American Car Collector September-October 2012

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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,

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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.”

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

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

ACC Digital Bonus 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

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

ACC Digital Bonus 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

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

ACC Digital Bonus 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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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-.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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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

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

GLOBAL 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 TOP 10 TOP 10

GLOBAL 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. TOP 10

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 TOP 10 TOP 10

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

Sports Car Market Subscribe Today Keith Martin’s The Insider’s Guide to Collecting, Investing, Values, and Trends For 25 years, Keith Martin’s Sports Car Market has been the informed, authoritative voice of the collector car hobby. IN EVERY ISSUE • Over 200 Cars that have sold at auction are analyzed by our experts—nobody covers more cars at more auctions • Crossing the Block gives you the where, when and what of the collector car hobby—SCM has the most detailed previews and calendars available Subscribe Today for $65 and you’ll receive 12 issues, PLUS we’ll include two pocket price guides each year. • Market Reports give you the total sales, the top 10, and the best buys of the month—our buy/sell/hold recommendations are a must for any informed collector • In-Depth Profiles of the cars you need to be paying attention to—our experts tell you if they were well bought, well sold, or both www.sportscarmarket.com/offer65 877.219.2605 ext. 1 PO Box 4797 Portland, OR 97209 September-October 2012 107

GLOBAL 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

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

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?

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! ACC anytime, anywhere. Download our FREE app from the Apple iTunes store.

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

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