARO, ACC Art Director, has a dark
secret. He’s not, strictly speaking, a car guy. Although he
has always appreciated
old cars as works of
functional art, he was
not regularly exposed to
the growl of finely tuned
engines during his modest
Midwest upbringing,
and the family Nova
didn’t exactly fill him
with a sense of awe. As
an avid photographer,
however, he does know
a good picture when
he sees one, and this
unremarkable skill has allowed him to effectively fake his
way through his first year on the job at ACC. He attended
Purdue University with the intent of becoming an engineer,
but his ongoing confusion about what, exactly, an engineer
does on a daily basis, found him exiting the halls of higher
learning with an English degree instead. Twenty-odd
(very odd) years in the newspaper business taught him a
thing or two about layout, but even after two decades as a
copy editor, he’s still trying to remember if there’s a space
between “GT” and “350” when he’s proofreading stories
about Shelbys.
MARK WIGGINTON grew up as a track-rat teen at
Riverside Raceway and is now the manager of Portland
International
Raceway, which
he considers
honest work after
25 years in daily
newspapers as both
a writer and editor.
He has extensive
experience in karts,
on team timing
towers at endurance
sports car races,
and knows his way
around both the
press room and
the manufacturer’s
hospitality chalet.
When he’s not overseeing
day-to-day
operations at PIR, he’s reviewing books for ACC, and his
knowledge of the automotive industry, his familiarity with
racing’s many forms, his writer’s wit, and his editorial eye
make him the perfect car guy for the job. This month you’ll
find his take on How to Make Your Muscle Car Handle on
p. 23.
DESKTOPCLASSICS by Marshall Buck
1965 plymouth Belvedere Altered
Wheelbase, “Sox & Martin”
Extremely accurate, and very well detailed.
Nothing has been ignored. Parachute detail is
dead-on, down to the pull cable looped over the
roll bar hanging behind the driver, which then
trails through the trunk and right to the chute.
There is a fully wired and plumbed engine with
detailed surrounding bay. Chassis is complete,
including real metal leaf springs. The relativelybare-bones-but-accurate
interior is a delight.
Doors and trunk open, hood lifts off, and
there are functional mini hood pins front and
rear. Paint finish and all the correct graphics
are excellent. Want more? The drive shaft also
rotates when you spin the rear wheels. This
is a lesson in how to make a top-notch mass
20 AmericanCarCollector.com
produced model regardless of subject matter. Every Mopar
or drag racing fan needs one. A
Detailing
Scale: 1:18
Available colors: Tri-color
scheme
Quantity: 1,104
Price: $134.95
Production date: 2011
Web: www.supercar1.com
Ratings
Detailing: ªªªªª
Accuracy: ªªªªª
Overall quality: ªªªªª
Overall value: ªªªªª
Page 20
GOODREADS by Mark Wigginton
How to Make your Muscle Car Handle
By Mark Savitske, CarTech, 144 pages, $17.56, Amazon
Let’s just say my experience with suspension work is minimal. I bought a Datsun 2000
roadster in high school, which had already been given BRE springs and sway bars, so my contribution
was bending the inner fenders away from rubbing the front tires. There, fixed!
But having driven my share of ’60s muscle cars, I know
they are often horrible, ill-handling tanks with bad brakes
and evil manners in a corner. It makes sense, since the basic
sedan platforms turned into go-fast brand-makers were often
just updated passenger cars. It was a world where suspension
design was more focused on inexpensive production than
performance.
Fast-forward 50 years, and expectations are radically
different. The cheapest econobox now has handling performance
as far removed from the muscle-car era as muscle cars
were from Model Ts. Some people are just fine with vintage
handling, taking that early Mustang, Camaro or GTO at face
value, thinking modification would be akin to putting wings
on a pig. But lots of collectors want something that works,
which is where Mark Savitske and his book come into play.
Starting from the notion that the reader is nearly ignorant
of the intricacies of getting the most out of their suspension
(check!), Savitske builds the knowledge base, clearly
explaining the various common starting points for front and rear geometry, how they came to
be and what the options are to improve them. Often it’s about how you will use your car. If you
want to put all the power down in a straight line, there is a path to success. If you want to tear
up the local autocross, the path is quite different. And the answers range from simple changes to
complete sub-structure replacements.
All of this comes with plenty of photos and specific resources, and is detailed without being
dense, written simply. Think of it as Suspension 101 for your hot-rod education — and tuition is
cheap.
PARTS
by Mark Wigginton
How to Make your Muscle Car Handle
By Mark Savitske, CarTech, 144 pages, $17.56, Amazon
Let’s just say my experience with suspension work is minimal. I bought a Datsun 2000
roadster in high school, which had already been given BRE springs and sway bars, so my con-
tribution was bending the inner fenders away from rubbing the front tires. There, fixed!
But having driven my share of ’60s muscle cars, I know
they are often horrible, ill-handling tanks with bad brakes
and evil manners in a corner. It makes sense, since the basic
sedan platforms turned into go-fast brand-makers were often
just updated passenger cars. It was a world where suspension
design was more focused on inexpensive production than
performance.
Fast-forward 50 years, and expectations are radically
different. The cheapest econobox now has handling perfor-
mance as far removed from the muscle-car era as muscle cars
were from Model Ts. Some people are just fine with vintage
handling, taking that early Mustang, Camaro or GTO at face
value, thinking modification would be akin to putting wings
on a pig. But lots of collectors want something that works,
which is where Mark Savitske and his book come into play.
Starting from the notion that the reader is nearly ignorant
of the intricacies of getting the most out of their suspen-
sion (check!), Savitske builds the knowledge base, clearly
explaining the various common starting points for front and rear geometry, how they came to
be and what the options are to improve them. Often it’s about how you will use your car. If you
want to put all the power down in a straight line, there is a path to success. If you want to tear
up the local autocross, the path is quite different. And the answers range from simple changes to
complete sub-structure replacements.
All of this comes with plenty of photos and specific resources, and is detailed without being
dense, written simply. Think of it as Suspension 101 for your hot-rod education — and tuition is
cheap.
PARTS
Edelbrock
Edelbrock 94 2-bbl carburetor
o more scouring swapmeets
GOODREADS
GOODREADS
by Mark Wigginton
How to Make your Muscle Car Handle
By Mark Savitske, CarTech, 144 pages, $17.56, Amazon
Let’s just say my experience with suspension work is
DREADS by Mark Wigginton
How to Make your Muscle Car Handle
By Mark Savitske, CarTech, 144 pages, $17.56, Amazon
Let’s just say my experience with suspension work is minimal. I bought a Datsun 2000
roadster in high school, which had already been given BRE springs and sway bars, so my con-
tribution was bending the inner fenders away from rubbing the front tires. There, fixed!
But having driven my share of ’60s muscle cars, I know
they are often horrible, ill-handling tanks with bad brakes
and evil manners in a corner. It makes sense, since the basic
sedan platforms turned into go-fast brand-makers were often
just updated passenger cars. It was a world where suspension
design was more focused on inexpensive production than
performance.
Fast-forward 50 years, and expectations are radically
different. The cheapest econobox now has handling perfor-
mance as far removed from the muscle-car era as muscle cars
were from Model Ts. Some people are just fine with vintage
handling, taking that early Mustang, Camaro or GTO at face
value, thinking modification would be akin to putting wings
on a pig. But lots of collectors want something that works,
which is where Mark Savitske and his book come into play.
Starting from the notion that the reader is nearly ignorant
of the intricacies of getting the most out of their suspen-
sion (check!), Savitske builds the knowledge base, clearly
explaining the various common starting points for front and rear geometry, how they came to
be and what the options are to improve them. Often it’s about how you will use your car. If you
want to put all the power down in a straight line, there is a path to success. If you want to tear
up the local autocross, the path is quite different. And the answers range from simple changes to
complete sub-structure replacements.
All of this comes with plenty of photos and specific resources, and is detailed without being
dense, written simply. Think of it as Suspension 101 for your hot-rod education — and tuition is
cheap.
PARTS
Edelbrock 94 2-bbl carburetor
o more scouring swapmeets
out
out the ride. They’ve been making suspension components since
1946, so they know a thing or two about what they’re doing. This
completely adjustable tubular sway bar is aimed squarely at 1968–72
Chevelles, GTOs, Cutlass 442s and Skylarks. Installation is simple,
and the result is improved cornering traction and stability. See their
website for more information and to locate a dealer near you.
www.hellwigproducts.com
22 AmericanCarCollector.com
ight carbs f
. Edelbrock h
ated the 94 c
s for fueling fl
om 1938 to 1
ng cool ha
f a vintage hot r
atures inc
t bowl and a
propriate z
ate finish, a
uminum th
n extended t
e is a boon t
e running m
s — it makes i
k up a row o
Edelbrock mac
assembles the carb
Complete kits are available in varying
dual, triple and even six-carb combinations for 1955–86 SBC,
289-302 SBF and 1938–53 Ford flatheads. Check the website for more
details.
www.edelbrock.comA
Lineage: ªªªª
Mark Savitske has been building hot
rods and race cars for most of his life, with
lots of experience in drag racing as well as
road racing. In other words, it’s a book by
a guy who does it, rather than a journalist
who interviews the guy who does it.
Fit and finish: ªªª
Like most of the CarTech book line, the
design is simple and clean, with good quality
paper showcasing plenty of informative
color photos.
Drivability: ªªªª
Confused about the various differences
and advantages of a parallel four-link rear
suspension and how it handles anti-squat
in a drag-race application? Me too. But
at least after reading How to Make Your
Muscle Car Handle, you will know enough
to find the right expert and ask good questions.
It’s a fast tour through complicated
territory, but Savitske has done a quality job
describing the options, the trade-offs and
possibilities. It’s a cheap education that will
put you on the right track if you want to turn
your muscle car into a winner.
ªªªªª is best
Page 22
COOLSTUFF
Web of bungees
Secure that awkward load with
confidence! Perfect Bungee cords are
made of a super-strong, flexible polyurethane
material that won’t crack,
break, split or become brittle.
Available in six- and eight-arm
configurations, 18- and
24-inch lengths and
dozens of colors.
$28–$42 from
www.homedepot.
com
Heavy metal pen
KarasKustoms in
Mesa, AZ, machines
the weaponlike
RENDER K ($65)
from solid bar-stock
brass. You probably
wouldn’t want to use
it to pen the great
American novel, but if
you want to make an
intimidating spectacle
out of writing your signature, just pull this out and start
silently unthreading the cap. Also available in steel ($45).
www.karaskustoms.com
by Tony Piff
The wall
Skip the delicate,
expensive picture frame,
and use your entire wall
to make a real automotive
statement. Choose from a
broad selection of classic
car images, add a unique
quote or send in something
of your own and have it
custom-rendered. The
sticker-like material can be
removed at any time without
damage to the wall.
Prices vary, based on size
and complexity. www.
wallwords.com.
Better than leather
Mechanix has improved on
their classic glove design, n
with innovative “Material
4x” on palm and
fingertips. It’s more
resistant to abrasion
and puncture than
leather, without sacrificing
sensitivity
or grip. And unlike
leather gloves,
these are completely
machine washable.
$29.99 from www.
mechanix.com.
24 AmericanCarCollector.com
Portable welder runs on tap water
To generate flame for welding
with the Multiplaz 3500, operators
start by filling the torch with a
mixture of alcohol and water from
a plastic syringe. The 14,400-degree
plasma arc cuts metal up to
three-eighths-inch thick, and the
shielding gases are non-toxic.
Multiple power modes enable a
wide variety of welding, brazing
and cutting processes. The power
source weighs less than 25 pounds
and measures 15 inches by 7.5
inches by 5.5 inches, and it can run on 220 V or household 110. $1,995
from www.multiplaz.com.
Page 24
SNAPSHOTS
Corvette and High
Performance Meet
Drizzly northwest winter days didn’t deter thousands of
people from attending the Pacific Northwest’s first major
automotive event of 2012. Both huge parking lots of the Puyallup
Fair and Events Center in Puyallup, WA, were filled to capacity
on February 11 and 12.
I’ve been attending this meet since 1991, and the size and
variety of offerings always amaze me. Although “Corvette” is
featured in the event’s name, and Chevy-related parts of all eras
are available, other marques are well represented. This year,
there were 5,781 paid attendees combing through 990 booths,
exhibitions and swapmeet spaces.
Cars for sale that caught my eye included a red 1999 Corvette
fixed-roof coupe with a handful of tiny stone chips, Z06 wheels,
6-speed, nice black leather interior, 67,000 miles, condition
#2, with a $15,500 asking price. For sprinting between lights,
there was a flashy orange 1964
Chevelle SS with straight
panels and shut lines, a supercharged
350-ci small block,
Muncie 4-speed, and black/
orange vinyl interior. It was
a good #2 car, with an asking
price of $12,500. And for
Detailing
Where: Puyallup, WA
When: February 2013
Telephone: 360.786.8844
Web: www.corvhp.com
unbeatable sinister presence, a black-on-black l967 Chevelle in
condition #1 with a few hundred miles, 468-ci big block, Muncie
4-speed, SS seats and dash, straight panels and gaps, and perfect
chrome and glass. The seller was seeking $30,000.
To attract the young so our car hobby endures, event organiz-
ers have taken the lead with their “Next Generation Automotive
Exhibition,” in which kids can have their pictures taken with a
“Tow Mater” replica from the movie “Cars,” participate in valve
cover races (with computerized timing and scoring), and take
part in the Pinstriper’s Brush Bash.
Five large buildings full of exhibitors and vendors, hundreds
more outside, cars for sale, show cars, and all for just 10 bucks to
enter — what a great kick-off to spring!
— Jack Tockston
Corvettes — in a class all by themselves
Third Annual Greystone
Concours D’Elegance
I live in Portland, OR, but travel often to auto-related events. At the
Gooding Auction in Scottsdale this year, I met Jeff and Cindy Brynan and
their son David. David writes the auction catalogs for Gooding, interned
at The Petersen Museum and is a remarkably talented encyclopedia of
multi-marque minutiae. Jeff is a lawyer whose auto interest lies in Porsche
and Ferrari. In May, the three of them once again brought the Greystone
Mansion Concours in Beverly Hills to life.
Besides simply bringing together excellent cars with great stories, this
concours raises funds to support the Greystone Mansion itself. The city of
Beverly Hills owns, maintains and is in the constant process of restoring
this huge and historically significant property.
This year’s concours had 13 classes of foreign and domestic entries.
The American classes were Pre/Post-War, Corvette, and Ford Performance.
Having judged Corvettes for more than 30 years, I spent most of my time
talking to those owners.
Jaime Geshundeit drove his ultra-rare and exquisitely restored silver
1962 fuel-injected Big-Brake, big-tank Corvette. It ultimately won Best in
Class. Mark Berns drove his red and white 1967 427/435 side pipe, NCRS
Duntov and Bloomington Gold Award-winning roadster. Jeff Reade, one of
America’s finest Corvette and muscle car restorers and mechanics (based
in Culver City), brought his totally original Le Mans Blue 1968 RPO L88
427/560, which has fewer than 6,000 miles. Bruce Meyer brought his 1960
Le Mans competition Corvette, which was the winner of the Hammer
Speed and Design Special Award. Harry
Rieger drove his beautifully restored
Daytona Blue/red, 1963 fuel-injected
Split-Window coupe. Corvette years
represented were 1957, ’59, ’60, ’62, ’63,
’67 and ’68.
In the Ford Performance class were a
Detailing
Where: Beverly Hills, CA
When: May 5, 2013
Telephone: 310.285.6830
Web: www.greystonemansion.org
’65 and ’66 Cobra, two vintage T-Birds,
a Shelby GT350 and GT500, a ’40 Coachcraft roadster, and two ’30s hot
rods.
In addition to the cars, Sports Car Market’s contributing editor Donald
Osborne and auction analyst Carl Bomstead each gave a one-hour lecture
regarding collecting. There was an excellent turnout for the lecture series
and the concours in general.
The price of admission to this yearly event is $108, and that includes a
great car show, continual free food, adult beverages, lectures, tours of the
mansion, auto-related vendors, sunshine and the ability to show and tell
A future ACC reader?
26 AmericanCarCollector.com
with many of the best. For all that, I’d say it’s a great value. A
— Michael Pierce
Page 26
UNDERTHE HOOD
Vintage looks, modern function
SIX TIPS FOR BRINGING YOUR MUSCLE CAR INTO THE 21ST CENTURY
WITHOUT SACRIFICING VALUE
by Jim Pickering
L
et’s face it. Muscle cars are horrible drivers, at least compared
with their modern interpretations. Don’t believe me?
Go drive an original ’70 Challenger 440 for an hour, and then
jump into a new Challenger SRT8 and take the same route.
The difference in feeling is as stark as night and day.
Car technology has come a long way in the past few
decades, and your 1968 Camaro i
Time takes its toll on mechanica
I’m willing to bet that over time
really noticed the car starting to b
than it did from the factory.
But you can fix this, and you d
have to build a full-tilt pro-tour
rod to do it. Here are six ways y
bring your muscle car into the 2
century without significantly ch
ing its look.
1. New suspension
and body bushings
Original rubber bushings ha
been exposed to the elements si
your car was new, and by now, u
less they’ve already been replac
they’re totally shot.
Classic Industries, YearOne,
Lutty’s Chevys and other restor
parts catalogs offer OE-style ru
bushings, or you can go with po
thane units from Energy Suspen
to help pull some of the slack ou
your suspension. You’ll cut dow
noise, bring back some suspens
ing, and generally have a safer r
without changing the look of the car.
While you’re in there, check your ball joints, steering gear and
tie-rod ends, and wheel bearings for wear, and replace as necessary.
2. Electric fans, aluminum radiators
Let’s say you want to head out to your local cruise in, but it’s 85
degrees and you’re going to have to sit in traffic for 20 minutes. How
hot is your big-block going to get?
Original-style clutch fans just don’t move much air at idle. So
while you sit, you watch the temp rise up past 180, 190, 200, 210,
and maybe even 220 degrees. Fixing this is as simple as installing an
electric fan, either as a supplement to the original mechanical piece,
or as a stand-alone unit hooked up to an automatic switch.
Companies such as Be Cool, Spal, Flex-a-lite, and Perma-Cool
have options you should look into. This is a pretty easy fix, and it’s
a no-brainer if you’re really going to use your car. Also, think about
replacing your radiator with a new 4-core stock-style unit, or with an
aftermarket aluminum piece. Your engine will thank you.
28 AmericanCarCollector.com
3. Disc brakes
So you’ve spent $5k on that big block. What’s going to slow you
down? Original manual drum brakes? Sure, they work fine, but they
also get hot and fade, and they randomly pull to the left or right on
hard braking.
Companies such as Stainless Steel Brake Corp. (SSBC), Wilwood
and others offer both front and rear disc brake
er cylinders and proportione
everything work properly.
nsistent and shorter stops,
u pick the right kit, your
l 15-inch wheels will still fit.
Electronic ignition
There’s nothing like a prop-
ly set up, carbureted V8
with electronic ignition —
get it right and it’ll start with
half a turn of the starter
every time, and you’ll also
get slightly better mileage
as well.
Companies such as
Pertronix offer points conversion
with a Hall-effect
ensor that mounts inside
our original distributor. Or
u could get an MSD unit for
er spark and more complete
mbustion.
M owners can even go with a
k-style HEI setup as seen
, as that offers the added
o-find replacement parts.
5. New seat foam
Like the rubber bushings, seats are one of the last things people
think about. But seat frames and springs break, and the foam deteriorates
over time.
Regardless of what make or model you drive, restoration catalogs
have seat foam available, as well as seat track and spring parts. There
may not be as much glory here as a new carb or a chrome Hurst
shifter with a white ball, but we’re talking comfort, and that’ll make
all the difference in how much time you really want to spend behind
the wheel.
6. Tuning tools
You’re probably used to driving a car with electronic fuel injec-
tion on your daily commute. It tunes itself. So what to do when that
carburetor in your GTO has an irritating flat spot or a bog?
Fuel Air Spark Technology (FAST) offers a wide-band oxygen
sensor that’ll monitor your air/fuel ratio while you’re cruising down
the road — and you don’t need to have a laptop computer on the pas
Page 27
Electronic ignition kit from
pertronix
RESOURCES
Suspension
Classic Industries
www.classicindustries.com
YearOne
www.yearone.com
Lutty’s Chevy
www.luttyschevy.com
Energy Suspension
www.energysuspension.com
Cooling
Be Cool
www.becool.com
Spal
www.spalusa.com
Flex-a-lite
www.flex-a-lite.com
Perma Cool
www.perma-cool.com
Brakes
SSBC
www.ssbrakes.com
Wilwood
www.wilwood.com
Ignition
Pertronix
www.pertronix.com
MSD
www.msdignition.com
Tuning
FAST
www.fuelairspark.com
September-October 2012 29
Modern upgrades can preserve the classic look but raise the comfort factor
senger’s seat to make it work. It’ll help identify rich or lean spots in your carburetor settings, which
you can then correct with jets or other adjustments.
The most permanent part of the system consists of weld-in bungs that go downstream of your
exhaust headers or cast-iron manifolds. Everything else can be easily removed when you’re done
hunting the problem, or just tuning to get the best throttle response for the weather or altitude. It’s
an add-on that’ll help you get the most out of the combination you have — stock or otherwise.
Any of these six upgrades can be reasonably hidden — some better than others. But at the end of
the day, all of them will make your car a more enjoyable place to be without significantly affecting
its value — especially if you keep your original components hidden away in storage, just in case.
A
Page 28
INSIDER’S VIEW
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.
Shelby’s death a market factor?
Courtesy of Shelby American Inc.
Carroll Shelby’s death in May has sparked speculation about potential changes in values of the vehicles he created
Richard Cooke, River Forest, IL: Shelby’s death will affect
The ACC question: Carroll Shelby was an automotive
performance innovator, and his classic Cobras, GT350s, and GT500s
have been coveted for years.
Will his death this past May have any impact on the values of the cars
branded with his name? Why or why not? Will the late-model cars,
such as the new GT500 KR, bring an added premium over future
models, since they were among the last with design input from the
legend? Or will we see level pricing for the foreseeable future?
ACC readers respond:
Bob Massie, Memphis, TN: His early works will not be affected,
as they are already very rare for the common man to own and have
generally been over $100k for 20 years. On the other hand, the latest
Carroll Shelby (GT500 KR) will probably be at least 40% to 50% above
retail based on how many are available today. Eventually, even these
cars will command a premium far exceeding today’s expectations.
30 AmericanCarCollector.com
the values of his cars very much like the 1988 death of Enzo Ferrari
affected the values of the cars from Maranello. In the long term, the
blue-chip Shelby cars like the Cobras and 1965 and 1966 GT350s will
appreciate the most.
The rest of the early Shelby era cars (1967–70) will appreciate as
well, but at a lesser rate. The late models will be just used cars well
into the future. In the short term, I do not think the Shelby market
will explode as the Ferrari market did in the late ’80s. Hopefully, lessons
learned from that fiasco have not been forgotten.
Scott Carr, via email: I am certain we will see million-dollar
Series 1 cars in a very short time. With only 249 original examples
manufactured, and his only “clean-sheet” effort, this is the consummate
“not your father’s Oldsmobile.”
Jim Hughes, Calabasas, CA: Shelby lent his name to many proj-
ects over his lifetime. I would expect the value of race cars he personally
owned, drove or built to increase in value after his death, largely
Page 29
1963 Shelby Cobra, sold for $519k in 2011
due to the exclusivity of such cars. But non-racing CSX Cobras and
mass-market Mustangs were built in such large numbers that I see
little appreciation potential as a result of his passing.
Dean Mueller, via email: The modern cars will fade quickly. The
pre-’70 cars have been and will remain strong. The interesting cars to
watch will be the Series 1 cars. Only 249 made and pure Shelby. They
have been price-stale for some time. The 2012 Super Snakes and such
might also be interesting.
Bill Warner, via email: No effect. Over nine cars for sale at
Monterey. That is a lot of cars at one location for sale on the same
week. Race Cobras will always be strong. As when Enzo Ferrari died,
there was a spike in prices, but then adjusted to the market. In fact,
some (Daytona Spyders) never came back to their high-water mark.
Dave Sampson, Vancouver, B.C.: Values will increase. Real
Shelby cars will be harder to locate. Ultimately The Shelby Company
will need to re-create or relaunch the brand without the legend of Mr.
Shelby.
Frank Keel, via email: Prices will drop. Shelbys are overpriced
now, and the market for buyers is shrinking.
Dana Forrester, Independence, MO: I don’t think the passing
of ol’ Shel will immediately affect the values of early Shelby cars. I
don’t think they’ll skyrocket in value, but I don’t think they will ever
lose much in their value, either, as they are such a limited number of
cars. I do believe you’ll see more people trying to fabricate regular
Charlie Barnett III, via email: I think they will stay where they
are and stabilize. I am basing my opinion on the fact that I don’t recall
Enzo Ferrari’s passing as having a great effect upon Ferrari, and I
know the death of brands (Plymouth, Pontiac and Oldsmobile) was
also irrelevant regarding the brand and their cars’ values.
Chip Baldoni, via email: The values won’t change at all. It’s
already figured into the price of his 50-plus years of building cars. He
was up in years and didn’t do the day-to-day tasks at his company.
Shelby has a great managing and marketing team that envisions the
future. Values will go up because of what he created, not because of
his death. A
1965 Shelby GT350, sold for $162k this year
first-generation fastback Mustangs into Shelby “tribute cars.”
Rubén Arroyo, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico: Collectibles such as au-
tographs and similar memorabilia will definitely go up (when proven
authentic) slightly. Early cars such as GT350s and CSX Cobras will
become American Ferraris. Recent-production Fords such as GT500
KRs will appreciate based on the usual market forces — supply and
demand.
Lowry Stewart, via email: I’ve owned my two Shelby Mustangs,
a 1967 GT500 and a 1966 GT350 H, for the past 10 years, and I don’t
think that Carroll Shelby’s passing will have much of an effect on the
value of the cars that bear his name. Indeed, with our economy in its
current state of disarray, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the value of
the cars drop slightly. I think it’s the collectibles — the Carroll Shelby
memorabilia — that will see a pop in value.
1999 Shelby Series 1, a $110k sale this year
2007 Shelby GT-H, sold for $53k this year
September-October 2012 31
Page 30
Cheap Thrills
B. Mitchell Carlson
SAFERthan you think
HERE’S WHY YOU SHOULD IGNORE THE CORVAIR STEREOTYPES
AND JUMP INTO OWNERSHIP WITH BOTH FEET
Detailing
Years produced: 1960–69
Number produced:
103,473 (37,605 Monza
coupes)
Original list price: $2,556
Current ACC Valuation:
$6,800–$9,800
Tune-up cost: $150
Distributor cap: $12
Chassis number: Tag on
the driver’s side body
frame rail, next to the
battery (1965–67); tag
on the driver’s side
top of the dashboard
(1968–69)
Chassis number: 105376W149455
T
Engine number: On engine
block pad, between
the fan shroud and the
oil filter casting; stamped
with the last eight digits
of the VIN in 1968 and
’69 only
Clubs: Corsa (Corvair
Society of America),
P.O. Box 607, Lemont,
IL 60439-0607
Website: www.corvair.org
Additional: vv.corvair.org
(Virtual Vairs)
Alternatives: 1960–63
Ford Falcon, 1965–68
Ford Mustang, 1964–69
Plymouth Barracuda
ACC Investment Grade: C
32 AmericanCarCollector.com
p Thrills
B. Mitchell Carlson
SAFERthan you think
HERE’S WHY YOU SHOULD IGNORE THE CORVAIR STEREOTYPES
AND JUMP INTO OWNERSHIP WITH BOTH FEET
Detailing
Years produced: 1960–69
Number produced:
103,473 (37,605 Monza
coupes)
Original list price: $2,556
Current ACC Valuation:
$6,800–$9,800
Tune-up cost: $150
Distributor cap: $12
Chassis number: Tag on
the driver’s side body
frame rail, next to the
battery (1965–67); tag
on the driver’s side
top of the dashboard
(1968–69)
Chassis number: 105376W149455
T
Engine number: On en-
gine block pad, between
the fan shroud and the
oil filter casting; stamped
with the last eight digits
of the VIN in 1968 and
’69 only
Clubs: Corsa (Corvair
Society of America),
P.O. Box 607, Lemont,
IL 60439-0607
Website: www.corvair.org
Additional: vv.corvair.org
(Virtual Vairs)
Alternatives: 1960–63
Ford Falcon, 1965–68
Ford Mustang, 1964–69
Plymouth Barracuda
ACC Investment Grade: C
32 AmericanCarCollector.com
Back
Back to the ’50s auction in St. Paul,
MN, on June 23, 2012. I think it was a
screaming deal, and here’s why:
The sporty Corvair
When Chevrolet introduced the radical new 1960
Corvair in October 1959, they primarily targeted it as
an economy import-beater — namely competition for
the popular VW Beetle. However, late in the development
game, marketing told engineering that there
was no way they could sell the car with a Powerglide
automatic only, so they had to take money from the
interior budget to make a 3-speed manual work with
the air-cooled rear six. As such, those new 500-series
and 700-series Corvairs were rather austere-looking
— rubber floor mats and dyed cardboard door panels
being the most obvious pieces.
The new car sold okay, but it got its clock cleaned
by the just-released Ford Falcon. To up the ante for
mid-1960, Chevy made two Corvair additions: a
two-door coupe in all model ranges, and a new topof-the-line
Monza package, available only with the
coupe in 1960.
The highlights of the Monza were color-keyed
carpeting and vinyl bucket seats with matching vinyl
door panels. Right out of the gate, Monzas were built
as fast as dealers could order them from their cashwaving
customers.
It took until 1962 for the Monza to be available in
Thrills
B. Mitchell Carlson
SAFERthan you think
HERE’S WHY YOU SHOULD IGNORE THE CORVAIR STEREOTYPES
AND JUMP INTO OWNERSHIP WITH BOTH FEET
Detailing
Years produced: 1960–69
Number produced:
103,473 (37,605 Monza
coupes)
Original list price: $2,556
Current ACC Valuation:
$6,800–$9,800
Tune-up cost: $150
Distributor cap: $12
Chassis number: Tag on
the driver’s side body
frame rail, next to the
battery (1965–67); tag
on the driver’s side
top of the dashboard
(1968–69)
Chassis number: 105376W149455
T
Engine number: On en-
gine block pad, between
the fan shroud and the
oil filter casting; stamped
with the last eight digits
of the VIN in 1968 and
’69 only
Clubs: Corsa (Corvair
Society of America),
P.O. Box 607, Lemont,
IL 60439-0607
Website: www.corvair.org
Additional: vv.corvair.org
(Virtual Vairs)
Alternatives: 1960–63
Ford Falcon, 1965–68
Ford Mustang, 1964–69
Plymouth Barracuda
ACC Investment Grade: C
32 AmericanCarCollector.com
Back to the ’50s auction in St. Paul,
MN, on June 23, 2012. I think it was a
screaming deal, and here’s why:
The sporty Corvair
When Chevrolet introduced the radical new 1960
Corvair in October 1959, they primarily targeted it as
an economy import-beater — namely competition for
the popular VW Beetle. However, late in the develop-
ment game, marketing told engineering that there
was no way they could sell the car with a Powerglide
automatic only, so they had to take money from the
interior budget to make a 3-speed manual work with
the air-cooled rear six. As such, those new 500-series
and 700-series Corvairs were rather austere-looking
— rubber floor mats and dyed cardboard door panels
being the most obvious pieces.
The new car sold okay, but it got its clock cleaned
by the just-released Ford Falcon. To up the ante for
mid-1960, Chevy made two Corvair additions: a
two-door coupe in all model ranges, and a new top-
of-the-line Monza package, available only with the
coupe in 1960.
The highlights of the Monza were color-keyed
carpeting and vinyl bucket seats with matching vinyl
door panels. Right out of the gate, Monzas were built
as fast as dealers could order them from their cash-
waving customers.
It took until 1962 for the Monza to be available in
During
During the first
part of the year, that included the
soon-to-be-discontinued station wagon; mid-year, that
included its replacement — the convertible. 1962 also
proved to be the best selling year for all Corvairs —
and especially Monzas. It had come into its own as a
“sporty” car, advertised right along with the Corvette.
Mr. Iacocca, over at Ford, used this sales data to
convince his higher-ups that the idea for a dolled-up
Falcon — the Mustang — had merit, and he got the
green light for production.
Monzas so dominated Corvair production that when
the newly restyled 1965 models were introduced, there
were only two other models aside from it: the bargain
basement 500 and a high-performance Corsa, which
replaced the previous year’s turbocharged Spyder.
After 1966, the Corsa was discontinued, with the
Monza leading the lineup.
End of the line
In theory, 1966 was supposed to be the end of the
line for the Corvair. The Mustang was easily outselling
it, and the soon-to-be-released Camaro was to be its
replacement. However, Ralph Nader was making a
name for himself in the realm of auto safety, namely
with his book Unsafe at Any Speed, which focused
on the early model Corvair and its swing-axle rear
suspension. Even though Nader’s book pointed out how
late-model Corvairs had correctly designed suspension,
Page 31
the whole affair gave the car a bad rap with the public.
But GM wasn’t going to let itself look like it was
kowtowing to a two-bit lawyer. They continued to
build the Corvair until demand was at a trickle and
safety regulations — namely an ignition interlocking
steering column for the 1970 model year — put it to
rest in 1969.
Monzas in the 21st century
I was initially wary of our subject car when I wrote
it up for my auction reports — mostly because it was
also sold at the same venue last year, and I had concerns
that perhaps it was a case of hot potato. But the
more I considered the car, the more I liked it.
Sure, there were a few modifications, but they were
generally cosmetic and easily removed. As a rule, if
you spend under $5k on a collector car, you should
expect to roll up your sleeves and grab your tools as
soon as you get home with it.
In addition to this car’s blackout headlight trim,
the engine sheet metal was painted in various colors.
But that’s not too hard to fix. The entry-level 95-horse
engine and Powerglide automatic are hardly the cusp
of high performance, but they do make a durable
combination. On the plus side, black with a mix of
replaced and redyed red interior makes a pleasing
combination for most folks.
It also ran out with no obvious issues that I detected
— lifters didn’t rattle hot or cold, thermostats opened
and closed the heat exchanger doors, and it didn’t mark
its territory from failed pushrod tube O-rings. If it
does need mechanical attention, parts availability is a
It won’t win you any drag races, but it’s durable
non-issue.
Nope, it’s hard to argue with a sub-$4k collector car that stops, starts, drives and
doesn’t have body panels flapping in the breeze — and was one of Bill Mitchell’s
personal favorite designs.
Today there are only a handful of collector cars that can be had as decent ex-
amples for under $5k, and late-model Corvair Monzas are rapidly rising above that
line. Get yours now before you say, “Gee, I should’ve got that one for $4k last year,
now that I can’t find a good one for under $8k.” If you can, buy it now. A
September-October 2012 33
Page 32
Corvette Market
John L. Stein
5 BEST BETSin used ’Vettes
THERE ARE GUYS OUT THERE APPROACHING THEIR PEAK EARNING
YEARS AND STARTING TO PINE FOR CARS THEY COULDN’T HAVE AT 15
1957 Fuelie, sold for $110k at Amelia Island this year
of a few years ago, and it’s no wonder. Because while some financially
well-insulated collectors do own them, the majority of Corvette
owners are regular guys whose economic vitality follows the overall
fortunes of our country. With a significant amount of equity and
confidence now stripped away, working-class collectors are neither as
flush nor as optimistic as before.
Naturally, there is value in this scenario for those who are ready to
buy. So if you have the cash, here are the Corvettes I’d buy right now:
I
1957–65 Fuelie
Back in the 1960s, possibly in The New Yorker, ran a comic of
two men at a cocktail party. One said something like, “You have fuel
injection? I wish I had fuel injection.” It was a poignant glimpse into
the male motor-psyche of the time. Of course, the technology is now
ubiquitous, but the cartoon is still relevant because it reminds us that
in its day, FI was a very big deal. Precious few cars had it, among
them the Mercedes-Benz 300SL and Corvette. And therein lies the
contextual value. Chevrolet built 12,534 Rochester fuel-injected cars
for 1957 through 1965, all small blocks and all desirable today. Prices
range from more than $50,000 for a low-horsepower solid-axle to
nearly $140,000 for any of the high-power midyears.
1963 Z06
In the 2000s, it was anything with a 427 in it. Now it’s the ’63
34 AmericanCarCollector.com
t’s been a fascinating four years in Collectorville. Since the
October 2008 meltdown, we’ve seen a one-third price drop in
some collector cars, Corvettes included, followed by the meteoric
rise in values for certain über-marques.
Despite some recovery, ’Vette prices are still below the peaks
1963 Z06, a 2009 no-sale at $300k
Z06. Although Corvette collectors have coveted these competitionpackage
Sting Rays forever, they have really come on the price-cam
recently. Consisting of racing suspension and brakes, and a 36-gallon
fuel tank added to the base coupe, the Z06 package was the trick
setup for road racing when the Sting Ray launched. And while
aftermarket parts have long since eclipsed the need for an actual Z06
to succeed in vintage racing, it still occupies the troposphere of early
small-block Sting Ray desirability. Figure about $150,000 to more
than $220,000 now, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them soar
upward from there.
1975 C3
The ’75 Shark is the Corvette equivalent of the nickel slot ma-
chine. It’s cheap enough that it won’t ruin your life if it doesn’t pan
out, and if you hit the jackpot, all’s right in Pahrump. It’s true that the
’75 Corvette was one of the uglified NHTSA-bumper cars, and that
its horsepower output was at a 20-year low. It’s also true that when
sprayed in an OE color such as Medium Saddle, it had all the sex
appeal of dirty tube socks. All that said, suppose you find a ’75, say a
convertible, in a stirring combo such as Orange Flame/black, that has
an M21 4-speed, and that, just by coincidence, it doesn’t need to pass
smog checks in California (at least presently). Then for the $10,000 to
$20,000 that a “Soul Train”-era fixer-upper will set you back, there’s
precious little risk. And you could be the one laughing down the road.
1982 C3
Somewhere out there are a bunch of guys who are 45 years old,
approaching their peak earning years, beginning to feel middle-aged,
and starting to pine for cars they couldn’t have at 15. Long theory
Page 33
1975 C3, sold for $10k in 2010
short, collector-car values follow emotional attachments, and if my
model is correct, there is thus value-growth potential for the 1982 C3,
the last-ever Sting Ray-based Corvette. An easy pick is the Collector
Edition model; however, devotees long ago inflated these prices.
Also, driving one in public is dangerously like wearing a Bee Gees
fan-club jacket into an Applebee’s. Instead, I’d look for one outfitted
with FE7 Gymkhana suspension, V08 heavy-duty cooling and fat
255/60R15 tires. Rustle up $20,000 for a nice one.
2008 C6 F55
Ever since I experienced one of the first F55 Magnetic Selective
Ride Control suspensions on a Corvette engineering trip in 2002, I
fell in love with magneto-rheological technology. Its ability to smooth
out the bumps and jars of the open road while retaining racetrackcaliber
handling skills is really amazing, and it’s all due to the
remarkable “MR” technology. The damper fluid contains microscopic
ferrous particles, and it instantly changes viscosity with the application
of current to a field coil, thus enabling the suspension to change
1982 C3, sold for $16k in 2010
from zero to full damping in one inch of roadway at 60 mph. F55
debuted for 2003, and the technology lives on today. Since the C6 is
much more refined and comfortable than the C5, I’ll take mine in a
430-hp 2008 coupe. Opt-in price $30,000 to $35,000. A
2008 C6, sold for $32k in 2010
September-October 2012 35
Page 34
Horsepower
Colin Comer
AMERICAN
Driving the
Images courtesy of Copperstate 1000
way
VINTAGE AMERICAN IRON IS AN INCREASINGLY POPULAR CHOICE
FOR EUROPEAN-STYLE ROAD RALLIES
What could be better than a 1966 Shelby GT350 and 1,000 miles of snaking Arizona road?
the Copperstate is open to pre-1972 collector cars, and every year
they carefully select about 75 cars to participate. This is a tough job
for the organizers — after all, being affiliated with a prestigious
art museum dictates that cars on the rally not only represent rolling
sculpture, but also can meet the challenge of covering 1,000 miles of
open road.
T
An ideal choice
For the past nine years, I have been accepted on the rally with
various versions of Ford-powered Shelby automobiles. To me, 289
36 AmericanCarCollector.com
his year marked the ninth time I was a participant in the
Copperstate 1000, a magnificent 1,000-mile, four-day road
rally through Arizona. The route encompasses roads, scenery,
topography and climate changes that most people would
never expect in Arizona.
Organized by the Men’s Arts Council of the Phoenix Art Museum,
and 427 Cobras or 1965 and 1966 GT350s have always been an ideal
and satisfying choice. They are tough, fast, reasonably comfortable
for long distances, and parts are readily available — even in Jerome,
AZ, if needed.
But even with all of that going for them, I used to be in the minor-
ity of people driving American iron on the rally. If you judged from
the entry list a few years back, you’d swear a Mercedes 300SL or
Ferrari 275 GTB was the ultimate 1,000-mile rally car, as there were
multiple examples of each every year. And I am sure they are indeed
stunning high-speed rides for such endeavors. After all, it’s what they
were designed to do, right?
A changing grid
But I’ve noticed a changing of the guard as of late. At first I was
envious of the 1971 Trans Am 455 HO with a 4-speed and a 3.08
gear that seemed to sail by effortlessly, nose in the air, at not-so-legal
Page 35
speeds with the a/c on. One of the event sponsors, Ed Marshall,
has made a habit of bringing his breathed-on 1966 GTO on the
rally for as long as I can remember. Former Copperstate Chairman
Keith McLaine has done the rally more than once in his cherry
1969 Mustang Mach 1. In 2011, there was a factory supercharged
Studebaker Avanti.
For 2012, American cars were there in force. Beyond the Cobra I
was driving, the four 1965/1966 GT350s, the four mid-year Corvettes,
and another GTO, there were some really great examples of American
cars designed to take advantage of the then-new Interstate highway
system. They included a gorgeous 1959 Impala convertible, a 1964
Bonneville convertible, and one of the prettiest cars to ever leave
Detroit, a 1963 Buick Riviera.
Cruise-night special or high-speed tourer?
All of this is just an awesome occurrence to me. Not only do I love
seeing these cars on the road, I love the fact that people are finally
seeing them as something that can get them farther than the local
cruise night.
Beyond that, kudos to the Copperstate 1000 car selection commit-
tee for allowing these cars to participate. I never understood where
or when it became the unwritten rule that rally cars had to be überexpensive
exotics or one-off creations. Don’t get me wrong, seeing
cars like that being used rather than rotting in a museum thrills me
just as much, but variety is a good thing. After all, nobody wants to
walk out to a parking lot full of Mercedes-Benz 300SL owners all
walking around until they find the car which their key fits.
Beyond the obvious visual texture some big American land yachts
added to this year’s Copperstate, are they really a good choice? I
think the answer is a resounding yes.
Do they cruise at warp speed for hours on end without concern
like a Ferrari SuperAmerica? No. But they will cruise for hours on
1964 pontiac Bonneville — good for the long haul
end at speeds that allow you to efficiently cover ground and enjoy the
scenery much better. While they might not handle the twisty bits or
challenging roads as well as a stiffly sprung sports car, they won’t
beat you up either, and you can use one finger to swing the power
steering from one direction to another.
With proper preparation, almost any American car from 1955 to
’72 can be made to perform a lot better than one would suspect. Radial
tires, disc brake conversions, gas-charged shock absorbers, electronic
ignitions and other subtle and easily hidden tweaks will transform
your thinking of what a touring car should be all about. Not to mention
that most parts are as close as the nearest NAPA if you should find
yourself in need of something a thousand miles from home.
So for all of you who have always looked at these 1,000-mile
rallies as something you couldn’t do with your favorite American car,
think again. There isn’t a better way to bond with and appreciate your
car than driving it for a solid four days and covering a ton of ground in
the process. So mark your calendar and get your application in early
— the next Copperstate 1000 is April 6 through April 10, 2013. A
September-October 2012 37
Page 36
Q&A
by Jim Pickering and Chad Tyson
You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers
Send your questions to questions@americancarcollector.com. If we print it, we’ll send you an
American Car Collector hat!
Original vs. modern
Q:
Chad (left) and Jim
I think the classic-pickup market has just started, providing the truck is restored.
I’d like to have your opinion about this. Do you think the original look with a
modern engine is more or less valuable in this market?
I’m also looking for a Los Angeles mechanic who understands my 1952 Chevy 3100
pickup. I would like to bring this truck back to its original condition. — David, via email
love every aspect of the truck you’re buying
— otherwise you’ll start changing things
around, which can cost a lot of money.
There’s no doubt that originality is still
king when it comes to value. I don’t think
we’ll be seeing that rule change anytime
soon. Original trucks restored to a high
factory standard simply tend to bring more
money than those that were modified slightly
from stock — i.e., those with late-model
engines, transmissions or other components.
Of course, there are always exceptions to
that, but in terms of consistency, it’s factory
original all the way.
But if you’re looking for a collectible
truck you can actually drive comfortably,
I’d suggest something with a late-model V8
and overdrive transmission. Something like
this may not be worth as much as a 100point
perfect original rig in this market, but
there’s value in usability and performance,
especially if you consider the experience
you’ll have while owning it as part of your
investment.
As for your shop question, I don’t person-
ally know of any shops in the LA area, but
trucks such as yours are fairly straightforward
to put right.
Any readers out there have suggestions
restored stock 1953 Chevrolet 3100, sold for $33.5k
I don’t think we’ve seen the top of its growth
quite yet. But your question is a good one —
a lot of these old original trucks aren’t especially
comfortable on the highway. After
all, they were designed to work for a living,
so they have harsh suspensions intended to
carry heavy loads. They don’t turn, stop, or
accelerate like modern rigs do, and creature
comforts consist of padded vinyl dashes at
best. But the technology to make them better
is out there, and these days, we’re seeing a
lot of trucks with updates cross the auction
block.
As for your value question, let’s work
A:
from the idea that there are three general
categories here: fully customized, partially
customized and stock. Finding a definitive
38 AmericanCarCollector.com
Thanks for the question, David.
The classic-truck market is
still moving along pretty well, and
way to determine which
type of truck is more or
less valuable between
these three categories
can be difficult, as every
truck is different, and
every buyer is different.
Full-on custom
trucks, with expensive
paint, custom suspension
and unique interiors can
bring a lot of money
at auction. But as is
the case with cars, that
money is usually less
than the cost of doing the
work in the first place.
These can be a great buy
after they’ve been built,
but you have to really
for David? Send them to us at questions@
americancarcollector.com, and we’ll pass
them along. — Chad Tyson A
Fully customized 1970 Chevrolet C10 — a $93.5k sale,
but how much money went into the build?
Page 38
PROFILE CORVETTE
1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE 427/435 CONVERTIBLE
Hot, fast and a great buy
Courtesy of Mecum Auctions
435s are
brutally
fast, loud,
and are one
of the best
collector-car
investments
anywhere
Chassis number: 194677S16506
by Michael Pierce
S
40 AmericanCarCollector.com
40 AmericanCarCollector.com
old new at Bill DeFouw Chevrolet in
Lafayette, IN, this fully restored 1967
Chevrolet Corvette convertible is one of
3,754 produced with the mighty RPO L71
427/435-hp Tri-Power big-block engine.
An optional M21 Muncie 4-speed manual trans-
mission, 4.11 Positraction rear axle and factory side
exhaust add even more potency to this milestone
mid-year Corvette, which also features Redline tires,
reproduction aluminum bolt-on wheels and an AM/
FM radio.
Perhaps most importantly, it is comprehensively
documented with the tank sticker, Protect-O-Plate,
dealer invoice and owner’s manual package, owner
history, maintenance records and period 1967 photos.
ACC Analysis This 1967 Chevrolet Corvette
427/435 soft top-only convertible,
Lot S84, sold for $121,900, including buyer’s premium,
at Mecum’s Bloomington Gold auction in St. Charles,
IL, on June 22, 2012.
King of the Corvette hill
The 1967 Tri-Power Corvettes are some of the most
valuable and sought-after American cars ever produced.
This applies to both the RPO L68 400-hp cars
with hydraulic lifters and oval port heads, as well as
the RPO L71 435-hp cars with rectangular port heads,
solid lifters, a high-lift cam and 4-bolt main bearings.
In fact, there were two versions of the 435 — the
L71, described above, and the L89, which featured
aluminum heads on the standard L71 block (16 built
out of 22,940 total Corvettes in ’67), making it the
rarest Corvette production engine besides the two ZL1
aluminum L88s in 1969.
But of all of these cars, it’s the L71 that really turns
most Corvette buyers’ cranks, as they’re almost always
available in the market, and they offer top-level
performance and that distinctive stinger hood stripe.
When you say “big-block Corvette,” this is the car
that comes to mind. 435-hp cars are easy and fun to
drive and consistently get the public’s attention. They
are brutally fast, loud, and when deemed original, are
one of the best collector-car investments anywhere.
Big power, big money
As reported in one of the first issues of Corvette
Page 39
ACC
Digital Bonus
Market, a black-on-black 435
convertible with a red stinger
sold a few years back for about
$450,000. This famous, no-story
example had everything for the
most discriminating collector
or investor; it was original,
heavily documented and readily
accumulated the highest awards
possible for vintage Corvettes.
More recently, a black with
blue stinger and interior ’67
435 convertible sold for more
than $800,000 in a private sale.
Clearly, when the numbers
match and the documentation
adds up, hefty prices are the
norm in this market.
Having owned an almost iden-
tical car to this green 435 for 31
years, my first reaction was that
this was a good buy. Besides
the interested public, there were
many dealers, collectors, NCRS/Bloomington Gold
judges and Corvette experts looking at the interior,
exterior, mechanical, chassis, VIN and trim tags, and
all documents. But the relatively low selling price
of this specific car, with its iconic year and engine
combination, could suggest that there was an issue in
one of those areas.
Real or tribute?
Serious collectors in the market for the very best
original cars look for undeniable provenance and proof
of original configuration. This car had been completely
restored, and although the seller had a tank sticker,
Protect-O-Plate and dealer invoice for the car, the
words “original” or “matching numbers” were neither
written nor spoken when it was displayed or sold.
Nor was any third-party certification from NCRS or
Bloomington Gold offered.
This car certainly looked authentic, but I can’t
say if it was an original 435 from the information
provided. I would like to have seen the documents,
including the Protect-O-Plate, build order copy and
dealer invoice to get a sense of their originality and to
match the options, engine code (for horsepower and
Detailing
Years produced: 1967–69
Number produced: 1967,
3,754; 1968, 2,898; 1969,
2,722
Original list price: $5,055
Current ACC Valuation:
$95,000–$187,500
Tune-up/major service: $750
Distributor cap: $75
Chassis #: Beneath passenger’s
side dash along
structural support
Club: National Corvette
Restorers Society
Engine #: Pad on passenger’s
side of engine, forward of
cylinder head
More: www.ncrs.org
Alternatives: 1970–71
Plymouth Hemi ’Cuda,
1970 Chevrolet Chevelle
SS 454 LS6, 1970 Pontiac
GTO Judge convertible
ACC Investment Grade: A
Comps
assembly date), date of production, rear-end ratios,
etc. Additionally, a close inspection of the trim and
VIN tags for their originality, options, which factory
the Corvette was produced in, body sequence number,
exterior paint and trim color options would have been
valuable. These are all tools that can separate an
original from a replica.
But what I can say is that a 435 in the described
condition with rock-solid originality should bring
more in this market. The ACC price guide has #2
condition examples topping out at $187,500. So either
this car was a screaming deal at the price paid, or
there was something about it that limited the price to a
market-correct level for a 435 with a story.
Ultimately, the new owner, from Birmingham, AL,
should be happy with the car. It will be fun to drive,
there’s a plethora of paperwork, a high rpm 427 with
Tri-Power, side-pipes and a set of light-to-light rearend
gears. What it is and what it was originally may
or may not be the same thing. But originality aside, for
seat-of-the-pants kick and Corvette curb appeal, this
was fairly bought and sold. A
(Introductory description courtesy of Mecum
Auctions.)
1967 Chevrolet Corvette
427/435 convertible
Lot S219, s/n 194677S114658
Condition 3+
Sold at $153,700
Mecum Auctions, Indianapolis,
IN, 5/15/2012
ACC# 201899
1967 Chevrolet Corvette
427/435 convertible
Lot SP123, s/n
194677S106106
Condition: 1Sold
at $162,250
Collector Car Productions,
Toronto, CAN, 4/13/2012
ACC# 201349
1967 Chevrolet Corvette
427/435 convertible
Lot S98, s/n 194677S106817
Condition: 2
Sold at $127,200
Mecum Auctions, Kansas City,
MO, 3/29/2012
ACC# 197708
September-October 2012 41
September-October 2012 41
Page 40
PROFILE GM
1970 PONTIAC GTO JUDGE
Top-level muscle, mid-level price
Courtesy of Mecum Auctions
This
Canadian
Judge is the
real deal,
verified by
extensive GM
of Canada
record
keeping
Chassis number: 2423701123200
B
42 AmericanCarCollector.com
42 AmericanCarCollector.com
by Tom Glatch
uilt at the Oshawa, Ontario, plant and sold
new at Elliott Motors in Belleville, Ontario,
this 1970 Pontiac GTO Judge is particularly
well appointed.
The list of desirable features is headed by
the WS-code 400/366-hp Ram Air III engine,
here mated to a 4-speed manual and augmented with
a sport handling package, power steering and power
brakes.
A full-width rear spoiler, hood-mounted tach,
multi-hued graphics and painted Rally II wheels
visually distinguish this Orbit Orange Judge, which
also features bucket seats and console, remote driver’s
mirror and a Formula steering wheel. Thanks to its
Canadian origins, this rare machine also benefits from
GM Canada’s famously thorough documentation.
ACC Analysis This ’70 Judge, Lot F298, sold for
$50,880, including buyer’s pre-
mium, at Dana Mecum’s 25th Original Spring Classic
Auction on May 12, 2012.
When John DeLorean, Jim Wangers, and other
like-minded car guys at Pontiac unleashed the GTO
in 1964, the buying public couldn’t get enough of it.
Even as other competitors came on the scene, the GTO
remained firmly on top of the sales ladder.
But that started to change in 1968. The second-
generation GTO, which debuted that year, was a great
car, but the surprise of the automotive world in ’68
was Plymouth’s Road Runner — a low-cost machine
that gave up many creature comforts while delivering
plenty of go. And the GTO was beginning to show its
middle-age spread as it gained weight and expense
with features such as power windows and plush interiors.
That still appealed to a wide variety of muscle
enthusiasts, but those who could not afford a GTO, or
who wanted maximum performance in a lightweight
package, were all over the Road Runner.
Regaining lost ground
Those same car guys who created the GTO in 1964
were keenly aware that something needed to be done.
Retired Pontiac engineer John M. Sawruk wrote in a
2005 story in Pontiac Enthusiast magazine: “Truth
be told, GTO sales were already falling from their
high point without the emergence of the Road Runner.
To counteract the Mopar threat, Herb Adams built
a proposed lighter-weight, lower-cost car. This car
would ultimately be called ‘ET’ (Elapsed Time). Its
color, Carousel Red, would ultimately be used on The
Judge… It had a 350 HO, hood tach, (and) a second
tach housing on the right side of the hood for cold air
induction. When all is said and done, it was lighter
than the standard GTO.”
Page 41
ACC
Digital Bonus
Pontiac’s sales department did
not approve of the ET, because it
would erode regular GTO sales and,
most importantly, the GTO’s healthy
profits. Jim Wangers remembers, “John
DeLorean shot it down, declaring,
‘No GTO on my watch would ever
ss than a
C
Digital Bonus
Pontiac’s sales department did
not approve of the ET, because it
would erode regular GTO sales and,
most importantly, the GTO’s healthy
profits. Jim Wangers remembers, “John
DeLorean shot it down, declaring,
‘No GTO on my watch would ever
ss than a
he
he Judge
d equip-
T found their
n package
n 1969.
y the ET name
g to be used,
n Sawruk
“However,
orning after
hing ‘Laugh
’ on TV, John DeLorean came
nd announced the car’s
e was to be ‘The Judge.’”
ming a GTO model after
lson’s skit on the hugely
l Rowan and Martin’s
” TV show was as much a
s as naming a Plymouth after
rtoon character. Many
augh In” had become part of
, and The Judge latched on to
perfectly.
ardly a Road Runner
ckage added $337 to the
cost of a standard GTO, making The Judge their most
expensive model. But buyers got a ton of goodies with
The Judge, including the 366-hp Ram Air III 400-ci
V8, a well-appointed interior, upgraded suspension,
and the unique spoiler and graphics package.
Introduced later in the model year, The Judge bol-
stered sales by 6,725 units in 1969, and it put the GTO
back on the cover of enthusiast magazines, and back
into the minds of potential buyers.
Even though muscle car sales of all makes were
down dramatically in 1970, and the GTO still finished
third in total sales behind the Chevelle and Road
Runner, The Judge attracted 3,797 buyers who might
Detailing
Years produced: 1969–71
Number produced: 3,797
Original list price: $3,815
Current ACC Valuation:
$50,000–$70,000
(coupes), $130,000–
$140,000 (convertibles)
Tune-up/major service: $150
Distributor cap: $20
Chassis #: VIN plate driver’s
side instrument panel
behind windshield
Club: GTO Association of
America
Engine #: On front of block
below left cylinder head
have gone elsewhere. The new screaming Orbit
Orange paint was only available on The Judge and
was the default color for the ’70 model.
The Canada car advantage
Our featured Judge is a ’70 in Orbit Orange. The
fact that it was built in Canada has huge advantages
for any potential buyer. Ask General Motors for any
information on a car built in the ’60s, and you’ll be
told that data do not exist. But General Motors of
Canada has as much documentation as you could
possibly need on any vehicle they built. So any buyer
can rest assured that this Judge is the real deal, which
can often be very difficult to prove on U.S.-built GM
vehicles.
By far the rarest models of The Judge are the
convertibles, with just 293 built over three years. RM
Auctions sold a ’69 ragtop with the rare Ram Air IV
engine for $308,000 in 2010, but that was an anomaly,
and I doubt that price would be repeatable today. The
hard tops are much more affordable. The Ram Air IV
engine typically adds at least 50% to the price, while
4-speeds are generally worth up to 20% more than
automatics.
Mecum sold two Orbit Orange 1970 Judges at Indy
this spring, both RA III 4-speeds, including one of
outstanding quality that has been in the same family
since new, and which sold for
$78,650. Our nearly identical
feature car looked very nice
and had the famous Canadian
documentation, but was not as
exceptional as the other Judge.
At $51k, this was right on the
money at the current going
rates.
Still, the prices on both
Judges were soft compared with
just a few years ago, especially
for two cars with impeccable
credentials. The Judge is one
of the most landmark GTO
models, and to my mind this
was a well-bought icon that can
only appreciate in the coming
years. A
(Introductory description
courtesy of Mecum Auctions.)
September-October 2012 43
September-October 2012 43
1969 Pontiac GTO Judge
Lot S216, s/n 242379B176476
Condition: 1Sold
at $84,800
Mecum Auctions, Indianapolis,
IN, 5/15/2012
ACC# 201897
More: www.gtoaa.org
Alternatives: 1968–70
Plymouth GTX, 1968–70
Dodge Coronet R/T,
1968–72 Oldsmobile 442
W-30, 1970–72 Buick GSX
ACC Investment Grade: B
Comps
1970 Pontiac GTO Judge
Lot F215, S/N
242370Z109954
Condition: 2+
Not sold at $40,000
Carlisle Events, Carlisle, PA,
4/22/2010
ACC# 162051
1970 Pontiac GTO Judge
Lot 643.1, s/n
242370R110058
Condition: 2Sold
at $45,650
Barrett-Jackson, Palm Beach,
FL, 4/1/2010
ACC# 160376
Page 42
PROFILE FOMOCO
1962 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL CONVERTIBLE
Triple black brings extra green
Courtesy of RM Auctions
A black
exterior,
interior and
top made this
one of the
most striking
presentations
that money
can buy
Chassis number: 2Y86H414346
by Dale Novak
T
his 1962 Lincoln Continental convertible was
acquired by William Rodina of Bridgewater,
CT, after a full restoration was done on the
car. Contours and paint are all excellent, and
the exterior brightwork is of very good quality. The
odometer indicates slightly fewer than 75,000 miles,
which is believed to be correct.
The car has power steering and brakes, air condi-
tioning and power seats, as well as an AM radio. This
example, in triple black, is particularly desirable —
the automotive embodiment of a black-tie dinner.
ACC Analysis This Lincoln Continental, Lot 835,
sold for $88,000, including buy-
er’s premium, at RM’s sale of the Dingman Collection
in Kensington, NH, on June 9–11, 2012.
Special collections, especially those that are
purposely focused on a specific marque, style, or era,
have a tendency to produce remarkable results for
both the auction house and the seller.
This was the case with the Michael Dingman
Collection. Dingman, who served as a Ford Motor
Co. director for 21 years, was also an experienced
race driver who personally competed in Fords, driving
Roush-prepared Mustangs in the SCCA’s Trans-Am
Series in the early 1990s. His collection focused on
rare and desirable Fords and Lincolns, including this
Continental convertible.
It’s all about style
Beginning in 1961, the newly designed Lincoln
Continental hit the showroom floors to rave reviews.
44 AmericanCarCollector.com
44 AmericanCarCollector.com
The body was smaller than the outgoing model, vastly
more modern, sleek and set a new styling tone for
American luxury sedans and convertibles.
The new design used suicide doors, which even
today are quickly noted by even casual automotive
newbies.
The convertible was also the first four-door open
car offered in the marketplace by a major U.S. manufacturer
since the end of World War II. More than
25,000 freshly minted Lincolns were sold during the
1961 model year — a smashing success for the car’s
designer, Elwood Engel, who was solely responsible
for the entire design, from the sophisticated folding
power top to the stylish body lines.
Easy power, big comfort
When I was in high school, my mother’s employer
let me drive around his 1961 convertible for a few
weeks with the promise that I’d fix it up for him and
try and massage the paint back to life. The job took
longer than I thought — not because it was a difficult
and time-consuming project, but because my high
school buddies and I discovered that at least six of us
could pile in the car and cruise around town in it with
the top down.
I’ve always loved fourth-generation Lincolns. The
slab styling looks great, and the smooth power of that
massive 300-hp 430-ci fuel-guzzling V8 pulls you
down the road effortlessly, nearly like floating on a
cloud. Steering and suspension feedback is nearly
nil, and that’s just how most luxury buyers of the era
wanted it — this car was just the thing for cruising
Page 43
ACC
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down the road to the local supper
club, without spilling your martini
on the way.
Keep in mind this was the 1960s
— cocktail parties were the norm,
with 10-foot-long walnut stereosoles
spinning out tunes
at Pack while the sound
s steel cocktail shakers
o the background music.
ol time, and cool cars fit
hus the success of the
n Continental.
Can’t go wrong
with black
When done right (which
s exceedingly difficult to
o), black cars will generlly
ring the auction bell
with a distinctive tone.
’s the sound of wallets cracking open and
ction paddles wafting through the air.
ur subject car was finished in arguably the
olor for an open Lincoln luxury car (or any
y car, for that matter). Mate that to a “triple
” combination, meaning a black interior
and top, and this was one of the most striking pre-
sentations that money can buy. The restoration looked
to be fading in spots, with some evidence of the onset
of a proper patina gently aging certain components
and materials. And the engine bay appeared to be in
rather good shape, with the proper stickers, hoses and
clamps.
The Kennedy legacy
Editor Pickering asked if I felt that the car was
somehow stigmatized by the assassination of John
F. Kennedy, who was killed in a 1961 model. Did
that tragic event affect the value of the convertibles,
especially given one finished in black? I simply don’t
believe so.
Production figures, even for the convertibles, did
not drop after the assassination, and the cars’ values
have fluctuated over time. I believe that the car stands
on its own merits and epitomizes the essence of the
luxury segment during the early 1960s. While some
collectors might suggest that values have increased
based on the presumed connection to the assassination
of a beloved president, it really doesn’t connect for me
other than “this was the same model car he was riding
in on that fateful day in 1963.”
The top-down analysis
Traversing the ACC database, I found a well-
rounded selection of good comparables — so many
that I was actually able to select black examples only.
Based on the photos, we can assume that our subject
car was, or was very close to, a solid #2 example.
Recent values seem to range from about $25,000
for a fairly rough-around-the-edges #4 example to
about $65,000 for a more refined offering. The highest
selling recent sale in our database belongs to Lot 202,
which sold at RM’s Phoenix, AZ, auction on January
19, 2012, for $66,000. This car was reported to be in
#2+ condition — a very fine example that supported
the price paid. There are numerous examples that
found a number squarely in the middle $40ks, which
certainly suggests that range as the middle of the
market for #3 drivers, which remain in
very good condition.
Our subject car’s $88,000 price trumps
our previous high sale, Lot 202 from RM
Phoenix, by a crisp $22,000.
The market has been fast moving as
of late. Values have been apparently
spiking, then settling down to a more
normalized level. Our subject car may
have been the result of two well-heeled
investors simply proving to each other
who has the larger checkbook — or, the
value could be chalked up to the magic of
a private collection sale.
RM’s pre-sale estimate was squarely
in the proper range of $50,000–$60,000.
Given that, and the market research,
I think this car was very well sold. Or
perhaps it’s a harbinger of things to
come.A
(Introductory description courtesy of
RM Auctions.)
September-October 2012 45
September-October 2012 45
Detailing
Years produced: 1961–69
Number produced: 3,212
(1962 convertibles)
Original list price: $6,721
Current ACC Valuation:
$40k–$60k
Tune-up cost: $200
Distributor cap: $25
Chassis #: Front body pillar
between the left front door
hinges
Club: www.lcoc.org
More: www.lincoln-club.org
Alternatives: 1962 Cadillac
Eldorado convertible, 1962
Chrysler 300H convertible,
1962 Crown Imperial
convertible
Engine #: Stamped on pad
on driver’s side of engine
block, forward of cylinder
head
ACC Investment Grade: C
Comps
1963 Lincoln Continental
convertible
Lot 463, s/n 3Y86N424212
Condition: 4+
Sold at $27,500
Auctions America by RM, Fort
Lauderdale, FL, 3/16/2012
ACC# 197131
1963 Lincoln Continental
convertible
Lot 202, s/n 3Y86N415632
Condition: 2+
Sold at $66,000
RM Auctions, Scottsdale, AZ,
1/19/2012
ACC# 192636
1962 Lincoln Continental
convertible
Lot S753, s/n 2Y86H419488
Condition: 3+
Sold at $55,000
Russo and Steele, Scottsdale,
AZ, 1/18/2012
ACC# 191541
Page 44
PROFILE MOPAR
1999 PLYMOUTH PROWLER
Showroom-new retro rod
Early concept sketch
The world’s
only
factory-built
hot rod, the
Prowler may
be the only
production
car offered
with a
matching
trailer
46 AmericanCarCollector.com
46 AmericanCarCollector.com
Chassis number: 1P3EW65G7XV503308
Trailer number: 1A9UE0718VW294161
B
by Tom Glatch
ased on the 1993 concept car of the same
name, Plymouth’s Prowler was designed
in the style of the all-American hot rod.
Combining an advanced aluminum frame
and body with a 3.5L/253-hp V6, independent
suspension, power steering and 4-wheel
power disc brakes gave the Prowler impressive performance
and attracted heated competition between
prospective buyers.
Driven a mere 837 miles, this 1999 Prowler roadster
boasts a rare red-on-black color scheme, 18-inch front
and 20-inch rear aluminum wheels, power windows,
cruise control, CD player and chrome-tipped dual
exhaust.
ACC Analysis This 1999 Plymouth Prowler, Lot
S112, sold for $41,800, including
buyer’s premium, at Mecum’s auction of the Salmon
Brothers Collection in North Little Rock, AR, on June
16, 2012.
Don Sherman, writing in the October 1996 issue of
Motor Trend, summed up the Prowler: “The Prowler
is about to yank the Plymouth brand out of oblivion
and into the liquid-nitrogen zone of coolness…
Although the Prowler rides on a sophisticated sports
car suspension, it’s never going to threaten Corvette
or Viper performance achievements. That isn’t its job.
The Prowler’s assignment is to be a pleasant cruiser
and a rolling center of attention.”
A new Chrysler
After coming back from the brink of bankruptcy
with everything from compacts to luxury cars to
minivans built on the K-car platform, Chrysler of the
early 1990s was a very different company. Agile and
aggressive, and led by some of Detroit’s finest gearheads,
Chrysler of the post-Iacocca era was poised to
produce some of the most interesting vehicles of the
past few decades.
First came the 1990 Viper concept car, a modern
interpretation of the classic Shelby Cobra, which
helped revive the Dodge brand. It caused such a stir
that within a few years it would be in production. Next
was the 1993 Prowler concept. Introduced at the 1993
North American International Auto Show, it created
the same kind of reaction as the Viper.
Courtesy of Mecum Auctions
Page 45
ACC
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Innovation and the new
retro hot rod
The genesis of the Prowler came
out of an idea-generating exercise at
Chrysler’s Pacifica Design Center in
May 1990 with the words “hot rod-style
retro car” written on a note card. That
led to a one-fifth-scale model and a
sketch of the concept, which caught the
eye of Chrysler President Bob Lutz. Lutz
ordered the building of a fully functional
prototype, which was the car shown in
Detroit. The reaction of the public was
overwhelming.
By September 1994, the green light
was given to building the Prowler in
limited numbers, with the goal of reviving
the Plymouth brand as the Viper had
done for Dodge. Corporate parts bins
were raided for some of the Prowler’s components,
including the 3.5L SOHC V6 and 4-speed “AutoStick”
automatic transaxle from the Chrysler LHS and 300M.
But utilizing the drivetrain from a front-wheel-drive
vehicle in the rear-drive Prowler required great innovation,
with the transaxle being modified and mounted
in the rear, as with the C5 and C6 Corvettes.
The Prowler foundation was an aluminum frame
fabricated from the latest alloys. The body was also
made of aluminum and sheet-formed plastic, joined
together with a new compression fastening process.
Suspension components were also aluminum, using
a new forging process, and the front suspension was
based on a Formula 1-like pushrod design that hid the
coil-over shocks inside the body.
Although a 214-hp V6 seems very un-hot-rod-like,
it propelled the 2,800-pound Prowler just fine (Motor
Trend saw 0–60 in 7.1 seconds on a pre-production
car). As Chrysler Chairman Bob Eaton said in telling
the world that Chrysler would build the Prowler, “It’s
for real, and either you get it or you don’t.”
All that and a matching trailer
Along with claiming the title of the world’s only
factory-built hot rod, the Prowler may be the only
production automobile offered with a matching trailer.
Prowlers have only the smallest of trunk space,
especially with the top lowered, and the $5,000 option
offered much-needed room for longer trips — again
Detailing
Years produced: 1997,
1999–2002
Number produced: 3,921
(in 1999)
Original list price: $39,300
plus $5,000 for matching
trailer
Current ACC Valuation:
$20,000–$35,000
Tune-up/major service: $300
Distributor cap: n/a
Chassis #: VIN plate behind
windshield
Engine #: Front of passenger’s
side cylinder head
Club: Prowler Owners
Association
following hot-rod tradition.
Built mostly by hand at the Connor Avenue
Assembly Plant in Detroit (shared with Viper production)
at a rate of 14 per day, the Plymouth Prowler hit
dealer showrooms in 1997. Just 457 were made, all in
Prowler Purple. Production of the 1999 model began
in January 1998, so no ’98 model was offered. But
the ’99 and later Prowlers featured a new aluminum
253-hp version of the 3.5L V6 for much better performance
(0–60 in under six seconds), along with better
fit, finish and ride qualities. Changes over the years
were minor, but other paint colors and schemes were
introduced. With the demise of the Plymouth brand,
the Prowler became a Chrysler in January 2001.
What’s it worth?
Shortly after the debut of the Prowler, auctions
were selling them for twice sticker price to buyers who
just had to be the first on the block to own one. It’s
not surprising that many were owned by celebrities
such as baseball player Sammy Sosa, rock stars Gene
Simmons and Alice Cooper, and each member of the
boy band NSYNC. A highly customized KISS Prowler
was sold by Barrett-Jackson in 2001 for $140,400 to
the Petersen Museum.
But even lesser Prowlers have retained their value
well. Still, many of the 11,702 Prowlers produced
have been “personalized,” which destroys their resale
value (unless you are a member of KISS). But properly
cared-for, ultra-low-mile Prowlers have been sold in
recent years for nearly their factory sticker price.
However, as is the case with many instant collect-
ibles, miles and use can and do limit value. Decent #2
examples are currently valued at about $20k–$35k by
the ACC Pocket Price Guide. Any premium in value
beyond that comes from stunning showroom condition
and lack of miles — and that limits what you can do
with them.
With just 834 miles, our feature car is literally
like brand new, and came with the matching factory
trailer. Original sticker on the pair would have been
about $45k. We rarely get second chances in life, but
if the owner of this Prowler missed out on buying
one when they were new, he now has a showroomcondition
Prowler at market-correct price. Well
bought and sold. A
(Introductory description courtesy of Mecum
Auctions.)
September-October 2012
September-October 2012
47
More: www.prowleronline.com
Alternatives: 2001 Chevrolet
Corvette Z06, 1993 Dodge
Viper RT/10, Fiberglass
1932 Ford roadster replica
ACC Investment Grade: B
Comps
1999 Plymouth Prowler
Lot 1585, s/n
1P3EW65G2XV500977
Condition: 3Sold
at $37,400
Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale,
AZ, 1/15/2012
ACC# 192549
2001 Chrysler Prowler
Mulholland Edition
Lot 156, s/n
1C3EW65G21V703539
Condition: 2Sold
at $28,678
Artcurial, Paris, FRA,
10/30/2011
ACC# 187836
1999 Plymouth Prowler
Lot 799, s/n
Not sold at $24,000
1P3EW65G2XV505129
Condition: 2
Kruse International, Honolulu,
HI, 2/8/2008
ACC# 51949
Page 46
PROFILE HOT ROD & CUSTOM
1932 FORD 3-WINDOW COUPE
Iconic looks, modern performance
This car is a
shortcut to
a “starter”
hot rod, with
quality parts,
bought for
less than it
cost to build
Chassis number: 18147779
by Ken Gross
and coilovers in the rear. Up front is a chrome dropped
I-beam axle, chrome Pete & Jake’s split wishbones,
chrome shocks, rack-and-pinion steering and So-Cal
finned polished aluminum Buick-style covers over
power disc brakes.
Inside is a custom leather interior by Ron Mangus,
T
48
AmericanCarCollector.com
air conditioning and power windows. Other features
include a remote brake proportioning valve, electric
trunk, tilt wheel, suicide doors and custom pinstriping.
ACC Analysis This 1932 Ford 3-window coupe,
Lot 359.2, sold for $49,500, in-
cluding buyer’s premium, at Barrett-Jackson’s Orange
County sale on June 22–24, 2012.
The 1932 Ford 3-window coupe is one of hot rod-
ding’s iconic models. Ford Motor Co. understood that
its 4-cylinder Model A, built from 1928 to 1931, was
not sufficient to satisfy a growing cadre of potential
buyers who, despite the Depression, demanded fresh
styling, more comfort, more convenience, as well as
his 1932 Ford has everything, including an
LS1 fuel-injected powerplant backed by a
4-speed automatic transmission.
Suspension parts include a polished aluminum
nine-inch Currie rear end, four-link,
considerably more power.
The 1932 Ford’s chassis featured a sturdy K-shaped
cross-member that accommodated a new flathead V8.
This cross-member allowed subsequent updated Ford
and Mercury flatheads to be readily installed, which
made it a favorite of hot rodders.
The Southern California Timing Association
(SCTA), founded in 1937, initially accepted only
roadsters for racing, but the success of the Pierson
Brothers’ ’34 Ford coupe, which appeared on the
cover of Hot Rod in April 1950 as a 142-mph recordsetter,
encouraged other hot rodders to build modified
coupes.
Both 3-window and 5-window ’32s soon became
popular hot-rod raw material. With its suicide doors,
the ’32 3-window had a special style. The model itself
didn’t appear in the Ford lineup until April 1932. It
was a one-year-only effort, and it was only sold with
DeLuxe features — 20,506 were V8s and 968 were
fours.
Steel or fiberglass?
After decades of hot rodding and years of providing
fodder for modified stock car racing, the supply of
good, usable ’32 Ford 3-window bodies began to dry
Courtesy of Barrett-Jackson
Page 47
ACC
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up. Fiberglass replicas became available,
thanks to the efforts of the late Dee Wescott
and others in the 1970s. Real steel bodies
began to be very expensive.
Although enthusiasts still prize authentic
Ford coupe bodies, Brookville replica steel
bodies are fully accepted, as are new chassis
by companies such as American Stamping and
So-Cal Speed Shop. Fiberglass bodies, like
the one used on our subject car, tend to be
much cheaper. Although they don’t share the
same feel as real steel bodies, it can be hard
to distinguish between the two from more
than a few paces away.
Build it or buy it?
Why would someone build a hot rod
coupe like this, drive it very little, and offer
it at auction only to receive a fraction of
its build cost? Admittedly, it doesn’t make
much financial sense. But if you want a hot rod that is
done completely to your standards, with your engine,
chassis, paint, and interior choices, you’ll always pay
a premium over what it’ll cost to buy someone else’s
dream car that has already been built. And when it
comes time to sell, it’ll be near impossible to recover
your initial investment. Is it worth it? That question
depends on you and how much you’re willing to spend
on the experience of having exactly the hot rod you
want.
But for any hot rodder who wants a contemporary
deuce 3-window and isn’t concerned about having
every detail to his or her own specs, starting with a
completed car is always a smart move. As was the case
here, chances are you’ll buy it for less than the cost of
assembling the components and either fabricating it
yourself or having it built. It’s a popular shortcut to a
cool ride at minimal expense.
The sum of its parts
There may be very few actual early Ford parts on
this car. The 18-prefix, eight-digit chassis number is
correct for a ’32 Ford. The buyer believes the chassis
is original. The top on this coupe has not been
chopped. Consider it a modern interpretation of a
classic ’32, equipped with an LS1 V8, a four-speed
automatic and a Currie nine-inch rear end.
A mix of styles is present here, with steel wheels
fitted with large and small blackwalls, an aluminum
Moon fuel tank wedged between the front frame rails,
large Ford Commercial-style headlights and early
Chevy taillights. It’s equipped with popular updates
such as a replica ’58 Buick-style wide-finned drums
concealing Wilwood front disc brakes, air conditioning,
power-operated windows and an electrically
operated deck lid. The leather interior, by noted trimmer
Ron Mangus, is tastefully done with what appear
to be Glide seat frames. Everything is top quality. It’s
basically a modern hot rod. If this particular coupe is
your cup of tea, it was a bargain at $49,500. It should
prove to be a reliable, comfortable cruiser.
A short and profitable ownership
It was a short ownership experience for Doug Byrd
of Clearwater, CA, who both bought and sold this
car at Barrett-Jackson. “I was looking for a ’32 Ford
coupe,” he told ACC, “so I went to Barrett-Jackson
[in Scottsdale this past January] hoping to buy one.”
Byrd inspected several cars. “This was the nicest
one,” he said. He was the winning bidder at $40,700,
including B-J’s commission. “It had a lot of nice
equipment on it, and that beautiful Ron Mangus
interior.” He believed the car came from Georgia, and
estimated it had cost about $80,000 to build. ACC’s
Premium Database indicated it was offered earlier at
a MidAmerica auction, where it failed to sell despite a
high bid of $40,000.
Why did Byrd sell the coupe so quickly?
The answer is simple. “I’m a tall guy and
it was tough to drive it. I couldn’t sit in the
car comfortably.” So off to Orange County it
went, where it achieved $49,500 — a nearly
$9k profit.
Was it a deal?
The market, as usual, tells the real story.
This car was not a reworking of a famous
coupe. It had no magazine feature history.
It has a fiberglass body. It’s a shortcut to a
“starter” hot rod, with quality parts, bought
for less than it cost to build.
Was it worth the price paid? Absolutely.
But don’t ever expect it to increase in value
— just enjoy it. A
(Introductory description courtesy of
Barrett-Jackson.)
September-October 2012
49
1932 Ford 3-window coupe
Lot S206, s/n 18142863
Condition: 1
Not sold at $40,000
Mecum Auctions, St. Charles,
IL, 9/15/2011
ACC# 184134
Detailing
Year produced: 1932
Number produced: 21,474
3-window coupes (20,506
V8s, 968 fours)
Original list price: $575
Current ACC Valuation:
$20,000–$80,000
Tune-up, major service:
$250 (estimated)
Chassis #: Stamped on top of
driver’s side frame rail
Engine #: On driver’s side of
block, near oil filter (GM
LS1 V8)
(depending on components
used and quality of work
completed)
Clubs: Goodguys, www.goodguys.com;
National Street
Rod Association (NSRA),
www.nsra-usa.com
Alternatives: 1932 Ford
5-window coupe, 1932
Ford roadster, 1932 Ford
roadster pickup
Comps
1932 Ford 5-window coupe
Lot 40.2, s/n 43221179
Condition: 2
Sold at $30,250
Barrett-Jackson, Las Vegas,
NV, 9/22/2011
ACC# 185786
1932 Ford 3-window coupe
Lot 655.2, s/n 18207766
Condition: 1
Sold at $55,000
Barrett-Jackson, Las Vegas,
NV, 9/11/2011
ACC# 185821
Page 48
PROFILE CLASSIC
1928 PIERCE-ARROW MODEL 81 FOUR-DOOR SEDAN
Full Classic on the cheap
That brown
paint
scheme,
a color
only UPS
appreciates,
was a
stumbling
block for this
car’s value
Chassis number: 8109423
Engine number: 8109410
by Carl Bomstead
• Older restoration
• Shown at 100 years of Pierce-Arrow Show
• CCCA Full Classic
ACC Analysis This 1928 Pierce-Arrow, Lot 440,
sold for $28,050, including buy-
er’s premium, at Leake’s Tulsa, OK, auction on June
8–9, 2012.
From building birdcages and bicycles, the company
George N. Pierce and his partners founded in the mid19th
century went on to become one of the dominant
players in the early automotive industry. After Pierce
bought out his partners and the company was reorganized
as the George N. Pierce Company, he made his
first venture into the automotive world in 1901.
His initial attempt ended in failure, but that was not
a harbinger of things to come. Development continued
with a one-cylinder Motorette, and by 1905, the 4-cylinder
Great Arrow made its debut at the first of the
famed Glidden Tours. Driven by George’s son Percy,
the Great Arrow won the inaugural event as well as
capturing the next four, putting the Pierce-Arrow
name on the map.
Wide lights
Pierce-Arrows are known for their unique head-
lights mounted on top of each fender. But according
to Pierce-Arrow lore, those famed headlights almost
50 AmericanCarCollector.com
50 AmericanCarCollector.com
didn’t make it out of the design phase. The story goes
that in 1907, an aspiring automotive artist by the name
of Herbert Dawley was hired by Pierce-Arrow and
assigned to the sales department, where he spent much
of his time designing minor pieces of hardware. In
time, however, he was given free rein and told to design
something that would set the Pierce-Arrow apart
from the others in the crowed luxury car field.
He came up with the fender headlights — they were
not only unique, but also practical. The normal headlights
of the era were mounted so low that every bump
in the road was emphasized; the new lights would
illuminate the road at a better angle as they were on
top of the car’s fenders.
According to Automobile Quarterly, when he
presented his idea to management, they responded by
asking, “Who the hell would want a pair of frog’s eyes
sticking up in front of them?” Eventually, he obviously
prevailed, and they became a predominant PierceArrow
feature from 1913 until the end in 1938.
Interestingly enough, even though Pierce-Arrows
were manufactured in Buffalo, NY, the company could
not sell cars with the new headlights in New York, as
the state, in its infinite wisdom, deemed them confusing
to other motorists at night. Even though drum
headlights were a no-cost option on all Pierce-Arrows
until 1933, they are often referred to as “New York”
headlights due to the ban.
Courtesy of Leake Auction Co.
Page 49
ACC
Digital Bonus
Archers and eights
1928 was a watershed year
for Pierce-Arrow. It was the first
year the famed archer appeared
as a hood ornament, and it
was the year they developed an
8-cylinder engine, a move many
people think saved the company
from financial ruin. It was also
the year they consolidated with
the Studebaker Company.
It was also the first year for
the Model 81, renamed from
the Model 80, which had been
introduced in 1924. Visually, it
had smaller headlights that were
used only for 1928, and it had a
new Pierce-Arrow family crest
on the radiator. That, however,
was quickly changed when Mrs.
Percy Pierce pointed out that
what was used was not an actual
Pierce crest.
An inexpensive Full Classic
The Classic Car Club of America was founded in
1952 and defines a Full Classic as a “fine” or “distinctive”
automobile, American or foreign built, produced
between 1925 and 1948. Generally they were highpriced
when new and built in limited quantity. In other
words, a Full Classic has a certain cachet that sets it
apart in style as well as value in the marketplace. The
CCCA is very active with several CARavans, Grand
Classics and local regional events annually in which
Full Classics are eligible to participate.
The Model 81 had a slightly shorter wheelbase and
25 fewer horsepower than the Model 36, although it is
still accepted by the CCCA as a Full Classic.
Owing to their rarity, both now and when they were
new, a large number of CCCA-defined Full Classics
carry with them six-figure prices. But the 1928
Pierce-Arrow that Leake sold at their Tulsa auction
represented an inexpensive entry point into the myriad
of CCCA activities.
What can brown do for you?
But that brown paint scheme, a color only UPS ap-
preciates on a vehicle, was a stumbling block for this
Detailing
Year produced: 1928
Number produced: 5,000
(approximate)
Original list price: $3,450
Current ACC Valuation:
$25,000–$40,000
Tune-up cost: $250
Distributor cap: $100
Chassis #: Firewall plate
Engine #: Firewall plate
Club: Classic Car Club of
America, Pierce-Arrow
Society
More: www.classiccarclub.
org, www.Pierce-Arrow.org
Alternatives: 1928 Packard
526-533, 1928 Chrysler
Imperial, 1929 Jordan
Model G
ACC Investment Grade: C
Comps
car’s value, as it’s just not very appealing to modern
sensibilities. In fact, although this car appears to be in
fairly good condition throughout, the color combination
does date the restoration, which was otherwise
only described as “older.” But that doesn’t mean this
wasn’t a deal.
RM sold a similar 1928 Model 81 sedan at its 2009
Amelia Island sale for $34,100, including buyer’s
premium. That car had received a Junior National
First at a 1999 AACA event and was presented in an
appealing shade of Desert Sand with black fenders. In
addition to that, Auctions America by RM sold a very
similar all-brown unrestored 1928 Model 81 sedan
at its Spring Carlisle event in April 2011 for $24,200.
That car had mostly original paint and an all-original
interior. Condition-wise, our feature car fell square in
the middle of those two points of reference, as it had
the less-appealing color combination but was overall
in very good condition.
As such, I’ll call this one well bought to the tune of
a couple grand — but only if you like brown, as the
difference isn’t enough to cover the cost of a respray.
But if the color didn’t turn you off, this car was a great
buy at a reasonable price. All that’s left is to join the
Co.)
1929 Pierce-Arrow
Model 133
Lot SP87, s/n 2005556
Condition: 3
Not sold at $53,385
Collector Car Productions,
Toronto, CAN, 10/21/2011
ACC# 187785
1928 Pierce-Arrow Model 81
touring
nearest CCCA CARavan and hit the open road. A
(Introductory description courtesy of Leake Auction
Lot 267, s/n 363022
Condition: 3Sold
at $61,600
RM Auctions, Hershey, PA,
10/12/2007
ACC# 47344
1929 Pierce-Arrow
Model 133
Lot 438, s/n 125S122
Condition: 3Sold
at $22,470
Potts Auction Company,
Chickamauga, GA,
4/24/2004
ACC# 33856
September-October 2012
51CC
51
Page 50
PROFILE RACE
1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO ZL1
Birth of a legend
Courtesy of Mecum Auctions
If a less
significant
ZL1 can
sell for
more than
$400,000,
shouldn’t the
Gibb-Harrell
Camaro
have sold for
much, much
more?
Chassis number: 124379N569358
by Tom Glatch
engine in NHRA Super Stock drag racing.
Rules required that Chevy build 50 examples for the
T
52
AmericanCarCollector.com
car to qualify for competition. Gibb committed to taking
the entire minimum order of 50 cars. Piggins then
activated the COPO ordering process, specifying that
COPO 9560 add an all-aluminum 427 engine, cold-air
induction, Harrison 4-core radiator, transistorized
ignition, multi-leaf rear springs and a heavy-duty 4.10
12-bolt rear end.
The first and second ZL1 Camaros arrived at Fred
Gibb Chevrolet covered in snow on New Year’s Eve
1968. The first car was immediately sent to Dick
Harrell’s Kansas City, MO, shop, where Harrell
readied it for its scheduled debut at the 1969 AHRA
Winternationals three weeks later at Phoenix. Piloted
by Gibb Chevrolet employee Herb Fox, the car beat
the two top qualifiers before losing in the semifinal to
eventual winner Arlen Vanke’s Barracuda. The most
alarming part of the day for the Mopar contingent
came when Fox eliminated Mr. Four-Speed himself,
Ronnie Sox, in the Sox & Martin Hemi Barracuda.
Harrell demonstrated the car’s performance for
Super Stock magazine in February 1969, turning 10.41
at 128.10 mph with the stock Holley 850, and 10.29
with dual 660 Holleys on a Weiand tunnel-ram. The
he first of a total of 69 ZL1 Camaros, the GibbHarrell
car was born of an idea hatched by racer
Fred Gibb and Chevrolet Product Promotions
Manager Vince Piggins in 1968. Both wanted to
run Chevrolet’s new all-aluminum Can-Am 427
Gibb-Harrell ZL1 Camaro then barnstormed the country,
racking up victories in both AHRA and NHRA
competition. In 1971, the car was converted to the new
AHRA Pro Stock rules and driven by Jim Hayter, who
set the AHRA Pro Stock record of 9.63 at 143 mph and
won the AHRA Championship in both Super Stock
and Pro Stock.
The car then disappeared into bracket competition
for years until it surfaced in an ad in National Dragster
in 1983. Oldsmobile engineer and ZL1 fanatic Bill
Porterfield saw the ad and began a five-year pursuit of
the car through two different owners, finally landing
it in 1988. Porterfield then began the laborious task of
restoring ZL1 Number One. This included building a
correctly equipped Winters foundry ME-coded aluminum
427 rat motor, assembled entirely from authentic
1969 castings.
An astounding rarity, the Fred Gibb-Dick Harrell
ZL1 Camaro pays homage to its creators, its history as
a World Champion drag racing legend, and its status
as Number One in the ZL1 lineage of classic COPO
Camaros.
ACC Analysis This ’69 ZL1, Lot F330, sold for
$424,000, including buyer’s pre-
mium, at Dana Mecum’s 25th Original Spring Classic
Auction on May 12, 2012.
The Gibb-Harrell ZL1 Camaro is not only the first
ZL1 produced, but it is by far the most famous of the
rare aluminum engine racers.
Page 51
ACC
Digital Bonus
Earning its stripes
The Camaro was Chevrolet’s
answer to the market-dominating
Ford Mustang. Launched as
a 1967 model, the car was a
n the showrooms of
t it didn’t really earn
d” until 1969, when
s dominated their
acing series — Mark
s Penske Racing Z/28
s-Am, and the Gibbell
ZL1 in Super
ck drag racing.
Donohue won the
SCCA Trans-Am
championship
that year, and the
Penske blue #6 was
atured in numerous
zines and advertispaigns.
The Gibb/
1 did much the same in drag racing circles,
ly revered in that sport. Arguably, these
o most famous racing Camaros from any
ital Bonus
Earning its stripes
The Camaro was Chevrolet’s
answer to the market-dominating
Ford Mustang. Launched as
a 1967 model, the car was a
n the showrooms of
t it didn’t really earn
d” until 1969, when
s dominated their
acing series — Mark
s Penske Racing Z/28
s-Am, and the Gibb-
ell ZL1 in Super
ck drag racing.
Donohue won the
SCCA Trans-Am
championship
that year, and the
Penske blue #6 was
atured in numerous
zines and advertis-
paigns. The Gibb/
1 did much the same in drag racing circles,
ly revered in that sport. Arguably, these
o most famous racing Camaros from any
gendary
gendary power
maros are rare cars, but the ZL1 is in a
lf. There’s no arguing over what made
pecial. Chevrolet listed the ZL1 engine as
producing 430 hp at 5,200 rpm with 450 lb-ft of torque
at 4,400 rpm. But anyone who was humiliated by one
of these cars knew better.
Fran Preve, historian of GM’s Tonawanda, NY,
engine plant, unearthed the results of an original dyno
test of a ZL1. According to him, the real numbers were
585 hp at 6,400 rpm with 510 lb-ft of torque at 4,800
rpm with headers and open exhaust. And that’s all
in an engine weighing about the same as a 327 small
block.
Light engines, heavy prices
In pre-recession 2005, ZL1 #18, possibly the only
4-speed ZL1 with its original engine, sold for an
insane $840,000 — twice what any other ZL1 has
Detailing
Year produced: 1969
Number produced: 69
Original list price: $7,269
Current ACC Valuation:
$300,000–$500,000
Tune-up/major service: $150
Distributor cap: $19.99
Chassis #: VIN plate on the
instrument panel behind
windshield
Club: The Supercar Registry
More: www.yenko.net
Alternatives: 1968 Dodge
Dart Hemi, 1968 Plymouth
Barracuda Hemi, 1969
Chevrolet Corvette L88
ACC Investment Grade: A
Engine #: Pad on front of
block below right cylinder
head
Comps
sold for. More recently, ZL1 #63 from the Milt Robson
Collection sold for $418k in 2010, while ZL1 #9 sold
for $451k this past January. All of these are highly
desirable, well-documented ZL1 Camaros, yet none
has anywhere near the provenance of the GibbHarrell
car.
But where vintage road-racing Corvettes with ex-
ceptional history have surpassed the $1,000,000 mark
in recent years, and historic Trans Am series racers
have sold for over $450,000, we have seen time and
again that an equivalent drag racer will sell for less.
Personally, I don’t care if a vehicle was victorious at
Le Mans or at Lions Drag Strip — either way it has
real history. But the market just doesn’t see it that way.
A screaming deal
If a less significant ZL1 can sell for over $400,000,
shouldn’t the Gibb-Harrell Camaro have sold for
much, much more? That’s a tough call, as the market
is thin for real-deal drag race cars.
Would this car have brought more restored to its
original off-the-truck configuration? It’s entirely possible,
but the car’s history would have been lost in the
process. Clearly, the restoration was driven by other
factors than return on the investment —
Porterfield was said to have searched
across five states just to find the proper
lace pattern for this car’s paint. If that’s
not dedication, I don’t know what is.
There’s only one first ZL1, and I can’t
blame Porterfield for making the decision
to replicate the car’s most shining
moment — its time at the hands of the
racers who campaigned it, rather than
the factory that built it.
At the price paid, I’d call this a
screaming deal on one of the most
important Camaros ever built.
It was purchased by a well-known
California collector of muscle cars,
who later said, “I bought it but I had no
intention of buying it. The price was too
low to not bid.”
I couldn’t agree more. A
(Introductory description courtesy of
Mecum Auctions.)
September-October 2012
53
1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Lot 5010, s/n 124379N608879
Condition: 1Sold
at $451,000
Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale,
AZ, 1/15/2012
ACC# 191443
1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Lot 249, s/n 124379N643047
Condition: 2+
Sold at $418,000
RM Auctions, Gainesville, GA,
11/13/2010
ACC# 168405
1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Lot 283, s/n 124379N610413
Condition: 2+
Not sold at $650,000
Bonhams, Carmel, CA,
8/14/2009
ACC# 142113
Page 52
PROFILE TRUCK
1979 DODGE LI’L RED EXPRESS
Break the rules, not the bank
These
trucks ran
the quarter
mile in 15.7
seconds at
88 mph
— not
spectacular
now, but that
was Corvette
territory in
1979
54 AmericanCarCollector.com
Chassis number: D13JS9S201392
by Jim Pickering
P
roduction of the Li’l Red Express was 5,118
in 1979. Most of the features remained from
the 1978 model, but there were some changes
that included a catalytic converter, unleaded
gas and an 85 mph speedometer. The most
noticeable changes were the flat hood and dual square
headlights replacing the round versions, and the 1979
models rode on raised white-letter tires mounted to
eight-inch chrome wheels.
This is a three-owner truck with 78,950 original
miles. It has great paint, and it’s all stock. Meticulously
maintained and fitted with new tires. All-original paperwork
includes build sheet, bill of sale and owner’s
books. The truck drives great, and the wood trim is
outstanding along with the bed, chrome and trim. Fully
serviced and detailed.
ACC Analysis This Li’l Red Express, Lot 33.1,
sold for $11,000, including buy-
er’s premium, at Barrett-Jackson’s Orange County
auction in Costa Mesa, CA, on June 22–24, 2012.
The muscle car’s demise was more or less complete
by the mid-1970s. Gone were the LS6s, 426 Hemis and
high-compression Boss 302s from dealers’ lots, and
in their place were detuned basic V8s set up for clean
running and slightly better fuel mileage. By 1975, even
the final few holdouts, the Corvette and Trans Am,
were really just shadows of their former selves, at
least in terms of brute power.
New emissions regulations and high insurance
premiums were the root cause. Owning anything
with a big-block engine meant you paid an arm and
a leg to insure it. Finally, smog pumps combined
with small-port cylinder heads, retarded timing, and
catalytic converters took a lot of the fun out of largedisplacement
engines in the name of lower tailpipe
emissions.
Truck-sized loopholes
Hot rodders tend to be pretty bright people, and
Mopar’s engineers of the ’60s and ’70s could certainly
be considered hot rodders. One in particular, Tom
Hoover, known for his development work on the
legendary 426 Hemi a decade earlier and one of the
founding members of the Ramchargers, was asked by
Dodge in the late 1970s to liven up their truck market.
He started by taking a careful look at the EPA regulations
imposed on production cars in the mid-’70s.
Courtesy of Barrett-Jackson
Page 53
ACC
Digital Bonus
According to the rules,
light trucks were exempt
from catalytic converters
if they had a gross vehicle
weight of more than 6,000
pounds. In addition to that,
several modifications to
engines were allowed once
an engine family had been
certified as compliant by the
EPA — the engineers could
change six to nine things
before the engines would
need to be recertified for
production.
Bending the rules
A light bulb went off for
Hoover —Dodge’s 1978 D-150 short-bed stepside
truck had a GVW of 6,050 pounds, which got it away
from needing cats, and the police-spec 360 was
already legal and compliant with the EPA regulations.
Why not put them together?
Hoover teamed up with Dick Maxwell and Dave
Koffel to build a prototype. Their truck featured a
360-ci engine with W-2 cylinder heads from the Direct
Connection parts bin, a special cam similar to the one
used in the ’68 340, a special 727 auto with a 2,500rpm
stall, and cold air induction. Finishing off the
package were a pair of chrome stacks behind the cab.
Dodge produced the truck, minus the special heads,
as a ’78 model. It was named the Li’l Red Express,
and was sold alongside the Warlock and Macho Power
Wagon, all of which Dodge branded as “Adult Toys.”
A total of 2,188 Li’l Red units were sold that first
year. For ’79, the loophole closed a bit, and cats were
installed, but 5,118 of these trucks were still built and
sold. The option disappeared completely by 1980,
thanks to the fuel crisis and the very first dollar-plus
gallons of gas.
Stacking up to the competition
A pre-production version of the truck was tested
by Hot Rod and Car and Driver, and it was found to
be the fastest American-built vehicle to 100 mph that
year, running the quarter mile in 14.7 seconds at 93
mph. The production truck was detuned, but it still put
out 225 net horsepower, which was enough to run the
quarter mile in 15.7 seconds at 88 mph — not bad for a
production pickup, considering the hottest Corvette in
1978, the L82, had 220 horsepower and ran that same
quarter in 15.2 seconds at 95 mph.
Just as important were insurance rates. This was
basically a D-150 pickup. Most insurance companies
hadn’t ever heard of a muscle truck, so rates were
reasonable, which made these trucks pretty attractive
to buyers in the market for performance.
Rare, but an acquired taste
Our feature truck is a ’79, which makes it a little
less desirable due to a further detuning over the initial
model and a greater production number. But these
trucks are still relatively rare, and they’re certainly on
the short list of collectible American cars and trucks
from their era.
However, you’re certainly not going to blend in
while driving one of these. The Canyon Red paint with
gold trim and oak panels tend to draw attention, and
the stack exhaust is loud, so you can expect people
to hear you coming. But that’s not necessarily a bad
thing.
The market for trucks has been expanding, but
we’ve seen prices on the Li’l Red Express stay
relatively flat, with the best examples bringing
right around $18k on a good day. Their genesis is a
great story, but at the end of the day, they just can’t
compete with some of the
earlier Mopar muscle, and
as trucks, there isn’t much
you’d really want to haul in
one.
However, considering this
one’s condition and its documentation,
I’d say the new
owner got a screaming deal
for $11k. It’s no Hemi ’Cuda,
but it is genuine Mopar
muscle nonetheless, and it’s
a great example of what can
be done when designers and
engineers look past the rules
and think outside the box.
Very well bought. A
(Introductory description
courtesy of Barrett-Jackson.)
September-October 2012 55
1978 Dodge Li’l Red
Express pickup
Lot W266, s/n
D13BS8J512975
Condition: 2-
Not sold at $15,000
Mecum Auctions, Indianapolis,
IN, 5/15/2012
ACC# 201932
Detailing
Years produced: 1978–79
Number produced: 2,188
(1978), 5,118 (1979)
Original list price: $8,239
Current ACC Valuation:
$15k–$23k
Tune-up/major service: $150
Distributor cap: $9
Chassis #: On radiator support
under hood
Engine #: Left side of block,
below cylinder head. Engine
pad on right side of block
should be blank for a factory
Li’l Red 360 engine
Club: National Association
of Li’l Red Express Truck
Owners
More: www.lilredexpress.org
Alternatives: 1972 Chevrolet
Cheyenne Super, 1990
Chevrolet Silverado 454SS,
1993 Ford SVT Lightning
ACC Investment Grade: C
Comps
1979 Dodge Li’l Red
Express pickup
Lot 105, s/n D13JS95204263
Condition: 3
Sold at $14,790
The Raleigh Classic, Raleigh,
NC, 7/7/2007
ACC# 47927
1979 Dodge Li’l Red
Express pickup
Lot F36, s/n D13JS9S173754
Condition: 2
Sold at $11,025
Carlisle Events, Carlisle, PA,
10/5/2007
ACC# 47076
Page 54
MArKET OVERVIEW
Street rods and customs
stand tall
TOP 10
sales this issue
1. 1932 Duesenberg Model
J LWB Speedster,
$297,000—WWA, p. 100
2. 1937 Cord 812 convertible,
$242,000—WWA, p. 100
3. 1931 Cord L-29 cabriolet,
$220,000—WWA, p. 100
4. 1979 Duesenberg II
replica Boattail Speedster,
$220,000—WWA, p. 102
5. 1936 Packard Twelve
Convertible Victoria,
$214,500—WWA, p. 108
6. 1947 Ford Super Deluxe
79A woodie wagon,
$192,500—RM, p. 104
7. 1942 Ford Super Deluxe
21A woodie wagon,
$176,000—RM, p. 104
8. 1939 Lincoln Zephyr Model
96H-74 convertible sedan,
$176,000—RM, p. 104
9. 1950 Mercury Eight
0CM woodie wagon,
$165,000—RM, p. 106
10. 1970 Oldsmobile 442
convertible, $154,000—
B-J, p. 62
BEST BUYS
TEN EARLY SUMMER AUCTIONS MAKE $50M
by Tony Piff
duced average prices seen
across the board. Fewer cars
sold, compared with last year,
and those that did seemed
to sell cheaper, resulting in
smaller totals. But the changes
were not dramatic, and indicative
of the natural fluctuations
of a healthy market enjoying
long-term growth.
C
n n n
A positive trend was the
conspicuous presence of
street rods and customs at
the top of results sheets. At Mecum’s annual St. Paul
sale, held in conjunction with the Minnesota Street
Rod Association’s Back to the ’50s show, a 1941 Willys
street rod sold for $90k, followed by a ’33 Ford at $57k.
While the auction house consigned fewer cars than last
year (170, compared with 271) with a resulting smaller
total ($1.6m, down from $3m), the 52% sales rate and
$18k average price were right in line with previous
sales.
n n n
That same weekend, it was a similar story at
1. 1955 Chevrolet Nomad
wagon, $66,000—B-J,
p. 62
2. 1950 GMC pickup,
$28,050—B-J, p. 62
3. 1966 Ford Mustang
fastback, $17,755—Mec,
p. 81
4. 1937 Ford Model 78 slantback
sedan, $14,148—Sil,
p. 90
5. 1972 Chevrolet Monte
Carlo 2-dr hard top,
$5,600—VDB, p. 96
56 AmericanCarCollector.com
Bloomington Gold, Mecum’s annual all-Corvette sale,
held for the last time at the Pheasant Run Resort in St.
Charles, IL. The number of consignments and overall
totals dipped, but sales rate and average price held
about flat. Here, of course, in the land of Gold judging
and Survivor awards, customs were comparatively few
and far between, but resto-mods did not go undervalued:
a full custom ’62 tied with a stock ’62 327/360
for second-highest sale, at $111k. Top honors went to
a 1967 427/435 convertible, at $122k (see the Corvette
profile, p. 40).
n n n
In North Dakota, VanDerBrink auctioned off the
lifetime collection of Art Mariner. The 260-car sale
was heavy on projects and parts cars and light on
hot rods, but a ’40 Ford sedan street rod did snag the
#2 high-sale position. It sold for $30k, and was only
topped by a nearly new 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8,
which hammered sold when it met its $40k reserve.
All in, Mariner’s collection just broke the half-million
mark.
rM’s Dingman auction offered many top-quality FoMoCo products.
n n n
At Barrett-Jackson’s Orange County sale, a cus-
tomized 1965 Ford Ranchero sold for $200k, earning
second place behind a 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429
fastback at $253k. Notable street rods here included a
’48 Ford woodie wagon and a ’37 Ford custom coupe,
both sold at $110k. Sales totals increased to $13.8m
from $13.4m last year, and B-J consigned and sold more
cars than ever.
n n n
And at Silver’s annual Coeur d’Alene sale, a ’32
Ford highboy sold for $30,240, just $2k under the highsale
1991 Jeep Wrangler custom. A ’30 T-bucket that
made 650 hp was bid to $45k, but that wasn’t enough to
convince the owner to let it go. Silver’s numbers dipped
just slightly, down to 44 cars
sold from 47 last year, sales
total down to $440k from
$623k, and average price
down to $10k from $13k.
ACC 1-6 scale
condition rating
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:
Salvagable for parts
n n n
In the ACC Roundup,
we take a look at highlights
from five other important
American auctions:
Worldwide’s Houston
Classic, Auctions America
by RM Spring Auburn,
Bonhams Greenwich,
Leake’s 40th Annual Tulsa
Auction and RM’s sale of
the Dingman Collection. A
ar collectors who
went
in June got some
excellent
shopping
deals,
judging by re
Page 56
Anatomy of an ACC Market Report
By B. Mitchell Carlson
To give a better appreciation of what our auction analysts and reporters look for and write up in our auction reports, here’s an in-depth look at a
typical car from a typical auction. This 1970 Mustang Mach 1 was offered at the Mecum auction in Indianapolis on May 17, 2012:
ID DATA
Description begins with vehicle’s lot number, which is how auction
companies organize the stock to be sold. We verify the VIN and
body codes to how the car is presented, and if the serial number
is stamped or correctly
attached as originally
manufactured. In several
states, if it isn’t, the car
may need to be inspected
by the licensing authorities
or bonded to be titled, so a
potential buyer needs to be
aware of this. In this case,
there are no problems.
DOCUMENTATION
We noted that a
“Marti Report” was
generated on the car
by the consignor.
Similar third-party
background verification
documentation
is available for a few
other select makes.
In this case, it confirms
that the VIN
#T51-1970 FORD MUSTANG Mach 1
fastback. S/N 0T05M168743. Dark Aqua
Metallic/white deluxe vinyl. Odo: 43,633
miles. 351-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Per the body
tag and the Marti Report displayed with the
car, the car originally had a Borg-Warner
FMX automatic transmission. Repop
Magnum 500 wheels on radials. Decent
quality repaint, replated bumpers. Mostly
original and presentable trim, with light
scuffing and nicks. Older repro seats, with
some yellowing and soiling. Circa 1980
Alpine AM/FM/cassette deck, with two similar
vintage aftermarket gauges mounted
below. Factory-installed tach needle is
stuck at 3,500 rpm. Recent authentic
engine bay fluff-up, but not quite to show
standards. Chassis clean for a driver, with
rusty exhaust pipes. Cond: 3.
and body tag on the car state that the car is an original 300-hp 351-ci
V8, but that it has been converted at one time from having an FMX
automatic transmission (transmission code X) to the current 4-speed
manual transmission.
COMMENTARY
We like to present a historical tidbit that relates to the car — in this
case, the limited use of FMX transmissions in Mustangs and what it’s
like to live with one of these transmissions. In closing, we give our
hypothesis of why the car did or did not sell for the final bid, and what
might have affected this outcome.
CONDITION RATINGS
Condition: ACC uses a numerical scale of 1
to 6 to assess a vehicle’s overall condition:
SOLD AT $31,800. When Ford couldn’t
make C6 automatics fast enough to keep
up with demand in the early 1970s, they
sourced FMXs. My first car — a 1974 Ford
LTD Brougham — had an FMX in it. When
the reverse-low band went south on it in
1983. I found out how difficult and spendy
parts were for it, so I can relate about
why the past owner decided to convert it
to a manual tranny. Strong selling price
based on the swap and overall condition
of the car, with the rare color (one of 171
Mustangs in this hue) neither helping or
hurting.
1. Perfect: National show standard
2. Excellent: Club show-worthy, some small flaws
3. Average: Daily driver in decent condition
Page 57
A DETAILED DISSECTION OF HOW
WE EVALUATE CARS AT AUCTION
INTERIOR
Most of the more
popular collector
cars and pickups are
available with reproduction
interior soft
trim (seat coverings,
door panels, dashboard
padding, headliner
and carpet). We
try to note how much
is original and how
much is replacement
— and if the latter,
if it’s authentic with
BODY AND PAINT
We note the quality of both the
paint application and prep work
involved before applying the paint
(such as
good or lesser installation workmanship, or if Aunt Flo just whipped something
out of vinyl on her sewing machine and stretched it over bare springs. We also
make note of accessory sound systems, gauges, consoles, and other items
that would take effort and workmanship to install. In our example, the 1980sera
Alpine cassette deck was just the thing to do to your $4,500 Mach 1, since
that “junky old” original AM radio just won’t crank Loverboy or .38 Special. This
car also has a set of accessory gauges from the 1970s, since no true gearhead
would trust the original idiot lights.
UNDERCARRIAGE
This area can really
separate the repaints
from the restorations.
We look for whether it is
rusty and dirty with paint
overspray, or if there
are all-new corrosionfree
components and
fasteners. We also note
if it’s either lightly or
heavily sprayed with
fresh undercoating —
another “hide-it-quick”
or waviness, evidence of lesser
quality repair work.
ENGINE
We specify if the engine compartment
is original, detailed, or just
left alone. Cars at auction will
often get a quick cleanup and
in-place engine repaint, masking
off or removing the ancillary components.
We also note whether
these other components are
original, authentic reproduction
or OEM parts, or just bought on
sale at Walmart with no regard to
authenticity. Here, what was done
appears to the casual observer
as being authentic, but in detail is
not quite to show standards.
trick. It’s surprising how many folks pay market-plus prices and have no idea
what’s under their new toy, as they won’t bend a knee to take a look. On our
feature car, they gave it a quickie spray of black paint on the rear axle and leaf
springs. The fuel tank was replaced a few years ago, having light oxidization
on the galvanizing.
4. Meh: Still a driver, but with visible flaws
5. Questionable: A problem-plagued beast that somehow manages to run
6. Lost cause: Salvagable for parts
scratches, old
paint layers,
dust, and
fisheyes).
This section
denotes
body panel
fitment (even
or uneven
gaps), door
fit, smooth
body panels
Page 58
BARRETT-JACKSON // Orange County, CA
Barrett-Jackson’s Orange County
extravaganza
54,000 COLLECTOR-CAR ENTHUSIASTS CROWDED INTO THE VENDOR
PAVILION AND AUCTION TENTS
Report and photos by
Carl Bomstead
Market opinions in italics
B
arrett-Jackson returned to the
Orange County Fair and Event
Center in late June for the third
year. They bill it as a “lifestyle
event,” which it is, but it can
also easily be described as an automotive
extravaganza. Fifty-four thousand people
reportedly passed through the turnstiles,
enthusiastically crowding the massive Ford
and General Motors displays, the Vendor
Barrett-Jackson
Orange County 2012, Costa Mesa, CA
June 22–24, 2012
Auctioneers: Assiter & Associates;
Tom “Spanky” Assiter, lead auctioneer
Lots sold/offered: 406/412
Sales rate: 99%
Sales total: $13,845,725
High American sale: 1969 Ford Mustang
Boss 429 fastback, sold at $253,000
Buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold
prices
Barrett-Jackson sales total
$20m
$15m
$10m
$5m
0
60 AmericanCarCollector.com
2012
2011
2010
1970 Oldsmobile 442 convertible, sold at $154,000
Pavilion and the acres of auction tents.
The event was dedicated to Carroll
Shelby, who passed away in May of this
year. He was a friend of Barrett-Jackson,
to the extent that Craig Jackson’s daughter,
Shelby, is named after him. Memorable
Barrett-Jackson/Carroll Shelby moments
include Muhammad Ali at the January
Scottsdale event for the unveiling of the
Limited Edition Barrett-Jackson Shelby
Mustang, and the 2007 sale of the 1966
Cobra 427 Super Snake, CSX3015, for
$5.5m.
Eight charity cars crossed the block at
the Orange County auction and raised an
impressive $1.1m, with funds going directly
to the benefitting charity, and no fees or
commissions incurred. The first sale was
a 2013 SRT Viper. With its 640-hp V10, it
realized $300,000, and we certainly hope
the new owner can keep it between the lines
when he takes delivery.
More than 400 cars were presented,
ranging from impeccable hot rods to multiple
zany rat rods to a pristine 1954 Buick
Skylark that had won Best of Show at the
2006 Buick Nationals. That car had seen
very limited use since and still looked stunning.
The 1953 and 1954 Skylarks have lost
a bit of their luster of late and are well off
their high of a few years back. The $121,000
that this example realized is in line with
today’s market.
Ford muscle was well represented, and
Southern California is the market sweet
spot. A 1969 Mustang Boss 429 fastback,
one of only 859 produced and with just
over 28,000 miles on the clock, realized
$253,000, while a slightly modified 428
CJ-“R” from the same year could only
garner $77,000, illustrating the “cost” of
non-factory modifications. A very nice ’68
Shelby GT500 fastback that was finished in
the unusual shade of Sunlit Gold realized
$137,500, which was about right for a quality
example.
By the numbers, Barrett-Jackson sold
406 cars for just a touch under $14 million.
While average sales price was down by over
15%, volume was up from the prior year.
Revenue, too, saw a slight increase, and it’s
only a matter of time before the numbers
catch up to Barrett’s Palm Beach event.
The Orange County Fairgrounds is an ideal
setting for a Barrett-Jackson-style auction,
Southern California is car collector mecca,
and they have the horsepower to stay the
course.A
Page 60
BARRETT-JACKSON // Orange County, CA
GM
#50-1950 GMC Pickup. S/N A228314809.
Red/black vinyl. Odo: 17
miles. 228-ci I6, 1-bbl, 3-sp. Recent
frame-off restoration to high standard.
Excellent paint. New wood in truck bed,
brightwork has been redone. Engine
clean and highly detailed. Cond: 1-.
hubcaps. Jetaway Hydramatic was standard
equipment. No windshield wipers.
Cond: 2.
white Judge side stripes. Cond: 1-.
SOLD AT $55,000. The 1970 GTO
Judge is not all that uncommon, with
3,629 hard tops produced, but finding
one that is fully documented is a challenge.
The ACC Price Guide says this
sold for a touch under the money, but the
copper hue is not the most popular of
colors. Call this fair for all.
SOLD AT $55,000. Considering the condition
of this 98 convertible, the price paid
was on the button. Color combination is a
matter of taste, and if it agrees with you,
then all is well here.
SOLD AT $28,050. The GMC was a bit
more deluxe than its Chevy counterpart,
and some will say it has cleaner styling.
Pickups are hot property of late, and this
highly restored example sold under the
money. Another five large would not have
been out of the question. Well bought
indeed.
#360-1955 CHEVROLET NOMAD
wagon. S/N VC55K106702.
Turquoise & white/turquoise & white fabric
& vinyl. Odo: 11,559 miles. 265-ci V8,
2-bbl, auto. Frame-off restoration by
owner, subsequent first-place concourswinner.
Oil bath incorrectly painted and
trim piece missing on dash are the only
things noted. New stock-style interior.
Only year for eyebrows and radius
wheelwells. A quality piece. Cond: 1-.
405789. Rally Red/white vinyl/pearl white
vinyl. Odo: 89,117 miles. 455-ci V8,
4-bbl, auto. Frame-off restoration to highest
standard. 2008 AACA Senior Class
winner. Quality respray with little to fault.
Excellent brightwork. Original 455/365
engine rebuilt to factory specs. W-25 outside
air-induction hood. Super Stock I
wheels. Original Protect-O-Plate. Hurst
dual-gate shifter. Sanitary under the
hood. An exceptional example of a documented
W-25 442 convertible. Cond: 1-.
10
#370-1970 OLDSMOBILE 442
convertible. S/N 344670M-
#370.1-1971 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE
SS convertible. S/N 136671L177585.
Ascot Blue/black vinyl/ black vinyl. Odo:
123 miles. 454-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. LS5
Chevelle SS documented with two build
sheets. Three-year frame-off restoration.
Stated that all numbers match with correct
date codes. Loaded with options including
Cowl Induction hood and F41
sports suspension. Rock Crusher M22
4-speed was a $238 option. Only 9,502
LS5 coupes and convertibles produced.
Cond: 1-.
SOLD AT $99,000. The ACC Price Guide
places this at about $75k, but I beg to
differ, considering the quality of restoration
and lengthy documentation. I doubt
you could build one for the price paid.
CORVETTE
SOLD AT $154,000. The W-30 was the
ticket in 1970, but this W-25 was nothing
to be ashamed of. Price paid was up
there for a non-W-30 442, but no worries,
as the quality of the restoration was worth
it.
SOLD AT $66,000. This was every bit as
nice as the very similar Nomad that sold
at B-J’s Florida sale earlier this year for
$106,700 (ACC# 197531). Buyer got a
screaming deal here.
#3700-1959 OLDSMOBILE 98 convertible.
S/N 599B1973. Red & cream/white
vinyl/red, white & gray leather. Odo:
44,629 miles. 394-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto.
Frame-off restoration in 2008. Paint acceptable
and properly maintained. Only
minor issues noted. Few scratches on
bumpers. Colorful tri-tone interior. Lots of
power goodies, including top, antenna,
windows and brakes. Famed spinner
62 AmericanCarCollector.com
#375.1-1970 PONTIAC GTO Judge 2-dr
hard top. S/N 242370R128495.
Palomino Copper/Sandalwood vinyl.
Odo: 16,167 miles. 400-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto.
Quality restoration with little to fault. With
standard Judge Ram Air III V8 and Rally
II wheels. Equipped with Turbo Hydramatic
transmission. Numbers-matching
YZ-code 400/ 366 motor. Documented by
PHS. Unusual-but-correct green/yellow/
#363-1962 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 20867S112609. Sateen
Silver/black vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 140
miles. 327-ci 360-hp fuel-injected V8,
4-sp. Three-year restoration performed
by two retired NCRS judges. Numbersmatching,
with Rochester fuel injection.
Excellent panel fit with uniform gaps.
Headlight trim fit a bit off, but that is common
even on the best of restorations.
Paint sparkles.
Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $90,200. Previously seen at
Russo and Steele’s 2010 Scottsdale sale,
where it changed hands for $88,000,
BEST
BUY
BEST
BUY
TOP 10
Page 62
BARRETT-JACKSON // Orange County, CA
which we called “well bought” (ACC#
159116). Well bought again today.
#64.2-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 30867S103717.
Riverside Red/white vinyl/red vinyl. Odo:
25,980 miles. 327-ci 250-hp V8, 4-bbl,
4-sp. Miles stated to be original.
Reportedly received a recent comprehensive
restoration, although paint has a few
issues. New interior properly fitted.
Engine clean and tidy. Hard top included.
Cond: 1-.
cost all of $25. Parked outside, it will be
just the thing to make your annoying
neighbor move out. Cond: 4+.
SOLD AT $82,500. Attention to detail was
very evident here. The price paid would
most likely not build this car today, and
here it was drive-away ready. Good deal
all around.
SOLD AT $14,300. The seller had a lot of
fun building this, and the new owner will
get plenty of attention at the next local
show-n-shine. Well bought and sold.
SOLD AT $51,700. This restored C2 sold
for condition #2 money, and it was a
touch better than that, even considering
the base-level engine. Buyer should be
happy.
#367-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194677S107612.
Elkhart Blue/black vinyl/blue vinyl. Odo:
59,467 miles. 427-ci 390-hp V8, 4-bbl,
4-sp. A matching-numbers L68 427 bigblock
with less-than 60,000 original miles.
Numerous small bites in paint and a noticeable
chip on left front fender. With
original interior, a/c and hard top.
Sidepipes, Redline tires. An attractive
package. Cond: 2+.
#350.2-1936 FORD MODEL 68 phaeton.
S/N 183124626. Apple Green/tan
fabric/brown leather. Odo: 42,271 miles.
221-ci V8, 1-bbl, 3-sp. Paint does not
stand up to close scrunity. Minor
scratches on trim and bumpers. Top fit a
bit sloppy. Interior with signs of wear.
Fitted with skirts, wind wings, rearmounted
spare and trunk rack. Fog lights
appear to be of later origin. Cond: 3+.
#373-1948 MERCURY 89M convertible.
S/N B3BC104175. Red/black fabric/red
vinyl. Odo: 40,524 miles. 522-ci V8,
4-bbl, auto. Big-block Lincoln V8 stuffed
under the hood kicks out close to 650
horsepower; Edelbrock heads,
Competition cam, big Holley carb. Paint
acceptable, but the money saved on vinyl
seating will come back to bite the seller.
Power windows. Wire wheels. Corvette
rear end, Camaro front end. Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $41,800. This must be a hoot
to drive, but if it had been restored to the
same level in stock spec, it would be
worth close to $60k.
SOLD AT $48,400. Car has a long list of
needs that will have to be addressed if
new owner is trophy-hunting. If not, drive
and enjoy as-is and pick away over time.
No harm done here.
SOLD AT $92,400. Considering the acceptable
condition of this L68 convertible,
price paid was on the low end of the
spectrum. Another $10k would not have
been out of line.
FOMOCO
#30-1932 FORD MODEL B rat-rod
pickup. S/N B5017482. Surface
rust/Mexican blanket. 390-ci V8, 4-bbl,
auto. Constructed in four months with
square 2x4 steel frame and 390 engine
donated from a motorhome. Monster
Energy Drink “M” sticker on door. Farm
tractor dualie wheels and headlights that
64 AmericanCarCollector.com
#363.1-1940 FORD DELUXE custom
convertible. S/N 18569643940.
Black/black fabric/black leather. 5.7-L fuelinjected
V8, auto. Mild custom with removable
Carson top, shaved door handles
and mild rake. Under the hood is a highly
polished Corvette LS1. 700R4 automatic
transmission, Mustang front end. Digital
gauges, a/c. An attractive build. Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $88,000. The Continental Mark
II is the epitome of ’50s American luxury.
They have not, however, had much traction
in the marketplace. This was one of
the higher price points we have noted of
late, so perhaps they will get their “just
due” after all.
#366.2-1968 SHELBY GT500 fastback.
S/N 8T02S149567. Sunlit Gold/black
vinyl. Odo: 26,267 miles. 428-ci V8,
#56-1956 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL
MARK II coupe. S/N C56D2801. Medium
gray/gray leather. Odo: 92,281 miles.
368-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Acceptable restoration
of an extremely expensive car in its
day. Respray professionally applied with
only minor swirls noted. Trim scratched
and hood emblem pitted. Equipped with
a/c, but lacking external fender scoops.
Attractive leather interior. Only 2,550
manufactured, at a factory price of
$9,966. Cond: 2.
Page 64
BARRETT-JACKSON // Orange County, CA
4-bbl, auto. Rotisserie restoration to high
standard, documented with build sheet
and Marti Report. Unusual shade of
Sunlit Gold, professionally applied.
Interior with no issues noted. One of
1,044 produced. A no-questions GT500.
Cond: 2+.
bit of overspray here and there. Original
leather interior is showing signs of age.
Driver’s swivel seat sags and is missing
trim button. Equipped with 413 cross ram.
Only 337 300G convertibles produced.
Cond: 2.
driver’s door worn. Superbird rear wing
added, door handles shaved. Bundle of
wires hanging down under dash. GT
Grant wheels. Cond: 3. SOLD AT
$15,400. Last sold for $16,960 at
Mecum’s recent Indy sale in May (ACC#
206068). The seller rolled the dice and
lost to the tune of a couple grand, factoring
in expenses.
SOLD AT $137,500. The ACC Price
Guide places this at close to $125k in #2
condition, but this was a better car than
that. The original sales invoice and build
sheet make the difference. Marketcorrect.
MOPAR
#351.2-1950 CHRYSLER NEWPORT
Town & Country woodie 2-dr hard top.
S/N 7411710. Green, white &
wood/green vinyl & cloth. Odo: 59,995
miles. 323-ci I8, 2-bbl, auto. Needs the
whole nine yards. Wood is unwinding,
body has more than a few dents. Paint
worn and scratched. Bumpers dented.
One of 700 produced and the last year
for the Chrysler straight-8. A project not
for the timid. Cond: 4.
NOT SOLD AT $105,000. As a condition
#2 car, we should be looking at about
$125k, so I can’t blame the seller for taking
it back home. This was one of only
six cars that did not sell.
#371-1971 DODGE CHALLENGER 2-dr
hard top. S/N JH23G1B393401.
Orange/black vinyl. Odo: 28,771 miles.
426-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. An understated
resto-mod with a crate 426 Hemi of unknown
horsepower under the hood, with
serpentine drive and TCI 727 transmission
with 3,000 stall converter. Paint is
excellent, custom interior. Rides on
SRRC Magnum 5 wheels. Impressive.
Cond: 1-.
#47.1-1973 PLYMOUTH ’CUDA 2-dr
hard top. S/N BH23GB441233. Lime
Light Green/black vinyl. Odo: 21,046
miles. 440-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. B-code VIN
indicates this was born with the 318/150
V8. The 440 stuffed under the hood is
from 1969 or 1970. Finished in Lime Light
Green, which was a 1970 ’Cuda color.
Black billboards. Equipped with factory
a/c and power steering. Go-Wing added.
Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $38,500. Price paid was well
above market for an everyday ’73 ’Cuda
far from stock configuration. Very well
sold.
AMERICANA
SOLD AT $37,950. This car has appeared
at auction no less than three
times in the past five years. It sold for
$49,500 at RM’s 2008 Fort Lauderdale
sale (ACC# 58109), then for $36,225 at
McCormick’s February 2010 Palm
Springs (ACC# 159264), then no-saled at
a high bid of $26,000 at McCormick’s
November 2011 Palm Springs sale
(ACC# 191378). Hard to tell if any money
was made here, but the new owner has a
costly project on his hands.
#357.2-1961 CHRYSLER 300G convertible.
S/N 8413201477. White/black
fabric/tan leather. Odo: 27,941 miles.
413-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. Very presentable,
although close inspection reveals a
66 AmericanCarCollector.com
SOLD AT $64,900. Last seen at
McCormick’s February 2012 auction,
where it sold for $52,500 (ACC# 198555).
A few short months later, the buyer made
a few bucks (after fees and a short 150mile
trip). Even so, I bet it cost a bunch
more than was paid here to build this.
#672-1972 PLYMOUTH ROAD RUNNER
2-dr hard top. S/N RM23H2G120892.
Lime Green/black vinyl. Odo: 84,369
miles. 340-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Older restoration
finished in Lime Green, not listed
as a ’72 Road Runner color. Paint on
#38-1961 RAMBLER CROSS
COUNTRY wagon. S/N CD500187.
Surface rust/lawn chair fabric. Odo: 6,415
miles. 195-ci I6, 1-bbl, auto. Mother
Nature has had her way with this Cross
Country wagon, but the surfboard on the
roof and beach-chair-fabric seat-covers
make it all look intentional. Custom airbag
suspension added for low profile.
New mag wheels complete the look.
Cond: 5.
SOLD AT $13,200. If you needed a ratrod
beach wagon on the cheap, this was
the ticket. Sure to lower the values in the
neighborhood when you park this out
front. Better yet, load the family and visit
the in-laws. A
Page 66
MECUM AUCTIONS // St. Charles, IL
Mecum Bloomington Gold says
goodbye to St. Charles
A ’67 427/435 CONVERTIBLE SOLD AT $121,900, FOLLOWED BY TWO
’62 CONVERTIBLES, BOTH SOLD AT $111,300
Report and photos by
Dan Grunwald
Market opinions in italics
T
he Mecum crew was very busy in
the month of June, with their annual
Bloomington Gold and St. Paul
sales taking place simultaneously,
and directly following a private col-
lection sale in North Little Rock the previous
weekend. The logistics are mind-boggling,
Mecum Auctions
Bloomington Gold 2012,
St. Charles, IL
June 22–23, 2012
Auctioneers: Mark Delzell, Mike
Hagerman, Bob McGlothlen, Jim Landis,
Matt Moravec
Automotive lots sold/offered: 67/133
Sales rate: 50%
Sale total: $2,759,775
High sale: 1967 Chevrolet Corvette
427/435 convertible, sold at $121,900
Buyer’s premium: $300 on the first
$5,499, $500 from $5,500 to $9,999,
6% thereafter, included in sold prices
Mecum sales total
$2.5m
$1.5m
$2m
$.5m
$1m
0
68 AmericanCarCollector.com
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
but they split their forces well, and the sale
here went off without a hitch.
It did feel like the announcement of
Bloomington Gold’s move to downstate
Champaign, IL, next year took some of the
air out of the event. There undoubtedly are
sound business factors involved that we
will never know about, but I for one will
sorely miss the green of the golf course, the
world-class dining in nearby Geneva and
the Pheasant Run events center where the
current show is held. Or perhaps that’s just
bittersweet nostalgia.
Yes, the overall figures were down, but
that doesn’t mean that it wasn’t great fun.
There were great Corvettes of every vintage
and price point — truly something for everybody
and every pocketbook. The folks who
put in the work to shop hard and bid smart
came out with some excellent bargains, while
the very top cars still brought top money, as
we continue to see over and over. Top honors
went to a ’67 427/435 convertible, sold at
$121,900 (see the profile p. 40), followed by
two ’62 convertibles, both sold at $111,300.
And while the number of cars and the sales
totals were down from last year, the sale rate
actually increased. The average price was
$41,191, which sounds rather affordable.
I will have a much longer drive next year,
but when the time comes, I know I will be
looking forward to the new location. It is sure
to bring its own excitement with different
cars, different people, different venue and the
same kind of fun that Corvettes and Corvette
owners always bring to the party. And it
will be good to give my own Corvette some
exercise on the road to Bloomington.A
1965 Chevrolet Corvette 396/425 coupe, sold at $92,750
Page 68
MECUM AUCTIONS // St. Charles, IL
CORVETTE
#S96-1953 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
roadster. S/N E53F001083. White/red
vinyl. Odo: 4,332 miles. 235-ci 160-hp I6,
3x1-bbl, auto. Original car, never restored,
previously owned by Alan Jackson. Mileage
believed actual. Visible age-cracking in
older paint. Most chrome good, with usual
wavy side spears. Hood latch stuck closed
on right side. Cond: 2-.
ci 360-hp fuel-injected V8, 4-sp. Presents
as new in all respects. Scored 99.6 at 2010
NCRS National meet. Same owner for 27
years. Cond: 1-.
SOLD AT $54,060. VIN was about 50 numbers
too early for a factory 4-speed trans,
and the wire wheels looked out of place
here, but that is a personal taste issue. Not
a perfect car, but buyer paid a cheap price.
Well bought.
NOT SOLD AT $200,000. Offer seemed
reasonable for a good ’53, but this was a
pretty special example, considering its originality,
low miles and celebrity ownership.
The owner might regret this decision.
#S111-1956 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N E56S004091. Venetian
Red/red vinyl. Odo: 14,881 miles. 350-ci
360-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Paint not perfect but
looks good. Has a couple of stone chips on
the glass. Chrome and trim very good.
Newer 350-ci engine with flex fan and tube
headers. Hurst shifter and aftermarket radio.
Still has drum brakes. Torq Thrust wheels.
Cond: 2.
#S46-1959 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible.
S/N J59S107389. Black/black
canvas/red vinyl. Odo: 21,292 miles. 283-ci
230-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. NCRS Top Flight
Award-winner and said to be numbersmatching.
Most chrome new. Windshield
delaminating. Modern custom air cleaner.
Cond: 1-.
NOT SOLD AT $87,500. The highest score
ever awarded by NCRS for a ’62 and it’s
also a Fuelie. It has to be the best on the
planet, but today just wasn’t its day. The
owner was right to take it home.
#S63-1962 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible.
S/N 20867S108919. White/black
canvas/black vinyl. Odo: 356 miles. 327-ci
300-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Decent paint,
overspray on the top canvas in places. Top
is dirty and fits poorly. Old cracked
weatherstripping on windshield, with wiper
scratches and delamination starting.
Crackling chrome on grille center bar.
Overly puffy seat springs in the new interior.
Rattle-can engine detail. Under carriage
clean and detailed. Cond: 2-.
SOLD AT $79,500. My data shows about
20% of the ’59 Corvettes were built with an
automatic transmission, but I rarely see one
now. Perhaps that was the reason for the
over-the-top sale here. Well sold.
#S16-1961 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible.
S/N 10867S102380. White/black
canvas/black vinyl. Odo: 4,898 miles. 283-ci
315-hp fuel-injected V8, 4-sp. Said to have
had a body-off restoration in September of
2000. Paint chips on hood edges. Some
interior trim and chrome show poorly. Tears
in driver’s-side carpet. Thin chrome and
scratches on side cove spears and bumpers.
New top. Power windows. Original
fuel-injected engine. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $53,000. This car previously sold
for $69,660 at the Kruse/Leake auction in
Dallas, November 2008, where we wrote,
“The seller was a little confused over if this
was a 355 or a 350” (ACC# 118686). It
looked great, and I would bet it drives well
too (for a solid-axle Corvette), but the seller
took a loss on this one.
#S57-1957 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible.
S/N E57S103453. Black/black
hard top/red vinyl. Odo: 99,212 miles. 283ci
283-hp fuel-injected V8, 4-sp. Orange
peel in paint and star cracks on both front
fenders. Chrome generally good. New interior.
Some aging visible on gauges and pitting
on chrome horn button. Clean engine.
Cond: 2-.
70 AmericanCarCollector.com
SOLD AT $49,820. Aging out since last
restoration and now due for some new love,
but well bought, with enough Benjamins left
in the piggy bank to freshen it up.
#S108-1962 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 20867S106992. Red/white
canvas/black vinyl. Odo: 64,565 miles. 327-
SOLD AT $111,300. The best cars will al-
SOLD AT $51,410. It looked like a bit of a
rush at the end of the restoration here, but
there was lots to like here as well. Well
bought and sold.
#S125-1962 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 20867 S101794. Beige/
beige hard top/red vinyl. Odo: 44,912 miles.
327-ci 360-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Bloomington
Gold Certified; Triple Crown Award-winner,
Gold Spinner Award, Top Flight Award and
AACA Senior Award. Restored in 1998,
then re-restored in 2007. Tiny paint crack by
right windshield at base and some minor
flaws in side window chrome. Cond: 1.
Page 70
MECUM AUCTIONS // St. Charles, IL
ways bring top dollar, and this was no exception.
This had all of the papers to prove
the pedigree and the quality of the restoration.
Well bought and sold.
#S112-1965 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194375S122155. Nassau Blue/
blue vinyl. Odo: 78,646 miles. 396-ci 425-hp
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Six NCRS Top Flights.
Fiberglass crack by front of driver’s door.
Otherwise good paint, chrome and trim.
Wide gap at top of passenger’s door. New
interior, Goldline tires and telescopic steering
wheel. Engine well detailed and clean.
Lots of original documentation. Cond: 1-.
chips on nose and hood edge. Most chrome
good, but the front bumper shows pitting
and scratches. New interior with aftermarket
tape deck and some mismatched and missing
knobs. Clutch pedal cover gone. Hurst
shifter. Clean engine with rusty headers and
a few mods. Power brakes. Top frame just
about to poke through soft top fabric.
Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $54,060. This had
some mods under the hood and lots of eyeball
appeal. It looked to me like a fairly obvious
non-original motor, but it sold well.
#S55-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible.
S/N 195677S101032. Black &
red/black canvas/red leather. Odo: 57,319
miles. 427-ci 435-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Beautiful
black paint. New top, leather interior,
sidepipes, telescopic wheel, alloys and
Redlines. Light pitting on vent window
frames and thin paint on headlight door
edges. Fitted with 4-bbl intake and L88 style
air cleaner assembly. Cond: 1-.
SOLD AT $92,750. A beautiful ’65 with the
L78 396, good options and good documents.
Top dollar for a top-level car. Well
bought and sold.
#S101-1965 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194375S107440. Silver/black
leather. Odo: 53,489 miles. 327-ci 350-hp
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. 2010 Bloomington Gold
certified, two NCRS Top Flight certificates in
2010. Three-year frame-off restoration with
less than 10 miles since. Reportedly equipped
with every option except big tank and
fuel injection. Sidepipes were not available
until after the 11,000-series VIN. Cond: 1-.
nal 18,500-mile car with the tank sticker,
Protect-O-Plate and a Bloomington Gold
award. Has a few chips in the partially original
paint. Good original chrome. Original
interior. Said to be original engine, showing
some driving dirt. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $51,940. This was a $52,500
no-sale a year ago at Mecum’s 2011
Bloomington Gold sale (ACC# 183805).
Seller was wise to accept the offer today.
#S64-1972 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible.
S/N 1Z67L2S511694. Ontario
Orange/tan canvas/brown leather. Odo:
71,360 miles. 350-ci 255-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp.
Retouched paint chip on driver’s door, small
crack at headlight. Detailed LT1 engine.
New interior upgraded from original saddle
color vinyl to leather. Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $63,600. Well optioned and a
real looker. Well bought, considering the
quality restoration.
#S67-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible.
S/N 194677S114294. Blue &
white/white canvas/blue vinyl. Odo: 32,544
miles. 327-ci 300-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. A few
minor paint flaws, but overall good paint and
chrome. Some trim scratches. Big-block
hood on small-block car. Redlines and sidepipes.
Newer seats, dirty carpets, numerous
door-panel flaws. Cracks in steering wheel,
dash gauges very dirty under lenses.
Surface rust visible on frame, but it seems
solid enough. Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $96,990. Go ahead and burn the
price guides on this one. The bidders did
exactly that. Well sold.
#S109-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 1946S77S110208.
Red/black/red vinyl. Odo: 72,707 miles.
427-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Very shiny paint with
SOLD AT $47,700. Some details let it
down, but if the frame is solid and it runs out
OK, then the price seems fair for a decent
’67 convertible.
#S74-1971 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible.
S/N 194671S121765. Blue/white
canvas/blue vinyl. Odo: 18,500 miles. 350-ci
330-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Said to be an origi-
72 AmericanCarCollector.com
SOLD AT $80,560. This was one of three
ZR1s to choose from at this sale. It sold, so
the price paid must be market-correct
money. A
SOLD AT $32,860. A more mainstream
color combo could help, but this car nonetheless
presented well and brought a fair
price. Well bought and sold.
#S69-2010 CHEVROLET CORVETTE ZR1
coupe. S/N 1G1YM2DT5A5800328.
Red/black leather. Odo: 15,669 miles. 6.2-L
638-hp supercharged V8, 6-sp. Still looks
factory new everywhere. Said to be
equipped with every available option.
Carbon fiber roof, hood and air dam. ZR1
wheels. Cond: 1-.
Page 72
MECUM AUCTIONS // St. Paul, MN
Customs rule at Mecum
Back to the ’50s
YOU HAD TO COUNT DOWN TO THE SEVENTH-HIGHEST SALE
TO FIND A STOCK, UNMODIFIED CAR
Report and photos by
B. Mitchell Carlson and
Jerry Barber
Market opinions in italics
F
or a decade and a half, Mecum
Auctions has conducted an auction
in association with the Minnesota
Street Rod Association’s Back
to the ’50s show, held at the
Minnesota State Fairgrounds. The MSRA
Mecum Auctions
Back to the ’50s, St. Paul, MN
June 16, 2012
Auctioneers: Mike Hagerman, Matt
Moravec, Bobby McGlothlen
Automotive lots sold/offered: 89/170
Sales rate: 52%
Sale total: $1,604,345
High sale: 1941 Willys street rod, sold at
$90,100
Buyer’s premium: $300 on the first
$5,499, $500 from $5,500 to $9,999,
6% thereafter, included in sold prices
Mecum sales total
$2.5m
$1.5m
$2m
$.5m
$1m
0
74 AmericanCarCollector.com
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
1941 Willys 3-Window street rod, sold at $90,100
event saw more than 12,000 pre-1965 cars
in attendance, with 170 consigned for the
auction — and 89 finding new homes. While
it was a rather warm and sticky three-day
weekend, with brief, light sprinkles early
Saturday afternoon, both events were
roundly successful.
Back to the ’50s and Bloomington Gold
happened to take place on the same weekend
this year. But this isn’t the first time that’s
happened, and there hardly seemed to be any
glitches, even with fewer Mecum staffers on
site. Things flowed as normal, helped by the
familiarity of the venue and the wise decision
to make it a one-day-only auction. This
kept the focus on better-quality cars from
consignors who were keen to sell.
Another change — not planned but
welcomed — was the strong buyers’ market.
Chalk it up to a generally stabilizing
market, but consignors in the under-$20k
segment were eager to sell, and bidders were
prepared to step. While this market has
traditionally been a bit cheap, it did brisk
business today (if selling a shade over half
the cars can qualify as brisk).
Fitting enough for the automotive scene
surrounding the auction, the top sale was
a 1941 Willys street rod, sold at $90,100.
Indeed, you had to count down to the
seventh-highest sale — a 1967 Chevrolet
Chevelle SS 396, at $32,065 — to find a
stock, unmodified car.
The selection overall covered a wide
spectrum of the collector car market, from a
bone-stock 1930 Chevrolet farm truck, sold
at $10,000, to a 2003 Ford Mustang Mach 1,
at $19,080.
It appears that Back to the ’50s and
Bloomington Gold will coincide again in
2013, when Bloomington Gold makes the
move to Champaign, IL. If the results today
are any indication, that should be fine for
everyone involved.A
Page 74
MECUM AUCTIONS // St. Paul, MN
GM
#S112-1932 CHEVROLET CONFEDERATE
sedan. S/N 2BA0459196. Two-tone beige/
tan broadcloth. Odo: 1,489 miles. 194-ci I6,
1-bbl, 3-sp. Older restoration, with 1973
AACA National First Prize badge on the
grille. Museum-kept for the most part since.
Paint and chrome still very presentable and
near show-quality, with only light polish
scuffing. Minimal interior wear, with more
material aging than anything else. Very tidy
under the hood. Dual side mount spares
with metal covers, chromed hood louvers,
eagle radiator cap, clock and luggage rack.
Cond: 2-.
by jeep collectors in M.V. circles, but by
regular car collectors, too.
#S95-1956 CADILLAC DEVILLE 2-dr hard
top. S/N 5662116067. Mint green &
white/light green nylon & white leather. Odo:
11,536 miles. 365-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Newer
paintwork with light overspray on all door
jamb components. Most trim and chrome
replated or replaced at that time. Windshield
delaminating at bottom. Some replacement
weatherstripping coming loose. Older authentic
interior reupholstery, with light wear
starting on seat-bottom. Aftermarket leather
steering wheel rim cover, modern aftermarket
speakers in parcel shelf. Optional power
seat and windows, signal-seeking AM radio
with power antenna, and Autronic Eye.
Cond: 3+.
27,497 miles. 389-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto.
Repaint has a few years on it, with some
light chips on panel edges and light polishing
scratches. Newer bumper rechroming,
good original trim. Doors starting to sag a
bit. Good workmanship on replacement top.
Rattle-can motor repaint and light engine
bay cleanup. Crusty used-car undercarriage.
Older economy-grade radial tires.
Older reupholstery, sympathetic to original
pattern, newer carpeting, most of remaining
interior soft trim redyed. With power steering,
brakes, top and windows. Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $22,260. A good price for what
should be a good cruiser. Well bought and
sold.
SOLD AT $34,450. Early in the Stovebolt-6
era, Chevy used patriotic-leaning model
names, with a new one each year—e.g.,
Capitol, National, Independence and
Eagle—so the name Confederate seems an
odd choice for 1932. That said, compared
with the popularity of ’32 Fords, a ’32 Chevy
really is a rebel. Well bought and sold.
#S1-1951 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 3100
military SUV. S/N 5KPE11104. Blue/gray
cloth. Odo: 21,542 miles. 216-ci I6, 1-bbl,
3-sp. Originally delivered to U.S. Air Force;
retains Department of Defense stock tag on
dash. Paint is brighter than stock Air Force
Strata Blue, with very heavy orange peel.
Mix of some newer and mostly scary old
crumbling wiring. Front seats only, with amateur
reupholstering. Cond: 3.
NOT SOLD AT $22,500. Certainly a pleasing
enough car to the eye, but with the few
loose ends, it’s basically a cruiser. That
said, the bid was a bit light, as this should
be somewhere past $25k.
#S100-1956 CHEVROLET 3100 pickup.
S/N 3A56K021149. Dark aqua/tan vinyl.
Odo: 269 miles. 235-ci I6, 1-bbl, 3-sp.
Minimal options, even radio-delete. Bare
sheet-metal frame-off restoration. Highquality
paint anywhere you look. Modern
non-OEM replacement windshield.
Accessory windshield and door glass visors.
All new brightwork. New high-gloss varnished
wood bed floor with polished stainless
hardware. Near show-quality under the
hood. Perforated vinyl seat upholstery is
incorrect but appealing. Cond: 1-.
#S83-1961 CHEVROLET IMPALA convertible.
S/N 11867F157191. Red/white
vinyl/red & white vinyl. Odo: 67,598 miles.
348-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Pleasing repaint
shows some light orange peel in a few compound
curves, and masking around windshield
frame leaves a bit to be desired.
Mostly new or professionally polished trim.
Replated bumpers. Authentically detailed
under the hood very recently. Newer interior
soft trim, expertly fitted and showing no
wear. Optional 250-horse 348, Powerglide,
power steering and brakes, padded dash,
and Motorola pushbutton AM radio with dual
rear antennas. Cond: 2-.
NOT SOLD AT $12,000. Since I myself am
“Air Force surplus,” this was of particular
interest. But the workmanship put me off,
not to mention the high reserve. Still, this
offer is motivation to help a friend restore
his ex-Duluth AFB 1950 Dodge pickup. In
the past few years, non-tactical military vehicles
have been gaining interest—not just
76 AmericanCarCollector.com
NOT SOLD AT $28,000. More a showboat
than a worker bee, but it sure doesn’t take a
whole lot to make a Task Force-era pickup
look good. While this seemed like quite a
generous offer, the seller has a sporting
chance at getting over $30k if he’s patient.
#S40-1960 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE convertible.
S/N 860P11135. Light blue
metallic/white vinyl/two-tone blue vinyl. Odo:
NOT SOLD AT $32,000. Last seen at
Mecum’s Indy sale a month ago, with five
fewer miles on it and a no-sale at $36,000
(ACC# 210917). The seller was clear about
his plans to keep hauling it around until he
gets his price.
#S89-1965 BUICK WILDCAT convertible.
S/N 464675H944777. Beige/brown vinyl/tan
& brown vinyl. Odo: 78,343 miles. 401-ci
V8, 4-bbl, auto. Recent restoration work,
including rebuilt original motor, which presents
well in the lightly detailed engine bay.
Less-than-stellar body prep and paint, but
makes a good 10-footer. Most brightwork
replated to stock standards. Good door and
Page 76
AUCTION TIP
MECUM AUCTIONS // St. Paul, MN
panel fit. Well fitted replacement top. Interior
redone in stock style. Options include power
windows and seats, tilt steering column,
Speed Minder, AM/FM radio, and Buick
Road Wheels. Cond: 2-.
Spotting
engine issues
At auction, you don’t always get a
chance to drive the cars you’re interested
in buying. So how do you know
everything is OK under the hood before
waving your paddle? ACC always
recommends having an expert check
out any car you might be interested in
buying. But here are a few quick tips:
1. Engine oil. Ask an auction company
rep or get permission to pull the dipstick
and look for evidence of water. If it
looks cloudy, like chocolate milk, you’ve
got coolant in the crankcase, which is
murder on engine bearings. Sources
of leaks range from head gaskets to
cracked blocks, but either way, you’re
looking at a total rebuild.
2. External leaks. Look for leaks
around where each head meets the
block (if you can), as well as oil pan
leaks, timing cover leaks, and the
dreaded rear main seal leak. Remember
that in most cases, when it comes to
main seals or pan seals, either the engine
or the transmission need to come
out for proper repair.
3. Odd sounds. Ask the auction
company to start the engine and listen
for rattles. Noises could be valvetrain or
bottom end — a trained ear can often
tell right away. Any misfires? Hold a dollar
bill up to each tailpipe. If the exhaust
pushes the bill away and then pulls it
to the pipe, you may have found a bad
exhaust valve.
4. Smoke. Look at the exhaust when
the engine is running. Blue smoke is
typically burned oil, either from bad
rings or leaking valve seals. White
smoke and a sweet smell is coolant,
possibly caused by a leaking gasket,
cracked cylinder head or cracked
engine block. Grayish smoke is often a
rich idle, either from improper carburetor
settings or a sticking choke.
— Jim Pickering
78
AmericanCarCollector.com
AmericanCarCollector.com
SOLD AT $25,440. Buick was one of the
few brands to have colored convertible tops
in the 1960s, and today finding a replacement
in other than black or white is not an
inexpensive endeavor. The reserve was
lifted when the bidding ended, yielding a
respectable buy.
#S32-1966 BUICK RIVIERA 2-dr hard top.
S/N 494876H959724. White/white leather.
Odo: 12,029 miles. 425-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto.
Exceptionally good trim-off repaint, with trim
professionally buffed and polished while
removed. One rust bubble in A-pillar, otherwise
seems a solid car. Very well-preserved
interior, with light soiling in seat pleats and
minimal wear. Even the original wood fittings
are in good condition and are not
warping. Older rattle-can repaint on the
motor. Optional a/c, power windows, center
console, and Buick Road Wheels, shod with
older wide whitewall radials. Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $3,900. I seem to recall seeing
this here last year, selling for similar money.
A trifle cheap today, but I don’t bid on black
cars. See Cheap Thrills, this issue, p. 32.
#S50-1967 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE SS
396 2-dr hard top. S/N 138177K152937.
Red/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 5,748
miles. 396-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. A real SS car,
now with non-original 396 recently rebuilt,
with beefier cam, headers and Holley double
pumper carburetor added to the mix.
Minimal options, with power nothing.
Repaint comes close to the original hue,
visible on several body panels. Decent
panel gaps and door fit. Lesser-quality reproduction
seat coverings. Aftermarket
gauges, modern Hurst shifter. Cond: 3.
SOLD AT $18,020. Right color, right engine,
but considering the parts swapping,
price paid was all the money. Just a step
above a high school parking lot special,
really. The reserve was lifted when bidding
ended.
SOLD AT $9,000. With first-generation Rivs
finally entrenched as a contemporary classic,
these second-generation models have
moved up into the $10k–$20k range, and
even higher on occasion. Hard to go wrong
at this price, unless the rust weevils attack it
from the inside. Well bought.
#S48-1966 CHEVROLET CORVAIR Monza
2-dr hard top. S/N 105376W149455. Black/
red vinyl. Odo: 85,127 miles. 164-ci H6,
2x1-bbl, auto. Repainted within past few
years. The headlight bezels were painted
body color, giving the front end a very different
look. Aftermarket rock guards over
headlights. Good newer interior redo.
Modern aftermarket sound system mounted
beneath the dash, XM antenna behind driver’s
C-pillar, ostentatious speakers mounted
in rear parcel shelf. Clean motor, but with
lots of aftermarket bits and pieces. Cond: 3.
#S29-1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO RS/SS
coupe. S/N 124379L527013. Blue metallic/
white vinyl/houndstooth vinyl & cloth. Odo:
97,774 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Very
presentable older repaint. Nicely buffed-out
trim. Acceptable panel fit. Dark window tint
film on back windows. Older replacement
seat upholstery starting to show light wear;
original door panels and carpet heavily worn
in places. Optional color-keyed front bumper,
power steering, brakes and windows,
tilt steering column with wood rim wheel and
interior décor group. Period a/c installed
Page 78
MECUM AUCTIONS // St. Paul, MN
post-factory, filling up passenger’s footwell.
Cond: 3. SOLD AT $25,705. The compressor
was mounted upside-down, because it
was attached to the driver’s side of the engine—making
it all but impossible to work
on the power steering system if ever
needed. Just one of the reasons that this
wasn’t as cheap as it seemed.
#S95.1-1977 PONTIAC TRANS AM coupe.
S/N 2W87K7N127311. Black/Firethorn Red
velour. Odo: 22,508 miles. 403-ci V8, 4-bbl,
auto. Good repaint and graphics application,
although door jambs leave a lot to be
desired. New upper radiator hose, no belt
on the a/c compressor. Sold new with
California emissions, 2.41 Positraction differential,
a/c, power windows and door
locks, tilt steering column, light group,
Snowflake alloy wheels, and AM/FM/8-track
tape, now replaced with CD stereo.
Cond: 3+.
pared this time, and got a lot more attention.
Well sold.
#S165-1994 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
ZR-1 coupe. S/N 1G1YZ22 J0R5800171.
Red/black leather. Odo: 19,867 miles. 5.7-L
405-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. Miles believed
actual. Typical panel fit and paint
finish. Original dealership decal—Grossman
Chevrolet of Burnsville, MN—still on rear
valance. Original tires are approaching the
wear bars. Heaver-than-expected carpet
and seat wear for the miles, but hardly worn
out. Very tidy and all GM under the hood.
Cond: 3+.
even have my doubts about that. But it was
well done and looked like a ton of fun. High
offer was probably realistic.
#S111-1940 FORD DELUXE convertible.
S/N 5889191. Maroon/tan cloth/maroon
leather. Odo: 79,760 miles. 221-ci V8, 2-bbl,
3-sp. Older repaint with light crazing over
orange peel on hood and cowl. Good older
replating, mostly reproduction trim. Light
weathering of the replacement top. Tidy but
used engine bay, with light dust. Converted
to 12-volt electrical system and electric wipers.
Minimal wear on the older reupholstered
seat and replacement carpet. Dealer
accessory wheel trim rings, mirrors, bumper
guards, and bumper ends. Cond: 3.
SOLD AT $14,840. This car sold for $8,000
at Mecum’s Kansas City sale in March
(ACC# 203101), then was promptly consigned
for Mecum Indy in May, where it nosaled
at a market-correct high bid of
$15,000 (ACC# 206183). Seller was right to
take the money today.
CORVETTE
#S39-1968 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194378S420524. Pearlescent
white/blue vinyl. Odo: 71,428 miles. 427-ci
400-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Originally Polar
White. Stored for 24 year, now a “barn find”
and smells like it. Retains cliché details for
when it was a $3,500 used car in the late
1970s, like hood paint embellishments on
the repaint. Paint chipping on various panel
edges. Light pitting on all chrome. Lousy
rattle-can redye on most of the interior, now
marinating in Armor All. AM/FM radio still in
place. Reproduction Rally wheels with new
radials. Cond: 3-.
SOLD AT $22,260. By 1994, the ZR-1
looked a bit long in the tooth, not helped by
some signature styling cues such as the
square taillights making their way over to
the standard Corvettes. This was bought
well, as the new owner has a little time left
on the original rubber, and can choose to
either go Bloomington Gold Survivor bonestock,
or let two decades of tire development
make this a better car.
FOMOCO
#S91-1931 FORD MODEL A roadster. S/N
A267841. Fly Yellow/tan leather. Odo:
2,607 miles. 355-ci supercharged V8, auto.
Good prep and paint on fiberglass body.
Embossed interior door panels with flame
motif. 1950s F-100-style dashboard with
modern round gauges. Modern CD sound
system and Lokar shifter mounted in custom
console. Powered by bored-out small-block
Chevy motor with dual quads on top of a
6-71-type blower. Modern independent front
suspension and 9-inch Ford solid rear axle.
Declared to have a non-conforming VIN
tag—which looks like it came from a trophy
shop. Cond: 2-.
NOT SOLD AT $31,000. Pre-war flathead
V8s have seen some softening in the market
in recent years, but not by a whole lot.
This was by no means a show car, but
would still be a respectable buy for the high
offer, which should have been enough.
#S73-1955 FORD THUNDERBIRD convertible.
S/N P5FH220205. Black/black
hard top/black & white vinyl. Odo: 50,305
miles. 292-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Decent newer
trim-off repaint. Door alignment a little off.
Newer bumper replating. Exhaust correctly
routed through bumperettes, but driver’s
side at least an inch shorter than the passenger’s.
Good older seat redo, with minimal
wear. Hard top displayed off the car;
rear window loose and not installed. No soft
top. Tidy engine bay with gel-cell 6-volt battery.
Cond: 3.
SOLD AT $23,055. Last seen a little over a
month ago at the MidAmerica auction at this
very same location, where it failed to sell at
$9,500 (ACC# 201732). It was better pre-
80 AmericanCarCollector.com
NOT SOLD AT $27,000. Nothing beyond
the frame was from the 20th century, and I
SOLD AT $23,320. This was a rather typical
example of the first-year T-Birds I see at
auction: pleasing to the eye, but more of a
driver than a show car. The gel-cell battery
is one of the smartest things to do on these
6-volt wonders, as they need all the help
they can get to crank over when at all cold.
Market-correct price.
Page 79
MECUM AUCTIONS // St. Paul, MN
Yellow/parchment vinyl. Odo: 45,039 miles.
289-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Miles claimed actual.
Pretty much original and wears California
black plates. Light scratches and chips on
all-original paint. Light ding on front bumper,
light pitting on door handles and vent window
frames. Recent replacement of all
brake and fuel components aside from carburetor,
as logged in the service records
that have been kept since day one. Optional
4-barrel 289, automatic, a/c, power steering
and brakes. Cond: 3.
#S66-1966 FORD MUSTANG fastback.
S/N 6R09A183168. Springtime
and mechanically refurbished within past
few years. Good prep and paint. Bumpers
and some easy-to-remove trim have been
replated. Heavier pitting on vent-window
frames. Mostly new door and window seals.
Reupholstered seats and door panels, authentic
to original pattern. Recently replaced
top and carpet. Tidy, clean and generally
stock engine compartment. Out-of-car engine
repaint. Optional power steering.
Cond: 3+.
black vinyl. Odo: 27,118 miles. 440-ci V8,
4-bbl, auto. Originally built with a 273 under
the hood, now a slightly warmed-up 1967
440 has taken up residence. Good-quality
eight-year-old color repaint from original
light blue with dark blue roof. Replated bumpers,
expertly buffed-out trim. Period Cragar
SS wheels on modern radials. Older repro
interior. Noticeable mothball smell inside,
but not enough to drive you out. Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $17,755. Very well bought.
Untouched, low-mile, first-gen Mustangs are
almost non-existent, now that we are approaching
their 50th anniversary.
#S10-1974 FORD F-100 Ranger XLT
pickup. S/N F10APU01617. Brown
metallic/brown nylon. Odo: 23,769 miles.
240-ci I6, 2-bbl, 3-sp. Mileage claimed actual.
Stated to have original paint, but clearcoat
over most of it and uneven sheen on
driver’s door. Post-dealership Ziebart rustproofing
plugs in all sorts of out-of-the-way
places. Interior like new, aside from light
carpet wear. Very clean and not detailed
engine bay—which is a good thing in this
case. Unusual factory pickup box topper,
sliding rear window and high-output heater,
plus dealer-installed rear step bumper and
Panasonic AM/FM stereo radio. Cond: 3+.
NOT SOLD AT $19,000. It’s hard to fathom
that this was the “big” Plymouth for 1954.
By 1960, this would be more closely related
in size to the new Valiant than the finned
beast that shared its name. A better car
than what was bid for here, but not by all
that much.
#S119-1959 DODGE CORONET 2-dr hard
top. S/N ND11004. Two-tone gunmetal
metallic/red vinyl & black nylon. Odo:
12,747 miles. 326-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto.
Assigned North Dakota VIN, as original s/n
tag is gone. Better-quality repaint, good
stainless trim, replated bumpers. Light pitting
on rest of chrome. Good door gaps, but
clunky fit. Optional backup lights, which
come on with the brake lights. Mostly original
interior, with some seat panel replacement
and newer carpet with heavier soiling.
Rattle-can repaint of engine block and intake
manifold, better repaint of air cleaner,
original paint on valve covers. New offbrand
radial tires. Cond: 3.
NOT SOLD AT $15,500. While the liberties
taken here don’t add value to it as a collectible,
the high bid was still less than the sum
of the parts. Seller was correct to keep it.
AMERICANA
#S130.1-1941 WILLYS STREET ROD
coupe. S/N 44170341. Gold & black/tan
leather. Odo: 68 miles. 582-ci supercharged
V8, manual. Non-conforming VIN tag, so no
1941 Willys were harmed in making this
street rod. Fiberglass body on Outlaw chassis.
House of Kolor paint job, done better
than any production car. Reproduction
chrome grille and headlight trim rings.
Custom interior with Mercedes seats, Hurst
shifter, and Ididit billet steering column.
Custom upholstered trunk with stylized
Willys logo in the leather. Tons of chrome
and polished aluminum under the hood,
including an 8-71-type blower fed with dual
Holley double-pumpers. Cond: 2+.
NOT SOLD AT $6,000. Even with the
6-banger and three-on-the-tree on this relatively
plain pickup, the seller did right to hold
out for more here, due to the good, original
condition.
MOPAR
#S87-1954 PLYMOUTH BELVEDERE convertible.
S/N 13518937. Light blue/white
vinyl/light blue & white vinyl. Odo: 21,945
miles. 230-ci I6, 1-bbl, 3-sp. Cosmetically
SOLD AT $11,660. The 1959 Dodge took a
styling sidestep from the rest of the Chrysler
line, switching from tall vertical fins to big
horizontal “bat-wing” fins, like Buick and
Chevrolet. A decent cruiser overall, but the
assigned VIN kept the price low.
#S27.1-1966 PLYMOUTH BELVEDERE II
2-dr hard top. S/N RH23F61154827. Red/
SOLD AT $90,100. Like all such custom
creations, value is solely determined by
what someone else is willing to pay for it on
the day, hopefully covering the stack of receipts
accumulated while building it. This
price is right in the zone were it could’ve
well been the real cost to build it. Top sale
of the day. A
September-October 2012 81
BEST
BUY
Page 80
SILVER AUCTIONS // Coeur d’Alene, ID
muscle at “Car d’Alene Weekend”
Silver’s rods, Classics and
SILVER SOLD A SWEET ’32 FORD HIGHBOY REPLICA FOR $30,240,
AND A 1957 CHEVY BEL AIR POST BROUGHT $27,000
Report and photos by
Jack Tockston
Market opinions in italics
M
$600k
$500k
$200k
$300k
$400k
$100k
0
82 AmericanCarCollector.com
2012
2011
2010
itch Silver’s crew erected
their big white tent on the
grounds of Idaho’s awardwinning
Coeur d’Alene
Resort on June 16, 2012,
right next to the beautiful lake of the same
name. This was the city’s “Car d’Alene
Weekend,” which included the auction, a car
show, a street dance and Sherman Avenue
cruise — all geared toward motor-head
Silver Auctions
Coeur d’Alene 2012, Coeur d’Alene, ID
June 16, 2012
Auctioneers: Mitch Silver, Matt Backs,
Bob Graham
Lots sold/offered: 44/98
Sales rate: 45%
Sales total: $440,046
High American sale: 1991 Jeep Wrangler,
sold at $32,400
Buyer’s premium: 8%, included in sold
prices
Silver sales total
1932 Ford Model B replica highboy roadster, sold at $30,240
family fun.
For significant others not interested in
car-related activities, there were plenty of
alternatives within a block or two: roomy
cruise boats stood by, offering 90-minute
lake tours, and sea planes came and went on
local sight-seeing flights. Walks could be
taken along the luxurious marina, fashionable
shops were open, and a variety of
restaurants beckoned.
Auction offerings included some interest-
ing restored classic and late-model boats,
trailers, one vintage tractor, and a couple
of motorcycles. However, the focus here is
on the 84 cars and trucks that crossed the
block. In total 44 sold, and 54 failed to meet
reserve, for a sell-through rate of 45% and
$440k in vehicle sales.
A custom 1991 Jeep Wrangler was
the top sale at $32,400 (yes, you read that
right), followed by a nicely restored 1968
Dodge Charger at $31,320. A sweet ’32
Ford Highboy brought $30,240, and a 1957
Chevy Bel Air post street machine changed
addresses at $27,000.
Notable no-sales (some with unrealistic
reserves) included a car-hauling 2007
Freightliner Sport crew-cab truck with
matching white stacker trailer, bid to just
$75,000, and a customized 1963 Chevy
Nova convertible show car, which stalled
out at $62,500. A 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air
convertible returned home after a high
offer $45,000, and a fresh big-block 1930
T-Bucket roadster pickup foundered at the
same number.
My personal dream garage pick was a
2002 Corvette engine that sold for mere
pittance at $8,640. An NCRS-quality 1964
Corvette drop top with 4-speed and 365 hp
(with solid lifters ticking nicely) was also a
car guy magnet that failed to sell at $41,000.
Mitch Silver’s organization is the leading
purveyor of vintage, special-interest and
collector cars in the Pacific Northwest.
(They hold events in Montana, Nevada
and Wyoming, too.) That distinction was
earned over 33 years, which says a lot in this
competitive business. Silver’s dockets usually
contain an eclectic range of affordable
entry-level collectibles all the way up to the
occasional spendy exotics. The vast majority
are well turned-out, rust-free, West Coast
vehicles that sell for reasonable prices.
I started attending Silver’s sales in 1991;
and in those 21 years, I’ve watched his company
expand while maintaining a consistent
reputation of high integrity. They don’t
charge for bidder numbers, premiums are
low, and buyers and consignors are served
promptly and competently by friendly
administrators. If these comments make me
sound like an unabashed fan, it’s absolutely
true.A
Page 82
SILVER AUCTIONS // Coeur d’Alene, ID
GM
#4-1949 CHEVROLET DELUXE 2-dr
sedan. S/N 5GKD16338. White/brown
cloth. Odo: 69,090 miles. 216-ci I6, 1-bbl,
3-sp. New shiny white paint over shallow
bodywork dings; wheels painted to match,
with dog-dish hubcaps. Original glass, windshield
sandblasted as expected. Chrome
thin, stainless good. Original cloth interior,
door panels lightly water-stained, good dash
and instruments. Optional factory radio intact.
Stock and driver-quality underhood.
Rusty exhaust pipe. Cond: 3+.
steel/black & white vinyl. Odo: 18,600 miles.
365-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Economically painted
dark purple metallic, with pinky-beige roof
and lower fenders. Most chrome intact with
some on backseat, most pot metal pitted.
Interior appears recent in black and white
vinyl, fits well. Engine looks rebuilt with aluminum
valve covers and radiator, chromed
alternator and power brake booster. Offered
on bill of sale. Cond: 4+.
and sounds great. Cond: 1-.
NOT SOLD AT $38,000. Having grown up
in a Buick household, I was smitten with this
car—even more than when I saw it sell last
month for a bargain $20,600 at Silver’s May
2012 Spokane auction (ACC# 201597). The
seller went for the quick flip, but apparently
he thinks there’s even more to be made
than this. He may get more.
SOLD AT $6,480. New paint on this
Montana car with no evidence of rust or
major damage made it a real eye-catcher.
Closer inspection revealed there’s more
work to do (and probably a repaint, since
the buyer didn’t like the color), but I’ll call it
well bought, under the $8,650 low estimate.
#22-1955 CHEVROLET BEL AIR convertible.
S/N VC550072462. Dusk Rose & India
Ivory/white vinyl/ivory & black vinyl. Odo:
154 miles. 283-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Frame-off
restoration in classic period colors. Straight
panels, good gaps. New white top fits well.
Wide whites on steel rims with hubcaps.
New chrome and glass, passenger’s window
BB-damaged, no windshield wipers.
Power top pump, hoses and new visors in
trunk. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $5,184. This had the vibe of an
abandoned project most appropriate for an
urban purveyor of intimate favors. But,
again proving there is a butt for every seat,
this project sold to a happy couple, and it’ll
be interesting to see what they do with it.
Well sold.
#33-1957 CHEVROLET BEL AIR 2-dr
sedan. S/N VC560122903. Red & white/tan
cloth. Odo: 4,733 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl,
auto. Frame-off restoration with low miles.
Straight panels. Excellent paint, brightwork
and glass with new seals. Warmed-over
Chevy 350 produces 390–414 hp, per dyno
sheet. Turbo 400 transmission, 11-inch front
discs, 10-bolt Camaro rear with 3.08:1 ratio.
Interior redone in tan cloth. Chrome glovebox
door, B&M shifter on floor. Cond: 2+.
#144-1966 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE 300
2-dr sedan. S/N 6613411BF00217.
White/green vinyl. Odo: 79,000 miles. 502ci
V8, 4-bbl, 6-sp. Immaculate presentation.
Focal point is immaculate engine compartment
containing 502-ci, 502-hp crate engine
with Barry Grant 4-bbl and big-bore headers,
fitted with Richmond 6-speed manual.
BeCool aluminum radiator, dual circuit master
cylinder for power disc brakes also
noted. Laser-straight panels, perfect white
paint, wide steel wheels match body color,
new chrome throughout. Perfect glass, new
window felts. All-new reproduction two-tone
green interior. Cond: 1-.
NOT SOLD AT $45,000. I saw this one
cross the block the previous month at
Silver’s Spokane auction, where it was a
no-sale at $53,000 (ACC# 201599). With
about 30 more miles showing today, the
right window remained BB-damaged, wipers
still not mounted, same parts still in trunk.
Perhaps the seller should take the hint and
take a weekend or two to finish the restoration
and, possibly, achieve the desired results.
#72-1957 CADILLAC DEVILLE sedan. S/N
5762128712. Purple metallic/Pinkish-beige
84 AmericanCarCollector.com
SOLD AT $27,000. It’s nice to see a Bel Air
post receive this much attention. The buyer
told me he wanted this one to relive his high
school days in it. Sold correct at an average
retail price.
#74-1965 BUICK RIVIERA GS 2-dr hard
top. S/N 494475H932626. White/white
vinyl. Odo: 161,634 miles. 425-ci V8, 2x4bbl,
auto. White paint is 10 years old and
looks perfect. Excellent chrome and
brightwork, chrome factory Rally wheels
with zero curb rash. Mint reproduction interior,
later-model wooden Regal steering
wheel mounted, restored original included.
Clean engine compartment, two Edelbrock
4-bbl carbs (upgraded for better fuel economy)
on rare original factory dualquad manifold,
original carbs included. Runs, looks
NOT SOLD AT $28,500. Talk about a
“sleeper”! This looked like grandma’s grocery-getter
unless you noticed the widened
steelies. No one would pay attention until
the taillights blurred to infinity. No set market
value for such a creation, but to the bidders
today, it was worth $28,500—which
might just cover the parts.
#34-1967 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE
Malibu convertible. S/N 136677Z154575.
Maroon/black cloth/black vinyl. Odo: 48,015
miles. 327-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. A good-looking
drop-top with a seemingly recent repaint in
Page 84
SILVER AUCTIONS // Coeur d’Alene, ID
original maroon. Orange peel noted on tops
of doors, casual masking around rubber
trim. Newer bumpers, steel wheels and
stock hubcaps. GM panel fit, excellent stainless,
original grille lightly sand-blasted. New
convertible top, reproduction interior.
Underhood all stock, previously detailed,
now dusty. Cond: 2+. NOT SOLD AT
$34,000. The straight, clean, not overdone
restoration made for a comfortable package.
Seller must still feel comfortable, too,
as about $27k would be top of the market
for this car.
#32-1968 CHEVROLET EL CAMINO
pickup. S/N 38808Z117474. Black/gold
vinyl. Odo: 74,045 miles. 396-ci V8, 4-bbl,
auto. Unrestored car with original big block,
transmission, paint and spare tire. Straight
panels per factory, antenna missing. Stone
chips brush-filled on nose, many chips on
splash panels underhood. New rear bumper,
light scuffs on original front, box dentless.
“Yellowed-wall” tires. Engine dirty,
looks stock, including a/c compressor.
Original gold interior preserved under clear
plastic seat covers, Delco radio retained.
Fairly rare, with 5,190 so equipped this
model year. Cond: 3.
new. Original a/c said to need a charge.
Clean stock original interior. Build sheet and
Protect-O-Plate present. Cond: 3. SOLD
AT $8,424. Some 167,900 of these were
produced in period, as the concept of suburbia
continued to expand, but most are long
gone. This example had a good vibe, and
the chrome Cragars set if off nicely. Well
bought and sold.
#52-1972 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE 2-dr
hard top. S/N 1D37H2R540801. Blue
metallic/white vinyl/white vinyl. Odo: 68,311
miles. 383-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Show-quality
prep and paint, door and panel fit better
than usual GM fare. White stripes clearcoated
for smooth feel. New white vinyl
roof. Rocket brand 18-inch chromed alloys
on front, 20-inch rears for proper stance.
Nice stock interior, plastic door knobs yellowed,
manual windows. Tach by gas
gauge, three knee-knocker gauges under
dash center, aftermarket hard rubber steering
wheel. Underhood clean, with K&N air
filter, Accel wires, Optima RedTop battery,
gear-driven cam. Cond: 1-.
detail is what brings top dollar, and this one
fell a bit short, likely a restoration that ran
out of steam. Bidding was enthusiastic, but
the high bid looked like more than enough.
#18-1987 GMC SIERRA Classic pickup.
S/N 1GCEV14K8HJ156253. Blue
metallic/black vinyl. Odo: 73,949 miles. 350ci
V8, 4-bbl, auto. Beautiful 4x4 with blue
metallic paint, ghost flames, straight panels,
excellent chrome and brightwork. Custom
polished 20-inch rims with newish off-road
rubber set off raised stance. Engine clean,
with Edelbrock 4-barrel, headers, billet
sparkplug loom. Interior clean, tach on
dash, Grant rubber steering wheel, recent
black vinyl seating, rattle-can black door
panels. Sprayed-in bedliner over dents.
Cond: 3+.
NOT SOLD AT $17,500. This rust-free, bigblock
muscle truck was originally purchased
in Spokane. It’s rare to find one this straight
and unmolested, and it would take relatively
little to make it into a showpiece. It fell
$8,000 short of seller’s mentioned reserve.
#44-1968 CHEVROLET IMPALA wagon.
S/N 164358C127457. Blue metallic/blue
cloth. Odo: 6,975 miles. 327-ci V8, 4-bbl,
auto. Better-than-average respray in original
color. Good bumpers, excellent stainless.
Right front door fit out at rear, crumbling
weatherseals around doors, good glass all
around. New radials on chrome Cragar fivespoke
mags. Underhood exceptionally
clean and detailed, with new Chevy Orange
paint. Black splash panels appear brand
SOLD AT $20,520. Last seen at BarrettJackson’s
Las Vegas sale in September
2011, where sold for $22,000 (ACC#
188064). Initially unsold across the block, it
was later reported sold at this price, so the
seller took a minor haircut.
#13-1972 GMC 1500 Sierra pickup. S/N
TCE142F703199. Black/black & white vinyl.
Odo: 2,529 miles. 402-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto.
Better-than-average paint, straight panels
and fit, box dented and coated in black.
Factory steel wheels with trim rings and
dog-dish caps, recent rubber. Brightwork
worn, both outside mirror bases and door
vent chrome pitted, rear window slider
frame shows many dents. Interior has wood
NOT SOLD AT $7,200. Recently seen at
Silver’s Spokane sale on May 9, where it
no-saled at $8,100 with 74 fewer miles
showing (ACC# 201590). Though an attractive
truck, this looked basically too nice for
off-road work or rock climbing. The seller
may have to search hard to find the buyer
willing to pay his price.
CORVETTE
#78-1964 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible.
S/N 40867S110463. Silver Blue/
black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 74,801 miles.
327-ci 365-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Mint-looking
convertible following frame-off restoration.
New Silver Blue paint with correct metallics,
all-new chrome and jewelry. American
Racing mags with matching blue-painted
centers for a custom touch. Interior all new,
clear gauges, Hurst shifter for 4-speed.
Chassis show-ready. Underhood correct
and stock in every detail, except stock
86 AmericanCarCollector.com
steering wheel, excellent door panels, tach
on dash, new seat covering. 12-bolt rear
with Posi. Cond: 3. NOT SOLD AT
$18,000. A good 10-footer, but attention to
aluminum valve covers are polished to a
gloss. Cond: 1-. NOT SOLD AT $41,000.
Page 86
SILVER AUCTIONS // Coeur d’Alene, ID
This matching-numbers Corvette could be
an NCRS show-stopper with a few nonstock
nits corrected. Just change out the
wheels and valve covers for a Top Flight
Award, and smile for the camera with certificate
in hand. On startup, the familiar sound
of solid lifters brought back memories of
previous vintage ‘Vettes I’ve owned—a nostalgic
stimulus not offered by my C5. Bidder
was right to hold out for something in the
mid-$50s.
#15-1981 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1G1AY8765BF403753.
White/black leather. Odo: 74,640 miles.
350-ci 250-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. White paint in
good condition, save for buff-through on top
of fender. No stone chips or door dings.
Radio antenna missing, right door not centered.
Mirrored glass tops, holes in rear
deck indicate optional factory luggage rack.
Factory alloys have Goodyear Eagle GT
white-letter tires with 50% tread remaining.
Dried-out leather in clean original interior.
Cond: 3.
wheels and two-tone seat upholstery may
have turned off a few purists, but “Resale
Red” drop-tops are always tempting to
many bidders. This one was obtained for a
few hundred dollars under the $9,750 low
estimate and felt about right.
#26-1991 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible.
S/N 1G1YY3387M5104646. Dark
Red Metallic/black vinyl/black leather. Odo:
92,330 miles. 350-ci 250-hp fuel-injected
V8, auto. Decent original paint, front resprayed
with excellent color match—presumably
due to road rash, since no
evidence of crash damage found. Windshield
chipped, weatherseals dried, driver’s
door mirror glass falling out of housing. Top
stowed, condition unknown. American
Racing mags mounted, no curb scrapes,
bald front tires, 20% remaining on rears.
Stock interior clean; seats dried and cracking.
Cond: 3.
FOMOCO
#145-1923 FORD T-bucket pickup. S/N
A4601818. Red/black cloth/ black vinyl.
Odo: 343 miles. Single-door fiberglass body
by unknown maker. Excellent deep candyred
paint with multi-color accents. Fully
dressed big block with dual quads on highrise
manifold standing proud feeding (loud)
chrome sidepipes. Corvette IRS out back,
five-inch dropped axle up front, everything
chromed. Traditional tuck-and-rolled interior,
vintage-look gauges, transmission selector
on floor. Titled as a 1930 Ford, but owner
states it will be changed to 1923 for accuracy.
Cond: 1-.
SOLD AT $8,100. This example had averaged
just 3,500 miles per year. At the price
paid, the buyer could have the leather seating,
radio antenna, and old tires replaced
and still not be upside-down. Well bought.
#12-1990 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible.
S/N 1G1YY338115112532.
Red/black cloth/black & gray vinyl. Odo:
90,826 miles. 350-ci 250-hp fuel-injected
V8, auto. Paint appears original. Panels per
factory, good black cloth top. Chrome aftermarket
Z06 reproduction wheels, recent
rubber. Engine stock-appearing and dirty.
Interior clean, seats re-covered in non-original
black-and-gray vinyl for custom touch.
Cond: 3.
SOLD AT $7,992. Driven about 4,400 miles
per year, this Corvette didn’t get much use.
Overall impression was positive, with cosmetic
needs left for a new owner. At the
price paid, buyer should have room to make
things right.
#17-2000 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible.
S/N 1G1YY32G7Y5129772. Light
Pewter Metallic/black vinyl/black leather.
Odo: 52,561 miles. 350-ci 345-hp fuel-injected
V8, 6-sp. Excellent paint has no
dings or chips. Recent Goodyear Runflats
on polished factory alloys with no curb rash.
Clean original black interior; seats minimally
creased, driver’s bolster unusually perfect.
With Heads-Up display and preferred
6-speed manual. Clean and stock
underhood. Cond: 2.
NOT SOLD AT $45,000. The traditional
hot-rod show car of the event. Horsepower
was estimated “around 650,” and that was
believable. As always, such creative builds
are valued by their build quality. This one
was on top of the hot rod heap, but the $46k
offered wasn’t enough to take it home.
#7-1932 FORD MODEL B highboy replica
roadster. S/N 18109262. Gray/black hard
top/gray vinyl. RHD. Odo: 4,219 miles. 2010
fenderless build with fiberglass body, source
unknown by seller. Show-ready, top to bottom.
1931 Caddy headlights mounted low,
chrome five-inch dropped front axle, Durant
springs, leather hood straps, widened steelies
front and rear. ASE rails, Marvel rackand-pinion
steering, four-bar rear with Aldan
coil-overs. SoCal aircraft-style gauges on
dash, custom gray vinyl interior with Lokar
shifter for 700R4 automatic spinning a
3.50:1 Posi rear. Removable hard top covered
in black canvas included. Cond: 1-.
SOLD AT $8,640. This was a decent,
driver-quality Corvette with condition commensurate
with mileage. Non-original
88 AmericanCarCollector.com
SOLD AT $20,520. This was a well-presented
C5, with the top equipment group
and 6-speed manual. Adult driven for about
4,400 miles per year, it looked to be well
maintained and in excellent condition. Well
bought, about $2k under the $22,250 low
estimate.
SOLD AT $30,240. With a reported build
cost of $60k, and driven just 4k miles, this
mint highboy street rod got a lot of deserved
Page 88
SILVER AUCTIONS // Coeur d’Alene, ID
attention. Subtle gray show paint, chromed
everything, proper stance, great sound, and
old-school style got the looks. Well bought,
to audience applause.
#19-1937 FORD MODEL 78 slantback
sedan. S/N 3373414. Red/tan cloth.
Odo: 46,041 miles. 221-ci V8, 1-bbl, 3-sp.
Very good prep and paint on straight panels.
New chrome bumpers, new glass, dull
grille. No door dings, chips or evidence of
crash damage. Original steel wheels, hubcaps,
Wide whitewall tires. Dual handpainted
black beltline stripes. Tan cloth
interior looks new, excellent dash with working
original clock and radio. 1950s accessory
turn signals added. Engine
compartment clean and stock. Runs as
good as it looks. Cond: 2-.
tion, a few minutes at the spray-and-wash
will help make the sale. Paddles waved to
$17,500, shy of the realistic $20k–$35k presale
estimate.
#92-1969 FORD MUSTANG coupe. S/N
9R01H129597. Blue/black vinyl/gray cloth.
Odo: 72,068 miles. 351-ci V8, 4-bbl, manual.
Blue metallic paint from a high-quality
shop. New black vinyl top, black hood
scoop, show-worthy chrome and stainless,
excellent glass. Centerline polished wheels
set off body color. Interior all new. Engine
compartment dusty, with “Ford Motorsport”
valve covers, chrome alternator, remainder
stock. No rust or leaks found. Cond: 1-.
vinyl/white vinyl. Odo: 5,109 miles. 383-ci
V8, 4-bbl, auto. Spendy, show-quality paint,
new white vinyl top, R/T badging. Boss alloys
set if off. Excellent brightwork and
glass. Interior presents as new, save for
chips in black paint around ignition and adjoining
lower panel, glove box door sticking
out. Sony tunes, speakers added to rear
package shelf. New red carpeting and polished
sills. Underhood has a detailed, stocklooking
383 V8 in factory colors; rust acne
on spash shields painted over. Cond: 1-.
NOT SOLD AT $12,500. This was a fresh,
attractive ride from every angle. Bidding hit
the ceiling at $12,500, but seller was right to
wait for at least $5k more.
SOLD AT $14,148. Presentation was first
rate, and included spares in the trunk.
Ready for touring or parades, and the little
flathead V8 was barely audible when running.
Price paid was right in the middle of
the $10,900–$17,500 pre-sale estimate,
making the buyer pleased and seller visibly
remorseful as he removed his few personal
effects.
#80-1965 FORD MUSTANG convertible.
S/N 5F08A706747. Blue metallic/black
vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 36,066 miles. 289-ci
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Very good paint on straight
and well-fitted panels, except right door out
at bottom. Chrome “springy-thingy” aftermarket
radio antenna on right rear detracts.
GT fitments include Rally wheels, gauge
pack, dual exhaust through rear fascia.
Interior has wood steering wheel, new repop
Pony interior. Engine compartment
stock, dirty. Cond: 3+.
MOPAR
#28-1956 DODGE SIERRA wagon. S/N
35120894. Two-tone green/green cloth.
Odo: 67,017 miles. 270-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto.
Original color was medium green; dark
green on upper panels added later. Many
dings and scratches. Windshield cracked,
all brightwork tired, driver’s door trim on
back seat. Bent hood won’t close. Interior
original and tired, surface rust on upper
door sills. Pushbutton transmission. Dirty
underhood, radiator cap missing. Note says
“Brakes fade.” Cond: 4.
SOLD AT $31,320. Fabulous preparation
and paint, excellent shut lines, new chrome
and badging, and aftermarket alloys made
the “wow” factor. But to go this far, then to
paint over underhood surface rust and leave
the flapping glove-box door and dashboard
paint blemishes makes one wonder what
surprises may be lurking. All things considered,
a fair price paid.
AMERICANA
#71-1949 PACKARD STANDARD EIGHT
sedan. S/N 28801. Maroon/tan cloth. Odo:
56,706 miles. 288-ci I8, 2-bbl, 3-sp. “From
Grandpa’s farm in Montana” according to a
windshield note. Repaint on original panels
is 14 years old and still presentable; minor
storage rash, doors slightly wavy. Dual
spotlights mounted, driver’s outside door
handle loose. Thin chrome plating on bumpers,
original rubber weatherseals dry but
holding. Interior appears factory-original,
with light water-staining on mohair door
panels and a cracked steering wheel.
Engine compartment clean, no apparent
leaks. Cond: 3.
NOT SOLD AT $17,500. Good presentation
until you opened the hood to find everything
filthy. Whether offering it online or at auc-
90 AmericanCarCollector.com
SOLD AT $6,480. Apparently from long
storage, restoring this tired wagon would
require everything. When new, fuel mileage
was listed at 12.3 mpg, so limited range
should be expected. Well sold.
#25-1968 DODGE CHARGER 2-dr hard
top. S/N XP29H8B213609. Red/white
SOLD AT $8,694. Overall, this was an honest
example that was once a favorite of upper-middle-class
professionals (and at least
one Montana farmer) back in the day. After
a thorough safety check, this one should
have been ready for local errands and cruising.
Price paid was right at the $8k low estimate,
making this well bought and sold. A
BEST
BUY
Page 90
VANDERBRINK AUCTIONS // Bismarck, ND
VanDerBrink sells the
Mariner Collection
JUST WILL POWER (AND LACK OF PARKING) KEPT ME FROM BIDDING
ON A 15K-MILE 1961 INTERNATIONAL FIRE TRUCK, SOLD FOR $1,500
Report and photos by
B. Mitchell Carlson
Market opinions in italics
O
ver the years, Art Mariner
gathered up a venerable
“soup-to-nuts” collection
of vintage cars and trucks.
For the most part, they were
project vehicles — some from as far away
as Texas, but most were local North Dakota
cars. Yet, there were some nice original cars
from the 1970s and 1980s, plus a virtually
new 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 and
2012 Mustang Boss 302. When Mariner
VanDerBrink Auctions
The Mariner Collection, Bismarck, ND
June 16, 2012
Auctioneers: Yvette VanDerBrink,
Dale Pavlis, Aaron Williamson
Lots sold/offered: 253/260
Sales rate: 97%
Sales total: $523,075
High American sale: 2011 Dodge
Challenger SRT8 coupe, sold at $40,000
Buyer’s premium: No buyer’s fee charged
Anyone looking for a project parts hauler?
decided to clean house, he contracted with
VanDerBrink auctions to sell off the collection.
Yvette VanDerBrink and her crew were
the natural choice, as she is arguably the best
auctioneer in the collector car industry for
selling off bulk quantities of dead or project
cars. This proved to be true again, as she
made short work of the 260 vehicles offered.
Starting right at 10 a.m., they sold over a
dozen signs, then more than a dozen engines
on pallets — ranging from a complete collection
of first-generation Chrysler Hemis
to modern 5.7-L Hemis. After that, it was
on to the cars, starting with the two dozen
better-quality vehicles. Of these, 10 had
reserves on them. While the Boss 302 failed
to meet the reserve, the Challenger found a
new home when it was bid to the $40,000
reserve — the top sale of the day. Moving
on to the two well laid-out staging lots of the
project and parts cars, the last vehicle was
declared sold at 3:40 p.m.
Prices were all over the board, with some
excellent buys. Among the good deals were a
1977 Mercury Marquis for $950, a big-block
1972 Chevy Monte Carlo for $5,600, and a
15k-mile 1961 International fire truck for
$1,500 — my hands-down favorite of the
day, and only will power (and lack of space
to park it) kept me from bidding. Also on
offer were as many 1950s grain trucks as
you could roll onto a flatbed trailer, for $300
apiece — the established scrap value for
trucks. A $275 opening bid on any car was
needed to keep it from being squashed.
Not-so-excellent buys that left some folks
2011 Dodge Challenger SrT8 coupe, sold for $40,000
92 AmericanCarCollector.com
scratching their heads included a 6k-mile
1987 Buick Grand National for $29,000 and
an “I’m not dead yet” 1970 Dodge Charger
for $13,500. When all was said and done,
all but seven vehicles were declared sold,
and the other 253 yielded a grand total of
$523,075 in sales. A
Page 92
VANDERBRINK AUCTIONS // Bismarck, ND
GM
#615-1957 OLDSMOBILE 88 FIESTA
wagon. S/N 577M38066. Red/red & gray
vinyl. Odo: 64,534 miles. 371-ci V8, 4-bbl,
auto. Faded old repaint and a few dents on
the right side, but with minimal rust-out. Has
most of its trim. Back window broken out,
most side glass cracked. Very dirty engine
bay, with various parts missing off the
motor. All interior vinyl is shot. Moss on
floorboards. Cond: 5.
fuel filler lid on rear bumper. Partially disassembled
dashboard, no carpet. Back seats
just as shredded as the top. Optional power
windows. Cond: 5.
rounds the shift boot at the floorboard, with
the clutch pedal pad sitting next to it.
Cond: 5+.
SOLD AT $6,250. A rough convertible that
went for a big price. More a parts car than
the start of a restoration, I would have
thought.
SOLD AT $3,300. As one of the most desirable
wagons from the 1950s, this seemingly
high price wasn’t all that out of line. Just
slightly.
#607-1958 CHEVROLET BEL AIR 2-dr
sedan. S/N F58J171904. Aegean
Turquoise & Arctic White/multi-aqua vinyl.
Odo: 14,987 miles. 283-ci fuel-injected V8,
auto. Originally equipped with fuel injection,
but everything associated with it under the
hood—including the motor—is long gone.
Very limited structural rust. Faded and
weathered original paint. Every piece of trim
is dinged, dented or pitted. Good glass.
Bare seat frames and springs. Complete
dashboard. Cond: 5.
#596-1959 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE Safari
wagon. S/N 75891811. Dark beige
metallic/beige vinyl. Odo: 86,218 miles.
389-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Aftermarket rear window
air deflectors. Wears at least two repaints
in different colors, with gray primer
thrown in. Rust-out along wheelwells and
bottoms of rocker panels. Dusty and crusty
interior, but the seats aren’t really torn up.
The dash, on the other hand, is trashed.
Cond: 5-.
SOLD AT $375. Back when there actually
were real differences between a GMC and a
Chevy, the 305 V6 was a torquey workhorse,
well suited for pickup use. However,
since it doesn’t rev as high as a small-block
Chevy, the Bowtie models sell for more
money—even with a Stovebolt Six under
the hood. A bit rough around the edges, but
at worst it’ll make a great parts truck for a
standard-trim Jimmy or, with some work,
put it back to work.
#526-1965 CHEVROLET IMPALA SS convertible.
S/N 166675J180635.
Maroon/white vinyl/white vinyl. Odo: 14,612
miles. 327-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. A savage
beast that has sat outside far too long—the
moss looks like green carpet. Heavily
weathered paint on all body panels, even
the ones that have been swapped out. Fake
spare tire cover on trunk lid. Top vinyl pretty
much gone. Front bumper looks like a good
core for replating. Grubby and corroded
engine still in place, but missing the transmission
and shift linkage. Cond: 5-.
SOLD AT $2,400. A relatively healthy price
for not a whole lot of fuel-injection parts.
Actually none, apart from name badges,
some fuel lines, and a body tag with no accessory
codes.
#748A-1959 OLDSMOBILE 98 convertible.
S/N 599C04882. Beige metallic/white
vinyl/beige & gray cloth & vinyl. Odo: 91,762
miles. 394-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Older Bondo
buggy, with chunks falling off over the rear
wheelwells. Dull repaint, take-off rusty black
hood. Missing front bumper and driver’s
side headlight assemblies, along with the
94 AmericanCarCollector.com
SOLD AT $1,100. It wasn’t too hard to figure
out which parts bin Pontiac raided to
build their one and only wagon series for
1959. Essentially a 6-window, 4-door sedan
with a longer roof and a tailgate, it retained
all the same side glass as the sedan except
the backlight. A rather convoluted melding
of designs, but that’s why some people are
madly in love with them. Not a surprising
selling price, considering that interest in
wagons is still strong.
#688-1964 GMC SERIES 1002 Custom
pickup. S/N 1002PF15038A. Blue/beige
vinyl. Odo: 65,934 miles. 305-ci V6, 2-bbl,
manual. Last registered in 2005. Old fading
repaint, just at the point where surface rust
is taking hold. Rusted out at the fender to
door-pillar joint, patched up with filler very
crudely. Hood doesn’t sit squarely. Tackwelded
tailgate center section. Good front
grille, lightly dinged front bumper, and
painted-over cab trim. Western motif seat
cover does a good job covering the chewedup
original vinyl. A roll of masking tape sur-
SOLD AT $3,700. While this will be a rather
valuable Super Sport when done, it is a very
long road to get it there. Not a bad buy, but
by the time everything is done, the purchase
price will look cheap.
#620-1967 PONTIAC GTO 2-dr hard top.
S/N 242177P146974. Dark blue/black vinyl
roof/blue vinyl. Odo: 90,873 miles. No engine
or transmission, but set up for a stick
shift and power brakes. Half-faded repaint,
half faded down to gray primer under the
repaint. The bumpers are good enough to
be cores, as is about half of the trim including
the grille. Magnum 500 front wheels.
Most of the vinyl roof and all of the dash
Page 94
VANDERBRINK AUCTIONS // Bismarck, ND
pad has peeled off. The seats aren’t much
better. Broken dashboard, cracked along
the top and sides of the main panel. No carpet
left on the floor. Cond: 5-.
350-ci V8, 4-bbl, manual. Missing tailgate,
taillights and back bumper. Very solid and
fairly straight. Dull and faded paint, but has
good coverage and might be worth hitting
with the buffer before repainting. Last registered
in 2004. Good older plain vinyl seatre-covering
job, with no tears and light
wear. Non-original late 1970s-era 350, new
enough to have originally been painted
blue. Cond: 5+. SOLD AT $875. Very much
a good place to start a restoration or give it
CPR and put it back into the ranks as a
work truck. As such, about right for a selling
price.
SOLD AT $3,400. This Goat is solid enough
to make it worth the effort to redo it, but it
won’t be cheap or easy. Especially when
you pay this much to gain entry.
#621-1967 PONTIAC GTO 2-dr hard top.
S/N 242177P118043. Black/gold vinyl. Odo:
38,320 miles. No engine or transmission,
but set up for an automatic with the optional
Hurst Dual Gate shifter. Also has optional
air conditioning—or at least it did when new.
No front suspension or rear axle. Front
fenders are pretty much just hanging there.
Light on the structural corrosion, but the
Bondo on the right rear flanks is coming off
in sheets from previous collision work—
along with most of the paint on that panel.
Good hood, and the grille and driving lights
are salvageable. While the seats have copious
seam splits, most of the rest of the soft
trim may be salvageable. Cond: 5-.
#738-1969 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE convertible.
S/N 262679K154324. Light green
metallic/white vinyl/white vinyl. Odo: 99,935
miles. 455-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Runs out, but
needs an exhaust system replacement.
Good seats and door panels, in addition to
a newer top, which has some fit and finish
issues. Dull original paint; it’s worth touching
up the nicks and hitting it with a buffer
before writing it off for a repaint. Good original
chrome, but needs a professional polishing.
Cond: 4+.
SOLD AT $2,300. This Electra looked like a
grandpa car that had been used year-round
on a “Limited” basis. As such, enough paid.
#743-1972 CHEVROLET MONTE
CARLO 2-dr hard top. S/N 1H57U2B561564.
Yellow/black vinyl/parchment
vinyl. Odo: 78,291 miles. 402-ci V8, 4-bbl,
auto. Average-quality repaint in a brighter
shade than original. Decent door and panel
gaps. Modern replacement windshield.
Rechromed bumpers, good original trim.
New roof vinyl has a few lumpy spots on it
but otherwise fits decently. Newer seats and
door panels. Modern stereo tastefully
added. Generally stock underhood. With
optional 402 big block, power windows and
door locks, tachometer, AM/FM/8-track, rear
defogger and a/c. Cond: 3.
SOLD AT $5,600. Real-deal big-block firstgeneration
Montes are always a good commodity,
and this one looked well sorted,
even if it was no showboat. Well bought.
SOLD AT $3,500. With its relatively common
engine, this would make a good starter
drop-top. Not the most popular colors for a
convertible, but at least it’s original. For a
cruiser that you can slowly improve upon
while you use it—or just run it as is—it’s
hard to go wrong at this kind of money.
SOLD AT $2,750. Comes with a title, so the
VIN and body tags will likely become transitory.
Beyond that, do not resuscitate.
#578-1968 CHEVROLET C-10 Custom
pickup. S/N CE148J121427. Maroon/white
painted roof/red vinyl. Odo: 78,843 miles.
#744-1972 BUICK ELECTRA Limited 2-dr
hard top. S/N 4V37T3H545166. Dark blue
metallic/white vinyl/blue nylon. Odo: 10,249
miles. 455-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Miles are actual,
but condition would not seem to confirm.
Light paint fading and light structural
rust. Stiff roof vinyl with cracking along bottom
of rear window. Pitting and scratching
on all brightwork. Light seat wear, moderate
carpet wear. Older replacement radials with
notable sun fade and heavier tread wear.
Cond: 3.
#729-1975 CHEVROLET CAPRICE
CLASSIC convertible. S/N 1N67US5147594.
Red/white vinyl/white vinyl. Odo:
2,856 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Optional
a/c, power windows, and power door locks.
Miles believed original. Original paint, with
some heavier polishing scratches. Good
original chrome, again with lighter polishing
scratches. Modern radial tires, with some
heavier wear and yellowing of the whitewalls.
Well preserved original interior, with
minimal wear. Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $13,750. One of two near-identical
Caprice drop-tops here, the main difference
being body color. I’m on the fence as
far as believing the nearly 3k original-mile
claim, but someone felt it was worth ponying
an extra grand compared with the other
one. Then again, this was sold right after
the first one, so there might have been
some “Dang, I missed the first one” mentality.
Either way, I’m fine with this price.
96 AmericanCarCollector.com
BEST
BUY
Page 95
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September-October 2012 97
Page 96
VANDERBRINK AUCTIONS // Bismarck, ND
#746-1984 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS
Hurst/Olds coupe. S/N 1G3AK4795EM424607.
Silver & black/maroon cloth.
Odo: 77,566 miles. 307-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto.
Decent original paint with a few chips on
panel edges. Rust specks on wheel chrome,
dull aluminum trim. Engine bay cleaned but
far from detailed. Light interior wear. With
optional power windows, seats, locks and
sunroof, plus dealer-installed splash guards
and Auto Armor rustproofing. Sold new in
Sioux Falls. Cond: 3.
barely noticeable to troubling that it was
built like that. Original tires, with the fronts
low on air pressure and the rears low on
tread. Carpeting needs to be vacuumed and
cleaned, but rest of interior is factory-fresh
new. Topical engine bay cleanup.
Cond: 3+.
pieces in the bed. Cond: 5.
SOLD AT $6,600. The Hurst/Olds package
in ’84 was centered around the then-new
“Lightning Rods” shifter, which had three
levers. I doubt your quarter-mile times improved
much with an automatic doing all the
work—but hey, it looked cool back then and
is a rare sight today. Market-correct price
paid.
#727-1987 BUICK GRAND NATIONAL
coupe. S/N 1G4GJ117XMP437645.
Black/gray & black cloth. Odo: 6,233 miles.
3.8-L fuel-injected V6, auto. Optional power
windows, power locks, cruise control and
sunroof. Mileage believed actual. Orange
peel on most painted surfaces, ranging from
SOLD AT $29,000. Despite the low miles,
this one surprised me how well it did.
Combine “Screw build quality, I lose my job
after we knock these out” with rode-hardput-away-wet
storage, and this should have
rightfully done about half this.
FOMOCO
#686-1957 FORD F-100 pickup. S/N
F10J7P15403. Dark green/dark green vinyl.
Odo: 69,375 miles. 223-ci I6, 2-bbl, manual.
Originally painted dark aqua, but on the
outside one would be hard-pressed to tell.
Heavy surface rust—but no structural rust—
on all exterior panels. Missing right taillamp
assembly. Carburetor and air cleaner lying
in the otherwise-empty battery tray; very
dusty motor hasn’t been run in a long time.
Also very dusty inside the cab, including
generic vinyl seat cover. Various parts and
SOLD AT $1,050. Ford was the first to offer
a styled pickup box as standard equipment
with these 1957 models. 1957 was also the
only year this series had single headlights,
and as such, most enthusiasts prefer this
year over the 1958–60s. This was a strong
enough price to prove me out on that.
#902-2012 FORD MUSTANG Boss 302
coupe. S/N 1ZVBP8CU65221883. Grabber
Orange/black cloth. Odo: 293 miles. 5.0-L
fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. Basic Boss 302 package,
with Ford Racing TracKey. Minimal
road spray on chassis, light dust on motor.
Light scuffing on front spoiler, light feathering
of the tires. Otherwise, in as-delivered
condition. Cond: 2+.
NOT SOLD AT $35,000. I’ve been kicking
around getting one of these to replace my
C5 Corvette “company car.” A dealership in
the Minneapolis area had one on sale over
Memorial Day weekend for barely under
$40k. The $35k bid here was certainly
weak, but considering the lack of a dealer
markup, the bump to $40k was out of the
question.
MOPAR
#677-1938 PLYMOUTH PT-57 pickup. S/N
8631396. Black/dark blue vinyl. Odo: 26,300
miles. 201-ci I6, 1-bbl, manual. Very difficult
to tell the original color, due to several repaints
and surface rust. Once saw use at a
builder’s supply company in Colby, WI, per
the lettering on the doors. Grain gate added
to the tailgate. The motor is compete, but
hasn’t done anything in several decades.
Wears very rusty 1957 ND license plates.
Seats completely deteriorated. Missing horn
button and most of floorboard. Cond: 5-.
SOLD AT $900. In 1938, Chrysler was
98 AmericanCarCollector.com
Page 97
VANDERBRINK AUCTIONS // Bismarck, ND
Blue/black vinyl. Odo: 24,499 miles. 232-ci
V8, 2-bbl, manual. Peeling old repaint, revealing
original paint that is more of an
aqua than blue. Rust-out along the front
fender mounting points on the door posts.
Flaking-off body filler on the right rear quarter
panel. Missing the vent doors and the
hatchback window. Curling and peeling
door panels, blown-out seat bottoms.
Engine bay is complete apart from the air
cleaner. Cond: 5+.
actually making three brands of virtually the
same pickup: Dodge, the virtual carbon
copy of the Dodge in the form of the Fargo
for the Canadian market, and the Plymouth.
The latter had the greatest change—that
being a different grille. Since Plymouth pickups
were only made from 1937 to ’41, they
are highly coveted by Mopar truck fans, so
the price is not totally out of whack for these
tired old bones.
AMERICANA
#676-1949 DIAMOND T 306 pickup. S/N
30695157. Red/brown vinyl. Odo: 86,141
miles. 236-ci I6, 1-bbl, manual. Set up with
a hydraulic hoist, so it likely had a grain box
on it when new. Uneven paint fading, suggesting
possible collision repair. Grille damaged,
although rest of trim is pretty good.
Has all four hubcaps. Torn up driver’s side
seat bottom. Heavy surface rust on the inside
cab sheet metal. Farmer engineered
defroster—a heater duct extended over the
dashboard and pointing at the driver’s side
windshield, which is clouding on the edges.
Dirty and greasy engine hasn’t run in quite
some time. Cond: 5.
shape crudely and equally as crudely
painted over. Dents on every panel on the
left side. The hood is strapped down, because
the grille, radiator support, and radiator
are sitting on the bench seat. Actually,
it’s a straight shot to the rear axle, as the
whole powertrain is gone. Somewhere
under those dusty parts in the cab is a moderately
torn-up bench seat. Cond: 5-.
SOLD AT $1,350. Another “try to show me
another one that’s still around” example, so
while a bit spendy, this price was not too far
out of line for a ’50s or ’60s wagon with restoration
potential.
#694-1959 STUDEBAKER 3E1 Scotsman
pickup. S/N E13155. Red/gray vinyl. Odo:
69,455 miles. 185-ci I6, 1-bbl, manual.
Mostly faded original paint, but with several
panels that have been hammered back into
SOLD AT $575. The Scotsman was introduced
in 1958 as an economy-grade
pickup, and became the lowest priced
pickup in the two years it was built.
However, since it reverted to using the earlier
grille and headlight assemblies, it really
looked dated for the late ’50s. Especially
since those parts were first used a decade
earlier. Today, Scotsmans are quite rare,
and that makes this one both a decent buy
and worth restoring. A
SOLD AT $2,500. The ton-and-a-half model
306 is the next size up from the desirable
model 201 one-ton pickup, and even has
the same engine. I moved up closer to the
action when they got to this one, hoping that
I’d pick it up for a song like the other dead
and wounded grain trucks. No luck, Chuck,
as this brought typical big money for
Diamond Ts —oft referred to as The Cadillac
of Trucks.
#623-1954 STUDEBAKER COMMANDER
Deluxe Conestoga wagon. S/N 8362881.
September-October 2012 99
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ROUNDUP
Auctions America by RM, Bonhams, Leake Auction Company,
RM Auctions and Worldwide Auctioneers — selected sales
CLASSICS
3
#53-1931 CORD L-29 cabriolet.
S/N 2929040. Red & black/black
cloth/black leather. Odo: 45,091 miles.
High-quality restoration holding up well.
Low, rakish lines flattered by black accents.
Good paint and chrome. Accessory driving
lights, cowl lights and sidemount spares all
present well. Immaculate interior. Engine
bay and chassis well detailed. Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $220,000. A beautifully restored
CCCA Full Classic, ready to show or go.
Well bought at the $220k low estimate.
Worldwide Auctioneers, Montgomery,
TX, 05/12.
1960 Chevrolet Corvette 283/230 convertible, sold for $52,650 at Bonhams Greenwich
Worldwide Auctioneers
The Houston Classic Auction
Montgomery, TX—May 5, 2012
Auctioneer: Rod Egan
Automotive lots sold/offered: 101/119
Sales rate: 85%
Sales total: $6,582,210
High sale: 1932 Duesenberg Model J LWB
Speedster
Buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold prices
Report by SCM Staff, photos courtesy of
Worldwide Auctioneers
Auctions America by RM
Auburn Spring
Auburn, In —June 1–3, 2012
Auctioneers: Brent Earlywine and
Mike Shackelton
Automotive lots sold/offered: 194/408
Sales rate: 48%
Sales total: $4,379,070
High sale: 1930 Duesenberg Model J replica
Boattail Speedster, sold at $484,000
Buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold prices
Report and photos by Kevin Coakley
Bonhams
Greenwich Concours d’Elegance
Greenwich, CT—June 3, 2012
Auctioneers: Rupert Banner, Malcolm Barber
Automotive lots sold/offered: 62/90
100 AmericanCarCollector.com
Sales rate: 69%
Total sales: $5,230,136
High American sale: 1929 Stutz Series M
Speedster, sold at $139,000
Buyer’s premium: 17% for the first $100,000,
10% thereafter, included in sold prices
Report and photos by Chip Lamb
Leake Auction Company
40th Annual Tulsa Auction
Tulsa, OK—June 8–10, 2012
Auctioneers: Jim Richie, Daniel Kruse,
Brian Marshall, Jeff Knosp
Automotive lots sold/offered: 399/646
Sales rate: 62%
Sales total: $8,360,000
High American sale: 1953 Buick Skylark
convertible, sold at $137,500
Report and photos by Phil Skinner
RM Auctions
Dingman Collection
Hampton, nH—June 9–10, 2012
Auctioneer: Brent Earlywine
Automotive lots sold/offered: 48/48
Automotive sales rate: 100%
Automotive sales total: $6,830,450
High sale: 1936 Ford Cabriolet by Gläser, sold
at $396,000
Buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold prices
Report and photos by Carl Bomstead
SOLD AT $297,000. A true icon of “taste.”
Last seen at Bonhams’ August 2011 Carmel
sale, where it was not sold at a high bid of
$300k (ACC# 183080), making the price
paid today look bang-on-the-money correct.
Worldwide Auctioneers, Montgomery,
TX, 05/12.
#83-1937 CORD 812 convertible.
S/N 8121433f. Yellow/black Haartz
cloth/maroon leather. Odo: 100,432 miles.
Earned ACD Level 1 certification in 1999,
driven only for show and maintenance
2
Burgundy & tan leather/tan & brown leather.
Widely referred to as the “Tom Mix
Duesenberg,” although catalog is careful to
state that there is “no known proof to confirm
it.” Born with Beverly Berline-style
coachwork from the Walter M. Murphy
Company. Current speedster body added
some decades later. Paint in nice shape,
leather body showing some age. Good
brightwork and bumpers. Cond: 3+.
1
#79-1932 DUESENBERG MODEL
J LWB Speedster. S/N 2522.
TOP 10
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ROUNDUP
since, restored in 2006 to high standards.
Show-quality chrome, good paint shows
only minor flaws. Interior well restored, excellent
engine-turned dash, minor wear visible
on passenger’s seat. Cond: 2-. SOLD
AT $242,000. This car would be eligible for
any CCCA or ACD events, and it looked like
a capable tourer. Fairly bought and sold,
smack in the middle of the $225k–$250k
pre-sale estimate. Worldwide Auctioneers,
Montgomery, TX, 05/12.
Black & red/maroon leather. Odo: 8,400
miles. Very good cosmetic condition in line
with low mileage. Shiny paint and trim, very
good interior. Created by Elite Heritage
Motorcars with Ford 460 V8, C3 automatic
transmission, power steering, power brakes
and a/c. Mechanically well maintained.
Cond: 2-.
4
#94-1979 DUESENBERG II replica
Boattail Speedster. S/N J106E.
brought back to factory appearance, which
could bring a bit more than double this
amount if done well. Leake, Tulsa, OK,
06/12.
#554-1958 CHEVROLET IMPALA convertible.
S/N F58B232019. Light blue/white
vinyl/multi-blue cloth & vinyl. Odo: 35 miles.
348-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, auto. Near-flawless
paint, save for some small bubbling on top
of the left quarter-panel. Trunk fit a bit off,
brightwork looks excellent all around. Right
door bumper stop missing. Spotless fresh
interior. Engine compartment better then
new. Cond: 2+.
indoor lights. Hood fit off, brightwork asnew.
Fresh interior with no obvious issues.
Clean, well-detailed engine compartment.
One of 360, build sheet included. Cond: 2.
NOT SOLD AT $76,000. After crossing the
block unsuccessfuly, this was listed for sale
at an optimistic $100k. The seller has a
good chance of getting his asking price in
the future. Auctions America by RM,
Auburn, IN, 06/12.
#701-1975 CHEVROLET VEGA Cosworth
coupe. S/N 1V77E5U191248. Black/black
vinyl. Odo: 55,864 miles. 122-ci fuel-injected
I4, 4-sp. Good fresh paint with N.O.S. decals.
Some surface rust noted at base of
windshield. Gold-anodized bumpers show
scratches. Brightwork OK. Nice, clean interior.
Driver-quality engine detail. Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $220,000. If you couldn’t afford
$297,000 for Lot 79, the real Duesenberg,
maybe this price seemed like a deal. I call it
extremely well sold, far above the $150k
high estimate. Worldwide Auctioneers,
Montgomery, TX, 05/12.
GM
#198-1950 CHEVROLET STYLELINE
Deluxe convertible. S/N 3HKC44113.
White/black fabric/white & black vinyl. Odo:
74,126 miles. 216-ci I6, 1-bbl, 3-sp. A model
rarely seen today. Has a thrown-together
look suggesting that it came out of the early
1960s as a teenager’s first car. Sloppy door
fit. Top fit and finish tight and clean, installed
around 1999 when the rest of the car
was done. Some interior plastic dried out
and brittle. Underhood skillfully detailed with
several cans of flat-black spray paint. Blue
exhaust. Cond: 3.
SOLD AT $97,000. I thought this was one
of the best cars here. It failed to sell on the
block, but a deal got done after the fact.
Everyone should be pleased with this result.
Auctions America by RM, Auburn, IN,
06/12.
#222-1967 CHEVROLET CAMARO convertible.
S/N 124677101125. Dark
blue/white canvas/medium blue vinyl. Odo:
59,690 miles. 327-ci V8, 2-bbl, 3-sp.
Repainted in a color “close” to original. Still
wears its original top, interior, all the chrome
and trim. Very basic car. Still has original
black plates. Cond: 2-.
NOT SOLD AT $5,000. No. 31 of 3,508
built, priced nearly the same as a Corvette
when new. I don’t believe the anodized
bumpers are correct, but they look better
than the stock chrome and are reversible.
These rare cars are on their way up, and I
can’t blame the owner for holding on. He’ll
get better money on this one. Auctions
America by RM, Auburn, IN, 06/12.
CORVETTE
NOT SOLD AT $22,000. One my favorites
at the sale. Unfortunately, seller liked it
more than the offer and would not budge.
The non-factory paint was the biggest limiting
factor. Leake, Tulsa, OK, 06/12.
#551-1970 PONTIAC GTO Judge Ram Air
IV 2-dr hard top. S/N 242370P128894.
Starlite Black/black vinyl. Odo: 85,831
miles. 400-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Fresh paint
and decals actually look good under the
SOLD AT $24,200. This car raised more
flags than a blasting zone, but it would work
as a good basis for a full restoration. No
body mods, complete interior and chromeplated
gingerbread were all pluses. Don’t
know how much wiggle room is left in this
car for the new owner, but I’d love to see it
102 AmericanCarCollector.com
SOLD AT $52,650. More than a driver and
less than a show car, this striking solid-axle
Corvette was an older frame-off restoration.
Let down a little by the 3-speed and a little
more by a non-date-code-correct 283, it still
sold a little on the light side, given the cur-
#428-1960 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible.
S/N 00867S100464. Roman Red
& Ermine White coves/white vinyl/red vinyl.
Odo: 99,270 miles. 283-ci 230-hp V8, 4-bbl,
3-sp. Older finish exhibits minor sub-surface
flaws including small bubbles that may go
down to fiberglass. Interior, top, and other
trim, including painted dashboard, remain
tidy. Engine compartment nicely detailed
but non-original engine dictated non-original
touches. Cond: 2.
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GLOBAL
ROUNDUP
rent marketplace. Well bought as a sharp
car that can’t be too unpleasant to drive.
Bonhams, Greenwich, CT, 06/12.
#406-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible.
S/N 194676S113981. Tuxedo
Black/white vinyl/black hard top/white
leather. Odo: 95,423 miles. 427-ci 390-hp
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Older respray appears to be
part of comprehensive restoration. Auxiliary
hard top exhibits sanding scratches beneath
finish. Interior fresh. Engine compartment
sports fresher detailing; catalog mentions
engine and driveline were rebuilt just 3,000
miles ago by well-known builder. Cond: 2.
ette. Odo: 15,762 miles. Older restoration
with Offenhauser heads, twin carburetors
and Fenton exhaust headers under hood.
Showing signs of age and use. Numerous
chips and scratches. Paint swirls and large
touch-up on left front fender. Floor mat torn
and horn ring chipped. A driver at best.
Cond: 3+.
this kind of money, regardless of condition,
but at this sale you basically had to throw
the book out the window. RM Auctions,
Hampton, NH, 06/12.
SOLD AT $55,000. Considering the condition
and the long list of needs, the price paid
here was aggressive indeed. Might be a
little high of a buying price, but a good one
for the seller. RM Auctions, Hampton, NH,
06/12.
NOT SOLD AT $60,000. Sporting many
desirable options including the close-ratio
M21 4-speed, Positraction rear axle,
Kelsey-Hayes knockoff alloy wheels with
Goldline tires, both tops and side exhausts,
as well as many other interior amenities—
hard to see why bidding stalled short of the
consignor’s reserve. This may just not have
been the right crowd for this car. Bonhams,
Greenwich, CT, 06/12.
#787-1972 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 1Z37W2S522842. Sunflower
Yellow/black vinyl. Odo: 80,978 miles. 454ci
270-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Engine and transmission
reportedly numbers-matching, most
other important items look original, upgraded
with Hurst shifter and Positraction.
One repaint in original color, interior looks
original. With a/c, power steering, disc
brakes, windows, locks. Cond: 3+.
#809-1938 FORD MODEL 81A Deluxe
phaeton. S/N 184371605. Black/gray &
brown canvas/brown leather. Odo: 64,834
miles. Last year for the Ford phaeton.
Extensive restoration by Jim Lowrey about
10 years back and still immaculate today.
Factory-spec panel fit and uniform gaps.
Properly fitting canvas top with side curtains
in trunk. Excellent wood grain on dash,
banjo steering wheel. Early 21-stud V8. A
stunning example. Cond: 2+.
3515. Black/ black leatherette/brown
leather. Odo: 84,176 miles. Extensive and
expensive restoration in 2003 at a stated
cost of $205,000. Flawless paint, original
wood. Burl wood-grain dash. Due to war,
only 567 Super Deluxe wagons produced,
many finished with blackout trim. This example
is a quality restoration, with a missing
grommet the only fault found. Cond: 1-.
7
#823-1942 FORD SUPER DELUXE
21A woodie wagon. S/N 186877-
SOLD AT $176,000. Price paid was up
there, but Lot 824, the ’42 Mercury woodie
wagon, sold for about the same price. This
may just be the going rate for such a quality
example. RM Auctions, Hampton, NH,
06/12.
SOLD AT $104,500. Only 1,169 built and
the last of an era. Price paid was well within
reason considering the quality of the expensive
restoration. RM Auctions, Hampton,
NH, 06/12.
SOLD AT $24,475. As this is one of the last
big-block, chrome-bumper Stingrays, interest
is growing, but these are still one of the
best deals in the Corvette world. This example,
looked great, had lots of eye appeal,
plenty of horsepower, and even a third
pedal. Well bought. Leake, Tulsa, OK,
06/12.
FOMOCO
#808-1937 FORD MODEL 77 pickup. S/N
184092369. Vineyard Green/brown leather-
104 AmericanCarCollector.com
S/N H82138. Black/black canvas/red
leather. miles. An as-delivered Zephyr.
Comprehensive restoration completed less
than 10 years ago and still looks fresh out of
the box. Odometer shows less than one
mile. Black top with red piping is well fitted
and looks new. Equipped with optional
Columbia 2-speed axle. Aluminum heads
and manifold. One of only 302 convertible
sedans built for 1939. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT
$176,000. Another quality restoration that
brought all the money and then some.
Convertible sedans normally don’t garner
8
#816-1939 LINCOLN ZEPHYR
Model 96H-74 convertible sedan.
#828-1947 FORD SUPER DELUXE
79A woodie wagon. S/N 799A2004775.
Eng. # 35902. Glade Green &
wood/black leatherette/brown leather. Odo:
898 miles. 239-ci V8, 2-bbl, 3-sp. Equipped
with Roush-built flathead V8 that produces
an extra 40 or so horsepower. Glade Green
paint an appealing contrast against the varnished
wood. Minor chip on rain gutter, vent
wing-window delaminating. Very nice dash
plastic. Equipped with Ford radio, dual outside
mirrors and heater. Cond: 2+.
6
TOP 10
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GLOBAL
ROUNDUP
SOLD AT $192,500. As with all the woodies
at the Dingman sale, this one sold at a premium.
The quality was obvious, and the
buyers were prepared to pay for it. RM
Auctions, Hampton, NH, 06/12.
#830-1950 FORD CUSTOM DELUXE 0BA
convertible. S/N BOSR149120. Black/black
canvas/red leather. Odo: 3 miles. 239.4-ci
V8, 2-bbl, 3-sp. Restored to highest standard
at a stated cost of $150,000, and no
reason to doubt the claim. Excellent top fit
with contrasting red piping. Exceptional
paint and brightwork. Red leather seats with
black buttoned seatbacks. Engine detailed
to as-new condition. Nothing to fault here.
Cond: 1.
quality refinishing chipped and lightly
scarred with age. Interior replaced at time of
color change and similarly aged, particularly
redyed steering wheel with original black
finish showing. Engine compartment detailing
older, with decades of age visible.
Cond: 3.
a nice presentation. One-off custom alloy
wheels. Does not come with a top. Sold on
bill of sale. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $118,250. This has to be some
sort of record for a 1950 Custom convertible,
but for the best, who cares? I spent 15
minutes in awe of the quality. The new
owner paid a ton, but to my mind it was
worth it. RM Auctions, Hampton, NH,
06/12.
Black & wood/ brown leather. Odo: 1,024
miles. 255-ci V8, 2-bbl, 3-sp. Recent restoration
to as-new condition. The fresh black
paint is flawless. New mahogany exterior
panels. Excellent panel fit and uniform
seams. New window rubbers fitted at restoration.
Equipped with radio, heater, overdrive
and factory turn signals. Engine
sparkles. Cond: 1.
9
#833-1950 MERCURY EIGHT 0CM
woodie wagon. S/N 50LA16973M.
SOLD AT $29,250. A Raven Black/black/
black and white car from new, it was also a
3-speed-with-overdrive car from new. As a
driver, these are rare and quite enjoyable
with the high-output D-code engine. It was
also a well-optioned car from new, with
power windows, power seat, both tops, and
the Kelsey-Hayes wire wheels. With a little
work, it can be pulled back from being
strictly a driver car to something with a little
more zing. Bonhams, Greenwich, CT,
06/12.
#474-1963 FORD THUNDERBIRD convertible.
S/N 2Y85Z121683. Black/white
vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 35,718 miles. 390-ci
V8, 3x2-bbl, auto. Good paint and panel fit.
Brightwork shows micro-scratches under
the lights. Some minor pitting evident. Top
in good shape with clear rear window. Nice
interior except for the cheap aftermarket
stereo. Comes with black vinyl-covered fiberglass
parade boot. Equipped with factory
a/c, power steering and brakes, KelseyHayes
wire wheels. Cond: 3-.
SOLD AT $51,700. Built by Roush for Ford
at a cost claimed to be bumping $500k. It’s
a one-of-one, so there’s nothing out there to
compare it with, but I’d call it well bought
based on rarity. Auctions America by RM,
Auburn, IN, 06/12.
MOPAR
#2541-1955 CHRYSLER NEW YORKER
St. Regis 2-dr hard top. S/N N5517453.
Red & white/white vinyl & red cloth. Odo:
62,471 miles. 331-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Full
restoration done on a budget, in Resale
Red with white top to bring in the crowds.
Nice comfy seats to be seen in, lots of
money spent on chrome. Original-style
chrome wire wheels and big wide whitewalls.
Some bodywork on lower edges.
Underhood detailed for speed and not for
authenticity. All electrics upgraded to
12-volt. One-year-only dash shift lever.
Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $165,000. When we watched this
sell at RM’s August 2009 Monterey sale, it
realized the same $165,000 as part of the
Nick Alexander Collection, and we called it
“the best” (ACC# 141188). Throw in the
Westmoreland restoration for free today,
and this expensive price looks like a bargain.
RM Auctions, Hampton, NH, 06/12.
#462-1957 FORD THUNDERBIRD convertible.
S/N D7FH154842. Colonial
White/blue cloth/red vinyl. Odo: 68,464
miles. 312-ci V8, 4-bbl, 3-sp. Older high-
106 AmericanCarCollector.com
SOLD AT $29,150. A very nice package
sold below the cost of restoration from estate
of Woodrow “Woody” Howard. The presentation
made it look like a great deal,
although the market seems a little soft on
these right now. Fair deal both ways.
Auctions America by RM, Auburn, IN,
06/12.
#523-2002 MERCURY MARAUDER concept
convertible. S/N 2FAFP74W4XX142480.
Black/Graphite Gray. Odo:
170 miles. 4.6-L supercharged V8, auto.
Everything pretty much showroom-fresh.
Engine compartment could stand a bit of
detailing, as could the wheels, but otherwise
SOLD AT $22,000. There isn’t much of a
hardcore collector following for these mid’50s
Mopars, so making it look like this to
attract the general collector crowd is not a
bad idea. Well bought and sold. Leake,
Tulsa, OK, 06/12.
#542-1957 DODGE CORONET 2-dr hard
top. S/N 309320454. White & yellow/twotone
green vinyl & fabric. Odo: 50,137
miles. 325-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Older restoration
has held up well. Paint looks fresh and
applied well. Chrome plating holding up
without warping, waves or scuff marks.
Some side bright trim looks to have been
straightened and polished. Equipped with
radio, heater, clock, power steering and
brakes plus dual rear-deck antennas and
exhaust. Interior looks original with minor
staining by C-pillar. Cond: 2.
TOP 10
Page 105
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September-October 2012 107
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ROUNDUP
NOT SOLD AT $24,000. Offered by a
dealer who had picked it up recently and
was hoping for a quick flip. He was looking
for about $10k more, but the right buyers
weren’t in the room. Leake, Tulsa, OK,
06/12.
#535-1960 CHRYSLER 300F 2-dr hard
top. S/N 8403125210. White/beige leather.
Odo: 53,146 miles. 413-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, auto.
Paint shows some orange peel and prep
issues but still looks good. Poor door and
hood fit. Brightwork ranges from very good
(bumpers and side trim) to very bad (windshield-surround
and gutters). Wiper
scratches and some delamination on windshield.
Very nice interior upholstery.
Dashpad cracked. Engine compartment
shows well with repro battery. Cond: 3.
NOT SOLD AT $30,000. This car was a
$37,000 no-sale at Mecum Kissimmee in
January (ACC# 200314), and a $37,000
no-sale again at Mecum Indy in May (ACC#
205431). It appeared in the post-sale lot
with a price of $42k, suggesting that the
seller hasn’t been paying attention at all.
Auctions America by RM, Auburn, IN,
06/12.
AMERICANA
5
Packard Blue/tan Haartz cloth/tan leather.
Odo: 16,434 miles. Multiple award-winning
CCCA Senior and AACA National First
Place winner. Retains original body, engine
and data plates. Nicely preserved older
paint has some signs of use. Chrome good
but not perfect. Good interior shows some
age. Equipped with rare AM radio, chrome
headlamps, dual side-mount spares with
matching metal covers and mirrors, chrome
wire wheels with wide whitewalls and trunk
rack. Cond: 3+.
#25-1936 PACKARD TWELVE
Convertible Victoria. S/N 904719.
non-enthusiasts regard the model as a bit
stodgy. Values have dropped a bit in recent
years, but I think the seller may see a better
offer if he can just sit tight for a year or so.
Leake, Tulsa, OK, 06/12.
#467-1954 KAISER-DARRIN ROADSTER.
S/N 1611307. White/burgundy fabric/burgundy
leather. Odo: 48,851 miles. 161-ci I6,
2-bbl, 3-sp. An over-the-top restoration, with
chrome hood hinges, radiator supports, air
cleaner, etc. Workmanship top-dollar, no
sign of stress, paint beautifully laid down.
Interior fresh. Cond: 1-.
NOT SOLD AT $45,000. This car sold at
Mecum’s December 2011 Kansas City sale
for $59,360 (ACC# 196395) and was bid to
$55,000 at Mecum Indy in May, but failed to
sell (ACC# 205376). Value is probably
somewhere between here and there, but
the seller is nickel-and-diming himself with
transport and fees in the meantime.
Auctions America by RM, Auburn, IN,
06/12.
#178-1969 DODGE CORONET R/T 2-dr
hard top. S/N WS23L9G245615. Blue/white
vinyl/blue & white vinyl. Odo: 21,359 miles.
440-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Recent rotisserie
restoration. Decent paint and panel fit.
Small chip from hood hitting front fender.
Engine bay stock and tidy. Interior looks
good except for missing under-dash steering
column trip plate and funky grunge on
dash. Power steering, brakes and front
discs. Redline tires on Magnum 500 rims.
Sticker and original bill of sale included.
Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $214,500. Previously sold for
$385,000 at RM’s 2008 Rochester sale,
which we called “a fair deal for both buyer
and seller” (ACC# 117395). It would appear
that the seller took a rather significant haircut
this time around. Well bought.
Worldwide Auctioneers, Montgomery,
TX, 05/12.
#2457-1953 PACKARD CARIBBEAN convertible.
S/N 26782645. Gulf Green
metallic/tan fabric/green leather. Odo:
22,471 miles. 327-ci I8, 2-bbl, auto. Older
professional-level restoration holding up
well. Deep paint, no waves or discoloration
in chrome, lenses and emblems either
N.O.S. or beautifully preserved originals.
Interior has proper radio, heater-defroster
and clock. Top bows and storage boot look
clean. Underhood in order but some signs
of leakage around the carb. No drips or bad
smoke on start up. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $110,000. There was a lot of real
interest in this car from dealers, but most
dropped out around $90k. Initially a $100k
no-sale, but seller relented and let it go. We
have seen examples as nice sell for $140k–
$150k, but that was in a strong market.
Excess chrome and weak economy explain
this price. Well bought and sold. Leake,
Tulsa, OK, 06/12.
#533-1955 PACKARD CARIBBEAN convertible.
S/N 55881016. Dover White,
Tahitian Jade & blue/white vinyl/blue &
white leather. Odo: 61,170 miles. 352-ci V8,
2x4-bbl, auto. Said to be a three-year-old
concours restoration with $200k in receipts.
Tri-tone paint shows very well. Hood tight at
left rear; gaps otherwise decent. Beautifully
polished brightwork, but there is a bit of fit
issue on the right quarter-panel. Showquality
engine bay, except hood springs are
weak. Good interior. Equipped with pneumatic
suspension leveling. Cond: 2.
NOT SOLD AT $75,000. While this is a topdrawer
collectible among Packard people,
108 AmericanCarCollector.com
NOT SOLD AT $80,000. After all the work
done, you’d think they’d pay $50 for hood
springs. This looked similar to the ’55
Caribbean at RM’s Fort Lauderdale auction
in March, which reached a high bid of $80k.
The market for these cars seems a bit soft
at the moment, but the issues pointed out
are easy to correct. I’d fix them and give it
another shot on the block. Auctions
America by RM, Auburn, IN, 06/12. A
TOP 10
Page 107
WHAT’S YOUR CAR
WORTH? FIND OUT AT
NOW FREE! The world’s largest collector
car price guide based on
over 500,000 sold transactions
from
.
Updated weekly.
www.collectorcarpricetracker.com
September-October 2012 109
Page 108
Parts Hunting
Chad Tyson
Big-money parts and
accessories from eBay Motors
#221066351939 – Auburn 60-Spoke
Wheels. 4 photos. Item Condition:
Remanufactured. Vernon Hills, IL. “Two
1932–33 12-cylinder, 17-inch, 60-spoke
wire wheels. These wheels were just rebuilt
by Dayton Wire Wheel Company within the
last month. Includes chroming the center
hub, re-spoked all 60 spokes with stainless
spokes. The outer wheel rings are new and
plated.” Buy It Now. Sold at $2,500.
Another pseudo-original set. Refurbished
by the biggest name in wire wheels. It won’t
do you much good if you need a whole set,
but finding these in any condition is a rare
feat. As such, worth the price paid.
#360470312125 – Chevrolet
Camaro Z/28 Crossram
Intake. 10 photos. Item
Condition: New. Geneva, IL.
“This is a factory-style setup
that will fit all small-block
Chevy motors. All parts are
in new, good-working condition.
The intake is two pieces
and comes with the gasket.
The top half has part number
3941130 and the lower has
part number 3941126. The
Holley carbs are 4295 and
have a date of 891 on them.
Intake is cast dated 11-2568.
Complete air filter and
complete fuel lines. It has
the original Winter’s Foundry logo. Each intake is handcast and heat treated to the proper
tensile strength. Machined on a 6-axis CNC machine, unlike the way GM did it by hand mill
and patterns. Ideal for a 1969 Z/28 or clone and wants an original-looking and -performing,
dated Crossram.” 13 bids. Sold at $3,450.
A bit of an oddity here. This is a mix of some copied parts, with proper casting numbers, and
some new parts in one assembly. Still, go find a completely original setup for this price. I’ve
seen other as-new copies like this offered for more than double this price. Well bought.
#170867084014 – 1957–58 Cadillac Air-Ride System. 10
photos. Item Condition: Used. Albemarle, NC. “One compressor
sold to me working, pumps air in and out as should. Part
numbers: 5540182 and 5540180. One front control valve came
off working car. One chrome handle. Cable cut, but an easy fix.
Two high-pressure air line fittings from holding tank to pump.
One nice, solid air holding tank with correct connections on the
end. One check valve. Two correct front metal mounting drums
with perfect studs; rubber does not come with them. These
drums are almost never found without broken and leaking
studs. Two bronze t-valves. Two air-bags and metal canisters.
They do hold air. Both rubber air bags and metal canisters. Two
rear lift valves. These were bought as-is and look very nice but
still could need a restoration, but also very hard to find.” Best
Offer. Sold at $2,700.
The sum of these parts, if new, will easily exceed the price paid
here. I understand that original parts for late ’50s Caddys are
difficult to find, but how much functionality do they have left? Not a bad deal if you’re restoring a car and really want to keep the original air
ride system, as problematic as it might be. But why not save the money and the headache and convert to conventional coil springs?
Page 109
were 3 different types over the years. The original had a screw-top glass jar, but not many
remain today as they were usually broken. The 2nd and 3rd series had a metal depository
can.” Buy It Now. Sold at $1,300.
From Flame Out Inc. in Santa Monica, CA. Cost $12.75 when new. Would add a unique bit
to any late-’50s car. But it is worth over 10 times (nevermind inflation) what it sold for new?
Some of the cars easily are, so why not this? Even if it is basically a glass jar with a rubber
hose. Several years ago, these were worth about $600, so it appears the market has moved
up.
#271013369529 –
General Motors
Vacuum Ashtray. 4
photos. Item Condition:
New. Escondido, CA.
“In original box with
directions. Listed in the
Accessories Catalog by
Chevrolet from 1956-60.
They have been seen
in later years, probably
installed as ‘leftovers’ by
the individual dealers.
They literally sucked the
offending cigarette and
ashes out a special ‘triggered’
device built under
the dash. The hot trash
was deposited in a cylinder
under the dash to
be discarded later. There
#280909885733 – DeSoto Adventurer
Instrument Cluster. 9 photos. Item
Condition: Used. Upton, MA.
“This cluster fits 1957–58 DeSoto
Adventurers only. Rare because the
speedometer goes up to 150 mph, unlike
any other instrument cluster in the ’57–’58
DeSoto lineup, whose speedometers only
go to 120 mph. Only 432 cars built in 1958
that featured this part. Complete. The
housing of the piece does contain some
pitting, but the glass and the movement
are perfect. Perfectly operational. No keys
available. Part has light use, and is not new.
Great condition.” 38 bids. Sold at $1,777.
Appears in great shape. There is no
practical way to piece together one of these
units, with only 432 from 1958. Even still,
this was big money, but not over the top for
a DeSoto fan looking for a unique part for
his restoration. Shelling out a pittance to
remedy the key issue isn’t unreasonable. I
found repop ones for under $20. A
Take us with you!
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anywhere.
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Page 110
RESOURCE DIRECTORY
Put your company in the ACC Resource Directory. Call 877.219.2605 Ext. 211,
or email advert@americancarcollector.com
Auction Companies
Auctions America by RM.
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)
Mecum Collector Car
Auctioneers. 815.568.8888,
815.568.6615. 950 Greenlee St.,
Marengo, IL 60015. Auctions:
Orlando, Kansas City, Rockford,
Bloomington Gold, St. Paul, Des
Moines, Carlisle, and Chicago.
Nobody Sells More Muscle Than
Mecum. Nobody. www.mecumauction.com.
(IL)
Russo and Steele Collector
Automobiles. 602.252.2697,
602.252.6260. 5230 South 39th
Street, Phoenix, AZ 85040. info@
russoandsteele.com; www.russoandsteele.com.
(AZ)
Advertisers Index
Adam’s Polishes, Inc ............................39
American Car Collector ................97, 111
ANPAC ................................................ 27
Auctions America .................................. 9
Auto Etc Neon ................................... 113
Barrett-Jackson ................................... 17
Bennett Law Office ............................ 112
Bloomington Gold ............................... 71
Blue Bars ........................................... 113
Callaway Corvette Dealers ...................73
Camaro Central ................................... 79
Carlisle Events ..................................... 85
Charlotte AutoFair ............................... 83
Chubb Personal Insurance .................. 11
Classic & Collectible Cars Las Vegas 103
Classic Motorcar Auctions ...................95
Collector Car Price Tracker ................109
Corvette America ................................103
Corvette Expo Inc .................................89
Silver Auctions. 800.255.4485,
2020 N. Monroe, Spokane, WA
99205. silver@silverauctions.com.
www.silverauctions.com. (WA)
Worldwide Auctioneers.
866.273.6394. Established by
John Kruse and Rod C. Egan, The
Worldwide Group—Auctioneers,
Appraisers and Brokers—is one of
the world’s premier auction houses,
specializing in the procurement and
sale of the world’s finest automobiles
and vintage watercraft. www.
worldwide-auctioneers.com. (IN)
Corvette Parts &
Restoration
County Corvette. 610.696.7888.
Sales, service, parts and restoration.
When it must be right.
www.countycorvette.com. (PA)
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)
Corvette Repair Inc. .............................87
Corvette Specialties ...........................113
County Corvette .....................................2
D&M Corvette Specialists LTD ...........115
Donn Vickrey Fraud Prevention ..........109
Grundy Worldwide ................................65
Hagerty Insurance Agency, Inc. ...........23
Hydro-E-Lectric ..................................101
Infinity Insurance Companies .............116
JC Taylor ..............................................61
Jim Meyer Racing Products Inc. ........113
Law Offices of Bruce Shaw LLC ........109
Leake Auction Company ......................21
Lutty’s Chevy Warehouse ..................105
Mac Neil Automotive Products Ltd ......99
Matick Chevrolet ..................................73
MCACN, LLC ........................................75
Mecum Auction ....................................15
Mid America Motorworks ...............19, 69
National Corvette Museum .................109
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 enthusiast’s 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.
Classic Car Transport
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-
National Corvette Restorers Society ....33
Paramount Classic Cars .......................77
Park Place LTD ....................................4-5
Petersen Collector Car Auction ............98
Putnam Leasing ....................................13
Reliable Carriers ...................................57
Rick Treworgy’s Muscle Car City Museum 101
RM Auctions ...........................................3
Road Ready Certified ...........................93
San Diego Classic & Muscle Cars ........91
SEMA ....................................................63
Silver Collector Car Auctions ...............25
Specialty Auto Auctions, Inc ................29
Sports Car Market ..............................107
The Chevy Store Inc ...........................105
Thomas C Sunday Inc ........................113
Truespoke Wire Wheel .........................37
Vicari Auctions ......................................67
Wall Words ...........................................95
Zip Products .........................................35
the-art satellite transport tracking.
Complete service for vintage races,
auctions, relocations.
www.intercitylines.com. (MA)
Insurance
Hagerty Collector Car Insurance.
800.922.4050. Collector cars aren’t
like their late-model 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)
Corvettes for Sale
Corvette Central. Parts and
accessories for all Corvettes.
Corvette Central has been a leading
manufacturer and distributor
of Corvette parts and accessories
since 1975. We offer the most
comprehensive and detailed parts
catalogs on the market today and
produce a different catalog for each
Corvette generation. All catalogs
are also online with full search and
order features. From Blue Flame
6 to the new C6, only Corvette
Central has it all. www.corvettecentral.com.
(MI)
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)
Museums
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) A
112 AmericanCarCollector.com
Page 112
Surfing Around
Carl Bomstead
Automobilia on eBay
Carl’s thought: Elvis has left the building. At least his crypt has left the auction block. Elvis fans were up in arms when in May of this
year, Julien’s Auction announced they would sell “The King’s” empty tomb at the Forest Hill cemetery in Memphis. Elvis was interred there
after he died August 16, 1977, and was laid to rest there alongside his mother. Two months later, they were reburied at Graceland, and the tomb
has remained empty since. The fans raised such a fuss that the auction company had second thoughts and chose the path of least resistance.
Here are a few items we found that have nothing to do with “The King” but they won’t get us in trouble, either.
EBAY# 140790933061—
1948 DEL MONTE FOREST
PROPERTY OWNERS
BADGE. Number of Bids:
26. SOLD AT: $256. Date
Sold: 7/10/2012. Starting in
1928, the Del Monte Forest
— home of the Pebble
Beach Golf Links, 17 Mile
Drive, and since the ’50s,
the Pebble Beach Concours
d’Elegance — issued entry
badges to the property
owners and employees. The
lower the number on the badge, the loftier your position in the company.
They have subsequently become very collectible, especially
to those involved with the concours. The earlier ones are pricey, but
this one, in rather tattered condition, sold for all the money.
EBAY# 150816062506—
COBRA SC CALIFORNIA
LICENSE PLATE. Number
of Bids: Buy-It-Now. SOLD
AT: $2,600. Date Sold:
5/19/2012. This is an authentic
Cobra SC California
vanity license plate that can be transferred to the new owner with
the execution of the proper paperwork. The buyer then “owns” the
rights to the plate and the state issues two new COBRA SC plates
and the owner keeps the original. This was cheap compared with
what some vanity plates sell for in the U.K., and if you have the car,
the money should not be a big deal.
EBAY #360469199065—
WHIZ TOP PATCH CAN.
Number of Bids: 1. SOLD
AT: $69.95. Date Sold:
7/2/2012. Whiz products
were manufactured by the
R.M. Hollingshead Company,
in New Jersey. They stated
they made a 100 products,
but that was an understatement,
as they made all kinds
of automotive products,
furniture polish and even
bed-bug spray. The early
product containers featured
dancing elves and are very
114 AmericanCarCollector.com
collectible. This top patch product repaired leather or Pantasote
convertible tops, and while not in the best of condition, it was well
bought.
EBAY #330733207047—
GILMORE OIL COMPANY
10 YEAR SERVICE PIN.
Number of Bids: 29. SOLD
AT: $333.99. Date Sold:
5/27/2012. The Gilmore Oil
Company operated about
3,000 gas stations on the
West Coast and was famous
for creative marketing.
Anything with their logo
is coveted by gas and oil
collectors, so it’s usually
expensive. This little 14k
gold 10-year service pin sold for a bunch, but considering it was for
Gilmore, it was not unreasonable.
EBAY #110863048110—
MOBIL OIL PEGASUS 92
INCH PORCELAIN FLYING
RED HORSE. Number of
Bids: 25. SOLD AT: $6,300.
Date Sold: 4/21/2012. The
Mobil Flying Red Horse
is one of the world’s most
recognized trademarks.
When they changed their
logo, sales plummeted. This style Pegasus is known as a “cookie
cutter,” as each piece of the sign has three sides. This was the
larger left-facing version, and it was in exceptional condition, thus
justifying the price.
EBAY #251071345487—ED
“BIG DADDY” ROTH RAT
FINK 1960s DECAL. Number
of Bids: 10. SOLD AT: $58.
Date Sold: 6/5/2012. Ed “Big
Daddy” Roth was the king
of the Kustom Kulture, and
his art work personified the
Beatnik days of the ’60s.
This rare decal, titled “Hi
Performance,” was original
and ready to add the period
touch to your rat rod. A