September-October 2013 - American Car Collector

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CAR COLLECTOR Vol. 2 • Issue 11 • September-October 2013 The Scoop: Profiles CORVETTE 1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE 327/300 $46k / Leake History affects price on this driver resto Corvette — John L. Stein Page 42 GM 1969 HURST/OLDS $80k / Mecum Olds’ low-production, high-performance street machine — Patrick Smith Page 44 FoMoCo 1993 FORD MUSTANG SSP $14k / Mecum Lights and sirens — a great way to meet cops — Jay Harden Page 46 MOPAR 1972 DODGE DEMON GSS $70k / Mecum A cool price for a piece of Mr. Norm’s history — Tom Glatch Page 48 AMERICAN ™ 4 AmericanCarCollector.com Keith Martin's

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CUSTOM 1933 FORD WOODIE CUSTOM “COUPE” $110k / Russo and Steele Big money to build, less money to buy — Ken Gross Page 50 CLASSIC 1948 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY CONVERTIBLE $127k / Bonhams A great buy on Chrysler’s premier post-war convertible — Carl Bomstead Page 52 RACE 1968 JIM DAVIS TOP FUEL DRAGSTER $74k / Russo and Steele Nitro-burning rocket ship for pennies on the dollar — Tom Glatch Page 54 TRUCK 1944 WILLYS MB JEEP $26k / Bonhams 1945 FORD GPW JEEP $25k / Bonhams Different stories, similar price — B. Mitchell Carlson Page 56 Cover photo: 1969 Hurst/Olds Courtesy of Mecum Auctions 1972 Dodge Demon GSS; profile, p. 48 Courtesy of Mecum Auctions September-October 2013 5

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The Rundown EXPERTS’ COLUMNS 8 Torque Million-dollar Mustangs — Jim Pickering 36 Cheap Thrills 1970–71 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme SX — B. Mitchell Carlson 38 Horsepower Being a good car parent — Colin Comer 40 CorvetteMarket Tracking old family ’Vettes — John L. Stein 114 SurfingAround Must-have automobilia — Carl Bomstead AUCTIONS 64 Mecum Auctions — 26th Annual Spring Classic Two ’67 Shelby fastbacks crack the million-buck barrier at this $48m sale — B. Mitchell Carlson 72 Russo and Steele —Newport Beach 2013 Blue-chip muscle rumbles to $6.5m at Russo’s first SoCal sale, which totals $6.5m — Michael Leven 80 Leake Auction Company —Tulsa 2013 A ’37 Packard street rod makes $143k at Leake’s $11.8m hometown sale — Phil Skinner 90 MidAmerica —Twin Cities Spring Classic Auction When the local auction house takes over, “Back to the 50’s” weekend totals $1.9m — B. Mitchell Carlson 98 Roundup American vehicles from coast to coast — Jack Tockston, John Boyle, B. Mitchell Carlson 6 AmericanCarCollector.com Background photo: A day at Leake Auctions in Tulsa, OK; see more photos, p. 32 Chester Allen FUN RIDES 18 Good Reads The American Drive-In Movie Theater and Fill ’er Up!: The Great American Gas Station — Mark Wigginton 20 Desktop Classics 1965 Buick Riviera Gran Sport — Marshall Buck 32 Snapshots A Leake auction in pictures 78 Our Cars ACC staffers’ vehicles 84 Quick Take 1969 Chevrolet Yenko Camaro — Dale Novak SERV DEPA 10 What’s Collector events of note 12 Crossing the Block Upcoming auctions 18 Parts Time Help for wiring and exhaust systems 20 Cool Stuff Chrome, cameras and knives 24 Your Turn Ford truck love, and oil questions 26 Insider’s View Million-dollar Pony debate 28 Feature What you need to know about collector-car insurance 104 GloveboxNotes 2013 Ford F-150 4x4 SuperCrew EcoBoost pickup 108 The Parts Hunter Rare pieces for your classic 110 Showcase Gallery Sell your car in ACC’s classifieds section 110 Advertiser Index 112 Resource Directory Get to know our advertisers

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Torque Jim Pickering Star power vs. car power M DOES “ELEANOR” REALLY HAVE A PLACE NEXT TO THE ’67 SUPER SNAKE AND ’65 GT350 R? ecum’s Indy sale in May was a record-breaking event, and not just because of its $48m in sales over five days. This year, two specific lots stole the spotlight: F203, the 1967 Shelby GT500 Super Snake prototype, and S135, the 1967 Ford Mustang “Eleanor” from the 2000 remake of “Gone in 60 Seconds.” The Shelby sold for $1,391,000, while Eleanor brought $1,070,000. These cars were the first Mustangs to ever sell for over a million dollars each at public auction, and it happened at the same sale. Shelbys and show Ponies Other Shelby Mustangs had come close to seven figures in the past, but none had closed the deal. Two 1965 GT350 R models, SFM5R102 and SFM5R106, both sold for $990k at RM’s 2006 Amelia Island sale and RM’s 2012 Monterey sale, respectively. And don’t forget the 1968 Shelby EXP 500 “Green Hornet” prototype — it was bid to $1,800,000 at Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale event this year, but it didn’t meet reserve and didn’t sell. To me, $1.4m for the Super Snake wasn’t surprising. We’ve been seeing Cobras with good history sell in this neighborhood for years now, and the rarest Mustang-based cars that came from Shelby’s shop, such as EXP 500 and the Super Snake, resonate with today’s collectors in a way that other realdeal muscle cars simply don’t. It was only a matter of time until one brought that first seven-figure price. And that’s what made the $1m sale of the Eleanor car so staggering. A lot of people seem to concur that it’s not even a “real” car. It was a movie car built to look good on screen. How could it be in the same league as a vintage Shelby? Insider’s View This month’s Insider’s View question revolved around these two cars, asking the question of which was the better buy. As you might expect, voting came in at a landslide for the original Super Snake over Eleanor. You can see this month’s answers starting on page 26. What I found most interesting were people’s reasons for voting the way they did. 8 AmericanCarCollector.com 1967 Shelby GT500 Super Snake Quite a few readers couldn’t believe that a movie car could achieve such a high price in the first place, and to a lesser extent, that ANY Mustang could. But, while it’s no real-deal Shelby rarity, a case can be made for Eleanor’s sale price. Here’s the deal: Not only was this car the star of the film remake (and let’s be honest, it was the best part of the movie), it also was the basis for thousands of copy-cat replicas of varied quality and background. Call it a fad if you want, but good replicas have been bringing decent money at auction since the movie came out in 2000, and it all started here with this car. If some of that sounds vaguely familiar, it should. We’ve seen this sort of thing before, most recently when the original Barris Batmobile sold for $4.6m at Barrett-Jackson this January. Buying the dream Before you go throwing this copy of ACC out the window because of that comparison, let me explain: The Batmobile had a whole lot going for it, being that it was a Barrisbuilt example offered by Barris himself. It saw significant screen time in a television series that continues to resonate with some of today’s top-level spenders. It’s a Boomer icon that’s still cloned to this day. Yet it wasn’t a groundbreaking car in the historic sense. It was a show boat, pure and simple — fundamentally, not all that different from Eleanor. That car’s buyer, Rick Champagne, “Eleanor” — Gone in 1 Million Dollars simply had to have it. I don’t think the price really mattered. He could have bought a replica, but it wouldn’t have been the same thing. He was looking to own the car and live that dream. Now, I think we can all agree that Eleanor is on a completely different popculture level than the Batmobile, but the heart of the deal is pretty much the same: Television and movie cars steal the spotlight and imprint on us, and in turn, people will pay big money to own them — sometimes it’s the same big money that actual historic collectibles bring. This is especially true of buyers attempting to recapture part of their youth. How much money they’ll pay really comes down to how important the show or movie was to them. We can argue all day about how impor- tant “Gone in 60 Seconds” is, but the answer is ultimately subjective. And just as with the Batmobile, there are a bunch of Eleanor replicas out there — even Shelby got involved in building them. Thousands of buyers out there had the same Eleanor dream, and they paid to live it in replica form. So, if the real Batmobile was worth $4.6m to someone, I can understand why the real Eleanor was worth $1m to someone else. Whoever bought it was simply buying his own dream, and he wasn’t alone in his interest. It takes at least two parties to push a bid that high. And as for whether Eleanor belongs on the same list as rare historic Shelbys, well, the market has spoken, at least for now. A

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WHAT’SHAPPENING Jim Pickering Corvette Funfest — are there two words that go better together? Corvette Funfest This year is the 60th anniversary of America’s Sports Car, so a trip to Mid America Motorworks’ annual Corvette Funfest — this is the 20th year — sounds perfect. This celebration 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 19–22, and the 40th- and 60th-anniversary Corvettes are the star cars, so they will get special parking areas. Don’t miss the Fun Dome, which is packed with Corvette swag and memorabilia. A giant corral of Corvettes for sale is always popular, and the big swapmeet, parties and food are a big hit. Bachman & Turner will perform their hits such as “Taking Care of Business” and “Hey You.” www.corvettefunfest.com (IL) Goodguys in Charlotte, Indy and Fort Worth Goodguys shows will celebrate hot rods and custom cars at shows at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway during the next two months. The 3rd Speedway Nationals comes to Indy on September 20–22, and any vehicle from 1972 or older is welcome to enter the Show and Shine. Cars built after 1972 are welcome at the All-American Sunday event on September 22. Muscle cars from 1955 to 1972 are headliners at this year’s event. More than 2,500 rods, customs and classics are expected, and the big swapmeet and Indy 500 Track Cruise are always popular. The 21st Lone Star Nationals will bring 3,000 customs, classics and hot rods to Texas Motor Speedway from October 4 to 6. The track cruise, swapmeet and All–American Sunday are highlights of this year’s event. The 20th Southeastern Nationals will rumble into Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, NC, from October 25 to 27. More than 3,000 hot rods, customs, classics and muscle cars are expected. Parties are scheduled for each night, and it’s a good idea to register now for the Saturday and Sunday night track cruises. The Show & Shine is for cars and trucks built before 1973, and All American Sunday brings younger machines into the mix. www. goodguys.com 10 AmericanCarCollector.com Corvette country Okay, so we’ve all talked about 60 years of Corvette — and the new C7 Corvette — all year long. So, why not get out and drive your Corvette before the good weather fades away? The National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY, and the Kentucky State Patrol are putting together the fourth annual KY 1 Lap Tour from October 1 to 5. The tour is a five-day trip through Kentucky’s beautiful countryside. State troopers — driving a marked red Corvette — will lead each day’s caravan. The trip starts at the museum and ends in Lawrenceburg, KY, with stops in Louisville, Frankfort, Harrodsburg and the General Butler State Park Resort. The trip also includes a cruise aboard the historic Dixie Belle Riverboat. www.corvettemuseum.orgA

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CROSSINGTHE Upcoming auctions BLOCK by Tony Piff offered without reserve, include a frame-off restored 1953 Packard Caribbean convertible with correct Kelsey-Hayes wire wheels, power hydraulic brakes, power steering, top, windows and seat, plus special hood with a wide air scoop; a 1948 Packard Series 22 woodie wagon, professionally restored in 2010 by master craftsman Jack Ehrlich; and a 1931 Lincoln Model K convertible coupe. Russo and Steele — Las Vegas 2013 Where: Las Vegas, NV When: September 26–28 More: www.russoandsteele.com 1953 packard Caribbean at barrett-Jackson Las Vegas SEpTEMbEr Mecum — Dallas 2013 Where: Dallas, TX When: September 4–7 More: www.mecum.com Last year: 775/1,217 cars sold / $31m The star cars at Russo and Steele’s inaugural Las Vegas sale include a bare-metal, nut-and-bolt restored 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle LS6, as well as a 1968 Shelby GT500 equipped with a 427 side oiler and factory a/c, 4-speed, power steering, power disc brakes, deluxe interior, fold-down rear seats, Marchal foglights, radio and more. It’s said to be one of 15 so equipped for 1968. Silver — Portland 2013 Where: Portland, OR When: September 27–28 Last year: 113/190 cars sold / $1.2m This sale will see well over a thousand collector cars cross the block. Notable lots include a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro RS Z/28 with JL8 four-wheel disc brakes and Cross Ram intake; a 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 in red over red, Bloomington Gold-certified; a 1962 Chevrolet Corvette “Big Brake Fuelie” with two owners and 4,901 miles; and a 1965 Chevrolet Chevelle Z16, one of three known factory-black/black Z16s. Barrett-Jackson — Las Vegas 2013 Where: Las Vegas, NV When: September 26–28 More: www.barrett-jackson.com Last year: 523/524 cars sold / $22.8m Silver’s twice-yearly Portland auction is a great place to bump into ACC staffers, kick some tires and score a cool, affordable cruiser. Last year, sold prices averaged about $9k. This is one of the only recurring collector-car sales in the Pacific Northwest. Dan Kruse — Hill Country Classic Where: Austin, TX When: September 28 More: www.kruseclassics.com Last year: 58/174 cars sold / $3.2m Barrett-Jackson’s sixth annual Las Vegas sale will feature cars from the William Munday Collection. Three early highlights, all At Dan Kruse Classic’s fall Austin sale, the entire 24-vehicle collection from the estate of William Addison will sell without reserve. Notable highlights from the Addison Collection include a 1922 Stutz Bearcat Model KLDH roadster, 1923 Stutz Speedway Four 4DH roadster, a 1928 Packard 5th Series 526 dual-windshield phaeton, a 1931 Packard 833 dual-windshield phaeton and a 1936 Packard Super Eight 1404 rumbleseat coupe. 1965 Chevrolet Chevelle Z16, one of three known factory-black/black Z16s, to be offered at Mecum Dallas 12 AmericanCarCollector.com

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Original-owner Superbird heading to auction Auctions America’s Auburn Fall event is just around the corner, and this year, a very special one-owner Superbird will be crossing the block there. The consignor bought this Superbird new at Altman Kramer Chrysler-PlymouthDodge in Huntington, IN, in March 1970. It’s fitted with its original V-code 440-ci, 390-hp V8 with three 2-barrel carbs. It also has a column-shifted auto and a rare bench seat, and there are only 29,000 miles on the clock. It’s said to be one of only 15 built with this combination of parts. The car is mostly original, save for an older repaint in its factory Alpine White. It was undercoated when new and fitted with a dealer-installed tachometer. The seller says the car has been in the rain only a few times, and it’s never seen snow. The ACC Pocket Price Guide places the value of a good #2 Superbird at $80,000 to $130,000, although some have been bid higher in recent months. What will this very original car do when it crosses the block? You’ll have to head to Auburn between August 29 and September 1 to find out — we’ll be watching, too. Learn more about the car at www.auctionsamerica.com, and watch for our coverage of the sale in an upcoming issue of ACC. — Jim Pickering The seven-mile Galaxie Lightweight In a nondescript shop just blocks from ACC World Headquarters, a 1963 Ford Galaxie Lightweight is being brought back to life. We’ve been keeping close tabs on the car, which had just seven miles on it when the owner acquired it about five years ago. Now the painstaking restoration is nearing completion, and the car is headed to auction. Bonhams will auction the Galaxie at their August 15–16 sale in Carmel, CA. In the next issue of ACC, we’ll watch the car sell, and we’ll give you the whole crazy story. September-October 2013 13

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CROSSINGTHEBLOCK RM — Vintage Motorcars of Hershey Where: Hershey, PA When: October 10–11 More: www.rmauctions.com Last year: 110/118 cars sold / $9.9m This annual auction showcases Pre-war Big Classics. The average price per car last year was $90k, and the top seller was a 1931 Duesenberg Model J Barrelside phaeton, sold at $1.3m. The early star car this year is a 1910 Pierce-Arrow 48-SS seven-passenger touring. 1970 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 coupe at Fall Carlisle OCTObEr Auctions America by RM — Fall Carlisle Where: Carlisle, PA When: October 3–4 More: www.auctionsamerica.com Last year: 162/295 cars sold / $2.5m AA’s annual Fall Carlisle auction takes place alongside the world’s largest swapmeet. The variety is broad and varied, covering every sub-genre of American car collecting at a wide range of prices. The overall average price per car last year was $15k. One early featured consignment is a 1970 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 coupe. Bonhams — Preserving the Automobile Where: Philadelphia, PA When: October 7 More: www.bonhams.com Bonhams returns to the Simeone Museum for their second Mecum Chicago Auction Where: Schaumburg, IL When: October 10–12 More: www.mecum.com This new auction will feature four cars from the “Hemi Under Glass” series. Mecum predicts 1,000 cars for their Chicago sale. The sale will broadcast live on Velocity. The Branson Auction Where: Branson, MO When: October 18–19 More: www.bransonauction.com Last year: 124/233 cars sold / $2m Branson’s twice-annual sale always attracts an eclectic mix of collector cars, including a strong selection of Corvettes, muscle cars, pickups and hot rods. The sale takes place in historic downtown Branson, MO. A “Preserving the Automobile” auction. Some of the star consignments include a 1918 Locomobile Model 48-2 Sportif Touring Car, ex-General of the Armies John Joseph “Black Jack” Pershing, no reserve (Bonhams estimate: $120k–$150k); a 1934 Packard 1101 Eight 7-passenger touring, ex-Richard C. Paine Jr., no reserve ($90k–$100k); and a 1950 Hudson Hornet sedan ($35k–$40k). 1918 Locomobile Model 48-2 at bonhams philadelphia The myth of the long-lost dealership is real VanDerBrink — Lambrecht Chevrolet Company Auction Where: Pierce, NE When: September 28–29 More: www.vanderbrink.com When word of this sale got out earlier this year, the news went absolutely viral. Longtime Chevy dealer Ray P. Lambrecht shuttered his storefront in 1996 and, like a real-life urban legend, never bothered to clear out the decades of accumulated inventory. Now his collection of more than 500 untouched cars is being offered to the public. The icing on the icing is 50 cars still on MSO and showing fewer than 10 miles. How about a ’65 Bel Air wagon with a 327 and five miles? A ’60 Corvair Monza with one mile? I don’t know how many hotels there are in Pierce, NE, but I think you’d better book your room now. 14 AmericanCarCollector.com

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Publisher’s Note Keith Martin On to Vegas! the featured magazines being distributed, and we look to repeat the huge success we had last year. This is ACC #11, and it is once again chock-full of important and T entertaining information, from authority Colin Comer giving you a look at how he tends to his own car collection, to Corvette guru John L. Stein offering tips on how to track down cars you might have owned long ago. ACC Editor Jim Pickering has assembled a terrific team, and they have really delivered the goods for you this month. The featured cars this issue are all top-flight collectibles, and our experts give you important and entertaining information about each one, from Patrick Smith’s take on the 1969 Hurst/Olds to Tom Glatch’s look at “Blood Sweat and Nitro,” the 1968 Top Fuel Dragster. You’ll note that we have more advertisers than ever in this issue; ACC readers represent committed collectors who aren’t afraid to spend what it takes to get the cars they want, and they keep spending on garage equipment and accessories after they’ve brought their car home. Launching a new magazine is a little intimidating, as there are so many different ways to get information today. But the success of ACC, both with its growing readership and its advertiser support, means that we are delivering unique and important information to you — and we appreciate your continued support. A here are car shows, and then there is SEMA. The Specialty Equipment Market Association holds its annual convention in Las Vegas each year, and it attracts more than 60,000 buyers looking for new stuff to sell to their customers. This will be the second year that American Car Collector is one of CAR COLLECTOR Volume 2, no. 5 September-October 2013 publisher Keith Martin Executive Editor Chester Allen Editor Jim Pickering Art Director Dave Tomaro Digital Media Director Jeff Stites Editor at Large Colin Comer Auctions Editor Tony Piff Associate Editor Chad Tyson Copy Editors Yael Abel, Dave Tomaro Auction Analysts B. Mitchell Carlson Kevin Coakley John Lyons Norm Mort Phil Skinner Contributors Carl Bomstead Colin Comer John Draneas Michael Pierce Jay Harden Mark Wigginton Information Technology/ Internet Brian Baker Lead Web Developer Marc Emerson SEO Consultant Michael Cottam Advertising and Events Coordinator Erin Olson Financial Manager Cheryl Ann Cox print Media buyer Wendie Martin ADVErTISInG SALES Advertising Executives Randy Zussman randy.zussman@AmericanCarCollector.com 877.219.2605 x 214 Cindy Meitle cindy.meitle@AmericanCarCollector.com 877.219.2605 x 5 Steve Kittrell steve.kittrell@AmericanCarCollector.com 877.219.2605 x 5 SubSCrIpTIOnS Subscriptions Manager Rich Coparanis Administrative Assistant Cassie Sellman Subscriptions 877.219.2605 x 1 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., M–F service@AmericanCarCollector.com 503.253.2234 fax @AmericanCCMag COrrESpOnDEnCE phone 503.261.0555 Fax 503.253.2234 General P.O. Box 4797 Portland, Oregon 97208 FedEx/DHL/upS 401 NE 19th Street, Suite 100 Portland, Oregon 97232 Email help@AmericanCarCollector.com Feedback comments@AmericanCarCollector.com Web www.AmericanCarCollector.com SEMA — when you’re done picking your jaw up off the floor, pick up an issue of ACC 16 AmericanCarCollector.com American Car Collector magazine (ISSN# 2164-1323) is published bimonthly by Automotive Investor Media Group, 401 NE 19th Street, Suite 100, Portland, OR 97232. pOSTMASTEr: Send address changes to American Car Collector, PO Box 4797, Portland, OR 97208. The information in American Car Collector magazine is compiled from a variety of reliable sources. However, we disclaim and deny any responsibility or liability for the timeliness, use, interpretation, accuracy and completeness of the information presented. All material, data, formats, and intellectual concepts in this issue © 2013 by American Car Collector, LLC, Automotive Investor Media Group, Inc., and Automotive Investor in this format and any other used by American Car Collector magazine. Copyright registered with the United States copyright office. PRINTED IN USA AMERICAN JOIN US Daniel Grunwald Jack Tockston Pat Campion Dale Novak B. Mitchell Carlson Ken Gross Tom Glatch John L. Stein Marshall Buck Keith Martin's

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GOODREADS by Mark Wigginton The American Drive-In Movie Theatre by Don and Susan Sanders, Crestline, 160 pages, $6.99 (Amazon), and Fill ’er Up!: The Great American Gas Station by Tim Russell, Crestline, 208 pages, $9.97 (Amazon) The world of collecting cars is all about nostalgia. The driving, primal urge is about recapturing youth as much as the appreciation of bygone engineering or design. Let’s face it, it’s the rare (or deeply serious) collector who cares about cars from the teens or ’20s anymore, because we didn’t own a thrashed one as a first car or have fond memories of a family vacation in one. The age of vehicle discovery might be as important as the vehicles. It’s why muscle cars are currently still on the boil, and why a generation from now collectors might be talking about vintage K-cars. For me, a teen in the ’60s in California, car culture was all about pumping gas and drive-in theaters. I was a proud wearer of the green uniform of Texaco for the last couple of years of high school (complete with special gas-station-attendant belt that had an extra leather band that covered the buckle, so as not to scratch the paint). It allowed me to be around cars and get paid the princely sum of $1.65 an hour. The fact that washing lots and lots of windshields intersected the growing popularity of the mini-skirt was just a bonus, only discussed on the islands during down times. And after work, you grabbed your girl and headed to the drive-in, a double feature that you hoped and prayed you didn’t wind up watching. The two books here are a celebration of both touchstones of teen life in the ’50s and ’60s (only missing is the malt shop/car hop drive-in), and both reverently detail the growth, changes and history of the two venues. Both drive-ins and gas stations followed the same, glorious trajectory, from humble beginnings to social dominance to ultimate irrelevance. Yes, we still need (at least for a while) a place to fill up, but the experience is now transactional, not social, and the drive-in’s closest analog in the bright technopolis that is now home is a digital projector streaming Netflix wirelessly in the backyard after a barbeque. So, take a trip down memory lane, revisit the haunts of your youth. You will remember, you will learn, and mostly feel a bit younger as you cruise the pages. PARTSTIME by Chad Tyson New products to modernize your street machine Summit racing Equipment Old cars mean old wiring, and that can lead to shorts, intermittent operation of components, and sometimes even fires. Not good. The best way to fix those concerns is to use fully assembled, high-temp harnesses. When I update my 46-year-old Impala’s wiring, I’ll install sets from American Autowire. The Classic Update Series harnesses feature extra circuits for aftermarket add-ons such as electronic fuel injection, a/c, electric fans and more. I don’t plan on using any of those soon, but the option for future use is appealing. The fuse panel comes pre-wired and uses ATO-style fuses. OE-style connectors, sockets and terminals complete the package. Classic Update Series harnesses are available for 1955–74 Chevrolet cars and pickups, 1959–69 Pontiacs, 1970–74 Mopar E-bodies, and many more vehicles. Visit www.summitracing.com and search American Autowire, or call 800.230.3030 for more details. 18 AmericanCarCollector.com billy boat performance Exhaust Fusion Exhaust System C4, C5 and C6 owners rejoic have your cake and eat it too. No you can go from a respectable a reasonable road user to a snarlin ear-drum-bursting beast with the flick of a switch. Billy Boat’s bi-modal Fusion system uses two passages in which exhaust can flow through the muffler: One is small, muffled and chambered; the other is three-inch-wide straight tubing. You’ll turn heads. But don’t think you’ll be silent as a church mouse in quiet mode — it’s still seven dBA louder (at 700 rpm idle) and more aggressive than stock exhaust. Billy Boat developed PRT resonance-control technology to control droning at cruising speeds in quiet mode. Alternating between the two modes using the dash-mounted, mild-to-wild switch actuates a butterfly valve primed by engine vacuum. C6 and Z06 owners with NPP exhaust systems don’t need to worry, as there is a Fusion system that integrates with your setup. Fusion systems require no welding, cutting or machining, which makes for easy installation. Call 888.228.7435, or visit www.bbexhaust.com to pick out your system. A Lineage: ªªªª The authors of both books are enthusiasts, not journalists. But, really, the best in-depth reporting is done by folks who care much more about a subject than is fit for polite dinner conversation, and in both cases their passions show through. Fit and finish: ªªª These are, at bottom, fun books. The typography, the typefaces and design reflect that. Serious tomes they are not. And that’s okay. toids, history and a sense of wonder mixed with loss. And both books are just plain enjoyable. ªªªªª is best Drivability: ªªªªª Both books are filled with fac

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COOLSTUFF Alternative bling Ever feel like chrome plating is maybe a little too obvious? Advanced Plating gives you options. Their unusual finishes include brushed chrome, satin chrome, nickel, brushed nickel, satin nickel, black nickel, brushed black nickel, satin black nickel and oil-rubbed bronze! Visit www.advancedplating.com to price your project. Made in Detroit The Shinola brand aims to reinvigorate premium- quality manufacturing within America’s borders. What better skilled labor force than Motor City? Check out their line of custom bicycles ($1,000– $3,000), wristwatches ($500–$700) and bound paper journals ($10–$20). We’re currently sweating their leather wallets and iPad cases ($125) in a serious way. www.shinola.com The joy of driving backwards This new version of AmeriCam’s backup camera gives an improved view of your bumper, so you can parallel park with supreme confidence. The K21B ($198) includes a slim, 3.5-inch color LCD monitor. The K21S ($178) connects to any Nav screen or DVD player. www.americam.co/n_us Bolt-action Clickie Elegant, understated, and oh-so-“tacticool,” these machined metal pens are proudly made in the U.S.A. Choose from shiny stainless steel or stealthy black anodized aluminum. Watch for a limited-edition bronze version later this summer. $85, shipping included, from www. maxmadco.com by Tony Piff A better bed Bedslide bring Slim and fat The Kershaw One Ton is an almo slab of a knife, with 3½-inch blade, e and tremendous presence. That said, i you’d expect, and cheaper, too. Slip i it disappears, kind of. $22.95 from w DESKTOP y Marshall Buck 1965 buick riviera Gran Sport This is the second release of this car by Spark Model; the first was all-black, and it sold out quickly. It does look good in its high-gloss Rose Gold color, but I have not been able to find anything to substantiate the particular color Spark chose, which may not be accurate for this year and model. The body shape and all its nuances are almost spot-on, and the overall look is fine, except that it sits a little too low. 99.9% of all the chrome trim has been well replicated right down to the tiny chrome “Riviera” scripts. The missing 0.1% are the even smaller Gran Sport scripts. Most of the chrome is attached well and in place. The interior is all-black save for the bits of simulated wood trim, dash and console details. The dark interior helps cover most glitches, such as the wood trim on the door panels, which is the wrong shape and affixed in the wrong place. Otherwise, this is a nice piece for the money. 20 AmericanCarCollector.com Detailing Scale: 1:43 Available colors: Rose Gold Metallic Quantity: 750 to 1,200 Price: $70 Production date: 2012–13 Web: www.sparkmodel.com Ratings Detailing: ªªªªª Accuracy: ªªªª Overall quality: ªªªª Overall value: ªªªª ªªªªª is best you! There’s a mo much any truck, v 2000 PRO HD qu a ton. $899–$1,59 www.bedslide

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YOUR TURN Tell us what’s on your mind Contact us at: American Car Collector, P.O. Box 4797, Portland, OR 97208 or online at comments@americancarcollector.com ones those are. A quality GL-4 is as good or better than vintage GL-5 and is my choice. Thanks for the great question, and con- gratulations on hanging onto that Corvette all these years. You are part of an exclusive club of four-decade-plus original owners! Resto-mod representation I thought I’d put my two cents’ worth of reader/subscriber observations to you guys. As I’ve noted, your comments regarding originality and numbers matching are what I view as a bias preference to those types of muscle and pony cars with those attributes. I don’t see much written about Pro Touring modified machines (aka resto-mods/ restifications). That’s not saying you don’t love “some,” just that it seems somewhat neglected from your in-depth reporting features, compared with the majority of your coverage. It’s okay, but as a casual observer, the Ahead of the curve Dear Sirs: Picked up your mag the other day. Great stuff! I was especially partial to the “Cheap Thrills” section on the Ford F-series truck (May-June 2013, p. 36). Sorry to say, I’m way ahead of the curve on old Ford trucks. I purchased this 1970 F-100 12 years ago. It now has 67,000 original miles. I’m the second owner. I fixed the cab mounts and gave her new paint. Runs great. It has a 302 V8 with a 3-speed on the column. All original, except for the hubcaps and mirror. — Dan Falcone, Folcroft, PA Which gear oil? I just read Colin Comer’s article in the July-August issue of ACC on the finer points of optimizing old cars. It’s an excellent article and extremely informative. I do have one question, however, con- cerning his advice on transmission lubes. He states that for Muncie 4-speeds, use GL-4rated gear lube only; do NOT use GL-5. I have a 1972 Corvette 454 with a 4-speed. It has 44,000 miles and runs perfectly. I am the original owner. In looking at the owner’s manual, it says to use an 80/90 GL-5-rated gear oil if the transmission oil is low. Should I need to add transmission oil, should I use GL-4 or GL-5? Has the formulation for GL-5 oil been changed over the years that would now make it unsuitable for transmissions that initially required GL-5? Thanks for your help. I also subscribe to SCM, which along with ACC are the two best car magazines on the market by far. — Dennis Pavlik, via email 24 AmericanCarCollector.com Colin Comer responds: I’m glad you enjoyed the article. Unfortunately the limitations of covering so much ground in 1,000 words means I can’t dive as deep into the particulars as I’d like at times. To answer your question, you are indeed correct: The spec for GL-5 has changed over the past 40 years. Modern GL-5 gear lube has stuff the “vintage” GL-5 did not, mainly very high levels of extreme pressure (EP) additives that are highly corrosive to aluminum, brass, and bronze — i.e., nonferrous metals. And there is a lot of that in your Muncie (think synchros, etc.). Most modern GL-5 also has limited-slip additive, which is absolutely counter-productive to proper synchronizer operation. While some new GL-5 lubes have additives to counteract the corrosive properties of the EP additives, and some are available without limited-slip additive, I don’t think it is worth experimenting to find out just which grassroots movement is far larger than your features seem to report and represent. Of course, then again, I’m predisposed to certain cars myself, and I suppose we all have our preferences when discussing modified versus original muscle. If I’m wrong, please set me straight. Regardless, I do value your interpretations. — Thomas Bush, Mauston, WI Jim Pickering responds: Thanks for the note, Thomas. No bias here against resto-mods — we try to cover a wide range of cars in every issue, and they’re certainly an important part of the market today. That said, ACC is all about values, and the sales of original numbers-matching cars tend to be clear indicators of movement in the market. Because of that, we’ll always have a focus there. That’s not to say we’ll avoid resto-mods, because we won’t. As long as they keep selling at auction, we’ll continue to cover them. A

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INSIDER’S VIEW Betting on million-dollar Ponies 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. Lot F203, 1967 Shelby GT500 Super Snake The ACC question: Lot F203 at Mecum Indy was the 1967 Shelby GT500 Super Snake — a one-of-one supercar built by Shelby with a GT40 Mk II 427 engine, special drivetrain and special one-off styling cues. It was built to serve as a test car for Goodyear’s Thunderbolt tires. It sold for $1,391,000, including buyer’s premium. Lot S135 was the 1967 Ford Mustang “Eleanor” from the 2000 remake of “Gone in 60 Seconds.” This was the hero car used for close-ups in the film and for all promotional materials related to the movie. This is no ordinary clone — this is the car that started the Eleanor craze. It sold at Mecum for $1,070,000, including buyer’s premium. Both cars are important, but for very different reasons. If you had to pick one as the better deal, which one would it be and why? Readers respond: Paul H., via email: The Super Snake test car should have been the better buy for its rarity, originality and provenance — as well as the correct NOS tires (wonder what they drive like, as I suspect they gave very little grip even new). But sadly, in the celeb-obsessed world, the Eleanor rep will probably climb in value faster because of the Hollywood connection. In my opinion, all these look-alikes should be put back to standard at their owners’ expense. Jim B., via ACC Blog: I was asking myself this question as I watched the two cars cross the auction block. What a (relative) bargain for the Shelby vs. who the hell would pay a million dollars for a movie prop?! There can only be one answer: the Shelby. John, via email: No question — the Shelby. A better question is who would have ever expected to see ANY Mustang bring more than a million? But if any modern American car is worth that kind of money, it would be a Shelby. Jay Parrish, via ACC Blog: I think that Shelby’s Super Snake is super in this case. Although the movie for which Eleanor was created brought a new energy back to the world of muscle cars. It was Shelby’s magic that not only was the base of that energy, but it still lives and defines the world of muscle today, and I bet even tomorrow. Therefore 26 AmericanCarCollector.com Lot S135, 1967 Ford Mustang “Eleanor” the Super Snake is a real super car! Slypops, via ACC Blog: For the next 20 years, old geezers like me will continue to push Shelby prices up to stupid levels, those with ED paying the most for the race models. Eventually we will all be dead, and those 25-year-olds who fell for their “Eleanor” movie in 2000 will be 57 years old with their sweet little wives whispering in their ear, “Please, baby”; that’s good for at least $2.5 million. Shelby prices will have dropped back to their late-’70s prices of $5k to $10k. Bill Warner, via email: Neither was a bargain. They are Mustangs, for cryin’ out loud. John Adams, Wilmington, NC, via email: The Super Snake will be the best deal in the long run. It truly has a special history as a significant car in the Carroll Shelby fairytale. The Eleanor is significant too, but only as the original movie car. The Super Snake is chronicled in several documentaries and books written about the wonderful Shelby saga. The $320,000 premium will, in the long run, be less significant, as F203 will continue to grow in value much more than S135. Bob Lagler, Fullerton, CA, via email: The Shelby, of course. The other Mustang was in a movie — whoopee. The Shelby has material substance that will last as long as the car exists. The value will climb as years roll by. It’s a one-of-one in real terms built by a legend. Interest in movies will diminish over time and so too will the value of “Eleanor.” I believe the one-off GT500 Shelby Mustang will stand the test of time and continue to increase in value. Jimbosidecar, via ACC Blog: If I had a cool million laying around and I had to blow it on a Mustang, then I’d be looking for the Sir Stirling Moss Mustang or maybe the real authenticated Mustang that Steve McQueen drove in “Bullitt.” Jared Hoke, via email: The provenance of the GT500 is impec- cable, its history demonstrable and singular. For my money, it’s by far the more desirable of the two. But a million-plus? I am rather amazed that it actually fetched such a price. Kevin Conrad, Seattle, WA, via email: I would vote overwhelm- ingly that the Super Snake is going to be the better buy. Anytime you put “one of one” and “Shelby” in the same sentence, you have a winner. Derbusa, via ACC Blog: You pay for what a car “is” or you pay for what a car “was.” Eleanor “was,” but the Shelby will always be a Shelby.A

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CLASSIC CAR INSURANCE 101 You probably did your homework before you bought them. You’ll have to do a little more homework to properly protect them Are you properly insured? A QUICK LOOK INTO THE WORLD OF CLASSIC-CAR POLICIES by Dale Novak N ot long ago, I was working with a very nice gentleman to help him find a buyer for his 1976 Cadillac Eldorado convertible. He had owned the car for over 30 years and had been carrying insurance on it through the same company that insured his late-model cars. The car was likely worth about $10,000, but because of the policy he had, he had been writing a check for over $1,000 annually to keep it insured. I just about fell over when he told me that. When I told him he could have been paying under $300 a year, he just about fell over. Which type of insurance works best for a given car in a given situation? A lot of guys just don’t know much about it. I’ve been tapped to dig into this sticky web of information to see if I can untangle some of the most common questions. Where to start? There are basically three ways to go about getting your classic car insured. First, you can simply add the car to your current “name brand” policy. Second, you can work with an independent insurance agent to help you explore multiple insurance company options. 28 AmericanCarCollector.com Finally, you can turn to one of the many specialty insurers such as Hagerty, Heacock, Chubb and Infinity, to name a few. You’ll see their ads throughout this magazine. Let’s take a closer look at each option. Keep in mind that this isn’t a dissection of any one company or the policies that they offer, nor should you use this information as the basis of your decision. That should be discussed between you and your insurance agent or provider. Due to the complexities of all the information, we can only take a general look here, since every company and every state has different rules and rates. The big boys If you simply add a classic car to your existing auto policy, you’ll likely be paying the same rates or close to the same rates as for your late-model car. And if you file a claim, you might be shocked at the value one of these companies places on your antique car. You don’t treat your modern SUV the same way you treat your classic car, so why insure them both the same way? If you decide to use your typical late model “name brand” insurance company, you might want to ask your agent if there are any specialty programs for a classic car that is rarely driven and used only for pleasure. A number of the big companies do offer classic policies — many will require a written appraisal of your vehicle. Going independent With an independent insurance agent, your opportunities to find a policy that fits your needs — one that is tailored specifically to your intended use — open up to a larger pool of insurance companies.

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might cost to get your particular car repaired. They know that tracking down some OEM parts can become very costly, and more importantly, they understand why you want to repair your car using the proper parts — and that originality can make one classic car worth two times as much as a similar car. That all sounds great, right? The classic policy catch Classic-car policies do come with a few catches in order to keep the premiums as low as possible. Each company has slightly different rules, but in general, you can’t use your classic as an everyday driver. It also can’t be used for commercial activities. Track, racing or timed events, whether competitive or not, are usually not allowed either. It also can’t be a backup car for your personal-use vehicle. In other words, if your everyday car is in the shop, you can’t jump into your ’32 Ford to commute to work. Other limitations or requirements may also include that your car be stored in a fully enclosed, locked garage when not it use. There are also mileage restrictions for some policies. Again, all this will vary from company to company, and some have riders that can offer a policy that’s more tuned to you and your car. In essence, when you use your classic for pleasure, which might include driving to shows, cruise-ins, club activities and parades — you’re covered. But, it won’t be covered if you take it to the Friday night drags and put it into the wall, or get in a pileup on the freeway during the morning rush-hour commute to work. You want to insure what? Some of the other less obvious advantages are the types of cars that most specialty Courtesy of Steve Loos Photography insurers will cover. These can include modern classics, street rods and modified cars, special-interest cars and trucks (a fire truck or military vehicle for example), kits, replicas and exotics. Just imagine calling your mega-company insurance and telling your agent that you The advantage of working with an independent agent is that you will likely receive a more thorough discussion about your particular insurance requirements. Many times, those agents can write the policy through specialty collector-car insurers at no additional cost to you, since they are compensated through the underwriting insurance company. This can be a great option, especially if you are not well versed in all the rules of the road when it comes to insuring your classic car. Plus, you’ll have an advocate if you ever need to file a claim rather than calling an 800 number and getting lost in a sea of recorded telephone prompts. The classic-car companies Companies such as Hagerty, Heacock, Chubb and Infinity have been built from the ground up to insure classic cars. Many of them also insure classic boats, motorcycles and even airplanes. Their insurance concept is very simple — these com- panies know that you will treat your classic car with kid gloves. They know that, historically, claims filed on classic cars that are not used for daily transportation are very low. They also know that those cars are driven primarily for pleasure and rack up very few miles annually. Most also use an “agreed value” formula to insure your car. In other words, if you and your insurance company both agree that your car is worth $30,000, that will be the general basis of your annual premium. These premiums can be refreshingly low when stacked up against your typical late-model policy — often just a couple hundred dollars a year for a stock vehicle, sometimes less. Other advantages of specialty insurers include a far better understanding of your car’s worth, and what it need to insure a 1943 White M16 Halftrack with two replica .50-caliber machine guns mounted on it — one you just bought at auction. That would be an interesting conversation. All in the timing Something else to keep in mind: If you purchase a car at auction, at the drop of the hammer, you own the car. All ownership interest becomes your liability. If you delay insuring the car until you get the car in your driveway and something happens either on the auction grounds or on the way to your home garage, that claim might fall on your current late-model insurance company. Many policies include a provision to cover a newly purchased car for up to 30 days after you purchase it — but that will vary from one company to another. While that’s a comforting notion, it most likely isn’t practical. Your late-model insurance provider may have a widely varying opinion of the value of a 40-year-old car (regardless of what you just paid for it). That’s not a discussion, or argument in which you want to be engaged. It would be far more prudent to be prepared for your possible purchase with a pre-emptive discussion with an insurance professional. Tip of the iceberg There’s a lot to know about classic-car insurance, and we only touched on a small portion of it here. Miles of legal jargon, state-to-state differences, politics (don’t get me started on that one), regulations and fine print are the basis of today’s modern insurance policies. The main takeaway here would be to do your homework and know the benefits and drawbacks of each selection before choosing what’s best for you. Ask your insurance professional about your options. If your current policy doesn’t handle or work well with a classic car, explore your options. Ask lots of questions and never assume that your car is covered in the event of X, Y or Z. It may not be. One more word to the wise: Don’t dance around the truth with your insurance pro- vider. Tell your agent exactly how you plan to use your car and how and where it will be stored. If you travel with it, let them know it may be driven in different states. It all starts with an honest discussion with your chosen insurance company or insurance professional.A A special thanks to David Scott, senior vice president at Jefferson-Allsopp Inc. in Lakeland, FL, for all his help and assistance in preparing this article. www.jeffersonallsopp.com September-October 2013 29

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SNAPSHOTS A photo album of Leake’s June 2013 auction in Tulsa, OK L eake Auctions calls Tulsa, OK, home, and their June 7–9 auction had the feel of a homecoming dance. More than 500 gearheads stood in line on Friday to register for a bidding pass, and the auction filled the gigantic Tulsa Fairgrounds exhibition hall. The action was con- stant, thanks to Leake’s unique twin-turntable, two-auctioneer system, which keeps a steady stream of cars rolling across the block. By the time the turntables stopped on Sunday, 470 of 696 cars sold for a total of $11.8 million. “It’s always a fun party,” said Jerry Miller of Springdale, AR. “And the cars are beautiful.”A Photos and text by Chester Allen Christine Strobietto lets a bidder know it’s his turn to make a play Leake auctioneer bob Ehlert, also known as bobby D, puts a bidder on the spot A bidder takes a long look at a gleaming 1958 Ford Fair ringman Marty Hill opens up a Corvette as it spins on a giant turntable 32 AmericanCarCollector.com A face that only a mother — or an American Car Collec

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rlane 500 Sunliner convertible ctor — could love The 1968 plymouth barracuda b029 Factory Drag Car looks menacing even while asleep September-October 2013 33

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Cheap Thrills B. Mitchell Carlson The performance OLDSyou never heard of THINK PLYMOUTH GTX FROM OLDSMOBILE AND YOU GET THE IDEA chell Carlson The performance OLDSyou never heard of THINK PLYMOUTH GTX FROM OLDSMOBILE AND YOU GET THE IDEA it would still get out of its own way, but with a deep list of comfort options, it took a bit longer that the 442. F However, who said that eap Thrills B. Mitchell Carlson The performance OLDSyou never heard of THINK PLYMOUTH GTX FROM OLDSMOBILE AND YOU GET THE IDEA it it would still get out of its own way, but with a deep list of comfort options, it took a bit longer that the 442. F However, who said that your father didn’t like to Detailing Years produced: 1970–71 Number produced: 9,344 (7,197 for 1970; 2,177 for 1971) Original list price: $3,151 Current ACC Valuation: $12,000–$28,000 Tune-up cost: $200 Distributor cap: $12 Chassis number: Lower driver’s side of the windshield Engine number: Driver’s side, forward upper end of the block, below the generator bracket More: www.sx455.com Additional: www.Classicoldsmobile.com Alternatives: 1970–72 Buick GS, 1968–71 Plymouth GTX, 1970 Mercury Cyclone GT, 1970–74 AMC Javelin ACC Investment Grade: C Club: Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme SX Club 36 AmericanCarCollector.com put his right foot down and smoke the tires once in a while? To that end, for 1970, Olds introduced the Cutlass Supreme SX. Think Plymouth GTX from Oldsmobile and you get the idea. Formal look, big performance The SX — officially known as the Y79 Performance Package — was only available as a Cutlass Supreme hard top or convertible. The hard-top Cutlass Supreme for 1970 was the first year the series had a unique body. Unlike the F-85, Cutlass S or 442 fastback-style hard top, the Cutlass Supreme had a more formal “notchback” roofline with a markedly more upright rear window. All Cutlass Supremes’ VINs have the same prefix for each body style (34257 for hard tops, 34267 for drop tops), as the SX was just an option package. Today it makes verifying a real SX a challenge, but back in the day, the SX saved you money at the insurance agency. Mr. Agent thought your Y79 was just a regular Cutlass just like your Uncle Bob had listed with them — not a surcharge-laden performance 442 hard top or convertible (with 34477 and 34467 prefixes, respectively), although the SX could’ve had the same engine. The party lasted for only two model years — 1970 and 1971. There were minimal cosmetic changes be- Thrills B. Mitchell Carlson The performance OLDSyou never heard of THINK PLYMOUTH GTX FROM OLDSMOBILE AND YOU GET THE IDEA it would still get out of its own way, but with a deep list of comfort options, it took a bit longer that the 442. F However, who said that your father didn’t like to Detailing Years produced: 1970–71 Number produced: 9,344 (7,197 for 1970; 2,177 for 1971) Original list price: $3,151 Current ACC Valuation: $12,000–$28,000 Tune-up cost: $200 Distributor cap: $12 Chassis number: Lower driver’s side of the windshield Engine number: Driver’s side, forward upper end of the block, below the generator bracket More: www.sx455.com Additional: www.Classic- oldsmobile.com Alternatives: 1970–72 Buick GS, 1968–71 Plymouth GTX, 1970 Mercury Cyclone GT, 1970–74 AMC Javelin ACC Investment Grade: C Club: Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme SX Club 36 AmericanCarCollector.com put his right foot down and smoke the tires once in a while? To that end, for 1970, Olds introduced the Cutlass Supreme SX. Think Plymouth GTX from Oldsmobile and you get the idea. Formal look, big performance The SX — officially known as the Y79 Performance Package — was only available as a Cutlass Supreme hard top or convertible. The hard-top Cutlass Supreme for 1970 was the first year the series had a unique body. Unlike the F-85, Cutlass S or 442 fastback-style hard top, the Cutlass Supreme had a more formal “notchback” roofline with a markedly more upright rear window. All Cutlass Supremes’ VINs have the same prefix for each body style (34257 for hard tops, 34267 for drop tops), as the SX was just an option package. Today it makes verifying a real SX a challenge, but back in the day, the SX saved you money at the insur- ance agency. Mr. Agent thought your Y79 was just a regular Cutlass just like your Uncle Bob had listed with them — not a surcharge-laden performance 442 hard top or convertible (with 34477 and 34467 prefixes, respectively), although the SX could’ve had the same engine. The party lasted for only two model years — 1970 and 1971. There were minimal cosmetic changes be- HursHurst variations), guess again. Oldsmobile’s use of the A-body platform ranged from sedate to blister- ing. On the blistering end was the 442, especially with the W-30 option, and on the sedate end was the Cutlass Supreme. With a 350 under its hood, tween the two years. It’s also no small coincidence that the SX disappeared for 1972 — the same year that the 442 went from being a stand-alone model to a Cutlass S trim package. It’s all in the engine Sure, it looked like a loaded Cutlass Supreme, but with GM lifting the 400-ci displacement ban on the A-platform cars in 1970, Olds could now easily drop their big-car 455 into the 442 — and the Cutlass. The SX came standard with the 455 mill. Initially this was the L33 320-hp 2-barrel, but later in the model year it was changed to the L31 365-hp 4-barrel. The L31 was the same engine that was used in the full-sized 88s and 98s, set up as a torquey cruiser. The standard rear-axle ratio was 2.56 — handy for blasting down vast stretches of America’s newly opened freeways that still had “reasonable and prudent” speed limits, but hardly the stuff of stoplight terrors. Optionally, it could be had with the 365-hp 4-barrel W-32. Despite the same horsepower rating (and generally believed by most enthusiasts to be intentionally underrated), this was actually the standard engine for the 442, dialed in more for revving with a different cam and carburetor. W-32s also came with at least a 3.08 rear end, and could even be had with the W-27 aluminum-housing rear differential. That said, just because a Cutlass has an L33 in it doesn’t necessarily make it an SX. One of the reasons for making the 455 available in the A-platform was as an option for the Vista Cruiser station wagon, as previous model years had larger engines available for those wagons. Courtesy of Mecum Auctions

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Initially, the L33 could be ordered in any Cutlass, including all Cutlass S models and Cutlass Supreme 4-doors. When the L33 was canceled, the only Cutlass available with a 455 became the SX. The one and only engine for the 1971 SX was the L32 365-hp 4-barrel 455. Akin to the L31 from the previous year, this was the common lower-compression “big-car” motor. And like the W-33 was the previous year, this was also now the base engine in the 442 for ’71. All SXs also had the Turbo HydraMatic 400 automatic transmission. The package also had a few unique features not available in the garden-variety Cutlass Supreme. Aside from the prerequisite badging on the front fenders, it had dual exhausts with trumpet outlets, clearance cut-outs in the bottom of the bumper for said dual exhausts, and on hard tops only, extra front fender braces. Note that the last three were also found on the 442s. Poseur’s paradise Therein lines part of the problem with SXs today. While the 442s had the fastback body for the hard tops, the SXs had the formal notchback roof of all Cutlass Supremes. Building a fake 442 from a hard top was all but impossible to do, remembering that the VIN prefixes were also different. In essence, doing so would make a phantom that never originally existed. However, for a convertible, all the parts swapped over to the exact same bodies to make a fake 442. For even less-scrupulous folks, swapping VIN tags made the change all but complete, aside from the Level II VIN stamped in the frame. At a major collector-car auction this spring, I reported on a replica ’71 442 drop-top that the consignor laid bare as originally being an SX. Is that same car worth converting back to being an authentic SX? At this point, it’s noble but financially debatable. Going the other way — making a fake SX — traditionally hasn’t been worth the effort. They were virtually unknown, hence nobody would’ve really cared. The shade-tree motor swap from a 350 to 455 had been enough to make a Cutlass Supreme go fast on a budget, without going into the details to make it an SX. However, interest in and general knowledge of these cars has been increasing. There are hundreds of thousands of 350-powered Cutlass Supremes out there, so the poseurs are starting to appear. Although the bright and flashy muscle cars have traditionally brought the most traction since the 1980s, today the sleepers from the era are just as desirable. Especially those with low production numbers like the SX. As the legions of musclecar enthusiasts who grew up with these cars start to mature and gray, the loud and cartoonish examples will lose some of their charm, and I think cars like this will take up the slack. Especially for buyers who want to hear the radio over the comfortable a/c while roasting the tires. A September-October 2013 37

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Horsepower PARENTING Good ALL OF OUR BABIES NEED TO GET OUT AND PLAY. EVEN THE ONES WE KEEP IN THE GARAGE running a GTO through the gears is good for both car and driver blindly, but I contend even partial ignorance is blissful. The basic reality is that there was the time before having a child, of which I remember little, and now the time after. To date, at least as far as I can tell, I haven’t screwed up any part of this parenting gig, but I know the real verdict may take a few decades. Wish me luck. So what does this have to do with cars? Well, the act of caring A for this little person who can’t care for herself yet has also made me look at how good of a guardian I am to my cars, because they can’t, and will never, care for themselves. And, as luck would have it, these first months of parenting have coincided with the first months of car season here in the Midwest. Waking them up It’s the time of year when we all try to jump in cars that have sat through the winter and expect them to act as if they didn’t. Problem is, cars don’t act. I have a fairly large stable of cars, too large according to She of Too Many Shoes, and I have always thought I kept on top of maintenance pretty well. I keep them in a nice, climate-controlled environment, attached to maintenance battery chargers, and rotate through them keeping gas (non-ethanol only) and lubricants fresh. Each 38 AmericanCarCollector.com s a new parent (Remington Marie Comer, six months and counting), I’m sure I have pondered the same basic question every parent has since the beginning of time: “Will I be any good at this?” I don’t want to say I walked into this parenting thing car has a maintenance log sheet in it, on which I record each fueling, fluid changes, repairs and the like, along with what types of fluids and fuel, tire pressures, and any other important care and feeding each car needs. I’m sure this is similar to the instructions future baby sitters will be given. I’m a stickler for details. I have always been adamant that every car in my garage be ready to be started and driven anywhere, at any time, by anyone. That means no special instructions like “don’t use the parking brake because it sticks” or “if it doesn’t start there is a hammer in the trunk” kinda stuff. No dead batteries, no repairs needed. This has always been accomplished by the note pad I keep next to the log sheet — if I notice something wrong when I’m driving a car, I make a note to myself so I remember to fix it. For years this system has worked remarkably well. However, the past year or so I’ve been pulled away from being a nearly full-time lot attendant, and have also been able to find little time to simply exercise all of the cars as much as I’d like to. So some have just sat, and while they have strong batteries, round tires, and fresh fluids, it isn’t all sunshine and lollipops, as I have been finding out lately. Don’t ignore me Case in point: my 289 Cobra, one of my not stone chips — badges of honor favorite cars. I purchased it from the original owner in 2007 and proceeded to make it mechanically perfect. The first few years of ownership, I drove it every chance I got. It Colin Comer

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under the rear of the car. Yep. The gas tank I had boiled, repaired, and sealed in 2007 was leaking again. And when I fired it up to drive down to the shop, I noticed the parking lights came on with the ignition switch. There is no doubt in my mind that, with the possible exception of the gas tank, these are all things that would have not failed if I had driven the car more. Even if I had just put a few thousand miles on it last year like I normally do and then put it away for the winter. But for now, the master is rebuilt again, the gas tank is fixed again, and the ignition switch (original 1964 Ford with 133,000 miles worth of starts on it) is again working perfectly after just being used — so no more auto-on parking lights. A little play keeps the wrenches away In the weeks since this episode, I’ve been making a real effort to Colin’s 289 Cobra suffering disuse atrophy went on the Copperstate 1000, saw many trips to Road America, went to California, Arizona, and back, and took a lot of Sunday morning drives. It never skipped a beat, never leaked a drop of oil, always ran like a Swiss watch, and performed just like the sweetheart it is without asking for anything other than fuel in return. But, other than a trip to Watkins Glen last year for the SAAC convention, I didn’t drive it much in 2012. And I didn’t try to again until June of this year for a trip to an SAAC event at Road America. Of course, it started instantly and drove flawlessly like it always does, but after a few days of driving I noticed it was leaking brake fluid from under the pedal box. The clutch master cylinder, the same one that was re-sleeved and rebuilt in 2007, was leaking. The next day, I opened the garage door to find a trail of fuel from get on the road in all of the cars, even if it is just driving back and forth to work or a quick 30-minute drive to get them limber again, and let them know I still care. Thankfully, none seem worse for their extended bench times, and doing this has helped me remember each car’s unique qualities that attracted me to them in the first place. It is no secret mechanical things need exercise as much as humans, and the more the better. Ever notice how good you feel after a good bike ride or an hour at the gym? Sure seems like our cars feel better after a good run as well. They sound and perform better, the exercise helps keep everything working well and keeps that crucial mechanical handshake between parts intact. I’m trying to break that habit of letting cars sit idle and to drive them more often. Lately that means driving the old cars my daughter’s baby seat won’t fit in as much as the ones that it does. Well, in between diaper changes, that is. The bottom line? All of our babies need to get out and play. Even the ones we keep in the garage. A September-October 2013 39

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Corvette Market John L. Stein LONG GONE? How far is FOUR DECADES LATER, I SERIOUSLY BEGAN WONDERING IF I COULD LOCATE MY UNCLE’S CORVETTES. SO I TRIED The missing ’61, somewhere in the Sierra nevada, back in the day. Where is it now? cially that midyear Tri-Power convertible that Uncle B. found at the local used-car lot in 1973, drove home and stored in the barn. That rare ’56 automatic he bought through a body-shop lien sale that, even minus its engine, would well be worth resurrecting today. Or even the plastic-bumper ’77 with 13,000 miles on the clock he got as a creditunion repo. How did the family ever let these get away, and more importantly, I where are they today? Such questions are more easily asked than answered. I know, because I recently asked them myself. 40 AmericanCarCollector.com f your family is anything like mine, there are probably a few cars you wish had never been sold along with old Uncle Buck’s farm when he passed away. But you were a kid then, or perhaps immersed in college, working on the other coast — or maybe you weren’t even swinging from that branch of the family tree. So while you couldn’t have stopped it, the loss still hurts, espe- Get the VIN, Slim Although I never had an Uncle Buck, my real aunt and uncle actually were into Corvettes. They owned a pair of them, including a Jewel Blue ’61 automatic with gold coves and a Tuxedo Black ’64 coupe, also an auto due to my aunt’s preference for easy driving. They sold the ’61 in the late 1960s to make room for the Sting Ray, which also departed in the early 1970s — replaced ultimately by an AMC Gremlin X. But that’s another story. Four decades later, I seriously began wondering if I could locate those cars. So I tried. The first thing was to ask family members if they recalled where the ’Vettes went, meaning the subsequent owners. No luck there. The next logical step was to ask for written records, especially the VINs, which can theoretically be traced in all 50 states. It can be surprising what people will salt away. But in my case, due to purging of paperwork as the

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generations passed on, there were simply no records to be found at all. If you live in a small town (or perhaps a big town where there’s been long-term stability at the Chevy dealership or repair shop), local businesses might have old records containing such useful details as a VIN. You might even discover that an old-timer in Service or Parts remembers a particular car. The same strategy may work with your family’s insurance agency, although from what I could determine, inactive account records are typically purged after a few years. Turn to family photos Lacking any useful paperwork identifying either a buyer or a VIN, the trail gets tougher to follow — but it’s not impossible. After finding no success uncovering paperwork, I moved into searching for family photos. My rationale? While families may trash dull old file folders with no aforethought, they’re probably way more likely to retain photo albums or boxes of slides. And that’s where I hit pay dirt — sort of. Inside the boxes of 35-mm chromes that my uncle had shelved were several images of the beloved Corvettes — the ’61 parked alongside an old cabin somewhere in the Sierra Nevada, and the black ’64 covered in snow at a wintry Lake Tahoe. And eureka! there were the California black plates, plainly legible. I felt extremely hopeful that running the numbers would yield a current owner whom I could call. DMV no savior But even that didn’t prove so easy. For one, today’s privacy laws mean you may not be able to skate into the DMV and request current ownership info for any given license number. And even working an inside angle, such as through law enforcement or a helpful official, may still return a “No Record” response. And that’s what happened to me, suggesting that a period tag number is of little value unless Covered in snow, and mystery the vehicle is still registered in the same state. This underscores why having the VIN is essential. (And why you should keep a permanent record of your vehicle VINs; you never know when they might be useful. — Ed.) So in the end, having photos and license numbers didn’t help me find my aunt and uncle’s Corvettes — but I’m still hopeful that someday they might. Meanwhile, there are other avenues to try, such as owners clubs. And thanks to the growing reach of social media, you might actually find the current owner by creating a Web page, or even a Facebook page, about your search for the car. Maybe I should, because a Jewel Blue ’61 with gold coves is a fairly rare duck, after all. The way I figure it, every lost Corvette is worth finding. And so while your own family tree may not have enough branches to find the ones that Uncle Buck once squirreled away, the much broader Corvette family tree just might. A September-October 2013 41

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PROFILE CORVETTE 1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE 327/300-HP CONVERTIBLE Drop-top driver I’d rather have the entire vehicle history including any crash damage or major component substitutions than no records for a seemingly nice car 42 AmericanCarCollector.com 42 AmericanCarCollector.com VIN: 30867S116652 by John L. Stein • L75 327-ci 300-hp small-block engine • 4-speed manual transmission • Riverside Red exterior, black interior • AM/FM radio • Black soft top • Finned aluminum knockoff wheels • Whitewall tires ACC Analysis This car, Lot 476, sold for $46,200, including buyer’s pre- mium, at the Leake classic car and truck auction in the Expo Center at the Tulsa Fairgrounds in Tulsa, OK, on June 7, 2013. Buying your sweetie a diamond ring at Costco in Saskatoon will be a different experience than shopping for one on Rodeo Drive. It’s also likely to be much cheaper, but will the quality be similar? The same question could apply to buying a Corvette at auction at any place not named Scottsdale, Amelia Island or Monterey. For example, the average sale price of the eight midyear examples sold at the Leake auction in Oklahoma was a reasonable $53,143, with the most affordable one selling for $44,000 and the highest at $71,500. That’s below prime-time auction numbers. Then again, that’s good news if you’re a buyer hunting for a deal. Nice car — with lots of questions The example shown here, a common 300-horse roadster that was restored in popular Riverside Red with black interior and optional cast-aluminum knockoff wheels, looked like something of a bargain at $46,200. Eventually, the new owner of Lot 476 will find out if it actually was. But meanwhile, we can do some forensic evaluation from the sidelines. A quick run through the ACC Premium Auction Database brought up two hits on this car. First, it sold at the Branson auction in 2002 for $23k (ACC# 29147). It had 97,474 miles showing. It was painted gold at the time and listed as a 20-year-old resto. Ten years later, in June of 2012, the car sold again at Mecum’s Salmon Brothers Collection sale for $56k (ACC# 210511), looking as it did here at Leake. Mecum’s description called it a full frame-off restoration. Unfortunately, very little other information was provided about the car by Leake, which immediately brings up significant questions about its prior life. One would think, for instance, that a cherished car supported by its build sheet, window sticker, ProtectO-Plate and full ownership and service records would be presented as such. Because no such scenario was presented here or anywhere else the car sold, I pretty much have to conclude that this particular car had Courtesy of Leake Auctions

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ACC Digital Bonus Detailing Year produced: 1963 Number produced: 10,919 Original list price: $4,037 Current ACC Valuation: $36,000–$65,500 Tune-up cost: $400–$500 Distributor cap: $25 Chassis #: Cross brace under glovebox Engine #: On block in front of right cylinder head Club: National Corvette Restorers Society, 6291 Day Road, Cincinnati, OH 45252 been rescued from less-than-desirable circumstances. We know it was restored at least twice. But the car did look generally nice. The red exterior, black interior, bright plating, new-appearing wheels, thin-whitewall bias-ply tires and preferred 4-speed manual trans all contributed to its stage appeal. It has the bones of a great driver, with the color combination, no-nonsense powerplant, and 4-speed manual. But hopefully the buyer did a closer inspection prior to the car getting anywhere near the auctioneer and his gavel. Sometimes the lack of information presented about a vehicle is more concerning than any admission of problems, even prior collision damage. This is especially true with Corvettes, as history and originality can make or break a car’s value. One thing is for sure — I’d rather have the entire vehicle history including any crash damage or major component substitutions than no records for a seemingly nice car. Light history, limited value Perhaps all the unknowns kept the price down in this case, as bidders felt the same caution that I did. When a nice and tidy little 300-horse convertible restored to period-correct specs attracts only $46k, the absence of hard info — and some visible issues — is most likely to blame. This is important on two levels. First is that your safe use and enjoyment of the car is directly related to the quality of the restoration — both mechanical and cosmetic. And second, the day you want to sell the car, any savvy potential Corvette buyer will deduct significantly from your asking price simply because you don’t know the car’s history, other than, “Wish I knew more, but I bought it at auction.” There was no mention of this being an original- engine car. Was it, or was it outfitted with a replacement engine and other key components in order to flip it at auction? Was it sporting a mass of re-pop parts? From unblemished knockoff wheels to bumpers and interior, my assumption is, by necessity, that these were not original or NOS components. Again, in the Corvette world, that can and does limit value. Fit and finish There were some visible fit and finish issues, as you might expect with any midyear Corvette. The left headlight door fit was askew, as was the alignment of the right-front bumper. And while the engine bay appears nicely finished and presents as-new, we don’t really know at a glance what’s authentic there and what’s not. Inside the car, an obviously redone interior shows doorpanel fit issues on the driver’s side, at least. So why did this car sell for $46,200 instead of the $10,000 more it made last year? I’d chalk the Mecum price up to a little auction magic, as well as some competition in the room — that price is closer to what you might expect for a well-documented original. I think the price achieved at Leake was on the money for a car with these visible flaws, along with the more important questions that the glaring lack of history raised. The end result of those factors is uncertainty. And just as the stock market doesn’t like uncertainty, neither do the astute buyers when it comes to mysteriously restored Corvettes. But as long as the mechanicals check out, this’ll make a great driver, and if that’s how it’ll be used, the Company.) 1963 Chevrolet Corvette 327/300 convertible Lot 505, VIN: 30867S115124 Condition: 2Sold at $45,100 More: www.ncrs.org Alternatives: 1965–66 Ford Mustang V8 K-code convertible, 1964–65 Pontiac GTO 4-speed convertible, 1967 Chevrolet Camaro SS convertible ACC Investment Grade: B Comps 1963 Chevrolet Corvette 327/300 convertible Lot S3, VIN: 30867S114242 Condition: 3 Sold at $39,220 Mecum Auctions, Kansas City, MO, 3/29/2012 ACC# 197627 1963 Chevrolet Corvette 327/300 convertible Lot 363, VIN: 30867S109460 Condition: 3+ Not sold at $47,000 Auctions America by RM, Carlisle, PA, 9/29/2011 ACC# 186090 new owner didn’t pay too much. A (Introductory description courtesy of Leake Auction Auctions America by RM, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 3/4/2011 ACC# 169125 September-October 2013 43CC 43

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PROFILE GM 1969 HURST/OLDS ILE GM 1969 HURST/OLDS John John Henricks, courtesy of Mecum Auctions The Hurst/ Olds was a torque monster, capable of low 14-second ETs. Super tuning and a set of headers and slicks whittled that time down to low 12s 44 AmericanCarCollector.com 44 AmericanCarCollector.com VIN: 344879M359750 by Patrick Smith • Sold new by Minyard Motors Inc., Anderson, SC • Documented with Hurst Performance Research papers, original build sheet and factory warranty books • Completely frame-off restored from late 1990s to early 2000s • Completed by Nyle Wing, Wings Auto Art in Ionia, MI • Restoration completely documented with photos start to finish • Matching-numbers engine • 455/380-hp V8 (#396021F) code QE, Ram Air hood • Turbo 400 transmission (#69OH1352) • Posi rear end (SH-3.23 ratio) • Power steering and disc brakes • Tilt steering column • Factory tach, gauges and AM/FM radio • Factory 15-inch wheels with Goodyear tires • Factory air conditioning ACC Analysis This car, Lot F244, sold for $80,250, including buyer’s pre- mium, at the Mecum Original Spring Classic in Indianapolis, IN, on May 14, 2013. The Hurst/Olds was one of the first American su- percars. It was groundbreaking for GM — this project broke the corporate rules on engine size in an intermediate A-body car, and that made it a hot performer on the streets. And it looked great, too. A new performance Olds The H/O was the result of a collaboration between Hurst’s “Doc” Watson and Oldsmobile Division chief engineer John Beltz. In the mid-1960s, Oldsmobile was left behind in the sales race in spite of good, solid muscle cars like the 442, which had powerful options such as the 400-ci triple-carb L69 and W-30. Beltz complained to Watson about how much press Pontiac’s GTO got whenever something new came out. Watson replied, “You’ve got a 455 V8 going into the big cars; why don’t we do a special car and put a 455 into an A-body?” Beltz liked the idea and got management to buy into a special concept car, provided the engine was installed off-premises, skirting around the GM corporate limitations that kept engines at or under 400 cubic inches in anything other than Corvettes, full-size cars and trucks. The vision was to create an executive muscle car and forever kill the “Menopause Manor” impression that performance fans had of Oldsmobile. At the same time, Watson realized that the young kids who had dreamed about 1957 J2s and the original Rocket 88s had grown up. They were now at their peak spending power and could afford a luxurious hot rod. So the Hurst/Olds was designed as a loaded machine with most luxury options included in the price. Only a few items such as air conditioning and 8-track player were optional. From 442 to H/O Starting in 1968, John Demmer Engineering han- dled the cars’ transition from factory 442s to Hurst/ Olds. The cars were shipped to a facility in Michigan,

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ACC Digital Bonus where the Peruvian Silver and black paints were applied along with a t Dual Gate shifter, h appliqués, badges, s and other goodies. , the production cars’ s were installed at the e plant, not at the special y. This broke GM’s oncerning engine size , but the story that Hurst he motors kept the GM ontent, even if it wasn’t y 515 units were built in he package worked, and ars sold like wildfire. smobile ramped up the ement for 1969. They d an aluminum intake old, D-code cylinder , recurved the distributor, fitted a W-30 t, installed a vacuum-operated Outside ion system with two large scoops sticking od, and fitted a large rear spoiler on the CC Digital Bonus where the Peruvian Silver and black paints were applied along with a t Dual Gate shifter, h appliqués, badges, s and other goodies. , the production cars’ s were installed at the e plant, not at the special y. This broke GM’s oncerning engine size , but the story that Hurst he motors kept the GM ontent, even if it wasn’t y 515 units were built in he package worked, and ars sold like wildfire. smobile ramped up the ement for 1969. They d an aluminum intake old, D-code cylinder , recurved the distributor, fitted a W-30 t, installed a vacuum-operated Outside ion system with two large scoops sticking od, and fitted a large rear spoiler on the f f 914 examples were built in ’69, including bles. All were finished in Cameo White st metallic gold accents and 455 HO he scoops. Imported sports mirrors, a r spoiler and unique SSII wheels with gold olid chrome rim were added, along with h Goodyear Polyglas tires. The overall look screamed performance. And the Hurst/Olds had the power to back it up, too. These 455 engines were rated at 380 hp, but the big news was the massive 500 ft-lbs of torque, which pushed the car to low 14-second ETs. Super tuning, a set of headers and slicks whittled that time down to low 12s. This was phenomenal performance for 1969, and that, along with the overstated looks and low production, made them into icons. Rarities, rivalries and values Only a few other midsize cars were available with limited-production big-block engines in 1969; the Camaro ZL1 and GM COPO variants, Mustang Boss 429, Shelby GT500 and ’Cuda 440. All of these except the Shelby GT were stripped cars. Performance-wise, an H/O compares with a Shelby GT500 automatic or Boss 429. There were lots of faster muscle cars available. A Super Bee 440 Six Pack was faster, but none had the aura of a limited-production, loaded car. In the luxury muscle car class, the H/O’s closest rival was the Shelby GT500. Among those cars, in terms of bang for the buck, the H/O ranks near the top of the list. Today, Boss 429s are in the $250,000 range for restored examples with low miles; very expensive compared with a Hurst/ Olds. A COPO Camaro or Chevelle is in nosebleed territory. The Shelby GT500 is a $100,000-plus car in comparable condition to our subject car — you can find some nice GT500 examples for the same price as this H/O, but they’ll need work before they’re the same quality. When you consider that most muscle cars lacked features such as air conditioning and plush interiors, the Hurst/Olds starts to look even better. Best of the best Many of these cars have survived, but quite a few are missing their original engines or other crucial parts such as cylinder heads or intake. For many years these were just used cars, and once they left the original owners’ hands, were modified extensively. Examples like this often sell in the high $30k to mid$40k range, depending on the quality of restoration and which parts are missing. Since Oldsmobile added a partial VIN to the engine in ’69, a nice numbersmatching example with documentation and extras like air conditioning is a real bonus. Where’s the top of the market for these cars? A fantastic example is the Hurst Heritage cover car with its numbers-matching drivetrain and desirable options such as air conditioning and 8-track player. It was fully restored and listed in the Hurst Registry — as good as it gets for quality and provenance. It sold for $91,690 at Mecum’s Kissimmee sale in January 2012. Our subject car was also a matching-numbers example that had been given a complete photodocumented, frame-off restoration. It featured a bunch of original paperwork as well, which helped boost its value even further. Considering what you’d have to pay to restore one to the level of our subject car, or what you’d have to pay to buy a competitive make, $80,250 doesn’t seem out of line. In fact, I’d call it a good deal for what the car was — and once the market for American muscle heats up a little more, this car at this price will seem cheap. Call it well bought and decently sold. A (Introductory description courtesy of Mecum Auctions.) September-October 2013 45CC 45 Detailing Years produced: 1969 Numbers produced: 914, (912 hard tops and two convertibles) Tune-up/ major service: $150 Original list price: $4,600 Current ACC Valuation: $33,000–$47,500 Distributor cap: $17 VIN: Driver’s side dashboard, partial on engine block, behind power steering pump Engine #: Stamped on oil fill tube (it’s easy to change, so don’t rely on it alone) Club: The Hurst/Olds Club of America More: www.hurstolds.com Alternatives: 1969 Shelby GT 500 hard top, 1969 Plymouth ’Cuda 440, 1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS 396 ACC Investment Grade: C Comps 1969 Hurst/Olds Lot 56, VIN 344879M336338 Condition: 1Sold at: $95,700 Gooding & Co., Pebble Beach, CA, 8/21/2011 ACC# 183120 1969 Hurst/Olds Lot 369.1, VIN 344879M350668 Condition: 2 Sold at: $58,500 SCM# 182168 Barrett-Jackson Auctions, Orange County, CA, 6/25/2011 1969 Hurst/Olds Lot 1221, VIN 344879M359850 Condition: 1Sold at $84,240 Barrett-Jackson Auctions, Scottsdale, AZ, 1/14/2006 ACC# 40398

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PROFILE FOMOCO A Highway Patrol 5.0 1993 FORD MUSTANG SSP I sure hope a background check was a mandatory piece of this transaction VIN: 1FACP40E5PF138819 by Jay Harden • Retired Missouri Highway Patrol car • One of 25 cars ordered by MSHP in 1993 • Seven were Vibrant White with Red interior • Ordered new from Shawnee Mission Ford in Shawnee, KS • Once retired, it was sold to the last trooper assigned to the car and used for MSHP special events • Copy of original window sticker and purchase order and invoice • Photos of the car with the assigned trooper • MSHP motor equipment division letter verifying its authenticity • Letter from superintendent of MSHP allowing Dun-Lap to sell door and fender decals for this car • Article of Patrol News from April 1996 • Service records and receipts • Also including MSHP uniform, two sets of correct decals, two officers’ ticket books and one warning book, first aid kit and correct fire extinguisher 46 AmericanCarCollector.com 46 AmericanCarCollector.com ACC Analysis This car, Lot F159, sold for $13,910, including buyer’s pre- mium, at Mecum’s 2013 Original Spring Classic. This sale has the wheels in my head spinning so fast I can barely think through all the smoke. Am I reading the sales literature correctly? All I had to do was write a check for $13,910 and someone would have handed over the keys to a fully equipped state patrol Mustang? And two uniforms? And two officers’ ticket books? Really? This has to be one of the best bad ideas I’ve ever stumbled across. Evil temptation Now, don’t get me wrong, I love bad ideas. I really do. The majority of my favorite memories were born out of bad ideas, and many of my best friendships were forged surviving bad ideas. However, there’s only so much temptation a man’s soul can withstand. I like to think that if someday the balance of the world relied on my ability to don Superman’s cape and make the choice to use my powers for good over evil, I would make the right choice and good would prevail. Unfortunately, it’s also quite likely that I would get Courtesy of Mecum Auctions

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ACC Digital Bonus s of steel at hot-wing e flights to Bora Bora, he test (only for pururse). r lived in my garage. I mptation of evil, but , and a megaphone in a 0 makes the hair on the igital Bonus s of steel at hot-wing e flights to Bora Bora, he test (o CC Digital Bonus s of steel at hot-wing e flights to Bora Bora, he test (only for pur- urse). r lived in my garage. I mptation of evil, but , and a megaphone in a 0 makes the hair on the e e 15,000 or so Special d Ford Mustangs built ere distributed to ry as lightweight, fleete beefy full-sized sedans st police departments gital Bonus s of steel at hot-wing e flights to Bora Bora, he test (only for pur- urse). r lived in my garage. I mptation of evil, but , and a megaphone in a 0 makes the hair on the e 15,000 or so Special d Ford Mustangs built ere distributed to ry as lightweight, fleet- e beefy full-sized sedans st police departments cement cement agencies from a to New York fielded odied units, and many ill survive today d/or display cars. e cars were equipped r of standard features t were unavailable ral public, the vast f the upgrades were n reliability and longeved performance. The ns consisted of oil and aft-style hose clamps, forced floor pans that y structure. ays worth noting that s, law enforcement n driven hard and put o fail to tell the whole h because police cars roughout a day, and many fractions of miles are clicked off at full song while in hot pursuit. On the upside, very few privately owned vehicles receive the type of care and meticulous maintenance that service vehicles are afforded. Most sales of this type include pages and pages of reference material providing detailed accounts of routine maintenance and accident history. Keeping our shield-wearing men and women in wellserviced and operational equipment is a state and national priority that few departments are willing to skimp on. Fully equipped Our feature ’Stang is a perfect example of the well-documented vehicle history one can expect to accompany the purchase of a government-owned vehicle, but this car is a bit unusual for a number of reasons. First off, almost all retired police cars are stripped of any functional equipment that could possibly inspire the new owner to dole out a little civic justice of his own. This car, however, is still equipped with all of the communications and speedtracking gadgets that were deployed in the field. Although initially sold to the last officer who owned the car, someone, somewhere along the decision tree, had to know that people like me exist in the world. What’s that, you say? Operating retired public- service vehicles under the guise of legitimacy is illegal and not the intended purpose of a machine like this? Well, you are correct, of course, but long, tireshredding, maniacal-laughter-inducing burnouts are illegal as well. So are wheelies. So are doughnuts (the rubbery ones). Shall I go on? In addition to the on-board goodies, the great state of Missouri was kind enough to throw in not one, but two state-issued uniforms with the purchase of this temptress. Do you know who likes company just as much as Misery does? That’s right, Trouble. Throw in those ticket books, and my checkbook is out before you can yell, “Stick ’em up!” To misdirect or conserve? To make the most sense out of a sale like this, let’s imagine for a moment that terrorizing teenagers and the turn-signal-challenged is not an interest of potential buyers. What then? This particular car is too nice (and expensive) to convert into a Friday night special or track-day marauder. It can’t — or rather, shouldn’t — be driven on the street, and is really only good for parades and events commemorating our best and bravest. In that regard, this sale seems like an awfully expensive homage. On the other hand, a quick search on the Web will put you in touch with local and national hobbyists who spend their free time collecting and restoring policeand military-issue vehicles solely for the sake of conservancy. For that crowd, a car like this is an absolute gem. It really doesn’t get much more authentic and well documented than this example, and, as restorers of anything on wheels are well aware, having all the desirable and hard-to-find goodies all accounted for in a seductive package is often worth the premium paid. I’m sure our buyer would agree. I think it’s safe to assume that this show pony has seen its last rodeo, but I sure hope that a background check was a mandatory piece of this transaction. For some of us, the responsibility that comes with wearing the cape is just too great a burden to bear.A (Introductory description courtesy of Mecum Auctions.) Detailing Years produced: 1982–93 Number produced: Approximately 15,000 Original list price: $11,567 Current ACC Valuation: $10k–$20k Engine #: Top rear of block Club: www.sspmustang.org Alternatives: 1991–2002 Chevrolet Camaro B4C, 1986–96 Chevrolet Caprice 9C1, 2006–10 Dodge Charger Police Package ACC Investment Grade: D Comps Tune up/major service: $150 Distributor cap: $7 VIN: Tag on top of dash, sticker in door jamb 1986 Ford Mustang Saleen Lot 146, VIN: 1FABP28M9GF261017 Condition: 3+ Sold at $14,300 Auctions America by RM, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 3/4/2011 ACC# 169167 1999 Ford Crown Victoria police car Lot 96, VIN: 2FAEP71W3XX142765 Condition: 3 Sold at $8,820 McCormick, Palm Springs, CA, 11/19/2010 ACC# 168310 1989 Ford Mustang LX police replica Lot 200406317701, VIN: 1FABP40E9KF160567 Condition: 3Sold at $5,005 eBay Motors, West Chester, PA, 6/25/2010 ACC# 165085 September-October 2013 47CC 47

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PROFILE MOPAR 1972 DODGE DEMON GSS Mr. Norm’s street machine Supercharging was a slick solution that boosted the factory 340 V8 to a stout 360 hp Courtesy of Mecum Auctions VIN: LM29H2B351509 by Tom Glatch • Built by Mr. Norm’s Grand-Spaulding Dodge • The only one finished in Petty Blue • Authentic Paxton-supercharged Mr. Norm GSS Demon • Complete rotisserie restoration • Date code-correct 340-ci V8 • NOS Paxton supercharger specifically for GSS Demon • Console-shifted Torqueflite automatic transmission • Black bucket seats, console, factory gauges • Sport steering wheel • Black hood accents • Twin hood scoops, hood-mounted tach • Solid-state AM radio • Auxiliary gauges • Multiple award winner with judging sheets • Numerous magazine features • Signed by Mr. Norm Kraus ACC Analysis This car, Lot U72, sold for $69,550, including buyer’s pre- mium, at Dana Mecum’s 26th Original Spring Classic in Indianapolis, IN, on May 18, 2013. The ’60s was the era of the muscle car, but not everyone was content with what the Big Three considered fast. Some buyers wanted cars that were faster than fast. And for those buyers, there were dealers who would oblige their every need. 48 AmericanCarCollector.com 48 AmericanCarCollector.com More speed? No problem These dealers knew how to make the cars the manu- facturers wouldn’t — or couldn’t — build themselves. Most car guys knew who those dealers were. If you were a Chevy man, you’d see Yenko in Pennsylvania, Baldwin-Motion in New York, Dana in LA, and Berger in Michigan. Blue Oval fans flocked to Tasca Ford out East. Royal Oak Pontiac was almost in the shadow of the GM Tech Center, and made the fastest “Tin Indians” around. And for the Mopar crowd, 3300 Grand Avenue in Chicago was the place to be: Mr. Norm‘s Grand-Spaulding Dodge. Norm Kraus knew the market. He and his brother Len began selling used cars from their father’s gas station on the corner of Grand and Spaulding streets in 1948. They built a new Dodge showroom in 1962, and sensing the growing performance market, they turned their focus on selling Dodge’s hottest cars in the mid-’60s. When those cars weren’t fast enough, Mr. Norm and his lead mechanic, Gary Dyer, started building their own. The team built the first 383-powered Dart in 1967, which became the factory’s prototype. Their first series-built “GSS” was a ’68 Dart stuffed with 440 power, which also became the prototype for the ’69 Dodge Dart M-code. Ducking premiums, boosting power In 1971, at the twilight of the horsepower era, Mr. Norm’s developed the Dodge Demon 340 Six Pack. This car kept performance high while leaving the

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ACC Digital Bonus insurance premiums relatively low. On paper it looked like any other 340 Demon, but it wasn’t — this was a full-blown performance machine with quarter-mile times to prove it. Most muscle-car history books will tell you the market for these e most er of ing igital Bonus insurance premiums relatively low. On paper it looked like any other 340 Demon, but it wasn’t — this was a full-blown performance machine with quarter-mile times to prove it. Most muscle-car history books will tell you the market for these e most er of ing nging nging he t Norm s still eed. w , one arger r comilder cams could no lono create power. Mr. Norm ficantly modifying the ould raise the ire of the e performed an old hot-rod d a Paxton supercharger. ed speed t supercharger fed seven s of boost to a custome aluminum air box around the factory carburetor. Mopar’s A-block 340 made 275 hp in 1970, but the compression had to be lowered in 1972 to accommodate the move to lead-free gas, which allowed Mr. Norm’s to supercharge this engine without internal modifications. It was a slick solution that boosted the factory 340 from a wheezing 240 hp all the way to a stout 360 horses. The GSS package also included oversize pulleys, a modified fuel pump and pressure regulator, a heavy-duty oil pump and valve spring retainers, and a Sure-Grip 3.55 rear axle. Before delivery, every GSS was dyno-tuned on Mr. Norm’s Clayton chassis dyno. My first car was a 1970 Duster 340 4-speed with 3.23 gears that was ridiculously fast to 60 mph, so I can only imagine what an extra 85 hp and 3.55 gears would be like. The base price was a reasonable $3,695, but these were truly custom cars, and Mr. Norm’s could make them as plain or as fancy as the customer wanted. That bought 0–60 in about 5.6 seconds, and the quarter mile in around 13.92 at 106 mph — these were true muscle machines. First of its kind, last of its era Mr. Norm’s 1972 Dodge Demon 340 GSS was es- sentially an early version of today’s performance cars. Look under the hood of a late-model ZL1 Camaro, ZR1 Corvette or Shelby GT500 and you’ll see a modern interpretation of this methodology. The 1972 Demon GSS was the last performance car Mr. Norm’s built in the period. Sensing the potential explosion in the conversion-van market, Norm Kraus turned his attention there. In 1974, Grand-Spaulding Dodge became the world’s largest Dodge dealer, thanks to conversion-van fever. Some records from Mr. Norm’s performance years were lost in a flood, but Norm Kraus remembers “about 100” GSS cars were built out of 8,750 1972 Demon 340s. But unlike COPO Chevys, Hemi 4-doors, and other special-order factory anomalies, these were just stone-stock Demons, according to the VIN and build sheet, and that makes them difficult to authenticate — especially when the original engine is missing. That was the case when our feature car was discovered in 2003. An entire month was spent verifying that this truly was a GSS before the decision to restore was made. Russo and Steele auctioned this car at Scottsdale in January, but it was a nosale. Five months later, Mecum was able to sell it at Indy for $69k. The 1970–74 Plymouth Duster/Dodge Demon A-body twins have never had the market presence of the more traditional Mopar performance cars, and the only factory cars to have any real value are the ’70 340 and, to a lesser degree, the less-powerful ’71 340 cars. Normally, the 1972 Demons would have value only as the basis for a custom car, but Mr. Norm’s GSS is no ordinary ’72. $69k for a little slice of Mr. Norm’s magic? That seems like a good deal for both buyer and seller.A (Introductory description courtesy of Mecum Auctions.) September-October 2013 September-October 2013 49 Detailing Years produced: 1972 Number produced: Approximately 100 Original list price: $3,695 Current ACC Valuation: $50,000–$75,000 Tune-up/major service: $150 Distributor cap: $19.95 Chassis #: VIN plate on the driver’s side instrument panel behind windshield Engine #: Pad on the right side of the block, to the rear of the engine mount Club: Mr. Norm’s Sport Club More: www.mrnorms.com/ new/sport_club/index.html Alternatives: 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 LS5, 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T 440, 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge ACC Investment Grade: B Comps 1970 Plymouth Duster 340 Lot F76, VIN: VS29HOB184103 Condition: 3 Sold at $30,740 ACC# 213138 Mecum Auctions, Dallas, TX, 9/8/2012 1971 Plymouth Duster custom Not sold at $50,000 Bonhams, Carmel, CA, 8/14/2009 ACC# 142114 Lot 275, VIN: VL29B1E100818 Condition: 2+ 1969 Dodge Dart GTS Lot 111, VIN: LS23H9B396577 Condition: 2+ Sold at $32,940 Auctions America, Raleigh, NC, 12/5/2008 ACC# 118880

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PROFILE HOT ROD & CUSTOM 1933 FORD WOODIE CUSTOM “COUPE” Six figures worth of fun? These high-zoot, high-tech cars epitomize a phrase a late friend of mine liked to use: “Ain’t no Henry in that thang” 50 VIN: AZ312284 (Special Construction) by Ken Gross terned from the Vern Luce 3-window coupe by the late Boyd Coddington), round-tube cross members, a hand-made steel body with a steel-cage inner structure and wheel tubs, a rolled rear pan, a four-piece hood, and vee’d windshield posts. Power is a Roush 401IR Ford V8 with an AOD S AmericanCarCollector.com transmission. Specs include a five-inch dropped front axle, Wilwood disc brakes and a Winters quickchange rear. Fabrication, assembly, and paint were by Squeeg’s Kustoms in Chandler, AZ. The leather interior was by Gabe’s Custom upholstery. The one-off hand-made maple body was built by Doug Carr of The Wood’N Carr, Signal Hill, CA. ACC Analysis This car, Lot S724, sold for $110,000, including buyer’s pre- mium, at Russo and Steele’s Newport Beach, CA, auction on June 22, 2013. There’s a huge dichotomy between traditional hot rods and modern, high-tech street rods. You can trace tarting with a Squeeg’s Kustoms concept and a Jimmy Smith rendering, this woodie was built from the ground up with a ’33 Ford roadster cowl from Steve’s Auto Restorations, custom SAC frame rails (pat- it back decades. Some point to Boyd Coddington’s ’29 Ford roadster, better known as “The Silver Bullet,” a L’il John Buttera-influenced highboy that blew people away when it appeared in Street Rodder in 1978. That car helped accelerate Coddington’s rapid transition from his maintenance job at Disneyland to a shop of his own. But I like starting with Coddington’s stunning Vern Luce ’33 Ford coupe, the winner of the Al Slonaker Award (for technical excellence) at the 1981 Oakland Roadster Show. The Luce 3-window was smooth as a baby’s bottom, devoid of superfluous slots and louvers, and metal-massaged to a fare-thee-well. The following year, Boyd won the coveted AMBR (America’s Most Beautiful Roadster) award at Oakland with Jamie and Terry Musselman’s oh-sosmooth ’33 roadster. Subsequent trend-setters from Boyd’s exponentially growing business included a “phantom” two-door phaeton for Judi and Larry Murray and went on to include “CadZZilla” for Billy Gibbons, Buz Di Vosta’s “Road Star,” the Aluma coupe for Mitsubishi and Joe Hrudka’s wild “Chezoom.” Coddington didn’t do this alone. Artists such as Larry Erickson, Thom Taylor and Chip Foose often Courtesy of Russo and Steele

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ACC Digital Bonus began the process with skilled renderings. And Boyd surrounded himself with mechanical talent, so the work was first-rate, innovative and good enough to make the cover of Smithsonian magazine in 1993. Love ’em or hate ’em I’m not saying I loved these cars, but I respected their intent and admired the workmanship. I’m a stone hot-rod traditionalist, who likes old Fords with updated engines (flatheads and Hemis) and doesn’t remove one piece of trim. But as the supply of original steel bodies dried up, more and more guys wanted what they perceived as modern hot rods. Boyd really started something. Bucks-up rodders began commissioning shops to build all-new cars with totally custom chassis, handbuilt bodies and injected, all-electronic engines. Today, besides Street Rodder, there’s a new magazine, Street Rodder Premium, that’s filled with ultra-contemporary, high-zoot, high-tech cars that epitomize a phrase a late friend of mine liked to use: “Ain’t no Henry in that thang.” Future past These cars aren’t resto-mods (updated classics); they’re virtually all-new. The result is a totally original creation, and a seriously depleted bank account. I’ll say it again. Cars like these are expensive to build, and in most cases, you haven’t a prayer of recouping the cost. This ’33 woodie is a prime example. It began with an artist’s sketch by Jimmy Smith, and a set of pinched and bowed SAC rails (SAC Hot Rod Products, Orange, CA) that were based on the Vern Luce coupe’s neatly narrowed bones. SAC still had the patterns. That slanted chassis, along with big-and-little rub- ber, dictated the car’s raked stance. The transverse leaf “buggy” spring in front is mounted suicide-style, as it’s located behind the deeply dropped axle. John Nickel built the chassis. Coil-over springs support the quick-change rear. Specially made structural elements include a sturdy triangulated steel core support to mount the ’33 Ford-style grille, which was slid forward and down to accentuate the rake, and the “floating” King Bee headlights. The lights are originals, by the way — a rare inclusion in a contemporary car like this one. The wheels, 15x4½ in front and 17x8 in the rear, are Halibrands. And the patron is ... Squeeg’s Kustoms, Chandler, AZ, completely scratch-built this woodie coupe for Jason Wolfswinkel, a Tucson real estate developer who wanted a hot rod that he could drive with his wife and two children. No expense was spared, according to Doug Jerger, whose Dad, Squeeg Jerger, founded the shop in 1964. There’s a completely hand-fabbed structural metal perimeter inner framework by Brian Cline at Concept Works for the body, and a pair of metal wheelwells too, so the custom-made wood panels, by noted woodie craftsman Doug Carr and his wife, Suzy, are securely fastened. They probably don’t creak and shift like a traditional woodie body does. Peek inside and you’ll see the traditional lat- ticework wood roof structure and garnish moldings. That lovely lumber, by the way, is Eastern hardrock maple; the insert panels are birch, all beautifully finished. Doug carved a shift knob out of bird’s-eye maple. Gabe’s Street Rods Custom Interiors did all the leather and carpeting. ’33 Fords didn’t have vee-ed windshields, but this car does, courtesy of a Model 40 cowl from Steve Frisbie’s Steve’s Auto Restorations in Portland, OR. It was extensively modified, with new windshield posts by Squeeg’s. The four-piece hood began as a Rootlieb product, but it’s been considerably reworked. Squeeg’s did all the rest of the metal forming, including the rolled rear pan, set off with ’37 Chevy taillights, and completed the car. It’s a hot rod, hence the 402-ci EFI Roush Ford small-block V8. The ’33 has won its share of trophies, including a class win at the 2010 Grand National Roadster Show, although Doug points out, “We go to shows, but we’re not trophy collectors. They’re a great place to show our shop’s work and get new customers.” I estimate this car probably cost about $250k to build. Doug didn’t deny it, simply saying, “He (Wolfswinkel) didn’t get his money back,” and adding, “He’s had his fun with it and he’s ready for something else.” Here’s the deal ... You can commission a very expensive modern street rod like this one, take it to shows, win a few trophies, drive the wheels off it, then sell it. Just don’t expect to get your money back. $110k from a $250k investment won’t fly on Wall Street, but that’s not the point. Did Mr. Wolfswinkel have six figures worth of fun with this car? I’ll bet he did. Once again, I’d call this realistically sold and, if you’re crazy about this particular woodie, very well bought. A (Introductory description courtesy of Russo and Steele.) September-October 2013 51 1940 Ford DeLuxe Custom by Boyd Coddington Lot 1315, VIN: 5K06159 Condition: 1Sold at $77,000 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ, 1/15/2012 ACC# 192581 Detailing Current ACC Valuation: $100k–$130k Years produced: N/A Number produced: One Original price: Approximately $250k Tune-up/major service: $150 Distributor cap: $20 VIN: On chassis Engine #: N/A Club: GoodGuys, NSRA More: www.good-guys.com, www.nsra-usa.com Alternatives: Any high-dollar, modern-tech street rod ACC Investment Grade: D Comps 1933 Ford pickup Lot 1033, VIN: 18519067 Condition: 1 Sold at $181,500 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ, 1/18/2011 ACC# 168538 1940 Mercury Custom by Rick Dore Lot 530, VIN: 99A157242 Condition: 1Sold at $137,500 RM Auctions, Monterey, CA, 8/17/2007 ACC# 46257

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PROFILE CLASSIC 1948 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY CONVERTIBLE A woodie with Full Classic status Courtesy of Bonhams The novelty of varnishing your car every six months wore off rather quickly, thus resulting in the very low survival rate VIN: 740235 Engine number: C3958169 by Carl Bomstead ordered with the leather option). It is complemented with gray Wilton wool carpeting and is well appointed with a plethora of factory-correct accessories including the dual-cowl-mounted spotlights, dual side-view mirrors, dual amber-colored fog lights, rear-view mirrors, a deluxe push-button AM radio, a clock, optional dual Mopar Model 54 heater units, front and rear bumper guards, and wide whitewall Firestone Deluxe Champion tires. This car was reported to have been the subject of a T 52 AmericanCarCollector.com 52 AmericanCarCollector.com restoration prior to arrival in this ownership a decade ago. In 2007, this attractive convertible woodie was shown at the Newport Concours in Rhode Island, where it rather appropriately received the Best Newport award. That same year, it gained second in the Post War Convertible Class at the Stowe Fall show. More recently, it was exhibited at the 2012 Boston Cup, garnering the City of Boston Commissioner’s Cup. ACC Analysis This car, Lot 364, sold for $126,500, including buyer’s pre- mium, at Bonhams’ Greenwich, CT, sale on June 2, 2013. his 1948 Chrysler Town and Country shows only 77,630 miles, which is believed to be from new. The interior is finished completely in striking blue leather upholstery, a rare option in 1948 (supposedly only 10% were A top-shelf wagon In 1940, Chrysler president David A. Wallace set his design team to work developing a tight and streamlined station wagon that was a step ahead of the “clumsy, boxy creations” being offered at the time. The result was a wood-bodied station wagon with a white ash framework and Honduras mahogany paneling that had the look of a fastback sedan. It was based on the Chrysler Windsor, and the engine was the L-head 112-horsepower inline six with Fluid Drive. Wallace was also the president of Perkin Wood Products in Helena, AR. I’m sure the contract to supply the wood paneling for the cars entered into the equation as Wallace shepherded the project through the approval process. Production began in March of 1941, and the Town & Country — a name credited to Paul Hafer of the Boyertown Body Works, who said, “The front looked ‘town’ and the rear looked ‘country’” — was the first luxury station wagon that appealed to the more affluent upper-crust buyers. In the model year, 997 were built. Another 1,000 were produced the following year before Chrysler shifted production toward the war effort. Post-war boom As the country returned to more normal footing at the war’s conclusion, the automotive industry faced tremendous pent-up demand, and Chrysler

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ACC Digital Bonus was set to offer an entire series of the Town & Country line, complete with the inline eight offered in the New Yorker series. But for some undocumented reason, they dropped the station wagon. Only the convertible and the sedan made it to dealer showrooms, although seven prototype hard tops were also built in 1946. As an aside, David Wallace for many years drove what is thought to be the fifth one produced before returning it to the Chrysler Motor Pool. It survives today, and is thought to be the only one that does. Production continued through 1948 with few changes. They did, however, stop using real mahogany for the inner panels, switching to Di-Noc decals. 1948 was the last year for the full wood body, as for the final two years of production, they simply trimmed the doors with wood. High maintenance From 1946 to 1948, 8,373 convertibles were pro- duced, with a rather low survival rate due to the high maintenance requirements. Of the 3,309 convertibles produced in 1948, it is thought that only 195 survive today. The Chrysler Town & Country owner’s manual stated, “You can keep your car looking new with very little trouble… Under ordinary conditions, a good varnish job will last a year, but we recommend that it be varnished every six months so to preserve the wood and retain for many years the sparkling beauty of the rich ornamental woods.” The novelty of varnishing your car every six months wore off rather quickly, thus resulting in the very low survival rate. Joining the ranks In 2010, the Classic Car Club of America, after pro- longed debate and gnashing of teeth, elected to grant the 1946–48 Chrysler Town & Country Full Classic status. The process produced long-lasting ill will with members rumored to have resigned over the inclusion. The Classic Car Club of America recognizes automobiles that were “built in limited production numbers and were quite expensive when new. As a group they represent the pinnacle of engineering, styling and design for the era.” The net of it all is that some members didn’t think the Town & Country lived up to that definition. Full Classic status often comes with financial bene- fit, as values tend to appreciate with the newly granted prestige. The example Bonhams offered appeared to be exceptional, with low mileage. It had a long list of desirable options including leather interior, dual Mopar heaters and deluxe push-button radio. It also had numerous awards, albeit from second-tier events, in the back seat. The ACC Premium Auction Database lists dozens of recent sales of these cars, and the cream of the crop sold between $132,000 and $159,000. But going back to sales in 2008, we see the same range, so the Full Classic status does not seem to have had much influence here. It does show, however, that this T&C convertible was very well bought indeed. A (Introductory description courtesy of Bonhams.) Detailing Years produced: 1946–48 Number produced: 8,373 convertibles Current ACC Valuation: $115,000–$160,000 Tune-up cost: $200 Distributor cap: $25 Chassis #: Left front door hinge Original list price: $2,725–$3,420 Engine #: Left side block between 1 and 2 cylinders Club: National Woodie Club More: www.nationalwoodieclub.com Alternatives: 1946–48 Ford Sportsman, 1941 Chrysler Town & Country wagon, 1954 Cadillac Eldorado convertible ACC Investment Grade: C Comps 1946 Chrysler Town & Country convertible Lot 106, VIN: 7400604 Condition: 2 Sold at $132,000 RM Auctions, Fort Worth, TX, 4/27/2013 ACC# 216088 1947 Chrysler Town & Country convertible Lot 322, VIN: 7402722 Condition: 2- Not sold at $110,000 Bonhams, Boca Raton, FL, 2/23/2013 ACC# 215419 1948 Chrysler Town & Country convertible Lot 8, VIN: 7407045 Condition: 3 Sold at $104,500 Gooding & Co., Pebble Beach, CA, 8/18/2012 ACC# 209393 September-October 2013 53CC 53

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PROFILE RACE 1968 JIM DAVIS DRAGSTER “BLOOD, SWEAT & NITRO” Top Fuel terror RACE 1968 JIM DAVIS DRAGSTER “BLOOD, SWEAT & NITRO” Top Fuel terror vintage vintage Top Fuel drag cars generally achieve over-thetop prices? It usually comes down to one thing: usability OFILE RACE 1968 JIM DAVIS DRAGSTER “BLOOD, SWEAT & NITRO” Top Fuel terror vintage Top Fuel drag cars generally achieve over-the- top prices? It usually comes down to one thing: usability by by Tom Glatch strips such as Famoso, Half Moon Bay, Lions, OCIR, Irwindale, Sears Point, Carlsbad and Fresno. Fremont Drag Strip was the car’s home track, and Ritter took home his share of trophies. While attending the 2005 Hot August Nights event T 54 AmericanCarCollector.com with his two restored front-engine dragsters, the “BankAmericar” and the “Mastercar,” John Ewald was approached by a guest who told him about a friend with an old dragster that had been stored in his garage for about 15 years. That car turned out to be the Jim Davis chassis, Jack Hagemann full-bodied “Blood, Sweat & Nitro” of Gary Ritter and his partners Jack Cary and Doug Kinner. Ewald bought the car, and it was delivered to Bruce Dyda’s shop, Dyda Race Engineering in Gardena, CA, where it was restored to 1970 configuration. Now the car is ready to join the nationwide “Cacklefest” events with a fresh 392 Chrysler Hemi and a removable driveline for either push starts or static fire-ups. ACC Analysis This car, Lot S704, sold for $73,700, including buyer’s pre- mium, at Russo and Steele’s Newport Beach auction on June 22, 2013. Here’s a staggering statistic: One modern Top Fuel dragster produces as much horsepower as the first 10 he Blood, Sweat & Nitro Top Fuel dragster is the only surviving original Jim Davis chassis with a full aluminum body by the famous Jack Hagemann. Driver Gary Ritter terrorized the competition with this car at drag rows of the Daytona 500 combined. A Top Fuel car accelerates like a space shuttle launch (pulling 3Gs) and is just as loud (150 decibels). Forty-five years ago, the Top Fuel cars were 100 mph slower, but they were just as spectacular, and just as addictive. By the late ’60s, the Top Fuel cars had evolved from home-built “slingshot” dragsters to professionally built, nitromethane-burning monsters. Most were powered by supercharged 392-ci Hemis, but unlike today’s cookie-cutter, corporate-sponsored cars, these frontengine dragsters (FEDs) had distinctive hand-formed aluminum bodies and beautiful custom paint schemes sporting colorful names such as Chris Karamesines’ “ChiZler” or Don Garlits’ “Swamp Rat.” One of the top builders of these front-engine dragsters was Jim Davis of Walnut Grove, CA. Not only were they fast, but his cars often had that Cal Custom look, thanks to the hand-formed bodies by Jack Hagemann, along with paint jobs by the coast’s best sprayers. One the most famous Davis dragsters was this car, “Blood, Sweat & Nitro,” raced by Gary Ritter. From barn storage to center stage John Ewald bought the car, which was complete but in rough shape. He spared no expense in restoring the dragster to museum quality, as noted by its two-year stint in the Wally Parks NHRA Museum in Pomona. But it was not built just to be pretty. When restoration was complete, “Blood, Sweat & Nitro” made its debut at the Cacklefest at the 2008 March Meet in Bakersfield, CA. Cacklefest is an event where these vintage drag cars Courtesy of Brian Crawford

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ACC Digital Bonus line up and fire their flame-throwing, nitro-burning engines. Anyone who’s heard a nitro engine knows the sound — it’s deafening and permanently pounded into your brain. Now imagine dozens of restored or recreated vintage dragsters all running at the same time. Greg Sharp of the Wally Parks NHRA Museum once called it a veritable “cacklefest,” and the name stuck. acklefest in 2000 was held at the ot Rod Reunion, and it drew nine vintage s getting more popular: The three ents this year will draw more than 100 Digital Bonus line up and fire their flame-throwing, nitro-burning engines. Anyone who’s heard a nitro engine knows the sound — it’s deafening and permanently pounded into your brain. Now imagine dozens of restored or re- created vintage dragsters all running at the same time. Greg Sharp of the Wally Parks NHRA Museum once called it a veritable “cacklefest,” and the name stuck. acklefest in 2000 was held at the ot Rod Reunion, and it drew nine vintage s getting more popular: The three ents this year will draw more than 100 ace ace car atching a car like “Blood, Sweat & Nitro” n auction can be a painful experience, rejudice of the marketplace regarding e cars. Generally, if it didn’t race on a se, a lot of buyers just don’t consider it a ace car, and that affects value. e’s a perfect example: In ACC #3, I wrote t the 1960 “Race Rat” Corvette that raced nce, at the 12 Hours of Sebring, and ed 1st in class and 16th overall. That car or $440k — almost six times what “Blood, Sweat & Nitro” made at Russo and Steele. How is this possible? Why don’t vintage Top Fuel drag cars generally achieve the same prices as vintage ? It usually comes down to one thing: CC Digital Bonus line up and fire their flame-throwing, nitro-burning engines. Anyone who’s heard a nitro engine knows the sound — it’s deafening and permanently pounded into your brain. Now imagine dozens of restored or re- created vintage dragsters all running at the same time. Greg Sharp of the Wally Parks NHRA Museum once called it a veritable “cacklefest,” and the name stuck. acklefest in 2000 was held at the ot Rod Reunion, and it drew nine vintage s getting more popular: The three ents this year will draw more than 100 ace car atching a car like “Blood, Sweat & Nitro” n auction can be a painful experience, rejudice of the marketplace regarding e cars. Generally, if it didn’t race on a se, a lot of buyers just don’t consider it a ace car, and that affects value. e’s a perfect example: In ACC #3, I wrote t the 1960 “Race Rat” Corvette that raced nce, at the 12 Hours of Sebring, and ed 1st in class and 16th overall. That car or $440k — almost six times what “Blood, Sweat & Nitro” made at Russo and Steele. How is this possible? Why don’t vintage Top Fuel drag cars generally achieve the same prices as vintage ? It usually comes down to one thing: e e that Corvette is simply more approach- r average buyer than a vintage digger slurping nitro and belching flames. There are plenty of vintage events for cars like that Corvette to be raced. And while expensive, it’s also relatively comfortable for a vintage race driver to actually use. For Top Fuel drag machines like our subject car, it’s a different story. Grit, power and flames Vintage Top Fuel cars are and always were downright dangerous. These cars ran in the sixes at over 200 mph, and things happen very quickly at those speeds. When something went wrong with one of these, it tended to be in a big way — component failures were common, and exploding engines and clutches usually caused severe injury. Suffice to say, a lot of dragster drivers in the ’60s didn’t survive the ride. You had to be fearless to run one. A lot of these drag cars aren’t restored to be used in competition and don’t meet modern NHRA tech standards — that’s the case with this car and its vintage roll cage. It’s right for the period, but any NHRA tech inspector would flunk it in a heartbeat if you actually tried to run it down the quarter today. And frankly, a lot of owners would be wary of run- ning one in anger down the quarter mile even if it did pass tech. They’re just too hairy for most people — I think you can argue that makes them more “real” than some of their softer track-racing counterparts. Regardless, their use is limited to events such as Cacklefest and static shows, and that limits their market. Ultimately, that also limits their final sale prices. Vintage cool But for that narrow set of the market, there’s nothing cooler than a vintage 392 Hemi sucking nitro through a mechanical injector and blowing blue flames out its zoomie headers. I’m definitely a part of that group. To me, it doesn’t matter if a car raced at the Grand Prix of Monaco, the Daytona 500, the Winternationals or the Hoosier Hundred; if it was a successful on a track, it’s worthy of our respect and admiration. I’ve always marveled at the engineering, the craftsmanship and the innovation these vehicles possess, and the brave souls who piloted them, no matter the venue. All things considered, the new owner got “Blood, Sweat & Nitro” for a bargain price compared to what it must have cost to restore. With the money he saved, I hope he can now haul his dragster to Cacklefest events all over the nation, and I bet he’ll have a lot of fun doing it. A (Introductory description courtesy of Russo and Steele.) 2013 Cacklefest® events JUNE 13–15 11th National Hot Rod Reunion Beech Bend Raceway Park Bowling Green, KY SEPTEMBER 12–14 Inaugural New England Hot Rod Reunion New England Dragway Epping, NH OCTOBER 18–20 22nd California Hot Rod Reunion Famoso Dragway Bakersfield, CA September-October 2013 55 Detailing Year produced: 1968 Number produced: One Original list price: N/A Current ACC Valuation: $70,000–$150,000 Tune-up/major service: $5,000 Distributor cap: N/A Chassis #: None Engine #: None Club: Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum More: www.cacklefest.com Alternatives: Slingshot dragsters, multiple-engine dragsters, vintage Funny Cars ACC Investment Grade: C Comps 1966 Mercury Comet Funny Car Lot 1306, VIN: N/A Condition: 2+ Sold at $176,000 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ, 1/18/2010 ACC# 155047 1961 Buick Wagon Master Lot 250, VIN: N/A Condition: 3 Sold at $209,000 RM Auctions, Los Angeles, CA, 9/26/2009 ACC# 143224 1966 Ford Super Mustang Lot 80, VIN: M10058A206L052305 Condition: 2+ Sold at $154,000 Gooding & Co., Pebble Beach, CA, 8/16/2009 ACC# 142010

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PROFILE TRUCK Originality vs. eyeball appeal ... 1945 FORD GPW Courtesy of Bonhams Yes, there are still “Jeeps in the crate” out there. Problem is, most of those are on the bottom of the North Atlantic by B. Mitchell Carlson and Stuart Lenzke 1945 Ford GPW VIN: GPW247613 • Real military Jeep • Frame-off restoration by noted military Jeep restorer • Classic, timeless style and looks • Very capable both off-road and on You’d be hard-pressed to find a better example than this 1945 Ford military Jeep. Yes, this is a military version and not a civilian converted to military specs. It received a complete frame-off restoration by a renowned specialist of Army Jeeps. 1944 Willys MB VIN: 280026 • Discovered in its original crate about 30 years ago • Never restored • Nicely presented in classic olive drab • Rich with character, ample in capability Discovered by a military vehicle collector a bit over 30 years ago still crated, this mostly unused and never abused Jeep is all-Toledo, OH-built. Save for a repaint done shortly after it was discovered, it is 100% original. Complete with the usual shovel and ax for when things really get down to business, this Jeep exudes more character than even the nicest restored examples ever could. 56 AmericanCarCollector.com 56 AmericanCarCollector.com ACC Analysis This 1945 Ford GPW (Lot 305) and 1944 Willys MB (Lot 353) sold for $25,000 and $26,400, respectively, including buyer’s premiums, at Bonhams’ Greenwich, CT, auction on June 2, 2013. The history of the ubiquitous World War II Jeep has been well told elsewhere, so instead we’ll look at the reality of these Jeeps in the 21st century using these two as examples. Restored Ford From the outside, the Ford GPW looks like a quality restoration done to a standard that would make it worthy for Military Vehicle Preservation Association judging for accuracy. However, that level of inspection does reveal some inaccuracies. The ax and shovel appear to be Home Depot specials rather than the correctly fitting originals or reproductions. Under the hood, it’s been updated with a modern 12- volt alternator, which is a major deduction in judging and would in fact move it down to the modified class. Unlike most larger military vehicles, a G503 (World War II-era) Jeep doesn’t have enough of an electrical load to warrant converting it to either 12 volts or to an alternator. Since a G503 isn’t used by anyone to commute anymore, especially not to town on a cold winter morning, you’re better off leaving the electrical system in one of these as original as possible.

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ACC Digital Bonus 1944 WILLYS MB Detailing ... a never-ending battle Years produced: 1941–45 Number produced: 631,927 (281,578 GPWs and 350,349 MBs) Current ACC Valuation: $12,500–$22,000 VIN: Dataplate on the dashboard, over the front axle on the left frame rail Engine #: Pad on the passenger’s side of the engine block, just below the cylinder head adjacent to the distributor. (Ford GPW should be the same as the chassis number; Willys MB will be greater than the chassis number) Clubs: Military Vehicle Preservation Association (MVPA) More: www.mvpa.org Also: www.g503.com Alternatives: 1950–52 Willys M38 military Jeep, 1945–49 Willys-Jeep CJ-2A, 1941–45 Ford GPA amphibious military “Seep,” 1942–45 Dodge WC-56 command car ACC Investment Grade: B Comps Courtesy of Bonhams Heavier wear on the clutch and brake pedals is also surprising, as they are readily available as reproduction parts with the correct F-script cast into them (both authors have a set for their own 1942 GPW restoration projects). The restoration focus on this GPW was to have a “pretty Jeep” to play with rather than a correct show Jeep. They all have their place, but this I felt sold more for the sizzle than the meat on the bone. And with that, it sold well. New in the box? Then there’s the Willys. The whole “$50 Jeep in a crate” legend is based mostly on ads in magazines in the 1950s and ’60s. Most of these ads were placed by less-than-scrupulous individuals who would sell you a list of sites where you could bid on war surplus, with the tag line claiming you can buy a Jeep for this sum. These listings, by the way, were always available free of charge, but a lot of folks didn’t know that in the pre-Internet era. During World War II, vehicles destined for bases in the U.S. were shipped directly on car carriers, on flatbeds, or in boxcars if by rail. Only vehicles destined for overseas shipment were crated, for both ease of bulk handling and protection from the elements in transit. In the case of the MB and GPW, each overseasbound Jeep was individually crated, but to a certain extent was disassembled to get the maximum volume out of the given space. This meant the freshly built, fully assembled Jeep had its wheels, hood, and steering wheel removed and packed inside its tub. The windshield was folded flat, the air cleaner loos- ened and adjusted to allow clearance for a support brace for the top of the crate (hence the removal of the hood), and the steering box and column were unbolted and set loosely on the body. How to do all this (and how to put it back together once delivered) was welldocumented in the Army Tech Manual. Uncrating the myth Crated Jeeps obviously existed, but I’m skeptical of this one’s claim. First, the description states that it at least had been repainted. If it came out of the original crate, why did it need to be painted? Did it fade in the crate? The front suspension is also missing the torque reaction leaf spring on the left front corner. This was added on all Jeeps — Ford and Willys — built after May of 1942, and would have been part of regular production on this November 1943-built example. And that date doesn’t bode well for the legend, either. In late 1943, the primary thrust for war material was England, setting the stage for the invasion of Fortress Europe on D-Day. We were simply too engrossed in getting as much material “to the boys” to let a few crates of Jeeps get waylaid at a shipping port 1942 Willys MB Lot 350, VIN: 453798 Condition: 3 Sold at $19,627 1942 Ford GPW Lot 467, VIN: 37594 Condition: 2Sold at $37,440 ACC# 202077 Bonhams, Greenwich, CT, 6/3/2012 Bonhams, Hendon, U.K., 4/30/2012 ACC# 201525 1944 Ford GPW Lot S61.1, VIN: 110507 Condition: 3+ Sold at $29,680 Mecum Auctions, Indianapolis, IN, 5/19/2010 ACC# 162779 September-October 2013 57CC 57

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PROFILE TRUCK or warehouse here or in England. They were too important for that. Most crated military vehicles that did wind up at auction were 1945 vintage. Running the numbers The dataplates on the Willys pose another problem. These are reproductions and they’re not quite correct, and all of them are attached with Phillips screws rather than the original cold rivets. Most obviously incorrect is the center plate. Not only does the vehicle model decrypt as Canadian, but the indicated Canadian contract number of CDVL505 was completed in 1942 and as such is flat-out incorrect for this chassis serial number. Also, on the original data plate for the Canadian contracts, the CDVL number was stamped into a blank area similar to the chassis, engine, and date of delivery numbers, not printed on the plate itself. And the original data plates did not have colons and periods. Then there’s the actual information stamped into the repro data plates. Again, referring to original plates, the engine numbers for contract 505 should be roughly 5,000 higher than the chassis number, not 340,000 higher like our subject vehicle. There are also issues with the date of manufacture. Originals are stamped month, day, two-digit year, separated by hyphens; for example, 4-22-42. They were not denoted by month/year, and there was no use of 0 as a space keeper as we see here. Finally, the hood number. For a military Jeep owner to find their correct number by carefully sanding down multiple layers of paint is akin to finding the Holy Grail. 3025500 is wrong for either a U.S. or Canadian Jeep, as that number block crosses to 1½-ton military Chevrolet trucks. What’s original? Where should we draw the line for “original” versus “restored”? Does putting a new gas tank, tires, and fan belt on make it unrestored? Does giving it a masked-off repaint make it unrestored? Does taking all the parts off of the tub but leaving the body on the chassis make it unrestored? As far as most serious automotive historians and enthusiasts are concerned, any claims of originality were blown to the wind with the repaint. Yes, there are still “Jeeps in the crate” out there. Problem is, most of those are on the bottom of the North Atlantic in freighters destined for England and Russia that were torpedoed by German U-boats. Maybe this Willys did come out of a crate, but there was no evidence here to prove it. Had the story been verifiable, retaining even some of the original crating, or physical proof that it was uncrated 30 years after the end of the war, it would have sold for significantly more than the $26k it brought here. As it happened, it did about the same as the well-restored GPW without a story attached to it. I’ll go on record and dare say that if only just the crate were to turn up on the market, it would sell for more than this Jeep did. Potentially even more than both of these Jeeps combined. At the end of the day, both of these Jeeps sold well. But for a driver Jeep with eyeball over originality, I think I would have saved myself the premium and gone with the Ford. A (Introductory descriptions courtesy of Bonhams.) 58 AmericanCarCollector.com 58 AmericanCarCollector.com

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MArKET OVERVIEW For complete results of each auction covered in this issue, scan this code or go to http://bit.ly/YLyfw2 TOP 10 sales this issue 1. 1967 Shelby GT500 Super Snake fastback, $1,391,000—Mec, p. 68 2. 1967 Shelby GT500 “Eleanor” fastback, $1,070,000—Mec, p. 68 3. 1970 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 convertible, $269,500—r&S, p. 74 4. 1966 Shelby GT350 fastback, $167,200—r&S, p. 78 5. 2012 Chevrolet Camaro COpO coupe, $151,200—MidA, p. 82 6. 1948 Ford woodie wagon, $129,800—r&S, p. 76 7. 1967 Ford Galaxie 500 XL 7-Liter 2-dr hard top, $104,860—Mec, p. 68 8. 1951 buick Super wagon, $102,600—Silv, p. 98 9. 1961 Chevrolet Corvette resto-mod convertible, $95,230—Mec, p. 66 10. 1955 Cadillac Eldorado convertible, $93,500— Lke, p. 82 BEST BUYS 1. 1968 plymouth road runner 2-dr sedan, $13,770—MidA, p. 87 2. 1969 Dodge Charger 500 2-dr hard top, $52,430— Mec, p. 70 3. 1978 Ford F-150 ranger XLT SuperCab pickup, $13,230—MidA, p. 84 4. 1978 Seagrave Sr25768 hook & ladder fire truck, $3,410—Luc, p. 105 5. 1947 Willys-Overland Jeep wagon, $9,570— Lke, p. 88 62 AmericanCarCollector.com by Tony Piff prices and overall totals holding steady or growing. n n n I At Leake’s hometown sale in Tulsa, OK, sales surged forward by 29%, totaling $11.8m up from $8.3m last year. It was their biggest Tulsa sale since 2009, with 470 cars selling out of 691 for a 68% sales rate and a $25k average price. Top sale was a 1937 Packard street rod at $143k, followed by a 1931 Cadillac 370A convertible at $138k. A documented 1969 Chevrolet Yenko Camaro was the most expensive muscle car at $134k. n n n A 2012 COPO Camaro sold by an ACCer made $151k at MidAmerica’s “Back to the 50’s” sale in St. Paul, earning high-sale honors. It was MidAmerica’s first time operating this annual sale, and performance figures were strong. Sales totaled $1.9m (up from $1.6m last year) between 105 cars sold out of 172 consigned (up from 89/170). Behind the Camaro, a ’69 Shelby GT500 sold for $76k, and a replica Cobra powered by a vintage 427 earned $55k. n n n n the middle of the year, it’s the middle of the country that keeps the market moving. Three of the four feature auctions in this issue took place in the American Heartland. Sales looked healthy across the board, with great cars fetching great Two significant Shelbys made more than $1m apiece at Mecum Indy. This well established megasale saw a staggering 1,713 cars cross the block, which was actually a decrease from 1,991 last year. Totals dipped to $48k from $50k, but the sales rate held solid at the same 67%, and average price per car notched up to $42k from $38k. A 1967 Chevrolet Corvette 427/400 4-sp convertible was the most expensive Corvette of this issue at $653k. n n n In Southern California, Russo and Steele held their inaugural Newport Beach sale. The sales rate of 31% re-confirms the challenge of selling to this region, but $6.5m in totals is still respectable, and there were plenty of strong sales and good deals. The top American lot was an extremely rare, extremely well restored 1970 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 convertible, all the rarer for its code W-27 aluminum rear axle carrier, sold for $270k. A 1966 Shelby GT350 did not have its original drivetrain, but it still achieved a strong $167k. n n n We conclude this issue’s market report with the ACC Roundup. We take a look at highlights from Lucky Tacoma, WA; Silver Coeur d’Alene, ID and VanDerBrink Murdo, SD. A MidAmerica’s “back to the 50’s” sale saw a 2012 COpO Camaro take top-sale honors, selling for $151,200 Heartland sales get the summer rolling A 2012 COPO CAMARO MADE $151K IN ST. PAUL, AND TWO SHELBYS TOPPED $1M APIECE IN INDIANAPOLIS 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

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MECUM AUCTIONS // Indianapolis, IN Mecum — 26th Annual Spring Classic TWO CARS EARNED THAT COVETED SEVENTH DIGIT, AND BOTH WERE ’67 SHELBY FASTBACKS Report and photos by B. Mitchell Carlson Market opinions in italics M $10m $20m $30m $40m $50m 0 64 AmericanCarCollector.com ecum Auctions had another successful Spring Classic during the third week of May. Conducted once again at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in northern Indianapolis, this 26th annual edition saw two cars earn that coveted seventh Mecum Auctions 26th Annual Spring Classic Indianapolis, IN May 14–19, 2013 Auctioneers: Mark Delzell, Mike Hagerman, Jim Landis, Bobby McGlothlen, Matt Moravec, Jeff Knosp Automotive lots sold/offered: 1,142/1,713 Sales rate: 67% Sales total: $47,968,240 High sale: 1967 Shelby GT500 Super Snake fastback, sold at $1,391,000 buyer’s premium: $300 up to $5,499; $500 from $5,500 to $9,999; 7% thereafter, included in sold prices Sales Total 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 digit, and both were 1967 Shelby fastbacks. First was the one-off 1967 GT500 Super Snake. Modified by Shelby from new with a GT40 Mk II-specification 427 under the hood, it was made as both a Goodyear tire test car and as a prototype for limited production. It crossed the block Friday during prime time, and the reserve was lifted at $1.3m — a big price for a worthy Shelby. The next day, the second million-dollar fastback sold. Arguably far more famous, this was one of the actual “Eleanor” modified 1967 Shelby replicas used in the 2000 edition of the movie “Gone in 60 Seconds.” This one was the glamour car that was used by actor Nicolas Cage for close-ups and beauty shots during the movie and for PR materials for the film. Perhaps the most well-known resto-mod of all time — and the inspirer of countless Eleanor replicas — it hammered sold at one million dollars. Another big sale was the 1967 Galaxie 500 XL 7-Liter. Said to be one of eight XL fastbacks with a 427 — and the only one in red — it sold for $105k. A 1961 Chevrolet Corvette continued the trend of well-executed resto-mods fetching about $100k. This one came just shy of the century mark, selling at $95k. And in the expensive vintage SUV category, a built-up and tricked-out 1974 International Travelall earned a whopping $43k. Big sales aside, the overall numbers were slightly down from 2012. One reason was that there were simply fewer places to put cars this year, since one of the major buildings was closed for renovation. Another was that volume consignors opted to bring fewer cars but of higher quality. But with 278 fewer cars consigned and 191 fewer sold, the sales rate still worked out to the same 67% as last year. Overall, Mecum has a winner with the Spring Classic, and while it won’t likely be larger than their Kissimmee auction in January, it should continue to thrive next May.A Goodyear test car — 1967 Shelby GT500 Super Snake fastback, sold at $1,391,000

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MECUM AUCTIONS // Indianapolis, IN GM #T130.1-1965 CHEVROLET CORVAIR Corsa replica convertible. VIN: 105675W110721. Red/white vinyl/white vinyl. Odo: 37,006 miles. 164-ci H6, turbocharger, 4-sp. Originally blue metallic with blue interior. Old cheapie repaint. Solid A-pillars. Has both Monza and Corsa crosses, but missing the wheelwell trim and rocker panel trim. Serviceable original bumpers and trim; windshield trim has heavier sanding scratches. ’70s aftermarket mag wheels. Fitted with Clark’s seats, door panels, and carpet in recent years, with more wrinkling from amateur installation than wear. Cond: 3-. use that word), offered as Lot F267. That one sold for $48k while this one failed to sell at a somewhat weak offer. #F267-1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO COPO replica coupe. VIN: 124379N668557. Cortez Silver/black vinyl. Odo: 46,103 miles. 427-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Started out as an SS 396, converted into an obsessively correct COPO clone, including fake documentation. Excellent prep and paint. Reproduction interior, minimally worn. Highly detailed underhood. Cond: 2. Smoke Gray/black vinyl. Odo: 5,366 miles. 454-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Shipped directly to Chevrolet Engineering and fitted there with an LS6 454, M22 4-speed, JL6 4-wheel disc brakes, unique cold-air ducting, L88 radiator, heavier front suspension and multi-leaf rear springs for FIA homologation testing. Later shipped to Smokey Yunick for further testing, where it was found in 1989 and purchased by the restorer/consignor. Restored to decent standard in FIA testing configuration. Cable-drive tach from testing still mounted in the right gauge nacelle. Sold on bill of sale. Cond: 2. NOT SOLD AT $12,000. This car is typical of the Corvair world in the 1970s: Nobody thought twice about turning Monzas into Corsas. It’s not like they were worth anything back then. It’s certainly easy enough to do with a dead parts car—just replace the dashboard, swap engines if the donor didn’t already have a 140 or a turbo in it, swap trim, and if you really wanted to do it right, paint the rear panel argent silver. Generous bid. #F236-1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO COPO coupe. VIN: 124379N67 6397. Cortez Silver/black vinyl. Odo: 273 miles. 427-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Certified by Jerry MacNeish as an actual COPO 9561, with 425-horse 427 and Muncie 4-speed, full tinted glass, power steering and brakes, AM radio. Decade-old restoration. Generally good paint, although the hood could stand to be colorsanded. Chrome is starting to dull slightly. Sloppy glue on replacement windshield. Reproduction door panels, carpeting and seats; the latter looking a bit flat from fatigued original foam padding. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $48,150. This car was actually nicer than the real COPO it was based on, which was also consigned here (Lot F236). If the restorer had just restored it to the stock SS 396 configuration in which it was born, the resulting value would be pretty much the same as this. #F205-1969 CHEVROLET NOVA SS 2-dr sedan. VIN: 114279W399689. Dover White/ blue vinyl. Odo: 91,678 miles. 396-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Concours-quality restoration less than a decade ago, done well enough to score 999 points at Chevy VetteFest in Chicago in 1999. Paint application and panel gaps better than technically possible when it was new. Sits slightly low at rear. Well detailed underhood when restored, including authentic sloppily masked engine painting, with only flash rust on the exhaust manifolds since. Well-detailed undercarriage, minty brake hardware. Aside from slightly soiled pedals, interior showroomnew. Cond: 1-. NOT SOLD AT $185,000. This was the first second-gen Camaro built at the Norwood Assembly Plant, as a pilot production car in November 1969, originally equipped with a Cross Ram 350. Some of the pilot production parts that were too far gone to be restored (Smokey disassembled much of the car and had the pieces all over his shop) were mounted in Plexiglas and displayed alongside the car. Hard to place a value, except that the bid here wasn’t going to get it done today. CORVETTE 9 VIN: 10867S 100772. Blue metallic/black cloth/black & white leather. Odo: 1,578 miles. 350-ci 375-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. Tube-frame chassis, painted to match wellprepped and painted bodywork. Doors stick out from body slightly. Reproduction chrome, trim and emblems. Fitted with a lightly modified LT5 and 6-speed from a C4 ZR-1. Four-wheel disc brakes with a hydraulic booster, custom fitted to clear the motor. Very clean chassis, with semi-polished dual exhaust and coil-over shocks. Nineteen-inch wheels. Custom interior, recontoured stock-appearing seats, white gauge faces, lots of billet aluminum. Cond: 1-. #U54-1961 CHEVROLET CORVETTE resto-mod convertible. NOT SOLD AT $115,000. It was interesting to compare this car with its honest-to-gosh clone (one of the few times you’ll see me 66 AmericanCarCollector.com NOT SOLD AT $65,000. For once, a bigblock Nova SS I feel good about reporting on. Usually, one has to assume it’s a replica and try to prove it correct from there. Well documented and well restored, the car deserved a better bid. Then again, it was bid to $80k at this sale last year, and it still didn’t sell (ACC# 205255). #S188-1970 CHEVROLET CAMARO pilot production coupe. VIN: 123870N500001. TOP 10

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MECUM AUCTIONS // Indianapolis, IN SOLD AT $95,230. On the outside, the wheels are the only things that readily look non-stock, in line with the subtle look that is more prevalent today than wild paint jobs. This also helps when it comes time to sell it, as you don’t have to find the only other person on the planet who also likes blue flames on a yellow body (for example). You’d spend more than this to build it, not including the C1 to start with, so call it a good buy. #F200-1968 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 194678S419379. Tuxedo Black/black hard top/white vinyl soft top/ black vinyl. Odo: 16,723 miles. 427-ci 430hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Verified L88, with M22 4-speed, 3.70 diff and both tops. Restored by the Naber brothers in late ’80s, Bloomington Gold certification in 1990, still presents very well. Paint starting to show light polish scratches. Fingernail-sized chip gaps, even if they clunk like an old refrigerator. Older re-dye on select interior pieces. Wrinkled front seat is on the verge of cracking. At least they’ll match the cracks in the dashboard wood. Cond: 3-. NOT SOLD AT $14,000. When Lincoln reinvented themselves with the new ’61 Continental, it was more than just clean looks in a landscape of monster tailfins. They also pared down their model range from three series to only the Continental. Not only did it pay off, but it caused the domestic luxury car industry to turn 180 degrees from monstrous and gaudy to tastefully minimalist. Declared on the block that it “takes just north of 15”; the consignor should’ve taken this bid for this needy car. #S97-1967 FORD GALAXIE 500 XL 2-dr hard top. VIN: 7N58R118553. Candy Apple Red/red vinyl. Odo: 65,505 miles. 427-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Optional 8V-427 High Performance Package and 7-Liter Sports Package. Recent professional restoration by a Ford specialist. Flawless engine bay detailing. Authentic chassis and red oxide-primered underneath. Light rust forming on low spots on exhaust system. Reproduction interior soft trim, with the only wear showing on the carpeted floor mats. Superb paint and bodywork. Cond: 1-. 7 on hard top. Slight clearance cuts in front wheelwell lips. Excellent door and panel fit. Light seat wear and soiling on driver’s side. Older engine detailing. Heavier flash rust on exhaust manifolds. Cond: 2. NOT SOLD AT $625,000. One of the 80 L88s for 1968, and perhaps one of the more famous in civilian trim, as it appeared on the cover of the February 1986 issue of Road & Track, along with an eight-page feature comparing it with the newly released 1986 convertible. With a published guesstimate of $750k to a million bucks, no wonder it went home in the same trailer it came here in. FOMOCO #W261-1961 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL convertible. VIN: 1Y86H415079. White/ black vinyl/black leather. Odo: 28,803 miles. 430-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Older repaint with light orange peel and fish eyes on upper surfaces. Scrape along full passenger’sside edge of front bumper. Stainless trim is in pretty good shape; cast-plated pieces have notable pitting. Decent door fit and show finish. Heavily modified engine bay and undercarriage, with coil-overs and some body structure stiffening. “GO BABY GO” shift knob with integral line lock. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $1,070,000. For the past dozen years, you couldn’t swing a dead cat at a collector-car auction and not hit an Eleanor wannabe. Considering what some of those have brought, I suppose I shouldn’t be all that surprised that this hammered for seven digits, but it’s still very well sold. F4A00544. White, blue stripes/black vinyl. Odo: 26,630 miles. 427-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Claimed original miles and unrestored. Authentic repaint, including unique striping. Well-kept original chrome and trim, including the unique driving-lamp surrounds. Older engine bay detailing showing light use and dust, but it retains the GT40 Mark IIspec alloy-head-and-intake 427. Recent undercarriage detailing. Wears a set of NOS Shelby 10-spoke alloys with an NOS set of Goodyear Thunderbolt tires. Good original interior, with light seat and carpet wear. Cond: 2-. 1 #F203-1967 SHELBY GT500 Super Snake fastback. VIN: 67402- SOLD AT $104,860. Said to be one of eight XL fastbacks with a 427, out of 70 427s put into 1967 Fords. While the 428 V8 came standard in the 7-Liter Sports Package, the 427 was the only optional motor. Nice, rare (this is the only red one red example built) and expensive—but worth it. #S135-1967 SHELBY GT500 “Eleanor” fastback. VIN: 7R02C179710. Gunmetal/ black vinyl. Odo: 58,110 miles. 351-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. 289 Mustang converted into “Eleanor” Shelby for the Y2K edition of the movie “Gone In 60 Seconds.” Driven by Nicolas Cage as the main “beauty car” used for close-ups and promotional materials. Fitted with custom fender flares and front fascia, which have now become so familiar. Decent repaint nowhere near a 2 SOLD AT $1,391,000. Heavily documented as a one-off built by Shelby America as a test car for Goodyear tires—as Carroll Shelby was also a distributor for them. Those Thunderbolts, like the ones on the car, were run for 500 miles at speeds up to 147 mph, using only 3% of their tread. This heavily documented car had the reserve lifted when the bidding ceased at $1.3m. Hopefully the new caretaker will leave on the skinny Thunderbolts, as they truly tell the story of its creation. #W54-1968 MERCURY PARK LANE convertible. VIN: 8Z65Q563093. Dark green metallic & faux wood/dark green vinyl/dark green vinyl. Odo: 1,302 miles. 428-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Optional 428 mill, a/c and “yacht paneling” fake wood appliqué. Per a Marti Report generated on the car, configured as when it was originally sold by Johnny Haas Lincoln-Mercury of Denver. Good older trimoff, body-on repaint. Most trim buffed out while off the car; bumpers replated. Newer 68 AmericanCarCollector.com TOP 10 TOP 10 TOP 10

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MECUM AUCTIONS // Indianapolis, IN replacement windshield. Good original top with glass backlight. Presentable original interior, although driver’s seat-bottom is starting to split. Clean and generally original under the hood, but not detailed. Cond: 3. NOT SOLD AT $20,000. Yes, it’s rare, with only 1,112 Park Lane drop-tops built for 1968, and just 10 reportedly equipped with a 428 under the hood. But that doesn’t mean everyone is beating a path to your door to buy it. Final bid was reasonable. MOPAR #U62-1969 DODGE CHARGER 500 2-dr hard top. VIN: XX29L9B210723. Red/black vinyl. Odo: 95,277 miles. 440-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Professional rotisserie restoration in last few years. Excellent repaint. Light dings and waviness in several pieces or brightwork; show chrome bumpers. Modern replacement windshield. Good panel gaps and door fit. Authentically restored engine compartment and undercarriage; latter is starting to gather dust. All-reproduction interior soft trim, with good installation workmanship. Optional center console and Rally gauge package. Wears modern reproduction Magnum 500 wheels. Cond: 2. repaired seam. Re-dyed dash and door panels. ’70s Realistic FM stereo converter under dash. Earlier chrome valve covers— not black-wrinkle painted. Various eras of performance upgrade tidbits litter the engine bay. Sloppy wiring. Cond: 4+. NOT SOLD AT $275,000. Now THIS is how I remember ’Cudas from my high school days of the late ’70s into the early ’80s. Rusty, crusty and made trusty with baling wire and spit. All it really needs is a set of Cragar SS wheels and some traction bars on the rear axle. Not a “preservation” car by any means, just a numbers-matching restoration candidate. Crazy high bid for condition today, but will be worth it after restoration. AMERICANA #W96-1947 INTERNATIONAL KB-6 2-ton flatbed. VIN: KB630766. Forest green/gray vinyl. Odo: 10,828 miles. 250-ci I6, 1-bbl, 5-sp. Originally a fire truck, now sporting a steel deck flatbed with integral steps, class III receiver and wood side-stakes. Miles believed original. Good repaint. Good original brightwork and weatherstripping. Right door window starting to delaminate on right side following a slight crack. Modern truck turn signals mounted to top ends of front bumper. Someone must not have known it was powered by a Blue Diamond six, as the motor was hastily painted Chevy orange. Cond: 3. NOT SOLD AT $11,000. In 1967, the Super Sonic Transport commercial airliner was still just a concept, but the acronym made a good buzzword for AMC’s “performance” Rambler, fitting in well in a world of GTs, SSs, R/Ts, GTOs, GTXs, and so on. With a rather lukewarm V8 under the hood, enough was bid here. SOLD AT $52,430. One of the 500 built to homologate for use in NASCAR. Values for these have really never made it to the levels you’d expect, even during the boom years of almost a decade ago. Bought well. #S144-1970 PLYMOUTH HEMI ’CUDA 2-dr hard top. VIN: BS23R0B257766. Jamaica Blue/black vinyl. Odo: 16,774 miles. 426-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. One-owner unrestored car. Old repaint with heavy overspray under the hood. Aftermarket vinyl pinstriping and with striped bodyside rub strips. Tops of A-pillars rusting out. Doors a bit clunky but close nicely. Claimed all-original interior. Heavier wear on driver’s seat with a SOLD AT $9,250. I’ve always liked these larger cornbinders, although I’d prefer a KB-7, which has the 5-speed overdrive transmission, rather than the 5-speed direct of the KB-6. Since they don’t fit in a singlecar garage, it pares the market down significantly. But both are rated under 26,000 pounds, so you don’t need a CDL to drive them. Reserve was passed at $8,500, bought by a large Midwest collector-car dealership, so there could still be some money left in it, although I think that’s more likely after a few minor things are put right. #T292-1967 AMC RAMBLER REBEL SST 2-dr hard top. VIN: BS23V0B201084. White/black vinyl/maroon & mauve vinyl. Odo: 58,183 miles. 287-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Miles claimed actual. Good exterior trim-off repaint. Good original emblems, buffed-out stainless trim, replated bumpers. Aftermarket spring-base antenna, canted outboard. 70 AmericanCarCollector.com #T216-1974 INTERNATIONAL TRAVELALL 1210 SUV. VIN: 4H1H0DHB12609. Light green metallic/tan leather. Odo: 1,283 miles. 345-ci V8, 4-bbl, 5-sp. 1971 body with dual rear doors, 1974 frame, VIN and powertrain—a built-up 345 V8, T36 5-speed manual transmission, and 3.07 differential. Running gear further enhanced with 4-wheel power disc brakes, power steering, dual fuel tanks, billet dual master cylinder, and dual gel-cell batteries. Good body prep, some light orange peel. Custom bumpers have a winch up front, and match the roof rack with spare-tire carrier in matte black. Modern a/c, custom sound, leather upholstery. Cond: 2-. Vinyl roof is likely the re-dyed original, as it’s sagging a bit at the bottom. Seats likely have been reupholstered, as they’re close but not quite the same as the door panels. Re-dyed dashboard. 1970s vintage FM converter for original AM radio. Light fluff under the hood, with incorrect clamps, aftermarket chrome air cleaner. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $42,800. While some may think that the 5-speed manual transmission is a modern component adapted to fit behind the 345, they were in fact available as a factory option from 1966 to 1974. As for the price, well, an IH truck enthusiast dealer and I looked at one another, shrugging our shoulders and shaking our heads. It seemed as exceptionally well sold today as when it sold for $40k at Mecum Kissimmee in January (ACC# 200806). A BEST BUY

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RUSSO AND STEELE // Newport Beach, CA Russo and Steele — Newport Beach 2013 A ONE-OF-ONE 1970 OLDS W-30 442 CONVERTIBLE WITH EXTREMELY RARE W-27 ALUMINUM REAR-AXLE CARRIER SOLD FOR A STAGGERING $270K Report and photos by Michael Leven Market opinions in italics D rew Alcazar and the team from Russo and Steele conducted their first auction in Southern California this June, taking their shot at a car-crazy market that has nonetheless stymied the efforts of other big auction houses. Held at the Newport Dunes Beachfront Resort, Russo and Steele assembled their usual mix of collector cars led by American muscle, Corvettes, racers, hot rods and Russo and Steele Newport Beach, CA June 21–22, 2013 Auctioneers: Frank Bizzaro, Charles Engelmann, Phil Gee, Dan Roush, Rob Row, Jeff Stokes Automotive lots sold/offered: 105/343 Sales rate: 31% Sales total: $6,503,865 High sale: 1970 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 convertible, sold at $269,500 buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold prices Top-sale honors — 1970 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 convertible, sold at $269,500 resto-mods, along with a sampling of upscale European sports and luxury cars. The highest price paid for an American car was $270k for a one-of-one, no-questions 1970 W-30 Oldsmobile 442 convertible. The only example ordered new with the W-27 option aluminum rear-axle carrier, it was restored to an extraordinary level and sold post-block. The next-highest domestic sale was for a ’66 Shelby GT350 fastback in seldom-seen Sapphire Blue. Despite a non-matchingnumbers driveline, the unusual color and the quality of the restoration drove it to an incredible $167k sale price. This was followed by two Ford woodie street rods: a 1948 wagon at $130k, and a wagonesque 1933 at $110k (see the profile, p. 50). The highest Chevrolet-built sale was for 1966 Shelby GT350 fastback, sold at $167,200 72 AmericanCarCollector.com a nicely done 1969 Yenko Camaro tribute, which went to a new home for $89k. The best price for a Mopar product was $36k — a screaming deal for an extremely well-done ’72 Dodge Demon resto-mod. “Stone Age Man,” a 392 Hemi-powered front-engine rail, sold for a very respectable $94k. My picks for best domestic value of the sale were the aforementioned Dodge Demon and a 1970 Boss 302 Mustang, sold at $56k. The Light Blue Kiwi vinyl interior was indeed rare (this was one of just two examples delivered in this combo), but if the new owner opted for a swap to ho-hum black, I don’t think value would be penalized at all. In total, Russo sold 105 cars out of 343, for a 31% sell-through rate. It seemed to me that many of the attendees were new to the collector-car hobby and bid tentatively, while many consignors were unrealistically holding out for top-dollar prices. These two factors, combined with the challenge of establishing a new event from scratch, made this first sale an uphill push, but I have no doubt that the energy and tenacity of Drew Alcazar and his team, along with their commitment to the area, will prove successful in the long run.A

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RUSSO AND STEELE // Newport Beach, CA GM #S687-1957 CADILLAC ELDORADO Biarritz convertible. VIN: 5762031566. Red/ white vinyl/red & white leather. Odo: 23,169 miles. 365-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. Two-owner car; 43 and 13 years, respectively. “Refinished” in 2012 to driver standard. Gaps variable. Trim serviceable but unusual on a car of this stature and value: a lot of pitting, gold “V” on trunk badly so. Windshield scratched and with cracks; rubber seal perished. Wrong trim spliced in around top boot area. Interior all right, dash and gauges dull, tired. Correct batwing air cleaner and surprisingly tidy engine compartment. Cond: 3. home. Attractive and unusual Casino Cream color is more like pea-soup green and with tri-tone interior would not look out of place on a mid-’50s car. Car could have sold at high bid. #F574-1967 CADILLAC ELDORADO 2-dr hard top. VIN: H7122760. White/white vinyl. Odo: 32,722 miles. 429-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. A striking design that still looks great 40-plus years on. Corporate cousin to the oft-lauded Olds Toronado. Paint redone to driver-minus standard; very thick with lots of orange peel. Poor masking, too. Trim dented in places; chrome cracked and scratched throughout. Rust in windshieldsurround a big concern. Replacement dash cover cracked and ill-fitting. Newish seat covers, door panels—and likely everything else—may need to be redone, as interior smells awful. Red flags abound. Cond: 4. SOLD AT $269,500. Ordered new in ultimate high-performance spec. Car was even supposed to be stripe-delete, but someone at the factory didn’t read the fine print. One of only 264 1970 442 W-30 convertibles, this car ticks all the boxes and then some. Unsold across the block at high bid of $246k, but declared sold in final results at this eye-watering price. But you will likely never see another, and when you do, it probably won’t be nicer than this. Congratulations to all. SOLD AT $68,750. “Refinish” appears to mean a respray and general freshening. Overall a bit dingy and desperately in need of a detailing, but clearly loved, maintained and used by two long-term owners. Unusual to see one of these in this middling state, as they tend to be either basket-cases or trailer queens. Would love to have bought this boat; with limited ownership and driver status you could feel comfortable and justify tooling around for no good reason. From 20 feet, you’d look like a million bucks. Fairly bought and sold. #S616-1960 BUICK LESABRE convertible. VIN: 4G1089453. Casino Cream/green vinyl/green tri-color vinyl. Odo: 68,339 miles. 364-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Claimed original except for new convertible top. Gaps good, even tight in spots. Paint still very good and well preserved. Lots of touch-ups, however. Trim mostly straight. Chrome good, emblems good though enamel fading on Buick badges. Interior well preserved. Not fast but not underpowered with the famous “Nailhead” engine. Highly optioned with Sonomatic radio, power top, speed minder, power brakes, deluxe hubcaps, dual exhaust. Cond: 3+. #F527-1979 PONTIAC TRANS AM 10th Anniversary coupe. VIN: 2X87Z9L170139. Silver & gray/silver leather. Odo: 105 miles. 403-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. One of 7,500 10th Anniversary Trans Ams. Said to be one of 1,817 with a 4-speed manual. Owned from new by Pontiac ad man Jim Wangers, “Godfather of the GTO.” Gaps variable, per ’70s GM standard. Paint and decals all very good. Interior nice overall. Wear on driver’s seat looks like more than 105 miles of use; lots of creasing/soiling. Oil leak near pan. Engine bay surprisingly soiled. Lots of curious-looking caulk or undercoating on passenger’s firewall. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $10,450. As a professional winemaker, I’m highly trained in sensory analysis, but even I was unable to identify the stench inside this car. The new interior alone will have the buyer upside-down with the first check. Owner indicated a $15k– $25k estimate on windshield (R&S doesn’t issue estimates), but car was offered at no reserve. Winning bid was $3k–$4k high. Well sold. #S746-1970 OLDSMOBILE 442 W-30 convertible. VIN: 344670M265957. Galleon Gold/white vinyl/white vinyl. Odo: 8 miles. 455-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Real W-30 with very rare W-27 aluminum rear-axle carrier/diff housing; only one known to be ordered from new. Also with W-25 fiberglass hood option. Gloriously restored by Level One Restorations. Paint to concours standard, except plastic caps on rear bumper don’t quite match body color (likely didn’t when new, due to different materials). Gaps even but a touch wide. Chrome to showfield standard. Three owners from new and highly documented. A no-questions car. Cond: 1-. 3 SOLD AT $66,000. Here was the rare instance where an owner was rewarded handsomely for socking away a car from new. But it was iconic ownership and low mileage that drove this over-the-top result. New owner paid one or two multiples over market for condition. While provenance, some fettling, and a really good detailing might put them in the black in the future, this car was very well sold. CORVETTE NOT SOLD AT $35,000. While I prefer the slightly funky ’59s and their slanted headlights, this was one I could have taken 74 AmericanCarCollector.com #S736-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 194677S100335. Ermine White/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 342 miles. 427-ci 400-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Bloomington Gold and triple NCRS Top Flight award-winner. All numbers match. Gaps to factory; not overly straight. Trim all very good; chrome all excellent. Correct engine overspray on intake manifold. With sidepipes from new. Trip odometer has 150 miles more than the main counter. One of 2,101 L68s in 1967. Documented with tank sticker. Cond: 1-. NOT SOLD AT $130,000. Not as powerful as the solid-lifter cars, but more civilized. Unlike some of its hoarier brethren, this car looks relatively sedate in its simple Ermine White and black colors. TOP 10

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RUSSO AND STEELE // Newport Beach, CA Very classy looks and plenty of grunt. This car will never go out of style and deserved its high praise. Given the history and quality, owner will get more, somewhere, sometime. FOMOCO #F477-1934 FORD 3-window coupe. VIN: 18592114. White/black leather. Odo: 1,721 miles. Fiberglass body with roof chopped 5½ inches on a Pete & Jake’s chassis. Louvered hood, trunk and riveted roof insert panel. Rivets rusty. Chrome dropped and drilled. SoCal front axle with radius arms. Lincoln brakes. Sits on tall, skinny period tires and later steel wheels with “V8” caps. No rear fenders. 454 lump with electronic ignition and big Holley 4-bbl completely fills the engine bay. Fabricated headers wellengineered. iPod hook up (as if you could hear it). Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $45,100. A really great, periodcorrect gentleman’s hot rod. Would look great in my garage. As a pleasant reminder of how small our world can be, the consignor, whom I’d never met before, happened to be the son of respected Seattle restorer Stan Murray, who resuscitated several cars for my family more than 30 years ago! Fairly sold at no reserve. 2886. Black/black cloth/brown vinyl. Odo: 1,684 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. One of the nicest cars at the auction and only marked down for signs of use. Wood meticulously restored by “Teddy Z” using original, beautifully restored hardware. A real treat. Rear hatch opens like it’s on roller bearings. Subtle custom touches to bodywork elegant and well conceived. Jet-black paint five miles deep and nearly flawless in unforgiving light. Omega Custom instruments in custom dash and tasteful interior. Edelbrock intake and carb on nicely dressed SBC. Cond: 1-. 6 #S721-1948 FORD DELUXE Woodie wagon. VIN: 899A235- NOT SOLD AT $90,000. Mr. Dore’s personal transportation for some time. Body and paintwork alone certainly way into the five figures. All the custom touches are nice, but bodywork aside, car does not appear to break new ground. Lots of chrome dress-up on a slammed custom lead sled will always look great. And although a bit formulaic, you will certainly be the only kid on your block to have one—much less Dore’s personal ride. Could you build it for $90k? No way, but this one’s no longer fresh. #F523-1953 MERCURY MONTEREY wagon. VIN: 53LA28954M. White/white & black vinyl. Odo: 71,246 miles. 255-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Creatively presented woodie with some artistic license taken. It does not appear that Mercury offered white paint in 1953; body section between roof and beltline was painted as if it were wood. Painted section matches neither the real wood and Di-Noc below, nor the wooden roof rack, creating a mish-mash of colors and grains. Both passenger’s doors askew. Trim mostly very good. Bumpers nicely rechromed. Period a/c under dash. Interior nicely kept. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $45,000. A great period piece with the right stance and attitude. In good shape but not a trailer queen, this was clearly used as intended. Certainly not what you’d want for long hauls, but who cares? Expensive for a catalog-built car, but still fairly bought, as it will certainly prove itself at the stoplight and look very cool doing it. #S722-1939 MERCURY EIGHT convertible. VIN: 99A30976. Cream/tan cloth/tan leather. Mild custom with many very subtle body mods and some great period hardware underneath. A tuck here and a bob there to reprofile fenders and bumpers, repositioned Ford taillights, and a stylized dash all make for a more elegant look. Papaya-colored wheel rings against cream body paint both jarring and wonderful. Warmed flathead with triple carb, Offy heads and Fenton headers. Lincoln brakes and 3-speed transmission round out the package. Cond: 2+. 76 AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $129,800. Somebody emptied the piggy bank on this one. Very expensive and worth every penny. Well bought and well sold. Sometimes it’s that simple. #S672-1951 MERCURY EIGHT 2-dr sedan. VIN: 51SL29433M. Lavender pearl/ pearl vinyl. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Rick Dore-designed and built. Chopped, channeled, shaved, nosed and decked. Frenched headlights. All chrome, modified Cadillac Dagmars. Cool “floating” grille. Rear-wheel skirts. Lavender Pearl paint certainly eye-catching, but not inappropriate for style. Chrome excellent. Sits on a 1980 Buick chassis; bagged suspension. Very much a classically styled ’50s Mercury custom. Cond: 2. NOT SOLD AT $57,500. The sins were minor and easily fixed. Mercury offered twotone paint on these cars, with the second color in the section here painted as wood. Consignor would do well to either repaint it white or find another color to fill that space. Plenty of money offered here, as I found at least two other “correct” cars currently available online that were either better or less expensive. #F494-1963 FORD GALAXIE 500 2-dr hard top. VIN: 3P63G127443. Black/black vinyl. Odo: 25,575 miles. 406-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Claimed one of 400 G-code box-tops, and one of 84 in black. Originally built for a TOP 10

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OURCARS RUSSO AND STEELE // Newport Beach, CA 1964 FOrD Country Sedan 6-passenger station wagon Owner: B. Mitchell Carlson, ACC Contributor purchase Date: August 2006 price: $1,200 Mileage since purchase: 12 (on a trailer) recent Work: Damage assessment, pulling trim, parts gathering Ford exec, so without DSO card. Driven, then garaged for 30 years. Shutlines good. Stainless straight but with miscellaneous scratches and scuffs. Repaint well done but with marks from use. Chrome American Racing wheels. Drilled front discs with drums in back. Billet brake reservoir with flanged steel lines. Triple-carb engine dressed in lots of chrome. Reserve came off at the hammer price. Cond: 2-. Blue metallic/black vinyl. Odo: 42,314 miles. 426-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Second of two R/T Hemi Challengers at the auction. Restoration of indeterminate age; still nice but no longer fresh. Gaps wide in spots; car codes out to a Monday build. Trim well-polished but slightly worn. Paint very nice. With Shaker hood. Interior either well-preserved original or aging repop. Pistol-grip shifter. Correct overspray in engine bay; Hemi Orange paint on lump may be too glossy. No power accessories. Dana 60 rear end. Blessed by Galen Govier. Cond: 2. I’ve always been intrigued by the possibility of getting a car that’s the same age as me. I was born on April 19, 1964 — two days after the Ford Mustang was introduced to the public, so I always have identified with them. But I tend to prefer the bigger iron. About a decade ago, I nearly pulled the pin on a multi-car trade for a ’64 T-bird drop-top with a 21D build date (April 21, for those who don’t speak FoMoCo). Since 19D was a Sunday, the chance of finding that build date is nada. When that didn’t come to fruition, one of my partners in crime, Stuart Lenzke, found a ’64 Galaxie 500 XL with a 21D build date in a junkyard in Minot, ND. I OK’d him to pick up the car. So it’s Friday afternoon at the 2006 Kruse fall Auburn auction, I’m chasing cars down for my report and my cell phone rings. It’s Stuart. Stu: Hey, let me run this past you. I went to pick up the Gal XL, but I found something better instead. Me: What could be better? Stu: Try a complete Country Sedan, Rangoon Red inside and out, with a 390 and automatic, built in St. Paul. Also, it’s the same price as the fastback. And has a 17D build date. Stuart has a minute of dead air as I pick my jaw up from the pavement. Me: You’d better be putting it on your trailer. Stu: I know you all too well; it’s paid for and winched down. With that, I became the owner of a Country Sedan. Since the wicked fun 427 was not avail- able in wagons, the T-bird 390 was the big-dog motor. Clearly, it had been sitting for quite some time. The engine cranks but won’t light off. I need another project car like I need a hole in my head, but I do believe that this is the last car that I’ll restore — sometime when I have a chance between going to auctions. At least that’s what I keep telling myself. A 78 AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $50,600. Their size and formal roofline can make these real sleepers, although this one’s black paint and chrome wheels looked great but were anything but subtle. Strong money for condition, but how fun would it be to go out in this beast with a car full of friends and blow most everyone’s doors off? Blue & white/ black vinyl. 289-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. An unusual Shelby in a handsome, non-Guardsman blue. Paint good with little to fault. Clearcoat shot over stripes. Gaps okay. Trim mostly very good with some pitting. Nice chrome. Incorrect side mirror. Emblems and badges very good. Carpets newish with new upholstery. Engine and other drivetrain components all date-codecorrect. Engine compartment clean and well detailed. 1965-style side exhausts. Cond: 2+. 4 #S732-1966 SHELBY GT350 fastback. VIN: SFM6S4717. Sapphire NOT SOLD AT $155,000. This car last appears in the database in 1991, offered by Kruse auctions in Auburn. It no-saled at a high bid of (are you sitting down?) $3,100 (ACC# 22515). Of course, Hemi pricing went berserk before the Great Correction of ’08 but has softened considerably since. I think this is the market for now. Hold ’em if you got ’em. AMERICANA #F553-2012 LOCAL MOTORS RALLY FIGHTER coupe. VIN: AZ307306. White/ black cloth. Odo: 1,139 miles. 6.2-L fuelinjected V8, auto. Built around tube chassis and 50-state-compliant using a lot of existing components. Body 100% fiberglass composite. Vinyl wrap exterior finish. Interior simple but surprisingly well finished; a/c, nav, nicely laid-out dash. GM LS3 located in front mid-ship configuration. Powdercoated chassis meets SCORE off-road requirements. Solid rear axle on very long trailing arms. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $167,200. Nicely restored and in a rare color. It’s in the registry and everything about the car is known. Now here comes the proverbial “but”: None of the drivetrain is original or even claimed to be from another Shelby. K-code block has been stroked to 331 ci and makes 400 hp, and, well, you get it. Not sure what drove the big money realized here, but the new owner will sure have a lot of fun. Well sold. MOPAR #S743-1970 DODGE HEMI CHALLENGER R/T 2-dr hard top. VIN: JS23R0B224047. NOT SOLD AT $64,000. Built with an unusual “open source” design philosophy, this self-build completed over two weeks with assistance by factory technician. Claimed to be reasonably civilized. Priced new from $99k, there are not a lot of comparables out there for used vehicles, but high bid looks toward the low end of the used-car value range. A TOP 10

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MIDAMERICA // St. Paul, MN MidAmerica — 27th Annual Twin Cities Spring Classic AN EXACTINGLY AUTHENTIC REPLICA S/C COBRA WITH A VINTAGE 427 BARELY SQUEEZED UNDER THE HOOD SOLD FOR $55K Report and photos by B. Mitchell Carlson Market opinions in italics M $3m $2.5m $1.5m $2m $.5m $1m 0 80 AmericanCarCollector.com 2013 2012 2011 idAmerica took over the collector-car auction at the Minnesota Street Rod Association’s annual “Back to the 50’s” weekend this year. For more than a decade, Mecum Auctions operated the sale, but they elected not to return for 2013, focusing their attention on MidAmerica Auctions 27th Annual Twin Cities Spring Classic Auction Minnesota State Fairgrounds St. Paul, MN June 21–22, 2013 Auctioneers: Dave Talberg, Todd Fiskness, Scott Mihalic Automotive lots sold/offered: 105/172 Sales rate: 61% Sales total: $1,889,190 High sale: 2012 Chevrolet COPO Camaro, sold at $151,200 buyer’s premium: 8% ($125 minimum), included in sold prices Sales Total 2012 Chevrolet Camaro COpO coupe, sold at $151,200 larger auctions in other parts of the country. So locally owned MidAmerica Auctions eagerly jumped in to take their place. Overall, it was a very smooth transition. Casual observers would be hard pressed to tell a different auction house was conducting the sale. Conducted once again in the historic Cattle Barn on the state fairgrounds, the auction started at 2 o’clock each day — a little later than previous years. This was a prudent move, especially on Saturday, as “Back to the 50’s” served as the starting point for this year’s “The Great Race.” The first car cast off at 10 a.m., but the revised schedule gave plenty of time to watch the start and then make it over to the auction area within the fairgrounds. MidAmerica embraced the event fully, and their numbers bested last year’s in all aspects. They consigned two more cars and sold 16 more, for a 9% jump in the sales rate. The top car sold for $61k more, and the total take grew by $285k. These figures also exceeded MidAmerica’s own efforts at last year’s annual St. Paul auction in April, nearly tripling the final receipts. The top seller was a 2012 Chevrolet Camaro COPO coupe. Owned by a subscriber to Sports Car Market and American Car Collector, it was in freshly delivered condition. Most seasoned auction-goers who saw it figured that it was just eye candy, with no realistic hope of selling. However, there was a two-way phone-bidder battle — one from the East Coast and one from the West Coast — plus a couple of bidders on site. When the reserve was lifted at $140k, it was shortly declared sold to an on-site local bidder for $151k. Another eye-opener happened early on Friday, with the sale of a 1990 ERA Cobra 427 S/C. No Tupperware wannabe, this was a well-built, exactingly authentic replica, with a vintage 1967 Ford 427 barely squeezed under the hood. Bidders recognized the quality, and spirited bidding saw it sell for $55k. Overall, taking on this auction was a good move for MidAmerica. Considering the company’s more local focus and eagerness to enhance the venue, it was a win-win for the auction house and “Back to the 50’s.” A Mecum Mecum

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MIDAMERICA // St. Paul, MN GM #60-1934 BUICK SERIES 60 3-window coupe. VIN: 2716885. Black/gray mohair. Odo: 40,415 miles. Equipped with rumble seat and rear-mounted spare tire. Highly authentic frame-off restoration approximately two decades ago, and still presents exceptionally well. Runs out fairly well, despite a jumpy clutch and somewhat fussy carburetor. Paint presents well from a moderate distance, despite some light polishing swirls throughout. Most of interior upholstery is quite good. Older engine detailing, recently tidied up and rather presentable. Heavier surface rust on the exhaust system. Cond: 2-. Design series in 1948. The reserve was off by $11k and generated a few more bids to get it bought by a Midwest dealer who knows a thing or two about old trucks and how to sell ’em. #121.1-1955 BUICK CENTURY convertible. VIN: 4B2078443. White/black cloth/red leather. Odo: 12,810 miles. 322-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Restored in mid-’80s, wearing a 1987 AACA National Senior First badge. Popriveted s/n tag. Expert bare-body repaint. Slightly wider door gaps at back than front. Bumpers replated when restored. Leather seating surfaces show light wrinkling. Recent cleanup under the hood on a well-kept engine compartment. Equipped with power brakes, steering, top and windows. Fitted with repro Skylark wire wheels shod with yellowing bias-ply wide whites. Cond: 2-. nyl. Odo: 66,579 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Recent engine bay cleanup and detail, but not authentically detailed. Modern compact power brake booster and aftermarket chrome valve covers. Smog pump removed, ports expertly plugged. High-quality prep and paint. Wavy rear spoiler. Mostly reproduction brightwork. New interior vinyl, redyed console is off-hue. Aftermarket sound system, reusing stock knobs and faceplate. Hurst shifter. With power front discs. Aftermarket alloy wheels look period but are modern production. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $52,920. Buicks have always been strong sellers in Minnesota—ever since the first year of statewide licensing in 1909, when they were the second-bestselling car in the state behind the Ford Model T. (I know this because I counted each car registered—not quite 10,000—in the original DMV logbook from 1909 in the Minnesota Historical Society’s library for an article in the SAH Journal 20 years ago.) One look at this classy non-CCCA classic coupe shows why: You got a lot of solid classy car for the money. Ditto for 2013. #71-1940 CHEVROLET SERIES KC pickup. VIN: K2864791. Cream/black vinyl. Odo: 79,673 miles. Eight-year-old amateur restoration. Not the best coverage on the cream paint, but the black fenders come off well. Several pieces of trim have been painted or powdercoated rather than replated. Missing rear hubcaps. Replacement highly varnished box floor wood shows some weathering. Economy seat upholstery with heavily compressed padding. Shift lever painted body color. Period aftermarket windshield fan painted silver. Older engine repaint. Older painted chassis with rust bleeding through. Very old bias-ply tires. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $49,680. While the consignor liked the car, he needed to thin his large collection. This was originally scheduled to run on Friday as Lot 42, but some tire-kicker turned on the key during the Thursday inspection, draining the 6-volt battery. Once recharged, it re-ran on Saturday as Lot 121.1. Rather well bought. #185-1967 PONTIAC GTO 2-dr hard top. VIN: 242177P123950. Red/red vinyl. Odo: 2,709 miles. 400-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. PHS and original documentation show that this was originally sold locally at Hansord Pontiac of Minneapolis. Frame-off restoration in recent years, with odometer reading likely indicating miles since redo. Excellent colorchange repaint, as the car was originally Burgundy. Once authentically restored under the hood, it is now starting to grow light surface rust. Equipped with optional power steering and power brakes. Wears modern plus-one-sized TorqThrust wheels on radials. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $31,860. Two weekends after this car sold here, I saw it with the new owner at the local Cars and Coffee; he was generally having a ball with it. This is what really needed to happen to this car, as the consignor was holding out for a retail-plus price for it while he was alive. Even his estate didn’t let it go last year when it was offered at Mecum’s Spring Classic, bid to $30k (ACC# 204689). It actually was a nosale on the block but was cut loose by the end of the day as a post-block sale. 032. Black/black leather. Odo: 1 miles. 427ci fuel-injected V8, auto. Equipped with naturally aspirated 427 with ATI ProGlide automatic and Strange Engineering solid rear axle. In as-delivered-new condition. The only use it’s seen since delivery is driving it on and off the trailer and staging for auction. Even the undercarriage is as clean as the interior. Still retains most shipping plastic for the interior. Cond: 1-. 5 #134-2012 CHEVROLET CAMARO COPO coupe. VIN: 1012COPO- SOLD AT $12,690. This was the first year of what would prove to be a very popular series of trucks that lasted until the Advance 82 AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $43,200. This Goat is a good detail job away from being a $43k car. Oh, that’s right, it did sell for that. Someone must not have got the memo on that. It would’ve been a slam-dunk for this money if redone in Burgundy. As a “yeah, but” car, sold well. #135-1968 CHEVROLET CAMARO SS coupe. VIN: 124378N422892. Red/red vi- SOLD AT $151,200. The hammer price of $140k is exactly what a red COPO hammered for at Mecum’s 2012 December Kansas City Auction half a year ago. With 69 built, that’s close enough to call it the market. For now. Delivered new to Minnesota, and sold here to a prominent collection in the state, despite phone bidders from both coasts battling it out. CORVETTE #166-1970 CHEVROLET CORVETTE con- TOP 10

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MIDAMERICA // St. Paul, MN vertible. VIN: 194670S415455. Donnybrooke Green/white vinyl/green vinyl. Odo: 52,873 miles. 350-ci 300-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Stated to be almost all original, including miles, paint, top, interior, engine, hoses, belts, transmission and differential. That original paint is crazed in most places and broadcasting all of the body joints. A few clearance cuts in the front wheelwell lips. Door fit and gaps better than usual. Same for original trim. Nice original seats, light-tomoderate carpet wear. Nothing much done under the hood since new, except for a recent power wash. Not much for options: just AM/FM radio and luggage rack. Cond: 3-. black vinyl/black & white vinyl. Odo: 802 miles. 361-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Reproduction body tag attached with modern pop rivets. Frame-off restoration not that long ago. Crack in windshield. Good body prep and repaint. Replated bumpers and select pieces of trim. Not the best door fit. Good engine bay detailing, just shy of concours quality. Just as good on the undercarriage, which has been recently refreshed. Modern radial tires. Authentic interior upholstery redo. Some of the pinchweld molding is coming loose. Cond: 2-. wear on the repro seats. Modern speakers cut into door panels. Older engine detailing. Recent Marti Report. Factory a/c. Retains the original alloy five-spoke wheels, with heavier corrosion and shod with modern radials. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $20,520. How appropriate to be Donnybrooke Green; the only year the color was used, named after the race course near Brainerd, MN, and sold in MN. Originally a no-sale at $18k on the block. Remember, it’s only originally uncared-for once. As they say, “Good news: It’s original; bad news: It’s original.” FOMOCO #140-1931 FORD MODEL A sedan delivery. VIN: A3963143. Dark green/black vinyl. Odo: 75,948 miles. Consigned by family of second owner, who purchased it from original owner in 1965. Older frame-off restoration with a recent repaint. Mostly older brightwork with a few new pieces. Good older authentic bias-ply tires. Presentable older roof leatherette. Decent enough door fit for an A. Reupholstered in plain vinyl on door and seat. Gray-painted wood cargo floor. Silver-painted gearshift and parkingbrake lever. Aftermarket oil pressure gauge. Generally tidy under the hood. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $43,200. The Pacer was a step above the 1958 Ranger series, which was also Ford-based, but below the Mercurybased Corsair and Citation series, which included convertibles. The reserve was passed at $40k on the block. Rather strongly sold, considering that some of the restoration is already beginning to unwind. #40-1966 FORD FAIRLANE GTA 2-dr hard top. VIN: 6K40S168868. Black & red/ red vinyl. Odo: 2 miles. 390-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Two miles on fresh, highly competent, bare-body restoration. Superb color-change repaint from original Emberglo Metallic. Mostly new or replated chrome. Good door and panel fit with all-new seals. Full reproduction interior soft-trim kit, professionally installed, replacing original Parchment vinyl. Generally authentic and clean under the hood; double-pumper carb the most obvious deviation from stock. With power steering and brakes and a/c, now converted to R134a. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $75,600. The same consignor owned Lot 123, the ’68 GT500 KR, having bought both from the same person in the mid-1980s in Phoenix. The whole rebuiltbut-once NOS Super Cobra Jet was more of a boat anchor than asset for value. Wisely cut loose as it started to roll off the block, even if it does break up the set. 6156. White & light blue/Parchment vinyl & cloth. Odo: 34,060 miles. 400-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. High-quality restoration is exceptionally authentic. Paint is spot-on for original Ford finish—good, but not spectacular. Excellent original and NOS trim. Replated rear bumper is canted forward slightly. Hose clamps and modern battery can be swapped for a show-quality engine bay. Authentically upholstered seat, although rear bench is all vinyl, where the front splitbench has cloth seating surfaces. Optional 400-cube engine, dual fuel tanks, outside storage compartment, power steering and brakes, a/c. Cond: 2-. #174-1978 FORD F-150 Ranger XLT SuperCab pickup. VIN: X14SKBE- SOLD AT $24,840. This auction had one of almost every example of Model A—sedans, coupes, pickups and this rare sedan delivery. Seven total, and all but one generally stock. Who says nobody collects them anymore? Then again, that might be why there were seven at a 176-car auction. A decent price, if slightly strong. #38-1958 EDSEL PACER convertible. VIN: W8UR717178. Light yellow & black/ 84 AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $47,520. Usually, the 1966–67 Fairlane GTs trail far behind the same-year Chevelles in the market. The added effect of MidAmerica being rather Ford-centric brought a higher-than-expected sale for this exceptionally well-done and freshly restored Fairlane. #124-1969 SHELBY GT500 fastback. VIN: 9F02R480872. Candy Apple Red/black vinyl. Odo: 36,955 miles. 428-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Repowered with a balanced and ported NOS 1971 428 SCJ. Original motor available, condition not stated. Good recent repaint with overspray in wheelwells. Good door fit, even if gaps are wider in front than rear. Typical upwardly bowed hood. Minimal SOLD AT $13,230. Today, with SuperCab and SuperCrew cabs vastly outselling the standard cab pickups, it’s a little hard to grasp that a SuperCab in the 1970s was somewhat uncommon, rather like 4-wheel drive was a decade before. This very authentically restored example shows that the 1973–79 Ford F-series trucks continue to go nowhere but up in value. Well bought. #19-1990 SHELBY COBRA S/C ERA replica roadster. VIN: ERA254. British Racing Green/black leather. Odo: 35,377 miles. 427-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Originally built in 1990 with a 1967 Ford 427 side-oiler engine in it, which retains the original Ford ID tag under the coil. Said motor was recently refreshed by Cottrell Racing Engines and is still quite tidy and generally authentic-look- BEST BUY

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MIDAMERICA // St. Paul, MN ing, complete with “turkey pan” air box. Claimed $20k repaint in 2002, which still presents very well even with a few light bug splats on the front. Chrome slightly dulling. Light carpet and seat-bottom wear. Cond: 2-. 251135. Red/ two-tone red vinyl. Odo: 42,124 miles. 383-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Decent topical repaint a few years ago, still with quite a bit of overspray on the undercarriage. Mix of new and old brightwork. Heavily dented and dinged trunk lid rear trim. Decent original interior. Modern sound system mounted in dash, with crude speakers in rear footwell. Older engine repaint and low-impact detailing now very dusty. Dogdish hubcaps and modern radials on steel wheels. Minimal options. Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $55,080. Owned and commissioned by local automotive artist J. Paul Ness, who wanted the closest thing to a Shelby Cobra 427 S/C that could be run on the street without worrying about something happening to a million-dollar investment. The 535-horsepower rating at 6,000 rpm is from the dyno after the motor was refreshed. Pretty big money for a replica, but cheap for what you’re getting. MOPAR #176-1946 CHRYSLER WINDSOR 8-passenger sedan. VIN: 70566932. Black/dark blue broadcloth. Odo: 35,343 miles. 250-ci I6, 2-bbl, auto. Stated that it’s a two-owner car from new. Older, good-quality repaint, recently buffed out. Rust blisters on far end of left rear fender; light dent in the middle. Replated bumpers; light pitting on all plated pot metal. Crack in the left front headlight. Expertly reupholstered seats eight years ago, mellowing slightly to mate well with the rest of the original interior. Carpet was also likely replaced in the same time frame. Light cleanup under the hood, none on the undercarriage. Cond: 3. #54-1973 PLYMOUTH ’CUDA 2-dr hard top. VIN: BS23H3B375729. True Blue Metallic/black vinyl. Odo: 59,474 miles. 340ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Repaint with a light hint of pearl. Slight door edge chipping. Non-stock graphics on side striping. Excellent door fit, shut effortlessly. Newer interior panels and seat upholstery. Stick-on carbon fiber on the dash, pistol-grip shifter and console. Aftermarket gauges added beneath dash. Touchscreen entertainment center displaces stock radio. Very little stock under the hood. Original engine block; with aftermarket induction, headers, ignition and cast alloy valve covers. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $13,770. This is what the original Road Runner was all about: go without the goodies. Unladen with an a/c compressor or power-accessory motors, a B-body Mopar can move out pretty well with the standard Road Runner 383 in it. Remember, they did put slant-sixes in the lesser B-body models. This one’s just a driver—but with lots of easy potential to make it better. Easily surpassing the $10,500 reserve, this was a pretty decent buy. SOLD AT $32,400. 1973 was a rather hohum year for the former shell of the ’Cuda package. The 340 in this car (and the 360 that replaced it mid-year) was the hottest thing going for the car’s last two years of production. As such, ’73 and ’74 values are also a hollow shell compared with the earlier years. Reserve wisely lifted when the bidding died off. A SOLD AT $14,040. Immediate post-war eight-passenger Chryslers are pretty rare— especially the middle-series Windsor line. Unfortunately, Chrysler’s records don’t break production totals out on individual body styles. That makes me think that the first caretaker could’ve been an undertaker, since funeral parlors tended to favor the luxurious and reliable (but less ostentatious) Chrysler sedans in dead-common black. And yes, this is a sedan, not a limo. There is no divider between the front and rear compartments. #172-1968 PLYMOUTH ROAD RUNNER 2-dr sedan. VIN: RM21H8A- September-October 2013 87 BEST BUY

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LEAKE // Tulsa, OK Leake — Tulsa 2013 THE ONLY 1951 FRAZER MANHATTAN CONVERTIBLE SEDAN THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN AT AUCTION SOLD FOR $53K Report and photos by Phil Skinner Market opinions in italics Trip Center, among the largest one-room “clearspan” buildings in the world, boasts nearly 450,000 square feet of air-condition comfort — plenty of space for vendors, au tion offices, the auction platform, audience accommodations and nearly 700 vehicles. Registered bidders came from all four corners of the country, including Washing T $12m $15m $3m $6m $9m 0 88 AmericanCarCollector.com Leake Auction Company Tulsa 2013 Tulsa, OK June 7–9, 2013 Auctioneers: Jim Ritchie, Brian Marshall, Tony Langdon Automotive lots sold/offered: 470/691 Sales rate: 68% Sales total: $11,801,911 High sale: 1937 Packard street rod, sold at $143,000 buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold prices Sales Total 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 E // Tulsa, OK Leake — Tulsa 2013 THE ONLY 1951 FRAZER MANHATTAN CONVERTIBLE SEDAN THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN AT AUCTION SOLD FOR $53K Report and photos by Phil Skinner Market opinions in italics Trip Center, among the largest one-room “clearspan” buildings in the world, boasts nearly 450,000 square feet of air-condition comfort — plenty of space for vendors, au tion offices, the auction platform, audience accommodations and nearly 700 vehicles. Registered bidders came from all four corners of the country, including Washing T $12m $15m $3m $6m $9m 0 88 AmericanCarCollector.com Leake Auction Company Tulsa 2013 Tulsa, OK June 7–9, 2013 Auctioneers: Jim Ritchie, Brian Marshall, Tony Langdon Automotive lots sold/offered: 470/691 Sales rate: 68% Sales total: $11,801,911 High sale: 1937 Packard street rod, sold at $143,000 buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold prices Sales Total 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 ulsa ulsa is home base for Leake Auction Company. The auction house conducted its 40th annual sale in this Route 66 city over th weekend of June 7–9. The Quik- state, Southern California, Florida and New England. Consignments ranged from a 1907 Ford Model S runabout to a 2007 Four Winds Kodiak Super C55 motorhome. A large collection of automobilia was offered at no reserve. The collection included automotive research books, early horseless-carriage lamps and many vintage toys, which found relatively inexpensive prices. But it was automobiles that the crowds came to see, and they didn’t go away disappointed. On the “unusual” side was a 1951 Frazer Manhattan convertible sedan, beautifully restored and presented. This was the only example I have ever seen in over 20 years of covering auctions, and it sold for $53k. For rarity and coolness, I think it was worth every bit of the seller’s hoped-for $60k, but the price paid accurately reflects the top of the market for orphan cars. Pickup trucks and 4x4 SUVs always play a major role at Leake sales, and there were many excellent examples here, modified and stock. One highlight was a charmingly restored 1947 Willys-Overland Jeep wagon, which seemed like a fair buy at $9,500, with a good chance of financial upside in the near future. Leake Auctions is operated by Richard and Nancy Sevenoaks. Nancy is the daughter of the company founder, the late James “Jimmy” Leake. One of the highlights of the Tulsa sale is the presentation of the James C. Leake Lifetime Achievement Award, which goes to a person who has given much to the hobby. For 2013, this coveted honor went to passionate Thunderbird restorer (and longtime Leake customer) Amos Minter. By every measure, sales figures were up from the past few years. Leake consigned and sold more cars, and overall totals and average price climbed. Driving this growth is a higher caliber of automobiles, combined with an auction crew that knows its customers on a personal level. A

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LEAKE // Tulsa, OK GM #447-1955 CADILLAC ELDORADO convertible. VIN: 556255099. Red/white Colortex/red & white leather. Odo: 20,907 miles. 331-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. Recent re-do by family of original owner. Very little reportedly needed for body. Red a little bit richer than original. Lot of money invested in chrome. Plush interior, tight and correct-fitting top. Parade boot in place, should be red but is painted white. Polished aluminum Sabre wheels with proper center caps. Top-shelf bodywork, alignment, paint condition, glass, etc. Mechanicals and electrics all very good. Cond: 2. 10 wear and tear. Underhood not available for inspection, but undersides are clean but not detailed. Stock dashboard showing age with bright trim faded. Original car had white seat, but dark brown comes off well. Glovebox signed by Monkees D. Jones, P. Tork and M. Dolenz. Could pass for the real deal. Cond: 2-. opening in the dash for the radio, a few loose trim bits, hide-away headlights are winking. Recent paint has bubbles and scratches. Body fit and finish needs lots of TLC. Interior not that bad, but underhood cosmetics call for help. Cond: 4. SOLD AT $66,000. Both of the original Dean Jeffries-built cars are well documented and in private ownership today, so this was a chance to own a great look-alike for not a lot of money. That said, it sold for $41k at Barrett-Jackson’s 2012 Scottsdale sale (ACC# 194073), so call it well sold today. SOLD AT $93,500. Not sure if miles had turned over or been reset, or what type of investment the family made when restoring Grandpa’s Caddy, but I think the new owner got the better end of this deal. Most of the major work is done; all it needs is a deep detail, get it licensed and have fun. #1229-1963 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX 2-dr hard top. VIN: 963P263463. Brown metallic/Parchment vinyl. Odo: 74,093 miles. 389-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, auto. Looks mostly original. Body very straight, some exterior chrome trim a little pitted, plastic lenses all clear and bright, glass shows no major issues, light wiper marks on windshield. And everyone loves those K-H eightlug wheels. A well-presented ride from the past. Cond: 2-. #484-1967 CHEVROLET CAMARO RS/SS convertible. VIN: 124677L177340. Butternut Yellow/black fabric/black vinyl. Odo: 25,856 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Restored, according to underhood build plate. Color well applied, some minor issues with decal installation. Panels well-gapped, nice chrome. Interior tight and looks proper, dash fitted with proper gauges; a bit of rust flaking on speedo/odo. With power steering, brakes, windows and soft top. Everything reportedly works, except maybe the clock. Rally wheels look clean, tires fresh. Underhood clean. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $18,700. On the plus side, this was a real GTO convertible—but it had seen a lot of things happen to it since leaving the assembly line. For the price paid, I expect new owner to sort out a few of the bugs, make it look a bit more pretty and then try to turn a profit. It won’t be a showpiece. Well sold. #1228-1972 CHEVROLET IMPALA 2-dr hard top. VIN: 1M47H2S175150. Dark brown metallic/white vinyl/dark brown vinyl & cloth. Odo: 27,635 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Claimed unrestored and unhit with actual miles. All the typical power appointments. No signs of paint touch-up or damage aside from a couple of very minor parking-lot dings. No crunchies under the vinyl top. Interior has slight musty smell. Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $18,425. Seen recently at Auctions America Auburn on May 10, not sold at a high bid of $15k (ACC# 222102). In top condition these cars bring $20k–$30k. While not exactly a bargain, new owner should enjoy and show this car before selling it or restoring it. #506-1966 PONTIAC GTO “Monkeemobile” replica convertible. VIN: 242176B119532. Red/tan canvas/saddle leather. Odo: 84,348 miles. 400-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Beautiful re-creation of iconic TV rock ‘n’ roll car. Nearly perfect match of original. Doors line up well. Paint was showing a little 90 AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $36,850. First-generation Camaro convertibles are highly sought-after, and this one showing a Van Nuys, CA, assembly was kind of like a bonus. Seller did a good job promoting the vehicle, and the small amount of rust flakes evidently didn’t hurt it. At least two bidders went head-tohead once reserve was lifted at $30k. Having both RS and SS packages is always a big plus, and with a little sprucing up, this car should be able to reward the new owner with some financial gain. #750-1968 PONTIAC GTO convertible. VIN: 242678P230740. White/black canvas/ black vinyl. Odo: 39,926 miles. 400-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Looks like it was thrown together and a few parts didn’t make it. Big SOLD AT $4,675. In today’s market, this car really has an $8k potential, and as interest in well-preserved original cars grows, examples like this will escalate in value. Well bought. #154-1977 PONTIAC TRANS AM coupe. VIN: 2W87Z7N249333. White/red vinyl. Odo: 93,916 miles. 400-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. One repaint with reapplied decals. According to PHS documents, fitted new with power steering and disc brakes, a/c, tilt, and Snowflake wheels, which it still wears (some scuffing on the sides). Body looks solid, but rear quarter damaged and issues with back bumper. Lots of minor scratches in paint. Underhood slightly above average for a 36-year-old driver. Undersides same basic condition. Interior has appropriate wear and tear. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $14,850. Looking at the late 1970s, Trans Am is one of the few bright stars from that era. (Thank you, TOP 10

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LEAKE // Tulsa, OK QUICKTAKE 1969 Chevrolet Yenko Camaro Don Yenko started his rise to fame, within the performance community when SOLD at $135,025 Leake Auctions, Tulsa, OK, June 7–10, 2013, Lot 470 he began building his now-famous “Stinger” Corvair (1965–67). These were modified with upgrades not only for horsepower, but for handling and braking as well. Yenko’s “sYc” Camaro Yenko Supercar was an off-the-showroom-floor quarter-mile terror. These cars were equipped with Chevrolet’s monster L71 427 along with rear axles and suspensions designed to try and get all the power to the ground. Yenko built a total of 371 Yenko Camaros between 1967 and 1969, according to various published resources. The Yenko market has seen a dramatic rise, fall and rise again over the past several years. For the 1969 model, prices have varied from more Burt Reynolds.) I think this was an outstandingly well-bought car, but it needs lots of cosmetics. Its unmolested condition hid nothing from bidders, which translated into real interest. Wise investment of time, parts and money could produce a sweet ride, great performance and with a bit of luck, maybe a few dollars in the profit column. CORVETTE than $300,000 to as low as $100,000. Our ACC Premium Auction Database shows an average recent value of about $200,000 for a well-sorted #2 example, but an upward trend is forming. Our subject car presents well, but is beginning to show signs of use and age. This color may be a yawner compared with red, yellow or black, but it seems like the darker greens are starting to climb out of the doldrums lately. It boils down to this: More guys have simply decided they want a Yenko, color be damned. What about this one’s value? Our subject car previously appeared at the Leake Oklahoma City auction on February 23, 2013, (ACC# 215383) as Lot 471, where it sold for $209,000 including the buyer’s premium. Then, at the most recent Leake sale, held on June 7–9, 2013, in Tulsa OK, our subject car sold as Lot 470 for $135,025. This gap represents a $73,975 loss for the seller, assuming that the car did not change hands in between the two sales; given the short span of four months of ownership, it’s unlikely that’s the case. But a loss for the seller is a gain for the buyer, and this car’s new owner should be over the moon about this deal. This was a lot of car for the money, especially when you consider that $200,000 market level. Call this one phenomenally well bought. A —Dale Novak SOLD AT $67,100. Of all the solid-axle cars, the 1958 is the easiest to recognize with its simulated hood louvers and chrome stripes on the deck-lid. While this car might never be NCRS material, it’s a good-looking little ride. For the price paid, it should deliver a few fun drives and will make a centerpiece for a collection where beauty and flash outweigh authenticity. Well bought. #476-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 30867S116652. Riverside Red/black Colortex/black vinyl. Odo: 97,571 miles. 327-ci 300-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Restoration several years old and holding up well. Straight bodywork, no signs of stress in the usual places. Bumpers line up well, but front has some hazing on the chrome, rear very good but needs minor adjustment. Interior in order. Full instrument package with clear faces and working tach. Wheels may be vintage; new whitewall tires and no scuff marks. Underhood neat and tidy, minor 92 AmericanCarCollector.com #456-1958 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: J58S104140. Aqua & white/ white Colortex/black vinyl. Odo: 34,420 miles. 283-ci 245-hp V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Restored in 1995, holding up well for 18 years. Nicely presented. Colors come off well even if not 100% correct. Some chrome issues on rear bumper near exhaust outlets. Engine could also use some detailing. Body panels line up well. Glass is good. Engine starts, but I detect slight odor of stale fuel. Has original Wonderbar radio, heater, tach, spinner wheel covers, etc., plus hard and soft tops. A good servicing would be recommended before a drive. Cond: 2.

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LEAKE // Tulsa, OK seepage by the carb. No mention of matching numbers. Cond: 3. FOMOCO SOLD AT $46,200. This car sold for $23k at the Branson auction in 2002 with 97,474 miles showing (ACC# 29147). More recently, it sold for $56k at Mecum’s June 2012 sale in Little Rock (ACC# 210511). With everything reported to be in working order, the new owner only needs to maintain this car to keep his investment safe. To make it grow, he will have to invest in paint and some chrome work. Still, well bought. (See the profile, p.42.) #549-1972 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 1Z67W2S514705. War Bonnet Yellow/black fabric/black leather. Odo: 57,292 miles. 454-ci 270-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Recent cosmetic econo-overhaul. Fresh paint smells like it’s still curing. Body looks straight, no signs of stress cracks. Good glass. New top, front shocks, brakes, alignment. Overspray on door weatherstrip and underhood. Daewoo in-dash CD player. Cond: 3. #126-1955 FORD FAIRLANE Crown Victoria 2-dr sedan. VIN: U5RW141545. Tropical Rose & Snowshoe White/white & rose vinyl. Odo: 81,269 miles. 272-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. At a glance, a pretty sharp-looking car. Has a “quickie” look to it up close. Restored to the specs shown on the reproduction data plate. Left door has alignment issues. Minor pitting on front glass. Soft trim tight and clean. Plastic emblems look pretty good. With radio, heater and clock in the dash, power steering, brakes and windows, rocker moldings, skirts and Continental kit. Cond: 3+. 1950s vintage decal from fabled Seminole Golf Club in Florida supports seller’s story of coming from Sunshine State. Best of all, it’s complete—no parts hunting. Cond: 4+. SOLD AT $23,100. The Mark II was technically a Continental, not a Lincoln, but no one seems to remember that detail. Marketing plans were to make this America’s version of the Rolls-Royce, and it was a worthy competitor. Today, however, restoration and maintenance costs limit value. This car sold on its second trip over the block, where a previous high bid had been turned down. Coming to one’s senses on rerun lane usually means less money. SOLD AT $24,200. While this was a looker, it wouldn’t satisfy the purist. Seller wanted $30k but settled for this fair price. #2509-1956 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL MARK II 2-dr hard top. VIN: C56A1766. Black/gray & red leather. Odo: 30,358 miles. 368-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Decent condition as a starting point for an entire restoration. Older lacquer repaint has major crazing. Interior appears done in original colors, but materials don’t feel quite right. Underhood complete, but in need of detailing. Does have original hood ornament and all four expensive-to-replace wheelcovers. SOLD AT $30,800. I still think the chromebumper C3s are undervalued. Price for this car was about spot-on. Seller did the right thing to lift the $40k-plus reserve and see this car find a loving home. I don’t think prices are going to be taking any immediate downturns, so if you fancy one of these C3s, now is the time to buy. #189-1960 FORD THUNDERBIRD 2-dr hard top. VIN: 0Y71Y173341. Aquamarine/ white & turquoise vinyl. Odo: 400 miles. 352-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Economy restoration completed not long ago. Redone in original colors and materials. Later-model engine looks like a post-1965 block. Bodywork very good. Doors, hood and deck all align well. Interior has “new car” smell. Original AM radio, factory a/c and the usual power goodies. Tinted glass clean all around. Overall decent driver. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $12,925. When Ford conducted the final build of these cars in September 1960, there were a reported 5,000 confirmed orders that didn’t get filled. Fifty-three years later, they are still as popular as they were back then, but at a much better price. This was kind of a bargain, but the transplanted engine limits future appreciation. While the two-seater will always rule the roost, these “square birds” have a strong following, too. Values remain good but not out of reach. #229-1963 FORD FALCON Sprint convertible. VIN: 3H15F195687. Rangoon Red/black vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 82,458 miles. 260-ci V8, 2-bbl, 4-sp. Decent overall condition, restored to original specs. Color match spot-on to original. Body shows some signs of work in rear quarters; floors may have been replaced, too. Overspray 94 AmericanCarCollector.com

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LEAKE // Tulsa, OK on weatherstripping. Underhood detailed a while back. All glass is good, chrome trim redone or replaced, side stainless polished to high gloss, aluminum grille a bit milky. Soft trim looks comfy. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $17,050. A precursor to Ford’s Total Performance program for compacts, which would really be played out with a “pony” theme within a year of this car’s birth. Lack of a tachometer might have knocked off a grand in value, but simulated spinner wire wheelcovers were a plus. These peppy Falcons can still be bought for relatively low money. I call this one both well sold and well bought. #1129-1978 FORD PINTO fastback. VIN: 8R10Y128293. Medium Jade/green vinyl & tan cloth. Odo: 10,724 miles. 140-ci I4, 2-bbl, 4-sp. A couple of small parking-lot dings on side panels, but basically an original car. Does have new tires. Basic stuff: AM radio, heater and add-on period tachometer. Cond: 3+. bright trim looks factory and is a little dulled. Cheap interior redo. Mechanicals original and complete. Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $18,150. A shiny paint job would have brought much more attention. This car sold for the exact same price in January 2012 at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale (ACC# 193528). Station wagons continue to command a bit of a premium price over most other models. A hard top in this condition would have been hard-pressed to raise this type of money. If new owner puts some pretty on this one, it could easily go $30k–$35k. #501-1967 PLYMOUTH GTX 2-dr hard top. VIN: RS23L75108218. Turbine Bronze/ black vinyl. Odo: 35,988 miles. 440-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Professionally detailed with all the right things going for it, including excellent rubber gaskets and weather stripping. Sheet metal excellent. Some minor microscratches. Clean tinted glass all around. Factory performance vehicle with gauge package, power steering and front disc brakes, “pit-stop” quick-release fuel filler, original wheels with full covers and Redline tires. Interior clean with AM radio, heaterdefroster, lots of pretty gauges all very readable. Cond: 2+. heater. Retains original stencil-painted name on right-side glovebox door. Car has patina of use, could be cleaned up as a preservation piece. Twelve-volt upgrade and modern radio. New black rubber floor mat has a few issues, but they could be worked out. Glass good but chrome bumpers dull. Aftermarket wheelcovers. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $9,570. I really liked this wagon and thought anything under $12k would have been a bargain. Values have been moving up a little on these early post-war Jeeps. Watch for wagons like these to become even more popular in the near future. SOLD AT $4,620. Born and raised in California, acquired by a dealer around 2010, bounced to a couple of others before hitting the auction, and I bet another dealer bought it. Laugh about them, but these are collector’s vehicles today, and low-mile, totally original examples like this one are popular with novice collectors. Seller’s hoped-for $8k was unrealistic, but I think this should have made something closer to $6.5k. One of several Tulsa cars I would have liked to own. Well bought. MOPAR #1186-1956 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY wagon. VIN: W5667247. Light green satin & white/dark green vinyl & cloth. Odo: 13,420 miles. 331-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Rather plain-looking car made a bit more dull by the sheen of the paint. Body straight, most SOLD AT $39,875. Brought to the sale by a regular consignor who brings top-shelf cars and usually demands that level of pricing. Surprising to me that these early Mopar muscle machines don’t bring more, but this was a strong offer and the seller realized it. While not promoted as numbers-matching, it did have a Govier authenticity report. Well bought. AMERICANA #1253-1947 WILLYS-OVERLAND JEEP wagon. VIN: 46394727. Green & tan/black vinyl. Odo: 95,707 miles. 134-ci I4, 1-bbl, 3-sp. Amateur light cosmetic restoration. Solid body in authentic colors. No sign of any major issues. Interior has only a #512-1951 FRAZER MANHATTAN 4-dr convertible. VIN: F516B0010037. Light green/black canvas/dark green leather. Odo: 72,984 miles. 226-ci I6, 2-bbl, 3-sp. Full body-off restoration a few years back. Good chrome and glass. Has a couple of minor cosmetic issues. Underhood clean and tidy, a bit of seepage near the carburetor, but no oil leaks or staining from the cooling system. Has original radio, heater and clock. Equipped with power windows and power top. Everything said to work. Cond: 2. CAR COLLECTOR 96 AmericanCarCollector.com AMERICAN SOLD AT $52,800. My favorite car in Tulsa. Only a few of these were built, about a dozen are thought to exist today, and this may be the nicest of them all. The seller was shooting for at least $60k, which doesn’t seem unfair, but orphan cars just don’t bring more than this. Well bought and sold. A ™ AmericanCarCollector.com/subscribe SUBSCRIBE TO ACC 877.219.2605 Ext. 1 BEST BUY Keith Martin’s

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GLOBAL ROUNDUP Selected Sales Combined in One Comprehensive Report American highlights at three auctions GM #302-1929 GMC C-CAB movie prop box van. VIN: 2336535. Black & green/black vinyl. 200-ci I6, 1-bbl, 3-sp. A Depressionera box van with C-cab and wooden box composed of planks with non-weather-proof gaps. Wears different company graphics on sides and front, reportedly, as more versatile movie prop. Steel portions a bit lumpy, front bumper and leading edges scratched and dinged. Open cabin dirty, half of wood steering wheel missing, speedometer destroyed, ratty bench seat. Engine thick with grime, but appears complete. No reserve. Cond: 5-. VanDerbrink Auctions — Murdo in May VanDerBrink Auctions Murdo, SD — May 11, 2013 Auctioneers: Yvette VanDerBrink, Dale Pavlis, Aaron Williamson Automotive lots sold/offered: 45/79 Sales rate: 57% Sales total: $303,258 High sale: 1962 Chevrolet Corvette, sold at $35,535 buyer’s premium: 3%, included in sold prices (8% Internet buyer’s premium not included) Report and photos by B. Mitchell Carlson Silver Auctions Coeur d’Alene, ID — June 15, 2013 Auctioneers: Mitch Silver, Matt Backs Automotive lots sold/offered: 51/118 Sales rate: 43% Sales total: $802,686 High sale: 1951 Buick Super, sold at $102,600 buyer’s premium: 8%, included in sold prices Report and photos by John Boyle Lucky Auctions Tacoma, WA — June 2, 2013 Auctioneers: Jeff Stokes Auction Group Automotive lots sold/offered: 89/104 Sales rate: 86% Sales total: $410,110 High sale: 1988 Kenworth T800 tow truck, sold at $58,300 buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold prices Report and photos by Jack Tockston SOLD AT $17,050. It would be interesting to find the films in which this rig starred, as that might add a modicum of value. Extremely well sold. Lucky Collector Car Auctions, Tacoma, WA, 06/13. #132-1951 BUICK SUPER wagon. VIN: K1130E073. Green/green cloth. Odo: 52,865 miles. 263-ci I8, 2-bbl, auto. Beautiful paint on excellent body. Wood and chrome excellent. Underhood looks new with all the correct decals. Unmarked interior and headliner. Sits on correct bias-ply tires. First owner was the governor of Minnesota. Cond: 2+. 8 SOLD AT $102,600. Has won several awards including best in class at Buick Club national meets. An impressive car and the star of the auction. Further confirmation that woodies, even partial woodies, are still hot. Even at this price, well bought. Silver Auctions, Coeur d’Alene, ID, 06/13. Lucky — 2013 Truck Auction 98 AmericanCarCollector.com #37-1955 CHEVROLET NOMAD wagon. VIN: VC55N087026. Green/green & white vinyl & cloth. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. A street TOP 10

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ROUNDUP GLOBAL rod with an older restoration showing some age. Hot-rod upgrades include newer 350 V8, aftermarket radiator, Muncie 4-speed with Hurst shifter, Edelbrock chrome air cleaner, 4-wheel discs, upgraded dash, LED taillights, glasspacks. Older respray in original color but extra metalflake. Top now body color. Poor gaps where fenders meet cowl. Fender trim screwed in place. Nice factory-style interior, headliner stained. Steering wheel worn. With factory power brakes, steering and windows. Cond: 3-. interior. Color-change repaint, with added accents in flat black. Good replated bumpers and polished alloy trim. New repro seat upholstery, door panels and carpeting (with stains indicating leaky heater core). Aftermarket gauges. Generic small-block V8 bored 0.030 over and fitted with roller rockers, Eagle crank and rods, aluminum heads. TH350 transmission has a 2,500-rpm stall torque converter—making inching along the staging lane interesting. Cond: 3+. vinyl. Odo: 81,978 miles. 396-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Excellent paint and bodywork. Recent painted pinstripes. Chrome a mix of original and new. New window felt. Deluxe interior. Factory air, now upgraded. Underhood clean with GM hoses, sparkplug wires. Aftermarket distributor, chrome alternator. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $24,840. A numbers-matching car sold under the market. Minor underhood upgrades enhance driveability. Well bought. Silver Auctions, Coeur d’Alene, ID, 06/13. SOLD AT $43,740. The owner had the car 24 years and said it was mechanically refreshed in 2010. A stock Nomad would be worth a lot more, but it’s a usable cruiser. Well sold, considering its issues. Silver Auctions, Coeur d’Alene, ID, 06/13. #30-1962 CHEVROLET IMPALA 2-dr hard top. VIN: 21747L203344. Autumn Gold & Ermine White/Fawn vinyl. Odo: 32,548 miles. 235-ci I6, 1-bbl, 3-sp. A recent restoration with great paint over nice body prep. Chrome and side trim lightly scratched, grille has a half-inch dent just below hood. Carpet and interior new but with a few wrinkles on back of seats. Later radio. Engine bay asoriginal with correct hoses and wires. Factory gaps. Trunk has speckle paint and rubber mats, but with very light surface rust on a seam. Restored in the ’90s, well preserved and improved since. Cond: 2-. NOT SOLD AT $14,000. A sign on the car stated that its nickname was “Bradley.” Publisher Martin has both a modified Chevy II and a son named Bradley. Coincidence? Enough bid on it, but likely wouldn’t cover the build cost. VanDerBrink Auctions, Murdo, SD, 05/13. #57A-1966 OLDSMOBILE F-85 Deluxe 2-dr hard top. VIN: 336176W379806. Red & white/red vinyl. Odo: 79,675 miles. 330-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Old repaint with light scratching on rear corner and plenty of gravel nicks on leading edge of hood and front fenders. Replacement grille and front trim in vastly better condition than the paint. Light scuffing and pitting on window trim. Decent gaps. Aftermarket antenna. All-original interior. Moderate soiling on carpet and seat bottom, with a couple of small rips on driver’s side. Newer shock absorbers and economy-grade radial tires. Cond: 3-. #144-1970 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE SS 396 2-dr hard top. VIN: 136370K147815. Silver/black vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 18,997 miles. 396-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. A 10-year-old restoration that still looks fresh. Unmarked paint, vinyl top, excellent interior. Enginebay details are correct with hoses. OEM Firestone Wide Oval tires. Copy of build sheet. Well equipped with power steering and brakes, M21 Muncie 4-speed, 12-bolt rear end, F41 suspension. Nice but not perfect underneath. Originally sold by Craddock Chevrolet, Radcliff, KY. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $38,070. The seller sold it 10 years ago and recently repurchased it. A very nice car that would do well at local shows. Sold at lower end of ACC price guide range. Very well bought. Silver Auctions, Coeur d’Alene, ID, 06/13. SOLD AT $16,740. Said to have its original engine. It’s great to see a non-V8 car restored and kept original. Let’s hope the new owner resists the temptation to drop a 409 in it. This two-door sold for four-door money. Well bought, considering condition and originality. Silver Auctions, Coeur d’Alene, ID, 06/13. #65-1965 CHEVROLET NOVA 2-dr hard top. VIN: 115375N125536. Dark aqua metallic/aqua vinyl. Odo: 28,833 miles. 350ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Originally a 6-cyl in Ermine White with aqua vinyl bench-seat SOLD AT $6,180. Several dealers told me that this sold for $3,700 at the Specialty Auction near Denver two weeks prior. Yes, they were all kicking themselves for not buying it and selling it here. Heck, I think there’s still money left on the table. However, with the same VIN prefix that was also used with the 442, I fear that this rarely seen F-85 Deluxe will next turn up as a “numbers-matching” 442. VanDerBrink Auctions, Murdo, SD, 05/13. #49-1967 CHEVROLET EL CAMINO SS 396 pickup. VIN: 136807Z126797. Red/red #22-1972 BUICK SKYLARK custom convertible. VIN: 4H67H2H196810. Fire Red/ white vinyl/white vinyl. Odo: 68,979 miles. 350-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Real-deal red car, with an older repaint showing some blistering at bottom of door seams. Lame attempt at etching most of the glass. Seat is far too good to be original; vinyl grain does match original door panels. Moderate carpet wear and heavier fading. Rebuilt original motor, with a scattering of aftermarket performance parts. Non-stock dual exhaust. Retains original window sticker. Optional power discs, steering, seat, a/c, tinted glass, block September-October 2013 99

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GLOBAL ROUNDUP heater, tilt steering column. On aftermarket alloys. Cond: 3. needy and way too rough in other ways for this to be much more than an okay deal. VanDerBrink Auctions, Murdo, SD, 05/13. FOMOCO SOLD AT $9,579. An Air Force buddy in West Germany had a virtual clone of this car. Take it from me: Lose the smog pump, retune it, make it breathe, and a Buick 350 V8 will get up and fly on the Autobahn. Not only would it trounce my BMW 2002 tii, but past 200 clicks (124 mph), it left my BMW 728 in the dust. Nostalgia aside, this was a decent buy on a good cruiser with room for the new owner to improve it. VanDerBrink Auctions, Murdo, SD, 05/13. CORVETTE #58-1979 CHEVROLET CORVETTE coupe. VIN: 1Z8789S436862. Corvette Light Blue/Oyster cloth. Odo: 32,167 miles. 350-ci 195-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Old repaint in the stock color—so old that it’s peeling off the fender tops and hood. Long body crack emanating from top dead center of right front wheelwell, almost reaching the hood opening. Heavily soiled and worn seats and carpeting (staining on the latter shows why the heater core was replaced in 2008). Broomstick hood-prop rod. Cond: 4-. #22-1929 FORD MODEL A rumbleseat roadster. VIN: 2346337. Black/black vinyl/ brown vinyl. Odo: 64,300 miles. An older but unused restoration. Light orange peel on body, minor cracks on hood and rear fender. Polishing marks on fenders. Wheels are matte. Top, running boards and interior look unused. Excellent plating on radiator and headlights. Passenger’s door out at bottom. Has two side-mount spares with strap-on accessory mirrors. MotoMeter temperature gauge atop radiator instead of usual quail. Etched dual wind wings, wood floor has gaping holes for unknown reason. Underhood stock, dusty engine block painted bright blue. No reserve. Cond: 4. SOLD AT $4,675. A Model A-based truck not often seen with six beefy steel wheels and dump box. This rig was ideal for the landscape contractor seeking a business write-off, attention, or both. It was all there, and ready to work. Or, with minor restoration, it could win trophies. Market-correct price. Lucky Collector Car Auctions, Tacoma, WA, 06/13. chrome stone guard, dual cowl lights. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $19,440. A well-optioned roadster just out of long-term museum display. Incorrect color combo for year, which probably won’t bother anyone but purists. Correct #2 As can bring $25k or more, so buyer has room to improve the paint and still be ahead. Silver Auctions, Coeur d’Alene, ID, 06/13. SOLD AT $3,708. While it may have looked like a rat, it actually ran out nicely, and the fact that the seller drove it here from central Nebraska inspired confidence. Still, way too #230-1930 FORD MODEL AA dump truck. VIN: A2327639. Green & black/black vinyl. Odo: 45,674 miles. 200-ci I4, 1-bbl, 3-sp. One-ton cab and chassis with aftermarket dump box of unknown origin. No rust, panels mostly flat except for wavy hood along center hinge. No fenders over rear dual wheels. Serviceable paint except where door lettering was roughly ground off. Stock interior, good glass all around, replacement #296-1947 FORD COE stakebed truck. VIN: 1564256. Gray/green vinyl. Odo: 267 miles. 226-ci V8, 2-bbl, 3-sp. Fresh restoration. Flawless paint inside and out. New everything including paint, seals, wood, chrome. Doors click shut, perfect panels and gaps. Interior factory-fresh, probably better than Henry did it in 1947. Jewel-like engine compartment reflects detail-oriented attitude. Cond: 1-. NOT SOLD AT $25,000. If there were a Pebble Beach class for post-war stake-bed trucks, this was a sure winner. Flawless top to bottom and, by far, the finest vehicle at this auction of any type. I spent considerable time trying to find a single flaw, and came up with zero. The unmentioned reserve was not achieved, so the owner rightly kept this restoration masterpiece. Lucky Collector Car Auctions, Tacoma, WA, 06/13. #7-1947 FORD SUPER DELUXE 2-dr sedan. VIN: 040H47110224. Washington Blue/gray cloth. Odo: 67,616 miles. 239-ci V8, 2-bbl, 3-sp. Frame-off restoration in 2000. Great paint and gaps. LeBaron Bonney interior is unmarked. Underhood is stock and correct, but modern battery and extra fuel filter show it’s meant to be driven. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $14,310. A well-cared- 100 AmericanCarCollector.com

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GLOBAL ROUNDUP for car that still shows exceptionally well. This was the “Ford in your future” they promised GIs during the war, and the volume seller for Ford in ’47. A #2 car for #3 money. Very well bought. Silver Auctions, Coeur d’Alene, ID, 06/13. #29-1949 LINCOLN COSMOPOLITAN coupe. VIN: 9EH037627. Blue/gray cloth. Odo: 53,875 miles. 337-ci V8, 2-bbl, 3-sp. Seller states the car was originally sold in Pendleton, OR, and the second owner displayed it there for 30 years inside his auto parts store. Said to be completely original except for paint. Impressive paint of unknown age. Minor dent in passenger’s door where it was opened too far. Chrome generally good with minor wear, some surface rust inside rear bumper. Rear quarter-glass delaminating. Interior looks new. Impressive dash, but clear plastic on the large pull-out switches along bottom edge are crazed. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $21,060. The Cosmopolitan was the larger Lincoln of the time, riding on a 125-inch wheelbase and featuring factory “Frenched” headlamps. This car sold for market-correct money, but I think it was well bought considering its very few needs. Silver Auctions, Coeur d’Alene, ID, 06/13. #298-1953 FORD F-350 pickup. VIN: F35R3R12692. Blue/gray cloth. Odo: 43,820 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, 5-sp. Scratches and light dings in paint on rust-free classic cab. Late Dodge dually pickup box narrowed by Sawzall and tack-welded to fit chassis. Unpainted rolled rear pan lightly rusting. Box in bed with spare parts. Glass delaminating, factory gaps, no rust-through found. Interior taste, vision and means to finish the work. Well sold. Lucky Collector Car Auctions, Tacoma, WA, 06/13. #244-1956 FORD C-600 car hauler. VIN: C60R6H64847. Black/black vinyl. Odo: 992 miles. Custom show truck built to haul a T-roadster show car, but never used. Flawless black paint with tasteful ghost flames over laser-straight panels. Rear deck unblemished, flush storage boxes underneath. Show chrome throughout. Gorgeous new marine-quality black vinyl interior in classic tuck-and-roll. Clean Y-block turns 5-speed manual. Cond: 1-. has contemporary gray cloth bench seat of unknown origin. Underhood not detailed, recent 4-bbl carb on Chevy 350 spins a 5-speed manual from unstated source. Cond: 4-. SOLD AT $4,400. According to the consignor, this unfinished custom with little info was a Craigslist find. Fortunately here, the seller found a buyer with similar NOT SOLD AT $39,000. Even with flawless presentation, sometimes the right bidder isn’t there to appreciate it. This transporter was a fresh build, and the only flaw was pointed out to me by the owner: some hamhanded attendee bent one of the scissor supports, so the hood wouldn’t open. That’s annoying, but there’s time to fix it since high bid was $10k under reserve. We’ll see this one again. Lucky Collector Car Auctions, Tacoma, WA, 06/13. MOPAR #269-1947 DODGE FLATBED dump truck. VIN: 86503. Red & black/black vinyl. Odo: 87,380 miles. 218-ci I6, 2-bbl, 3-sp. Dull red paint, glossy black front fenders. Heavy-duty winch between cab and woodframed dump box. Six serviceable tires. Original glass delaminating. Right-side wiper missing, perished weather seals. Interior needs deep detailing, but is complete. Hood will not open, undetailed compartment assumed. Painted lettering on doors reads, “San Juan Islands Cannery.” No rust found despite assumed salt-water history. No reserve. Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $4,950. All the big bits were pres102 AmericanCarCollector.com

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ROUNDUP GLOBAL ent with demerits easily overcome with cleaning, new glass, and paint. And it ran toward the block without apparent difficulty. Final bidder stepped up to ownership at what a seemed a reasonable value for condition. Lucky Collector Car Auctions, Tacoma, WA, 06/13. #272-1952 DODGE M-37 military truck. VIN: T453010. Green/gray vinyl. Odo: 64,499 miles. 218-ci I6, 1-bbl, 3-sp. A military-spec weapons carrier with thick, ancient Army Green paint covering everything, including unreadable dash instruments. Grille fashioned from welded rebar. Green overspray on all tires. No top. Ratty interior, vinyl bucket seats baggy. Underhood filthy, tin can covers carburetor. 24-volt electrical system noted. No reserve. Cond: 5. SOLD AT $1,100. Of thousands of vehicles I’ve studied at auctions, this one holds the record for thickest paint. There’s no potential collector value, but the price paid may be worth it for a few needed parts. Lucky Collector Car Auctions, Tacoma, WA, 06/13. #27-1969 CHRYSLER 300 2-dr hard top. VIN: CM23K9C192628. Gold/black vinyl/ white vinyl. Odo: 52,628 miles. 440-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Appears to have original paint, with various nicks and a few small scrapes on its flanks. Good original brightwork. Vinyl roof has some lifting at corners. Newer-era Rally wheels with older radials. Original engine bay with heavy surface rust and no attempt at cleanup. Older aftermarket ignition wiring hurriedly installed; new battery bungee strapped in place. Newer replacement interior soft trim, expertly installed. Dull interior brightwork. Cond: 3. cars, but this was one of the last gasps for the original 300 concept, including a center console and floor shift. Think huge GTX, as they had the same standard 440 engine. However, you get a bulk discount this way. VanDerBrink Auctions, Murdo, SD, 05/13. AMERICANA #289-1914 AMERICAN LAFRANCE 12 fire truck. VIN: 350006. Red/black vinyl. Odo: 7,957 miles. This geriatric pumper presents as neglected, with faded paint, dull brassworks and musty smell. Dirty engine appears complete, various professional accessories missing. Tires dried and cracking. Ladder on left side, hose on right. Righthand drive, shifter outside above running board. Driver’s seat dry and failing. Dash only has oil pressure, amps and speedo. No top. Needs everything. No reserve. Cond: 4-. SOLD AT $8,240. It’s hard to think of these “Fuselage Body” Chryslers as performance September-October 2013 103

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GLOVEBOXNOTES GLOBAL ROUNDUP By John L. Stein 2013 Ford F-150 4x4 SuperCrew Ecoboost pickup GLOBAL ROUNDUP SOLD AT $13,200. This was Seattle’s first motorized fire truck, listed on the city’s inventory as “Apparatus #1.” (#2 was its twin.) Somehow, this historic artifact ended up in the LeMay Collection instead of a Seattle museum. Hopefully, it will receive the full restoration it deserves and be displayed in Seattle where it belongs. Lucky Collector Car Auctions, Tacoma, WA, 06/13. price as tested: $45,345 Equipment: 3.5-liter, 365-horsepower turbocharged V6 with direct injection, 6-speed automatic transmission, shifton-the-fly 4x4 EpA mileage: 15/21 Likes: For cross-country towing trips, I want three primary skills: ample tow capability; interior roominess, comfort and quietness; and good fuel economy. The EcoBoost V6 doesn’t offer the raucous performance of Ford’s Power Stroke diesels, but with 420 lb-ft of torque, it can tow 8,800 pounds, and it accelerates to freeway speeds and up grades without difficulty. The SuperCrew interior is impressively quiet, has comfortable seats, a cavernous 3x5x4-foot rear storage area, and plenty of amenities. And the 14.6-mpg observed fuel economy was at least acceptable. Dislikes: I was hopeful the EcoBoost V6 would return 20 mpg with our relatively small motorcycle trailer in tow, but it didn’t quite happen. It would also be easy to ding the F-150 for its large size, but trucks can’t be targeted simply for being big — because that’s what getting work done often requires. This leaves my only other gripe as the step-up height to the cab and pickup bed, although Ford has mitigated this somewhat with step bars and a clever fold-out tailgate step. Verdict: Owning classic cars, bikes and boats mean you sometimes need a tow vehicle, but the typical 8–10 mpg penance for towing a trailer gets old fast. Enter Ford’s EcoBoost V6. With direct injection and twin-turbocharging, it promises torquey performance together with reasonable thrift. It succeeded in everything except outright fuel economy on our trip to cover The Quail Motorcycle Gathering in Carmel, CA. Fortunately, the seating comfort, interior roominess and quietness are superlative, which made the drive extremely pleasant. Fun to drive: ªªª Fun to look at: ªªª Overall experience: ªªªª ªªªªª is best 104 AmericanCarCollector.com #294-1930 MORELAND pickup. VIN: 157520. Green/black vinyl/black vinyl. Heavily worn paint on cab; cargo area borrowed from a small green fire truck. Lumpy panels in black, box straight, full-length running-boards continue around rear. Windshield broken, failing duct tape on rear of roof, spare tire mounted on left. Engine filthy, “GMC” on intake manifold, wires dangling, rotted fuel line disconnected. Rare example that might be restorable with considerable effort. No reserve. Cond: 5+. original leather back, filthy canvas for one’s bottom. Ancient bald tires hold air. No reserve. Cond: 6. SOLD AT $18,700. This truck reminded me of characters from the movie “Cars,” with its saggy panels and hood askew. Kenworth, a name well-known today, began in Portland, OR, in 1912. Their first truck with an inline six cylinder engine was produced in 1932, and this happens to be one of them still equipped with a 7-speed transmission. A cadre of specialists could bring this one back, but at mind-bending cost. For the price paid here, that may be what’s in this rig’s future. Lucky Collector Car Auctions, Tacoma, WA, 06/13. #262-1935 INTERNATIONAL C1 pickup. VIN: C145764. Rust. Odo: 47,853 miles. 213-ci I6, 1-bbl, 3-sp. Surface rust throughout, some rust-through noted on front fenders. Traces of original green paint found. No glass, interior, headlights, or bumpers. Large gash through steel and into wood on left-rear of cab. Underhood just as rusty as exterior; rusty I-6 engine still there, but hasn’t run for decades. No reserve. Cond: 5-. SOLD AT $1,275. Even Jay Leno may not be aware that Burbank hosted a truck plant, despite the fact that Moreland was “one of the most innovative and important truckproducing firms on the West Coast,” according to the Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805–1942. This example had an original front half and later rear section, so let’s call it a 1930 “hybrid” and move on. Lucky Collector Car Auctions, Tacoma, WA, 06/13. #308-1932 KENWORTH 100 flatbed truck. VIN: 10052. Green & rust/black leather & canvas. Odo: 47,867 miles. A sad-looking stakebed in need of everything. All panels have surface rust replacing original green finish. Wood framing rotted. Lethal-looking cable-operated turn-signal spear on left side of cab. Interior weathered, bench seat has SOLD AT $1,925. An ambitious project or front-yard planter for those living without covenants. Some rat-rodders have spent fortunes replicating patina like this. The stance was already there, and a small block V8 from a Travelall would look appropriate framed amid the warm glow of decay underhood. Bystanders thought it would never sell, but someone caught the vibe and paid nearly two large—which begs the question, “What was he thinking?” Lucky Collector Car Auctions, Tacoma, WA, 06/13. #263-1942 DIAMOND T COE truck. VIN: AA59017. Red/black vinyl. Odo: 55,676 miles. Cab and chassis with dull red paint, black and chipped front bumper, no rust found. Six serviceable tires. Interior dusty but complete, dash brush-painted black some time ago. Windshield cranks open. Large steering wheel is chest-high. Engine compartment dusty, appears original, no leaks. Looks to be a runner, but no verification. No reserve. Cond: 4+. SOLD AT $3,960. This truck was 71 years old, complete and rust-free, thanks to the mild Pacific Northwest climate. And with some effort, it could be made into something

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ROUNDUP GLOBAL Seats replaced with ones from 1970 AMX. Engine bay repainted with poor prep, a/c removed, aftermarket chrome on engine. Owned by ACCer for nine years. Cond: 3-. Paint, brightwork, glass and rubber very good. Cab dusty with cat’s paw prints, clear gauges. Foot button for siren works. Beefy timing chain on floor not explained, but engine starts. Rig seems to drive fine. Some pumper parts missing, as disclosed. No reserve. Cond: 3. purposeful for the 21st century. Last bidder thought the same, and took this rig home at what seemed a most reasonable price for condition. Lucky Collector Car Auctions, Tacoma, WA, 06/13. #43-1969 AMC AMX fastback. VIN: A9M397N341102. Red/black cloth. Odo: 91,329 miles. 390-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Older repaint in non-original color. Bumpers now body-colored (body color bumpers were available only with the “Big Bad” paint option). Dent below passenger’s door handle. Window stainless dull. Plastic grille-surround faded. Windshield cracked, new one included. Dry dash, interior plastic cracked. SOLD AT $16,740. A capable driver, not a show or investment car. Wisely cut loose by seller for a bit less than he was hoping for, but a fair sale considering its modifications and needs. Silver Auctions, Coeur d’Alene, ID, 06/13. #284-1978 SEAGRAVE SR25768 hook & ladder fire truck. VIN: H75200. Red & white/black vinyl. Odo: 50,843 miles. Diesel engine encased in an aluminum box and very clean. In a word: HUGE. Largest fire truck here of 13 offered. Very nice visual condition, fully equipped. SOLD AT $3,410. Could be a parade favorite, a childhood dream fulfilled or both. Here in the Pacific Northwest, perhaps one could water apple trees with the pumper section, then raise the huge ladder to reach every Golden Delicious at harvest time. Whether valued by length or weight, this was the auction’s best buy—and it ran! Lucky Collector Car Auctions, Tacoma, WA, 06/13. A September-October 2013 105 BEST BUY

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The Parts Hunter Chad Tyson Big-money parts and accessories from around the country Favre (four or five times?), Michael Schumacher, etc. Ardun-building king Cotton Werksman built this one for a friend, long after the builder’s glory days, but it wasn’t ever used. It will be the last new one, until the next one comes out. Well sold. # 200934553580—Ardun Ford Flathead V8. 12 photos. Item condition: Rebuilt. eBay, Monterey, CA. “New, never ran, and built on a very rare, absolutely perfect, uncracked virgin 59 “L” block. Four-inch perfect crank, Scat rods, Ross pistons, 3-5/16-inch bore. Balanced and blueprinted. The Orosco-Ferguson upgraded roller-rocker heads are also blueprinted. 5,000-cc S.Co.T. blower is a pristine, original unit that is ready to go using an OroscoItalmeccanica intake with two rebuilt 97s. Joe Hunt vertex magneto ignition. New Centerforce clutch, pressure plate, belts and Ardun exhaust flanges. This is as near a perfect Ardun powerplant that can be obtained. Cotton Werksman is definitely retired and not building any more.” 24 bids. Sold at $47,000. We all love the story in which some guy comes back to give it one last shot for continued glory — Rocky Balboa, Brett # 170—Duesenberg Fuel Pump. 1 photo. Item condition: Used. Bonhams, Greenwich, CT. “Appears nearly complete, three fuel pumps and two manifolds, dirty but sound, good for a restoration.” Sold at $500. I did find a Duesie fuel-pump bellows housing for more than the price of the complete unit here ($592). But that was the only other recently advertised part for a Duesenberg fuel system. This pump setup will make for good table art or take up some space on those shelves in the garage. Well sold. # 281078564744—1969 Dodge Charger/Super Bee/Coronet Dash Assembly. 15 photos. Item condition: Used. eBay, Fairhope, AL. “Original, complete Rallye dash for a 1969 B-body. The gauge cluster has been completely restored, calibrated and polished. Finished in the original black face. The frame has been blasted and painted, with all switches tested. The a/c vents all work as they should, and the upper pad is a super-nice original. Original harness is included. Ready to bolt in. We can add the Tic Toc Tach for an additional charge.” Buy It Now. Sold at $3,499.99. Who doesn’t want a plug-and-play dash when doing a restoration? It’s important to verify the quality of the wiring, however. Rebuilding a dash can be done for cheaper, sure, but how much longer will your car sit there waiting for that to be done? Good buy that would have been even better with the Tic Toc Tach included. 108 AmericanCarCollector.com # 140962941884—1954 Chevrolet Corvette Windshield Assembly. 11 photo. Item condition: Used. eBay, Pendleton, IN. “Complete 1953–55 Corvette windshield assembly. Just removed from a virtual time-capsule 1954 Corvette. It is in unrestored condition but will restore nicely for NCRS or BG judging. Windshield posts are not broken and do not require repair. This assembly is still fitted to the glass. I will ship without the glass unless you want it. The glass is not showquality. These assemblies are getting harder to find and are not reproduced. Get it while you still can.” 11 bids. Sold at $2,600. New glass for 1953–55 models with correct logo and date is available for about $489. The seller is right about these not being produced. I did find a service to restore your frame with new seals, glass, etc. for $2,495 plus shipping. Difficult-to-find part in restorable shape for an American icon equals winning for the bidder (getting one) and seller (getting this price). A

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Showcase Gallery Sell Your Car Here! Includes ACC website listing. Showcase Gallery color photo ad just $66/month ($88 non-subscribers). Text-Only Classified ad just $15/month ($25 non-subscribers) Three ways to submit your ad: Web: Visit americancarcollector.com/classifieds to upload your photo (300 dpi jpg) and text, or text only. Secure online VISA/MC payments. Email: Send photo (300 dpi jpg) and text, or text only, to classifieds@ americancarcollector.com. We will contact you for payment information. Snail mail: ACC Showcase, PO Box 4797, Portland, OR 97208-4797, with VISA/MC or check. 25 words max, subject to editing. Deadline: 1st of each month, one month prior to publication. Advertisers assume all liability for the content of their advertisements. The publisher of American Car Collector Magazine is not responsible for any omissions, erroneous, false and/or misleading statements of its advertisers. GM 1948 Cadillac Series 61 club coupe Black/black. 138,000 miles. V8, 4-spd automatic. Very rare, nearly all original, completely rebuilt, everything works, drives great and wins trophies. Pictures and spec sheet available. $45,000 OBO. Contact Britt, 425.432.1231, Email: britt@ careycreek.com CORVETTE 1967 Chevrolet Corvette 427/435 coupe Elkhart Blue/Elkhart Blue and White. 67,000 miles. V8, 4-spd Advertisers Index American Car Collector ........................88 AuctionAZ.com ...................................109 Auctions America .................................21 Barrett-Jackson ................................9, 11 Bennett Law Office ...............................86 Blue Bars ............................................102 Camaro Central ....................................67 Carlisle Events ......................................34 Charlotte AutoFair ..............................101 Chevs of the 40’s ...............................100 Chubb Personal Insurance ...................31 Classic & Collectible Cars Las Vegas 107 Collector Car Price Tracker ................111 Corvette America ..................................37 110 AmericanCarCollector.com Sunset Orange w/flames/white. 5,000 miles. V8, other. Beautiful all-steel 1929, meticulously put together. Great running. Easy to drive. Great bargain at this price. $30,000. Contact Bill, Old Iron, 520.390.7180, Email: old- Corvette Expo Inc .................................79 Corvette Repair Inc. ...............................7 Corvette Specialties ...........................111 County Corvette .....................................2 Grundy Worldwide ................................39 Hagerty Insurance Agency, Inc. ...........73 Infinity Insurance Companies .............116 Intero Real Estate Services ..................86 Iowa Auto Outlet ............................. 60–61 JC Taylor ..............................................71 Jim Meyer Racing Products Inc. ........111 L.A. Prep ...............................................75 Law Offices of Bruce Shaw ..................22 Leake Auction Company ....................115 Lucky Collector Car Auctions ...............85 Lutty’s Chevy Warehouse ..................105 S/N 6F09C132646. Candy Apple Red/black. 44,150 miles. 302-ci V8, 4-spd automatic. Candy Apple Red, with painted Pearl White stripes and black vinyl interior. Auto trans and Mac Neil Automotive Products Ltd ......87 Mershon’s World Of Cars .....................69 Mid America Auctions ..........................89 Mid America Motorworks ...............35, 77 Mid-Fifty Ford F-100 Parts ...................87 Mustangs Unlimited ...........................106 National Corvette Museum .................113 National Corvette Restorers Society ..103 National Parts Depot ............................25 Outlaw Classic & Exotic Motorcars ....109 Paramount Classic Cars .......................83 Park Place LTD .....................................65 Passport Transport ...............................81 Petersen Collector Car Auction ..........111 Pro-Team Corvette Sales, Inc ..............85 Putnam Leasing ......................................3 manual. I purchased this CA car from my 73-year-old neighbor, who gifted it to her husband 38 years ago. I put 20,000 miles on it. Drivetrain and interior are rebuilt and redone. a/c added and it does not overheat. All it needs to be perfect is a paint job. $85,000. Contact Scott, 925.989.8102, Email: banshee880@comcast.net FOMOCO 1929 Ford roadster pickup Maybe the most original ’50 Ford woodie on the planet. Repainted once, otherwise all original. Original wood, radio, owner’s manual, etc. Runs and drives flawlessly. $65,000. Contact Matt, deGarmo Ltd., 203.852.1670, Email: matt@ deGarmoLtd.com Web: www. deGarmoLtd.com 1965 Ford Thunderbird Landau coupe S/N 5Y87Z122318. Wimbledon White/black vinyl. 18,190 miles. V8, 3-spd automatic. Original miles, one-family-owned since new. Lot of photos; you won’t find another like it, all original. $17,500 OBO. Contact Brian, Buxton Motorsports.com, 812.760.5513, Email: BrianBuxton@BuxtonMotorsports.com Web: www.BuxtonMotorsports. com f1966 Ford Mustang astback ironarizona@gmail.com Web: www.oldironaz.com (AZ) 1950 Ford woodie 1972 302 V8 with 9.5:1 compression, 1964 Hi-Po heads, and built to a very high standard. $29,950. Contact Brian, Buxton Motorsports Inc., 812760-5513, Email: brianbuxton@ buxtonmotorsports.com Web: www.buxtonmotorsports. com/7.php 2005 Ford GT coupe Silver w/white stripe/black. 1,100 miles. V8, 6-spd manual. As-new condition with all books and records. All available options. $233,000 OBO. Contact John, 817.475.8955, Email: jjcouch1@tx.rr.com AMERICANA 1987 AM General M923A1 Military Truck S/N C52308486. Camo/green. 954 miles. I6, 5-spd automatic. Military soft top M923A1 5-ton 6x6 monster cargo truck (rebuilt/refurbished in 2009 by Red River Army Depot.) Unit is in NICE shape, great for a Military Museum, Desert Machine, Be the King of Your Neighborhood. Only 954 MILES! $17,500 OBO. Contact Brent, Military Surplus Liquidation, 714.863.1553, Email: brent@ militarysurplusliquidation.com Web: www.militarysurplusliquidation.com A Reliable Carriers ...................................63 RKM Collector Car Auctions ................59 Russo & Steele LLC........................15, 17 SEMA ....................................................30 Silver Collector Car Auctions ...............23 Specialty Auto Auctions, Inc ..............113 Sports Car Market ..............................113 Street Shop, Inc....................................86 Summit Racing Equipment ...................19 Superior Collector Car Auctions ...........27 The Chevy Store Inc ...........................106 Thomas C Sunday Inc ........................111 V8TV Productions Inc. ..........................81 Vicari Auctions ....................................107 Volo Auto Museum ...............................83 Zip Products .........................................41

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Showcase Gallery 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 2013 111

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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, 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) 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) Classic Car Transport Leake Auctions. 800.722.9942, Join Leake Auction Company as they celebrate 40 years in the collector car auction industry. Their unsurpassed customer service and fast-paced two-lane auction ring makes them a leader in the business. Leake currently operates auctions in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Dallas and San Antonio. Visit them online at www.leakecar.com or call 800.722.9942. Intercity Lines, Inc. 800.221.3936, 413.436.9422. Rapid, hassle-free, coast-tocoast service. Insured enclosed transport for your valuable car at affordable prices. State-of-theart satellite transport tracking. Complete service for vintage races, auctions, relocations. www.intercitylines.com. (MA) American transportation company does it all. www.reliablecarriers. com 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) Lucky Collector Car Auctions. 888.672.0020, Lucky Collector Car Auctions is aptly named after Harold “Lucky” Lemay. Based in the majestic, pastoral ground of Marymount, home to the Lemay Family Collection Foundation near Tacoma, WA, the collection, formerly the biggest in the world according to Guinness, now hosts an unrivaled event center, art collection and charitable foundation, which features two exceptional collector car auctions a year. www. luckyoldcar.com (WA) Mecum Auctions. 262.275.5050, 445 South Main Street, Walworth, WI 53184. Auctions: Anaheim, Kissimmee, Kansas City, Houston, Walworth, Indianapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington Gold, Des Moines, Monterey, Dallas, Chicago. Nobody Sells More Muscle Than Mecum. Nobody. www.mecumauction.com. (WI) Russo and Steele Collector Automobiles. 602.252.2697, 602.252.6260. 5230 South 39th St., Phoenix, AZ 85040. info@russoandsteele.com; www.russoandsteele.com. (AZ) 112 AmericanCarCollector.com Passport Transport. 800.736.0575, Since our founding in 1970, we have shipped thousands of treasured vehicles doorto-door with our fully enclosed auto transporters. Whether your prized possession is your daily driver, a vintage race car, a classic, a ’60s muscle car or a modern exotic, you can depend on Passport Transport to give you the premium service it deserves. We share your appreciation for fine automobiles, and it shows. www.PassportTransport.com. AutoBahn Power. Performance + Looks + Durability + Comfort = Autobahn Power! Autobahn Power is a veteran of vehicle modifications, parts and accessories. Our specialty has been to carry products that are better than original equipment in performance, safety and quality. Our warehouse, service shop and retail store are located in the Midwest for good access to all parts of the USA. We have completed literally hundreds of project cars. These performance vehicles are in enthusiasts’ hands across the USA. Many of the cars are in daily use, proving the durability of our workmanship and products. Check us out at www.autobahnpower.com. Corvette Central 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) Insurance Chubb Collector Car Insurance. 1.866.CAR.9648, The Chubb Collector Car Insurance program provides flexibility by allowing you to choose the agreed value and restoration shop. Broad coverage includes no mileage restrictions and special pricing for large schedules. For more information, contact us at 1(866)CAR-9648 or www.chubbcollectorcar.com. Street Shop, Inc. 256.233.5809. Custom 1953–1982 Corvette replacement chassis and driveline components. www.streetshopinc.com. (AL) Reliable Carriers, Inc. 877.744.7889, As the country’s largest enclosed-auto transport company, Reliable Carriers faithfully serves all 48 contiguous United States and Canada. Whether you’ve entered a concours event, need a relocation, are attending a corporate event or shipping the car of your dreams from one location to another, one 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 C6, only Putnam Leasing. 866.90.LEASE. For over 25 years, Putnam Leasing has been the leader in exotic, luxury, and collector car leasing. This honor comes from Putnam’s unique ability to match the car of your dreams with a lease designed just for you. Every Putnam Lease is written to provide maximum flexibility while conserving capital, lowering monthly payments, and maximizing tax advantages. It’s Putnam’s way of Hagerty Collector Car Insurance. 800.922.4050. Collector cars aren’t like their latemodel counterparts. These classics actually appreciate in value, so standard market policies that cost significantly more won’t do the job. We’ll agree on a fair value and cover you for the full amount. No prorated claims, no hassles, no games. www.hagerty.com. (MI) Leasing

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letting you drive more car for less money. For leases ranging from $50,000 to more than $1 million, with terms extending up to 84 months visit www.putnamleasing. com or call 1.866.90.LEASE. (CT) Museums lived by its motto, “We covet the rare and unusual, whether pedigreed or proletarian.” Absurdly eclectic and proud of it. Find your treasure here, or pass it along to the next generation. www.cosmopolitanmotors.com (WA) LeMay Family Collection Foundation. LeMay Family Collection Foundation at Marymount Events Center near Tacoma, WA, hosts an epic backdrop for your next event. Home to 500 fabulous collector cars, world-class art exhibits, and assorted ephemera, consider your next event here. Weddings, swap meets, conventions, auctions. The facility can likely exceed your expectations. Visit during the 37th annual open house along with 13,000 other enthusiasts. 253.272.2336 www.lemaymarymount.org National Corvette Museum. 80053-VETTE. The National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY, was established as a 501(c)3 notfor-profit foundation with a mission of celebrating the invention of the Corvette and preserving its past, present and future. www.corvettemuseum.com. (KY) Parts—General Cosmopolitan Motors, LLC. 206.467.6531, Experts in worldwide acquisition, collection management, disposition and appraisal. For more than a quarter century, Cosmopolitan Motors has Keith Martin’s Mustangs Unlimited. Since 1976, Mustangs Unlimited is YOUR best source for 1965–present Mustang, 1965–70 Shelby, and 1967–73 Mercury Cougar Parts. Call or visit our website to receive a full-color catalog full of the parts you need with the best prices in the industry. With two fully stocked warehouses, we have the largest “in stock” selection of parts. Visit us online at www.mustangsunlimited.com or join us on Facebook or Twitter for the latest buzz in all things Mustang. Customer Satisfaction is goal #1. Phone: Connecticut 888.398.9898 Georgia 888.229.2929. National Parts Depot. 800.874.7585, We stock huge inventories of concours-correct restoration parts for: 1965–73 and 1979–93 Mustang 1967–81 Camaro & Firebird 1964–72 GTO, Tempest & Lemans 1964–87 Chevelle, Malibu & El Camino 1948–29 and 1980–96 F-Series Ford Truck 1966-96 Bronco 1955-57 Thunderbird Delivery of your parts averages just 1–3 days! www.nationalpartsdepot.com A Sports Car Market The Insider’s Guide to Collecting, Investing, Values, and Trends SUBSCRIBE TO SCM 877.219.2605 Ext. 1 SportsCarMarket.com/subscribe September-October 2013 113 ™

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Surfing Around Carl Bomstead Automobilia on eBay and beyond Carl’s thought: Gas and oil collectors, and there are a bunch of them, have swapmeets that are called Gas Bashes. There are any number of regional events, some having been going on for well over 20 years, but the two biggies take place in Dublin, OH, in June and Des Moines, IA, in early August. Both are well attended, with several hundred vendors offering pumps, signs and just about anything else related to the oil industry. At the recent “Check the Oil” bash June 22 in Ohio, Matthews Auctions offered a portion of an extensive Mobil collection, along with the normal fare of other advertising signs. The Mobil “Flying Red Horse” was one of the most recognized logos ever used, and when a marketing “genius” talked Mobil into changing the famed logo, sales plummeted. Here are a few of the more interesting items that caught my eye as I whiled away the hours following the action on the Net. Prices realized include 18% Internet buyer’s premium. Rating based on 1-10 scale. MATTHEWS AUCTIONS LOT 20—McCOLL-FRONTENAC PRODUCTS 36” PORCELAIN SIGN. Rated: 9.5. SOLD AT: $12,390. The McColl Brothers and Company was founded in the Ontario oil fields of Canada in 1873. It merged with Frontenac in 1927 and was acquired by Texaco in 1938, with the brand phased out in the ’40s. This double-sided sign was in wonderful condition, and anything with an Indian is very desirable. All things considered, this price was not out of line. MATTHEWS AUCTIONS LOT 30—MOBILGAS AIRCRAFT PORCELAIN SHIELD. Rated: 9.5. SOLD AT: $2,655. Mobil produced a couple dozen different shields that went on pumps identifying the various types of fuel offered. This is one of the harder ones to find in decent condition and was close to mint. Sold for a very fair price. Well bought! MATTHEWS AUCTIONS LOT 50—MOBILOIL GARGOYLE “D” MOTORCYCLE PORCELAIN SIGN. Rated: 9. SOLD AT: $4,425. The black outline of the motorcycle rider and the Gargoyle logo add to the allure of this 9x11-inch porcelain sign. It is most likely British and was from Vacuum Oil Company Ltd. These show up every now and then, and this one sold for an aggressive price, but the condition was there, so no worries. 114 AmericanCarCollector.com MATTHEWS AUCTIONS LOT 72—WEED TIRE TIN GAS “PRICER” SIGN. Rated: 7. SOLD AT: $590. This is one of a series of three Weed Tire signs that are all 24x17 inches and woodbacked. In addition to promoting the tire chains, the gas station could set the current price of gasoline. This is the least graphic of the set, and due to the lessthan-favorable condition, it sold for about a quarter of what one in excellent condition would go for. MATTHEWS AUCTIONS LOT 70—SINCLAIR AIRCRAFT 48-INCH DOUBLESIDED PORCELAIN SIGN. Rated: 8. SOLD AT: $8,260. This is one of the more collectible gas and oil signs, and this one was in very acceptable condition except for a bullet hole right in the center of the sign. Would hazard a guess that the hole brought the value down by at least $4,000. MATTHEWS AUCTIONS LOT 189—MOBILOIL SHIELD WITH GARGOYLE AND PEGASUS LOGOS. Rated: 9.75. SOLD AT: $4,130. This porcelain sign was as good as it gets. It was in perfect condition and it was certainly unusual with both logos. The Gargoyle was adopted in 1904 as a trademark for the Vacuum Oil Company and the Pegasus logo was used in the U.S. after they merged with Standard of New York in 1932. This was obviously used in the 1932 period as they transitioned to the new badging.A