September-October 2015 - American Car Collector

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CAR COLLECTOR Volume 4 • Issue 23 • September-October 2015 The Scoop: Profiles CORVETTE 1954 CHEVROLET CORVETTE CUSTOM $160k / Russo and Steele What would you do with an early Corvette body? — John L. Stein Page 46 GM 1974 CHEVROLET CAMARO NICKEY STAGE III $94k / Mecum Nickey’s final L88 Camaro garners a super price — Patrick Smith Page 48 FoMoCo 1963 FORD GALAXIE 500 LIGHTWEIGHT $238k / Mecum Factory racer brings a hefty figure on the auction block — Tom Glatch Page 50 MOPAR 1967 DODGE CORONET R/T 440 $35k / Auctions America Serious performer at a bargain price — Tom Glatch Page 52 AMERICAN ™ 6 AmericanCarCollector.com Keith Martin's

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CUSTOM 1939 FORD MODEL 91A DELUXE COUPE $77k / Bonhams A cool, ready-to-drive coupe finds a new home — Ken Gross Page 54 AMERICANA RACE 1978 CHECKER CAB $7,700 / Bonhams Is this just a clapped-out cab or a piece of American history? — Jeff Zurschmeide Page 56 1966 FORD MUSTANG SCCA A/SEDAN GROUP 2 $135k / Mecum Mustang with the heart of a Shelby brings market money — Sam Stockham Page 58 TRUCK 1980 JEEP CJ-5 WRANGLER RENEGADE $18k / Auctions America What’s a great classic Jeep worth in the rising 4x4 market? — Jay Harden Page 60 Cover photo: 1974 Chevrolet Camaro Nickey Stage III David Newhardt, courtesy of Mecum Auctions 1967 Dodge Coronet R/T 440, p. 52 Courtesy of Auctions America September-October 2015 7

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The Rundown EXPERTS’ COLUMNS 10 Torque What is a real muscle car? — Jim Pickering 38 Cheap Thrills 1982–84 Dodge Rampage and 1983 Plymouth Scamp — B. Mitchell Carlson 40 Horsepower A little legwork can reveal a lot about the history of your car — Colin Comer 42 Corvette Market How to decide what to change — and not change — on your Corvette — John L. Stein 130 Surfing Around Must-have automobilia — Carl Bomstead AUCTIONS 64 Mecum — 28th Original Spring Classic Totals break $40m, and 835 cars sell out of 1,286 at this annual mega-sale — B. Mitchell Carlson 74 Leake — Tulsa 2015 A 1970 Dodge Hemi Challenger R/T makes $165k, leading totals to $11.6m, and 513 of 689 cars hammer sold — Andy Staugaard 84 Russo and Steele — Newport Beach Sales jump 74% to $7.4m, and 173 of 343 cars go home to new garages — Wally Marx 94 Silver — The Theodore Merickel Collection 88 cars sell without reserve for $1.2m in rural Minnesota — B. Mitchell Carlson 106 Roundup American vehicles from coast to coast — Daren Kloes, Dan Grunwald, John Boyle 8 AmericanCarCollector.com FUN RIDES 22 Good Reads Ford Bronco: An Illustrated History — Mark Wigginton 24 Desktop Classics 1965 Shelby GT350 R “Charlie Kemp” — Marshall Buck 26 Snapshots Up close with ACM’s David Madeira — Jim Pickering 32 Feature: Muscle Car Verification 101 A look at the specialists who can tell you if that LS6 or Hemi is real — Dale Novak SERV DEPA 12 What’s Car events of note 14 Crossing the Block Upcoming auctions and highlighted star cars 22 Parts Time Cool parts to keep your car on the road 24 Cool Stuff Plywood kit car, portable impact driver, gas-pump drink dispenser, and the fastest knife of all 70 Glovebox Notes 2015 Ford Mustang Convertible Premium 82 Quick Take 1972 Chevrolet El Camino SS 454 — Alec Ebert 83 Quick Take 1974 Chevrolet Vega Kammback wagon — Chad Tyson 120 One to Watch 1998–2002 Pontiac Trans Am WS6 and Special Editions — Chad Tyson 122 The Parts Hunter Rare parts and pieces on the market 124 Showcase Gallery Sell your car in ACC’s classifieds section 126 Resource Directory Get to know our advertisers 127 Advertiser Index

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Torque Jim Pickering What is a Real Muscle Car? JUST BECAUSE SOMETHING LOOKS RIGHT DOESN’T MEAN IT IS RIGHT D uring the early 2000s, I worked at an auto shop on a busy street. And because I was outside a lot, I saw all kinds of crazy things. Once I watched a confused lady in a Toyota drive right up the middle of a telephone pole guy-wire. Another time, a hit-and-run 5.0 Mustang convertible left its front plate at the scene of the crime. One of my co-workers handed it to the cops when they arrived. “Here,” he said, “you’re looking for the one that matches this.” But to me, the best sights were the old cars. I saw plenty of classic trucks, Chevelles, Camaros, Firebirds, Mopars and more. But at the top of the list was something that appeared just twice over six years. It was a ’68 Shelby GT500 convertible, both times carrying two blue-haired old ladies to the restaurant across the street. From my vantage point, I could see that it still had its factory hubcaps, and that its gold paint was chalkboard-faded. The top was down both times, giving a glimpse at its period-stock interior. Even though I never got very close to that car, I was convinced it was the real deal. After all, little old ladies don’t drive Shelbys unless they’ve had them for 40 years, right? It’s easy to imagine it spending a lifetime hidden away in a little garage with curtains on the windows, coming out only for special occasions and lunch with Agnes. SS or not an SS? Compare that to the car I was working on at the time — a 1971 Chevelle my boss bought as a starting point for an SS clone. I thought it was worth about $1,500, but it cost him twice that. On a rainy night about two years earlier, my high school friend Tony brought that very car by my house. The seller had him convinced the car was an SS with a 396 even though there was a small block under the hood. It had deafening two-chamber mufflers and turndowns, and the carburetor liked to catch fire. Black SS tape stripes sat crooked over the hood, and its blue paint was inches thick and star-cracked everywhere. Tony’s car-guy friends, my dad (who bought a ’70 SS 454 LS6 Chevelle new), and I all questioned whether or not that thing wore its SS stripes legitimately. He passed on the deal after that, and after putting out 10 AmericanCarCollector.com If it looks like an SS, drives like an SS and rumbles like an SS — bad news, it still might not be an SS the carburetor with his shirt for the third or fourth time. Now, two years later, I was staring at this same car again, and it was my job to tear it apart to be rebuilt. The thing was seriously ratty, looking like it had probably gone around the world twice. But as I got a better look at it, this time in daylight, a couple of things stood out. First was a round-pod dash with a 5,500- rpm redline tach, and second was the 12-bolt rear end, sway bar and factory-boxed rear control arms — something I hadn’t noticed the last time I’d seen it. I was blown away. All of a sudden, this ratty old Chevelle I’d written off as a clone was starting to look like it might be a real SS big-block car. My boss, impressed with his luck, had it finished as an SS with a 402, Cranberry Red paint, black stripes and a 4-speed. But I don’t think he ever did verify it as a legit SS. The proof’s in the verification If there’s one theme that runs through every issue of ACC — especially this one, with our muscle car verification piece on p. 32 — it’s the notion of the “real” muscle car. In our world of values, nothing makes more of a difference in the final dollar amount on a car than proof it was special from day one. The trouble is, finding that proof can be challenging, and many buyers still tend to rely on what they see rather than what they can prove. Sometimes that works out just fine, but sometimes it doesn’t. Fortunately, as the market for old American muscle has grown, so too has the need for high-dollar cars to be properly vetted before being bought or sold. After all, a real-deal ’65 396 Corvette is worth a lot more in the market today than a 327 car that got a 396 Impala engine transplant in the 1980s. That means buyers have access to more information and experts than ever before, and that applies to pretty much every make and model. From basic information through hands-on inspections, it’s all available, and on big-money cars, the price paid for that info is always worth it. That ’71 Chevelle was a good lesson in things not necessarily always being what they seem, and as for that GT500, I still think it was probably real. But it’s just as possible that the little old lady driver was an expert in building her own fiberglass Shelby parts in that little curtained garage. After all, I’ve seen crazier things. A

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WHAT’SHAPPENING Let us know about your events Do you know of American-car-related events or happenings that we should publicize? Contact us at: American Car Collector, P.O. Box 4797, Portland, OR 97208 or online at comments@ americancarcollector.com. Courtesy of Mid America Motorworks The Biggest Corvette Party of the Year The 22nd Annual Corvette Funfest rumbles to life on September 17 in Effingham, IL, and Shelby Cobra: The Snake That Conquered The World Colin Comer, Editor at Large for American Car Collector, has published Shelby Cobra: The Snake that Conquered the World. Comer, one of the world’s authorities on all things Shelby, has written a complete history of Shelby Cobras — including street, race and continuation cars. The book also covers the people behind the car — and features Carroll Shelby tributes from Chuck Cantwell, John Morton, Henry Ford III and others. The 272-page book is stuffed with 246 color and 142 black-andwhite photos. Comer also is the author of The Complete Book of Shelby Automobiles: Cobras, Mustangs and Super Snakes, Shelby Cobra Fifty Years, Shelby Mustang Fifty Years, Million-Dollar Muscle Cars and Shelby: Cobra Mustang GT40. Cross Carlisle Off Your Bucket List Combine 150 acres with 8,100 stalls crammed to the sky with car parts, engines and automobilia and you have the Fall Carlisle Collector Car Swap Meet & Corral from September 30 through October 4. Thousands of gearheads make the pilgrimage to Carlisle, PA, each year. Bring the family, so they can help you carry out parts or choose a new ride. Carlisle’s collector car auction is on October 1–2. Admission is $10 from Wednesday through Saturday, and only $7 on Sunday. An event pass is available for $30. www.carsatcarlisle.com (PA) 12 AmericanCarCollector.com A Duesie of a Week The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival kicks off on August 30 and runs through September 7, with events including a swapmeet, mini beer tents, car shows and a historic tour. There is something for everyone at this automotive event for the entire family. For a full list of events, visit www. acdfestival.org (IN) Courtesy of Charlotte AutoFair the party runs through September 20. Those four days — and nights — include cruises, seminars, concerts, a giant Corvette sale corral, a swapmeet, concerts, parties and off-the-hook burnouts. If you’re a Corvette fan, kiss summer goodbye in a haze of hot exhaust and melted rubber. For more information, visit www.corvettefunfest.com (IL) Gearhead Extravaganza at Charlotte The Charlotte AutoFair — a massive festival of 9,500 vintage-parts sellers, a 1,600-car sale corral, car shows, car club gatherings and car exhibits — fills up the massive Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, NC, and spills onto the surrounding parking areas from September 24 through 27. www.charlotte-autofair.com (NC)A

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CROSSINGTHE Auctions America — Auburn Fall Where: Auburn, IN When: September 2–6 Last year: 715/1,047 cars sold / $25.4m • 1924 Ahrens-Fox fire truck ($180k– More: www.auctionsamerica.com J convertible coupe by Murphy ($1.5m–$1.75m) Featured cars: • 1962 Chevrolet Bel Air 409 “Bubbletop” (Auctions America estimate: $80k– $110k) $200k) Star Car: 1929 Duesenberg Model Star Car: 1929 Duesenberg model J convertible coupe by murphy at Auctions America Fall Auburn Worldwide — The Auburn Auction Where: Auburn, IN When: September 5 Last year: 73/84 cars sold / $6m Last year: 767/1,135 cars sold / $31.4m Featured cars: • 1968 Chevrolet Camaro resto-mod. With LS1 and RideTech suspension • 1967 Chevrolet Corvette 427/435 More: www.mecum.com More: www.worldwide-auctioneers.com Silver Where: Sun Valley, ID When: September 5–6 More: www.silverauctions.com Electric Garage — Red Deer Fall Finale Where: Red Deer, AB, CAN When: September 11–12 More: www.theelectricgarage.com Dan Kruse Classics — Hill Country Classic Where: Austin, TX When: September 12 Last year: 81/192 cars sold / $1.3m More: www.dankruseclassics.com Mecum Where: Dallas, TX When: September 16–19 14 AmericanCarCollector.com Star Car: 1970 plymouth ’Cuda 440 Six pack with 5,644 miles at mecum, Dallas, tX 289 Dragonsnake. One of four 289 Dragonsnakes built. All-original body and frame. One of the winningest Cobras known, with extensive racing history Star Car: 1965 Shelby Cobra coupe. With factory sidepipes Star Car: 1970 Plymouth ’Cuda 440 Six Pack. 5,644 miles Tom Mack Auctions — Big Thursday Where: Charlotte, NC When: September 24 More: www.tommackclassics.com Tennessee barn find Barrett-Jackson Where: Las Vegas, NV When: September 24–26 Last year: 704/706 cars sold / $33.3m Upcoming auctions (Images are courtesy of the respective auction houses unless otherwise noted) September BLOCK by Tony Piff Featured cars: • Two 1967 Ford Mustangs with S-code 390 and 4-speed. One GT fastback, one convertible, no reserve, from local estate Star Car: 1959 Pontiac Catalina convertible. One-family-owned Featured cars: • 1965 Shelby GT350. Licensed continuation model with all-aluminum 427 V8, highly modified steering and suspension, four-wheel disc brakes and performance rubber on custom Foose wheels More: www.barrett-jackson.com • 1974 Pontiac Trans Am 455 Super Duty. Three-owner car with two build sheets, original owner’s manual, warranty booklet and copy of window sticker from PHS. Less than 9,500 actual miles

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CROSSINGTHEBLOCK Petersen Where: Salem, OR When: October 10 More: www.petersencollectorcars.com The Branson Auction Where: Branson, MO When: October 16–17 Last year: 117/200 cars sold / $2.8m More: www.bransonauction.com Dragone — Fall 2015 Auction Where: Westport, CT When: October 17 More: www.dragoneclassic.com Star Car: 1974 pontiac trans Am 455 Super Duty at barrett-Jackson Las Vegas G. Potter King Where: Atlantic City, NJ When: September 25–26 More: www.acclassiccars.com Silver Where: Portland, OR When: September 25–26 Last year: 55/102 cars sold / $605k More: www.silverauctions.com VanDerBrink — The Grant Quam Collection Where: Boone, IA When: September 26 • 1920 Peerless Model 56 roadster. Highly optioned preservation-class original, formerly in the Harrah Collection When: October 2–3 More: www.smithsauctioncompany.com Bonhams — Preserving the Automobile Where: Philadelphia, PA When: October 5 Last year: 47/60 cars sold / $3.8m More: www.bonhams.com RM Sotheby’s Where: Hershey, PA When: October 8–9 Last year: 157/169 cars sold / $13.9m More: www.sothebys.com Featured cars: • 1913 Studebaker Model 25A tourer. A national award winner Vicari — Cruisin’ the Coast Where: Biloxi, MS When: October 8–10 More: www.vicariauction.com Mecum — Chicago 2015 Where: Schaumburg, IL When: October 8–10 Last year: 576/930 cars sold / $15m More: www.mecum.com Specialty Auto Auctions — Larimer County Fairgrounds (The Ranch) Fall 2015 Where: Loveland, CO When: October 17 More: www.saaasinc.com VanDerBrink — The Harvey Bish Collection Where: Aurora, NE When: October 17 More: www.vanderbrinkauctions.com Auctions America Where: Hilton Head Island, SC When: October 31, 2015 More: www.auctionsamerica.com Featured lots: • 1980 Ford Mustang GT Enduro prototype (Auctions America estimate: $45k–$60k) Star Car: 1957 Ford Thunderbird F-code ($175k–$225k) Collector Car Productions — The Toronto Fall Classic Car Auction Where: Toronto, ON, CAN When: October 31–November 1 More: www.collectorcarproductions.comA More: www.vanderbrinkauctions.com OCtOber Speedster. Documented back to original owner Smith’s Auction Company Where: Cape Girardeau, MO 16 AmericanCarCollector.com Star Car: 1957 Ford thunderbird F-code at Auctions America, Hilton Head, SC Star Car: 1925 Kissel Gold Bug

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Publisher’s Note Keith Martin Madeira. I’ve known David since long before the first concrete was poured for the museum. He’s bright, personable, and above all else, driven. Driven to assemble a good board of directors, driven to attract and nurture a first-rate staff, and driven to keep America’s Car Museum on track now and in the future. Without people who care, we wouldn’t have museums that both I celebrate our automotive heritage and that also find new ways to introduce and attract the youth of today to these machines that we are so fond of. In this issue you’ll also read about those experts who spend their days decoding collectible automobiles. Kevin Marti, Galen Govier, Jerry MacNeish, Roy Sinor and other experts will dig deep into a car to determine how it was when it left the factory. Is the engine correct to the car? Is the chassis tag original or a replacement? Has the color been changed? As the values of special cars continue to rise, it is of increasing importance that you know exactly what you are buying. No one has ever complained to me about paying too much for a car that was exactly as represented. But you will hear bitter tales from those who thought they were purchasing one thing (such as a 1965 K-code 289 Mustang) and found out they had gotten another (a car born with a 6-cylinder and an automatic transmission that had been cleverly “upgraded”). Verification of the authenticity of a car has become an essential part of our hobby. Dale Novak takes us all behind the scenes to talk with these men, and learn what they see when they are looking at a car — for you. A Building the Future ’ve been on the board of LeMay—America’s Car Museum, for over a decade. I have watched as it has gone from what seemed like a crazy dream to one of the two most prominent automotive institutions — along with the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles — west of the Mississippi. In this issue, Jim Pickering interviews the CEO of ACM, David CAR COLLECTOR Volume 4, Number 5 September-October 2015 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 Senior Associate editor Chad Tyson Copy editors Yael Abel, Dave Tomaro Auction Analysts Andy Staugaard Dan Grunwald Pat Campion Jeremy Da Rosa Adam Blumenthal Michael Leven Cody Tayloe Joe Seminetta Daren Kloes Contributors Carl Bomstead Colin Comer John Draneas Michael Pierce Jay Harden Mark Wigginton Information technology Brian Baker Lead Web Developer Scott Correy SeO Consultant Michael Cottam Advertising and events manager Erin Olson Financial manager Cheryl Ann Cox print media buyer Wendie Martin ADVertISINg SALeS Advertising executives Darren Frank darren.frank@AmericanCarCollector.com 877.219.2605 x 214 Cindy Meitle cindy.meitle@AmericanCarCollector.com 877.219.2605 x 213 Steve Kittrell steve.kittrell@AmericanCarCollector.com 877.219.2605 x 211 SubSCrIptIONS Subscriptions manager Meredith Volk 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 Travis Shetler Jack Tockston Mark Moskowitz Phil Skinner John Boyle Doug Schultz Pierre Hedary Wallace Marx B. Mitchell Carlson Ken Gross Tom Glatch John L. Stein Marshall Buck Dale Novak AMERICAN JOIN US Chad Tyson go inside one of the country’s premier automotive museums, p. 26 18 AmericanCarCollector.com American Car Collector magazine (ISSN# 2164-1323) is published bimonthly by Automotive Investor Media Group, 401 NE 19th Street, Suite 100, Portland, OR 97232. pOStmASter: Send address changes to American Car Collector, PO Box 4797, Portland, OR 97208. The information in American Car Collector magazine is compiled from a variety of reliable sources. However, we disclaim and deny any responsibility or liability for the timeliness, use, interpretation, accuracy and completeness of the information presented. All material, data, formats, and intellectual concepts in this issue © 2015 by American Car Collector, LLC, Automotive Investor Media Group, Inc., and Automotive Investor in this format and any other used by American Car Collector magazine. Copyright registered with the United States copyright office. PRINTED IN USA Keith Martin's

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YOUR TURN Tell us what’s on your mind Price of a 409? I am a subscriber to American Car Collector. I enjoy the magazine, and I also enjoy watching “What’s My Car Worth?” As part of my subscription, I recently received the Pocket Price Guide. Like everyone else, I guess, the first thing I did was look for my particular collector car... unfortunately, without success. I have a 1965 Impala SS convertible. It’s a numbers-matching 409 car with factory 4-speed. The car is triple white, 83,000 miles. It has PS, PB and PW — also an AM/ FM radio. Anyway, I can find a listing for a 1965 Impala with the 396 engine, but not the 409. Can you help? — Stephen Gerbic, Murrieta, CA Senior Associate Editor Chad Tyson responds: Thanks for the note, Stephen. That’s quite the rare beast you’ve got there. Chevrolet only installed the 409 in the updated Impala for a brief window early in the 1965 model-year run. That run totaled 2,828 SS Impalas, divided by 26% for the 400-hp high-performance L31 option and 74% for the standard 340-hp L33 big block. Considering the SS 409 was a mere 1.2% of the 1965 SS production run, and Chevy made 57,292 396-equipped cars, there’s little wonder that few pricing publications list your car. Few 1965 SS 409 convertibles come to sale, so direct, current-market comparables are spotty. Mecum sold one at Indy for $37k (see Market Report, p. 66), but that’s it for this year. Using our Price Guide as a starting point, we can figure out a ballpark estimate for a #2 SS 409 convertible. We list a 1965 SS convertible at $22,000– $32,000. If we add the 20% premium we usually see for the SS 396 options, that brings us up to $26,400–$38,400. But I don’t see that as a good indication for the market value of your car. We note a 30% increase for the previous generation (1961–64) Impalas with the 409. Using that instead of the SS 396 premium gives us a range of $28,600–$41,600, which I’d consider more reasonable. Let’s not forget the 4-speed factor, which we list at a 15%–25% premium. At max value there, that would boost our valuation to a $35,750–$52,000 range. That doesn’t take into account condition, mileage and other options, but hopefully it gives you a starting place. Look for your car to be listed in the next ACC Pocket Price Guide update, available digitally in early October. 20 AmericanCarCollector.com Courtesy of Auctions America 1974 Stutz blackhawk — where’s the love? ZR-1s at auction? I enjoy your magazine and the coverage of the various auctions. I was disappointed, though, in your coverage of the Mecum Kansas City auction, where a number of ZR-1 Corvettes came across the block. You made no mention of this, nor whether the closing bids were an indication of the cars’ values. — Edward Ryan, Columbus, NJ Auctions Editor Tony Piff responds: Time and space limitations mean we can’t inspect, photograph and feature in print every car offered for sale, Edward. However, the ACC Premium Auction Database shows full results for pretty much every collector car auction, including 310 ZR-1 sales since 2006. Since 2010, prices have hung in the $20k–$40k range, which lines right up with the five ZR-1s at KC. Values don’t appear to be going up, but they’re not going down, either. Valuing the Stutz The article in the August 2015 issue by Jay Harden about the Stutz Blackhawk is appalling in its ridicule of the car as a collectible. The author must have been given an assignment to find some auction result and ridicule the outcome.... “Tear down some vehicle, any vehicle, to make the magazine look objective.” He certainly beat on the car and the auction, but where is the objectivity? He starts the article stating the many excellent reasons to own the Stutz as a collectible: design by Ghia, very limited production, hand-built in Italy, 425 hp, luxurious, celebrity lineage galore, etc. All good reasons to own the car. Then he goes on paragraph after paragraph belittling the design, the luxury, the uniqueness, and complaining that although the car is based on a Pontiac Grand Prix, it achieved a sales price of $49,500. Yet in the same issue of ACC, it is ap- parently perfectly okay if a 1958 Cadillac that had been slightly modified brought in $324,500, and a pedestrian 1957 Pontiac Bonneville brought $209,000. Even a highproduction Oldsmobile 98 sold for $187,000, and a humble 1970 Dodge Dart went for $170,500. Where is the objectivity relative to the Stutz? The Stutz is closer to the Cadillac, if anything, yet the author bashes the car and the auction, perhaps because he prefers muscle cars. — Harry J. Benedict, via email Jay Harden responds: Thanks for your letter, Harry. First, let me be clear: I can assure you that I’ve never been assigned an auction or vehicle to ridicule for the sake of objectivity. That’s just not what we do. I disagree with your assertion that the Stutz belongs in a conversation alongside the 1958 Cadillac Biarritz “Raindrop” prototype for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the respective dollar amounts required to drive each one home. Evaluating transactions based on the current and future state of the market is the primary focus of our work here, and the conversation on the Stutz had to be shaped by the $50,000 that exchanged hands for its ownership. When compared to the enormous sums you’ve referenced in your letter, $50k may seem like a number not worth losing sleep over. However, that number is significantly higher than the average we’ve seen on the Stutz up to this point, so, in that context, I had to put the iron to the fire. Let me also be clear that I understand that, at the end of the day, monetary value has little to do with personal affinity. Am I a fan of the Stutz? No. But that really is, I promise you, irrelevant to our argument. Until we see more no-history Stutz Blackhawks sell for $50k at auction, I’ll stick with my analysis. But as always, the market speaks loudest, and I’m listening.A Contact us at: American Car Collector, P.O. Box 4797, Portland, OR 97208 or online at comments@americancarcollector.com

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GOODREADS by Mark Wigginton Ford Bronco: An Illustrated History by Paul McLaughlin, Enthusiast Books, 128 pages, $25.08, Amazon My first experience with a Bronco was in central Missouri, way back in college (Nixon was hanging on to his office). My news photographer buddy Len knocked at the door, let’s just say well after he should have. “Blues?” he said, holding a sixer of Pabst Blue Ribbon, and not ironically. “Let’s go for a ride.” It was high summer, and I walked out to this thing: deep blue, boxy, high off the ground and utilitarian. It was the first Bronco I had seen. Covered in the remains of suicidal bugs and red mud, it looked dangerous. “Cool, let’s go.” The only thing this sports-car guy recognized at a genetic level was the lack of any roof. With the promise of bugs in our teeth, off we went for several hours of bashing through underbrush along dirt roads, finally winding up at an abandoned quarry for an early morning swim. It’s like I was channeling Ford’s marketing of the new Bronco. Ford, in their advertising, positioned the Bronco as an all-purpose vehicle and a new kind of sports car, aimed at the same youth market that had made the Mustang an instant hit. Check, check, check. Paul McLaughlin revisits the history of the brand in Ford Bronco, from groundbreaking attempts to beat Jeep at their own game, through the inevitable, ever larger and more luxurious years to the bitter end. It’s a tale told mostly in photos, of barn-find Broncos to trailer queens to hot-rodded off-road beasts. McLaughlin adds in lots of advertising, spec sheets, build lists and more for the folks who might be thinking about buying a runner or a restoration project — there are even models and toy collectibles. Whether you are looking for a basic 6-cylinder 1966 with cut-down doors and folding windshield, or a fully loaded ’90s-era Eddie Bauer Edition with a 5-liter V8, Ford Bronco walks you through the history and the options with the ease of a jaunt down a dirt road on a warm summer night. PARTSTIME by Chad Tyson Cr Spotless Car-Wash System How many of us would trust air-drying a high-gloss black car? How many have unintentionally done just that, say after washing the car on a hot day, in the sun, and ended up with a bunch of water spots? When we see water spots, we’re looking at dissolved solids that remain after the water evaporates. CR Spotless’ de-ionized water- filtration system promises to give you a faster, better, spotless wash each time. De-ionizing water removes a significant amount of dissolved solids (calcium, magnesium, potassium, etc.). Fewer minerals mean fewer water spots. No drying means more time to actually enjoy the vehicle. Superspecial bonus? No more micro scratches from chamois or towels. Prices range from $299.99 for the medium-output (approximately 150 gallons) wall-mounted system up to $449.99 for the high-output (approximately 300 gallons) rolling system (pictured here). Visit crspotless.com or call 1-800-350-9993. 22 AmericanCarCollector.com Lineage: Paul McLaughlin has been writing about all things Ford for more than 30 years, from pickups to station wagons, and he knows his way around the history of the Blue Oval. His love of Broncos started 50 years ago with his first taste of off-roading in a 289 Bronco. Fit and finish: This is less a coffee-table book and more like a long-read magazine special edition, with acceptable printing and basic design, essentially following the fit and finish of an original Bronco. Drivability: In a folksy and simple style, McLaughlin introduces the uninitiated to the joys of the Bronco. It’s not much more than an introduction and overview, with no in-depth, behindthe-scenes stories about how it all came about. However, it is a fine meet-and-greet with a vehicle that helped create a market where one hadn’t existed before. is best New products to modernize your street machine Classic Industries’ 2015 mopar Catalog Classic Industries has earnestly ramped up their repop and aftermarket Mopar offerings over the past couple of years. The 2015 Mopar Parts and Accessories Catalog is 552 pages crammed full of the best and newest parts to put on your 1961–76 A-, B- and E-body cars. They’ve got nearly all of it: from 1969 A-body Coachman grain visors to 1974 B- and E-body tailpipe hangers and all the bits and pieces in between. As a parts company, Classic Industries offers over 150,000 different parts for a wide swath of American makes and models. Go to classicindustries. com or call 1-855-35PARTS (72787) to order your free catalog.

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COOLSTUFF MAX Power in Your Hand If you’ve ever wrenched on a car, you’ve come across a bolt that just won’t budge. Maybe it’s a lug nut that’s too tight, or a suspension component that hasn’t been apart in 30 years — regardless, you need power to get it loose, otherwise your project is dead in your driveway. The solution to that problem used to be a heavy-duty air compressor and a pneumatic impact wrench. But DeWalt’s new 20V MAX brushless impact drivers skip the air lines, giving you 1,200-ft-lbs of breakaway torque and long life from 20-volt lithium ion batteries. They’re available in three drive sizes, including half-inch, feature three speeds for great control, and come with an LED work light to ill you’re doing. They pack a real punch for their seven-pound weig you can take it places air lines don’t reach. Pack one with you on that long trek to Hot August Nights or t Dream Cruise and be ultra-prepared for roadside flat repairs. Pri $229 to $499. Get it at www.dewalt.com. Plywood Goods The build- it-yourself Flatworks PlyFly go-kart arrives in three boxes: one for the engine, one for the hardware, and one for the 13-ply Baltic Birch plywood structure. You supply the gas. Assembly takes about a day and requires only the most basic tools: hammer, power screwdriver, Allen wrenches, two crescent wrenches and sandpaper. The 2-hp kit ($790) is rated for up to 125 pounds and 17 mph. The 4-hp ($885) carries 135 pounds up to 25 mph. Both feature rack-and-pinion steering, a disc brake, and a smartphone mount for onboard video. The wooden parts are fabricated in Rhode Island. www.theflatworks.com. COOLSTUFF COOLSTUFF COOLSTUFF UFF MAX Power in Your Hand If you’ve ever wrenched on a car, you’ve come across a bolt that j STUFF MAX Power in Your Hand If you’ve ever wrenched on a car, you’ve come across a bolt that just won’t budge. Maybe it’s a lug nut that’s too tight, or a suspension component that hasn’t been apart in 30 years — regardless, you need power to get it loose, other- wise your project is dead in your driveway. The solution to that problem used to be a heavy-duty air compressor and a pneumatic impact wrench. But DeWalt’s new 20V MAX brushless impact driv- ers skip the air lines, giving you 1,200-ft-lbs of breakaway torque and long life from 20-volt lithium ion batteries. They’re available in three drive sizes, including half-inch, feature three speeds for great control, and come with an LED work light to ill you’re doing. They pack a real punch for their seven-pound weig you can take it places air lines don’t reach. Pack one with you on that long trek to Hot August Nights or t Dream Cruise and be ultra-prepared for roadside flat repairs. Pri $229 to $499. Get it at www.dewalt.com. Plywood Goods The build- it-yourself Flatworks PlyFly go-kart arrives in three boxes: one for the engine, one for the hard- ware, and one for the 13-ply Baltic Birch plywood structure. You supply the gas. Assembly takes about a day and requires only the most basic tools: hammer, power screwdriver, Allen wrenches, two crescent wrenches and sandpaper. The 2-hp kit ($790) is rated for up to 125 pounds and 17 mph. The 4-hp ($885) carries 135 pounds up to 25 mph. Both fea- ture rack-and-pinion steering, a disc brake, and a smartphone mount for onboard video. The wooden parts are fabricated in Rhode Island. www.theflatworks.com. that that looks like a bottle opener) catches the pocket’s inside seam. By the time the knife is out, it’s already locked open, ready for action. The Emerson Snubby is a serious tactical knife with a full-sized 4.8-inch handle, but the 2.7-inch blade complies with knife laws pretty much everywhere. Check your local regulations to be sure. Made in the U.S.A. $208–$217 from www.bladehq.com. DESKTOPCLASSICS by Marshall Buck 1965 Shelby gt350 r “Charlie Kemp” No self-respecting Shelby collector should be without one of these models; it represents the “winningest” Shelby to put rubber to the road. Driven by Charlie Kemp, it garnered 32 wins from 1968 to 1970, 17 of which were straight victories. It also set 16 lap records, along with holding the record for being the fastest 289-powered Shelby ever. ACME Trading has produced this limited-run model in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the GT350. Older tooling was revived with various upgrades and details. The only giveaway to the age are the “dog-leg” door hinges, painted flat gray to match the rest of the Spartan race cockpit. All the basics are there, along with engine, but minimally detailed. Fit and finish is very good, but corners were cut inside and out on fine detailing. Nonetheless, this is worth making space for in your collection. 24 AmericanCarCollector.com Detailing Scale: 1:18 Available colors: White with blue stripes Quantity: 996 Price: $134.95 Production date: 2015 Web: www.acmediecast.com Ratings Detailing: ½ Accuracy: Overall quality: Overall value: is best by Tony Piff and Jim Pickering Party at the Pump Top off your tank with this miniature gas-pump drink dispenser. The pumps are made of chromeplated steel, and the reservoir holds up to 32 ounces of your beverage of choice. $29.97 from www.genuinehotrod. com.

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SNAPSHOTS Building America’s Courtesy of LeMay Museum David madeira, CeO of the Lemay—America’s Car museum, met with ACC to discuss the museum’s past and future CEO DAVID MADEIRA DISCUSSES CARS, COLLECTING, AND HOW MUSEUMS STAY RELEVANT TODAY Story by Jim Pickering • Photos by Chad Tyson the museum became what it is today, how it’s different than other car museums in the U.S., and what’s in store for it in the future. J ACC: This all started with Harold LeMay. Can you tell us a little about him and his collection? Like most American males in the 20th century, Harold LeMay had a connection with automobiles. That connection turned into a passion. Harold grew up in rural Washington. He went off to World War II, came back, and had no idea what he was going to do. He had no money. Eventually, he saved up and bought a truck and started hauling trash. He turned his company — Harold LeMay Enterprises — into one of the largest in the country. He made a lot of money. He began to pay drivers to find cool cars. Over time, he gathered rather than collected cars. He had over 3,000 cars when he died in 2000. The exact number will never be known — he didn’t know. I used the word gathered… He really wasn’t a collector in the true sense. The power of all this is how it relates to America. Harold was a common guy, and he loved America. He loved to travel, loved people, loved to collect cars. He collected the cars and trucks and motorcycles of everyday life, and that’s something people can really relate to. 26 AmericanCarCollector.com ust off Interstate 5 in Tacoma, WA, sits a shiny, sleek, stainless-steel covered building full of classic cars. Opened to the public in 2012, The LeMay—America’s Car Museum is one of the largest museums of its kind in the country. We sat down with museum CEO David Madeira to talk about how more than 1,000 cars populate the museum, with examples from Ha ACC: How did the museum get its start, and how did it get to where it is today? Before Harold passed, his lawyers said to him, “You’re going to lose your collection unless you set up a charitable organization or museum as a nonprofit. Put the collection in that and that will take care of it.” They did back in ’97. The board saw the potential for a museum, and so business leaders here went to the family, wanting to get involved and give the collection a proper venue. Harold signed an agreement with the city of Tacoma that there would be at least 600 cars for a museum if the city would give them a spot for it. I had no background in museums, but in strategic planning and marketing and fundraising. I saw a Wall Street Journal article about the death of Harold LeMay, his collection, and the plan for a museum. We were just finishing dinner, and I said to my wife, “Cars are fun, Puget Sound is beautiful, and it looks like they’re really trying to do something different here that hasn’t been done before.” They were

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Car Museum “This needed to be a destination, not really a museum. This needed to be a place that centers itself around the car enthusiast community, provides opportunity for that community, does a legitimate service to the community.” to be a place that centers itself around the car enthusiast community, provides opportunity for that community, does a legitimate service to the community, and is also a destination so that we’re active and relevant in the world today. The whole point from the very beginning was the drive to make America’s Car Museum. We knew we had to make it relevant to everyone. We wanted to engage Americans with their love affair with the car. To get corporate support, it couldn’t be just about Harold LeMay. It will always honor him and it will always keep his collection as its core, but it really needed to be about all of us. We have 70 corporate sponsors today. No other car museum in the country has that many corporate sponsors. ACC: How many cars are here as part of the museum now? Are there still LeMay cars that aren’t a part of the museum as it sits now, where are they, and are there plans to rotate them in and out of display here? The original review by the collection committee was looking at arold Lemay’s collection rotating in and out at various times looking for a CEO. So I threw my hat in, got the job, and we moved out here in August of 2002. Our team traveled around to different museums. We concluded that this needed to be a destination, not really a museum. This needed 1,200 to 1,500 cars. So from the very beginning there was a recognition that not all of them would come here. They LeMay Family ultimately agreed to give about 700 cars. I would say at any one time, because we bring a lot of other cars in here, there are 150 to 300 LeMay cars in the museum. The rest stay on the LeMay property and we rotate them out. ACC: What criteria did the museum use to select cars from the collection for display? We wanted to show the breadth of American history — the breadth in terms of age, make, and then type. What was relevant? Station wagons were relevant, minivans someday will be relevant. Sports cars, motorcycles, what’s the range? What this museum needs to do is to tell stories and use the vehicles to do it. To tell stories about America’s culture, our experiences with the automobile — good and bad — and about where it’s been and where it’s going. The collection committee is now being led by McKeel Hagerty, and the team has just started to define what we want the collection to look like in 25 years — again with the notion that it’s about celebrating America’s love affair with the car, and that includes British cars, Japanese cars, German cars, Yugos, and more. relevancy to American history was important to museum organizers, so station wagons are displayed ACC: You’ve been operating since 2012. How has the general public’s reception of ACM been since opening day? September-October 2015 27

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SNAPSHOTS Phenomenal. I get almost zero complaints, but I do get nice notes from people who have come from all over the world and have taken the time to write a note to the CEO because of the kind of place that it is. On opening day, there were over 1,000 media stories. USA Today called it one of the “top eight cultural openings in the world in 2012,” and Condé Nast Traveler tweeted about it. The New York Times has covered us a few times, so the media coverage has been good. We have had visitors from 41 countries that I know of, and all the states. ACC: Museums have a stigma of being static, which I can see as being a challenge for a business that seeks to bring in repeat visitors. How has ACM worked to keep things fresh? I had a woman come up to me and say, “I came to sit with my iPad because I had no interest in coming to this museum. I didn’t really want to come but my husband did. We’ve been here three hours and I haven’t looked at my iPad once. This place is awesome!” We have to reach the general public, and I think that’s where we’re different from most car museums. We’re trying to focus on the American experience. We have a full-time curator, and we look at what’s coming up — you know, Mustang’s going to do a launch, Corvette’s going to do a launch — those are easy. We’ve defined certain areas, so we have one area about alternative energy — that’s always the theme but it will slowly evolve. We’ve also got cultural exhibits such as Route 66 and British Invasion. Cultural stories. We’re working on a three- to five-year plan of what we want in our galleries, and how were going to mix things up, so that we can go seek funding. Companies like Ford need lead time. We have 12 different galleries, and if you put a quarter of a million dollars into a major exhibition, it’s going to be up there for a year or two. So we have a mix in the less costly spaces, and we can turn them over every six months or three months. BMW was here all week for the U.S. Open, so we had a big BMW display upstairs, picking up in their presence. We need to tell a range of stories, and go out to get the cars people want to see. ACC: ACM has had a number of special exhibits, like the Ford F-series truck, muscle cars, wagons, Route 66, etc. What’s been most popular? Everybody loves the Ford F-series. It’s the number-one selling vehicle of all time — what is it, 40 years running? Well then, if that’s reaching the rancher, the guy like me, and the woman taking her horse to the polo field, we can capture a lot of people with that. That’s been the most popular. But the Mustangs and Corvettes have their passionate the Ford F-series trucks have proven an extremely popular display folks who come out, and I think that’s important to always remember. Those subsets — I mean, the Corvette guys won’t even look at anything else. ACC: One of the biggest topics in the old-car world today is how to get kids interested in classic cars. What is ACM doing to get young people actively involved in the hobby? We have a really good director, Debbie Kray, who worked in education at the small level, and she’s really reaching out to the schools. We have a Kid Zone with fun activities like the Pinewood Derby and box-car racing that they can get into. We’ve also got our junior judging going on for the Pacific Northwest Concours, trying to get kids in middle school and high school a more real experience. The really significant one is our Hagerty education program, and its not going to be in vast numbers, but it’s what really distinguishes us from any other car museum in the country, maybe even the world. With the Hagerty education program, we’re not only providing modes of support to places like McPherson or the wooden boat building school, we’re providing scholarships to young people to go to those places. We’re providing internships for them in the summer to go to places like this and other museums to get more in depth, and this year the big shift was we only started with one. We gave a graduate of Pennsylvania College of Technology a full-time apprenticeship in Keith Flickinger’s shop. If you go back to Europe and the notion of the guilds, you had the apprentice and the journeymen and the craftsman. We’re starting to identify master craftsman who are willing to take on young people to bring them into their shops. I hope that this year we put five young people into shops with the Paul Russells and the Rob Myers and get them into the profession. If we can do 10 to 20 of those a year, what an impact we would have on the car community. That’s what I’m most proud of in terms of the impact on young people and what this place is all about. ACC: Where do you see ACM in five years? Ten years? I talked about our membership program. It has different names at different levels. But at $1,200 a year on an annual basis, its called Club Auto, and we’ve got a clubhouse in Denver with about 40 members. Up in Kirkland we have a club. We’re looking in Michigan and a bit in Scottsdale. It’ll be different in each locale, but the idea is there will be opportunities to take part in organized driving events you can go to as a member that other people can’t go. I want that to be a more active part of us than it is, and for us to be educational programs and fun activities for children are helping the museum build a future clientele 28 AmericanCarCollector.com known at all levels to be an active environment. Here you won’t pay your membership so you can come in unlimited times — you’ll pay your membership because you’ll belong to something that’s an active entity. I think we will be. A

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FEATUREMUSCLE CAR VERIFICATION bOSS Or buSt: CONSuLtINg tHe eXpertS OF muSCLe CAr VerIFICAtION DETECTING WHAT’S REAL AND NOT REAL IN TODAY’S MUSCLE CAR MARKET CAN BE CHALLENGING, BUT THERE ARE RESOURCES OUT THERE FOR BUYERS WHO DEMAND THE REAL THING by Dale Novak market can be challenging buyers who want to be as s they’re buying is what it a recognized experts have m business of providing ever from general information t in-depth inspections on vintage American iron — the key info you need to have before you buy. So, as a buyer, where I should you start? Here are some of the basics. Are you in over your head? It’s a fact that there are m big-block Corvettes, Hem and 396 Camaros in the m than were ever built in De There are also rebodied ca fraudulent VIN numbers, r counterfeit original equipm trim tags, and more. Let’s n cloak-and-dagger gang are a paperwork such as build s 32 AmericanCarCollector.com s that LS6, Hemi or B LS6, Hemi or Boss? W chunk of money on a c can you tell it’s as it w reproduction badges a Detecting what’s real — a

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The expert opinion So, especially on high-level cars, it pays for buyers to get in touch with someone who really knows the cars and how they were built — someone who is familiar with all the special little details of that Boss 302, LS6 Chevelle and Hemi Road Runner. Someone who can, with a reasonable degree of certainty, instruct you on whether the car you’re looking at is indeed genuine and worth the money you’re about to lay down. If you’ve ever been to a classic-car auction, Protect-O-Plates, factory order records, NCRS paperwork, and even PHS documents and Marti Reports. It’s the dark side of the hobby, but you can’t ignore it — especially when your money is on the line. Just because you owned a great old muscle car 35 years ago doesn’t make you an expert when it comes to buying one today. That can be a hard pill for a seasoned gearhead to swallow, but you can’t argue with the fact that a know-it-all independent attitude can cost you plenty in a market where everything is not always what it seems to be. or watched one on television, you’ve likely heard the terms “PHS documentation, Galen paperwork, Jerry MacNeish-certified, Marti Report and NCRS documentation.” The list goes on with other names tossed around, such as inspected by David Wise or Roy Sinor or even our own Editor-at-Large Colin Comer. Of course, there are others, too, usually make-specific, but the aforementioned names and services are well known in the classic-car world and referred to often with hevrolets, Pontiacs and y, no list would be comd to the great folks over vette Restorers Society udes far too many names he expert opinion So, especially on high-level cars, it pays for buyers to get in touch with someone who really knows the cars and how they were built — someone who is familiar with all the special little details of that Boss 302, LS6 Chevelle and Hemi Road Runner. Someone who can, with a reasonable degree of certainty, instruct you on whether the car you’re looking at is indeed genuine and worth the money you’re about to lay down. If you’ve ever been to a classic-car auction, Protect-O-Plates, factory order records, NCRS paperwork, and even PHS documents and Marti Reports. It’s the dark side of the hobby, but you can’t ignore it — especially when your money is on the line. Just because you owned a great old muscle car 35 years ago doesn’t make you an expert when it comes to buying one today. That can be a hard pill for a seasoned gearhead to swallow, but you can’t argue with the fact that a know-it-all independent attitude can cost you plenty in a market where everything is not always what it seems to be. or watched one on television, you’ve likely heard the terms “PHS documentation, Galen paperwork, Jerry MacNeish-certified, Marti Report and NCRS documentation.” The list goes on with other names tossed around, such as inspected by David Wise or Roy Sinor or even our own Editor-at-Large Colin Comer. Of course, there are others, too, usually make-specific, but the aforementioned names and services are well known in the classic-car world and referred to often with hevrolets, Pontiacs and y, no list would be com- d to the great folks over vette Restorers Society udes far too many names k k at a few of the resources elp you find your s to making a sound, rmed decision to buy an t-grade classic car. opars here are two well- cted services out there that elp guide you with regards hings Mopar: Galen , who operates GTS in n, and David Wise, who MC Detroit in Michigan. ffer various decoding ervices to help you verify y of just about any Dodge, mouth — especially for e muscle cars. ces start at $100. You can e of his White Books at h include all sorts of data s website lists plenty of s and resources as well. rvices start at $50 for ecoding with various ervices from there. His ludes literally thousands s of “right” cars and is mprehensive digital liaphic evidence available. oit website is loaded with r you “Mopar or no car” n So, especially on high-level cars, it pays for buyers to get in touch with someone who really knows the cars and how they were built — someone who is familiar with all the special little details of that Boss 302, LS6 Chevelle and Hemi Road Runner. Someone who can, with a reasonable degree of certainty, instruct you on whether the car you’re looking at is indeed genuine and worth the money you’re about to lay down. If you’ve ever been to a classic-car auction, Protect-O-Plates, factory order records, NCRS paperwork, and even PHS documents and Marti Reports. It’s the dark side of the hobby, but you can’t ignore it — especially when your money is on the line. Just because you owned a great old muscle car 35 years ago doesn’t make you an expert when it comes to buying one today. That can be a hard pill for a seasoned gearhead to swallow, but you can’t argue with the fact that a know-it-all independent attitude can cost you plenty in a market where everything is not always what it seems to be. or watched one on television, you’ve likely heard the terms “PHS documentation, Galen paperwork, Jerry MacNeish-certified, Marti Report and NCRS documentation.” The list goes on with other names tossed around, such as inspected by David Wise or Roy Sinor or even our own Editor-at-Large Colin Comer. Of course, there are others, too, usually make-specific, but the aforementioned names and services are well known in the classic-car world and referred to often with hevrolets, Pontiacs and y, no list would be com- d to the great folks over vette Restorers Society udes far too many names k at a few of the resources elp you find your s to making a sound, rmed decision to buy an t-grade classic car. opars here are two well- cted services out there that elp guide you with regards hings Mopar: Galen , who operates GTS in n, and David Wise, who MC Detroit in Michigan. ffer various decoding ervices to help you verify y of just about any Dodge, mouth — especially for e muscle cars. ces start at $100. You can e of his White Books at h include all sorts of data s website lists plenty of s and resources as well. rvices start at $50 for ecoding with various ervices from there. His ludes literally thousands s of “right” cars and is mprehensive digital li- aphic evidence available. oit website is loaded with r you “Mopar or no car” September-October September-October 2015 33 RESOURCES Galen’s Tag Service LLC Galen Govier www.galengovier.com 608-326-6346 MMC Detroit David Wise www.iccahome.org 248-393-3970 NCRS (National Corvette Restorers Society) www.ncrs.org 513-385-8526 Camaro Hi-Performance Jerry MacNeish www.z28camaro.com 410-781-0418 Sinor Prestige Automobiles Inc. Roy Sinor www.sinorprestigeauto.com 918-834-2143 Marti Auto Works Kevin Marti www.martiauto.com 623-935-2558 PHS Automotive Services Inc. Jim Mattison www.phs-online.com 586-781-5164 Bruce Shaw, Attorney www.shawlaws.com 215-657-2377

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FEATURE MUSCLE CAR VERIFICATION Bowties Buyers seeking high-value GMs — especially Camaros, Novas and Chevelles — can seek out the services of Jerry MacNeish at Camaro Hi-Performance. Corvette buyers can turn to Roy Sinor at Sinor Prestige Automobiles Inc. Both of these gentlemen have guided buyers and sellers in the GM world for many years. They are both highly respected in their particular universe of cars. Roy Sinor is a household name in the world of Corvette special- ists — he’s the former NCRS National Judging Chairman. He’ll travel to inspect most Corvettes for $1,000 per day plus expenses. Keep in mind, occasionally he can see two cars in one day, even for different clients, and will discount the services, so you might get lucky and he’ll inspect a Corvette for $500 and spilt the travel expenses. Jerry MacNeish has been authenticating GM muscle profession- ally for over 18 years and has built a huge database of stampings in the process. When it comes to trim tags, VINs, and other stampings, if you want verification of originality, MacNeish is the man to talk to. Like Sinor, he too is available to travel to authenticate cars. Both of these guys offer all sorts of peripheral services with regard to restoration, consultation, sales, NOS parts, etc. The Blue Oval Kevin Marti of Marti Auto Works can tell you all about your old Ford, provided it was built from 1967 to 2007. They have three levels of reports (Marti Report), and with prices starting at $18, you can’t ATURE MUSCLE CAR VERIFICATION Bowties Buyers seeking high-value GMs — especially Camaros, Novas and Chevelles — can seek out the services of Jerry MacNeish at Camaro Hi-Performance. Corvette buyers can turn to Roy Sinor at Sinor Prestige Automobiles Inc. Both of these gentlemen have guided buyers and sellers in the GM world for many years. They are both highly respected in their particular universe of cars. Roy Sinor is a household name in the world of Corvette special- ists — he’s the former NCRS National Judging Chairman. He’ll travel to inspect most Corvettes for $1,000 per day plus expenses. Keep in mind, occasionally he can see two cars in one day, even for different clients, and will discount the services, so you might get lucky and he’ll inspect a Corvette for $500 and spilt the travel expenses. Jerry MacNeish has been authenticating GM muscle profession- ally for over 18 years and has built a huge database of stampings in the process. When it comes to trim tags, VINs, and other stampings, if you want verification of originality, MacNeish is the man to talk to. Like Sinor, he too is available to travel to authenticate cars. Both of these guys offer all sorts of peripheral services with regard to restoration, consultation, sales, NOS parts, etc. The Blue Oval Kevin Marti of Marti Auto Works can tell you all about your old Ford, provided it was built from 1967 to 2007. They have three levels of reports (Marti Report), and with prices starting at $18, you can’t de de how your Ford left the factory right down to the day it was built. They also have select original factory Ford invoices for other various Fords (1962 and newer) that were saved by Lois Eminger. Availability will vary and is somewhat slim, but the list of potential automobiles with the invoice on file is all included at their website. Prices start at $45. Pontiac For Pontiac fans, Jim Mattison, owner of PHS Automotive ervices Inc., has actory records for all ontiacs built from 1961 o 1986. The billing story is included for all ntiacs built up to and cluding 1968 and Dealer der Forms are included r cars built from 1969 to 6. These are the origil factory records that nerate the documents. hey also have expe- d services in case you’re n a hot lead and want to e sure that 1965 GTO e unearthed was actuorn at the factory as a ne GTO. Believe me, For Ford fans, Kevin arti’s reports may offer peace of mind

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FEATURE MUSCLE CAR VERIFICATION I know firsthand how that can go. The $65 cost plus $15 expedited fee is well worth the investment. It sure beats buying a badged-up Tempest that’s only worth half of what you’ve spent on it. After a dubious dupe So what happens if you find out that you’ve been defrauded on a car you bought? I’m a “last resort” sort of guy when it comes to hiring an attorney to push back on a raw deal, but buyers do have that option. Like our other aforementioned experts on the pre-sale side, there are also resources out there to help on the post-sale side. I spoke at length with Pennsylvania attorney Bruce Shaw about what can be done in the event you’ve been duped — when that shiny collector car you’ve dreamed about turns out to be some sort of counterfeit car that was built from the ground up to separate you from your hard-earned cash. Unlike most attorneys, Bruce Shaw has walked the walk. He’s a car guy from birth and pursued a career in law after tinkering, racing and building some of the most wicked drag cars on the planet. He has owned and operated Speed Shops, built professional drag car engines back in the 1960s and operated a machine shop. These days, he’s out to financially punish (or even criminally pursue) those who think “as-is” means “too bad.” This goes for cars you’ve purchased at auction, private-party sales or dealer sales. While he rarely pursues the auction house (they are intermediaries between a buyer and seller), he will pursue the seller. Although no legal action is ever cheap, sometimes it may be your only option. He told me that in 2001 he handled about 100 complaints a year of classic car fraud. Today, that number has leaped to over 1,000, and he can litigate in all 50 states. “Collector car fraud is alive and well, and unfortunately we are busier than ever pursuing cases where an individual has been defrauded,” Shaw said. Hitting overdrive It’s important to note that most of the cars in the market today are in fact honestly represented, and when a fake does pop up, many times the seller of the car has no idea that it’s a facsimile. It’s also worth noting that some of these cars were built as “clones” 30 years ago, and it wasn’t because it would make the cars worth more — in many cases it was simply done to create something more thrilling to own and drive. Nobody really cared all that much about numbers and codes when a car was worth $10,000. Today, when we see valuations surpassing $100,000 for rare muscle (and up from there), it’s obviously a different story. All of the experts I spoke to are committed to weeding out the fakes and clones that aren’t being disclosed as such, and they all shared the same sentiment: When it comes to buying a collector car in today’s market, the most important things you can do are take your time and always do your homework. After all, it’s much better to miss out on a quick deal for a questionable car and spend the time, money, and effort it takes to know that the car of your dreams is in fact the car of your dreams.A BARRETT-JACKSON HIRES THE EXPERTS ‘We wanted to take the high ground rather than kick the can down the road’ Craig Jackson and his team have recently contracted with many of our top-level industry experts. At Barrett-Jackson’s auctions, Roy Sinor, Jerry MacNeish, David Wise, Kevin Marti and Jim Mattison are on hand to help review and dispatch certain high-end and rare cars that may be represented (by the consignor) as numbersmatching or documented with show provenance but simply don’t pass the sniff test. Even better, as a registered bidder, you can often seek out these guys in advance to help you size up certain cars, and it generally won’t cost you a dime. I spoke with Craig “It’s a hard process and plenty of guys have let me know that … If you are representing your car as a high-end and rare car that is, for example, ‘numbers matching or documented with show provenance,’ we’re going to check that. If it’s reported to be a genuine ‘born at the factory’ big-block Corvette, we’re going to check that too,” said Jackson. Barrett-Jackson has Tony Piff When there is doubt about a high-profile car’s background, barrett-Jackson consults the experts to ensure authenticity Jackson about this, and he said that he prefers to deal with problems that may arise with certain rare, high-end cars before the auction rather than after they are sold. In fact, Barrett-Jackson has very strict requirements with regards to the description allowed on the car card and website. 36 AmericanCarCollector.com enlisted this specialized team of muscle-car experts, which is a bold undertaking. When asked how many of these highend cars are not accepted for the auction or require a modification to the car card, Jackson simply stated, “A lot.” It’s a benchmark move at Barrett-Jackson. “We care a great deal about the hobby and that’s why we are doing this. It’s the right thing to do and we wanted to take the high ground rather than kick the can down the road.” Jackson said. A

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Cheap Thrills B. Mitchell Carlson Putting the‘K’ in‘TRUCK’ IS MOPAR’S ONLY RANCHERO / EL CAMINO COUPE PICKUP THE ONLY K-CAR THAT WILL EVER BE WORTH ANYTHING? 1983 plymouth Scamp Cheap Thr heap Thrills B. heap Thrills B. Mitchell Carlson Putting the‘K’ in‘TRUCK’ IS MOPAR’S ONLY RANCHERO / EL CAMINO COUPE PICKUP THE ONLY K-CAR THAT WILL EVER BE WORTH ANYTHING? 1983 plymouth Scamp x x h, the E 4-hp n or heap Thrills B. Mitchell Carlson Putting the‘K’ in‘TRUCK’ IS MOPAR’S ONLY RANCHERO / EL CAMINO COUPE PICKUP THE ONLY K-CAR THAT WILL EVER BE WORTH ANYTHING? 1983 plymouth Scamp x h, the E 4-hp n or m m the Thrills B. Mitchell Carlson Putting the‘K’ in‘TRUCK’ IS MOPAR’S ONLY RANCHERO / EL CAMINO COUPE PICKUP THE ONLY K-CAR THAT WILL EVER BE WORTH ANYTHING? 1983 plymouth Scamp x h, the E 4-hp n or m the K-car K-car will forever be Red Green’s butt of automotive jokes on his syndicated TV series (“The reason we pick on them is because they deserve it”), Chrysler certainly got plenty of mileage out of the platform. While the 1980s Dodge Aries and Plymouth Reliant initially had a Years produced: 1982–84 (Rampage), 1983 (Scamp) Number produced: 40,003 (37,401 Rampage, 2,602 Scamp) lukewarm reception, it was taking that platform and using it to create the minivan that got Chrysler out of financial hot water and into profitability. However, most folks forget that there was a quasi truck built on this platform (a K-truck, as it were). Detailing More: www.plymouthbulletin.com Alternatives: 1979–82 Volkswagen Rabbit pickup, 1978–87 Chevrolet El Camino / GMC Caballero, 1987–92 Jeep Comanche pickup ACC Investment Grade: D Original list price: $7,204 Current ACC Valuation: $2,000–$8,000 Tune-up cost: $150 Distributor cap: $5 VIN location: Base of windshield Clubs: The WPC Club More: www.chryslerclub.org Alternate: Plymouth Owners Club 38 AmericanCarCollector.com K-car goes hauling Dodge had all the bases covered for a pickup truck with the new Rampage, launched for the 1982 model year. Not only did they have all weight ranges of full-sized D and W series two- and four-wheeldrive pickups, but they were also badge-engineering Mitsubishi’s compact pickup as the D-50. The Rampage was not the first front-drive car-née-pickup made in the U.S. That honor lies with Volkswagen, with its Westmoreland, PA-built 1979–82 Rabbit pickup. The other competitor in the U.S. market at that time g rear leaf springs — helping it to achieve an honest-to-goodness half-ton rating, with a 1,145-pound cargo capacity. To spunk things up, they had different trim at two levels: the basic model and a tape-stripe Sport model. In addition, like all Dodge trucks at the time, the base model was also available with a Prospector package, with unique decals on the B-pillars and bundled optional equipment packages. Sales for the year were the best they ever would be, at 17,636. For 1983, the Rampage saw a major improvement in the form of an optional 5-speed manual transmission. Trim changes included making the Sport model the Rampage 2.2. Since the Omni 024 became the Charger, its sporty model became the Charger 2.2. With the Rampage following lock-step with that, it featured the same fake hood and front fender scoops with upper body stripes and faux hood scoop decal having RAMPAGE 2.2 cut out in it just like the CHARGER 2.2. Plymouth joins the party The Rampage also got a twin brother from the Plymouth camp: the Scamp. It was the first domestically built Plymouth pickup since 1941 and eventually the last pickup ever made by the division, replacing the Mitsubishi-sourced Plymouth Arrow introduced in 1979. As can be expected, the Scamp was also nearly identical for model and equipment availability, with base and GT models. Like the Rampage versus Rampage 2.2, the only difference in powertrain between a Scamp and the Scamp GT was that the 4-speed was standard on the former while the 5-speed was standard on the latter. The engine in a Scamp GT had just as much of a chance to have been plopped into a Dodge Aries when it was built. Scamp sales were lukewarm at best (with only 2,184 base and 1,318

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and fitted with numerous parts out of Mopar’s Direct Connection catalog, including graphics. Then, in 1984, a similar Direct Connection package only for California-zone dealers was offered toward the end of production. Although it was fitted with several trim and performance pieces also used on the Shelby Chargers and Omni GLHs (such as the close-ratio 5-speed and steering rack) and painted the same colors, Carroll had nothing to do with it, and the truck didn’t have Shelby graphics. Always had a following and still do Even while they were cheap used cars, the Rampage and Scamp had the vision from the marketing guys GT models made), so it was a one-year wonder, not to return for 1984. With a downturn in sales of only 8,033 built in 1983, the Rampage soldiered on for one more year. 1984s featured an all-new front fascia that was the same as the restyled Charger, incorporating a quadheadlights-and-single-bar grille that helped the truck look lower and more streamlined. Trim packages were nearly identical, except that the Prospector package became something of a luxury equipment group with two-tone paint and more included equipment. Performance Rampage? Once in a while, a mocked-up Shelby Rampage may surface, but that’s all it is — a phantom. However, there were a couple of close contenders that look the part. First, the Canadian market had a limitededition Direct Connection package in 1983. Essentially a base model built at the Windsor, Ontario, assembly plant, it was heavily optioned something of a cult following. Sure, their resale value plummeted like a rock — like all K-car variants, but these small pickups never seemed to linger on used car lots like an ’83 Plymouth Reliant. With the demise of a true compact pickup in the U.S. (as the smaller pickups now built by Nissan, Toyota, and GM are essentially mid-sized pushing full-size), the Rampage and Scamp now seem to have come into a renaissance — as have the VW Rabbit pickups. This also correlates to a general increase in interest in pickups of all vintages — the 1980s included — as much as to buyers wanting a truck that doesn’t take up an entire ZIP code. Obviously, a Scamp GT or a Direct Connection package is at the top of the pecking order for desirability due to rarity, but the 1984s are the most coveted for those who want to still use them, with the most upto-date mechanicals — especially the 5-speed — and what is generally considered the most stylish design. However, any Scampage that hasn’t rusted out is actually worth saving, if not restoring. You can’t say that about a K-car convertible, aside from perhaps the TC Maserati, but you can say it about the only Mopar that was ever on par with the Ranchero or El Camino. A September-October 2015 39

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Horsepower Colin Comer DIGGINGBeyond the Numbers WITH HELP FROM TECHNOLOGY AND A DESIRE TO PLAY DETECTIVE, YOU MAY BE AMAZED AT WHAT YOU CAN FIND OUT ABOUT YOUR CAR 1967 Yenko 427 Super Camaro, once “just an old drag car,” is no longer enrolled in the Witness protection program S ince this issue of ACC focuses on how to document and verify cars, I considered this a perfect opportunity to go beyond the nuts, bolts and numbers and talk about digging up a car’s history. After all, how many times have we all said, “If this car could talk!” Well, you know what? They almost can. I’ve always been big on buying cars with known owners from day one, especially if I can talk to all of them. It’s really the only way to know the complete history of the car. Of course, as the years go on and values for old cars continue to escalate, the number of cars offered by long-term and original owners is shrinking fast. Not to mention the simple fact that the older we get, the fewer previous owners there are in general, because besides taxes, there is that one certainty none of us can avoid. So, how exactly do we track down information when we have a car devoid of some meticulous documentation or oral history? It isn’t easy, but, with some help from today’s technology and a desire to play detective, you may be amazed at what you can find. I present to you a case study using a good friend of mine. We’ll call him Les, well, because that’s his name. Les is a muscle car collector, but more importantly, a former judge and federal prosecutor. You could say he has been trained to dig, and as it pertains to his cars, he has been quite successful at not only verifying their history but also finding plenty more. I’ve sold Les a few of my own cars, and following are some of the results he was able to achieve using nothing more than a telephone, a computer and the USPS. 40 AmericanCarCollector.com The ’68 Yenko I sold Les my 1968 Yenko Super Camaro many years ago. Although it had a very well-documented history and very few owners, Les decided he should contact the ones I had not to get an even better account of this rare supercar’s history. After pressing to get a printout from the DMV that showed the original owner’s name, something became very apparent: The person who claimed to be the car’s original owner for 40-plus years was actually its second owner! Les proceeded to use online White Pages listings to call every- body with the same name as the original owner in the states around where the car was originally sold. Time after time Les cold-called these people and asked if they had ever owned a “blue 1968 Camaro.” While most hung up, one lady finally said, “No, but we did own a 1968 Yenko.” Bingo. Les proceeded to get photos and info from the original owners and even invited them to join him (and the car) at the Supercar Reunion one summer — which they did — and they have kept in close contact since. The friendship, and the early history gained, is priceless. The ’70 Baldwin Motion Using the same type of simple sleuthing, Les was also able to track down the original owner of the 1970 Baldwin Motion Phase III Camaro I sold him. Another very well-known car, it was actually owned by Joel Rosen himself in the 1990s. Rosen sold it to the fellow

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I bought it from. That’s pretty good history if you ask me, but nobody could ever find the first owner, and even Rosen had forgotten the name of the second owner from whom he had purchased it. That wasn’t going to stop Les. Once he made contact with the second owner — a name that was easy to get by doing a title search — he had the original owner’s name and a general idea of where he might be living, if he was still alive. Since the car had been recently featured on a cover of a magazine, Les bought a stack of back issues and used an online people search to locate everybody with the same name as the original owner. He then proceeded to mail a copy of the magazine with the Baldwin Motion car on the cover and a nice note to everybody on this list asking if it was their old car, and if not, to “please enjoy the free car magazine.” I think you know what happened next — the original owner called Les and wanted to know “why he was looking for him.” But after Les explained that he was a collector and just wanted to know more history on the car, the former owner opened up and shared some incredible stories and information, and Les had now established contact with another original owner of one of his rare supercars. The ’69 Yenko The last Les example is another supercar that he also purchased from me — this time a 1969 Yenko Camaro. It was an unrestored car that all of the Yenko guys knew well, with every owner accounted for. But Les still wanted to talk to all of them, especially the original owner. So he called him up and started a conversation. By the end of it, Les had a stack of original photos of the car when new, in 1969, coming his way. But even better was the fact that the original owner said he had changed the tires the first day he had the car, and then asked Les if he wanted the original ones because they were still in his garage! So while Les may have a lucky horseshoe up his, umm, tailpipe when it comes to this kind of detective work, none of it has ever employed any top-secret stuff or magic. It is just simple legwork, albeit tedious and time consuming, but simple nonetheless. And clearly the examples above offered great additional history for some known cars. However, where this research can really payoff is with unknown cars. I’m currently restoring a 1967 Yenko Super Camaro that was “missing” for years. Turns out it had just been turned into a mild drag car decades ago, thereby losing its few identifiable Yenko items, and passed around as “just an old Camaro drag car” forever. So much so that when it showed up at a swapmeet for sale for almost no money, two Camaro enthusiast buddies teased each other about which one of them needed that “old drag car” more. In the end, the buddy who bought it just for fun noticed the L78 identifier (4K) on the cowl tag and ran the VIN through Google. Bingo. It popped up on the Yenko VIN list, and shortly after that, the new owner secured the original Yenko deal jacket from Warren Dernoshek, the former Yenko employee who has paperwork on many original Yenko-built supercars. There is no doubt this particular Yenko has to be one of the best swapmeet “Camaro drag-car” buys of all time. All of this just goes to show that a little legwork costs nothing but can return a whole heck of a lot. Happy digging! A September-October 2015 41

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Corvette Market John L. Stein RESTORE, PRESERVE? Modify or PERFORM WORK ON A CORVETTE CAREFULLY, BECAUSE FOR ANY MISSTEP, IT’S A LONG WAY DOWN seems to highlight flaws in the original lacquer. And even new tires, when spooned onto old chipped steel wheels or oxidized alloy knockoffs, look like glossy misfits. Upgrade or not? All of this raises a fair question about the unexpected consequences of making significant upgrades to our vintage Corvettes. It’s a highly complex issue, first because some people value the honesty of original cars. “History has a texture,” points out Peter Hageman, Chief Judge for the Preservation Class at Pebble Beach. I’ve never heard a more succinct explanation. Other folks insist on nothing short of just-off-theassembly-line perfection in every detail… and sometimes better. Is one group right and the A other wrong? No. It’s two takes on the same vehicle. Another wrinkle in decid- fter we completed a remodel some years ago, a visitor looked at our backyard and said, “I can see where the money stopped.” Although I knew exactly where we had spent on the project, it was surprising how obvious the difference between the new house and the old yard was to someone else at a mere glance. Well, as it turns out, the exact same thing can happen with a Corvette owned for many years. A repaint suddenly makes original chrome look tired. A new convertible top 42 AmericanCarCollector.com ing whether to redo or leave alone concerns usability versus originally and value. As a simple example, a 40-year-old Corvette with its equally old radiator, heater, fuel, vacuum and brake hoses, wonderfully original as these parts may be, is trouble waiting to happen if you want to use the car in earnest — say, taking a trip to Badwater, Death Valley, during summer. And so in upgrading these pieces, what you gain in usefulness you lose in originality. Value up, value down. Then on the upper deck of the game board, such reformative changes as a complete respray or an interior replacement on an ordinary car will clearly make it more attractive at first glance. But they will also certainly lead a show judge, a cars-and-coffee quarterback, or a future buyer to also muse, “I can see where the money stopped.” These ruminations brought me to the idea of creating a logic path showing when to make an upgrade, how to make the upgrade, and whether to even make the upgrade. Here is my thinking for three different Corvette scenarios.

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Driving Miss Daily If your Corvette serves as a daily driver or a go-to-work car (as all Corvettes were designed to do), then service and care for it with this purpose in mind. Stone chips on the nose or windshield? Fugettaboutit. Chaffed seat bolsters? Nurture with leather treatment and stop wearing sandpaper pants. Brakes worn out? Replace with components of your choosing. At this point the car’s role is as a tool, so use it as such. My main rules here are protect what’s there, don’t do anything that can’t be undone later, and save important take-offs. Survivor savvy Be careful here. Survivor cars often present themselves as a timeworn mixture of paint and interior, oxidized plating, dingy undercarriages and stained underhood components. But therein lies their beauty — the uniformly rich, even texture of age. Any upgrades here — such as a bright chrome air cleaner, fresh new carpeting or door panels, or a modernized exhaust system — will quickly ruin the look and feel. As such, appropriately caring for a Survivor is actually harder than maintaining a late-model Corvette, where new OE parts are readily available, or performing a full resto, where the goal is to return everything to as-new. In sum, with Survivors, strive to preserve the original compo- nents, finish and presentation. When replacing parts, do so with either original or NOS parts, and also keep the take-offs. On hallowed ground To corrupt from Orwell’s Animal Farm, “All Corvettes are equal, but some Corvettes are more equal than others.” That tidy mid-year, C5 or C7 in your garage right now is the most important Corvette in the world. And yet, in reality it is also not a 1960 Cunningham Le Mans team car, or Lone Star JR’s Corvette Challenge C4 racer, or Zora’s personal ride. These are the “more equal” animals, and owing not to their Corvetteness so much as their history, they deserve extra-special decision-making. A Corvette stops being just a Corvette and starts being an objet d’art when it has accomplished something extraordinary, or else been present in a historic event or time. The problem here is that with every incoming tide, even the greatest sandcastle ever built crumbles. Put another way, high points in automotive history are often fleet- ing, and by the time we get hold of them, ancient Corvettes with valuable history may not look anything like they did at their zenith of flight. Fight for what’s right In respect to both history and value, I believe it is an owner’s responsibility to determine his car’s finest hour — its richest point in time — and then fight like hell to keep it right there. A low-mileage, mothballed car should be maintained in as-found condition. Deviating for a moment from Corvettes, for the old “Lake Maggiore Bugatti,” the most dramatic part of its life story was actually rusting underwater for 70 years, and appropriately the car is being so maintained. And for the more recently discovered No. 1 Cunningham Le Mans car — now engine-less, resprayed purple and hijinxed into a drag racer with cutout fenders — its finest hour was the starting line at La Sarthe. So whether you are in possession of a Holy Grail or an ordinary tale, choose where it needs to be and then take it there. But do so carefully, because for any misstep, it’s a long way down. A September-October 2015 43

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PROFILE CORVETTE 1954 CHEVROLET CORVETTE CUSTOM Go-Go Showboat The best return for the owner of an orphaned ’54 body could very well be to build a resto-mod like this one VIN: E54S004182 by John L. Stein • Built using an original 1954 body and VIN tag • Updated with an Art Morrison frame • Kugel independent front and rear suspension with a two-inch offset for custom wheels • Frame and underbody sanded, filled and painted to match the custom exterior • Magnuson-supercharged LS6 engine with 554 dyno-proven horsepower to the rear wheels • 4L60E transmission ACC Analysis This car, Lot S754, sold for $159,500, including buyer’s pre- mium, at the Russo and Steele auction in Newport Beach, CA, on June 5–7, 2015. There will always be art, and culturally we’re all the better for it, I suppose. Because along with Warhol’s simplistic paintings of Elvis and soup cans, I find the whole business of creating resto-mods and customs from surviving old cars — or even new customs designed to look like old ones, such as a fiberglass ’32 Ford body on a new frame cradling a crate engine — unsettling. The reason is that a new car designed to look like an old one is an imposter. Not real. A wannabe. A fake. All of those are negatives for me. My feeling is that if you want an old car, go get an old car. If you want a new car, go get one, or else create your own design. 46 AmericanCarCollector.com 46 AmericanCarCollector.com There, I said it. I’m not particularly a resto-mod or clone fan. And with such a polarizing disclaimer, let’s look at this hot-rodded ’54. A body and nothing else According to the auction info, this custom was built around a surviving 1954 Corvette body. How and why did an entire ’54 body survive for over 60 years while the frame and related underpinnings didn’t? But taking it at face value, let’s suppose you came into possession of this body. What could you do with it? One option would be to part it out to whoever needed a clip, or a door, or a trunk lid. Another would be to hang it and its VIN tag from the rafters for another decade or two until Corvette Classiche (which I just made up) certified it as the last great missing ’54. And finally, you could spend the rest of your life and incalculable greenbacks sourcing the hundreds of OE parts necessary to complete an authentic ’54 Corvette that will always and forever be stigmatized as a “bitsa” — built with bits of this and bits of that, and which would be worth $70,000 to $120,000 at most. Follow the money Disliking the idea as I do, I fully admit that the best return for the owner of said body was probably to Courtesy of Mecum Auctions

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COLLeCtOr’S reSOurCe: You can easily track a car’s value over time with the ACC premium Auction Database, featuring more than 125,000 American cars searchable by year, model, VIN and more. Sign up for just $59 at www.AmericanCarCollector.com! Detailing Club: National Corvette Restorers Society (NCRS) Years produced: 1954 Number produced: 3,640 Original list price: $2,774 Current ACC Valuation: $70,000–$116,000 (stock) Tune-up cost: $250 Distributor cap: N/A VIN location: Stamped plate inside left door opening Engine # location: On block just behind driver’s side cylinder head pursue yet another course: build a resto-mod. Such cars do enjoy a robust following, and the price paid was likely a far better return for the builder than any attempt at creating an authentic ’54 could achieve. So on paper, at least, I admire and appreciate what was done. See? At least I’m a fiscal fan of resto-mods. This actually appears to be an exceptionally nice piece of work, with one photo showing dozens of trophies and awards that seem to validate its design, execution and quality. The exterior is ultra-clean, stripped to its most essential elements and devoid of Corvette badges and scripts, front bumperettes and driver’s side mirror. The paint appears brighter than 1954’s Sportsman Red, but regardless, only 100 ’Vettes were red for 1954, making this a head-turner for anyone. The big blingy wheels, disc brakes and adjustable ride height further call attention to this beast. And the lack of windshield wipers clearly identifies it as a sunnySundays machine. I like the retention of the originalstyle Corvette trim and toothy grille, and the restraint exercised in not flaring the fenders. Panel preparation and fit appear way better than stock. Huge power heightens appeal The engine bay is just as beautifully finished and shows very little use. The modern LS6, although hardly beautiful like a small-block Chevy, at least embraces reality by sparing the plastic finishers over the cylinder heads, leaving the coils, fuel system and assorted wiring and plumbing all visible — just like the original Blue Flame Six. Related items including the supercharger, alternator and air-conditioning compressor are plated, polished or stainless, resulting in a super-sanitary, cost-no-object presentation — just right for bidding action at auction. As the engine bay suggests, the undercarriage is also finished to premium quality, and shows not one piece of gravel or speck of dirt anywhere. The independent rear suspension has handmade tubular lower control arms, inboard cross-drilled and ventilated disc brakes, and the aforementioned air shocks. All components are plated or polished, and the paintwork in even hard-toreach areas appears as expert as on the exterior panels. Bottom line, this car is over the top — even underneath. Go-go showboat In contrast to the undercarriage, the beige interior appears almost staid. The steering wheel, sporting a medieval spoke design, seems out of character, although the whiteface modern gauges do evoke a vintage feel. Twin air-conditioning vents on the instrument panel are subtly integrated, and a final touch is an in-console navigation system. The trunk is equally well finished and showcases what appears to be the air-ride suspension compressor in a recessed well. It’s great to have all kinds of pop culture to borrow from, including the 1963 Beach Boys line, “No-go showboat” about a custom car. With a claimed 554 horsepower on tap, this custom ’54 is hardly a no-go, although its lack of essential road equipment suggests that it’s not likely to go much farther than Cars and Coffee or a trailer ride to Hot August Nights. On a greater sphere though, with great creativity, the builder took an orphaned ’54 body to about the highest level imaginable here. This sale wasn’t this car’s first auction appearance, but it was its first reported public sale: It appeared at auction at Mecum’s Monterey sale last year but wasn’t sold. Russo’s successful $160k sale in Newport Beach proves that the resto-mod formula is still very much alive. Regardless of whether I like such cars, I can’t quibble with that. A (Introductory description courtesy of Russo and Steele.) 1954 Chevrolet Corvette roadster Lot 814, VIN: E54S002408 Condition: 2 Sold at $97,900 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ, 1/10/2015 ACC# 256738 More: www.ncrs.org Alternatives: 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air resto-mod, 1963 Chevrolet Corvette resto-mod, 1962 Chevrolet Corvette resto-mod ACC Investment Grade: B Comps 1962 Chevrolet Corvette custom convertible Lot 439, VIN: 20867S103695 Condition: 2 Sold at $135,300 Barrett-Jackson, Palm Beach, FL, 4/12/2014 ACC# 243168 1954 Chevrolet Corvette custom roadster Lot S104, VIN: E54S002260 Condition: 2+ Sold at $44,520 Mecum Auctions, St. Charles, IL, 6/22/2011 ACC# 179584 September-October 2015 47CC 47

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PROFILE GM The Last Super Camaro 1974 CHEVROLET CAMARO NICKEY STAGE III David Newhardt, courtesy of Mecum Auctions These supercars are aimed at a different buyer, someone who wants eyeballflattening performance and doesn’t care which engine does the job VIN: 1S87K4N128358 by Patrick Smith • Documented with the Certificate of Authenticity by Nickey Chicago and Don Swiatek as an L88 conversion • Documented by NICB as delivered new to Nickey Chevrolet on 11/17/73 • Notarized affidavit from the second owner detailing the history of the car • The last known car converted by Nickey Chevrolet before closing at the end of 1973 • The car scored 999 points at the 2013 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals, receiving a Concours Gold Certification and the award for the Best Chevrolet-Modified at the show • Showing 33,000 believed-original miles • Rotisserie restoration retaining the original interior, except for the carpet • Featured on the cover of Muscle Car Review • L88 427-ci engine with Holley 4-barrel • Iron open-chamber heads, 12.5:1 pistons • Turbo Hydra-Matic 350 automatic • GM 10-bolt Positraction 4.56 rear end • Power steering and brakes, LT trim • Gabriel HiJacker air shocks with Lakewood traction bars and chrome Cragar wheels • First owner from 1974 to 1980, second owner from 1980 to 2010, with 28 years in storage and part of the Mike Guarise Collection since 2011 ACC Analysis This car, Lot S103, sold for 48 AmericanCarCollector.com $93,960, including buyer’s pre- mium, at Mecum’s auction in Indianapolis, IN, on May 16, 2015. More power Back in the 1960s, some buyers weren’t happy with “just” 375 horsepower 396 Camaros. Those buyers wanted more, and there was a simple solution to the problem for dealers interested in catering to it: More Camaro power could come in the form of a heart transplant from an L72 427 big block either sourced over the counter or yanked from an Impala sitting on the same lot. Jack Stephani owned a Chevrolet dealership in Chicago called Nickey. Jack and his brother Ed got into selling high-performance parts in 1957, and as the muscle car era heated up, they did one of the first 427 engine swaps using a brand-new 1967 Camaro. That prototype got plenty of press coverage, with out-ofsight ETs in the low 11s and a top end of over 124 miles per hour. It was street/strip legal and looked stock. The car propelled Nickey Chevrolet into the super- car business. An explosion of dealership conversions peppered America with variations on the Camaro, Firebird and several intermediate big-block swaps. At Nickey, everything was done professionally, with ingenious solutions from the racing sphere including Dick Harrell-inspired traction arms to prevent leaf-spring wind-up, heavy-duty motor mounts, and uprated radiator and fan systems. In other words, this was a proper conversion that was both reliable and fast. Customers didn’t have to put up with compromises. A last L88 hurrah By 1973, the muscle car era was shutting down. Nickey Chevrolet was about to close its doors at the old location, while Nickey Vice President Al Seelig

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COLLeCtOr’S reSOurCe: You can easily track a car’s value over time with the ACC premium Auction Database, featuring more than 125,000 American cars searchable by year, model, VIN and more. Sign up for just $59 at www.AmericanCarCollector.com! Detailing and Parts Manager Don Swiatek opted to set up shop at another location in Chicago to run as Nickey Chicago. That enterprise existed until 1977. The last conversion job the dealer did before closing its doors in December 1973 was a special request from a Northbrook, IL, resident. The man read a Hot Rod Magazine article on the Nickey Stage III Nova L88 car. He loved the idea but wanted to use a new 1974 Camaro instead. At the time, Nickey offered a Stage III LS6 454 Camaro package. GM no longer carried L88 long blocks, so using that engine was out of the equation. But L88 short blocks were still available over the counter, so they assembled one using cast-iron ZLX open-chamber heads, as the customer planned to do long runs with the car instead of drag race blasts. For the same reason, the rear end got a 3.23-ratio Positraction unit and the engine a low-rise LS6 intake manifold. Thanks to the intake and stock factory hood, the car looked like an LS6 Stage III car instead of an L88 monster. The Corvette L88 hood scoop and mag wheels were among several options a customer could specify for his car, but the original owner went with plain rally wheels and hood, making this Camaro a real sleeper. One of one After this car was built, the Irving Park Road deal- ership closed and Nickey Chicago opened its doors. According to the Nickey NICB files, this is the only second-generation Camaro built with an L88 engine, but there was one other Camaro built using an LS6 engine. It seems fitting that the last conversion car went out like a lion, similar to the first one from 1967. This car was offered for sale in 1980 by its original owner. Rocco Lucente purchased it. Lucente drove the L88 Camaro a short period before pulling it off the road to deal with drivability problems. He believed the car was a Stage III LS6 454 conversion due to the low-rise intake manifold and plain hood as shown in the Nickey flyer. Lucente also had a Nickey order form showing the car was ordered with a high-performance 454 LS6 engine, but it’s gone missing, loaned to a co-worker who never returned it. Lucente pulled the rough-running engine but went no farther before changing his focus. The car sat that way until 2009, when he sold it to Stefano Bimbi, who then sold it to Mike Guarise. While the car was being restored at Wegner Motorsports, the engine was torn down and discovered to be an L88 long block with cast-iron heads sporting 12.5:1 pistons. No wonder Lucente had drivability problems! While this car was restored, a few additions made their way on the body, such as the L88 hood scoop, bumper guards front and back, and a set of beautiful chrome mag wheels with Nickey center caps. One strange detail was left unaltered: The 1975 grille and header panel was left on the car instead of sourcing the correct 1974 pieces, which had the emblem on the grille and a blank header panel. Presumably during one of the original owner’s long high-speed drives, something blitzed the original grille and nose, requiring a replacement. The right money The Nickey Stage III ’74 Camaro is a special car any way you look at it. Dealer-authorized big-block conversions were all done by 1974. Everything afterwards used small blocks, and the alterations were minor in nature. Further, the list of big-block dealer supercar alternatives is short and expensive. Only one other second-gen F-body got an L88 engine from one of these builders, and that was a 1975 Yenko Trans Am. That car went through the Mecum Indy auction in 2011 (ACC# 179363). A documented Yenko car with complete owner history and only 13,000 miles from new, it was bid to $73,000 but didn’t meet reserve. Having a Chevrolet engine within the Trans Am fender wells may have limited its selling price. But while Pontiac purists revere factory engines, the truth is these supercars are aimed at a different buyer; someone who wants eyeball-flattening performance and doesn’t care which engine makes it happen. Phase III Motion Chevelle SS and Camaros have recently crossed the block as well, with bids between $200,000 and $250,000 — not enough to seal the deal. That makes this Nickey Camaro Stage III a pretty good buy at $94k, even with a missing order form and later-model front end. Call it well bought and fairly sold. A (Introductory description courtesy of Mecum Auctions.) September-October 2015 49 Club: www.nickeyperformance.com Alternatives: Baldwin-Motion Phase III Camaro, Yenko Camaro, Yenko Trans Am ACC Investment Grade: B Engine # location: Stamped on block pad in front of passenger’s cylinder head Years produced: 1974 Number produced: Two Original list price: $5,141 Current ACC Valuation: $80,000–$100,000 Tune up cost: $250 Distributor cap: $30.95 VIN location: Driver’s side dashboard, under windshield Comps 1974 Chevrolet Camaro Nickey Stage III Lot S122, VIN: 1S87K4N128358 (subject car) Condition: 2 Not sold at $125,000 Mecum Auctions, Chicago, IL, 10/10/2014 ACC# 256009 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle Yenko S/C Lot S80, VIN: 136379B407823 Condition: 2 Sold at $171,720 Mecum Auctions, St. Charles, IL, 9/15/2011 ACC# 184406 1975 Pontiac Yenko Trans Am L88 Lot F169, VIN: 2W87S5N520320 Condition: 2 Not sold at $73,000 Mecum Auctions, Indianapolis, IN, 5/17/2011 ACC# 179363

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PROFILE FOMOCO Lightweight Price Leader 1963 FORD GALAXIE 500 LIGHTWEIGHT ILE FOMOCO Lightweight Price Leader 1963 FORD GALAXIE 500 LIGHTWEIGHT This This Ford was sold only twice, and both times through the same dealer. It may be the most authentic ’63 Galaxie Lightweight left VIN: 3N66R146755 by Tom Glatch • Number 154 of only 212 built • 1,483 original miles • Correct 427/425-hp R-code engine • Fiberglass front fenders and trunk lid • Heater, radio and armrest delete • Special lightweight interior components • Bostrom lightweight bucket seats • Rubber floor mat • No seam sealer or sound deadener throughout body panels • Aluminum front and rear bumpers and brackets • Four correct 15-inch Kelsey-Hayes wheels, disclaimer in glovebox ACC Analysis This car, Lot S137, sold for $237,600, including buyer’s pre- mium, at Mecum’s massive Indianapolis auction on May 16, 2015. When Raymond Loewy was working for Studebaker in the late ’40s and early ’50s, he had a sign on the wall of his studio that said: “Weight Is The Enemy.” His message to his designers was that American cars were too big and too inefficient. Loewy’s idea didn’t hit home with the Big Three until they became actively involved in drag racing a decade later. Attempting to break the laws of physics with ever-larger engines and more raw horsepower worked fine at first, but when the organizing bodies placed engine-displacement limits for “stock” automobiles at 7 liters (427 ci), the limits of engine design were quickly met. How else to gain an advantage at the drag strip? 50 AmericanCarCollector.com 50 AmericanCarCollector.com Thinking lighter The Mopar guys had the advantage first — actually by default. Chrysler made the decision to downsize their full-sized cars for 1962, down to a slim, trim 116inch wheelbase that in a few years would be considered “mid-sized” or “intermediate.” What turned out to be a disaster in the showrooms — America wasn’t ready for smaller family cars — was a big advantage on the drag strip. The Dodge 330 and Plymouth Savoy Super Stock racers had competitive horsepower out of their 413 Wedge engines, but their small size combined with their unibody construction gave them a decided weight advantage. And Ford, Pontiac, and Chevy now knew who the enemy was: weight. General Motors countered with the Catalina Super Duty and the Chevy Bel Air Z11. Ford began working on their lightweight Galaxie in late ’62, and ultimately 11 were built. Ford intended to race the cars in Super Stock competition, but the NHRA felt they were not stock vehicles and moved them to the Factory Experimental class, where they were uncompetitive against the highly modified vehicles they were forced to race. Built to win Much of what was learned in ’62 was transferred to a full-blown effort the next year. Initially, 50 special Galaxie 500 fastbacks were ordered under option AS225-39D. These cars had a special bill-of-materials for assembly on Ford’s Norfolk line: Corinthian White 63B Special hard-top Tudor sedan, 289 V8 engine, standard 3-speed manual gearbox, and the lighter

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COLLeCtOr’S reSOurCe: You can easily track a car’s value over time with the ACC premium Auction Database, featuring more than 125,000 American cars searchable by year, model, VIN and more. Sign up for just $59 at www.AmericanCarCollector.com! Detailing chassis from the base 300 model. No seam sealer or sound deadener was added in the body shop. The cars were delivered with radio, heater and carpeting delete, with thin rubber mats covering the floor. From the assembly line, they were sent to Ford’s favorite sub-contractor for drag racers, Andy Hotton’s Dearborn Steel Tubing, for conversion into the lightweight racers. This included fiberglass front fenders and hood, aluminum front and rear bumpers and brackets, and lightweight Bostrom bucket seats. Later cars also got fiberglass doors and inner fender wells. Even the sun visors were thin cardboard. Police Interceptor brakes, heavy-duty suspension and Kelsey-Hayes 15-inch wheels were all part of the package, which added $1,414.15 to the Galaxie’s price. The real magic was in Ford’s new 427 R-code engine. It featured an increase in displacement from 406 ci in ’62 and was now right on the 7-liter limit. Twin Holley 4-bbl carbs atop a “High-Riser” manifold were used for Super/Stock competition, the same on a “Low-Riser” for A/Stock. Horsepower was rated at (wink, wink) 425. This was the same basic engine that would win Le Mans in ’66 and ’67, and in single 4-bbl form, earn NASCAR championships in ’63, ’65 and ’68. Fitted to an aluminum BorgWarner T10 4-speed manual with an R.C. Industries bellhousing, it formed a potent powertrain for the lightweight cars. Upping the game Ultimately, 212 lightweight Galaxies were built in 1963, all but one in Corinthian White with Red interiors. They were fast, too. Les Ritchey did a 12.29 at 117.3 quarter with an early car, and Gaspar “Gas” Ronda did 12.07 @ 118.04 with a Galaxie with all the lightweight goodies. Hot Rod magazine observed that while a standard Galaxie fastback weighed 4,150 pounds, “the special lightweight model tips the scales at just 3,480 pounds ready to drag.” Unfortunately for Ford, the competition didn’t rest, either. The small Mopars packed 426 Max Wedge III power and were faster than ever after their own aluminum diet. The Z11 Chevy Impalas had their real fine 409s bored to 427 ci and were given a similar lightweight treatment. And at Pontiac, their big 421-powered Super Duty Catalina went on the most extreme weight reduction program, with so many holes bored in the frame they earned the “Swiss Cheese” nickname. Light on weight, heavy on price For collectors, any of the lightweight drag rac- ers are quite valuable today. Just 14 of the “Swiss Cheese” Pontiacs were built before and (don’t tell anyone) a few months after the GM racing ban in January 1963. The few “Swiss Cheese” cars that remain have sold for as much as $462,000 at auction. The Z11 Impalas are almost as rare (23 built), and almost as legendary, and have topped $325,000. But at 212 Galaxie Lightweights built, and an estimated 150 still in existence, the lack of rarity hurts their values, with most selling in the mid-$100k range. But not this Ford, which may be the most authentic ’63 Galaxie Lightweight there is. It was sold only twice, and both times through the same dealer. The dealer who sold it new bought the Galaxie back from the original owner and then sold it to Danny Hill, who had the Lightweight in his large collection for over 20 years. It has just 1,483 miles on the odometer, and since these cars were much too fragile for regular street use, we can assume most of these miles came a quarter-mile at a time. The only thing that could be missing is the provenance of a major race victory or top-flight driver, but that didn’t seem to hurt the price at all. At $237,600, this makes this the highest price of any ’63 Galaxie Lightweight sold at auction by far, but to me it’s worth every penny. And compared with its GM competition, it’s still a bargain. I’d call that an exceptional sale for Mr. Hill, yet well bought by the new owner.A (Introductory description courtesy of Mecum Auctions.) 1963 Ford Galaxie 500 Lightweight Lot 573, VIN: 3N66R142720 Condition: 2+ Sold at $106,700 Club: Ford Galaxie Club of America Original list price: $4,197 Current ACC Valuation: $100,000–$200,000 Tune-up/major service: $300 Distributor cap: $15.97 (non-OEM) VIN location: Tab attached to the top right side (weld flange) of the dash panel in the engine compartment Engine # location: Casting number on front of block, toward passenger’s side Years produced: 1962–64 Number produced: 212 (1963) More: www.galaxieclub.com Alternatives: 1963 Chevrolet Impala Z11, 1963 Pontiac Catalina Super Duty “Swiss Cheese,” 1963 Plymouth Savoy Max Wedge III ACC Investment Grade: B Comps 1963 Ford Galaxie 500 Lightweight Lot 179, VIN: 3N66R144637 Condition: 2+ Sold at $134,200 Bonhams, Scottsdale, AZ, 1/16/2014 ACC# 232125 1963 Ford Galaxie 500 Lightweight Lot S129.1, VIN: 3N66R140512 Condition: 3Sold at $93,090 ACC# 227292 Mecum Auctions, Dallas, TX, 9/5/2013 Auctions America by RM, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 3/23/2013 ACC# 215754 September-October 2015 51CC 51

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PROFILE MOPAR 1967 DODGE CORONET R/T 440 Market-Price Monster Mopar Courtesy of Auctions America Make no mistake, these cars pack a punch. They just don’t advertise that fact VIN: WS23L77226939 by Tom Glatch D 52 AmericanCarCollector.com 52 AmericanCarCollector.com odge’s response to the muscle car movement in 1967 was the Coronet R/T, a high-performance package that included the new 375-horsepower “Wedgehead” 440-ci Magnum V8 engine. Fed by a 4-barrel AFB carburetor, the Magnum en- gine very effectively reduced the rear wheels to smoke with 480 foot-pounds of torque at hand. Standard on the R/T was the TorqueFlite automatic transmission (this one has the optional manual 4-speed), special racing stripes (dealer added, if desired) and identification, Redline tires, deluxe steering wheel, a beefed-up suspension with heavy-duty shocks, springs, torsion bars and front sway bar, a 70-amp battery and heavyduty brakes. Priced at $426 more than the standard Coronet 500, including its comfort and convenience features such as bucket seats, console and full wheel covers, the Coronet R/T proved to be immensely popular, with production amounting to over 10,000 units. The car offered here is as a frame-off-restored 440 Magnum Coronet R/T finished with Code P Bright Red exterior paint (per data tag) and a black bucketseat vinyl interior. It is equipped with the rebuilt original 440-ci, 375-hp V8 engine and desirable 4-speed manual transmission. This is a well-equipped example that features, in addition to the above-mentioned standards, air conditioning, factory Road Wheels, black vinyl top, AM/FM radio, tachometer to the right of the steering column, power steering and brakes with front discs. ACC Analysis This car, Lot 2070, sold for $35,200, including buyer’s pre- mium, at Auctions America’s Auburn auction on May 9, 2015. Under the market radar It’s easy for the average gearhead to lament the ’60s muscle car market. GTOs, SS 396 Chevelles, Road Runners, Super Bees — you name them, the prices have probably gone sky high. For those buyers looking for inexpensive muscle, it can seem like all that’s left are slugs from the ’70s, fake “tribute” cars, or other clones with no authenticity and little real value. Yet, for whatever reason, there are muscle cars the fly under the market radar. Case in point: this 1967 Dodge Coronet R/T 440. Maybe it’s the car’s understated style that keeps its profile low — no gaudy graphics and psychedelic paint colors. But make no mistake, these cars pack a punch; they just don’t advertise that fact. How much punch? “Dandy” Dick Landy set the AHRA B/SA National Record in 1967 with a Coronet R/T 440 at 12.61 @ 110.02 mph. Those were mostly stock automobiles running headers and slicks (and a

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COLLeCtOr’S reSOurCe: You can easily track a car’s value over time with the ACC premium Auction Database, featuring more than 125,000 American cars searchable by year, model, VIN and more. Sign up for just $59 at www.AmericanCarCollector.com! Detailing Original list price: $3,052 Current ACC Valuation: $29,500–$39,500 Tune-up/major service: $250 Distributor cap: $22.58 VIN location: Plate on the driver’s side instrument panel behind windshield Engine # location: Pad on the right side of the block to the rear of the engine mount Years produced: 1967 Number produced: 10,109 (hard top) little of Landy’s legendary tuning magic). In a magazine road test, Motor Trend saw 0–60 in 7.2 seconds, and the quarter in 15.4 on street tires with a passenger in the front seat (hanging on for dear life, I imagine). Not a Hemi, but close So how did the Coronet R/T 440 compare with its more famous (and temperamental) cousin, the Street Hemi? Motor Trend, in their June 1967 publication, tried to put the issue to rest. “Ever since early in the model year, when we saw the more down-to-earth Magnum consistently whip one of its exotic King Kong Hemi brethren in a series of quarter-mile bashes, we have wondered about the phrase “…performance approaches that of the 426 Hemi …” in Dodge’s descriptive literature for the Magnum engine. For this reason we decided to get one of each, identically equipped in all essential respects, and make a mano-a-mano, to borrow an expression from bullfighting, trial of the two.” On the drag strip, with street tires, they discovered: “When running together, the Magnum would leap into the lead at the start, and the Hemi would start to close rapidly and catch it at the end — but just after the quarter mark and the end of the race. Also, another thing we came to notice about both cars that added to our enjoyment and which we feel any owner would doubly appreciate: the sheer ruggedness and built-to-last impression we got from testing them. They seemed to thrive on the kind of treatment we gave them. No howls developed in the rear axles: nothing seemed about to break or fall off. In short, they seemed completely unaffected by all the hard running, and they ran better afterwards.” Top muscle Road Test magazine called the Coronet R/T “the top muscle car in 1967,” and when you look at its comparably priced competition, they might be right. Other than the Coronet’s cousin, the Plymouth GTX, everyone had much smaller engines at the top of their regular options, from the Ford and Mercury’s 390, and Chevrolet’s 396, to the 400-ci engines powering the GTO, Olds 442 and Buick GS. While the others had their own attributes, you really got more raw bang with the R/T. So why do the Chevelle SS 396s average $50,000 to $70,000 or more (add at least $10k for a convertible)? Or GTOs average just a bit less than the Chevy? It’s the age-old pro-Chevrolet/pro-Pontiac bias of the marketplace. And while Mopar certainly has its own strong following, the later more in-your-face cars tend to be most sought after in the market today. The more subtle-looking ones, like our subject car, don’t have the same premiums assigned to them, but that can make them great cars to buy and use. Today, most interest in the ’67 Coronet R/T 440 tends to be in convertibles (628 made out of 10,109). But hard tops are the real bargain, if you can find a good one. This Coronet R/T is a good one, with plenty of factory options, including the difficult-to-find 4-speed manual (1,355 made). With factory air, power steering and front disc brakes, this is about as good as it gets for ’60s Mopar drivability, so this can be a frequent driver for the new owner. Even though this ’67 Coronet R/T sold right on the money in today’s market, after nearly a half-century, it’s still a performance bargain. Well bought. A (Introductory description courtesy of Auctions America.) 1967 Dodge Coronet R/T 440 Lot 918, VIN: WS23L77108689 Condition: 3+ Sold at $29,160 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ, 1/14/2006 ACC# 40271 Club: The WPC Club Inc. More: www.chryslerclub.org Alternatives: 1966–67 Plymouth GTX, 1966–67 Pontiac GTO, 1966–67 Chevrolet Chevelle SS396 ACC Investment Grade: C Comps 1967 Dodge Coronet R/T 440 convertible Lot 5163, VIN: WS276L77171437 Condition: 3 Sold at $24,200 Auctions America, Auburn, IN, 8/30/2014 ACC# 245279 1967 Dodge Coronet R/T 440 Lot F92, VIN: WS23L77129049 Condition: 3 Not sold at $28,000 Mecum Auctions, Kansas City, MO, 12/5/2013 ACC# 231814 September-October 2015 September-October 2015 53

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PROFILE HOT ROD & CUSTOM 1939 FORD MODEL 91A DELUXE COUPE Mild Rod Brings Serious Price Courtesy of Bonhams A frame-off restoration, new black paint and a crimson interior — along with a hopped-up flathead — make this car a get-inand-drive-it proposition VIN: 184899568 by Ken Gross flathead V8 was rebuilt to have a bit more juice. The engine was bored 0.125 over, fitted with Egge custom four-ring pistons, and a four-inch Mercury crank. Offenhauser finned 9:1 high compression cylinder heads, an Edelbrock dual manifold, a Mallory electronic distributor and an Iskenderian three-quarterrace cam round out the engine modifications. The 3-speed manual transmission was retained, T 54 AmericanCarCollector.com but with a 12-pound aluminum flywheel and a 10-inch pressure plate. The rear end was rebuilt with a Getz 3.54:1 ring and pinion. The original electrical system was updated to 12 volts and an alternator replaced the Ford generator. Finished in six coats of True Black high-gloss paint and skinned inside with bright red vinyl, this classic Ford took five years to complete. ACC Analysis This car, Lot 212, sold for $77,000, including buyer’s pre- mium, at Bonhams’ auction on May 31, 2015, in Greenwich, CT. Bonhams’ pre-sale estimate on this car was $52,500 to $57,500. Ford Motor Company’s handsome ’39 models were designed by E.T. “Bob” Gregorie, whose nautical design training was evident in the car’s long hood that his nicely restored and very mildly uprated DeLuxe coupe is a perfect example of how it was done back in the period. The subject of a complete, frame-off restoration, the original steel body was refurbished, while the original resembled an inverted dory, a sharply vee-ed grille, prominent catwalks over bulbous fenders with oval Art Deco lenses and, for the first time, sealed beam headlamps. The roofline was a compound curve that began at the top of the fold-out windshield, arched skyward just a tad, and then flowed gracefully to the rear in a lovely S-shaped arc. Henry Ford eschewed hydraulic brakes for years, touting “the safety of steel from pedal to wheel,” and clinging to push-and-pray cable-operated drums that worked decently but were inferior to most of the competition. 1939 was Ford’s first year for Lockheed hydraulics. Aping the Gregorie-designed Lincoln-Zephyrs, the ’39’s handsome low grille allowed Ford’s engineers to mount the cooling fan on the crankshaft pulley. 1939 was the last year for a languid, goose-necked floor shift for the 3-speed manual gearbox. And the convertible coupe offered a rumble seat for the final time. The ’39’s widely admired stock teardrop taillights (a carryover from 1938) found their way onto countless early coupes and roadsters. The hot ticket In the late 1950s, hot-rod-minded kids from Maine to California were very attracted to Ford’s pre-war coupes. Relatively lightweight, possessing handsome lines, available for under $200, these cars were the perfect platform for a potent street machine. Equipped with a modified flathead, or an Olds or Cad pushrod

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COLLeCtOr’S reSOurCe: You can easily track a car’s value over time with the ACC premium Auction Database, featuring more than 125,000 American cars searchable by year, model, VIN and more. Sign up for just $59 at www.AmericanCarCollector.com! Detailing Year produced: 1939 Number produced: 33,326 DeLuxe V8 coupes (38,197 Standards) Current ACC Valuation: $40,000–$60,000, depending on condition and equipment Distributor cap: $20 VIN location: Stamped on the left front frame rail Engine # location: Top of transmission bellhousing Tune-up, major service: $200 V8 with substantially more displacement, these were the cars to have regardless of whether they were mildly customized or just left stock in appearance. Before Chevrolet’s small block ran the flatheads out of business, a plethora of speed equipment was available to boost a stock flatty’s 85 to 100 horses up to 150 hp or more. Hot cams, finned aluminum high-compression heads, multi-carburetor manifolds, modified ignitions and headers were available at local speed shops or by mail order from merchants like “Honest Charley” Card in Chattanooga, JC Whitney in Chicago, Lewie Shell in L.A., or directly from the speed equipment manufacturers themselves. Primered or painted, flamed and pinstriped, these likeable coupes were highly desired. If you sold one, you always wanted it back. Moonshiners loved Ford’s ’39 and ’40 Ford coupes because the trunks were enormous and suitable for hauling whiskey crates packed with amber jars of ’shine. Stock-car racers liked them too, and many coupe bodies were smashed beyond rebuilding after competing on bullrings across the USA. Many ’39s were run hard and put away wet. Rusted quarter panels, butchered chassis and aromatic old mohair await the restorer or hot-rodder who finds an old coupe and wants to bring it back. In this case, a claimed frame-off restoration, new black paint and a crimson interior — along with a hopped-up flathead — make this car a get-in-anddrive-it proposition. Black and white and red all over Some mild customizing was done here, and not for the better. The lower hood-side trim spears were removed, the trunk lid was dechromed and the “Ford DeLuxe” trim lettering was moved from the front of the hood to the hood sides. Blue-dot taillight lenses were illegal in mid-century because they resembled police lights. And liberal lashings of red paint aren’t to everyone’s taste. The restorers trimmed the engine compartment, painted the block red — and even the aluminum heads got a few red accents. A red interior, red steel wheels and wide whitewalls were not unknown in the period, but they make this otherwise nice coupe a bit garish. It’s great to keep the flathead, but the modern Mallory ignitor and chromed alternator make it strictly 21st century. Interestingly, this car doesn’t seem to be lowered. Back in the day, rodders installed dropped beam axles and reverse-eye springs in front and either Zee-ed the frames or reworked the rear crossmember to get their rides down in the weeds. These cars look a lot better that way, so I’m surprised the builder didn’t go that route. Decent comparable ’39 coupes are often listed for sale at prices ranging from $38,500 to $45,000 today. Beyond that, a modified flathead like this one has, with proper go-fast goodies, can easily run $10k to $12k by itself. So at $77,000, unless this coupe was a stone rust bucket that needed a huge amount of metalwork, the seller probably got his money back. I’d call this ’39 quite well sold. All in the details But… if it were my car, I’d drop it substantially all around, paint nearly all the red parts black, swap a Powermaster PowerGEN (it works like an alternator but looks like an old generator), disguise the Mallory distributor, paint the wheels black and get rid of those whitewalls, hit up LeBaron Bonney for an originalstyle optional tan leather interior, replace the decklid handle and re-install the hood trim. Then you’d have a pretty nice period-style ’39 Ford coupe. A (Introductory description courtesy of Bonhams.) 1939 Ford Standard coupe Lot 248, VIN: 6793 Condition: 2+ Sold at $36,750 Clubs: Goodguys, National Street Rod Association (NSRA) More: www.good-guys.com, www.nsra.com Alternatives: Any vintage Ford custom or hot rod, 1932–41 ACC Investment Grade: C Comps 1939 Ford DeLuxe custom Lot 252, VIN: 185150549 Condition: 2Sold at $41,250 RM Sotheby’s, Fort Worth, TX, 5/2/2015 ACC# 265125 1939 Ford DeLuxe coupe Lot 138, VIN: 185090793 Condition: 2 Sold at $78,100 RM Auctions, Plymouth, MI, 7/27/2013 ACC# 227536 McCormick’s Auctions, Palm Springs, CA, 2/24/2013 ACC# 215371 September-October 2015 55

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PROFILE AMERICANA 1978 CHECKER CAB Checkered Past, But Priced Right Pawel Litwinski, courtesy of Bonhams The independent cabbie claimed this Marathon carried Jacqueline Onassis, Muhammad Ali, Elizabeth Arden and Walter Cronkite VIN: A11299882936E by Jeff Zurschmeide • Last working Checker cab in New York City • Preserved in “as-retired” condition • Over $12,000 in recent service • Six-cylinder engine • Three-speed automatic transmission • Coil-spring front and leaf-spring rear suspension ACC Analysis This car, Lot 259, sold for $7,700, including buyer’s premium, at Bonhams’ Greenwich Concours d’Elegance sale in Greenwich, CT, on May 31, 2015. The universal taxi In all the history of the automobile, there are few more recognizable models than the venerable Checker Marathon. If you rode in a taxicab in the second half of the 20th century, chances are good you rode in a Checker. What’s even more interesting is that you couldn’t easily tell if the Checker you were riding in had been built in the 1960s, ’70s, or the early 1980s — the cars simply never changed very much. Like a shark — or maybe a cockroach, depending on your point of view — the Checker Marathon was perfectly evolved to survive in its environment. As a car company, Checker was always an anomaly, producing anywhere from 1,000 to 8,000 cars per year. In comparison, that was just about one day’s output for Chevrolet in that era. Checker had produced taxis since the 1920s, and after the Marathon 56 AmericanCarCollector.com 56 AmericanCarCollector.com went out of production, the company continued producing body panels and parts for other automakers until the economic downturn in 2009 shut their doors. The Marathon and its related models were produced, essentially unchanged, from 1960 to 1982. One area where the Marathon did change over time was in its engine. At the start of the production run, Checker bought both flathead and overhead-valve straight-6 engines from Continental Motors Company, ranging from 80 to 140 horsepower. But in 1965, the company changed to Chevy engines, offering the good ol’ 230-ci inline 6-cylinder engine and the small-block V8. Over the years, Checker kept pace with Chevrolet,

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COLLeCtOr’S reSOurCe: You can easily track a car’s value over time with the ACC premium Auction Database, featuring more than 125,000 American cars searchable by year, model, VIN and more. Sign up for just $59 at www.AmericanCarCollector.com! Detailing Years produced: 1960–82 Number produced: About 100,000 Original list price: $6,419 Current ACC Valuation: $7,000–$15,000 Tune-up cost: $200 Distributor cap: $20 VIN location: Upper firewall Engine # location: Front of engine block, stamped in pad in front of passenger’s cylinder head (SBC) Club: The Checker Car Club of America offering current 6-cylinder and V8 engines through 1982. If you’re ever shopping for a Checker Marathon, note that the 1969 model with the 350 V8 offered up to 300 horsepower if you got the 4-main L48 engine equipped with a 4-barrel carburetor. That’s by far the most powerful Marathon ever made. The last Checker cab in NYC This particular Checker Marathon has been verified as the last working Checker cab in New York City. It was retired from service in a Times Square ceremony in July of 1999. The independent cabbie who had owned the car claimed that in the course of almost 21 years, this Marathon had carried celebrities including Jacqueline Onassis, Muhammad Ali, Elizabeth Arden and Walter Cronkite. Overall, the car’s in pretty good shape, considering its age and mileage. For a car that worked its way through 21 New York winters, it has remarkably little visible rust. Sure, there’s some bubbling up around all the usual places, but the car is far from a rust-bucket. The bumper overriders have been mashed in, but that really just adds to the authentic “as-retired” patina. The interior seems to be in good shape, right down to the optional rear-facing jump seats in the passenger’s area. And the car comes with its working fare meter. All in all, this is a solid car and a good choice for a collector. But there’s a lesson in this car and its auction listing, and that lesson is for buyers to do their own homework. Here’s why: Bonhams listed this car as a 1965 Checker Marathon, but according to the VIN and build plates, it’s a 1978 model. They also said the car has four-wheel drum brakes. According to the VIN plate and the big vacuum booster visible on the brake master cylinder, the car has power front discs. Bonhams says the engine is a 230-ci inline 6-cyl- inder rated at 140 horsepower, but a 1978 Marathon came with a 250-ci straight 6 at 105 or 110 horsepower. Further, the engine bay photos clearly show a V6 under the hood. The listing does state that this Checker is on its third engine, but Bonhams should have noticed the difference and mentioned something in their catalog copy. Fair market price Most Checker sales in the past five to 10 years have hit a price somewhere between $7,000 and $15,000. But there are plenty that change hands at less than $5,000 and very few that sell higher than $15k. One that sold for $35,000 is reputed to be the very cab that Lee Harvey Oswald hailed after shooting President Kennedy in Dallas (ACC# 162914), and a Marathon that had been carefully restored sold for $25,000. Those are the true outliers. This Marathon sold at a marketcorrect price of $7,700, given its condition. What makes this sale interesting is that just after this car was decommissioned as the last Checker cab licensed to operate in New York in 1999, it sold at auction for $134,500. Read that again — I didn’t add any zeroes. The car changed hands privately in 2006, and we don’t know what that price was, but it sure looks like at least one seller took a major haircut on this car. So what’s the bottom line? Collectibility is in the eye of the beholder, and owning the very last Checker cab to ply the streets of the Big Apple apparently doesn’t count for much. In the end, this is just another Checker cab, and if the 1999 buyer thought it was something special, he was wrong. A (Introductory description courtesy of Bonhams.) 1962 Checker Marathon Series A11 (Lee Harvey Oswald Cab) RM Auctions, Cresson, TX, 6/5/2010 ACC# 162914 More: checkertaxistand.com Alternatives: 1953–57 Chevrolet 150, 1955–56 Dodge Coronet, 1952–56 Ford Mainline ACC Investment Grade: D Comps 1968 Checker Marathon Lot 901, VIN: A122095182847A Condition: 3 Sold at $6,050 Leake, Tulsa, OK, 6/9/2013 ACC# 225700 1965 Checker Marathon Park Avenue Cab Lot 304, VIN: A12373727290 Condition: 2 Sold at $25,740 Bonhams, Greenwich, CT, 6/5/2011 ACC# 182221 Lot 128, VIN: A11L12844329 Condition: 4Sold at $35,750 September-October 2015 57CC 57

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PROFILE RACE 1966 FORD MUSTANG SCCA A/SEDAN GROUP 2 RACER Ford’s Shelby Racer Phillip Pietri, courtesy of Mecum Auctions Ford was proud of their package for the street, but they knew that for track dominance, the Shelby magic wand would have to be waved VIN: 6R07K191915 by Sam Stockham • 1966 Ford Mustang Notchback No. 16 built by Shelby American • One of 16 1966 SCCA A/Sedan Group 2 cars • Largely unrestored and never raced • Painted orange by original owner • Sat from 1977 to 2014 • Copy of letter from Rick Kopec of Shelby American Automobile Club verifying authenticity • 289/350-hp Trans-Am spec engine • Aluminum high-rise intake • Holley 715 CFM carburetor • BorgWarner close-ratio T10 4-speed transmission • 18-quart Ford Galaxie radiator • 11.3-inch front disc brakes • 10 x 2.5-inch rear drum brakes • Koni shocks and one-inch sway bar • Lowered A-arms and four-point roll bar • Maintenance on critical systems only • New master cylinder and rear wheel cylinders • New front calipers and pads • Rebuilt proportioning valve and new rubber lines • Heads hot-tanked, blasted and Magnafluxed • Oil pan dropped and pump flushed • Original calipers and pads included ACC Analysis This car, Lot T219, sold for 58 AmericanCarCollector.com $135,000, including buyer’s pre- mium, at Mecum’s Indy 2015 sale in Indianapolis, IN, on May 14, 2015. Raise your hand if you think race cars are cool. That’s what I’ve always thought. We all want to drive them. Every car guy at some point in his life fantasized about the satisfaction of victory from behind the wheel. It’s what men do. In the early days, a race car started life as the same cars we drove on the streets, and the manufacturers liked it that way. Race on Sunday, sell on Monday. There was a simplicity to it. In 1965, the only man cooler than race cars them- selves was Carroll Shelby. Shelby’s race teams made a significant statement in 1965 with the GT350R, and Ford wanted in on the action. Coincidentally, in 1965, the SCCA decided to create a manufacturers championship series for the 1966 season. The professional series, The Trans-American Sedan Championship (Trans-Am for short), got Ford’s attention. They were after the Manufacturer’s Trophy, and who better to help them get it than Carroll Shelby? Ford goes racing Ford believed wholeheartedly in the GT350R competition cars that Shelby had built and wanted to duplicate the recipe. In order to be compliant with the new FIA Appendix “J” rules for sedans, the cars needed to be just that: sedans. The fastback GT350R didn’t qualify. Ford fixed that problem by coming up with a short run of 20 notchback cars that were sold to Shelby

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COLLeCtOr’S reSOurCe: You can easily track a car’s value over time with the ACC premium Auction Database, featuring more than 125,000 American cars searchable by year, model, VIN and more. Sign up for just $59 at www.AmericanCarCollector.com! was presumably driven on the street until about 1977 when, according to recent pictures, it was stuffed in a garage and covered with random automotive junk like a depressing episode of “Hoarders.” Under examination, it looks like the car is in rather American directly (according to window stickers) for modification to Group 1 and 2 specs. Four of the 20 cars were converted to Group 1 specs and the remaining 16 to Group 2 specs. All 20 notchbacks were produced in Wimbeldon White with black interiors. In keeping with the elstrippo weight-saving tradition of race cars, all were deleted of hubcaps, stabilizer bars, front seat belts and outside mirrors. One was even heater-box delete. The fun stuff did include the 271-hp Hi-Po 289 with a 4-speed and a 3.89:1-ratio “no-spin” locking rear differential, disc brakes, GT fog lamps and heavy-duty suspension. While Ford was proud of their package for the street, they knew that for track dominance, the Shelby magic wand would have to be waved. The Group 2 cars got a full complement of Shelby gauges and a wood-rimmed steering wheel. Group 2 specs required that all sedans retain seating for four, full door panels and a dashpad. In the trunk went a 32-gallon fuel tank with a flip cap and splash bucket. The suspension rework included lowered front control arms and traction bars that most other racers left out of the equation. These can be a valuable clue to authenticity on these cars. Runs like a Shelby The real magic was under the hood. A GT350R-spec engine replaced the Hi-Po unit, which only sounds like heresy. These mills were balanced, blueprinted, ported and polished all to GT350R specs. Induction was courtesy of a Cobra hi-rise aluminum intake topped with a Holley 715 CFM carburetor. A larger finned oil pan, an oil cooler and a high-capacity radiator rounded out the package to keep the internals from becoming externals. On the track, these cars were only slightly off of the GT350R pace due to added weight. So we know the cars were potent, but the slight rub here is that these are still Ford cars as opposed to receiving new serial numbers from Shelby. This ensured that, if these cars won, Ford — and not Shelby — received the Manufacturer’s Trophy. Adding to the rub was the fact that many privateers purchased their own notchbacks and acquired all the modification components directly from Shelby’s shelves. That leads us to our subject car. Garage find This car was the last produced and is claimed to really have no race history at all. It is known that the car was first purchased by one of Shelby’s employees, and by 1969, it was on a used-car lot. This may point directly to the demand at the time for these cars, when any Tom, Dick or Harry could build one himself. It September-October 2015 59 raggedy condition and just sort of complete. It is stated that the original owner was responsible for picking the dashing shade of “unsightly orange,” as it should be properly named, which is now disturbingly oxidized for being indoors all of those years. No doubt, this car was basically forgotten about for 38 years before the basics were addressed to make it run again. It appears that the steering wheel is incorrect, the oil cooler was better utilized elsewhere, the air cleaner grew legs and walked away, the fog lights found a new home, and the one-size-fits-all top radiator hose is fooling nobody. So what’s good? Well, maybe that it was never raced. This could be the tightest body of the bunch depending on what happened to it on the street. No mention is made of miles, which is usually a moot point when talking race cars, but is this a race car? If this car became a unibody wet noodle, all that is left is the story of its origin and not much else. Personally, I think this is a cool car, but all of the others have better history and some have been restored to high standards. Value in lineage In 2013, car #12 sold for an amazing $400,000. That car has the most documented race history of all 16 cars and has been very nicely restored to 1966 race spec. If you invested another $100,000 in a restoration of car #16, would you have another $400,000 hit? I would not think so because of its history, or lack thereof. Very nice clones of this car that have all the eyeball and twice the performance sell in this same price range when done to a high level. So where do we peg the price? In comparison with a GT350R, with which it shares build lineage, it’s a steal. If you want to give a history lesson, you can tell everyone about what great cars all the others were on the track, just not yours. That takes a little zip off of ownership. This feels like strong money for a story that is just okay. But in reality, it has that Shelby race lineage — not Shelby street-car lineage — and that will always bring a premium even though it does not carry a Shelby serial number. There is not a big market here, so I don’t think anyone walked away the supreme victor on this transaction. But as a mostly all-there Shelby-built racer from the era, it certainly satisfies that simple race car cool factor. I’ll call it market price. A (Introductory description courtesy of Mecum Auctions.) 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Trans-Am Lot S134, VIN: 18159 Condition: 2+ ACC# 209471 Not sold at $300,000 Mecum Auctions, Monterey, CA, 8/16/2012 Detailing Tune-up/major service: $400 Distributor cap: $15 VIN location: Stamped on top of left front fender apron Engine # location: Tag attached to engine under coil bolt, casting numbers on passenger’s side rear of block, above starter Years produced: 1966 Number produced: 20 (four Group 1, 16 Group 2) Original MSRP: $5,500 Current ACC Valuation: $100,000–$400,000 (depending on race history and condition) Clubs: Mustang Club of America, SAAC More: www.mustang.org, www.saac.com Alternatives: 1966 Shelby GT350, any Group 2 Trans-Am racer ACC Investment Grade: B Comps 1967 Shelby Mustang Trans-Am Lot 3116, VIN: 7R01K218307 Condition: 1- Not sold at $190,000 Auctions America, Burbank, CA, 8/1/2014 ACC# 244563 1966 Ford Mustang Trans-Am Lot S692, VIN: 6F07K319819 Condition: 2 Sold at $132,000 Russo and Steele, Scottsdale, AZ, 1/20/2013 ACC# 214976

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PROFILE TRUCK 1980 JEEP CJ-5 WRANGLER RENEGADE A Go-Anywhere Collectible Courtesy of Auctions America Open-air Jeeps are hardly practical, but I’ve never heard anyone say, “Hey, you know, that Steve McQueen sure was a practical guy” 60 AmericanCarCollector.com 60 AmericanCarCollector.com VIN: JOM83AB714427 by Jay Harden W ith a striking color combination of brown exterior and tan interior, this 1980 Jeep also has orange Renegade graphics, orange to yellow tones of stripes and period-correct white steel wheels. The Jeep is reported as running with the “rare” 2.5-liter inline 4-cylinder engine that is also known as the “iron duke.” This is paired with a 4-speed manual transmission and has the popular 4x4 drive system. The CJ5 has received a recent, sympathetic mechanical restoration that is complemented by what is described as totally original paint. This stunning vehicle is further reported to be sparingly used and has a soft top, roll bar with padding, trailer hitch, dual mirrors, rear-mounted matching spare, rear seat, seat belts and power steering. Fully sorted and called a “unique classic,” this Jeep Wrangler can be easily used for daily service or displayed in a collection of similar vehicles. ACC Analysis This car, Lot 1129, sold for $18,000, including buyer’s pre- mium, at Auctions America’s sale in Auburn, IN, on May 8, 2015. The universal cool The bearded Dos Equis beer guy, better known as “The Most Interesting Man in the World,” most likely doesn’t drive much, but when he does, he probably drives an old Jeep — and for good reason. What other form of four-wheeled transportation is as universally appealing as it is functional — one as equally at home cruising the local high-school parking lot, commuting to the office, or scouting along dusty forest roads? If we look to movies and television as a barometer for coolness and utility, Jeeps, the CJ-5 and 7 in particular, must be the automotive equivalent of Kevin Bacon — think Six Degrees of CJ. They’re sexy enough for Daisy Duke and Barbie, durable enough for Jurassic Park, the A-Team, and bad guys everywhere, but also approachable and endearing enough for Gumby and the “Cars” movies. Perhaps the most telling tribute to the classic Jeeps’ character is that there really is no stereotypical Jeep owner in terms of age, gender, bank account or social status — a fact not to be idly dismissed. Of course, the argument could be made that the open-air Jeeps are fairly worthless if you value such nonsense as practicality, but I’ve never heard of anyone saying, “Hey, you know, that Steve McQueen sure

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COLLeCtOr’S reSOurCe: The easiest way to track a car’s value over time is the ACC premium Auction Database, featuring more than 125,000 American cars searchable by year, make, model, VIN and more. Sign up at www.AmericanCarCollector.com. Detailing Years produced: 1954–83 Number produced: 14,156 (1980) Current ACC Valuation: $8,000–$15,000 Original list price: $6,195 (1980) Engine # location: Stamped number on block deck was a practical guy.” Sure, CJs are cold in the winter, hot in the summer, leaky and foggy when it rains, and plodding and wandering on asphalt. They’re neither as comfortable as a car nor as dutiful as a truck. But so what? There’s something empowering about staring down the daily commute with the reckless abandon we so often forfeit on our path through adulthood, and few experiences can evoke youthful vigor like blasting down a side street with no roof over your head or doors to keep you safe. And yes, Mr. McQueen had a chrome rollbarred CJ-5 of his own. Off-road for everyone The first civilian Jeeps hit the U.S. consumer market under the Willys moniker around the close of World War II. They were updated only incrementally over the next decade. The Kaiser-Frazer Corporation then acquired the Willys-Overland Corporation in 1953, and immediately began exerting their influence. The CJ-5 was the result of the new leadership’s vision, and debuted on October 11, 1954. With a stretched wheelbase and a somewhat softer, more stylish visage, the newest CJ proved more comfortable, capable, and versatile than its predecessors. Over the next 30 years of production — the longest ever production run for any Jeep vehicle — the CJ-5 evolved slowly, with the most dramatic updates being found under the hood. The “Dauntless” Buick 225-ci V6 was introduced in 1965, and nearly doubled the output of the standard-issue four. Following the sale of Kaiser Industries to AMC in 1970, the CJs picked up a few more inches in the hood and wheelbase to accommodate two more cylinders in the form of AMC-built 304 and 360 V8s. In 1976, the CJ-7 was introduced to the public, and represented the most significant Jeep update in two decades. The wheelbase was again stretched to pro- vide enough wiggle room to cram an automatic transmission between the front seats, and, for the first time, a cozy little hard top was made available to improve the Jeep’s all-weather capabilities and broaden its daily-driver appeal. However, it took nearly a decade for the CJ-7 to kill off its older sibling — a testament to the durability, simplicity and lovability of the 5. Easy and hard to find To be honest, the market has, in my opinion, gone a little bonkers for four-wheel-drives in the past few years, and, strangely enough, the 4x4s don’t seem to be held to the same quality standard we impart on cars of similar vintage. Toyota FJs and early Ford Broncos are perfect examples of simple, quality machines that have skyrocketed in value over the past decade, but whose average sale price appears little affected by fit, finish or originality. I’m as much a sucker for giant mud tires and hood scoops as the next guy, but I don’t expect to pay a premium for them simply because old four-bys are suddenly the latest infatuation for the newly initiated. And I think that’s why I like this CJ so much. When evaluating older four-wheel-drive vehicles, it’s important to keep in mind that most were purchased and used — shockingly — for actually working off paved roads. As such, many, if not most, bear the bumps, bruises and blisters of a lifetime of utility. Old Jeeps seem even more inclined than most to carry the ravages of the elements simply because they are, by design, so much more exposed. As a result, finding a nice, mostly original example is more difficult than the 30-year production run would suggest. According to the ACC Pocket Price Guide, CJ-5s should fall somewhere between about $8k and $15k, and I don’t expect those numbers to fluctuate significantly in the coming years for a couple of reasons: First, there are a lot of Jeeps out there, even if the really good ones are thinner on the ground. They’re easy to fix, and they’re desirable without the element of fanaticism that can so easily turn a market on its head. Simple, rugged and fun is probably the best way to describe an old CJ, and this particular example fits that description to a tee. Although it sold for a tick over our high estimate, the price paid is still reasonable. I love the period paint and graphics, which are just old enough and ugly enough to be cool again, and the likelihood of finding a similarly unmolested and complete example is slim to none. I’ll call it a great deal for both parties all day long. A (Introductory description courtesy of Auctions America.) September-October 2015 61CC 61 1965 Jeep CJ-5 Tuxedo Park Mark IV Lot 459, VIN: 832212891 Condition: 3- ACC# 257100 Not sold at $14,000 Silver Auctions, Fort McDowell, AZ, 1/17/2015 Tune-up/major service: $150 Distributor cap: $6 VIN location: Driver’s side dash Club: www.jeep-cj.com Alternatives: 1969–72 Chevrolet Blazer, 1966–77 Ford Bronco, 1971–80 International Harvester Scout II ACC Investment Grade: C Comps 1976 Jeep CJ-5 Levi’s Edition Lot 229, VIN: J6M83AA066051 Condition: 3Sold at $7,290 Silver Auctions, Fort McDowell, AZ, 1/17/2015 ACC# 256983 1974 Jeep CJ-5 Lot 174, VIN: J4F835TA62619 Condition: 2 Sold at $11,000 Leake, Oklahoma City, OK, 2/22/2014 ACC# 238845

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mArKet OVERVIEW The Right Price for the Right Car EARLY SUMMER SALES GROW THEIR TOTALS, AND A CORVETTE-ENGINED NOVA FINDS CORVETTE MONEY by Tony Piff TOP 10 sales this issue 1. 1967 Shelby Cobra 427 roadster, $1,080,000— mecum, IN, p. 68 2. 1965 Shelby gt350 fastback , $383,400—mecum, IN, p. 68 3. 2006 Ford GT coupe, $337,700—russo and Steele, p. 92 4. 1970 Dodge Hemi Challenger r/t Se 2-dr hard top, $199,800— mecum, WA, p. 121 5. 1968 Shelby gt500 Kr fastback , $178,200— mecum, WA, p. 118 6. 1958 Chevrolet Corvette convertible, $174,960— mecum, IN, p. 66 7. 1954 buick Skylark convertible , $170,428— russo and Steele, p. 86 8. 1969 Chevrolet Camaro COpO coupe, $167,400— mecum, SeA, WA, p. 108 9. 1958 Chevrolet Corvette convertible, $167,400— mecum, IN, p. 66 10. 1970 Dodge Hemi Challenger R/T 2-dr hard top, $165,000—Leake, p. 82 BEST BUYS 1947 Lincoln Continental convertible, $45,360—Silver, ID, p. 114 62 AmericanCarCollector.com Indy to $41m from last year’s $38m (a 7% increase). Of 1,286 lots on offer, 835 found new owners. A 1967 Shelby 427 Cobra was top dog at just over $1m. Totals ratcheted up 16% at Leake T Tulsa to $11.6m, and 513 cars sold out of 689. Finishing in the lead was a 1970 Dodge Hemi Challenger R/T at $165k. Russo and Steele upped their Newport Beach numbers by a whopping 74% to $7.4m. A 2006 Ford GT coupe took the American big-money spot at $338k, and 173 of 343 lots changed hands. In late May, Silver went to Pine River, he annual sales featured in this issue all bounced back and showed positive growth following down numbers in 2014. Mecum increased sales at MN, and sold off the Theodore Merickel Collection. All 88 cars went without reserve, totaling $1.25m. A 1966 Chevrolet Corvette 327/300 coupe was the most expensive at $80k. Tony’s Market Moment: In 1966, the Corvette’s A sleeper packing a punch — 1966 Chevrolet Nova SS 327 L79 2-door hard top, sold for $74,520 at mecum Seattle Auctions in this issue mecum, 327-ci L79 V8 featured hydraulic lifters and 11.0:1 compression, cranking out 350 hp and 360 ft-lbs of torque. And for $93, you could get one of these hot small-blocks in your Nova SS — which, while 10.5 inches longer than a Corvette, was 310 pounds lighter. Fewer than 5,500 buyers opted for this special combination in 1966 and ’67. In today’s collecting world, the big headlines and big prices go to the baddest muscle cars with the biggest big-blocks. The L79 Nova was a street sleeper in its day, and it’s a market sleeper now. When they’ve occasionally come to market in recent years, collectors in the know have paid upwards of $70k for welldocumented examples. As of summer 2015, there are signs that the overall market may be slowing its ascent, but a numbersmatching 1966 L79 Nova came to market at Mecum’s Seattle sale in early June, and it sold for $74k. It’s only one data point, but it tells us that right buyers are still willing to pay the right money for the right car.A Indianapolis, IN may 12–17 Silver, pine river, mN may 30 mecum, Seattle, WA June 5–6 Leake, tulsa, OK June 5–7 russo and Steele, Newport beach, CA June 5–7 motostalgia, Indianapolis, IN June 12 Silver, Coeur d’Alene June 20 $0 $7.4m $4.3m $567k $10m $20m $30m $40m $50m $1.3m $9.7m $11.6m $41m 1951 Chevrolet 3100 pickup, $25,300—motostalgia, IN, p. 106 1969 Oldsmobile 442 2-dr hard top, $25,300—Leake, p. 76 1964 Chevrolet C10 Stepside pickup, $23,220—mecum, IN, p. 66 1953 Henry J Corsair 2-dr sedan, $7,975—motostalgia, p. 121

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MECUM AUCTIONS // Indianapolis, IN Mecum Auctions — 28th Original Spring Classic THERE WERE 1958 FUELIE CORVETTES ON OFFER IN NINE OF THE EIGHT COLORS AVAILABLE THAT YEAR Mecum Auctions 28th Original Spring Classic Indianapolis, IN May 12–16, 2015 Auctioneers: Mark Delzell, Mike Hagerman, Russ Conklin, Matt Moravec, John Miranda, Logan Schmid Automotive lots sold/ offered: 835/1,286 Sales rate: 65% Sales total: $41,010,133 High sale: 1967 Shelby Cobra 427 roadster, sold at $1,080,000 buyer’s premium: 8% ($500 minimum), included in sold prices ACC 1-6 scale condition rating for vehicles in Market Reports 1. perfect: National show standard 2. excellent: Club show-worthy, some small flaws 3. Average: Daily driver in decent condition 4. meh: Still a driver, with some visible flaws 5. Questionable: A problem-plagued beast that somehow manages to run 6. Lost cause: Salvageable for parts 64 AmericanCarCollector.com the 39-millionth Chevrolet built, in Anniversary gold — 1958 Chevrolet Corvette 283/250 Fuelie convertible, sold at $167,400 Report and photos by B. Mitchell Carlson Market opinions in italics A rolling color swatch of 1958 Fuelie Corvettes crossed the block on Saturday at Mecum Indy, with examples on offer in nine of the eight colors available that year. Yes, you read that right. An unusual eight-car collection had one example of each 1958 Corvette catalog color. All were 290-hp fuel-injected cars restored to the highest standards, and all earned over 98 points in NCRS and Bloomington Gold judging. All eight cars sold for rather strong money, ranging from $137,700 to $175,500. Shortly after the collection sold, the only 1958 car in Anniversary Gold rolled to the podium. It was the 39-millionth Chevrolet built. While not in the same concours condition as the Fuelie collection, it saw strong bidding and sold in the same league at $167k. Topping all sales was the odds-on favorite to do so: a 1967 Shelby Cobra 427. Confirming that real-deal Cobras are now in the million-dollar club, that’s exactly what this car hammered sold for during prime time on Friday afternoon. Nearly as momentous was the no-sale of another Cobra, also at a cool million. That car was a 1965 289, authentically restored and one of approximately 20 built with an automatic transmission. Beyond the Shelbys, there was something of an underlying Ford theme here this year. Two major collections featured Fords, including one from the owner of a Ford dealership. One would be hard-pressed to find more FE-block 427-powered cars at another auction. For fans of 1963 Galaxies, it was a veritable smorgasbord; there were nine offered, and one-third were factorybuilt lightweight drag cars. Foremost among the Mopar headliners was the lowest-mile-known 1970 Hemi ’Cuda in existence. However, this 82-mile muscle icon failed to sell against a $450k final bid. Mecum consigned 134 fewer cars than last year, which was enough not to conduct an auction on Sunday — a first since they relocated here from Illinois. That minor detail was a long way from spelling ruin, however, as the auction house bested last year’s Indy sales by nearly $2.9m.A

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MECUM AUCTIONS // Indianapolis, IN GM Seafoam green/tan vinyl. Odo: 61,243 miles. 230-ci I6, 1-bbl, 3-sp. Recent authentic frame-off restoration. Only deviations from original are the seat covering, radial tires and glossy-finished bed wood with polished stainless strips rather than painted over. High-quality body prep and repaint. Better-quality bumper replate and all new brightwork. Non-OEM replacement windshield. Remanufactured alternator still has a barcode tag on it. Good door and panel fit. Cond: 2+. #T275-1964 CHEVROLET C10 Stepside pickup. VIN: 4C154A106759. under the hood, as the mid-year intro of the 396 all but ensured that future engine swaps ended as Mark IV big blocks. Not all that outrageous a final bid for a pretty decent example, although it’s no bargain, either. #F203.1-1970 BUICK SKYLARK GS 455 2-dr hard top. VIN: 446370H165996. Diplomat Blue/light blue vinyl. Odo: 57,923 miles. 455-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Provenance verification from the Sloan Museum, confirming it was professionally restored in 2005 to original configuration. The only deviation is the standard steel wheels rather than Buick Road Wheels it had new. Other options include Stage 1 tune, M20 4-speed, power steering, tinted windshield, Rally steering wheel and AM radio. Recent fluff-and-buff on undercarriage and in engine bay. Good original interior, with light fading and minimal wear. Halogen low-beam headlights and original-style T-3 high beams. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $23,220. One could make the argument that the grille, bumpers and hubcaps should be white on this entry-level truck, but the argument can also be made that they could be optioned with chrome. However, if most buyers wanted a “fancy” truck by 1964 standards, they’d have bought a Custom package. Rolled off the block with the statement of “takes over $25,000 today,” but final results show it sold at this price. Well bought. #T162-1965 CHEVROLET IMPALA SS convertible. VIN: 166675S171261. Regal Red/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 68,298 miles. 409-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Stated that it received a frame-on restoration in 2007. Excellent body prep and paint application on an original red car. Excellent door fit for a drop-top. Replated bumpers and mostly repro brightwork. All new glass and door seals. Okay replacement top fit. Generally clean and stock engine bay. Double clamped at the upper radiator tank neck hose. Engine repaint leaves a lot to be desired. All reproduction interior vinyl trim and carpeting, well fitted and showing no appreciable wear. Cond: 2-. re-dyed. Inside hood release is missing. Repop Snowflake wheels. Has air, tilt column, power windows and power locks. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $18,900. This powertrain didn’t occur in nature, on a couple of levels. First, only the Pontiac 400 was available with a 4-speed for ’79. The other engine that was available in the T/A was the Olds 403—not the 455. Still, an interesting “what if” phantom. CORVETTE 6 08480. Inca Silver/black vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 7 miles. 283-ci 290-hp fuel-injected V8, 4-sp. Soft top only and radio delete. State-of-the-art restoration within the decade. In 2009, was judged to a near-perfect 99.7 points in NCRS competition to earn a Top Flight; Bloomington Gold certified at 99.4 points. Since then, it shows no discernible wear anywhere. Doors slightly cant out toward the bottom, but vastly better than most C1s. Otherwise, concours-ready as presented. Cond: 1-. #S97-1958 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: J58S1- SOLD AT $70,200. The plain steel wheels with dog-dish hubcaps look is coming into vogue again. Several muscle cars here had them, and the consignor told me that he much preferred that look over the “everybody else has them” Road Wheels. He bought this at Mecum Chicago in September of 2013 for $60k (ACC# 236375). Since then, he decided to downsize his collection, and he let this one go here when bidding ceased. Later, he said that while he didn’t make anything on the car, he enjoyed the time he spent with it. A good attitude to have. #W126-1979 PONTIAC TRANS AM coupe. VIN: 2W87K9L145050. Bright blue metallic/ white vinyl. Odo: 83,752 miles. 455-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Olds 455 swapped out for the original Olds 403 under the hood, converted to a 4-speed manual. Generally stock under the hood. New repaint. Repop graphics, including custom “455 – HO” on shaker hood scoop. Decent door fit, with some SOLD AT $174,960. As it was one of the eight in the moving-color-chart ’58 Fuelie catalog collection, I pretty much was asleep at the switch for this one. I figured the Signet Red car (S96) would bring the most money. However, as one of only 157 in Inca Silver, reportedly, this was the only one of the eight that Dana preached up as being “exceptionally rare.” And the choir heeded his preaching, passing the $150k reserve without difficulty. SOLD AT $37,260. Not too many early-production ’65s are still around with the 409 66 AmericanCarCollector.com window rattle. Reupholstered door panels and seats; seat bottoms showing some yellowing. All interior plastic and steering wheel #S115-1958 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: J58S107646. Anniversary Gold/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 40,522 miles. 283-ci 250-hp fuelinjected V8, 4-sp. Built on June 11, 1958, as the 39-millionth Chevrolet. As such, it was uniquely painted gold when built, as it was also GM’s 50th anniversary. Inducted into the Bloomington Gold Special Collection in 2005. Repainted by the second owner in 1980 as authentically as paint technology allowed then. Miles claimed actual. Recent mechanical work to make car reliable after decades of storage. Mostly clean and original under the hood. Top and interior replaced in recent years. Nice door and panel fit. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $167,400. Surprisingly, this originally sold as a regular retail unit, kept by the original 9 BEST BUY TOP 10 TOP 10

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MECUM AUCTIONS // Indianapolis, IN stalled, all-new interior soft trim. All brightwork inside and out is either replated or replaced. Cond: 1-. as you’ll get on one of these. Authentically reupholstered seat. Good engine bay detail, although using modern hose clamps. Paint starting to lift from the engine block. Cond: 2-. owner until she traded it to the consignor’s dad (then a Chevrolet dealer) for a new 1978 25th Anniversary Corvette. Offered 17 lots after the color-chart 1958 Fuelie collection, this was the ninth color painted on a ’58 Corvette. Being one of one with air-tight provenance, this was really the car to get, and the reserve was easily surpassed at $130k. Lot S97 was the one car from the perfectly restored ’58 collection to bring more. #F163.1-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE coupe. VIN: 30837S101142. Saddle Tan/ Saddle vinyl. Odo: 43,696 miles. 327-ci 340-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Mileage believed actual. Good prep and repaint. Slice missing from damaged and repaired wheelwell lip. Could be the original chrome and trim. Modern Kenwood remote for the sound system. Seat upholstery is more likely older reproduction than good original, especially since it has a perfectly matching T-pad on the center console. Aside from the modern a/c compressor, the engine bay is detailed to stock. Reproduction knockoff wheels with older Goodyear radials. Modern aftermarket a/c. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $76,680. The chrome reverselooking wheels are actually the stock wheel covers. Undoubtedly the nicest ’64 Comet on the planet, not to mention that it’s a stock Cyclone that wasn’t turned into a fake “Dyno” Don Nicholson lightweight drag car. I had my doubts that anyone else would appreciate a HiPo in something other than a Mustang, but it was heavily bid on, going a bid past the $70k reserve. #F181-1965 SHELBY GT350 fastback. VIN: SFM5S265. White/black vinyl. Odo: 672 miles. 289-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Listed in the current SAAC registry, having sold new in Syracuse, NY. Originally built without rally stripes or Cragar wheels, the former added when the car was repainted approximately 15 years ago. Good shut lines, trunk slightly bowed in the middle. Muted older bumper replate. Fitted with Marchal headlights. All interior is original with some seam repair. Radio-delete panel signed by Ol’ Shel. Recent engine bay detailing. Aftermarket headers don’t fit well, as some bolt holes are oblong. Cond: 2-. 2 SOLD AT $41,040. When I was a kid up north, most of the pickup Broncos were snow-plow rigs. The bed made it handy to haul sand and rock salt for ballast. Bonus: As they rusted away, they automatically salted and sanded as they went. It’s no surprise then that most have long since vanished from areas where folks don’t ask why there’s an electrical cord sticking through your grille. As a point of comparison, the next lot was a built-up off-road roadster, bid to $4k less than this. Tell me again how this Bronco thing seems to have run its course? SOLD AT $108,000. This car is a good litmus test for the popularity of Split-Windows. With a bland paint color and minimal factory options aside from the 340-horse motor and required 4-speed—plus blatantly modern add-on a/c—this car still had them fighting tooth-and-nail to six-digit pricing. FOMOCO #F231-1964 MERCURY COMET Cyclone 2-dr hard top. VIN: 4H27K571643. Peacock Turquoise/white vinyl. Odo: 389 miles. 289-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Optional HiPo V8 with 4-speed, 3.55 Traction-Lok differential and AM radio with rear-seat speaker. Dealer-accessory Rotunda tachometer on dash. Recently completed state-of-the-art restoration. Fabulous bare-body repaint authentically done with bare red primer below the car. Reproduction body tag matches the serial number under the hood. Betterthan-stock panel gaps and fit. Superbly in- 68 AmericanCarCollector.com #F183-1967 SHELBY COBRA 427 roadster. VIN: CSX3356. Blue metallic/black leather. Odo: 2,175 miles. 427-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Originally red with black interior. Repainted in early 1980s to current varnish when it was last restored and converted to full SC spec by Mike McCluskey. Returned to the same for a major servicing two years ago. The old repaint still presents very well, as does the brightwork. Very tidy engine bay and undercarriage. Original Halibrand wheels. Light seat bottom wrinkling is more comfortable patina than wear. More wear on the dash controls than the carpeting, light pitting on the gauge rim chrome. Cond: 2-. 1 SOLD AT $383,400. Built mid-year, it incorporates the first of three hood types used and was the last to have a trunk-mounted battery. It was also the first car offered from the Don Davis Collection, the first of the heavy hitters offered on Friday. Bid with some aplomb to $350k, where it hit the skids until the reserve was eventually lifted, generating one more bid. #F213-1966 FORD BRONCO pickup. VIN: U14FL733983. Light blue/gray vinyl. Odo: 32,232 miles. 170-ci I6, 1-bbl, 3-sp. Barebones Bronco, without the dash even stamped out for a radio. Decade-old restoration. Bare-body repaint better than technically possible when new. Grille letters painted body color rather than correct red. Good brightwork; light parking damage on passenger’s taillight trim. Door fit as good SOLD AT $1,080,000. Helpful note inside the driver’s door latch reads: “DON’T BURN YOUR LEG!” Those refinished sidepipes look so darn nice that you really don’t want to stain them with seared flesh. Bidding had no trouble getting to the one-mill point with a phone bidder, then things hung for a while until Dana got Mr. Davis to cut it loose there. Despite trying to get the last two underbidders on site to step up by $50k, it finally hammered sold to the phone, becoming the top sale of the event. TOP 10 TOP 10

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GLOVEBOXNOTES By Jim Pickering S By Jim Pickering #F175.1-1967 #F175.1-1967 SHELBY GT500 fastback. VIN: 67402F4A01487. Wimbledon White/ black vinyl. Odo: 49,962 miles. 428-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Narrow-headlight configuration. Marti Report displayed with the car indicates it was sold new in California as presented. Optional power steering, power front disc brakes, light group, fold-down rear seat and AM radio. Stripe delete. Stated that it is a three-owner car showing actual miles. High-quality repaint and replated bumpers. Show-quality engine bay detailing. Except for replacement carpeting, good original interior, with some light fading and seam repair. Cond: 2. price as tested: $41,295 equipment: 2.3L TI-VCT turbocharged EcoBoost inline 4, 6-speed auto with Select Shift, 18-inch wheels, HID headlamps, dual exhaust, LED taillamps with sequential turn signals, heated/cooled power leather seats, selectable drive modes, electric power steering, Shaker Pro audio, adaptive cruise control mileage: 20 city/30 highway Likes: Good economy matched with surprising power from the boosted inline 4 — this thing is quick when you crank up the boost via sport or track mode. How quick? Try 310 horses and 320 foot-pounds of torque from 2.3 liters — and there’s little to no lag in the power delivery. Fantastic a/c and cooled seats for when you’re sitting in the sun with the top down, good feel from adjustable electric power steering. Dislikes: Doesn’t stand out enough visually. For $40k, I’d be tempted to get something with a V8 rumble versus the EcoBoost’s quiet swoosh. Rear seat access is pretty limited with the top up, but that’s a pony car standard. Verdict: Muscle car guys from the 1990s and 2000s learned to ignore non-V8 Mustangs and Camaros. They had the stigma of being “sporty” cars bought by people who didn’t know cars. No SS, no 5.0, no Cobra, no V8. What’s the point? So, considering that, I’m really surprised by this Mustang, because it’s seriously fun. Normal mode gives you no indication of this car’s capabilities. But crank up the settings and it turns frantic, like it’s got a score to settle with those old muscle car guys who sneer at non-V8 Pony cars. It has both performance and economy — the absolute best of both worlds. But beyond the new Mustang’s redesign, which is great, there’s nothing visually special here — no special stylized badges that show off that little jewel of an engine. Because of that, it does tend to blend into the crowd. Whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing depends entirely on the buyer. But one thing’s for sure — don’t look at one of these as a ho-hum low-performance version, because it’s not. Fun to drive: eye appeal: Overall experience: 70 AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $54,540. Magnum 500s are sort of like Kelsey-Hayes wire wheels on Tbirds—more cars wear them now than when new. The only 1969 Mustangs they were originally on were Boss 302s, not Mach 1s. This car should’ve had the Mach 1 standard GT wheels, which to me at least look better AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $152,280. I know I’m in the minority here, but to me these 1967–68 Shelbys look a lot better with only the side stripes. Call it a more mature, serious, sleeper look, but I think the whole “hey, cops, look at me” rally stripe thing was played out a long time ago. Today, that doesn’t seem to skew values in the least, as the reserve was cut loose after the final bid for a market-correct price, with or without stripes. #T243-1969 FORD MUSTANG Mach 1 fastback. VIN: 9F02Q215865. Meadowlark Yellow/white vinyl. Odo: 99,704 miles. 428ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Nut-and-bolt professional restoration to club concours standard in recent years. Marti Report shows it was restored to original configuration. Optional a/c, power steering, power front discs and Sport Deck rear seat. Repop Magnum 500-style wheels. Excellent body prep and authentic repaint, down to having red primer on the undercarriage rather than incorrectly painting everything. All underbody components are still bright metal and paint. Concoursready engine bay. No reserve. Cond: 2.

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MECUM AUCTIONS // Indianapolis, IN simply because everyone else puts Magnum 500s on these. If variations on off-white work for you, this wasn’t too bad a price. #F238-1985 FORD F-150 pickup. VIN: 2FTDF15N7FCB50618. Light Canyon Red & white/red & gray cloth. Odo: 64,745 miles. 5.0-L fuel-injected V8, auto. Most documentation from when it was bought new in Miami, FL. Well-cared-for original paint. Rustproofing plugs in jambs. Quick-disconnect pigtail for a battery charger sticking out from the grille slats. Washed-off engine compartment is generally clean. Oak sideboards added to top of cargo box. Like-new interior; greatest wear on the aftermarket floor mats. With a/c, power steering, power brakes. Wears America Racing wheels with newer tires. Cond: 2-. was one of the press-pool cars that made its way to various publications. After that, since it did have a production VIN, it was sold at retail. While this one went for a premium since it may well be the first modern Boss built, there was also a regular production ’12 Boss 302 on offer here (T140) with 453 miles; it was a good buy at $42k. In January, I called these a car to buy for under $50k. This one was a no-sale off the block at that $50k figure, but before it rolled out the door, a “Dana deal” got it sold. MOPAR SOLD AT $17,280. My dad’s 1984 F-150 (another 302/auto in similar condition and single ownership) sold at auction last fall for $4,250. The consignor bought this at Mecum Kissimmee in 2012 for $9k (ACC# 200637). With those two data points, I figured this might go over 10 grand at best. Even more surprising was that it wasn’t 4-wheel drive—the usual driving force in Malaise Era trucks today. Proof that goodcondition 1980s pickups continue to go up in value at a good clip. #T240-2012 FORD MUSTANG Boss 302 pre-production coupe. VIN: 1ZVBP8CU6C5199884. Competition Orange/black cloth. Odo: 11,906 miles. 302-ci fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. The first “tooling test” preproduction model, built with a 2012 VIN in September of 2010. Good original paint and interior. The only components that show excess wear are the front spoiler, with plenty of curb rash and the tires (fancy that). Includes all the baubles and bells that were issued with a Boss 302, including the COA, red key, and re-generated copy of the #T278-1953 DODGE POWER WAGON pickup. VIN: 83931301. Red & black/black vinyl. Odo: 18,963 miles. 230-ci I6, 1-bbl, 4-sp. Originally configured as a fire truck with a pump unit in the bed. All fire apparatus has since been removed. Newer highgloss wood floor overlay in the cargo box. Externally repainted to driver-grade several years ago while owned by actor Tom Selleck. Now has a few light scrapes and dings from use on his ranch. Original paint and stencils inside the cab, along with a reskinned seat and rifle rack in the rear window. Bedliner on cab floor. Modern alternator conversion. Stock Budd split rims. Factory winch. Cond: 3. rungs lower in condition. Nice enough that it easily outsold the drop-top, but I’ll still call it well bought for a 1968 time capsule. #F177-1978 DODGE D150 Li’l Red Express pickup. VIN: D13BS8J514286. Red/black vinyl. Odo: 99,362 miles. 360-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Very good repaint in past decade. Additional pinstriping in the door jambs and beneath the hood. Panel fit and shut lines no better or no worse than any other 1970s truck. New cargo box wood. Recent engine bay clean up and light detail. All plastic in there is original and now noticeably yellowed. Aftermarket headers and battery tub. Reupholstered seat with generic pleats. Period aftermarket speakers cut into the doors—and I don’t mean the door panels. Recent replacement exhaust, including the chrome stacks. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $43,200. Reserve lifted at $40k. With vintage American 4x4 pricing continuing to do well, it’s tough to say whether the celebrity factory helped here. It certainly didn’t hurt. Better Power Wagons have sold for more, but tidy drivers have generally been in the $20k–$40k range. window sticker, showing “Vehicle not for sale.” Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $70,200. This 72 AmericanCarCollector.com #W112-1968 CHRYSLER 300 2-dr hard top. VIN: CM23K8C229548. Light green metallic/dark green vinyl. Odo: 14,518 miles. 440-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. All original car with actual miles. Even has the original tires. Optional a/c, tilt/tele steering column, cruise control. Exceptionally well-preserved original paint. Nice panel gaps and fit. Light scuffing on the trim. Tidy engine bay, but it just doesn’t pop—just like original. Modern battery is the only obvious item that’s not circa 1968. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $19,440. Once you get past the color, this was one very nice original car. Interestingly enough, a few lots later in the day was its virtual evil twin convertible (Lot W136), although that one’s interior was black, and it was a couple SOLD AT $23,760. Most folks forget that the Li’l Red Express wasn’t Dodge’s first muscle truck. From 1964 to ’67, they offered the Custom Sports package, which for the first two years had a 426 Wedge V8 as an available option—and at least one was documented to have a Hemi. Prices realized this year show these have stabilized for the most part. This sold right for just barely teetering into weak #2 condition. A CAR COLLECTOR AMERICAN ™ SUBSCRIBE TO ACC 877.219.2605 Ext. 1 AmericanCarCollector.com Keith Martin’s

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LEAKE // Tulsa, OK Leake Auction Company — Tulsa 2015 THERE WERE NEARLY 50 CORVETTES ON OFFER, INCLUDING A 1954 SOLD AT $85K AND A 1963 SPLIT-WINDOW AT $77K Leake Auction Company Tulsa, OK June 5–7, 2015 Auctioneers: Brian Marshall, Jim Richie, Bobby Ehlert Automotive lots sold/ offered: 513/689 Sales rate: 74% Sales total: $11,644,820 High sale: 1970 Dodge Hemi Challenger R/T, sold at $165,000 buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold prices The iconic Corvette — 1963 Chevrolet Corvette 327/250 coupe, sold at $77,000 Report and photos by Andy Staugaard Market opinions in italics ACC 1-6 scale condition rating for vehicles in Market Reports 1. perfect: National show standard 2. excellent: Club show-worthy, some small flaws 3. Average: Daily driver in decent condition 4. meh: Still a driver, with some visible flaws 5. Questionable: A problem-plagued beast that somehow manages to run 6. Lost cause: Salvageable for parts 74 AmericanCarCollector.com sales out of all three days were a 1970 Dodge Hemi Challenger R/T that went for $165k, a 1966 Shelby GT350 H at $133k, and a 1969 Pontiac GTO Ram Air IV convertible at $110k. The GTO was one of my favorites here, along with a well-kept, original 1969 Olds 442 that sold post-block for $25k. What a deal that was! Up for auction were 748 cars — Leake’s largest auc- C tion this year so far. The mood was upbeat, with a lot of bidding going on using Leake’s dual auction platform. With sales totaling $11.6m and a sell-through rate of 74%, the collector car market in Tulsa is alive and well, despite depressed oil prices. There were nearly 50 Corvettes on offer, almost half of which were C3s. I was disappointed to see the high bids for these cars lacking. Maybe C3 values have leveled off for the time being. However, the bidding on the C1s and C2s more than made up for the lack of C3 performance. A second-year 1954 sold for $85k, for example, and a 1963 Split-Window sold for $77k. hevy dominated the sales numbers at Leake’s 2015 Tulsa sale while Mopar dominated the sales dollars, with Ford coming somewhere in between in both categories. The top three American collector car Of particular interest was a 1937 Cord. The car was owned at one time by Glenn Pray, a seminal figure in the replica car movement. Pray sold the car in 1960 in order to buy the Auburn company. The car was not seen until his son Doug found it 45 years later, stored in a barn. The car remains totally original and complete, down to the cigarette lighter, and it sold post-block for $105k. It was a tremendous buy for such a rare piece of history.A top seller — 1970 Dodge Hemi Challenger r/t 2-door hard top, sold at $165,000

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LEAKE // Tulsa, OK GM #159-1958 CHEVROLET APACHE custom pickup. VIN: 3A58S123467. Turquoise/ beige cloth. Odo: 2,578 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Shows very well with an exquisite paint job. The bottom artwork along with its lowered body and aftermarket mags with new tires really set it off. The fit is good all around, and the covered bed is nicely done. The glass appears to be original and is in fair condition. The engine bay is nicely done with its 350/385 roller-cam engine. The only downside I see is a cigarette hole in the right seat and an interior that begs for professional cleaning. Also, the underside shows some rust and needs attention. Cond: 2-. presented well, and deserved the price paid here. Well sold. #2452-1967 PONTIAC GTO 2-dr hard top. VIN: 242077K113289. Red/red leather. Odo: 302 miles. 400-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. The paint on this freshly restored car is terrific. The chrome is bright but the trim is dull. The rear window glass is scratched. The interior is restored to its original condition. The engine bay is fair, with room for improvement. The underside needs to be restored to the level of the topside. Tires show some wear. All PHS documentation included. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $121,000. This is an excellent example of a Ram Air IV GTO convertible with the all-important documentation. Mecum sold it in 1997 for $29k (ACC# 21727). More recently, it sold for $127k at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale in 2013 (ACC# 260456). It would seem that the buyer lost money here, but I’ll still call it well sold, as the price paid was in Judge territory. SOLD AT $23,925. This is an awesome truck and with a little work on the interior and underside, it would be show-worthy. This truck was a no-sale at Mecum Houston in April of 2013 with a high bid of $14k (ACC# 220284). Although it is hard to value custom vehicles, I think that this one was well bought and sold. It paid the seller to be patient and bring the truck to another auction. Everyone should be happy with the final price. #2446-1962 CHEVROLET IMPALA SS convertible. VIN: 21867B104550. Red/ black vinyl/black leather. Odo: 85,086 miles. 409-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Body-off restoration. The older repaint is still showing well. The chrome and trim are very good. The engine bay is nicely restored, showing off its big 409. The interior is restored to its original condition. The underside is immaculate. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $28,050. This would make a great driver and local show car that could be improved to national show-car level with minimal cost. It also has the PHS documentation to back it up, so it definitely has upside potential. Fair price for buyer and seller. #2442-1969 OLDSMOBILE 442 2-dr hard top. VIN: 344879Z121031. Nugget Gold/black vinyl. Odo: 42,925 miles. 455-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Mostly original. The paint is very good with small scratches. The interior is excellent for its age. The engine bay and underside are clean and like new. The rear glass is scratched. Comes with its original build sheet. Cond: 2. #2456-1970 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE SS 396 convertible. VIN: 136670B188069. Black/black vinyl/white vinyl. Odo: 572 miles. 396-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. The paint is fresh and excellent. It has new window and door seals but poor fit on the left door. The chrome and trim are bright and shiny. The interior is restored to new condition. The underside is clean, matching the topside restoration quality. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $56,100. This is one nice car; however, the auction listing does not state that the engine is numbers-matching. Assuming that it is the original engine, its market value should be somewhere between $35k and $65k, which is right where it was hammered sold. SOLD AT $25,300. Nice, clean example of a mostly original Olds 442. According to the auction listing, it was owned by the same family for 40 years, and it has obviously been well taken care of. It sold just about in the middle of its market range. I was surprised that it did not go for more, and wish I’d had a bidder’s pass. Well bought. SOLD AT $58,850. First-rate Impala 409 convertible. This car sold at Mecum Indy in May of 2012 for $31k (ACC# 205209). It appeared again last year at Leake Tulsa in June and was a no-sale at $62k (ACC# 251922). I guess the seller had a change of heart. The car was marvelously restored, 76 AmericanCarCollector.com #495-1969 PONTIAC GTO Ram Air IV convertible. VIN: 242679R167185. Matador Red/white vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 1,237 miles. 400-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Older restoration still shows well. There are minor polishing swirls in the paint. The chrome and trim are excellent. It has new door and window seals, making for a tight fit. The interior is like new. The engine bay is nicely done. The underside is excellent. PHS documentation is included. Cond: 2-. #1172-1972 CHEVROLET C10 Cheyenne Super pickup. VIN: CCE142F302837. Blue & white/white vinyl. Odo: 892 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Recently repainted and looks very nice, even at five feet, although it shows some underlying chips and dents. The bed is spray-coated to match the truck color but shows underlying imperfections. The left door fit is poor and bouncy. There is evidence of Bondo on the rear fender BEST BUY

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LEAKE // Tulsa, OK well. The chrome and trim are very good. The engine bay is fair and a bit too glossy black for my taste. The underside is fair but needs cosmetic detailing. The interior is really nice, and the glass is clear. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $16,500. Although this truck has some minor issues, it really looks good and, assuming it runs out well, will make a great driver. With a little work it could be upgraded to a nice show truck. These 1967– 72 C10s are on the move, with good upside potential, and the buyer did well with this one. Well bought. CORVETTE #477-1954 CHEVROLET CORVETTE roadster. VIN: E54S001675. Sportsman Red/beige cloth/beige leather. Odo: 1,881 miles. 236-ci 150-hp I6, 3x1-bbl, auto. This car has seen an older restoration but is still in excellent shape. The paint, chrome, trim and engine bay are all marvelous, with only minor scratches. The windshield and window glass are clear. The underside is dirty and needs detailing. The door fit is surprisingly good for a 1954. It is optioned with turn signals, heater and AM radio. (Hard to believe those were add-ons.) Cond: 2+. are period-correct but not original. Radio delete. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $77,000. SplitWindow Corvettes are the iconic symbol of the Corvette world and will always be collector cars. As long as the price is reasonable, they will always have upside potential. This is the base model 327/250 coupe. The price was reasonable, and the buyer should be happy. Well sold and well bought. #520-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 194676S108472. Rally Red/ white vinyl/black leather. Odo: 18,874 miles. 327-ci 350-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. I evaluated this car at Mecum Kansas City in April, and it hasn’t changed much. The paint is poor with numerous scratches, chips and orange peel. The body fit is good. The chrome is just fair, with numerous scratches and dents in the front bumper. The trim is poor, dull and scratched. The underside and engine bay are dirty and need restoration. There are several areas of rust showing on the underside. It comes with sidepipes and new tires. Cond: 3. needs a good cleaning, as does the underside. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $18,700. I normally don’t write up late-model cars, but this is a good example of a nice entry-level C5 driver that would fit most budgets. It will probably never be a collector car, but it should provide the buyer with many miles of the Corvette experience. Well bought and sold. FOMOCO #2438-1965 FORD F-100 pickup. VIN: F10JF650436. Rangoon Red/red leather. Odo: 70,690 miles. 352-ci V8, 2-bbl, 3-sp. New paint inside and out. It has a very nicely restored wooden bed. The engine bay is clean but too glossy for my taste. The chrome is bright, but the trim is slightly dulled. The underside is outstanding. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $84,700. A very nice example of a second-year Corvette. There were only about 3,600 of these built, and not many are left in such good condition. Well bought, a hair under mid-market. #2413-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE coupe. VIN: 30837S107771. Daytona Blue/blue leather. Odo: 77,103 miles. 327-ci 250-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Older repaint has numerous scratches and a few chips—it begs to be repainted. The chrome and trim have been restored and look very nice. The fit is good all around. An older interior restoration still looks good. The engine bay appears correct but needs a cosmetic restoration. The underside is clean and restored to factory condition. Knockoff wheels SOLD AT $46,750. This Corvette is begging for a restoration to bring it up to investment-grade level. In my April evaluation at Mecum I said, “I do not think it will bring much more at auction in its current condition,” and it didn’t. The high bid at Mecum was $50k and the seller did not take it (ACC# 264722). The price paid here was below the market low but fair, considering its condition. The seller must have had a change of heart. #216-2002 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 1G1YY32G725103664. Magnetic Red/black cloth/black leather. Odo: 46,000 miles. 5.7-L 350-hp fuel-injected V8, auto. The paint, glass and interior are all consistent with age and normal wear. However, there are numerous chips on the front end, which indicate that a bra would have been a good investment in the past. A black bra would also really contrast nicely against its Magnetic Red paint. The engine bay SOLD AT $18,810. This truck had a fabulous restoration. It is an early F-100 collectible stepside V8 with good upside potential. In addition, 1965 was the first year of the Twin I-Beam front suspension, which Ford continued using into the new millennium. The ACC Premium Auction Database shows this truck sold in May of 2013 at Mecum Indy for $9,250 (ACC# 223700). Wow, nice 100% value increase over two years, and I think there’s still more upside potential. Well bought and well sold. #207-1965 FORD MUSTANG convertible. VIN: 5R08C128250. Vintage Burgundy/ white vinyl/white leather. Odo: 23,664 miles. 289-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. The repaint is excellent. The chrome and trim are very good. It has a new top with a split glass rear window. It is optioned with a Pony interior, a/c, and woodgrain steering wheel. The Pony interior is nicely restored. The door panel fit is good, but the rear windows do not close up tight. The engine bay needs a cosmetic restoration to be consistent with the rest of the car. The underside is clean. Cond: 2-. 78 AmericanCarCollector.com

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LEAKE // Tulsa, OK SOLD AT $26,950. This is a nice first-generation Mustang that shows well. These have been on the increase lately and should sell at auction somewhere between $26k and $36k. This is a nice example and should have good upside potential, even though Ford made over 100,000 of them. Well bought. #2467-1966 SHELBY GT350 H fastback. VIN: SFM6S2118. Black & gold/black & vinyl. Odo: 65,455 miles. 289-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Older repaint with numerous scratches and chips. The chrome is bright and the trim is dull. The window glass is slightly scratched. The interior looks all original and in great condition. The engine bay shows well, and the underside is nice and clean. Lots of documentation is included, and it is listed in the Shelby Registry. Cond: 3+. slightly above a daily driver. Well sold, but not a bad buy. #442-1969 FORD MUSTANG Mach 1 fastback. VIN: 9T02R173858. Blue/black vinyl. Odo: 79,305 miles. 428-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. The auction listing states that this is a “Drag pack car with a V-code 3.91 rear end.” It has had a recent body and engine repaint, both excellent. The right exterior door button is missing, and you must open the door using the inside handle. The chrome and trim are bright and in very good condition. Door fit is poor. Tinted glass is clear. The seats have been replaced; the rest of the interior is consistent with age. The engine bay and underside are bright and clean. Cond: 3+. scratched, and chipped, consistent with age. The replacement shag carpet is not correct but definitely reflects the 1970s era. The seats and dash are neat, clean and well preserved. It even has an 8-track player. The engine bay and underside are nasty. Minor surface rust throughout should not be a concern. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $133,100. The condition of this car is just above that of an average daily driver, but it has all the right stuff, including the documentation to back it up. It is the real deal. Plus, it has a 4-speed manual transmission, where most were automatics for the rental industry. The manual transmission adds 20% to its value. It was hammered sold here just above its low market value of $125k, in line with its average dailydriver condition. It will still have future upside potential. Well bought. #2534-1969 FORD MUSTANG Mach 1 fastback. VIN: 9R02R110567. Blue/black vinyl. Odo: 57,511 miles. 428-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Recent repaint during restoration with minor scratches. The chrome and trim are nice and bright. The engine bay is fair and needs a cosmetic restoration. The underside is clean. The glass is clear. The interior is redone but shows some wear. It has its original AM radio, but the antenna is broken off. The right-side window handle is broken. The doors squeak when opening and closing, and the left-side door fit is poor. The build sheet is included. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $56,100. Although not as collectible as the Boss 302 or Boss 429, the Mach 1 with R-code Super Cobra Jet 428 is still a significant car. The final sold price here is a bit on the high side. Well sold. #460-1969 SHELBY GT500 fastback. VIN: 9F02R482097. Grabber Yellow/black vinyl. Odo: 90,396 miles. 428-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. This is a mostly original car with original build sheet and a recent repaint and interior restoration. Paint and interior present as perfect. The chrome and trim are bright and shiny. The engine bay needs detailing to match the rest of the car and show off that big 428. The underside is excellent. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $34,650. The auction listing states there are only two previous owners. It has been garage-kept and covered since 1983. In fact, the hard top has never been removed, and the convertible top seals have never been broken. The bidding was fast and furious, and the final number represents how hot these vehicles are becoming on the auction circuit. Well sold and well bought, and I think there is still some upside potential left. #1141-1972 FORD F-250 Ranger XLT pickup. VIN: F25HRP87756. Green & white/green cloth. Odo: 40,238 miles. 390-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. This 3/4-ton Ford has had a recent repaint that shows very well. However, the chrome and trim are dull and need restoration. The bed has been recently sprayed with a liner but shows dents from the original bed underneath. The panel fit and glass are good. The engine bay is poorly done and needs some professional attention. There is a lot of rust on the underside. The interior needs detailing. It has new aftermarket mags that really set it off. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $93,500. According to the auction listing, this is an all-original car with the original build sheet and is listed in the Shelby Registry. For its superb condition, it should have drawn bigger money. The only thing that might have held it back was its automatic transmission. Well bought. SOLD AT $55,000. The main thing this car has going for it is its matching-numbers Super Cobra Jet 428. Otherwise it is just 80 AmericanCarCollector.com #424-1972 FORD BRONCO Explorer Sport SUV. VIN: U15GLN92677. Gold/ white hard top & soft top/brown cloth. Odo: 24,060 miles. 302-ci V8, 2-bbl, 3-sp. Low mileage and looks to be all original. The paint, chrome and trim are dulled, SOLD AT $10,780. This truck is optioned with the high-end XLT trim package and Camper Special package, which includes heavy-duty cooling, camper wiring and larger alternator. An aftermarket a/c unit has also been added. It would make an excellent driver with some upside potential. Well bought with some room to make improvements.

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LEAKE // Tulsa, OK QUICKTAKE 1972 Chevrolet El Camino SS 454 SOLD at $26,950 Leake Auctions, Tulsa, OK, June 5–7 2015; Lot 2432 VIN: 1D80W2L515267 MOPAR #2448-1970 DODGE CHALLENGER 2-dr hard top. VIN: JH29G0B149481. Plum Crazy/black vinyl/black cloth. Odo: 3,568 miles. 440-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. The paint is just fair with numerous dimples, blemishes and scratches. The chrome and trim show their age. The fit is good all around. It has power steering and disc brakes and an aftermarket headliner. The interior is in good condition, showing little wear. The underside is dirty and dripping fluid. The engine bay is nicely restored. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $22,550. This car is in decent condition and would make a good daily driver. However, a little research on the VIN shows that it was born with a 2-bbl 318, so its price needs to be adjusted accordingly. The bidders must have done their research, because the sale price was about right. years 1964 to 1972. When equipped with a nasty big block or high-winding small block, it was a legit muscle car. But beyond that, the El Camino was always a utilitarian vehicle, just as at home hauling your garden art or washing machine as it was turning Polyglas tires into black streaks on the asphalt. In terms of high performance, the 1970 SS 454 LS6 El Camino was the top dog, pumping The El Camino was a wildly popular car, especially from the out over 450 horsepower, followed closely by the LS5 360-hp version that same year. This car is a ’72 with what appears to be the SS 454 LS5 package, but by then, the engine was rated at just 270 horses, thanks in part to a change from gross to net horsepower ratings and emissions regulations that ended some of the tire-smoking fun. This El Camino isn’t specifically called out by Leake Auctions as a factory SS 454, but it does have a W in the 5th character of the VIN, which all SS 454s had. It also has original-style badges and placement, original 15-inch SS wheels, a 5,000-rpm redline tach, and the TH400 automatic transmission, all of which suggest it’s the real deal. This car also has 3:43 gearing, which makes it a perfect all-around driver. At $26,950, this car sold a bit higher than the trend of about $20k for similar cars, seen at places such as Mecum Kissimmee and Leake Tulsa earlier this year. However, this car appears to be, with the exception of its tires, all original, and if it really is as it was from the factory, that makes this a pretty good deal at the price paid. Sure, it may not be a ground-pounding LS6 from 1970, but it’s still a big-block El Camino from the horsepower era that sold for not a lot of money. Call it an all-around solid buy. A 82 AmericanCarCollector.com AmericanCarCollector.com #472-1970 DODGE HEMI CHALLENGER R/T 2-dr hard top. VIN: JS23R0B155925. Red/black vinyl. Odo: 69,028 miles. 426-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. Older topside restoration. The paint is very good but beginning to dull. The chrome and trim are very good with minor scratches. The interior shows very little wear. The rear glass is scratched. The door, hood and trunk fit are very good. The engine bay is excellent, highlighting that big Hemi V8. The underside is dirty and needs a restoration to match the topside. Original build sheet and restoration documentation included. J-code VIN shows it was born with a 340-ci V8 with 3x2-bbl carb. Cond: 3+. 10 SOLD AT $165,000. I evaluated this car at Leake’s OKC sale this past February, where it was a no-sale at $125k (ACC# 257390). At that time I stated that the owner must have decided to walk and hope for a better day down the road. Well, he went about 100 miles down the road and had a better day. Well sold! — Alec Ebert #706-1996 DODGE VIPER RT/10 convertible. VIN: 1B3BR65E5TV100724. White/ TOP 10

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LEAKE // Tulsa, OK white hard top/black leather. Odo: 27,761 miles. 8.0-L fuel-injected V10, 6-sp. Paint in good condition for its age. Hard top is cracked, has been repainted, and does not match the slightly faded body paint. The interior is worn, consistent with age. I could not inspect the engine bay. The underside is dirty, and the headlight lenses are scratched. Cond: 3-. QUICKTAKE 1974 Chevrolet Vega Kammback wagon SOLD at $2,640 Leake, Tulsa, OK, June 5, 2015; Lot 111 VIN: 1V15B4U362157 NOT SOLD AT $29,000. Late in the 1996 model year, Dodge introduced the GTS, a new coupe version of the Viper which got a horsepower bump from 415 to 450. The auction listing states that this car has a 450hp engine, but I don’t think that is correct, since it is not a GTS. (A GTS is worth about $5k more than an RT/10.) The high bid should have been enough to close the deal here. AMERICANA #199-1980 JEEP CJ-5 Golden Eagle SUV. VIN: J0M83EC057650. Brown/brown vinyl/ brown leather. Odo: 98,037 miles. 258-ci I6, 2-bbl, 4-sp. The new paint and restored interior are well done. However, the engine bay and underside are poor and need to match the quality of the rest of the vehicle. New tires and mags set it off nicely. Cond: 3+. Chevrolet in downtown Tulsa, OK. He sold it over 41 years later on June 5, 2015, at Leake’s annual Tulsa sale. He drove this car daily, shuffling his family to and fro for 36 years. The past five years, the car was reserved for a few trips a week. Sure, there were some goofy bits with this particular car: a way-too-big driver’s floor mat, a Louis Stackler bought this car on April 1, 1974, from Bill White pair of 6x9 boxed speakers tossed behind the rear bench and a cheap-motel indoor/outdoor rug that fits surprisingly well. But otherwise, it looked original. Leake noted, “Engine replaced with comparable stock four cylinder.” That shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone, as the Chevy 2300, later hilariously misnamed the Dura-Built 140, was an experimental engine that ended up making it to production. A sleeveless aluminum engine was a dream of GM’s engineers (and bean counters) for decades. It was an admirable attempt, but with flawed results, especially because of the cast-iron head. Whether it was cylinder warpage, cylinder scuffing or just rattling itself to death because engineers hadn’t yet developed balance shafts, too many engines found a way to grenade themselves. If a Vega shows up at auction, it’s likely to be a 1974. If it is a wagon, it’s likely to be a 1974, since that year was the highest production for both Vegas overall (452,888 units) and for the Kammbacks (113,326). Of the few still around, one would be hard-pressed to find an example in as decent condition as the one-owner Kammback we’re looking at here. Why is this cool? Pre-1975, one owner, new upholstery, new paint? These are words buyers usually pony up for. The Vega was also Chevy’s first real attempt at European handling and American ride quality. That combination wouldn’t be adequately met for several decades, but the attempt is laudable. How does it stack up against the market, such as it is, for SOLD AT $11,550. It appears to me this Jeep was recently painted and restored to sell quickly. A lot of recent Jeep restorations have been appearing on the auction circuit lately because these vehicles have been hot sellers. However, the jury is out whether or not they will turn out to be long-term collector vehicles. This price leaves the buyer some room to improve the engine bay and underside and still have some upside potential. Well bought. A Vegas? Perhaps unsurprisingly, given the generally low values Vega hold, there have been only 17 of the subcompacts show up at major public auctions since the start of 2013. The 1974 Kammback we’re looking at here went for far below the average $8,001 of the 15 we saw sell — buoyed by some five-figure Cosworth sales. The wagons of that group (all four of them sold) averaged $4,140. That’s $1,500 more than our featured car and 65% of the original MSRP. I’ll go out on a (tiny, safe) limb and say the new owner got a steal of a deal here. Some things just fall under the radar. For a long while, the best use I could think of for Vega wagons was to install cartoonishly big wheel tubs inside and squeeze the fattest slicks possible under them. Of course, this is to match the big-block V8 conversion up front. I’ll revise that thought in light of Louis’ Kammback. This one, as-is, would be just the thing for a night at a cruise-in. Odds are I’d have the only one there — admirably flawed and all.A — Chad Tyson September-October 2014 September-October 2015 83

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RUSSO AND STEELE // Newport Beach, CA Russo and Steele — Newport Beach A 1954 BUICK SKYLARK MADE A HEALTHY $170K, AND A TOP FLIGHT 1961 CHEVROLET CORVETTE FUELIE CHANGED HANDS AT $95K Russo and Steele Newport Beach, CA June 5–7, 2015 Auctioneers: Rob Row, Dan Schorno, Frank Bizzarro Automotive lots sold/ offered: 173/343 Sales rate: 50% Sales total: $7,371,443 American high sale: 2005 Ford GT, sold at $337,700 buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold prices top American seller at this year’s Newport beach auction — 2006 Ford gt coupe, sold at $337,700 ACC 1-6 scale condition rating for vehicles in Market Reports 1. perfect: National show standard 2. excellent: Club show-worthy, some small flaws 3. Average: Daily driver in decent condition 4. meh: Still a driver, with some visible flaws 5. Questionable: A problem-plagued beast that somehow manages to run 6. Lost cause: Salvageable for parts 84 AmericanCarCollector.com Report and photos by Wally Marx Market opinions in italics A Russo and Steele auction feels like a rock concert built around a classic vehicle auction, with a healthy dose of partyhearty attitude. What’s on tap is high action, high volume, and high celebration. Russo events promise attendees maximum stimulation of the automotive persuasion. The auction house also delivers a lot of bang for the buck. They specialize in “attainable” vehicles in the $50k to $500k range. It’s a show where the small guys can present their vehicles for sale alongside rock-star cars and concours beauties. In June, Russo held their auction at Newport Beach, CA, and delivered on all fronts. The Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort was an excellent venue. Cool mornings and sunny, breezy afternoons under the palm trees made for excellent all-day browsing. Easy parking and friendly employees abounded. There were many high-quality European sports cars and luxury exotics, but the overall selection leaned to the American side of the Atlantic, with a strong assortment of Tri-Five Chevys, Corvettes, Mopars and ’50s GM convertibles. This being SoCal, Mustangs, Shelbys and Cobras were particularly well represented. A 19,000-mile 1967 Shelby GT500 once owned by pro-wrestler Goldberg no-saled at $121k, but a 1966 GT350 H found the right buyer at $138k. A 1954 Buick Skylark convertible boasting an exceptional restoration made a healthy $170k, a Top Flight 1961 Chevrolet Corvette Fuelie convertible changed hands at $95k, and a 1963 Dodge 330 Max Wedge “tribute” car brought the money at $41k. One of the nicest vehicles in the entire auction, a pristine 1958 Nomad wagon, went well under market at $31k. Overall, this was Russo and Steele’s best outing yet in Newport Beach. Despite offering fewer cars than last year, they managed to boost sales to 7.4m — a 74% increase.A

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RUSSO AND STEELE // Newport Beach, CA GM #F516-1951 CHEVROLET custom 2-dr sedan. VIN: AZ331234. Lime metallic & silver/white vinyl. Odo: 6,862 miles. 383-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Full lead-sled custom, chopped, nosed, decked, shaved and lowered. Sublime paint with good panel fit. Wide whites on Radir chrome mags. Airbag suspension controlled via heater-control levers. Built motor with many color-matched powder-coated parts. All the tricks and trinkets of an American custom. Cond: 2. #S735-1957 CHEVROLET BEL AIR convertible. VIN: VC570130307. Adobe Beige/cream & canvas/copper & beige leather. Odo: 1,492 miles. 283-ci V8, 2x4bbl, auto. Full and complete professional restoration within the past five years, including bringing the car back to original color scheme. Paint excellent with no discernible flaws. Trim, rubber and glass excellent. Chrome excellent except for two oddly faded pieces. Continental kit and dual exhaust. Interior looking as-new, with Autronic Eye, compass and Traffic Viewer. Engine bay excellent, don’t know if two-four setup is original. Hard to fault. No reserve. Cond: 1-. cess engine, but probably a 283 based on Internet photo. Beautiful yellow-green paint on top half with white below the dazzling chrome spears. Difficult to get this much paint to look uniformly so good. All chrome spotless. Interior looks brand new. Car purred to the auction block effortlessly. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $31,350. After the great Tri-Five Nomads, the 1958 came as a 4-door version. Not a wildly rare car, but not something you see every day. For me, this was the heartbreaker of the auction: a really excellent vehicle, sold without reserve at much less than market value. Very well bought. NOT SOLD AT $30,250. Serious sled in top-quality condition. Way too wild for most, but would be a standout at the local show or cruise night. Built by Classic Corner Garage of Mesa, AZ. Last sold at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale in January for $36k (ACC# 258258). #S737-1954 BUICK SKYLARK convertible. VIN: 7A1090889. Light blue/blue canvas/blue leather. Odo: 97,281 miles. 322-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Phenomenal restoration of a car brought over from Europe. Many parts, trim pieces and panels are reproduction. Beautiful paint with few discernible flaws. Front bench showing wear, especially driver’s side. Steering wheel chrome shows pitting. Driver’s side kick panel dented. Carpet worn at ingress points. Engine bay clean overall, but light oil showing at valve covers. Cond: 2. 7 SOLD AT $75,900. This car sold in 2004 at RM Phoenix for $65k (ACC# 32473). In 2011 it sold on eBay for $110k (ACC# 182990). At that time the odometer read zero. Hopefully those 1,492 miles put on since were spectacular. Well bought this time around. #S747-1958 CADILLAC ELDORADO convertible. VIN: 58E023399. Yellow/cream canvas/red leather. Odo: 65,065 miles. 365ci V8, 3x2-bbl, auto. One of 815 built. New paint with no discernible flaws. Chrome and trim excellent. New top. New carpet, trunk kit, glass, dash. Painted chassis. Sabre wheels. Autronic eye. All available power options. Engine bay excellent. Hard to fault. Cond: 2. NOT SOLD AT $20,900. If you needed more proof that C10s are hot, take the fact that this truck was one of no less than six examples at this auction. Beautifully done, this truck would be the perfect weekend cruiser but just couldn’t raise the cash at this auction. With the excellent condition and the current truck trend, I can see why the seller is holding out for better money. SOLD AT $170,428. This post-auction sale contradicts the current conventional wisdom that anyone who ever wanted a Skylark (except this author) has got one and values are headed for a slow decline. This car no-saled at Mecum Kissimmee in January at $110k (ACC# 257213), then sold at Hollywood Wheels Amelia Island in March for $126,500 (ACC# 264375), so the seller just made serious profit. This is the third Skylark sale this year over $170k. 86 AmericanCarCollector.com NOT SOLD AT $126,500. Not the most exciting color combo, but truly a terrific car. Reserve was set at a sensible $140k, seeing as these have been going north of $150k for years. Eventual high bid was certainly below market. #S643-1958 CHEVROLET NOMAD wagon. VIN: 58L110568. Yellow/green vinyl. Odo: 548 miles. V8, auto. Small block of unspecified displacement; couldn’t ac- #S615-1968 CHEVROLET IMPALA wagon. VIN: 164358F230794. Blue/blue vinyl. Odo: 96,841 miles. 396-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Very faded original paint with multiple dings, scratches and surface rust. Heavier rust in moisture-accumulation zones. All chrome trim faded. Factory luggage carrier. Interior very worn, front bench re-upholstered. Engine bay solid but shows miles traveled. Drivable but very used. Copious documentation. Cond: 4. NOT SOLD AT $15,400. This car was promoted as a GM #F475-1966 CHEVROLET C10 pickup. VIN: C1446Z123784. White/red & white leather. Odo: 91,970 miles. 283-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Very clean truck. Looks like a fresh resto with very good paint and chrome. Dings in trim. Interior looks brand new. Clean, correct engine bay. Wood bed with metal runners and Duraliner. Cond: 3+. TOP 10

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RUSSO AND STEELE // Newport Beach, CA SOLD AT $5,225. It’s easily forgotten that the Seville was tremendously popular. Production runs sold out, especially in Europe. This car was beat but neat, and for a vehicle that will probably keep running with little maintenance, it sold at a fair price. employee special-order car. What this amounted to was a few fairly mundane upgrades otherwise not available on this model, plus the luggage carrier. Recently sold for $11,880 at Mecum Kissimmee (ACC# 262902), making this high bid look like plenty. #S733-1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO RS/ SS custom coupe. VIN: 124379N572107. Orange/black leather. 6.2-L fuel-injected V8, auto. Pro Touring monster with DSE subframe and suspension, rack-and-pinion steering, and disc brakes all around. Excellent paint. Spotless chrome. Lowered stance. New leather interior with Recaro seats and late-model console. Racepak digital dash. Antenna missing. Forgeline wheels. Cond: 2. harness than I like to see. Originally lime green; you wonder why the yellow. The final high bid was low, and the seller was right to hang on for more later. #F518-1973 CHEVROLET CAMARO custom coupe. VIN: 1Q87K3N150004. Synergy Green/black leather. Odo: 300 miles. 6.0-L fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. Custom-built for the CEO of RS Hot Rods. Good paint with some swirls. Bodywork straight with good gaps. Color-matched painted trim, custom wheelwell fairings, custom-fabricated metal hood intake, shaved drip rails. Late-model Camaro center console. Interior features original seats re-covered in suede and leather with suede headliner. Highly detailed LS2 with color-matched intake and valve covers. Tremec TKO 6-speed driving a custom aluminum driveshaft and rebuilt 10-bolt rear end with Positraction. Cond: 2. #S606-1981 PONTIAC TRANS AM Turbo Recaro Edition coupe. VIN: 1G2AX87T5BN115203. White/black & red velour. Odo: 3,299 miles. 4.9-L turbcharged V8, auto. Original white paint has chips, dings and touch-ups all over. T-tops. Full-on Trans-Am decal regalia. Turbo hood scoop. Red and black velour interior with specialorder Recaro seats. Dash and interior trim and console very tired. Dirty engine bay dominated by Garrett TBO-305 turbocharger. Cond: 3-. NOT SOLD AT $13,750. Said to be one of 2,000, and it’s a time capsule. The highlight of the car was the boost indicators on the back of the Turbo bulge, with the words “Normal,” “Medium,” and “High” in classic “Tron” font. I would have taken the high bid. CORVETTE NOT SOLD AT $115,500. Last seen at Mecum Chicago in October of 2013, not sold at $92k (ACC# 236465). First-gen Camaros are the ultimate Pro Touring machines. Compact dimensions and parts availability make performance success readily achievable—so much so that outrageous builds like this can seem common. Regardless, the auction crowd loved the vehicle. Market-correct high bid for someone else’s no-expense-spared custom project. #S727-1971 OLDSMOBILE 442 W-30 convertible. VIN: 344671M51099. Yellow/black canvas/black vinyl. Odo: 1,909 miles. 455-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Rotisserie restoration with non-original school-bus-yellow paint. Front door gaps wide and nicks at door jambs. Original Super Stock wheels in fair condition. Correct and immaculate engine bay with red plastic fender liners and twin-scoop forced induction with vacuum-operated air option. Corrosion on headers. Interior trim wear, key marks around ignition. Canadian paperwork. Cond: 2-. NOT SOLD AT $101,750. Not a perfect car, but impressive. More electrical tape around the wiring 88 AmericanCarCollector.com NOT SOLD AT $44,000. Gen 2 Camaro design remains surprisingly resilient. The size, shape and stance still garner wide appeal. This car was an all-out street warrior with huge amounts of labor and money invested. High bid was low by a long shot. #SN801-1979 CADILLAC SEVILLE sedan. VIN: 6S69B99476543. Yellow/cream vinyl/cream leather. Odo: 32,144 miles. 5.7-L fuel-injected V8, auto. Original paint with dings all over and beginnings of rust at trim lines. Chrome in decent shape with plastic trim deteriorating. Interior well used. Power antenna stuck. Overall a very used car that could still roll. Cond: 4+. #S721-1961 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 10867S101763. Black/ black canvas/red leather. Odo: 49 miles. 283-ci 315-hp fuel-injected V8, 4-sp. Fouryear nut-and-bolt resto of a matching-numbers Fuelie. Nearly flawless black paint without discernible cracks or bubbles. Gaps and panel fit good all around. Includes hard top. Trim and chrome excellent. Newer tires with highly polished hubcaps. Interior looks new and correct. Engine bay excellent with desirable fuel injection unit. Looks like a new car. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $94,600. This car is an NCRS Top Flight winner, having scored 96.3 out of the possible 125, with points off for “nonfactory” cosmetics such as shiny paint. The

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RUSSO AND STEELE // Newport Beach, CA car was a stunner, but bidding stalled shortly after at $87k. This deal came together later, so it looks like buyer and seller came to an understanding. Well bought and sold. #S764-1965 CHEVROLET CORVETTE coupe. VIN: 194375S110884. Blue/white leather. Odo: 6,556 miles. 327-ci 350-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Full resto in 2004 now showing signs of age. Original warranty card, Protect-O-Plate, and matching-numbers 327. Deep and lovely Nassau Blue paint with a crack at the top of the A-pillar and bubbles at the rear edge of deck lid, driver’s A-pillar, and the hood near the windshield on driver’s side. Newer correct white interior shows nicely, as does tidy and original-looking engine compartment. Cond: 2. trick door pops mounted on the headlights to work so the car could hit the block. That’s how cool a Coddington is. Car came with an appraisal of $325k, so this market-correct bid was way below what the seller was looking for. #F450-1956 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL MARK II 2-dr hard top. VIN: C56B1929. Champagne/tan leather. Odo: 101,451 miles. 368-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Paint showing nicks, bubbles and some minor rust along edges. Chrome bumpers have areas of light surface rust. Trim pieces have dings and clouding. Rubber in need of attention. Taillights fogged. Alignment off on both doors. Corner of hood near windshield on driver’s side damaged, large ding on hood. Tan interior looking old, with sagging, discoloration and marks. Dash in decent shape. Incongruous turquoise steering wheel. Engine bay presentable and looks original. Did not start readily at auction time. Cond: 3+. still seems to have the magic touch. The car was extremely well executed, almost to the point of being unexciting. Every area was highly detailed, clean and custom. The Starliner is not a particularly exciting car to start out with, but it’s an unusual choice for a custom. Remains to be seen how long the big-wheel trend will last. I’d say the high bid was all the money and should have been taken. #S751-1966 SHELBY GT350 H fastback. VIN: SFM6S1383. Black/black vinyl. Odo: 13,442 miles. 289-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Full body-off resto to factory specifications. Good paint showing micro-buffs. Passenger’s door rear gap off. Trim and chrome like new. Interior like new, with dash tach and fold-down rear seat. Engine bay immaculate save for cracked rubber on shock mounts. Overall very high-quality presentation. Cond: 2. NOT SOLD AT $59,400. The original warranty card is not going to cover the bubbles—which is a shame, as this is a beautiful car with a lot of work put into it. The knockoff wheels are a piece of artwork unto themselves. High bid was well below market. Seller was right to hold. FOMOCO #S738-1932 FORD MODEL 18 custom convertible. VIN: 18144093. Black/blue canvas/black leather. 358-ci fuel-injected V8, auto. Full custom by Boyd Coddington. Hand-formed steel body with all louvers filled. Hood sits high at rear. Flawless deep black paint. Pinstriping looks dated. Lift-off top. Interior looks untouched. Did not see engine bay. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $31,900. Ten-foot car, and as such the next owner will be looking at serious expense to stop the deterioration. Mark IIs have a gigantic valuation spread right now, all based on how much work has already been invested. Examples like this are selling in the $30k range, plus or minus, while earlier this year at RM Phoenix a condition #1 car sold for $248K (ACC# 256987). Call this fairly bought. #S759-1960 FORD GALAXIE Starliner custom 2-dr hard top. VIN: 0J53X146143. Gray/gray leather. 351-ci fuel-injected V8, auto. Chip Foose custom. Stunning silver paint. Lower rear quarters fully chromed. Gigantic custom chrome Foose wheels with low-profile tires. Original-style interior covered in gray leather and suede. Resto-mod add-ons such as new a/c, Magnaflow exhaust and modern radio. Dressed 351 Windsor powerplant. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $137,500. This was about as nice an example of the legendary H-car as you’re likely to see. Seen last at Russo and Steele’s Scottsdale sale this past January, where it sold for $105k (ACC# 257088), the vehicle now has 442 more miles on it. Hopefully, someone had fun. Reserve came off at $125k. Fairly bought and sold. #S749-1967 SHELBY GT500 fastback. VIN: 67411F5A02665. Dark Moss Green/ black vinyl. Odo: 19,969 miles. 428-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. Correct paint with cracking and crazing at nose. Large bubble at top of windshield. Chrome good. Interior excellent. Original steering wheel held together with packing tape. Headliner seam coming apart. Good, original engine bay. Cond: 2-. NOT SOLD AT $148,500. I met up with Michael Anthony, bassist for Van Halen and an early Coddington patron, and spent 15 minutes trying to find the hidden switch to turn on the electrical so we could get the 90 AmericanCarCollector.com NOT SOLD AT $99,000. This car really got people going, mainly because Chip Foose NOT SOLD AT $121,000. Formerly owned by pro wrestler Goldberg. Not the best example, but low miles make this a solid candidate for a full resto. High bid was below the top of the market, but this wasn’t a topof-the-market vehicle.

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RUSSO AND STEELE // Newport Beach, CA 3 #S750-2006 FORD GT coupe. VIN: 1FAFP90S76Y401542. Red & white stripes/black leather. Odo: 193 miles. Basically a showroom vehicle. Has all of the four available factory options, which are the stripes, McIntosh audio system, color-coded Brembo brake calipers, and lightweight aluminum BBS wheels. Cond: 1-. factory spec put them in the custom column. Such is the “tribute” market. This vehicle ran strong and attracted plenty of attention. Well bought and sold. SOLD AT $337,700. When bidding on this car stalled at $200k, the auction team really raised a racket. The lone serious bidder was worked until the price hit $300k. Well bought and market-correct. #S713-2007 FORD MUSTANG custom convertible. VIN: 1ZVHT85H975344377. Purple/black canvas/black leather. 4.6-L supercharged V8, 5-sp. Radical custom. Scissor-style doors. Full back seat cowl. Wild metallic purple paint scheme with flames. Plethora of extra gauges and switches. Cond: 2. #S718-1970 PLYMOUTH SUPERBIRD replica convertible. VIN: RH27GOG163877. Orange/white canvas/white vinyl. Odo: 88,159 miles. 440-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, auto. Superbird tribute created from a ’70 Satellite convertible. Apparently nose and wing came from a Superbird that was converted back to a Road Runner. Orange paint looks well applied, with few blemishes. Good paint and panel fit. Interior in good used condition. Engine bay clean, housing a monstrous 440. Local Newport Beach car; divorce causes sale. Cond: 3+. AMERICANA #F470-1953 PACKARD CLIPPER 2-dr sedan. VIN: 26974327. Maroon tan/maroon leather. Odo: 78,585 miles. 289-ci I8, 2-bbl, 3-sp. Older paint with nicks and dings. Excellent chrome, with trim parts just okay. Interior in wonderful condition, with dashboard in good order but showing some fading and corrosion. Excellent engine compartment looking very correct. Cond: 2-. NOT SOLD AT $25,300. Always a treat to lift the hood on a straight 8, and this one was worth the price of admission. A very nice ’50s boat whose pool of potential buyers is shrinking annually. That high bid is the market right now, and I don’t see these going higher. Previously sold for $25,760 at Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas in September 2013 (ACC# 233265). A month before that, it no-saled at $22,500 at Mecum Monterey (ACC# 230939). NOT SOLD AT $104,500. Not the first time this has been done, yet shocking nonetheless. Most auction-goers seemed not to know this was a tribute car. The high bid was very generous for a replica. SOLD AT $28,600. An outrageous creation built to suit one person’s bold taste. Luckily, there was someone here with the same taste. Market value is wherever the seller and buyer can agree. Here the deal got done well under the build cost. MOPAR #F517-1963 DODGE 330 Max Wedge replica 2-dr sedan. VIN: 6135158847. Red/ black vinyl. Odo: 86,669 miles. 426-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. Max Wedge tribute built to a high standard but with some deviations from factory spec. Blinding red exterior with equally radiant chrome, both in excellent condition. Radio-delete example with new, non-original-spec black vinyl upholstery with red inserts. Painted steelies with dog-dish hubcaps. Detailed engine bay houses a snarling 426 that clearly means business. California black plates a bonus. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $41,250. It’s difficult to judge these types of vehicles. On one hand, they check the boxes for looks, power and attitude. On the other hand, any changes from 92 AmericanCarCollector.com #F493-1972 PLYMOUTH ’CUDA 2-dr hard top. VIN: BH23G2B310531. Moulin Rouge/ white vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 47,845 miles. 440-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Purchased from original owner and given body-on resto with bare-metal paint. Paint shows light orange peel in spots. 440 ’Cuda decals. Vinyl roof has dark patches. Dash and center console original, slightly worn. Rebuilt motor with a few incongruous dress-up items. Cond: 2-. #S709-1958 PACKARD HAWK coupe. VIN: 58LS1312. Black/tan leather. Odo: 25,166 miles. 289-ci supercharged V8, auto. Paint has cloudy patches on hood and buff swirl all around. Chrome and trim are in very good condition. Interior coverings look new but not well installed. Dash is old and worn, with tachometer beginning to fall out. Said to be matching numbers; hard to inspect engine bay, as hood is very shaky. Cond: 2. NOT SOLD AT $30,800. Good-looking car that sits right and presents a fun ride. Consensus was that pink actually looks pretty cool. Mopar interiors are always a bit of a disappointment, and this one was a bit tired. Rolled over the block early Friday, not sold. High bid was right in the ballpark. NOT SOLD AT $104,500. Seen last wearing cream and gold paint at Branson in October of 2013, where it was a no-sale at $32k (ACC# 231642). Maybe the owner thought black would give it a better chance. Noted as a bit scary then, with a inoperative supercharger and homemade serial number tag, and both points still apply. The Branson bid was definitely below value, but this high bid was good money. A TOP 10

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SILVER AUCTIONS // Pine River, MN Silver Auctions — The Theodore Merickel Collection MERICKEL HAD OWNED THE ALL-ORIGINAL 1966 CORVETTE SINCE IT WAS A LATE-MODEL USED CAR; INTENSE BIDDING PUSHED IT TO $80K Silver Auctions Pine River, MN May 30, 2015 Auctioneers: Mitch Silver, Gary Dehler Automotive lots sold/ offered: 88/88 Sales rate: 100% Sales total: $1,256,781 High sale: 1966 Chevrolet Corvette coupe, sold at $80,460 buyer’s premium: 8% for onsite bidders, 11% online, included in sold prices 1966 Chevrolet Corvette coupe, sold at $80,460. And it even came with an NOS Delco battery that has never had acid in it Report and photos by B. Mitchell Carlson Market opinions in italics ACC 1-6 scale condition rating for vehicles in Market Reports 1. perfect: National show standard 2. excellent: Club show-worthy, some small flaws 3. Average: Daily driver in decent condition 4. meh: Still a driver, with some visible flaws 5. Questionable: A problem-plagued beast that somehow manages to run 6. Lost cause: Salvageable for parts 94 AmericanCarCollector.com work easily rivaling shops using modern photographic methods. He reupholstered even his most mundane cars in full leather, down to the kick panels and up to the headliners. And yet he didn’t appear to care about serial numbers or getting cars retitled in his name. In late May, Silver Auctions sold off 88 lots from Merickel’s collection without reserve. Owning a chain of hardware stores in Central C Minnesota, Ted had the means to buy interesting cars and to equip his Brainerd Lakes Area facility with plenty of storage buildings and a top-quality shop. Not all of his cars showed his handiwork, however. About half the cars on offer either needed to be restored or were sold as parts cars. Several were good restorations done by others when he bought them, such as the 1932 Packard, sold at $28k. Merickel had owned Lot 13, the heavily optioned 1966 Chevrolet Corvette coupe, since it was a late-model used car. It remained all original at 32,000 miles, and intense bidding pushed it to a ollector Theodore Merickel’s private body shop was one of the best in greater Minnesota. The prep done on cars there was fabulous, and Merickel boasted that he did all of the woodgraining himself, his high-sale $80k. I have a feeling it headed directly to Bloomington Gold Survivor certification. For some cars that had gone though Merickel’s restoration shop, neither the auction company nor I could find a serial number, although most had titles with a correct style of VIN on them. Such was the case with the mid-1950s Ford convertibles. The body tags were removed and, short of disassembling the front ends to find the Level II VINs, no serial numbers were available. In some cases, such as the restored 1966 Mustang ($25k) and the 1932 Oldsmobile ($39k), the serial number was verified by lifting a fender or frame shielding. All of this added a potential layer of frustration to new owners, which was reflected in softer prices for many cars. As usual, Mitch Silver personally explained each car’s potential titling scenario and what might be needed in the worst case. Nonetheless, certain shoppers seemed to dismiss the title issues, bidding cars to market prices and beyond. Merickel didn’t appear concerned whether the cars sold for big money. It was just time for them to move on. After the cars, Merickel’s collection of parts and tools was sold off, as he has sold the property and is moving out of state to retire. A

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SILVER AUCTIONS // Pine River, MN CANADIAN #34-1936 TERRAPLANE SERIES 62 Custom sedan. VIN: 62C134. Brown/tan cloth. Odo: 66,993 miles. Repainted last winter. Door-seal bases left on during the repaint, but new rubber not yet fitted. As such, the door fit isn’t quite there. Some of the easier chrome pieces have been replated. Engine has a few pieces missing or improvised. Possibly original interior or seats redone long ago. Steering wheel cracked in multiple places and missing the horn button. No attempt made to start it. Cond: 3-. in leather, including the headliner. A bit over-the-top for a very pedestrian econobox of the day, and it still didn’t help when it came time to sell. It brought about as much here as it would anywhere else. #16-1932 CHEVROLET CONFEDERATE convertible. VIN: 3209328. Eng. # 3209328. Tan & brown/tan cloth/brown vinyl. Odo: 33,089 miles. Serial-number tag is gone. Equipped with Free Wheeling, heater, rumble seat, trunk rack and dual sidemounts. Good older repaint comes off as authentic and not showy. Some nicks and scuffing along hood. Subdued older chrome replating. Okay door fit. Tidy upholstery. Hokey wiring on heater switch. Packet of trim wrapped in newspaper sitting in the top well. Clean engine bay, but the modern red heater hose and its general routing detract from the otherwise stock and tidy look. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $8,100. Terraplane was a lowerpriced make, built by Hudson. This particular car was assembled in Canada, and apart from the body tag stating that it was made in Canada, one wouldn’t know the difference between it and a Detroit-built example. While fairly rare today, this sold well enough for what is really still a project. GM #4-1926 CHEVROLET SUPERIOR sedan. VIN: 21V2977. Blue & black/blue leather. Odo: 34,698 miles. Period-accessory MotoMeter. Trim-off repaint done to driver standard. Radiator shell is painted. Decent door fit for an 89-year-old wood body. Mostly new glass; modern windshield wiper blade. Good workmanship on the new leatherette top. Upholstered in all leather inside, including the door panels and headliner. Front seat showing minimal wear. Older engine restoration, now getting dusty. All gloss black undercarriage, with several larger chips from road abrasions. Takes some fiddling with the gas and spark to keep it running. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $27,000. This seemed to be one of the earlier restorations that had seen more use. Not at all a bad car, and could fit the bill for someone looking for a parade car or limited driver. Sold and bought about right. #29-1932 CHEVROLET CONFEDERATE roadster. VIN: 3051249. Eng. # 3051249. Yellow & black/tan cloth/brown vinyl. Odo: 1 miles. Equipped with Free Wheeling, rumble seat, trunk rack, running-board step plates, and dual sidemounts. Generally good repaint. Scrapes on left rear fender. Good chrome plating. Not the best top fit. Both sets of seats were redone with the same vinyl as used on Lot 16, the cabriolet. Like that car, these seats come off as having some light weathering. A period-accessory heater means that an otherwise well-restored engine compartment is upset with sloppy modern red heater hose. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $23,220. The problem with Chevys from the early 1930s is that the serial number for the car is only on a postage stamp-sized plate, tacked on the passenger’s side on either the wood seat frame or the floorboard. Part of this is because before WWII, several states (including Minnesota) titled cars based on their engine serial number. Helps explain why this car didn’t fare better across the block. #36-1932 CHEVROLET CONFEDERATE 5-window coupe. VIN: 3064056. Eng. # 3064056. Blue & gray primer/red vinyl. Rumble-seat configuration. In bits and pieces, splayed around the body on a frame. Originally blue; only the hood has paint left on it. The body has been media blasted, some primer applied, some blue spray. All glass is shot. All the other body components seem to be in the debris field. As for chrome and trim, you appear to be SOLD AT $31,860. Unlike Model A Fords or even ’32 Fords, 1932 Chevy roadsters are a pretty rare critter, with only 1,118 made. Selling on a bill of sale only hindered this from doing better, but that sort of thing happens when you restore a car without a serial number on it. #8-1932 CHEVROLET CONFEDERATE 3-window coupe. VIN: 6BA017938. Dark green & black/gray mohair. Odo: 40,846 miles. Equipped with Free Wheeling, dual sidemount spares, trunk rack, in-dash clock, vent wing windows. Excellent bodywork and paint application. Good door fit. All chrome replated. Authentically reupholstered interior shows minimal wear. Tidy but not quite show-quality under the hood. Stock exhaust now has heavier surface rust. Sold with a bill of sale plus a title that reflects a 1932 Chevy serial number but is not found on the car. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $10,800. Being an enclosed sedan, this would’ve had a low-cost cloth or mohair-type interior. Yet typical for Mr. Merickel’s restorations, it was done up entirely 96 AmericanCarCollector.com

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SILVER AUCTIONS // Pine River, MN on your own. Basic motor is repainted and mounted in the frame, with most ancillaries missing. Seat upholstery heavily weathered. Gauges and most interior trim is missing. Cond: 5-. SOLD AT $6,480. Another rare example of a ’32 Chev, with vintage Chevy folks claiming that this is one of the only remaining 5-window rumble-seat coupes left. If barely. Not surprised that the buyer is only getting a bill of sale. First thing on the new owner’s shortlist is to get the title dealt with before spending another dime. At the least, if titling goes south, it’s already swapmeet-ready. #6-1932 OLDSMOBILE MODEL F 5-window coupe. VIN: 1312846. Maroon & black/tan mohair. Odo: 75,910 miles. Open title, with an inaccessible serial number. Equipped with rumble seat, varnished wood spoke wheels, dual sidemounts, trunk rack and trunk, in-dash clock, and golf-bag door. Very good older repaint with some light cracking. All brightwork has been replated. Tarnished radiator shell emblem. Tidy and generally authentically restored engine compartment. Expertly upholstered interior shows minimal wear. Cond: 2-. light corrosion. Expertly reupholstered interior. Cond: 2. leather. Bare-body repaint done quite well. Running boards sitting next to it. Most of the chrome has been replated and replaced, but a few pieces are missing. Most notable is the horn button. Decent door fit. Older authentically reupholstered interior. Leather shows comfortable patina. No cardboard inner liner, so the glovebox really isn’t there. Clean and authentically restored engine compartment, although the reproduction cloth-wrapped insulated wiring could benefit from better management. Odo shows “00000.” Cond: 3. SOLD AT $38,340. I remember seeing this car over two decades ago at shows around Minnesota when the previous owner had it. While Ted claimed that he “all redid it,” it was darn nice then and pretty much the same as it was here. It’s hard to forget a car as rare as a ’32 Pontiac coupe, especially since it’s believed to be the only known Sport Coupe to have wood-spoke wheels. Due to the rarity, it falls into that “it’s worth what it sold for” territory, and it seems right landing here. #9-1939 BUICK CENTURY Series 61C convertible. VIN: 13551109. Black/tan cloth/red leather. Odo: 918 miles. AACA 2007 National First Place badge attached to grille. Equipped with dual sidemounts and push-button AM radio. Mirror-like paint finish. Good door fit. Crack in driver’s door glass. All chrome replated. Well-fitted top. Not quite show-quality detailing under the hood, but they came darn close. Buttery smooth, well-fitted interior upholstery shows no discernible wear. Reproduction carpeting up front is somewhat soiled. Stated that it has a one-digit typo on the title. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $38,880. Mitch stated that when he first let out word of this auction over the winter, everyone who’s into 1932 Olds was all over him, wanting to know where this car came from, since it was unknown to the general vintage Olds community. The only way to upgrade here is to find a straighteight model L. Selling price seems appropriate, since you’ll find more ’32 Pierce-Arrows than ’32 Olds. #11-1932 PONTIAC SERIES 402 3-window coupe. VIN: P852271. Eng. # P852271. Two-tone blue & black/gray broadcloth. Odo: 26,306 miles. Bill of sale only; no visible serial number. Equipped with Free Wheeling, varnished wood spoke wheels, rumble seat, rear trunk rack with painted-tomatch metal trunk, vent wing windows, and lubrication reminder display under the dash. AACA and POCI Senior award badges from late 1990s. Excellent repaint. Show-quality replate on all chrome. Modern bug screen over the grille. Older engine bay detailing. Engine block crudely scraped to reveal its serial number. Most fittings are showing 98 AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $32,400. I suppose you could not bother putting the running boards back on, since they were an option for this final year of the LaSalle. Not only was 1940 the last hurrah for Cadillac’s companion car; it was also the only year of the Series 52, slightly upmarket from the existing Series 50. To top it off, this was the 40th Series 52 convertible sedan body made by Fisher. Has a title, but the serial number wasn’t located on the car. More than enough paid to finish someone else’s work. #5-1941 CADILLAC SERIES 62 coupe. VIN: 8359328. Two-tone green/gray & green cloth. Odo: 75,843 miles. 346-ci V8, 2-bbl, 3-sp. Expert prep and repaint in original color scheme. Only has some light orange peel in the door jambs. All chrome has been replated. Modern flex radiator hoses, but otherwise correct under the hood. Thermostat linkage to the radiator shutters is missing. Authentically reupholstered interior, using correct materials, except carpet seems to be a modern synthetic fiber. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $51,300. Packard advertising in the late 1930s and early ’40s clearly targeted Buick’s annual styling changes, pointing out that unlike that some models that radically changed frontal styling every year, you always knew that a car was a Packard by its styling hallmarks. As one of 249 Century convertible sedans made for ’39, this one stands out proudly as an Art Deco period piece. That’s part of the reason that it achieved full market pricing—plus the fact that it’s going to a state where the title issue won’t be a big problem. #28-1940 LASALLE SERIES 52 convertible. VIN: N/A. Gray/tan cloth/tan & maroon SOLD AT $45,360. The hands-down favorite for both Mitch and myself (and I’m a Packard man) for a restored car here. This one nailed it perfectly, looking the part for the year, like it just rolled out of the dealer

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SILVER AUCTIONS // Pine River, MN ship’s showroom. Not surprisingly, it was also one of the more hotly contested cars here, barely getting the jump on an underbidder hoping to get a ’41 for $41k. Not cheap, but worth the effort. #2-1950 CHEVROLET STYLELINE Deluxe convertible. VIN: 14HKH131035. Seafoam green/tan cloth/gray cloth & green vinyl. Odo: 11 miles. 216-ci I6, 2x1-bbl, auto. Engine is from a 1951, fitted with Fenton dualcarburetor intake and split-manifold exhaust. Entire non-stock dual exhaust system is shiny and like new. Not surprisingly, it has a nice, unobtrusive burble to its exhaust tone. Better-quality paint than Chevy could’ve done, now has some brush touchups. Generally tidy underhood. Authentically restored interior. Passenger’s door has some water staining. Aftermarket headlight visors with Bowtie logos on them. Cond: 2-. engine repainted the correct color), this was still a stand-up car that could justify the higher market price. #15-1956 CHEVROLET BEL AIR 2-dr hard top. VIN: VC56K039393. Matador Red & light green/light yellow vinyl & light red nylon. Odo: 950 miles. 265-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Body tag decodes the original paint as Matador Red and Dune Beige. Interior originally Charcoal and Ivory. Fantasy window sticker lists the options the car has: power steering, pushbutton AM radio, deluxe heater, Continental kit (a dealer-installed option for all years), whitewall tires, hubcaps, and oil filter. Excellent repaint now has a few light nicks from limited use. Replated bumpers and NOS or reproduction trim. Near showquality engine bay. Very light wear starting on edge of reproduction seat. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $80,460. Ted didn’t buy it new, but he did buy it when it was barely used and kept it original. Not only did he have an extra battery, but he also had another set of era-correct Goodyear Power Cushion Goldlines that match the ones mounted on the car. Those sold relatively cheap separately later in the day for $350. The car, on the other hand, had heavy bidding and became the top sale here. And most likely, the belle of the ball at Bloomington Gold later in the month. #17-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 194676S126941. Ermine White/white hard top/white vinyl soft top/ Saddle vinyl. Odo: 57,635 miles. 327-ci 350-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Good body prep with sharp character lines. Equally good repaint. Doors fit well and have good shut lines. Headlight door fit is a little off. Chrome no better or worse than original quality, with a slightly muted finish. Aftermarket seat upholstery is lighter than original. Authentically detailed motor. 3.36 Posi differential, both tops, a/c, full tinted glass, wood-rim steering wheel with telescoping column, and AM/FM radio. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $42,120. This car really hit the mark for that period-correct feel. Rather heavily bid on, it did quite well when all was said and done, and it deserved it. #10-1956 CHEVROLET BEL AIR convertible. VIN: VC56T139960. Red & white/white vinyl/white vinyl & red nylon. Odo: 1 mile. 265-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Body tag was removed before the car was repainted, so the original color combination is unknown. Vastly better-than-stock repaint. Door fit is good; gaps are a bit crooked on the driver’s side. All chrome has a show-quality replate. Very clean undercarriage with good paint detailing. Engine bay nearly concoursready. Full reproduction interior, expertly installed and showing no appreciable wear. Equipped with power steering, power brakes, AM radio, clock and wire-basket wheel covers. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $41,040. Just when you thought you’ve seen every tacky ’50s color combination, along comes this. I’d be hard pressed to call this Dune Beige; it’s more Crocus Yellow with green in it or spring special Imperial Ivory with yellow. However, in a stomach-churning sort of way, you overcome the queasiness, and it could well be a period authentic combo. Market-correct sale, pushing well bought if you’re color blind. CORVETTE #13-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE coupe. VIN: 194376S106234. Nassau Blue/white vinyl. Odo: 32,790 miles. 327-ci 300-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Highly optioned. Claimed actual miles and essentially original. Minimal seam broadcasting under original paint. Aftermarket plastic chip guards clipped to wheelwells. Correct assembly procedures for factory sidepipes. Good original brightwork. All-original interior with minimal wear and a hint of old-car smell. Light water staining on rear carpet. Aftermarket air cleaner is the only out-of-place underhood item. Comes with an NOS Delco battery that has never had acid in it. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $69,120. While looking under the hood, I overhead someone say, “At least he isn’t like everyone else out there and putting 4-barrels on 2-barrel cars.” How true. Although it could use some detailing and correcting under the hood (like getting the 100 AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $64,800. Mr. Merickel bought this a few years back when he was visiting New Mexico. It had won a car show he was attending, and afterwards he bought it from that owner. Ted didn’t do much to the car, so it’s essentially as-is from then. Nice, but not almost $65k nice. FOMOCO #99-1954 FORD F-100 pickup. VIN: F10D4P13204. Blue-green metallic/gray nylon. Odo: 75,265 miles. 215-ci I6, 1-bbl, 3-sp. Called a 1953, but by the grille and the serial number, it’s a 1954. Older amateur repaint in a non-stock color, now with plenty of scratches, plus blistering at the bottom of the cab corners from a previous rust repair. Older seat re-covering with tears. Fitted with modern seat belts and turn signal quadrant. Raised white-letter radials on all four

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SILVER AUCTIONS // Pine River, MN corners. Not the tidiest under the hood, but at least it’s being cared for. New starter, oil filter, and starter solenoid. Runs out well, but has “weak brakes,” according to seller. Cond: 4-. SOLD AT $5,400. Last-minute consignment (it didn’t arrive until the morning of the auction) from the neighbor down the road. As such, it wasn’t posted online. It’s one of those old trucks that you can either leave like an old pair of boots and use it to go to the dump or restore without much difficulty. The patched-up rust and brake issues kept the locals’ hands in their pockets beyond five grand, so this isn’t quite the bargain it may seem to be. #26-1955 FORD FAIRLANE Sunliner custom convertible. VIN: U5LC14882. Red & white/white vinyl/red & white vinyl. Odo: 655 miles. 272-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Hood stamped out with functional louvers. Rather good trim-off repaint. Door handles shaved off. Door latches have cable releases in the simple but custom tube grille. Dime-store plastic fake wire wheel covers. Door sills still have masking tape on them. Interior restored with stock reproduction vinyl kits. Engine is a crate replacement Y-block painted up in dark gray like a truck engine. Generally clean under the hood, but wiring is rather haphazard. Cond: 3+. Power top, Continental kit. Cond: 2. either by brazing or body filler, rather than worn or damaged. Body tag on the door is gone. Good body prep, excellent paint. Variable panel and door fit. Almost all brightwork is reproduction. All-reproduction interior soft trim. Tidy under the hood. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $41,040. It appears that the VIN on the title is missing the first two characters. If this really was the original 292 Yblock under the hood, then in theory the missing characters would be M6. With a VIN that you and the DMV could see stamped on the car, this would’ve been in the zone for market pricing. As-is, it’s a $41k game of Russian roulette. #38-1965 FORD MUSTANG convertible. VIN: 5F08T795656. Dark blue metallic/white vinyl/blue vinyl. Odo: 83,826 miles. No motor in it; originally a 6-cylinder car. Rest of powertrain is complete from the torque converter back. Older repaint, not far off the color chart from its original Caspian Blue. Rust forming around the seams of a past rust-out repair from the rear wheelwells into the rocker panels. Crease in right front fender. No emblems, partial trim fitted. Seats appear to have been re-covered before and are in pretty decent shape. Bill of sale. Cond: 5-. SOLD AT $25,380. Without a body tag, you can claim all day that this is a Candy Apple Red GT with Pony interior. Or that it’s a Plain Jane in green metallic. The skeptical bidders and Mustang enthusiasts tactfully stepped out for a while when this crossed the block. I’d recommend that the new owner notch the passenger’s side fender, á la San Jose-built Mustangs with a VIN tag exposed on each side of the engine bay— but I’d bet money that the new owner just wanted a pretty red convertible. AMERICANA SOLD AT $23,760. Not quite a “lead sled,” but a mild custom. The body tag was removed in the course of painting it, and neither the auction company nor I could find a serial number stamped on the usual place on the frame. Since it does have a title with a 1955 Ford serial number on that, it could make things interesting at the DMV if it goes to a state that requires an inspection for transfer of title. As such, it wasn’t as cheap as it seems. #12-1956 FORD FAIRLANE Sunliner convertible. VIN: LC125781. White & coral/ white vinyl/coral & white vinyl. Odo: 282 miles. 292-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Frame-off restoration in recent years. Body tag removed before repaint. Said paintwork is vastly better than the factory could’ve done in 1956. All chrome replated or reproduction. Good panel and door fit. Well-fitted reproduction interior soft trim. Slight wear and soiling of the repro carpeting. Engine compartment nearly concours-ready. Wears Minnesota collector plates, sold with a Minnesota title, but it has a partial serial number; no one able to locate serial number on the car. 102 AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $2,700. This appeared to have been one of Ted’s next projects, with parts and trim acquired and placed in the car. At least this was inside one of his buildings, so it hadn’t weathered too badly while it was in his possession. However, since it’s from the land of 10,000 pounds of road salt per mile, rust is still lying in wait. Since the locals are all painfully aware of that, it wasn’t as cheap as you may think. #32-1966 FORD MUSTANG convertible. VIN: 6F07C119534. Candy Apple Red/white vinyl/Pony white vinyl. Odo: 2 miles. 289-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Appears to have been built from about three different Mustangs. Sold on an “open title” in the previous owner’s name. Secondary VIN is stamped under the right front fender and matches the title. The primary VIN appears to have been covered, #23-1932 PACKARD EIGHT Series 901 formal sedan. VIN: 5031956. Maroon & gray/black vinyl/gray cloth. Odo: 52,582 miles. Trippe lights, dual sidemounts, trunk rack with Packard metal trunk, grille screen, and Cormorant hood ornament. Restored at least two decades ago, since it wears an AACA National First grille badge from 1995. Since then, the paint has started to peel. No issues with the replated chrome. Modern Packard crest cloisonné hat pins attached to the landau bars. Motor authentically restored but now showing heavier surface rust. Noticeable staining on driver’s seat; rest of interior presents well. Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $28,080. Here’s a prime example of why I don’t get too worked up about a car that’s a former award-winner. In this case, the paint probably didn’t like going from sunny Florida (where it’s actually still licensed and titled) to the cold Minnesota winters. Now it’s in a rather uncomfortable

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SILVER AUCTIONS // Pine River, MN place of not quite needing a re-restoration, but without a repaint, it’s not much of a show car. Or tour car. Appropriately bid or pushing generous. #35-1936 PACKARD ONE-TWENTY Series 1401 coupe. VIN: C5046922. Black/ copper vinyl. Odo: 74,854 miles. Multiple very old repaints beneath cracking and flaking. Windows delaminated. Newest New York state inspection sticker on the windshield dates to 1976. Door fit is so-so. All chrome is rusty or pitted. Seats worn and cracking. Door panels and headliner are original and will serve best as patterns for replacements. Runs good enough to get to a trailer. Body/serial-number tag is missing, but engine number is easily visible. Equipped with rumble seat and integral trunk, plus Goddess hood ornament, heater with defroster, and clock. Cond: 5+. of a deal on the surface, especially if you speak Packard, but titling issues may lurk in the future, as it’s sold on a bill of sale. #19-1937 PACKARD ONE-TWENTY Series 1501 convertible. VIN: 143680. Eng. # 143680. Red/. Odo: 141 miles. A work in progress, with a lot of work already done. Exquisite repaint. Replated chrome, but not entirely certain that it’s all there until the interior of the car is unpacked of all the boxes and bundles of parts. Top bows are fitted, but also has wood components for other body sections bundled in the top well. 1956 Chevy steering wheel expediently added to jockey the car around. Engine started up and ran during the pre-auction has been done was done exceptionally well. However, it isn’t done. While the engine runs, you can’t drive it out of here. Some folks looked at it and said, “The hard work is done.” I say the hardest part is getting it finished. Guilty as charged, but a lot of projects stop right at this point because now that you have the car disassembled, painted, and plated, you have to put that jigsaw puzzle back together again. And make it function. Because it ain’t there yet, well sold. #64-1940 PACKARD 160 Series 1804 sedan. VIN: 13622728. Dark blue/light blue cloth. Odo: 79,893 miles. Per the patent plate, sold new by Packard Minneapolis on August 18,1940. Paint heavily oxidized. Heavier rust at nicks and chips and underneath trim. Said trim is mostly complete but will be good cores for restoration. All seals dry-rotted and crumbling. Reupholstered seats look like a 1970s couch. Original door panels and headliners will serve best as patterns. Overdrive cable dangling beneath dash. The on-site mechanic got it running on the morning of the auction, but using a gas can sitting on the cowl. No title. Cond: 5+. SOLD AT $7,830. At least nobody had started to rip it apart to redo it. Not too bad day. No serial-number tag, so sold on a bill of sale. Comes with dual sidemounts with metal covers. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $32,400. I hate rating works in progress. Here, what SOLD AT $5,400. New for 1940 was a refined straight eight. Having an integrally cast block and crankcase (dispensing with the separate castings as previously used), it was rated at 160 hp; hence the name. It was also shared with the new top-shelf 180. It was the only body to use this 158-inch wheelbase, so a faux-convertible sedan probably won’t cut it (literally). This will not be a cheap date to restore, nor will it bring enough to justify the expense, so it brought enough money. A 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 104 AmericanCarCollector.com

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GLOBAL ROUNDUP Selected Sales Combined in One Comprehensive Report American highlights at three auctions GM #180-1933 CADILLAC 370C town car. VIN: 40005005. Black/gray cloth. Odo: 64,988 miles. Most of this paint left town long ago. The hubcaps and the passenger’s door handle are missing. Still has air in the “All Service” rayon tires. Some visible rustthrough on the lower body panels and lower areas of the front fenders. Some side glass is cracked. Has original cloth interior. Cond: 5+. top seller — 1970 Dodge Hemi Challenger r/t Se 2-door hard top, sold for $199,800 at mecum Seattle Mecum Auctions Seattle, WA — June 5–6, 2015 Auctioneers: Mark Delzell, Russ Conklin, Mike Hagerman, Matt Moravec Automotive lots sold/offered: 284/578 Sales rate: 49% Sales total: $9,661,620 High sale: 1970 Dodge Hemi Challenger R/T SE, sold at $199,800 buyer’s premium: 8%, $500 minimum, included in sold prices Report and photos by Daren Kloes Motostalgia Indianapolis brickyard Auction Indianapolis, IN — June 12, 2015 Auctioneer: Peter Bainbridge Automotive lots sold/offered: 65/104 Sales rate: 63% Sales total: $4,308,225 High sale: 1932 Cadillac 370B V12 Convertible Victoria, sold at $308,000 buyer’s premium: 10%, included in sold prices Report and photos by Dan Grunwald Silver Auctions Coeur d’Alene, ID — June 20, 2015 Auctioneer: Mitch Silver, Matt Backs Automotive lots sold/offered: 39/101 Sales rate: 39% Sales total: $566,784 High sale: 1947 Lincoln Continental convertible, sold at $45,360 buyer’s premium: 8%, included in sold prices Report and photos by John Boyle SOLD AT $55,000. Out of the Barn Find Collection of Texas. Very dirty but no pigeon poop anywhere. This one has the most needs of the five cars in the collection but still is mostly complete. Motostalgia, Indianapolis, IN, 06/15. #202-1951 CHEVROLET 3100 pickup. VIN: 21JPB5407. Blue/gray cloth. Odo: 84,019 miles. 217-ci I6, 1-bbl, 4-sp. A fresh nut-and-bolt restoration with all new chrome, very good quality paint (couple of chips), new fender welting, oak bed wood and new wide whitewalls. The interior sports a new cloth-covered seat and in-dash radio. A couple of steering wheel cracks, faded gauge faces and a missing brake-pedal cover are small downsides. The engine compartment is well detailed and clean. A new sidemount spare tire matches the other tires. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $25,300. A very nice quality truck with all of the hard stuff done. Interior details are the fun stuff for the new owner to play with. My Best Buy of the sale. Motostalgia, Indianapolis, IN, 06/15. 1947 Lincoln Continental convertible, sold at $45,360 — Silver Coeur d’Alene 106 AmericanCarCollector.com #155-1955 CHEVROLET BEL AIR convertible. VIN: VC55T135951. Orange & ivory/ivory cloth/orange & ivory vinyl. Odo: 2,346 miles. 265-ci turbocharged V8, auto. Some previous body repair work shows on the rocker panels and below the trunk lid. New chrome, interior, paint and top. One of BEST BUY

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ROUNDUP GLOBAL the rear bumper bolts has the chrome peeling off. The side body panels and some of the trim appear slightly wavy. Aftermarket radio and period-look Firestone wide whites. The 265-ci small block now has a Rajay remote-mounted turbocharger. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $56,650. Looks all stock and shows very well. This was a hard call between a 2 and a 2+. This car generated lots of lookers during the viewing. Fair sale both ways. Motostalgia, Indianapolis, IN, 06/15. #105-1957 CHEVROLET 210 wagon. VIN: B57MX3352. Gold & beige/gold & beige cloth & vinyl. Odo: 28,583 miles. 265-ci V8, 2-bbl, 3-sp. Some of the rechromed parts show light pitting, and the side trim on the right side is wavy. The antenna is rusty, and the right rear glass is cracked. New carpets and seat covers, with the driver’s side cover showing a large stitched repair on the outside edge. The armrests show cracks in the plastic. Most weatherstrips look new. No heater installed. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $82,080. With acres of sheet metal and dripping with chrome, nothing works better than black. Loaded with accessories and restored to an excellent standard. A proven post-restoration driver, as the owner logged 180 miles the weekend prior with no problems and claimed “everything works.” During restoration, the owner resisted adding a popular but fussy TriPower in favor of a tried-and-true 4-bbl, which may explain its reliability. The strong price here probably doesn’t come close to recouping the restoration costs. A good value. Mecum Auctions, Seattle, WA, 06/15. #S79.1-1960 CHEVROLET IMPALA convertible. VIN: 01867J131678. Red/white/ red & white vinyl & cloth. Odo: 41,589 miles. 348-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, auto. Nice exterior paint let down by brush-painted door jambs and touched-up dash. Seats show some soiling. Stainless dull. Nicely detailed engine compartment. Cond: 2-. P GLOBAL the rear bumper bolts has the chrome peel- ing off. The side body panels and some of the trim appear slightly wavy. Aftermarket radio and period-look Firestone wide whites. The 265-ci small block now has a Rajay remote-mounted turbocharger. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $56,650. Looks all stock and shows very well. This was a hard call be- tween a 2 and a 2+. This car generated lots of lookers during the viewing. Fair sale both ways. Motostalgia, Indianapolis, IN, 06/15. #105-1957 CHEVROLET 210 wagon. VIN: B57MX3352. Gold & beige/gold & beige cloth & vinyl. Odo: 28,583 miles. 265-ci V8, 2-bbl, 3-sp. Some of the rechromed parts show light pitting, and the side trim on the right side is wavy. The antenna is rusty, and the right rear glass is cracked. New carpets and seat covers, with the driver’s side cover showing a large stitched repair on the out- side edge. The armrests show cracks in the plastic. Most weatherstrips look new. No heater installed. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $82,080. With acres of sheet metal and dripping with chrome, nothing works better than black. Loaded with acces- sories and restored to an excellent stan- dard. A proven post-restoration driver, as the owner logged 180 miles the weekend prior with no problems and claimed “every- thing works.” During restoration, the owner resisted adding a popular but fussy Tri- Power in favor of a tried-and-true 4-bbl, which may explain its reliability. The strong price here probably doesn’t come close to recouping the restoration costs. A good value. Mecum Auctions, Seattle, WA, 06/15. #S79.1-1960 CHEVROLET IMPALA con- vertible. VIN: 01867J131678. Red/white/ red & white vinyl & cloth. Odo: 41,589 miles. 348-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, auto. Nice exterior paint let down by brush-painted door jambs and touched-up dash. Seats show some soiling. Stainless dull. Nicely detailed engine com- partment. Cond: 2-. GLOBAL GLOBAL SOLD AT $25,000. Shows an old 1986 AACA National 1st badge on the grille, but I can’t guarantee it was for this car. According to the catalog, Chevrolet had an export operation that sold knock-down kits in 1957, and this car was a kit assembled in Mexico with some locally sourced materials and an assigned local serial number. Some major savings were realized on import duties and cheap local labor. I never heard of that before, but it might explain the strange VIN if the story is true. Motostalgia, Indianapolis, IN, 06/15. #S159-1958 CHEVROLET IMPALA convertible. VIN: 8186732186. Onyx Black/ black, white & blue vinyl. Odo: 57,726 miles. 348-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Loaded with options including power brakes, steering, windows and Continental kit. 2,000 miles since complete restoration using many NOS parts including much of the stainless trim. All mechanical components rebuilt. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $77,760. Top-of-the-line full-size Chevrolet for 1960. Equally at home in the suburbs and among the country-club set. This car was an eye-catcher in red on red, but somewhat let down by the details. A good show-and-shine restoration sold at a slight premium. Mecum Auctions, Seattle, WA, 06/15. #S215-1966 CHEVROLET NOVA SS 327 L79 2-dr hard top. VIN: 118376W118485. Eng. # 5W118485. Marina Blue/blue vinyl. Odo: 78,836 miles. 327-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Matching-numbers 350-hp L79 engine option. Excellent paint in an eye-popping color. Excellent chrome and stainless. New reproduction seat covers well fitted. Detailed engine compartment looks like new. Muncie 4-speed, 12-bolt rear-end. Overall, nicely restored. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $74,520. With the L79 engine option pumping out 350 horses, there is a lot of power in a relatively light car. Sold last year at the same venue for just $49k (ACC# 244107). One September-October 2015 107

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GLOBAL ROUNDUP Rally wheels with Redlines. Excellent paint and good body lines. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $54,000. Finding a true Z/28 from the 1967 model year is a tall order. Converting a standard Camaro to proper Z/28 specs takes a true enthusiast with lots of time and money on his hands. This one was faithfully done, down to the cowl plenum air cleaner assembly that was a rare option on the original. Nicely done and solid result. Mecum Auctions, Seattle, WA, 06/15. year and 34 miles later, the seller realized a tidy profit. Sold at the high end, but given the combination of a quality restoration, matching-numbers drivetrain, and terrific colors, the buyer got a great package. Mecum Auctions, Seattle, WA, 06/15. #S53-1966 OLDSMOBILE 442 convertible. VIN: 338676Z121731. Red/white vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 371 miles. 400-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Frame-off restored to a high standard. Muncie 4-speed with Hurst shifter. Positraction. Power steering and brakes, factory air and tach. Bucket seats with console. A loaded car, beautifully restored with excellent paint, interior and detailing. Cond: 1-. #S94-1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO COPO coupe. VIN: 124379N644119. Rally Green/black vinyl. Odo: 17,545 miles. 427-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Stored from 1978 to 2002, this car from the John Wickey Collection was recently rotisserie restored. Besides the L72 427 engine, it also has the factory BE-code 12-bolt rear end. Believed original miles. Cond: 1-. 8 SOLD AT $74,000. Perhaps the best ’69 Pace Car anywhere, and it brought all the money today. Well bought and sold. Motostalgia, Indianapolis, IN, 06/15. #F244-1969 PONTIAC FIREBIRD 400 HO convertible. VIN: 223679L109592. Midnight Green/white vinyl/green vinyl. Odo: 26,094 miles. 400-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Said to be one of 91 Firebird 400 convertibles built. Unfortunately, not a numbers-matching car. The original engine was replaced with a ’69 Pontiac 400 engine, but presumably not an HO. Freshly restored; new paint over rustfree body is well done. Loaded with 4-speed transmission, Saf-T-Trac rear end, power steering, power disc brakes, power top, hood tach, rally gauge cluster and a/c. PHS documented. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $64,800. By 1966, Pontiac’s GTO with its Tri-Power engine had already established itself as the performance leader within GM. Oldsmobile wasn’t about to relinquish the throne and offered a Tri-Power monster of its own in the 442. The civil war was on, and the 442 would continue to give Pontiac a run for its money. This car was a testament to what Olds could produce, and the restoration did not disappoint. Correct E-code block, but no mention of matching numbers. Well sold, but worth it. Mecum Auctions, Seattle, WA, 06/15. #S180-1967 CHEVROLET CAMARO Z/28 replica coupe. VIN: WP0JB0933HS051066. Bolero Red/red vinyl. Odo: 90,127 miles. 302-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Date-coded 1967 block. Muncie 4-speed transmission. 12-bolt Positraction, power disc brakes, SOLD AT $167,400. In 1969, the corporate edict from GM execs declared engines over 400 cubic inches could only be used in fullsized cars or Corvettes. GM promotions manager Vince Piggins defied the brass, slipping orders through a fleet vehicle loophole, and the COPO was born. Part of the John Wickey Collection, this car was rotisserie restored and showed beautifully, despite having a date-code-correct replacement block. Final bid seemed a bit shy for such a nice COPO, but the matching-numbers police can be pretty unforgiving. Mecum Auctions, Seattle, WA, 06/15. #152-1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO RS/SS Pace Car convertible. VIN: 124679N638051. White & orange/white canvas/white & black vinyl. Odo: 9,379 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Documented 9,379-mile car with all matching numbers. Seems believable, as I can find nothing that doesn’t look factory-new. Said to be one of the official pace car vehicles that GM supplied for Indy in 1969. It comes with the special garage parking pass (#422). Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $38,880. In this handsome yet understated color, the car seemed like it should be driven by a grown-up. The tachometer bulging almost discreetly from the hood is the only clue that this car means business. It was beautifully restored, but not to the point it couldn’t be driven and enjoyed. A slight premium paid for a deserving car. Last sold in 2011 at Russo and Steele Scottsdale for $32k (ACC# 168533). Mecum Auctions, Seattle, WA, 06/15. #S134-1970 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE SS 454 LS6 2-dr hard top. VIN: 136370K145892. Red/red vinyl. Odo: 30,892 miles. 454-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Documented history with matching-numbers 450-hp 454 engine and TH400 automatic transmission. Beautiful paint on claimed original sheet metal. Chambered exhaust. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $88,560. Back in the salad days of 2007–08, these LS6 Chevelles were selling for $200k with regularity. Fast-forward to 2015, and they struggle to make $100k. I’m not sure why, as I think they are far better looking than a Hemi Road Runner and slightly better performers, too. With 450 hp and 500 ft-lbs of torque, these brutes are a blast off the line. This car was an excellent example and could have brought 10%–15% more without raising eyebrows. Good buy. Mecum Auctions, Seattle, WA, 06/15. 108 AmericanCarCollector.com TOP 10

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GLOBAL ROUNDUP #S103-1970 OLDSMOBILE 442 W-30 convertible. VIN: 344670M263439. Rally Red/ white/pearl white vinyl. Odo: 57,210 miles. 455-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Rotisserie restoration completed to high standard. Retains original matching-numbers big-block with the W-30 package, giving the car 5 more horsepower, an aluminum intake manifold, red fiberglass inner fender wells, and a fiberglass hood. Originally painted copper, now wearing shiny Oldsmobile Rally Red paint. Nice pearl vinyl upholstery. Original Oldsmobile Rally wheels with raised-letter tires. Hurst shifter, four-spoke steering wheel, power top, and Rally gauge pack with Tic-TocTach. Cond: 2+. undermined my faith in the quality of the work. (Come on, how hard is it to put in a radio and speakers?) Considering the recent expenditures, I can’t blame the seller for not taking the high bid, but it came across as a quickie fluff-and-buff effort. More attention to details will give bidders more confidence next time out. Silver Auctions, Coeur d’Alene, ID, 06/15. #28-1974 BUICK RIVIERA GS 2-dr sedan. VIN: 4Y87U4H432305. Blue/white vinyl/ white vinyl. Odo: 120,851 miles. 455-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Very nice paint over straight body. Newer, well-fitted top. Gaps per factory. Minor cracks on soft plastic body to bumper trim. Black rubber bumper trim shows usual age and wear. Well-applied factory-style tape pinstripes missing in a few areas. Interior like new except for usual GM fade to glovebox door. New trunk carpet held in with Velcro. Very clean and mostly stock underhood; aftermarket spark-plug wires detract. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $126,900. Said to be one of 96 W-30 4-speed convertibles produced in 1970, with only a handful remaining. This was one of several muscle cars at this sale brought by owners from neighboring British Columbia, Canada. The owner found this once-forlorn project squirreled away in the corner of a body shop in 1994 and made a deal to buy it before even realizing the significance of the W-30 designation. Dumb luck then turns into a 150% premium today. It no-saled here a year ago at $120k (ACC# 255736), confirming this price. Mecum Auctions, Seattle, WA, 06/15. #33-1971 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS 2-dr hard top. VIN: 33287M160896. Bronze/ black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 99,460 miles. 455-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Recent repaint and top. Hood color is a shade off. Black panels on hood well applied. Body appears straight with factory panel gaps. Bumpers and trim aging. Trim piece on front edge of quarterwindow worn. Seller claims new interior, but it is marred by aftermarket steering wheel. Wooden parcel shelf is missing fabric and has gaping speaker holes, and probably not coincidentally the radio is missing. Engine bay is driver-quality with aftermarket headers. Cond: 3. “preservation” category in many areas. Stated to be “all matching numbers.” Fairly bought and sold, considering the 340-hp engine, which was the most powerful carbureted option available in 1963 and normally commands a premium. Motostalgia, Indianapolis, IN, 06/15. #S102-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE coupe. VIN: 30837S104636. Black/black vinyl. Odo: 90,201 miles. 327-ci 360-hp fuelinjected V8, 4-sp. Split-Window Fuelie, black-on-black. Repainted, probably a few years ago. Fiberglass has a few light stress cracks. Nicely detailed engine compartment to driver standard. Stainless could use polish. Corvette Turbine wheels. No mention of matching numbers. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $6,588. You want a big Riviera but the '71–'73 Bill Mitchell “Boattails” don’t float your boat? Well, Buick has you covered. 1974 Riviera sales dropped by a third, but that probably had more to do with gas prices than losing the boattail. This car has everything a successful white-shoe-wearing Realtor wanted in the day, including a drumtype thermometer on the outside rearview mirror. This car came with a recent engine rebuild, build sheet, and all books and manuals. On a per-pound cost, the buy of the sale. Silver Auctions, Coeur d’Alene, ID, 06/15. CORVETTE NOT SOLD AT $7,700. A big-block car with fresh cosmetics and suspension work to tempt bidders. But the obvious shortcuts 110 AmericanCarCollector.com #129-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 30867S112276. Saddle Tan/ black cloth/tan vinyl. Odo: 1,313 miles. 327ci 340-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Said to be original paint with worn-through areas, nicks, chips and scratching everywhere, but no paint crackling. Chrome shows pretty well with only light pitting on the rear bumpers. The interior has a large tear in the driver’s back rest and a carpet hole as well as the usual denting in the aluminum console top. Hurst shifter. Some of the ignition shielding is missing. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $47,300. Not an iconic Split-Window, which is the only coupe Corvette that out-prices a convertible, but this car also falls into that elusive SOLD AT $81,000. This black-on-black Corvette has sold twice at auction in the past year (at $115k and $132k) and nosaled three times between $80k and $100k. Seemingly sold for a bargain price here, but maybe there’s a story. Where will we see it next? Mecum Auctions, Seattle, WA, 06/15. #170-1965 CHEVROLET CORVETTE coupe. VIN: 194375S115410. White/red vinyl. Odo: 65,768 miles. 327-ci 300-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. A few visible prep flaws show in the fresh paint; couple of chips on the edges of the headlight buckets. New interior and newer chrome. Tinted glass with a deep scratch on the windshield. Power brakes and modern R134a a/c. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $71,500. Said to have been awarded NCRS Top Flight with 99 out of

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GLOBAL ROUNDUP 100 points “a few years back.” The paint is just starting to age somewhat, but still a nice example of a mid-year. Well sold. Motostalgia, Indianapolis, IN, 06/15. #186-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible. VIN: 194676S107102. Black/black cloth/black leather. Odo: 7,279 miles. 327-ci 350-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Looks fairly recently restored with new chrome, paint, tires and interior. Paint shows a flaw on the right rear and cracks starting at the headlight corner, hood corner and backup light. Optioned with teak steering wheel, power steering, power brakes and steering, sidepipes and alloy wheels. No mention of matching numbers. Cond: 2. let down by faded dash pods and holes in speaker grille; rest of interior unworn reproduction. Engine bay looks correct and is clean. Well equipped with sidepipes, factory-style knockoffs, AM/FM and telescoping teak wheel. Claimed to be numbers matching. Cond: 2-. with an original sales brochure and documents. Sold right on the money. Silver Auctions, Coeur d’Alene, ID, 06/15. FOMOCO SOLD AT $61,600. Well optioned and localshow-ready. Previously sold for $50k at Russo and Steele in Vegas in September of 2013 with 7,269 miles on the odometer. I think this is still fairly priced considering the quality of the restoration, though it might start to age soon. Motostalgia, Indianapolis, IN, 06/15. #141-1966 CHEVROLET CORVETTE coupe. VIN: 194376S112731. Red/red vinyl. Odo: 45,653 miles. 427-ci 425-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Very nice paint over a wave-free body. Signs of minor work on left quarterpanel. Chrome and stainless nice. Interior NOT SOLD AT $65,000. A well-equipped big-block car. Seller didn’t know much about it other than it was restored eight years ago. If correct, it’s held up very well. Sold in January at Silver’s Fort McDowell auction for $82k, which our reporter called “market price” (ACC# 257125). Six months and zero miles later, it was bid well under that. Silver Auctions, Coeur d’Alene, ID, 06/15. #88-1987 CHEVROLET CORVETTE coupe. VIN: 1G1YY2183H5105196. Red/ red. Odo: 44,029 miles. 5.7-L 240-hp fuelinjected V8. Well-cared-for car with expected paint chips. Large chip on passenger’s door. Interior shows wear appropriate for mileage. Driver’s seat bolster worn. Dash and console holding up well. Very clean and correct underhood, with signs of recent service. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $7,020. C4s are the affordable entryway to Corvette ownership. This one was obviously cared for by an enthusiast and came #173-1932 FORD custom pickup. VIN: 19KK3ES752. Green & gold/aluminum. Spotless everywhere. Countless custom parts. Chrome louvers and rivets everywhere. Pod headlights. Genie deuce frame and a chrome five-inch drop axle. Harry Miller-inspired custom chrome grille shell. Bendix-style brakes with machined fins. Powered by a Donovan all-aluminum 4-cyl engine with two 2-bbl Strombergs mounted sideways with custom air intakes. The wood in the bed is Australian lacewood. The photos do not do it justice. An amazing hot rod. Cond: 1. NOT SOLD AT $240,000. Built by Brian Stinger and Troy Trepanier for George Poteet with what must have been an unlimited budget. Won “Best Hot Rod Truck” at the Grand National Roadster Show in 2010 as well as “Truck of the Year” at Goodguys. Cover photo on the August 2010 issue of Street Rodder magazine. The auctioneer tried hard but simply wasn’t able to make the seller and the bidders reach a happy place today. Motostalgia, Indianapolis, IN, 06/15. #S132-1941 LINCOLN ZEPHYR convertible. VIN: 126208. Beige/tan cloth/brown leather. Odo: 126,208 miles. V12 motor. 24K gold interior trim and door handles. Three-speed transmission with overdrive. Old repaint now showing chips and scratches. Top showing fading and slight sag. An older, tired restoration that would require attention to every detail to make it concours. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $44,280. These budget Lincolns were lightweight and elegant and have beautiful streamlined 112 AmericanCarCollector.com

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GLOBAL ROUNDUP newer than the rest of the bay, which is stock and very clean. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $45,360. You see a lot of 1946–48 Continental convertibles at sales, but fewer than 1,500 were built. Seller claimed it was rustfree but said little else. Lack of information may have held down bidding, as this convertible went for coupe money. A convertible CCCA Full Classic for less than $50k is a great deal. Silver Auctions, Coeur d’Alene, ID, 06/15. body lines. In 1941 this model sold for $1,800 and today is quite rare, with only 725 examples being produced. Given its needs, well sold. Mecum Auctions, Seattle, WA, 06/15. #34-1947 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL convertible. VIN: 7H167552. Yellow/ black fabric/brown leather. Odo: 43,501 miles. Older restoration out of a large collection. Nice paint over straight body with good gaps. Noticeable color mismatch on Continental kit and side skirts. Top of rear window loose. Bumpers okay, but some puckering on grille chrome. Seats look unused, interior is nice, some wear to trim. Engine compartment body-color areas look older than rest of car. Engine paint looks #196-1951 FORD COUNTRY SQUIRE wagon. VIN: B1LB142391. Yellow/brown & tan vinyl. Odo: 81,138 miles. 239-ci V8, 2-bbl, 3-sp. New “do it fast” paint shows drips, orange peel, dust and some mask lines. The finish on the wood also shows dust and cracks. Light pitting on overall shiny chrome and fit issues on some of the front chrome pieces. Three-row seating with new upholstery. The floor pans show some rust-through. Cond: 3-. #198-1956 MERCURY MONTCLAIR 2-dr hard top. VIN: 56SL59963M. Melon & cream/melon & cream vinyl. Odo: 33,600 miles. 312-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. The bumpers look good, but there is some pitting on some of the smaller chrome pieces. Lots of bright trim pieces with a few visible dents. The left-side vent pane is delaminating. The paint presents well. There are some dents in the hubcaps and the engine is dusty. Comes with power steering and brakes. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $38,500. Looks like a long-term storage car that could use a light reconditioning to bring it back to glory. Both the buyer and seller should be pleased with this final price. Motostalgia, Indianapolis, IN, 06/15. SOLD AT $46,200. A bit of “fluff and buff” going on here, but it has a nine-passenger capacity, and it runs out okay. Hopefully the floors don’t fall through. Not expensive on the face of it, but I feel the price was plenty strong. Motostalgia, Indianapolis, IN, 06/15. #133-1957 FORD THUNDERBIRD convertible. VIN: E7FH264695. Bronze/white hard top/bronze. Odo: 71,842 miles. 312-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. Fresh, good-quality paint, chrome and interior. A couple of paint chips are visible, but nothing drastic. Detailed engine. Porthole hard top with no side-window weatherstrips. E-code with 2x4-bbl carburetion. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $56,100. A fresh, complete and well-done restoration that was offered at Mecum Indy in May of 2014 and did not sell at $85k (ACC# 254298). Makes it seem like a real bargain this time around. Motostalgia, Indianapolis, IN, 06/15. #S136-1957 MERCURY TURNPIKE CRUISER Indy Pace Car convertible. VIN: 57SL70016M. Sun Glitter/white vinyl/white vinyl. Odo: 61,308 miles. 368-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Mostly original car. Repaint in the distant past could almost pass for original. Some dings in aluminum side trim. Vent windows delaminating. Factory Continental kit, tach, power steering, leather interior, and Town & Country radio. A solid car that has probably been cared for most of its life but now requires attention in every category. Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $48,600. In the mid-1950s, Mercury reached for the 114 AmericanCarCollector.com BEST BUY

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GLOBAL ROUNDUP tray on lower dash shows an oil change in 1984 at 27,634 miles. Dealer sticker on back from Kredit Ford in Platte, SD. Cond: 3+. looks good, with very minor pitting to console trim. Underhood clean, correct but not detailed. Cond: 3+. space age with this outrageous flagship model and features with names like QuadraBeam, Lube-O-Matic, Seat-O-Matic, and Merc-O-Matic—as though it drove straight out of a “Jetsons” cartoon. This car was a conundrum: keep it as-is, or restore? I’d like to see a shiny and proud return to the glory it once enjoyed. It recently sold for $52k at Silver Portland in April (ACC# 265034), so no profit for the seller. I’ll call it well bought. Mecum Auctions, Seattle, WA, 06/15. #10-1959 FORD GALAXIE 500 Skyliner retractable hard top. VIN: B9RC171283. Red & white/white vinyl/red, white & black vinyl. Odo: 56,238 miles. 332-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Older paint holding up well. Good body gaps. Bumpers are nicer than trim; heavy wear to door handles. Windshield scratched, vent windows delaminating. Rear side window trim loose. Interior presents very well with nice dash and unworn seats. Engine bay is stock-clean but not detailed. Large coolant leak noted under car. Cond: 3+. NOT SOLD AT $4,800. My favorite car at the sale. If your parents (or grandparents) were farmers in the ’60s, this is their car. It’s obviously been very well cared for and looked cleaner than most trade-ins you would have found in the ’60s. High bid was light for such an original car. I hope it finds a good home. If you’re a Chevy fan, see Lot 93. Silver Auctions, Coeur d’Alene, ID, 06/15. #S48-1965 FORD MUSTANG fastback. VIN: 5R09A233558. Red/black vinyl. Odo: 70,170 miles. 289-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Rotisserie-restored A-code car with 225 horsepower, mid-level 289, 4-speed, disc brakes, console, styled steel wheels, fog lamps, and trumpet exhaust. Excellent paint, reproduction seat covers, and carpets. Rubber coming off at top of door, which may be the reason for difficulty with door shut. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $9,720. Looks like a nice car; too bad about he unexciting color. A wellequipped example with its signature hightech dash, floor and overhead consoles from the time automakers assumed everyone wanted to be an airline pilot. Well bought. Silver Auctions, Coeur d’Alene, ID, 06/15. #S170.1-1967 FORD MUSTANG fastback. VIN: 7R02S190219. Wimbledon White/black vinyl. Odo: 32,871 miles. 390-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Marti Report. Paint good, but lower body lines and door fit could be crisper. Nice reproduction interior. Limited-slip differential. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $45,360. There is a limit to the old hot-rodders’ axiom, “There’s no replacement for displacement.” The big 390 engine stuffed into a light Mustang can offer a lot of power, but the weight on the front end doesn’t make for a great handler. White on black looks great on a Mustang, and this one showed well. Still, I’ll call it well sold. Mecum Auctions, Seattle, WA, 06/15. SOLD AT $22,950. Car was being sold by long-term owner who’s obviously taken care of it. Well optioned with all the '50s clichés: twin spots, fender skirts, signal-seeking radio, Continental kit. As it sits, it’s nice enough for local cruises, and paying some attention to details could easily take it up a notch. Well bought for a fun convertible. Silver Auctions, Coeur d’Alene, ID, 06/15. #91-1965 FORD GALAXIE 500 sedan. VIN: 562X185673. Blue/blue cloth & vinyl. Odo: 35,908 miles. 352-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Original everything on an untouched body. Paint has some age but would come back to a factory shine with a cut-and-buff. Small ding in edge of trunk and trim. Otherwise, chrome and trim very good. Interior untouched and clean. Looks like a two-yearold car. Dash uncracked and perfect. Door rubber still good. Engine bay all original, including factory stickers. Small clear plastic 116 AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $37,800. Very desirable 2+2 fastback model Mustang, beautifully restored. While not the scarcer K-code model that produces 271 hp, this A-code model can still burn tires in stock form. Sold for market price. Mecum Auctions, Seattle, WA, 06/15. #20-1966 FORD THUNDERBIRD 2-dr hard top. VIN: 6Y81Z112849. Beige/beige vinyl/ brown vinyl. Odo: 106,701 miles. 390-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Good paint on straight body. Trunk gaps off, otherwise good. Vinyl top looks fresh, aftermarket body side moldings don’t do the car any favors. Rubber and window whiskers could be original but are holding up well. Bumpers look newer, stainless has wear and large dent above driver’s door. Hubcaps are worn. Original interior #S117.1-1967 SHELBY GT500 fastback. VIN: 67412F9A02408. Red/black vinyl. Odo: 60,769 miles. 428-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. Well documented with copy of invoice, list of previous owners, and Marti Report. Body and paint finished to a high standard. Trunk fit slightly off. Some scratches and dings on door panel chrome and sill plates. Power steering, power disc brakes. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $153,900. Beautiful Shelby with a high-quality restoration. Original specs let down slightly by the automatic transmission.

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GLOBAL ROUNDUP Had it been a factory 4-speed, it might have garnered another $20k–$25k. Prices for Shelbys are still behind their pre-recession peak, but inching closer. When muscle cars complete their comeback, holding a Shelby wouldn’t be a bad thing. Mecum Auctions, Seattle, WA, 06/15. #190-1968 FORD MUSTANG fastback. VIN: 8F01C116922. Red/black vinyl. Odo: 1,074 miles. 351-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Variable panel gaps everywhere. A deep dent on the driver’s side roof goes all the way across the top—looks like a transporter’s issue. Simpson racing belts. Modern electronicdash gauges. Cond: 2. #151-1969 SHELBY GT500 fastback. VIN: 9F02R48299. Maroon/black vinyl. Odo: 41,961 miles. 428-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. The new paint looks a bit wavy but shines well. Wide front fender gaps. The side stick-on stripes could be better. A couple of small dents in the windshield trim. The bumper chrome looks new, but the passenger’s door-handle chrome is worn through. Clean engine. Optioned with tinted glass, power front discs and a/c. Cond: 2. Claimed original miles. Cond: 2. NOT SOLD AT $75,000. Marti birth certificate included. The ’69s were built at the Rouge Dearborn plant and had some creature comforts available, as this car shows. High bid for this one must’ve been close. Motostalgia, Indianapolis, IN, 06/15. NOT SOLD AT $44,500. This car was born as a base V8 Mustang coupe. With most Mustang body panels now available, I predict we will see more converted to fastback Shelby clones like this one. Previously sold at Mecum Houston in April 2013 for a very strong $70k (ACC# 220473), so no surprise that the seller decided to keep it. Motostalgia, Indianapolis, IN, 06/15. #S95-1968 SHELBY GT500 KR fastback. VIN: 8T02R21092103794. Highland Green/black vinyl. Odo: 12,155 miles. 428-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Excellent restoration on a low-mile car. Factory a/c, 3.00:1 gears, GT equipment and visibility groups, power steering, power disc brakes, tilt wheel, AM radio and tach. Cond: 1-. 5 #S92-1969 SHELBY GT500 fastback. VIN: 9F02R481659. Aqua/black vinyl. Odo: 54,625 miles. 428-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Restored in 2008 but retains its excellent original interior. Paint looks a little thick. Door fit slightly off. Restoration beginning to show some age, but still very nice. Known history since sold new in Seattle and backed with documentation proving its authenticity, including a Marti Report. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $88,560. The versatility of the Mustang platform offered something for everybody. Ford stuffed big 428 and 429 blocks into them to deliver brute force in the horsepower wars against GM, but the smallblock Boss 302 provided the most balanced approach of them all. Developed for the Trans-Am racing series, the lighter engine combined with a few suspension tweaks was a terrific combo. This was a good example in appealing colors that brought a very strong price. Mecum Auctions, Seattle, WA, 06/15. #163-1971 FORD TORINO Cobra fastback. VIN: 1A38J105304. Green/black vinyl. Odo: 85,590 miles. 429-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. The driver’s door has an edge chip, and the side glass shows scratches. Good panel fit and fresh, good-quality paint. Detailed engine. All-new chrome and trim. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $178,200. Ten-time MCA Thoroughbred Gold winner with just 12,155 miles. A textbook example and well-known among the Shelby set. Said to be one of just 299 that paired the 428 Cobra Jet engine with factory a/c. Given the automatic transmission and high gearing, this car is set up for high-speed touring rather than drag strip peel-outs. If Route 66 is calling, this just might be the ticket. Provenance helped it achieve a strong price. Had it been a factory 4-speed, it would have broken the $200k barrier. Mecum Auctions, Seattle, WA, 06/15. 118 AmericanCarCollector.com SOLD AT $86,400. By 1969, Ford had transitioned Shelbys from all-out performance cars to more of a grand tourer, replete with creature comforts. Not that they lacked in performance. Ford’s 428 Cobra Jet was hot-rodded with larger valve heads, the same intake manifold as Ford’s competition 427, and a Holley 4-barrel. This example was nicely done, and it sold at a price commensurate with its quality. A slight loss for the seller after commissions since purchased for $80k at Russo and Steele’s 2014 Scottsdale auction (ACC# 242594). Mecum Auctions, Seattle, WA, 06/15. #S43-1970 FORD MUSTANG Boss 302 fastback. VIN: 0F02G169734. Coral/black vinyl. Odo: 77,599 miles. 302-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Authentic numbers-matching Boss 302 with Marti Report and shipping invoice. Nice restoration with a few tiny nicks on otherwise excellent paint. Chrome and stainless trim show use. Power disc brakes, power steering, front and rear spoilers. NOT SOLD AT $59,000. Comes with Marti Report showing this to be a factory J-code Torino. Nice car that failed to reach the reserve price and will be going back home. I anticipate we will see it again at another auction. It no-saled at Vicari Nocona in May of 2014 at an undisclosed high bid (ACC# 243534). Motostalgia, Indianapolis, IN, 06/15. MOPAR #166-1948 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY New York convertible. VIN: 7407494. Green/tan cloth/green & tan leather. Odo: 74,574 miles. 323-ci I8, 2-bbl, auto. Some of the bright trim pieces are just starting to age out but are still very presentable. The wood and paint look very good, with no significant chips or cracks. Nice leather interior with light pitting on some of the interior chrome. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $100,100. The T&C base price in 1948 was $800 more than the eight-passenger limo. This car sold at Mecum Monterrey in 2009 for $86k TOP 10

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GLOBAL ROUNDUP ONETO WATCH A focus on cars that are showing some financial upside (SCM# 141957). The owner cared for it and enjoyed it and made some money as well. The new owner still bought it right, and everybody should be happy. Motostalgia, Indianapolis, IN, 06/15. #S125-1969 DODGE SUPER BEE 440 Six Pack 2-dr sedan. VIN: WM21M9A302870. Butterscotch/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 8,682 miles. 440-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Restored with matching-numbers 440 Six Pack V8. Black steel wheels with Redlines. Super Bee trunk stripe. Lightweight lift-off hood. Some orange peel in paint. Panel fit off in front fenders. Slit in carpet. Cond: 2-. 1998–2002 Pontiac Trans Am WS6 and Special Editions (1998–2002) of production. The WS6 option, a ram-air package with some suspension, exhaust and wheel upgrades, was the go-to base for special editions, but added $3,100 on top of the $25,975 TA coupe base price. At the heart of the Trans Am WS6 and related special editions is the LS1. This 5.7-liter F V8 shares the metric displacement with the venerable 350-ci Chevy small block, but there are limited similarities after that. Trans Am WS6 horsepower started at 320 in 1998 and reached 345 in 2002 with the SLP Blackwing intake. The 2011 average for special edition and WS6 Trans Ams was Detailing Years built: 1998–2002 Number produced: 45,411 (WS6 and Special Editions) Number sold at auction in the past 12 months: 6 Average price of those cars: $21,787 Current ACC Valuation: $15,000–$22,000 $17,983. That average shot up an impressive 32% (to $23,658) in 2012. Bigger-picture look: The average sale price for the first half of 2015 was $25,888 for the cars that sold. That’s up 14% from 2014’s average and a shocking 44% from 2011. True, we’re looking at a rather small data set for 2015, espe- cially considering that the market saw an average of 14 come to auction per year since the start of 2011. These are relatively rare submodels that aren’t quite the proper age for a collectible. They’re on the verge, however, as the oldest of these is now 17 years old. Lastly, the median sold price is a worthwhile stat to look at since it gives us the midpoint (half the sales are above and half fall below this price) for all sales for each calendar year and reduces the statistical importance of outlier sales. The median price for WS6 and special-edition Trans Ams has jumped a whopping 52%, from $16,695 in 2011 to $25,413 so far this year. That’s nearly back to 1998 base Trans Am coupe pricing not counting inflation. All in all, it’s still a helluva deal for shaking your neighbor’s windows every time you 120 AmericanCarCollector.com120 AmericanCarCollector.com turn the key to IGN. But these prices might not last, as the value needle is pointing up. A — Chad Tyson SOLD AT $87,480. “Correct date-coded” is a polite way of saying the block was not born to the car. I say no harm done if the block and other components are a match, but the market usually applies a slight penalty. Add another ding for the automatic or a couple of years, a dark blue Trans Am Firehawk parked a block north of ACC’s offices in Portland, OR. Once in a blue moon I’d walk past it as the driver started it up and its Loud Mouth exhaust sounded thunderously intimidating. Especially when compared with Editor Pickering’s ho-hum Hemi. GM produced several special-edition Trans Am WS6s in the later years SOLD AT $56,160. Raised hood and painted wheels without hubcaps to make it look like a real contender. Unfortunate original Butterscotch paint color was off-putting. Well sold and well bought. Mecum Auctions, Seattle, WA, 06/15. #S117-1969 PLYMOUTH HEMI ROAD RUNNER 2-dr hard top. VIN: RM23J9G232693. Scorch Red/black vinyl. Odo: 63,799 miles. 426-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Outstanding rotisserie restoration. Said to be one of 188 combining the 426 Hemi with a TorqueFlite 3-speed automatic transmission, out of a total of 788 ’69 Hemi Road Runners built. Includes woodgrain center console, power brakes, Fresh Air hood, and A32 Super Performance Axle Package. Original fender tag and title. Correct datecoded block and other components. Cond: 1-.

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ROUNDUP GLOBAL transmission, and that’s why such an overthe-top restoration couldn’t achieve a bigger price. Mecum Auctions, Seattle, WA, 06/15. #S97-1970 DODGE CHALLENGER R/T 2-dr hard top. VIN: JS23V0B238063. Tuxedo Black/black leather. Odo: 45,797 miles. 440-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, auto. Some light aging of original paint. Original rubber dry and cracked. Broadcast sheet. Leather, 8-track, power windows, 150-mph speedo, console with Slap Stik, and tach. Non-factory headers installed when nearly new. Wrinkle in applied white stripe, likely from the factory. Outstanding original condition overall. Cond: 2-. #S96-1970 DODGE HEMI CHALLENGER R/T SE 2-dr hard top. VIN: JS23ROB218163. Orange/black vinyl. Odo: 3,683 miles. 426-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Authentic R-Code Hemi Challenger. Correct 426/425 Hemi, but no assurance that it’s original to the car. Four-speed manual, Sure-Grip differential, power disc brakes, dual exhaust, Pistol Grip shifter, and Rallye wheels. Many NOS parts used in restoration, including the Goodyear raised white-letter tires. Restored in 2008 and appears museum-kept since. Originally purchased by a Connecticut state trooper. Cond: 1-. ROUNDUP GLOBAL SOLD AT $97,200. Owned by a former Flying Tigers pilot for 42 years and impeccably maintained. Terrific colors and loaded with all the goodies from new, including leather. The Six Pack will give it plenty of grunt and better street manners than a Hemi. Purchased for the John Wickey Collection in January of 2013 at Barrett-Jackson for $94,600 (ACC# 259919), so a slight loss after commissions. Mecum Auctions, Seattle, WA, 06/15. VIN: JS29ROB191259. Plum Crazy/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 99,406 miles. 426-ci Other, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Rotisserie restoration in 2014. Loaded R-code Hemi R/T SE Challenger. Said to be one of just 22 Challengers fitted with both a Hemi and 4-speed. Super Track Pack, power steering, power disc brakes, power windows and AM/FM radio. Replacement engine block, but 4-speed transmission original. Cond: 1-. 4 #S76.1-1970 DODGE HEMI CHALLENGER R/T SE 2-dr hard top. SOLD AT $162,000. Another of the five museum-grade muscle cars brought to the sale by Canadian home-builder John Wickey. One of two R-code '70 Hemi Challengers in the sale, the other being the top seller of the auction. Fantastic, thorough restoration seven years ago that is just starting to lose its freshness. These cars still haven’t rebounded to the lofty $300k level they achieved seven or eight years ago, but today’s results offer some encouragement. A good value. Mecum Auctions, Seattle, WA, 06/15. AMERICANA #103-1953 HENRY J CORSAIR 2-dr sedan. VIN: K53355066. White/brown vinyl. Odo: 24,866 miles. 134-ci I4, 1-bbl, 3-sp. Huge panel gaps at rear of hood and front clip. All-new chrome. New fixed window and door weatherstripping but window fuzzies not replaced. Both vent panes are delaminating. Newer mid-level paint with some hood edge chips. All plastic light lenses and the plastic hood emblem are dull and cracked. Cond: 2. Sports Car Market Keith Martin’s The Insider’s Guide to Collecting, Investing, Values, and Trends ™ SOLD AT $199,800. Let’s see...a mint Hemi Challenger with a 4-speed in Plum Crazy, loaded, including R/T SE packages. Does it get any better for Mopar muscle fans? Okay, maybe if it were a 'Cuda... Still, this is one sweet package despite the correct replacement block. Sold for strong money in today’s market, but awfully hard to duplicate. The auction’s top sale. Mecum Auctions, Seattle, WA, 06/15. SOLD AT $7,975. So there’s no confusion, this Corsair is the Henry J (aka Kaiser), not the Edsel. Seldom seen at auction or anywhere else. One of the 1950s economy cars that nobody saved. Not concours by any means, but I liked it a lot. Well bought. Motostalgia, Indianapolis, IN, 06/15. A Subscribe to SCM today and become a collector car insider www.sportscarmarket.com September-October 2015 121 TOP 10 BEST BUY

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The Parts Hunter Chad Tyson Big-Money Parts and Accessories from Around the Nation owner is competing at the Grand National Roadster Show or Detroit Autorama. Buyers were clamoring for these spotlights, bidding 41 times before the dust settled. These were the highest-bid spotlights on eBay going back for half a year, but several pristine 112 series approached and exceeded $1,500. Well sold. cab supports. Rust preventative coating was applied to areas prone to rust such as the inside of the floor supports. The cab exterior and interior have been primed. All seams have been sealed. The cab, doors and cowl vent panel need only final sanding and preparation prior to refinishing.” Buy It Now. Sold for $6,950. Remember when this money would buy you a whole ’67–’72 Chevy pickup? It still will, but in this market, a truck that cheap will need a cab like this to replace the rusty one it’ll undoubtedly have. This was the only cab the seller had listed at press time, but their history showed several others that sold for this same price. Guess they found the going rate. You can buy a welder and patch panels and fix your own cab for less, but what’s your time worth? #151688174672—1967–72 Chevrolet Pickup Refurbished Cab Assembly. 12 photos. Item condition: Remanufactured. eBay, Spokane, WA. 6/18/15 “From a 1971 Chevrolet C20, 2wd, 350-powered, automatic pickup with the low transmission hump. This cab is an a/c cab. This OEM cab, doors and cowl vent panel were cleaned, media and sand-blasted to bare metal. All areas of rust have been replaced with new, aftermarket repair panels including outer rockers, left and right lower cab corners and front and rear outer #111706066186—Appleton Series 552 Spotlights. 12 photos. Item condition: Used. eBay, Bethel Park, PA. 7/5/15 “This pair is in fantastic condition with original bright chrome finish and are near mint. The housings and rims have scratches and should be replated if used on a show car. All plastic components have been meticulously polished to a high-gloss finish and the APPLETON metal logo inserts in the switch covers look like NOS. Both units have new wiring and have been lubricated, adjusted, tested and function as-new. The bulbs are designed to work on 6–8 volts. Includes the inside mounting hardware and left and right outside mounting feet, as well as the clips that neatly secure the wire to the tube.” 41 bids. Sold at $1,982. George Barris used Appleton spotlights on some of his early customs, like the Series 552s on the Larry Ernst Chevy. There doesn’t appear much left to be done on this pair — unless the new #391126460883—1933–34 Ford Fender Skirts. 7 photos. Item description: New. eBay, Northborough, MA. 5/3/15 “These skirts are reproductions and have never been attached to a car. Beautiful, detailed metal work. I have trial fit them and they will fit both coupe and sedan rear fenders ’33–’34.” 10 bids. Sold for $2,923. I don’t often care to feature new or repop pieces, but the metal work here is impressive. And boy, did a few people want these. Three bidders kept upping the ante, but it ended up being the original bidder spending nearly $3k on something that gets in the way of servicing the car. #171807847329—1964–65 Mopar A-Body A833 4-Speed Manual Transmission. 9 photos. Item description: Used. Carmel, NY. 6/5/15 “Up for sale is a rebuilt Mopar 4-speed tranny for 1964–65 A-body cars (Barracuda, Dart, etc.). Transmission has been completely rebuilt with new main and roller bearings, new synchro rings, new countershaft, all new seals and gaskets, reconditioned side cover and shifter levers.” 1 bid. Sold for $650. This is about the going rate for a BorgWarner T10 or a need-to-be-rebuilt, nonRock Crusher Muncie, so it’s not always mo-money Moparts. This particular A833 is for the smaller cars with smaller engines (the other A833 was built with a numerically lower first-gear ratio, extending its RPM range for the torque-tastic B-body engines). From the additional auction photos, it appears this unit has the stronger ’67 and later synchros and brass stop rings. Fairly bought and sold. 122 AmericanCarCollector.com

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#271891225244—1957–58 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham Vanity Lanvin Arpege Perfume and Atomizer Set. 8 photos. Item condition: Used. eBay, Lebanon, CT. 3/15/15 “Purchased at an estate sale on our recent trip to California. The bottle and top are glass and the atomizer to the best of my knowledge is a thin gold-tone metal, cool to the touch. I don’t have the lid, or any of the papers, just what you see on the photos. I have not removed either item from the box, or opened the bottle to have a sniff. It’s very full, so if it was used at all, could have been for a few dabs on the way to the nightclub in that fabulous automobile. I see a tiny bit of wear to the box the perfume and atomizer reside in and some small blue stains on that box, as well.” 11 bids. Sold at $1,825. As obscure as this set is (only 704 Eldorado Broughams were built ’57–’58), the pieces and parts can sell for incredible money. Except here. Still, somebody got a steal of a deal, even without knowing whether the atomizer is original or not. Reproduction atomizers can go for $1k, with original ones reaching $2,500. One thing holding the price back, however, was the missing lid and documentation. I’ve seen complete, documented sets go for $10k. Well bought. A September-October 2015 123

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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. CORVETTE 1959 Chevrolet Corvette convertible 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Fuelie Sting Ray convertible S/N J59S104983. Classic Cream (1 of 223)/black. Other, 4-spd automatic. Impeccable! NCRS Top Flight. $160,000. Contact Terry, ProTeam Classic Corvettes, Email: terry@proteamcorvette.com Web: https:// www.proteamcorvette.com/ Corvette-1957-1004G/1004G. html (OH) 1960 Chevrolet Corvette convertible S/N 30867S114605. Sebring Silver/black. V8, 4-spd manual. Original matching-numbers fuel-injected 327/360 with manual trans. Body-off restoration, NCRS Top Flight, judged, autographed by Duntov and Shinoda. Original window sticker, extensive photos and documentation. $122,500. Contact Bob, 207.590.0059, Email: enzo@gwi.net (ME) 1963 Chevrolet Corvette 327/340-hp Split-Window coupe S/N 00867S101940. Tasco Turquoise/Turquoise. 4-spd manual. 270hp. Impeccable. $160,000. Contact Terry, ProTeam Classic Corvettes, Email: terry@proteamcorvette. com Web: https://www.proteamcorvette.com/Corvette-1960-1002G/1002G.html (OH) 124 AmericanCarCollector.com S/N 194676S121721. Mossport Green/black. 44,800 miles. V8, 4-spd manual. This is one of the rarest produced from 1966, a true L72 big-block 427-ci/425hp optioned car from the factory. Perfect fresh Mosport Green finish with black top and interior, Teak wheel, Goldwall tires on cast-alloy wheels, non-matching-number motor. $25k-plus in receipts, the perfect event Corvette. $84,995 OBO. Contact Craig, C. Brody Investment Motorcars, 954.646.8819, Email: craigbrody@investmemtmotorcars.net Web: https://www.guitarbroker. com/cars/1966-chevrolet-corvette-427425-roadster/ (FL) 1967 Chevrolet Corvette coupe 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Export Fuel-Injected Tanker coupe www.proteamcorvette.com/ Corvette-1967-1007G/1007G. html (OH) 1970 Chevy Corvette coupe S/N 194375S110192. Tuxedo Black/black. 4-spd manual. Bloomington Gold Special Collection and NCRS Duntov award. $450,000. Contact Terry, ProTeam Classic Corvettes, Email: terry@proteamcorvette.com Web: https://www. proteamcorvette.com/Corvette1965-1021E/1021E.html (OH) 1966 Chevrolet Corvette 427/425 convertible S/N 194370S406213. Blue/black. 67,000 miles. V8, 3-spd automatic. Original drivetrain with ps, pb, pw and factory a/c. I’ve owned this car for almost 20 years and it’s in excellent mechanical condition. The engine runs strong (no smoke),the frame is good, there are no funny noises, the trans shifts crisply and the ride is smooth. It has received professional service on a regular basis. $25,500 OBO. Contact Edward, 302-875-3359, Email: broadcreek@comcast.net (DE) 1973 Chevrolet Corvette coupe S/N 1Z37Z3S405849. White/tan. 95,773 miles. V8, 4spd manual. T-top with matching numbers with build sheet, records, invoices, owner’s manual, 454-ci. Power options: p/s, p/b, a/c, p/w. Other options: tilt-tele steering column, alarm. Excellent overall condition, runs and drives well. $24,900. Contact Chuck, Central Classic Cars, 419.618.3855, Email: chuckputsch@hotmail.com Web: centralclassiccars.com (OH) FOMOCO 1986 Shelby Cobra ERA 427 replica roadster S/N 30837S102047. Saddle Tan/Saddle Tan. 4-spd manual. Body-off restored. Jewelry! $169,000. Contact Terry, ProTeam Classic Corvettes, Email: terry@proteamcorvette. com Web: https://www.proteamcorvette.com/Corvette-1963-1056F/1056F.html (OH) S/N 194377S119262. Goodwood Green/Saddle Tan. 14,870 miles. 4-spd manual. 435hp. 14,870 actual miles. Bloomington Gold and NCRS Duntov award. $200,000. Contact Terry, ProTeam Classic Corvettes, Email: terry@proteamcorvette.com Web: https:// One owner from new and

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Showcase Gallery only 20k original miles. Pampered and never tracked or abused in any way. All the best components. Mint condition. $69,500. Contact Matt, deGarmo Ltd. Classic Motorcars, 203.852.1670, Email: matt@ deGarmoLtd.com (CT) f2008 Shelby GT500 astback 1000 Audio System and ambient lighting. Simply the best! $42,995 OBO. Contact Craig, C. Brody Investment Motorcars, 954.646.8819, Email: craigbrody@investmemtmotorcars. net Web: https://www.guitarbroker.com/cars/2008-shelby-gt-500-fastback/ (FL) MOPAR 1965 Plymouth Barracuda Formula S coupe Silver & black/gray. 32,000 Vista Blue clearcoat metallic/ black leather. 87 miles. V8, 6-spd manual. BRAND NEW w/87 miles on the odometer. It includes every stitch of paperwork including original bill of sale, window sticker and all contracts. It has Sirius radio, HID headlamps, GT500 Premium trim package, white tape GT500 stripes, Shaker CUSTOM 1950 Citroën 11B custom 4-dr sedan miles. V8, 3-spd automatic. Looks stock on the outside. All custom inside. 350 motor/350 trans. TCI front end, TCI power rack, 10-bolt rear, Edelbrock carb and intake, a/c, custom interior, custom paint, Alpine stereo, custom wheels, Evans coolant, electric fan, battery in trunk and more. Very fast and handles like a dream. $39,000. Contact Frank, 760.464.6728, Email: ftonne@live.ca (CA) CAR COLLECTOR S/N V852659371. White/blue. 34,000 miles. V8, 4-spd manual. Original miles, Hurst 4-speed, 273 Hi-Po V8, PS, PB, Sure-Grip, excellent condition, set up for rallying. Email for additional photos and info. $25,000. Contact Albert, 814.466.6115, Email: bav1140@comcast.net SUBSCRIBE TO ACC AmericanCarCollector.com/subscribe 877.219.2605 Ext. 1 AMERICAN ™ September-October 2015 125 Keith Martin’s

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RESOURCE DIRECTORY Put your company in the ACC Resource Directory. Call 877.219.2605 Ext. 218, or email advert@americancarcollector.com Auction Companies Auctions America. 877.906.2437. Auctions America specializes in the sale of American classics, European sports cars, Detroit muscle, hot rods and customs. The company boasts an expert team of specialists, who offer 180 years combined experience buying, selling, racing and restoring collector vehicles, making them uniquely qualified to advise on all aspects of the hobby. www.auctionsamerica.com. (IN) features over 500 cars. Held in November & February every year. www.classic-carauction.com Silver Auctions. 800.255.4485. 2020 N. Monroe, Spokane, WA 99205. silver@silverauctions.com. www.silverauctions.com. (WA) Petersen Auction Group of Oregon. 541.689.6824. Hosting car auctions in Oregon since 1962. We have three annual Auctions: February—Oregon State Fairgrounds, Salem, OR; July— Douglas Co. Fairgrounds, Roseburg, OR; September— Oregon State Fairgrounds, Salem, OR. On the I-5 Corridor. We offer knowledgeable, fast, friendly “hassle free” transactions. Oregon’s #1 Collector Car Auction www.petersencollectorcars.com Leake Auctions. 800.722.9942. Leake Auction Company was established in 1972 as one of the first car auctions in the country. More than 40 years later Leake has sold over 34,000 cars and currently operates auctions in Tulsa, Oklahoma City and Dallas. Recently they have been featured on several episodes of three different reality TV series — Fast N Loud on Discovery, Dallas Car Sharks on Velocity and The Car Chasers on CNBC Prime. www.leakecar.com. (OK) Premier Auction Group. 844.5WE.SELL . The auction professionals that have been taking care of you for the last two decades have partnered together to create a team that is dedicated to providing the utmost customer service and auction experience. We applied our 83 years of auction experience to build a platform ensuring that every aspect of our company exceeds your expectations. 844.5WE.SELL. 844.593.7355. www.premierauctiongroup.com. info@premierauctiongroup.com 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) RM Sotheby’s, Inc. 800.211.4371. RM Sotheby’s is the world’s largest collector car auction house for investmentquality automobiles. With 35 years experience, RM Sotheby’s vertically integrated range of services, from restoration to private treaty sales and auctions, coupled with an expert team of car specialists and an international footprint, provide an unsurpassed level of service to the global collector car market. www.rmauctions.com. (CAN) Palm Springs Auctions, Inc. Keith McCormick. 760.320.3290. Family owned & operated for 28 years. Producing 2 large classic car auctions per year in Palm Springs, California. Each auction 126 AmericanCarCollector.com 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) 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 Sales Intercity Lines, Inc. 800.221.3936, 413.436.9422. Rapid, hassle-free, coast-to-coast service. Insured enclosed transport for your valuable car at affordable prices. State-of-the-art satellite transport tracking. Complete service for vintage races, auctions, relocations. www.intercitylines.com. (MA) Motorcar Portfolio, LLC. 330.453.8900. Buy, sell, trade, auction of affordable antique, classic, collector vehicles. Bob Lichty offers over 40 years experience in the classic car industry. Motorcar Portfolio, LLC. has been serving NE Ohio and the world since 2004. Let us help with your needs. See our current inventory at our web site www.motorcarportfolio.com Classic Car Transport Direct Connect Auto Transport. 800.668.3227. “The driver was friendly and helped our son feel comfortable about moving his lowered ‘59 Volkswagen Beetle antique auto. The driver communicated well during pick up and delivery. It was fast, too. We spent two days in Phoenix after the car was picked up and it beat us back to the east coast.” 5-Star Reviews Let Us Earn Yours directconnectautotransport.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. Reliable Carriers, Inc. 877.744.7889. As the country’s largest enclosed-auto transport company, Reliable Carriers faithfully serves all 48 contiguous United States and Canada. Whether you’ve entered a concours event, need a relocation, are attending a corporate event or shipping the car of your dreams from one location to another, one American transportation company does it all. www.reliablecarriers.com

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Sports Car Market Keith Martin’s r Market Keith Martin’s Subscribe Subscribe to SCM today and become a collector car insider www.sportscarmarket.com Advertisers Index American Car Collector ............... 72, 125 American Collectors Insurance ......... 116 Auctions America ................................ 19 Barrett-Jackson ............................. 15, 17 Blue Bars ........................................... 114 Camaro Central ................................... 89 Carlisle Events ..................................... 35 Charlotte AutoFair ............................... 97 Chevs of the 40’s .............................. 107 Chubb Personal Insurance .................. 29 Classic Restoration ............................. 27 Coker Tire ............................................ 37 Collector Car Price Tracker ............... 104 Corvette America ................................. 41 Corvette Specialties .......................... 112 County Corvette .................................... 2 Danchuk .............................................. 76 Dr. ColorChip Corporation ................ 104 Evans Cooling Systems Inc. .................. 9 Evapo-Rust .......................................... 73 Gano Filter Company ........................ 119 Genuine HotRod Hardware ................. 23 Grundy Worldwide ............................... 39 Hagerty Insurance Agency, Inc. .......... 99 Hendrick Motorsports ......................... 11 Investment Motorcars, Inc................... 91 J & D Corvette ................................... 113 JC Taylor ............................................. 81 Jim Meyer Racing Products Inc. ....... 123 Kinekt ................................................ 123 Leake Auction Company ....................... 3 LeMay - America’s Car Museum ......... 44 Lucky Collector Car Auctions .............. 79 Lutty’s Chevy Warehouse ................. 111 MacNeil Automotive Products Ltd .... 123 Mainline Exotics ................................ 113 Memory Lane Motors, Inc. ................ 115 Michael Irvine Studios ....................... 105 Mid America Motorworks .................... 45 Morphy Auctions ................................. 31 Motorcar Portfolio ............................... 65 Mustangs Unlimited .......................... 117 National Corvette Museum ................ 129 National Corvette Restorers Society . 125 National Parts Depot ......................... 115 Obsolete & Classic Auto Parts, Inc. .. 115 Original Parts Group ............................ 67 Palm Springs Exotic Car Auctions ...... 71 Paragon Corvette Reproductions ...... 101 Paramount Classic Cars .................... 103 Park Place LTD .................................... 95 Passport Transport .............................. 75 Petersen Collector Car Auction ......... 119 Pro-Team Corvette Sales, Inc ........... 109 Reliable Carriers .................................. 63 RM Auctions, Inc. ................................ 13 Ronald McDonald House .................... 93 SEMA ................................................... 30 Sports Car Market ..................... 121, 127 SwissTrax Corporation ........................ 21 The Chevy Store Inc .......................... 111 Thomas C Sunday Inc ....................... 121 TYCTA ............................................... 119 Vanderbrink Auctions .........................4-5 Volunteer Vette Products .................... 69 Watchworks ....................................... 123 Wildwood NJ Auction .......................... 87 Woodside Credit.................................. 85 Zip Products ........................................ 43 zMax .................................................. 117 September-October 2015 127

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RESOURCE DIRECTORY Put your company in the ACC Resource Directory. Call 877.219.2605 Ext. 218, or email advert@americancarcollector.com Corvettes for Sale Thomas C. Sunday Inc. 800.541.6601. Established in 1970, Thomas C. Sunday Inc. provides clients with fully-enclosed, cross-country, door-to-door service. Thomas C. Sunday Inc. are well-seasoned experts in the field of automobile transportation, hiring only Grade-A drivers, and offering clients the best possible service at competitive pricing. Fully-licensed, insured and bonded. Call 1-800541-6601 or 717-697-0939, Fax 717-697-0727, email: info@sundayautotransport.com Corvette Parts & Restoration 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 Corvette Central has it all. www.corvettecentral.com. (MI) County Corvette. 610.696.7888. Sales, service, parts and restoration. When it must be right. www.countycorvette.com. (PA) 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) 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 American Collectors Insurance. 1.866.887.8354. The nation’s leading provider of specialty insurance for collectors. We offer affordable, agreed value coverage for all years, makes, and models of collector vehicles. Since 1976, we have provided superior service and broad, flexible coverage. Experience our quick quoting and application process, as well as our “Real Person” Guarantee every time you call. Email: Info@ AmericanCollectors.com www.AmericanCollectors.com ProTeamCorvette.com. Corvettes: 1953–1982. Over 10,000 sold since 1971! Moneyback guarantee. Worldwide transportation. Z06s, L88s, L89s, LS6s, ZR2s, ZR1s, LT1s, COPOs, Fuelies, Special 425s/435s/RPOs. Call toll free 888.592.5086 or call 419.592.5086. Fax 419.592.4242, email: terry@ proteamcorvette.com or visit our website: www.ProTeamCorvette. com. ProTeam Corvette Sales, 1410 N. Scott St., Napoleon, OH 43545. Special Corvettes wanted at CorvettesWanted.com! NCRS Member #136. Volunteer Vette Products. 865.521.9100. 1963–2004 Corvette Parts and Accessories. Supplying Corvette restoration parts and accessories for 30 years. Visit our website at www.volvette.com and take advantage of the Free Shipping offer on orders over $150. You can also speak with us directly by calling 865.521.9100. New parts are added daily, so if you can’t find it 128 AmericanCarCollector.com Zip Products. 800.962.9632. Zip customers know that the voice on the other end of the phone is a true enthusiast. Someone who, in minutes, can hold in their hands any item in stock. Further, someone with knowledge of, experience with, and genuine affection for, the car we hold so dear: Corvette. www.zip-corvette.com (VA) give us a call. (TN) Chubb Collector Car Insurance. 1.866.CAR.9648. The Chubb Collector Car Insurance program provides flexibility by allowing you to choose the agreed value and restoration shop. Broad coverage includes no mileage restrictions and special pricing for large schedules. For more information, contact us at 1(866)CAR-9648 or www.chubbcollectorcar.com. J.C. Taylor Insurance. 800.345.8290. Antique, classic, muscle or modified — J.C. Taylor Insurance has provided dependable, dynamic, affordable protection for your collector vehicle for over 50 years. Agreed Value Coverage in the continental U.S., and Alaska. Drive Through Time With Peace of Mind with J.C. Taylor Insurance. Get a FREE instant quote online at www. JCTaylor.com. (PA) Leasing Grundy Worldwide. 888.647.8639. Grundy Worldwide offers agreed value insurance with no mileage limitations, zero deductible*, and high liability limits. Our coverages are specifically designed for collectible-car owners. From classic cars to muscle cars, Grundy Worldwide has you covered. (*Zero deductible available in most states.) 888.6GRUNDY (888.647.8639). www.grundyworldwide.com. (PA) 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) Putnam Leasing. 866.90.LEASE. For over 25 years, Putnam Leasing has been the leader in exotic, luxury, and collector car leasing. This honor comes from Putnam’s unique ability to match the car of your dreams with a lease designed just for you. Every Putnam Lease is written to provide maximum flexibility while conserving capital, lowering monthly payments, and maximizing tax advantages. It’s Putnam’s way of letting you drive more car for less money. For leases ranging from $50,000 to more than $1 million, with terms extending up to 84 months visit www.putnamleasing. com or call 1.866.90.LEASE. (CT) Museums LeMay Family Collection Foundation. LeMay Family Collection Foundation at Marymount Events Center near Tacoma, WA, hosts an epic backdrop for your next event. Home to 500 fabulous collector cars, worldclass 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.

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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 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. Restoration—General Evans Waterless Coolant is a revolutionary coolant with a boiling point of 375° F, providing superior engine cooling protection. This means no vapor formed, no hotspots, no boil-over, and a much lower cooling system pressure. Evans eliminates water caused corrosion, electrolysis and pump cavitation. Evans protects on the other end of the temperature scale to -40°F, and lasts the lifetime of the engine. Visit www.evanscooling.com for more information. Original Parts Group, Inc. With over 30 years’ experience, OPGI manufactures and stocks over 75,000 of the finest restoration parts and accessories for GM classics at the best prices anywhere. The largest selection of Chevelle, El Camino, Monte Carlo, GTO, Le Mans, Tempest, Gran Prix, Bonneville, Catalina, Cutlass, 442, Skylark, GS, Riviera and Cadillac classic parts anywhere. Visit www.OPGI.com or call (800) 243-8355. Cosmopolitan Motors, LLC. 206.467.6531. Experts in worldwide acquisition, collection management, disposition and appraisal. For more than a quarter century, Cosmopolitan Motors has lived by its motto, “We covet the rare and unusual, whether pedigreed or proletarian.” Absurdly eclectic and proud of it. Find your treasure here, or pass it along to the next generation. www.cosmo- politanmotors.com (WA) A California Car Cover Company. 800.423.5525. More than just custom-fit car covers, California Car Cover is the home of complete car care and automotive lifestyle products. Offering the best in car accessories, garage items, detailing products, nostalgic collectibles, apparel and more! Call 1-800-4235525 or visit Calcarcover.com for a free catalog. Mustangs Unlimited. Since 1976, Mustangs Unlimited has been the source for Restoration, Performance, and Accessory parts for 1965–present Mustang, 1967–1973 Mercury Cougar, and 1965–1970 Shelby Mustang. More than 55,000 available parts in 2 fully stocked warehouses, Mustangs Unlimited is YOUR Mustang Parts SUPERSTORE! FREE Shipping on orders over $300. Visit www.mustangsunlimited.com or call 800.243.7278. National Parts Depot. 800.874.7595. We stock huge inventories of concours-correct restoration parts for: Custom Autosound Manufacturing. 800.888.8637. Since 1977 providing audio solutions for classic car and trucks. Covering over 400 application our radios and speakers fit the original location without modification. Keep the classic look of your vehicle while enjoying state of the art audio. Check out all of our products at www.customautosound. com. Or if you’d like a free catalog call 800-888-8637. (CA) 1965–73 and 1979–93 Mustang 1967–81 Camaro & Firebird 1964–72 GTO, Tempest & LeMans 1964–87 Chevelle, Malibu & El Camino 1948–96 F-Series Ford Truck 1947–98 C/K 1/2-ton Chevy Truck 1966–96 Bronco 1955–57 Thunderbird www.nationalpartsdepot.com September-October 2015 129

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Surfing Around Carl Bomstead Automobilia on eBay and Beyond Carl’s thought: Brandon Spikes, former All-American linebacker from the University of Florida, recently had a couple of bad days. He had just been re-signed by the New England Patriots to a mega-million-dollar contract. But after rear-ending a family car with his 2011 Maybach and beating feet, he was promptly cut by the team. Only $25,000 — maybe two payments on the car — of his contract was guaranteed. His 2011 AFC Championship ring soon appeared on eBay. It quickly sold for the asking price of $19,499. However, he is claiming that the ring was stolen and he was the not the one selling it. Regardless, I sincerely hope he works his way out of his predicament. Here are a few more items I found that are not so disturbing: HERITAGE AUCTIONS LOT 80006—1969 MARIO ANDRETTI INDIANAPOLIS 500-WINNING FIRE SUIT. Starting bid: $2,500. SOLD AT: $52,580, including 19.5% buyer’s premium. Date sold: 6/18/2015. Mario Andretti won the 1969 Indy 500, his only victory there, but it was a memorable year, as he won nine additional races and captured the season Championship. The winning Indy 500 race car is in the Smithsonian and a replica is on display at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame. This is the actual fire suit that he wore and is documented with a letter of provenance from Mario. A piece of racing history. I sure hope it ends up with the winning car. EBAY #271863407471—“TIME TO TRADE” VINTAGE CARDEALER WALL CLOCK. Number of bids: 45. SOLD AT: $3,500. Date sold: 5/14/2015. This cool clock dates to the late ’40s, and according to the seller, was removed from a Chevrolet dealership in Anderson, MO, in 1981. It appeared to be in very acceptable condition but should have a neon inner ring that was not mentioned. A great addition to most any car barn. HERITAGE AUCTIONS LOT 80069—1940s GILMORE RACING FLAG SIGNED BY 19 DRIVERS. Starting bid: $200. SOLD AT: $3,346, including 19.5% buyer’s premium. Date sold: 6/18/2015. This very desirable Gilmore Oil Company flag was signed by 19 prominent early racers including Mauri Rose, Lou Meyer and Harry Hartz. These flags were used at races, the Gilmore economy run and at Gilmore service stations. They sell, in good condition, for $500– $1,000, so the signatures made the package on this one. EBAY #271850112167—1944 GEORGIA “FDR1” LICENSE PLATE. Number of bids: 4. SOLD AT: $3,320. Date sold: 130 AmericanCarCollector.com 5/5/2015. According to the seller, this plate was from FDR’s 1938 Ford phaeton that he used when he visited the “Little White House” in Warm Springs, GA, for hydrotherapy sessions. The story does make sense, as the Ford is on display at the Little White House Museum with an identical plate from 1945. As such, price paid does not seem out of line. EBAY #291437775501—ORIGINAL 1948 VOL #1, ISSUE #1 HOT ROD MAGAZINE. Number of bids: 17. SOLD AT: $1,530. Date sold: 4/26/2015. Hot Rod magazine, which was part of the Petersen Publishing Empire until 1998, is still being published to this day. Wally Parks, who went on to found the NHRA, was the first editor. Question is, what size were the original first issues? One set of “experts” states it was slightly smaller than 8½ x 11 and had three staples. Others stated, with equal conviction, that they were 9 x 12¼ and had two staples, as did the example sold. Another states it was 13½ x 10½. All claim that their opinions are based on original examples that were obtained in 1948. You pays your money and you takes your chances! EBAY #271833122550—1926 PACKARD MASTER SALESMAN’S AWARD CLOCK. Number of bids: 1. SOLD AT: $695. Date sold: 4/9/2015. About 475 of these Seth Thomas porcelain clocks were awarded to the leading 1926 Packard sales performers. They normally sell for close to $3,000, but this one was listed under “antique clocks” and missed the market. Sold for a song and the bargain of the year. Just wish I had spotted it! EBAY #17193474413—1956–57 CORVETTE KIDDIE CAR REPRODUCTION RAFFLE DRAWING BOX. Number of bids: 9. SOLD AT: $662.07. Date sold: 5/24/2015. In 1956–57, Chevrolet dealers held drawings for Corvette pedal cars, and they still show up from time to time. This was a reproduction of the box in which the kids would place their entries. Now, this was a rather pricey quality reproduction, but then again, the originals are a couple grand — if you can find one. Would sure be a cool piece if you had one of the Kiddie Corvettes.A