Profiles
- Truck - 1949 Dodge B-1-B-108 1/2-ton pickup
- Race - 1942 Willys Americar Gasser
- Mopar - 1966 Plymouth Satellite Hemi
- Hot Rod - 1960 Mercury Colony Park “the Lizard King”
- GM - 1968 Pontiac GTO Ram Air II
- Ford - 1966 Shelby GT350 “Carry-Over”
- Corvette - 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
- Americana - 1932 Lincoln KB Judkins coupe
Search This Issue
Page 6
CAR COLLECTOR
The Scoop
CORVETTE
2009 CHEVROLET
CORVETTE ZR1
$82.5k / Mecum
Yesterday’s king of the
horsepower hill drops in
value — John L. Stein
Page 56
GM
1968 PONTIAC GTO
RAM AIR II
$132k / Barrett-Jackson
Rare, overshadowed Pontiac
muscle brings big money
— Pat Smith
Page 58
Volume 5 • Issue 29 • September-October 2016
The Collector Market in Eight Sales
FoMoCo
1966 SHELBY GT350
“CARRY-OVER”
$159.5k / Bonhams
Pinning the market on
a barn-find racer
— Colin Comer
Page 60
MOPAR
1966 PLYMOUTH
SATELLITE HEMI
$63k / Auctions America
Under-market purchase
on a Hemi sleeper
— Tom Glatch
Page 62
AMERICAN
™
8 AmericanCarCollector.com
Keith Martin's
Page 7
CUSTOM
1960 MERCURY COLONY
PARK “THE LIZARD KING”
$90k / Barrett-Jackson
Boyd-built wagon is a
bargain for buyer
— Ken Gross
Page 64
AMERICANA RACE
1932 LINCOLN KB
JUDKINS COUPE
$198k / The Finest
Market money on a rare
coachbuilt Lincoln
— Carl Bomstead
Page 66
1942 WILLYS AMERICAR
GASSER
$66k / Mecum
An iconic, legit gasser
powers its way to $66k
— Jay Harden
Page 68
TRUCK
1949 DODGE B-1-B-108
HALF-TON PICKUP
$28k / Barrett-Jackson
A market-correct buy on a
rising section of the market
— B. Mitchell Carlson
Page 70
Cover photo: 1966 Shelby GT350
“Carry-Over” Courtesy of Bonhams
1942 Willys Americar Gasser, p. 68
Courtesy of Mecum Auctions
September-October 2016
9
Page 8
The Rundown
EXPERTS’
COLUMNS
12 Torque
I’ll build it someday
— Jim Pickering
46 Cheap Thrills
1977–80 Ford Pinto Cruising
Wagon — B. Mitchell Carlson
48 Horsepower
Is the car club dead?
— Colin Comer
52 Market Buys
Three vehicles to break out
your wallet for right now
— Jim Pickering
54 Corvette Market
What makes the Corvette so
special? — John L. Stein
138 Surfing Around
Must-have automobilia
— Carl Bomstead
AUCTIONS
76 Mecum — Indianapolis, IN
29th annual Spring Classic rakes in over $48m — B. Mitchell Carlson
88 Twin Cities Auctions — St. Paul, MN
94 cars cross the block for a $1.54m total — B. Mitchell Carlson
96 Mecum — Portland, OR
First-time auction in Portland nets $9.3m — Jim Pickering, Chad Taylor
and Chad Tyson
108 Lucky Collector Car Auctions — Tacoma, WA
Lucky continues the eclectic-mix tradition, generating $1.2m
— Jack Tockston
118 Roundup
American vehicles at Dan Kruse in Midland, TX, and Silver
in Coeur d’Alene, ID — Phil Skinner, John Boyle
10 AmericanCarCollector.com
FUN
RIDES
26 Good Reads
Ford dragsters, pickups of the
’50s and ’60s, guide to
Barracudas and Challengers,
Pontiac concept cars
— Mark Wigginton
27 International Scout
Encyclopedia — B. Mitchell
Carlson
30 Desktop Classics
1963 Cobra 289 roadster
— Marshall Buck
34 Snapshots
Racing Model Ts on the
Montana 500 — John Boyle
130 Junkyard Treasures
Muscle car parts in Sweden
— Phil Skinner
SERV
DEPA
14 What’s Happening
Car events of note
16 Crossing the Block
Upcoming auctions and
highlighted star cars
24 Your Turn
Brake feedback and a rare
hauler
28 Parts Time
Cool parts to keep your car
on the road
30 Cool Stuff
Start your engines, light your
projects, protect your
investments
38 Wrenching
Adding hidden tunes to
a farm-fresh Ford
44 Readers’ Forum
Which classic truck to buy?
86 Market Moment 1
1983 Pontiac Trans Am “KITT”
custom coupe — Jim Pickering
103 Market Moment 2
1942 Ford GPA Amphibious
— B. Mitchell Carlson
116 One to Watch
1978 Dodge D150 Li’l Red
Express — Jim Pickering
128 The Parts Hunter
Rare parts and pieces on the
market — Patrick Smith
132 Showcase Gallery
Sell your car in ACC’s
classifieds section
134 Resource Directory
Get to know our advertisers
135 Advertiser Index
Page 10
Torque
Jim Pickering
I’ll Build It Someday
SOMETIMES IT’S MORE ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY THAN THE PROJECT
A
few weeks ago, while on a walk
with my daughter in my neighborhood,
I caught a glimpse of a
rounded metal roof peeking out
from behind a fence. I stood up
tall to look over and saw a ’56 Chevy 2-door
post.
Half-consumed by blackberry bushes, it
sat with its ’70s-era white-letter radials sunk
into the dirt, its headliner draping down over
its seats, and its front bumper tossed on the
ground, upside-down in the weeds. Its original
paint was burned from rust after years in
the elements.
I immediately found myself planning out
a project. I visualized working over all its
issues and putting together all the right parts
for a gasser build. The rest of my week was
haunted by solid-cam chatter, bouncy straight
axles and 4-speed gear whine.
The waypoint
Car guys tend to think of cars in our
neighborhoods as waypoints on a map. When
we’re giving somebody directions, it’s not
“turn right at 35th,” it’s “turn right at the
house with the faded blue ’67 Chevelle.” We
can’t help it.
We know where all the cool cars sit out
in the open and we know where they’re
hidden. We remember where we’ve seen
chrome peeking out from rarely open garage
doors, or unmistakable shapes under tarps in
backyards. And we’re always on the lookout
for more.
Of course, there’s a good reason these cars
are burned in our memories: Most of us have
tried and failed to buy this stuff in the past.
Typically, our requests are met with cold
rejection from owners. Sometimes a huge
asking price is thrown down. Other times
the cars simply aren’t for sale. Regardless,
the mantra usually is, “I’m going to build it
someday.”
Since “someday” is closer to never than
tomorrow, the cars become part of the landscape,
and part of a car guy’s mental map as
projects we wished we could have made reality.
Those vexing no-sell owners get labeled
as crazy or eccentric — or at the very least
out of touch with reality — and we go back to
our home garages, usually where a complete
car and at least one other project we’d never
sell live in various states of completion.
12 AmericanCarCollector.com
Just a few things to tidy up, and then on to the Chevy...
Rust is king
All this stuff has been car-guy standard
for as long as I can remember. But with the
recent popularity behind barn finds, such as
the Shelby profiled on p. 60 of this issue, it’s
clear that old cars left to die a waiting death
are now becoming more mainstream cool.
Add to that booming cable-television
car-show popularity and its winning formula,
where cars are found and rebuilt in record
time for profit — all without the builders
even getting their hands dirty. The result is
growing interest in the old-car world from the
outside, and an explanation for the new security
fence — and razor wire — surrounding
the yard where I saw that old ’56. It screams
“don’t ask” so the owner doesn’t have to sit
guard in that chair all day.
And while you might be quick to judge the
owner of a car like that neglected Chevy for
just letting it sit rather than cashing out in the
midst of a strong market, you also can’t blame
him for wanting to hang on to it.
See, if I owned that ’56, it would get rust
repairs, a tunnel-ram small-block, and maybe
even a 4-speed and straight axle. But all that
stuff takes time, money and skill. The reality
of it is that I’ve already got a car I’m unwilling
to sell — my ’66 Caprice — that takes up
my working space and time. So the ’56 would
probably sit for who knows how long as I
built a grand plan for it — and who’s to say
that’s not exactly what was happening here?
Dreams and realities don’t often cross,
but if you’ve always wanted a shoebox Chevy
hot rod and you’ve got a rusty one out back,
you’ve also got a legit reason to dream about
it. The appeal behind a car like this is not so
much about the car itself, but instead about
the possibility of what the car can be. There’s
value in that for an owner, leading the market
by just enough to keep him from selling. If he
gets to it someday, that’s great. If not, at least
he had the chance.
As cool as this old ’56 is, my gasser Chevy
dream isn’t going to be a reality this time.
But it’s okay — I’ll remember where it is.
And hey, there’s a ’66 Impala SS convertible
project that’s been sitting at my dad’s place
for 20 years. I’ll build it someday. A
Page 12
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.
An ACD Week
The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival
cranks up on August 28 and runs through
September 5, with events including an epic
swapmeet, mini beer tents, car shows and
a historic tour. This is a bucket-list week
for classic car fans. For a full list of events,
visit acdfestival.org (IN)
Fun with Corvettes
The 23rd Annual Corvette Funfest rum-
bles to life on September 15 in Effingham,
IL, and this year celebrates 20 years of the
C5 Corvette. By the time the party ends
on September 18, four days and nights of
cruises, seminars, concerts, a giant Corvette
sale corral, swapmeet, concerts, parties and
off-the-hook burnouts will be over. Serious
Corvette fans head to Effingham, IL, to kiss
summer goodbye in a haze of hot exhaust
and melted rubber. For more information,
visit www.corvettefunfest.com (IL)
14 AmericanCarCollector.com
Rolling Iron and Waves
Surfing and cars — especially American
cars — are joined at the hip, and the Surf
City Car Show on September 3 brings
plenty of hot rods, customs and bone-stock
woodie surf wagons to the Chinook Winds
Casino Resort in Lincoln City, OR. Early
September brings the best weather of the
year to the Oregon Coast. Wax your car —
and bring your wetsuit. For more information,
surf over to www.chinookwindscasino.
com (OR)
Bring Your ’Bird
to Pennsylvania
The 23rd Annual International
Thunderbird Club Convention will spark
a massive ’Bird migration to Harrisburg,
PA, from September 6 to 11. Events include
an AACA Museum tour and Thunderbird
car show, a Gettysburg Battlefield tour, a
dinner cruise and a Saturday concours and
banquet. For more information, visit www.
intl-tbirdclub.com (PA)
Page 14
CROSSINGTHE
Upcoming Auctions (Images are courtesy of the respective auction houses unless otherwise noted)
BLOCK
by Chad Tyson
Star Car: 1967 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 at Mecum Louisville
SEPTEMBER
Auctions America — Auburn Fall
2016
Where: Auburn, IN
When: August 31, September 1–4
Featured cars:
• 1929 Auburn 8-90 cabriolet
• 1970 Mercury Cougar Eliminator
• 1934 Duesenberg Model J berline
“The Queen of Diamonds”
More: www.auctionsamerica.com
Worldwide Auctioneers — The
Auburn Auction
Where: Auburn, IN
When: September 3
Featured cars:
• 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 LS6
• 1941 Chrysler Town & Country
Barrelback wagon
More: www.worldwide-auctioneers.com
Silver — Sun Valley 2016
Where: Sun Valley, ID
When: September 3–4
More: www.silverauctions.com
Mecum — Louisville 2016
Where: Louisville, KY
When: September 8–10
16 AmericanCarCollector.com
Star Car: 1965 Chevrolet Nova “Dobbertin” Pro Street at Leake Detroit
Featured cars:
• Star Car: 1967 Oldsmobile 442
W-30
• 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 429
More: www.mecum.com
• 1961 Chevrolet Corvette Big-Brake
Fuelie
J. Wood & Co. — The Mike Harper
Collection
Where: Greenwood, MO
When: September 9
More: www.jwoodandcompany.com
Leake — Detroit 2016
Where: Detroit, MI
When: September 9–10
Featured cars:
• Star Car: 1965 Chevrolet Nova
“Dobbertin” Pro Street
• 1958 Ford Fairlane Skyliner
retractable hard top
More: www.leakecar.com
• 1965 Chevrolet Corvette convertible,
with 396/425, 4-speed
• 1956 Oldsmobile 98 Starfire
• 1970 Ford Torino King Cobra, 429 CJ
V8, 140-mph speedometer
• 1929 Stutz Blackhawk roadster, CCCA
award winner, formerly of the Harrah
Collection
Page 16
CROSSINGTHEBLOCK
Motostalgia — Watkins Glen
USVGP Auction
Where: Watkins Glen, NY
When: September 10
More: www.motostalgia.com
Dan Kruse Classics
Where: Austin, TX
When: September 10
More: www.dankruseclassics.com
VanDerBrink — The Ken Brownlee
Collection
Where: Smithville, MO
When: September 17
Featured cars:
• 1966 Shelby GT350, with 289-ci V8,
4-speed
More: www.vanderbrinkauctions.com
• 1927 Ford Model T touring
The Finest — Snowmass
Where: Aspen, CO
When: September 17
More: www.thefinest.com
Silver — Street Vibrations 2016
Where: Reno, NV
When: September 22–24
Featured cars:
• 1973 Chevrolet Camaro
• 1968 Mercury Cougar XR-7
• 1968 Chevrolet Impala
More: www.silverauctions.com
Tom Mack Classics
Where: Concord, NC
When: September 22
Featured cars:
• 1938 Buick Special sedan
• 1960 Chevrolet Impala convertible
• 1969 Plymouth Road Runner
• 1965 Chevrolet Chevelle Z16
VanDerBrink — The Pinkley
Collection
Where: Blue Eye, MO
When: October 1
More: www.vanderbrink.com
Bonhams — Preserving the
Automobile
Where: Philadelphia, PA
When: October 3
Featured cars:
• 1927 Pierce-Arrow Model 80 sedan
• 1913 Ford Model T touring
• 1908 Galloway Highwheeler wagon
• 1900 Locomobile Steamer
More: www.bonhams.com
18 AmericanCarCollector.com
More: www.mecum.com
• 1955 Willys-Overland pickup
• 1971 Dodge Challenger convertible,
Pace Car edition, one of 50
Silver
Where: Vancouver, WA
When: October 8
More: www.silverauctions.com
• Star Car: 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle
COPO, one of 323, restored in 1998
RM Sotheby’s
Where: Hershey, PA
When: October 6–7
Featured cars:
• 1946 Buick Roadmaster sedanette
• 1916 Pierce-Arrow Model 66A-4
touring
More: www.rmsothebys.com
Vicari
Where: Biloxi, MS
When: October 6–8
Featured cars:
• 1975 Ford Bronco
• 1968 Chevrolet Corvette L89,
numbers-matching with 4-speed and
documentation
More: www.vicariauction.com
• 1956 Ford Thunderbird
More: www.tommackclassics.com/auctions
OCTOBER
Mecum — Chicago 2016
Where: Schaumburg, IL
When: October 6–8
Featured cars:
Barrett-Jackson — Las Vegas 2016
Where: Las Vegas, NV
When: October 13–15
Featured cars:
• Star Car: 1957 Cadillac Eldorado
Biarritz convertible, fewer than 3,500
miles since restoration, from Tammy
Allen Collection
• 1999 Shelby Series 1 convertible,
#144, with less than 400 miles
More: www.barrett-jackson.com
Branson
Where: Branson, MO
When: October 14–15
Featured cars:
• 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Fuelie
convertible
More: www.bransonauction.com
• 1953 Muntz Jet
VanDerBrink — The McAvoy
Collection
Where: Washington, GA
When: October 22
Featured cars:
• 1928 Ford custom pickup
• 1954 Ford F-600
• 1949 Mercury Eight
• 1957 Chevrolet 210 2-door sedan
More: www.vanderbrink.com
Southern Classic — 44th
Semi-annual Music City Classic
Where: Murfreesboro, TN
When: October 22
More: www.southernclassicauctions.com
A
• 1937 Cord 812 phaeton, CCCA
National Meet first-place winner, from
Tammy Allen Collection
Star Car: 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz convertible from the Tammy Allen
Collection at Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas
Page 20
Publisher’s
Note
Keith Martin
CAR COLLECTOR
Volume 5, Number 5
September-October 2016
GET IN TOuCh
Email: comments@americancarcollector.com
Publisher Keith Martin
Executive Editor Chester Allen
Editor Jim Pickering
Art Director Dave Tomaro
Digital Media Director Jeff Stites
Editor at Large Colin Comer
Auction Editor Chad Tyson
Data Specialist Chad Taylor
Copy Editors Yael Abel, Dave Tomaro
Auction Analysts Andy Staugaard
Dan Grunwald
Pat Campion
The Truck Profile on p. 70 takes note of up-and-coming
brands, such as this 1949 Dodge B-1-B
Ford F150s that you can find in nearly every driveway in America.
Studebakers, International Harvesters and Dodges are coming on
C
strong. Just read this month’s “Reader’s Forum” on p. 44 to find out
what other pickup-truck collectors like you are looking for — and
willing to pay increasingly big bucks for. Think about getting yours
now before their prices start to skyrocket.
Shelby Mustangs have always been collectible, but someone paid
nearly $160,000 for a ratty barn-find ’66. Our own Colin Comer diagnoses
this sale, and takes you through the highs and lows of it.
Late-model Corvette ZR1s are starting to hit the auction block
— these are true supercars at a fraction of the price of Ferraris. Read
John L. Stein’s profile on p. 56 and find out exactly where the market
is on these 638-horsepower road monsters.
While most of the talk in Monterey will be about million-dollar
exotics, Chevrolets, Fords, Dodges and more make up the heart of the
American market. In this issue, the ACC experts will let you know
exactly what is going on, what you should be looking for, and how
much to pay.
It’s the perfect companion for Monterey Car Week. When a good
buy pops up, we want you to be ready to put your hand up, steal the
car and take it home to your garage. See you at the auctions there. A
Seeking American
Deals in Monterey
hances are you are picking up this issue in Monterey,
CA. While you’ll be hearing a lot about exotics such as
Ferraris and Cobras selling at the big auctions during
Car Week, our advice is to keep your eyes on the pickup
trucks. And not the run-of-the-mill Chevrolet C10s and
Jeremy Da Rosa
Adam Blumenthal
Michael Leven
Cody Tayloe
Joe Seminetta
Daren Kloes
Jeff Trepel
Morgan Eldridge
Contributors Carl Bomstead
Colin Comer
John Draneas
Michael Pierce
Jay Harden
Mark Wigginton
Jeff Zurschmeide
Information Technology Brian Baker
SEO Consultant Michael Cottam
Advertising and Events
Manager Erin Olson
Financial Manager Cheryl Ann Cox
Advertising Coordinator Jessi Kramer
ADVErTISING SALES
Advertising Executives Darren Frank
darren.frank@AmericanCarCollector.com
877.219.2605 x 214
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cindy.meitle@AmericanCarCollector.com
877.219.2605 x 213
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Customer happiness Specialist Lyndsey Camacho
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Email help@AmericanCarCollector.com
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Web www.AmericanCarCollector.com
Late-model Corvette Zr1s offer Ferrari performance at a
much more affordable price. See p. 56
22 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,
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AMERICAN
JOIN US
Travis Shetler
Jack Tockston
Mark Moskowitz
Phil Skinner
John Boyle
Doug Schultz
Pierre Hedary
Wallace Marx
Bob DeKorne
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B. Mitchell Carlson
Ken Gross
Tom Glatch
John L. Stein
Marshall Buck
Dale Novak
Keith Martin's
Page 22
YOUR TURN
Tell us what’s on your mind
Contact us at: American Car Collector, P.O. Box 4797, Portland, OR 97208
or online at comments@americancarcollector.com
were produced. I must tell you that I see
those quite often, especially compared to
these trucks.
I would appreciate it if you could verify
the amounts as well as what you think the
future may hold for this little hauler. Also,
I am having some serious issues on finding
folks that can reproduce the graphics, which
will be needed since I plan to repaint sometime
this fall. — Jay Parrish, via email
Jim Pickering, ACC Editor, responds:
Broken Brakes
Kudos to ACC for an excellent article on
changing out wheel cylinders in the JulyAugust
2016 edition!
I have done loads of disc-brake cars, but
it has been about 40 years since I’ve done a
wheel cylinder rebuild — although it seems
that no one rebuilds wheel cylinders any
longer.
One of the wheel cylinders on my ’65
GT350 began to leak like the proverbial
sieve recently. As luck would have it, the
July-August edition of ACC arrived at about
the same time that my wheel cylinder began
to leak.
Although I would have attacked the job
with the confidence of having done it many
times decades before, I greatly appreciated
being able to read “GIMME A BRAKE”
to knock some of the cobwebs from my
59-year-old memory.
As you can see from the attached photo,
I was lucky enough to have retained all of
the appropriate tools that make the job a real
cinch. I was very pleasantly surprised to find
that I still had a couple of brake-spring pliers
in my toolbox — I even found the special
tool that is used to remove the brake-shoe
retainer spring from the backing-plate pin!
Thank you for putting together an ex-
ceptionally well-written how-to article. Oh,
by the way, I should also mention that the
photos that accompanied the article were of
superb quality! — Lee Cross, via email
Numbers on an Indy
Pace Truck?
I read your “One to Watch” piece in the
July-August issue about the 1993 Chevrolet
Camaro Z/28 Indy Pace Car with great
interest.
I just acquired a 1993 Chevy Pace Truck
24 AmericanCarCollector.com
project. I had just got off a tour of active
duty, and I had just sold my ’71 GMC at
Barrett Jackson, so I was itching to get
something going again. During that time, a
friend came across a 1993 Pace Truck. I love
this body style and am surprised that it has
not taken off yet, especially when thinking
of the likes of Van Halen, Boyd Coddington
and numerous others who created such a
following for these when they were new.
The truck was rough from sitting out in
the Arizona sun and had over 200k on the
clock. Because of that, I had it torn down to
the frame, which is getting powder-coated as
I write this, and will have it properly restored
as we put it together. Many have laughed at
me for putting such effort into this truck, but
they also laughed when I bought my 1977
Y-82 Trans Am a few years ago.
Can you share your insight on this truck?
I was told that 1,500 were made — one for
each dealership, which to me sounds like
the numbers for the Mustang pace car. Your
article pointed out that only 633 Camaros
I did some digging and surprisingly didn’t
come up with a whole lot on these trucks in
terms of hard data, but GM has released
a complete verified production number of
1,534 out of 74,413 trucks built in ’93. Most
were short beds, some were long beds. So
while the Camaro is rarer on paper, I do
think you’ve got something here, but we’ll
get to that in a second.
GM had a long history of building not
only Indy Pace Cars, but also “Official
Trucks” as well — mostly from GMC in
the square-body years, known as “Indy
Haulers.” I’m sure that with the buzz around
the all-new Camaro for ’93, GM wanted to
move some pickups as well, which is probably
why they featured Chevrolets that year.
The trucks themselves had a lot of the same
parts as the 454SS, including the sport suspension
and color-keyed trim and bumpers.
Trucks have been moving up in the
marketplace, and with more people now
talking about the square (1973–87) years as
collectible, there will be a time where even
the later trucks, like your ’93, will move up
as well. Remember that people didn’t really
save these things. They were and have been
used as trucks, so the rarity factor, at least
through attrition, is in your favor over the
Camaro. As for the graphics, I’d suggest
hunting an NOS set. I know that’s easier
said than done, but it’s the only way you can
be sure they’re 100% correct.A
Page 24
GOODREADS by Mark Wigginton
At some point in his youth, author Charles Morris took the road
Total Performers: Ford Drag Racing in the 1960s
by Charles Morris, CarTech, 168 pages, $25.45, Amazon
then less traveled — he became a Ford fan when all those around
him embraced Chevrolet.
Reading and dreaming
about Fords turned into
driving and racing them.
The passion never
wavered, and Morris
brings a deep knowledge
base to his examination
of 1960s drag racing by
the company behind
the Total Performance
marketing platform.
Fresh off the factory
ban on racing involvement
(which was about
as successful as banning
passion in a drive-in),
Ford started supporting racers, developing
engines and helping teams when, as Morris says, drag cars had
names.
Morris has created a data-rich look at the decade, from the famous
Ford dealer Robert Tasca Sr.’s getting into drag racing after getting
tired of kids in hot Chevys cruising past his dealership, right through
to the successful 428 Cobra Jet Mustangs.
It’s a well-researched, detailed look at the period.
Lineage:
(
Fit and finish:
is best)
The Definitive Barracuda & Challenger Guide
1970–1974
by Scott Ross, CarTech, 192 pages, $28.67, Amazon
Mopar was just a tad late to the pony-car party, but the introduc-
tion of the Barracuda and Challenger models kicked that party
into high gear. Fast, lightweight and menacing, the Barracuda and
Challenger have become highly
sought-after collectibles,
as well as Boomer memory
machines.
Scott Ross, former editor
of Drive magazine and a selfconfessed
Mopar junkie, takes
a look at the beginnings, going
into some detail about the
design, the corporate decisions
and engineering struggles, all
in service of two models that
lasted only four model years
and never sold to expectations.
But history has a way
of sorting out winners and
losers, and the Barracuda and
Challenger have looked better
and better over time.
Ross fills the “Definitive Guide” with plenty of data, from build
sheets to all the options available, and the stories along the way will
help anyone get up to speed if they are considering adding a complete
or project car to the garage. It’s not just informative, it’s a good read
as well.
Lineage:
Fit and finish:
26 AmericanCarCollector.com
Drivability:
Drivability:
In a crowded, grassy field of cruise-in cars, why is it that a beauti-
fully restored truck stands out so often? Is it ’57 Chevy fatigue, or the
brawny appeal of utility?
Norm Mort and his photographer son have two new looks at a
specific slice of American trucks. It may be a narrow slice, but of
more than half the pie, as light trucks consistently outsell passenger
cars in the U.S.
Mort goes quickly, manufacturer by manufacturer, through the
offerings in each decade, and then focuses in more detail on the most
important models, with plenty of new and vintage photography.
Both decade-specific books are nice, breezy overviews of the
truck world, with enough detail for context and enough photos to
keep you moving.
Lineage:
Fit and finish:
Drivability:
Pontiac Concept And Show Cars
by Don Keefe, CarTech, 192 pages, $27.26, Amazon
Woulda, shoulda, coulda. That pretty much sums up the big file
cabinet full of design exercises, show cars and futuristic follies every
car company creates.
Pontiac was no differ-
ent than the others, except
for the involvement of
one Harley Earl, the VP
of Styling for GM. Earl’s
handiwork is all over
Pontiac, the GM sub-brand
introduced in the ’30s
to create gap options for
buyers (today’s equivalent
is Starbucks, which offers
a huge list of offerings to
give you essentially the
same drinks at a price point
that won’t gag you).
Don Keefe makes sure
the most important of the concepts are covered. There is the Club De
Mer, which is the one-finned two-seater from 1956. It’s a handsome
package on a short wheelbase, nice enough looking in photos until you
learn it was nearly two feet longer than a Miata and 10 inches lower.
All the cars are here: the Banshee, the GTO Flammé, the Cirrus,
Firebird Pegasus, and the Kamm-tailed Firebird Type K.
Reading about and looking at all the wonderful designs, one has to
wonder — where has all that brio and futuristic styling gone?
Lineage:
Fit and finish:
Drivability:
American 1/2-Ton Pickup Trucks of the 1950s
and American 1/2-Ton Pickup Trucks of the 1960s
by Norm Mort, Veloce, 112 pages each, $19.55 each,
Amazon
Page 25
International Scout Encyclopedia
by Jim Allen and John Glancy. 384 pages, $75, Octane Press
Octane Press recently issued this one-stop source for everything
pertaining to the history of the Scout.
From initial development through the three major series (1961–64
Scout 80, 1966–71 Scout 800s, and 1971–80 Scout II/Traveler/
Terra), this book goes into great depth on the topic. It even includes a
detailed cataloging of limited-production models — easily the most
complete source on this aspect that’s ever been compiled into one
document.
The final chapter covers the Scout’s history in motorsports, and
this really shines. Never before has this much of the history of the
Scout in competition — primarily in off-road desert racing — ever
been assembled in one place. It also has well-detailed appendices,
covering research and restoration resources.
I will say that the targeted audience here is assumed to bleed
Harvester Red, which can be vexing for those not fluent in
International trucks. The acronym LST is a great example. Those of
us who’ve been around IHs know that it means Line Setting Ticket,
and that it’s the build sheet that shows how a particular Scout was
made. Those who are new to Scouts likely won’t.
The appendix has a section that does a superb job of explaining
International’s factory-issued build-out of the vehicle, so newbies to
the Scout world will find reading and referencing this book will work
best using at least two sets of bookmarks — one for the text and one
for the appendix.
If you are a Scout owner, or just a Scout fan, this is a must-have
book.A
Lineage:
Fit and finish:
Drivability:
— B. Mitchell Carlson
September-October 2016 27
Page 26
PARTSTIME by Chad Tyson
New products to modernize your street machine
1932 Ford Truck Grille
United Pacific Industries now makes exact-reproduction one-
piece, die-stamped steel grilles for 1932 Ford trucks. The cost is $700.
Visit www.uapac.com or call 866-327-5288 to get yours.
Speedtech Extreme F-Body
and X-Body Subframe
Speedtech went back to the drawing board for their new ExtReme
subframe for first- and second-generation Camaros and 1968–74
Novas. The package includes a fully welded box-style subframe with
high-clearance rails, control arms, spindles, hubs, Viking doubleadjustable
coil-over shocks, adjustable sway bar and a transmission
crossmember to fit most options. Subframes start at $7,199 for either
Camaro or Nova. Check them out at speedtechperformance.
com.
Continental ExtremeContact
DWS06
This is Continental’s all-season, ultra-high-performance tire.
Continental designed these to offer performance in dry, wet or snowy
conditions. They go so far as to say this is “the pinnacle of wet traction
grip.” Sizes available for wheels from 16 inches all the way up to
22 inches. Speed ratings are either Y or W, so they’re good for most
anything far above what’s allowable by law. Pricing depends on size,
so head to www.continentaltire.com to find a set that matches
your requirements.
1963–65 Plymouth B-Body OE-Style
Quarter Panel
Belvedere, Fury, Savoy and Satellite owners rejoice! Auto Metal
Direct cuts these quarter panels on new tooling, so the lines are
sharp, with correct curves and thickness of original panels. Driver’s
and passenger’s sides are both available for $649.99, but don’t forget
about those truck freight charges. Check www.autometaldirect.
com for availability.
28 AmericanCarCollector.com
Page 28
COOLSTUFF
Put It In a Bubble
You just popped for a $10k paint job on your
Mopar. How can you keep it safe and clean in your
garage? CarCapsule’s what you need. Built of 10mil
PVC and fitted with an electric fan that keeps
the bubble inflated while also exchanging the air
inside, CarCapsule will protect against scratching
from bikes, rakes, brooms, etc. It also keeps rodents
out and eliminates condensation. Priced according
to size and options, starting at $359 from www.
carcapsule.com
Cheap Protection
Consider for a
second that you
driving around
in a valuable
old car with
old wiring and
maybe some
old fuel components,
too.
This $69.97
polished fire
extinguisher
from H3R
Performance is
small enough
to mount
someplace
inconspicuous
and nice enough
to show off out in the open.
Wherever you stick it, just get
one and keep it onboard. Get it
from www.summitracing.
com
by Jim Pickering
Light Where
You Want It
Who has three hands and
Start It Up
Fire up your new or rebuilt engine before you drop it into your car
with a Custom Series Easy-Run Engine Test Stand. Built to save you
money by using some of the components you probably already have,
this made-in-the-USA unit lets you break in a cam, search for leaks
and make all those little engine adjustments without worrying about
your fender paint or underhood detailing. Prices start at $995 from
www.easy-run.net
DESKTOPCLASSICS by Marshall Buck
1963 Cobra 289 roadster
This Cobra model is an oldie, but a
superb one. I have yet to find an overall
better model of a 289 roadster. This one,
along with numerous other road and
competition versions, was produced by
Exoto, which is known for great diecast
models but poor customer service.
Overall stance and proportions are
excellent, and there is truly a wealth of
detail everywhere, from full underside
to an excellent and complete engine
bay and interior. Working features are
extensive. All panels open, delicate prop
rods work, as do steering and suspension.
Even the gas cap flips open. Wheel and tire detail is all there — separate valve stems, emblems on the
knockoffs, golden brake calipers, correct tire treads and sidewalls.
30 AmericanCarCollector.com
Detailing
Scale: 1:18
Available colors: Blue metallic plus
many other colors
Quantity: Estimated 2,000 of each
road version; approximately 18,000
total
Price: $275–$600 (eBay)
Production date: 2003
Web: www.exoto.com
Ratings
Detailing:
Accuracy:
Overall quality:
Overall value:
is best
can see in the dark? Nobody.
But you’ll feel like you do with
this Slim LED Work Light from
Griot’s Garage. It comes with a
magnetic swivel ball-joint base,
offers variable-intensity adjustment
and is rechargeable. It’s
also small enough to stay out of
your way while you’re working
under the hood. $59.99 from
www.griotsgarage.com
Page 32
SNAPSHOTS
Putting
the “T” in
Competition
TWENTY MODEL TS RUN FLAT-OUT ACROSS 500 MILES
OF MONTANA ROADS
The cars are flagged out at one-minute intervals, and passing someone is a sign — however slow — of progress
Story and photos by John Boyle
F
or 56 years, the Montana Cross Country T
Association has sponsored the Montana 500
— a timed race for Ford Model Ts. Simply put,
it covers 500 miles in several stages over three
days. Think of it as the Mille Miglia for the
average guy.
With association dues only $10 per year and entry
fees just $35, there is no prize money. But winners hold
on to the traveling trophy for a year, and that, along with
bragging rights, makes competition keen.
Getting serious
Montana State Rep. Mike Cuffe entered his well-
worn black roadster pickup. “It’s a friendly competition,
but beneath the surface it can get serious. It’s an honor
to win and a real challenge in driving and car setup.”
Multiple winner and current race association president
Tom Carnegie jokes that his usually easygoing nature
changes during a run, “I turn into a total jerk.” Despite
that self-criticism, he’s not above loaning parts and
repair advice to fellow competitors.
This year, the racers returned every night to Dillon,
a farming community on I-15, not far from Yellowstone
Park. The course changes yearly, sometimes on twolane
roads, other times on the Interstate. The Interstate
routes are favored by many competitors in offering
easier passing (for racers and the public), wide shoulders,
and the chance to run the cars at maximum speed.
That point is somewhat relative, given the fact that
Model Ts, even in race trim, are developing just over
20 hp and the cars top out in the mid-50-mph range. In
short, race as hard as you like; you’re unlikely to break
the state’s 80-mph speed limit.
34 AmericanCarCollector.com
Past winner Nan robinson’s yellow roadster — minus side curtains, her
next winter project to improve aerodynamics
Page 34
SNAPSHOTS
2016 winner Tom Carnegie waits to be flagged out
Making a T racer
Race rules are reasonably simple. Cars must have factory-style bodies (no light-
weight aftermarket speedsters), as well as stock engine blocks, transmissions and axle
ratios. Engine internals are balanced and modified cams are the norm.
Like stock T engines, the racing units seem to be nearly bulletproof, with most
technical issues stemming from the stock coil-ignition and timing systems. To make
sure everything is stock, the winning car is stripped down after the race.
While not much can be done to resolve the cars’ brick-like shape, one thing did
improve aerodynamics. “All the cars that passed me today had side curtains, so that’s
my next project. It might add a couple of miles per hour,” said Nan Robinson, 14-race
veteran and past winner.
Russell Hanna from Spokane, WA, was new to the event. A longtime Model A
driver, he’s a customer of Carnegie’s Antique Auto Ranch, an early-Ford restoration
and parts supplier. “Tom said I needed a T and loaned me this one [a race-prepped ’23
roadster]. “There was a bit of a learning curve,” Hanna admits, “It makes my ‘A’ feel
like a Cadillac.”
Keeping it running
Retired Montana bridge engineer Tony Cervoski was in the top five after the
first day before taking a young Ohio man as a passenger. “An extra 150 pounds in a
20-horsepower car is a pretty big deal, so I took 70 pounds of tools and spares out of
the trunk. So it was about a 100-pound net weight gain,” he explained. Why did he do
it? “This young guy is building a car. I did it to hopefully deliver a new competitor. I
want to keep the race going.” Despite the weight handicap, Cervoski finished in 5th
place.
After three days, 553 miles and just over 10 hours of timed racing, the time spread
between the first three cars was 3:56… and less than a third of a mile per hour.
Eighteen of the 20 cars finished.
Tom Carnegie took home the trophy for the sixth time, with an average speed of
www.antiqueautoranch.com.A
36 AmericanCarCollector.com
54.98 mph. Newcomer Hanna finished a respectable 12th. He said he’ll be spending the
winter building a car for next year’s race. “I want to build a winning car to my tastes…
I’m hoping for a cold winter so I can get it done.”
For more information, including 2017 dates when they become available, go to
Participants are not without a sense of humor
Dennis Powers, 2nd-place finisher in 2015 and
’16, adds oil to his roadster
Page 36
WRENCHINGHOW-TO
RETRO LOOKS ...
... MODERN SOUND
BRING YOUR CLASSIC INTO THE
21st CENTURY WITH A HIDDEN
BLUETOOTH STEREO SYSTEM
by Jim Pickering and Chad Tyson
radio. They just look right — better than a modern LED plastic piece
that would be out of place in an otherwise OEM interior. Sure, there
are some replacement modern systems that look stock-ish, but one of
those is not exactly the same thing as an original unit — especially if
you’re showing your car. Not to mention the fact that some original
radios are odd sizes that aren’t currently supported in the aftermarket.
So what do you do?
The answer to the problem comes in the form of a Bluetooth unit
C
from Out of Sight Audio — keep that OE AM radio, but add on a
separate, completely hidden unit that functions through a wireless
connection to your smartphone. It’s slick, invisible and simple.
Auction Editor Chad Tyson just picked up a farm-fresh 1963 Ford
F100 Unibody with a broken original AM radio, so we converted it
using a hidden Mark III stereo head unit from Out of Sight Audio.
38 AmericanCarCollector.com
lassic cars and music go hand-in-hand. What fun is driving
your ’57 Chevy without Buddy Holly, or your ’65 Mustang
without the Beach Boys, or your ’70 Charger without the
Stones?
Chances are your classic car still has its original AM
here’s everything we used, including the Out of Sight Audio
unit, the Cirkit Boss wiring kit and assorted accessories
Because this rig has already had some wiring “modifications” over the
years, we also opted to install a Painless Cirkit Boss kit, which is an
add-on stand-alone fuse panel that takes power right from the battery
and provides four keyed and three constant hot 12-volt sources. No
load on the original harness, no cutting up the dash for an aftermarket
stereo.
Here’s how quick and easy getting modern sound from your vintage
car can be.
Page 37
PARTS LIST:
OUT OF SIGHT AUDIO (www.outofsightaudio.com)
Mark III Head Unit, $319.99
SUMMIT RACING (www.summitracing.com)
P/N C7AZ-18808-DVCA, Scott Drake stereo dash speaker, $53.06
P/N 70207, Painless Performance Cirkit Boss Auxiliary Fuse Block,
$95.99
P/N 8136PT, Pico Speaker Wire, $4.97
NAPA (www.napaonline.com)
P/N 785300 Belkin 18-gauge wire (blue), $7.49
P/N 785306 Belkin 18-gauge wire (black), $7.49
P/N 03615 3M double-sided molding tape, $6.63
TIME SPENT:
Hour and a half
DIFFICULTY: J
(J J J J J is toughest)
1
Step one is locating a good spot for the Cirkit Boss
fuse panel. You don’t absolutely need to use one of these
units, but it’s a great idea if you’re planning on adding other
accessories in the future, or if you’re skeptical about mess-
ing with your car’s original wiring. We found a good, accessible spot
under the dash near the clutch pedal.
3
The Cirkit Boss kit is a stand-alone unit, drawing
power through a heavy-gauge wire directly from the
battery. It does, however, need a 12-volt keyed ignition
source to use as a trigger. Using a test light, we found a fuse
that’s hot with the key, and using the supplied fuse tap, plugged into
it. We then cut the pink trigger wire to length, installed a female crimp
connector on it, and plugged it in.
2
using the supplied ¼-inch self-tapping screws, we
installed the panel to the firewall. Drilling pilot holes with
a small bit first can make quick work of the job — but be
aware of what’s on the other side of wherever you’re drilling.
Also note that one of these mounting screws serves as the unit’s
ground.
4
The kit
comes with
a circuit
breaker to
mount near the battery.
We found a spot
on the firewall, and
using two more selftapping
nuts, installed
it. (Note the farm-engineered
bungee cord
battery hold-down
Chad keeps saying
he’s going to replace.)
September-October 2016 39
Page 38
WRENCHINGHOW-TO
6
5
After running the red main power wire through an existing grommet on the
firewall, we fed it through the original wiring harness retainers over to the breaker.
The kit comes with the proper
wire ends to fit over the breaker
studs, complete with waterproof
heat-shrink ends to keep out mois-
ture. We cut the wire to length, crimped on
the end, and installed it using the supplied
3/8-inch nuts.
7
We then ran another short
length to the positive terminal
of the battery, and using the ends
supplied with the kit, bolted it all
together. We also zip-tied the new feed wire
to the positive battery cable, just to clean
things up a bit.
8
10
Stereo
time!
Chad’s
Ford
was missing its
original speaker,
but the AM radio
was still in place. To
get to the speaker’s
mounting location,
we pulled the original
stereo out of
the dash and set it
aside.
11
40 AmericanCarCollector.com
After measuring the original
speaker-mounting holes, we
ordered up a new speaker
from Summit Racing. This
speaker is actually a stereo unit, featuring
both a left and right input for stereo sound
from the original mono AM speaker location.
using a test light, we checked
to make sure the system had
power — 12-volts constant hot on
the constant-marked wires and
12-volts keyed hot on the ignition-marked
wires.
9
We wrapped up the wires we
were not intending to use and
tucked them out of the way — you
can also pull the fuses on whatever
you’re not using right away, just to be safe.
We’ll be using the blue keyed-hot wire to
power the new stereo.
Page 40
WRENCHINGHOW-TO
12
After installing both left and right speaker wires, we
fed the new speaker up into the original location and installed
it using the supplied mounting hardware. We then
reinstalled the original speaker grille on the dash.
13
The best part about Out of Sight Audio’s unit is flexibility
of mounting. It can go pretty much anywhere, as
long as your Bluetooth device is no more than about three
feet from it during operation. We elected to slide ours in
the glovebox for easy access for later upgrades. This unit can power
four 75-watt speakers and has two pre-amp outputs to power more
speakers or a subwoofer. It can also be used in line with your original
stereo system, adding Bluetooth to the factory system.
15
14
After picking our mounting location, we ran wires
directly to the head unit. In our case, wiring was simple:
power (blue), ground (black), right channel and left channel.
The stereo
uses a
cool plug
with a
screw clamp for
each wire. Installation
is easy thanks to a
numbered chart printed
on top of the head unit.
After cutting each wire
to length and installing
them in the plug, we
then used 3M doublesided
emblem tape to
affix the stereo to the
inside of the glovebox.
16
Lastly, we reinstalled the original
AM radio for a stock look.
As you can see, nothing looks out
of place — no visible speakers,
no visible head unit. Aside from the add-on
seat cover, a floor mat, and some dirt and
remnants of hay still stuck in the carpets, this
thing looks time-warp 1963.
42 AmericanCarCollector.com
stock.
17
A
using the new stereo is as simple as this: Turn on the ignition, sync your
device to the “OOSA” Bluetooth connection, and start playing music. All
the controls for volume are done via your phone, as is selecting whatever you want
to hear from Pandora, iTunes, iHeartRadio, etc. Best of all, everything looks 100%
Page 42
READERS’ FORUM
Crowdsourcing answers
to your car questions
Contact us at: American Car Collector, P.O. Box 4797, Portland, OR 97208
or online at comments@americancarcollector.com
Buying a Classic Truck
Here’s this month’s Reader’s Forum
question, submitted by Tom N.:
I’m looking at buying a classic truck. Something
1960 or newer. The market on this stuff seems to
have really taken off lately. What’s the best value in
terms of usability and return on investment? Ford?
Chevy? Mopar? International?
Readers respond:
I’d look at 1973–79 Chevy/GMCs with flat hoods and round head-
lights. Love the 1967–72 trucks, but they’re too pricey to “use.” Here
in Montana all other brands do not seem to appreciate like the Chevys
no matter how nice they might be. The Chevy parts are always
cheaper and available. — Dan Burdick, via email
n n n
1956 Ford or GMC or Chevy, but go with the big-rear-window
models. Some mild upgrades are okay (brakes, PS, etc.) but stock or
nearly stock appearance is the key. — Mike Storm, via email
n n n
I don’t think you can go wrong with a short-bed Chevy C10. 1970
is my favorite year. I’d “pick up” a blue-and-white unit with CST
trim, 350 and Turbo-Hydramatic. — Ken Lawyer, via email
n n n
1970–72 Chevrolet short-box two-wheel or four-wheel drive. You
can’t go wrong. These will go to the moon in the near future, and
finding a good one is not the problem — it’s just a matter of money.
You get what you pay for, and remember you can never pay too much
for a nice classic! Great paint jobs are $5,000 to $10,000 and more. —
Arvid W., via email
n n n
Well, first off, ’60s is not classic. But if you could find a rust-free
Mopar mid-’60s, I think you can’t go wrong, as everybody is most
44 AmericanCarCollector.com
likely promoting GM or Ford, and as you can see, the market is
jammed with these. Get something that you don’t see often — Mark
Les, Alsip, IL
n n n
Almost any from 1960 to 1972 — particularly those from GM.
Of course big blocks, 4x4s and anything specially optioned. Also
short-bed stepside V8s — classic looks and rarer due to attrition. The
pickup truck thing has a good upside. — Scott Holtz, via email
n n n
I‘m a truck collector, and you are right that we are certainly seeing
an upswing in many models. The early Ford Broncos have just rocketed
over the past few years far beyond anyone’s imagination, with
Dodge Power Wagons trailing quickly along.
I recommend that, regardless of manufacturer, you go with some-
thing of lower production and that’s slightly different. For example,
the Dodge Li’l Red Express series from 1978 and 1979 are still very
affordable but inching up in value. Same for many mid- to late-’50s
trucks by GMC and Dodge.
While higher on the average price, the GM 4x4 trucks from
NAPCO are really great trucks if you can find one. They’ve seen
an appreciable increase in value, and I continue to see very nice
examples bringing far above average market, with plenty of examples
out there.
Regardless of make, the parts for most trucks are easy to come
by and if you’re a shade trade mechanic, it’s easy enough to do most
work on them yourself. As to usability — heck, any truck with a bed
is usable! Just make sure to protect that bed paint! — Christopher H.
McDonald, Sandy Springs, GA
n n n
As a dealer, I find square-body GMs (1973–87) are the best value
for resale and support. Getting parts for Mopars and Fords is much
more difficult, especially when it comes to trim pieces. — Pete
Mansolillo, via email
n n n
Buy 1957–59 Chevy/GM factory NAPCO 4WD pickups. Great
style, rugged performance. Relative rarity. — Kerry Bonner, via
email
Page 43
n n n
Usability? No classic truck is suitable for all-around use. Most
trucks that are shown and cruised aren’t used for work. For the ’60s,
Chevys seem to be the most popular for cruising.
There are rare gems that are great investments. In ’64 and ’65,
Dodge offered a High Performance option on their pickups with a 426
Wedge. It is so rare I can’t find it listed on any of the value guides I
use.
Military-type Dodge Power Wagons are very hot with collectors.
From an investment standpoint, I would consider early to mid-’50s
Fords and Chevys. The Chevy Cameo is very collectible, as is its
sister and more rare GMC Suburban Carrier. Early Ford pickups have
the desirability of also having a flathead V8. The one-year design of
the ’56 Ford pickup is also very popular. — Rick Gaskill, Hartford,
KY
n n n
A Chevy Silverado truck from the ’70s or ’80s, well equipped
with working a/c and 350-inch motor, a true original, perhaps with
4WD, is a good bet. I like silver (perhaps red or dark green) with
leather seating and a number of power assists and trim-piece options
from the factory. A matching tonneau cover with a black bed liner for
protection is a good addition. — Warren, via email
n n n
Personally, I think they’re all going to increase in value. A ’63
Chevrolet 10 was our only vehicle for a time back in the ’70s. I now
own a ’64 fleetside and a ’66 stepside — both are bone-stock and a
blast to drive, and they bring back lots of memories.
You should buy the model that you like or have a connection to
and have fun with it. Get the best quality that you can afford. Both of
my classic trucks have been solid investments, although I did not buy
them to make money. I have owned a good number of classic cars,
and from a financial standpoint, the worst case was break-even.
I am a Chevy guy, but I do not think any of the classics from the
different manufacturers will be a disappointment; however, from an
investment standpoint, I think what was popular and good-looking
back in the day will hold true today. My mid-’60s trucks get as much
attention around town as my Rick Nelson concours-restored 1970
Chevelle LS6, which I drive. Go for it; it’s a lot of fun, and you will
most likely make a profit when you decide to sell. — John Ginger,
via email
n n n
My daily driver is a low-mile 1990 Ford Bronco XLT. It has a
four-inch lift and correspondingly larger wheels and tires. It’s in great
shape, has a/c, power windows, power locks, a decent stereo, and is
moderately comfortable.
Not a day goes by that I am not complimented on my truck. I
bought it a year ago for $15k, and I have turned down a recent offer
of $22k. I intend to drive it for a few more months, then park it in
a warehouse. It has been a great truck, easy to use, and will have a
decent return.
My vote for classic truck? Any of the full-size, 2-door SUVs
from the 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s. I think the early Broncos are
priced out for investment, but the 1978–96 models still have potential.
I think the same of the Chevy Blazer/GMC Jimmy and the Dodge
Ramcharger/Plymouth Trailblazer. There are still rust-free, low-mile
examples to be had for reasonable money, making for decent investments
that can still be enjoyed. — Brett Hatfield, via emailA
“Not a day goes by that I am not complimented on my truck. I bought it
a year ago for $15k, and I have turned down a recent offer of $22k”
Brett hatfield’s
1990 Ford Bronco XLT
September-October 2016 45
Page 44
Cheap Thrills
B. Mitchell Carlson
MAKING IT
PERSONAL
A PINTO CRUISING WAGON COULD ONLY HAVE HAPPENED IN THE ’70s,
WHEN THE “ME GENERATION” INSPIRED FORD TO GO FREE-WHEELIN’
A period brochure
(right) illustrates
some 1980 model
options; below,
a 1977 Cruising
Wagon at auction
Cheap Thr
Cheap Thr
lls
B. Mitchell Carlson
MAKING IT
PERSONAL
A PINTO CRUISING WAGON COULD ONLY HAVE HAPPENED IN THE ’70s,
WHEN THE “ME GENERATION” INSPIRED FORD TO GO FREE-WHEELIN’
A pe
ap Thrills
B. Mitchell Carlson
MAKING IT
PERSONAL
A PINTO CRUISING WAGON COULD ONLY HAVE HAPPENED IN THE ’70s,
WHEN THE “ME GENERATION” INSPIRED FORD TO GO FREE-WHEELIN’
A period brochure
(right) illustrates
some 1980 model
options; below,
a 1977 Cruising
Wagon at auction
Van
Van modifications were bound only by the owner’s imagination or
p Thrills
B. Mitchell Carlson
MAKING IT
PERSONAL
A PINTO CRUISING WAGON COULD ONLY HAVE HAPPENED IN THE ’70s,
WHEN THE “ME GENERATION” INSPIRED FORD TO GO FREE-WHEELIN’
A period brochure
(right) illustrates
some 1980 model
options; below,
a 1977 Cruising
Wagon at auction
Van modifications were bound only by the owner’s imagination or
bank
bank account, with mild to wild paint or vinyl graphics, customized
interiors from plain to over-the-top faux luxury, aftermarket porthole
windows, and the gamut of aftermarket wheels. In a few instances,
engine performance was beefed up, but by and large, the van movement
was about making a visual statement.
Like most personalized vehicle trends, Vannin’ was initially
looked down upon — especially with the overall perception (and
occasional reality) of custom vans being rolling bordellos. Yet by the
mid-1970s, Detroit started to embrace them. By 1976, the Big Three
all had various van upgrade packages — and even builder packages
that got you a bare-and-ready unit to personalize as you pleased.
A new economy-size street van
Ford’s vehicle personalization marketing effort at the time was
called “Free Wheelin’.” Started in 1976, it focused on light trucks, but
also on more affordable car lines for younger buyers. They offered a
46 AmericanCarCollector.com
Cheap Thr
Cheap Thr
Cheap Thr
Cheap Thr
p Thrills
B. Mitchell Carlson
MAKING IT
PERSONAL
A PINTO CRUISING WAGON COULD ONLY HAVE HAPPENED IN
p Thrills
B. Mitchell Carlson
MAKING IT
PERSONAL
A PINTO CRUISING WAGON COULD ONLY HAVE HAPPENED IN THE ’70s,
WHEN THE “ME GENERATION” INSPIRED FORD TO GO FREE-WHEELIN’
A period brochure
(right) illustrates
some 1980 model
options; below,
a 1977 Cruising
Wagon at auction
Van modifications were bound only by the owner’s imagination or
bank account, with mild to wild paint or vinyl graphics, customized
interiors from plain to over-the-top faux luxury, aftermarket porthole
windows, and the gamut of aftermarket wheels. In a few instances,
engine performance was beefed up, but by and large, the van move-
ment was about making a visual statement.
Like most personalized vehicle trends, Vannin’ was initially
looked down upon — especially with the overall perception (and
occasional reality) of custom vans being rolling bordellos. Yet by the
mid-1970s, Detroit started to embrace them. By 1976, the Big Three
all had various van upgrade packages — and even builder packages
that got you a bare-and-ready unit to personalize as you pleased.
A new economy-size street van
Ford’s vehicle personalization marketing effort at the time was
called “Free Wheelin’.” Started in 1976, it focused on light trucks, but
also on more affordable car lines for younger buyers. They offered a
46 AmericanCarCollector.com
ages
ages for personalized-looking pickups,
vans and cars as inspiration for a new owner of a Mustang, Maverick
or Pinto.
It was the latter that got more traction, as one of the concepts was
a Pinto MPG wagon with blocked-out rear-quarter windows and a
very trendy custom van porthole window added. This piqued the
interest of the customer base, and Ford decided to move the custom
van trend down to their economy car.
For 1977, Ford introduced the “mini street van” Pinto Cruising
Wagon. It was a near copycat of an Econoline Cruising Van introduced
the same year. Both featured silver paint with matte black
side-panel inserts, bordered by red, orange and yellow stripes. And of
course, they had glass bubble porthole rear-quarter windows.
The Pinto Cruising Wagon came with front spoiler, sport mirrors
and styled steel wheels. On the inside, it was only available with
high-back bucket seats — in either standard full vinyl or with woven
insets — and with the Sports Rally package trim and gauge pack,
Page 45
plus fully carpeted floor and rear-compartment sides.
In addition to the full-monty two-tone, the Cruising Wagon was
also available in single-color paint with a more low-key complementing
striping and graphics. You could also get it sans graphics in
one solid color. Engines and
transmissions were standard
Pinto — 89-hp 2.3L 4-cylinder
or the optional 93-hp 2.8L V6.
The Pinto carried on into
Detailing
Years produced: 1976–80
Number produced: 224,723 (all
1977–80 Pinto wagons)
Original list price: $4,517
Current ACC Valuation: Median
to date, $4,620; high sale,
$10,500
Clubs: Pinto Car Club of
America
Engine # location: Label on the
driver’s forward side of the
valve cover
Tune-up cost: $150
Distributor cap: $12
VIN location: Base of the windshield
frame on the driver’s
side
Web: www.fordpinto.com and
pintocarclub.com/pintopage/
index.htm
Alternatives: 1970–77 Chevrolet
Vega Kammback wagon,
1976–79 AMC Gremlin Levi’s
Edition, 1976–77 AMC Pacer
Levi’s Edition
ACC Investment Grade: C
1978 with minimal changes,
including the Cruising Wagon.
For 1979, the car got a new front
fascia and bolder taillights,
giving it a bulkier look. All of
the body styles carried over,
although the Cruising Wagon
was now referred to as the
“Pinto Wagon with Cruising
Package.” Now with only one
graphics package, it retained
the matte black door frames
and side panels and now had
all blacked-out trim. The vinyl
graphics were now more of a
rainbow motif and had wider
side panels. The graphics-free
Cruising Package (now with a
$55 tape-stripe-delete credit)
also changed to blackened trim,
plus was narrowed down to one
of only five color choices.
End of the line
With the controversy surrounding the Pinto’s easily ruptured fuel
tanks (a non-issue with wagons, as they were better protected from
the day they were introduced in 1972) and its replacement “world
car” Escort one year out, Ford rolled out even more trim and graphics
packages in 1980 to keep the Pinto fresh to the buying public.
The Cruising Package once again got revised graphics on the upper
rear-quarter panels around the porthole window. There was also a new
one-year-only Rallye Pack, which was essentially a Cruising Wagon
package with graphics from the also new Rallye Pack runabout. The
no-graphics Cruising Package also continued — “the quiet version,”
per Ford’s PR department, which also got you a $70 credit.
When the Escort did arrive in 1981, it offered a wagon, but with
five doors. It was a new day for Ford, a clean sheet with front-wheel
drive, a new name, and no vestiges of “Cruising”— or even sporty.
Cruising into the 21st century
Over the past decade, Pintos have seen a renewed cult following,
although some of the revised interest goes back to over a decade ago
when 1970s “nerd cars” started coming into vogue.
Pinto wagons were insanely popular when they were new (the
Pinto Squire was the most popular of all Ford wagons in 1974, at
237,934 units sold). Pinto enthusiasts today also tend to focus on the
wagons. Today, 1977 and ’78 silver and black full-graphics-package
cars seem to surface regularly, as those were a popular dealer-ordered
item to put on the showroom floor to generate traffic.
While Ford’s attempt at making the compact wagon into a com-
pact custom van trend petered out, it still did well enough to stay until
the bitter end. Today, they are seeing increased interest — and prices
— as one of the more odd examples of a most odd decade. A
September-October 2016 47
Page 46
Horsepower
Colin Comer
REQUIEM
for the Car Club
?
HAS A VIRTUAL WORLD RUINED THE WAY CAR PEOPLE INTERACT?
Who’s going to fill those empty chairs in the future?
car world in the mid-1980s, and if you compare the three decades
since, I think we’d all agree the world changed a lot more between
1985 and 2015 than it did between 1955 and 1985.
Hogwash? (Sorry, old-guy term.) Let me point out what I base
I
that conclusion on: Think about what changed in cars and technology
during those two periods.
Analog era
From 1955 to 1985, we gained radial tires, seat belts and superior
performance. But even in 1985 the vast majority of new cars still had
48 AmericanCarCollector.com
like to think I’m not getting old, but unless I stop looking in
mirrors (and change my diet to 100% Ibuprofen), I can’t help but
face the fact that I am. Along with that, I suppose, comes the
responsibility to bitch about how much better it was in “the old
days.”
Now, let me clarify, I’m not that old. But I did enter the collector
carburetors. We still all used telephones, or the USPS, or actually got
up to go out and visit with friends. If you wanted to watch a TV show,
you had to be home at the time it aired.
Tuning your car consisted of points, plugs, maybe some Mallory
or Holley parts from the local speed shop, and a day in the garage
with at least two friends. Our quest for knowledge led us to the library
to pore over smelly old Motor shop manuals or to pick the brain
of the “old-timers” at the service station.
From 1985 to 2015, it would be easier to list what stayed the same.
Some cars are driving themselves, and a lot of others don’t even have
engines. Most people no longer have a landline phone in their home.
We have the Internet and carry it with us. The USPS? Only if we have
to. “Tuning” your car involves plugging in a thing to a receptacle
under your dash. You don’t even have to open the hood! And we
quickly pull up a how-to video on our phone if we have a problem.
Don’t get me wrong; this tech is fascinating, even if I don’t fully
Page 47
understand it all. But I do miss one thing it is erasing: the local car
club scene.
Learning by doing
When I was a teenager, I joined every local club I could. My two
favorites were the MG and Alfa Romeo owners’ clubs. The MG guys
had awesome garage tours and road rallies. The Alfa club did much
of the same but also had regularly scheduled tech sessions to help
members fix their cars. That was great for me because I had an old
Alfa that I knew nothing about. I also had none of the right tools to
fix it.
The Saab club held ice races in the winter. I learned more about
car control there than anywhere else before or since — and no, they
didn’t care that I never brought a Saab.
During the other three seasons, the Corvette Club held gymkha-
nas — now known as autocrosses — and no, I didn’t own a Corvette
either, but they didn’t care.
When these clubs weren’t getting together to do “car stuff,” they
were socializing. Organized cookouts and dining-out events were a
regular thing. Most clubs had a volunteer staff that would distribute a
monthly newsletter with event schedule, and we all set our calendars
around it.
However, more important than any of the driving or tech stuff
were the friendships. For a young guy just starting out, I couldn’t
have met a better group of folks. No matter the club, it seems we all
had one common interest: hanging out with other people who liked
old cars, and helping each other. When you were in, you were part of
a group that took care of its own. The old guys would teach the young
guys what they could, loan tools, and usually come up with those
elusive parts you needed from their stash.
Looking back, I realize I caught this phenomenon just in time.
The days of kids like me driving old cars because they were cool,
cheap transportation were soon gone. I became great friends with
most of the “old guys,” and the lessons they taught me, about cars and
otherwise, have proven invaluable in my life. Sadly, most of these
guys are gone now.
A different world
I suppose I’m now one of the “old guys.” But the local club scene
is on life support. No kids I know of have old cars they want to learn
how to work on themselves. Heck, most don’t care about cars at all.
Few, if any, people are using old cars as daily drivers. Gone is the
uncertainty of making it somewhere and the sense of accomplishment
when you do, and wanting to see how many of your friends can do the
same.
Our world, for the most part, has gone virtual. Internet forums.
Digital clubs. Kids more worried about Pokémon Go than messing
around with old cars or hanging out with the old guys who know
about them.
Is there a fix? I think so, and it’s pretty simple. Support the local
chapter of your national club. Join others, too. Attend the events. Help
with the newsletters. Find, or create, a local cruise night and get a
group to attend it.
Get a bunch of your friends together, clean out your garages and
have a car-part yard sale. Organize a local garage or shop tour a few
times a year, some driving tours, tech sessions, a regular burger run
or even a gymkhan… wait, I mean autocross.
We all need to connect more outside of the Internet. Inspire each
other to use and have fun with our cars. Most importantly, welcome
the newbies no matter what they drive. They are the future, and it’s
our job to make sure that 30 years from now, there is still an old-car
hobby for one of them to write about. A
September-October 2016 49
Page 50
Market Buys
Jim Pickering
BUY IT NOW
THREE VEHICLES TO PURCHASE IN TODAY’S MARKET — AND WHY
1967–72 Chevrolet Truck
Old trucks are hot, and these are among the
hottest. But GM made a bunch of them, so supply
is good. There is still a wide value margin
between projects and complete trucks, and parts
availability is a non-issue. Find a bone-stock $15k
truck with good options and a few needs, put $3k
or so into it, and you can get $20k-plus at sale
time.
1987–93 Ford Mustang
5.0
Cars from the 1980s and 1990s are gaining
strength. 5.0 Mustangs defined affordable performance
in their era, and the cars with the aero
noses, built 1987–93, are the ones to get. Find a
stock example with low-ish miles for under $15k.
It will go up in value.
2003–04 Ford Mustang
SVT Cobra
These things aren’t called “Terminators”
for nothing. This is the high-water mark of the
Coletti/Moss performance wars, with big power
from a shrieking supercharged 4.6 DOHC V8.
Only about 18,000 were built, and they’ve never
been cheap, which probably means they never will
be. $25k gets you a good one, and your money’s
safe there.
52 AmericanCarCollector.com
Page 52
LASTIC
FANTASTIC
Courtesy of
PLASTIC
FANTASTIC
Courtesy of Auctions America
The sculptural curves of the 1953 through ’55 Corvettes
would have been difficult to achieve in period by shaping metal
BY MISSION, MOTIVE OR OPPORTUNITY, CORVETTE WAS NEVER
WATERED DOWN LIKE A CHEAP WHISKEY ON BOURBON STREET
F
or an English major, I sure did lousy in Ye Olde English
Literature. Byron, Keats, Milton and the rest seemed
unbearably stuffy compared to my favorite authors of the
period — the editors of Hot Rod, Road & Track and Car and
Driver — in particular, Brock Yates.
But one poet did come up with two lines that have stayed with me:
“Oh, do not ask, ‘What is it?’” wrote T.S. Eliot. “Let us go and make
our visit.”
The critical thinking behind those words burrowed into my head
like a deer tick and made me realize that as we wander through life,
there’s no substitute for understanding the subject matter.
Recently a thought connecting classic Corvettes and T.S. Eliot
caromed into my brain, leading to a question: What is a 1953–82
Corvette exactly, and what makes it so special compared to the thousands
of other car models running around the planet over the past 63
years? Let us go and make our visit.
Rapid recognition
Since the first ’53 rolled out of the Flint, MI, factory, Corvettes
have never looked like any other car. Was that a Tempest or LeMans?
Ya got me. Ditto for a Riviera or a Monte Carlo, a Pinto or a Bobcat,
and a ’Cuda or a Challenger. It’s a point of pride to be able to pick
out the subtleties that distinguish the early Corvette model years, and
many do look similar. But there’s no mistaking they’re Corvettes.
Sure, some generations were a bit quiet. But altogether over time,
Corvette wins big points for holding a hammerlock on unique.
Freaking fiberglass
In 1953, fiberglass was avant-garde stuff. Utilized by a few boat
builders and small-volume car manufacturers like Glasspar, this new
composite expanded the complexity of shapes that could be economi-
54 AmericanCarCollector.com
cally formed. Think of the taillight nacelles on a 1953–55 Corvette.
With their tight compound curves, they would be almost impossible
to stamp in body-gauge steel, and too expensive to form by hand or
cast in metal. But in fiberglass? Simple. And so this wonder material
allowed Corvette to take shape, and thereafter gain fame in a way
that steel would have not permitted. On the downside, as time passed,
fiberglass also gained a reputation as a lowbrow material in some
quarters, utilized as it was by kit-car companies.
Not-so-classy chassis
In some ways, the passenger-car steel ladder frame and suspen-
sion that underpinned early Corvettes seemed like a cheap trick.
The heavy-hitter sports car companies like Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari,
Maserati, Shelby and the like used racing-derived tubular steel
frames. And what did Corvette get? A pressed-steel assembly
festooned with welds, gussets and tabs and looking like something to
roll parts around the assembly line, rather than the esteemed product
of that assembly line.
For its time, the early Corvettes’ raucous performance and dy-
namic styling more than overcame their common frame and suspension
designs. Although independent rear suspension added panache
in 1963, the fundamental underpinnings of the Corvette endured for
30 model years. Meanwhile, cars like the Jaguar E-type, Porsche and
even pony cars offered unit-body construction.
However, then and now, a real positive for the C1, C2 and C3
Corvette generations is that they’re as sturdy as trucks. As they
should be, because they were engineered like them. Point earned after
all.
Pushrods R Us
How much do purists love their iron-block Chevy V8s? Tons. As
Page 53
proof, the exotic aluminum DOHC 32-valve LT5 ZR-1 that debuted
for 1990 failed to ring sales bells all that loudly. And so while there’s
nothing particularly exotic about a cast-iron block and heads, a single
camshaft, eight valves, a carburetor and cast-iron manifolds, that
combination just flat worked.
The Chevrolet engineers who extracted ever more power out of
this basic concept were nothing short of miracle workers. Their contributions
— mechanical fuel injection, aluminum heads, advanced
port shapes and cam profiles — kept the engine running ahead of
competitive foreign companies. So while the age-old cast-iron pushrod
Corvette V8 is not exotic, it is highly vaunted.
Two seats only
Despite the fact that John Hiatt’s “Thunderbird” might just be the
best car ballad ever created, from a purity standpoint Ford mismanaged
the flight of the ’Bird. A 2-passenger convertible for three years
only, it then evolved to include rear seating, grew consistently bigger
and fatter, and then ultimately got terminated… only to return as an
amorphous blob. That’s the long way of saying that Corvette’s stewards
aced it by conceiving and then defending the car’s two-seater
status for six decades. By mission, motive or opportunity, Corvette
was never watered down like a cheap whiskey on Bourbon Street.
Props to the chops.
Always be racing
Numerous American car divisions have been involved in racing
over the years, but how many of their models have competed for a
half-century or more? Actually, there are a few, including Corvette,
Mustang and Camaro. But only Corvette has conquered Daytona,
Sebring and Le Mans. Add in ongoing and considerable accomplishments
in amateur racing, and Corvette’s competition pedigree is
secure.
High production, no problem
The Corvette market is a fascinating case study of supply and
demand. On the supply side, some 1.6 million have been built over
63 years, so as a marque they are not in the least bit scarce. And with
over 716,500 cars built from 1953 to ’82, the early solid-axle, midyear
and shark generations are also plentiful (with obvious exceptions
such as the 1953 roadsters and various rare RPOs). The good news
with such ample production is that almost everyone can come to
the party. The bad news is that everyone is already at the party.
Fortunately, it’s a nice, big, festive one.
Lucky in longevity
As suggested above, a car nameplate surviving and thriving for 63
years is an extraordinary achievement — matched in popular music
only by … the Drifters? True!
With seven Corvette generations extant and the C8 now attracting
speculation as to its engine placement — front versus amidships —
the Corvette remains one in a class of one. But is it possible to stay
around too long? Certainly, if you fail to evolve, achieve or impress.
Fortunately, generation by generation, the Corvette has. Despite a
period in the stylistic doldrums, the C7 busted loose in 2014, jumping
back to the forefront of automotive design.
So to the original question — what is a classic Corvette? For me,
it’s the 1953–82 cars. Wolves bred from sheep, they’re a testament to
creative genius operating under the burning klieg lights of control at
the world’s largest corporation. Plastic bodies draped over pedestrian
chassis, parlayed into racing champions and cultural icons though
equal parts vision and design, performance, attitude and determination
— that’s an early Corvette.
Somewhere there was a plan for all this, and somehow, fan-
tastically, it all worked. There are already plenty of books about
Corvettes. Now someone needs to write a good poem.A
September-October 2016 55
Page 54
PROFILE CORVETTE
2009 CHEVROLET CORVETTE ZR1
Depreciating Rocket
Courtesy of Mecum Auctions
This car lost
27% of its
original price
over seven
years while
2005–06
Ford GTs
have doubled
or tripled in
value. Why?
VIN: 1G1YR26R295800799
by John L. Stein
• 638-hp supercharged LS9 engine
• 6-speed transmission, twin-disc clutch
• Selective Magnetic Ride Control
• Aluminum chassis, 3,324-lb curb weight
• Carbon-fiber hood, front fenders, roof panel,
rocker moldings and front splitter
• Brembo four-wheel disc brakes
• Chrome 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels
• Blade Silver with black leather interior
• Bose seven-speaker sound system
• Keyless entry and remote start
• Heated mirrors and seats
• First year for the ZR1 since 1995
• One of 69 Blade Silver 2009 Corvette ZR1s
produced
• 3ZR Premium Equipment Group
• 2,675 miles
ACC Analysis This car, Lot F171, sold for
$82,500, including buyer’s pre-
mium, at Mecum’s Original Spring Classic auction in
Indianapolis, IN, on May 20, 2016.
Z details
In Corvette history, the letter “Z” carries very spe-
cial significance. It started with Zora Arkus-Duntov’s
incalculable influence over Corvette’s performance
mission, carried on with the first Z06 racing package
on the C2 mid-year in 1963, continued in 1969 with
the C3 one-off ZL1 aluminum big block — a true
“unicorn” ’Vette. Then, of course, came the exotic C4
56 AmericanCarCollector.com
56 AmericanCarCollector.com
1990–95 DOHC 32-valve ZR-1, the C4 and C5’s Z51
handling package, and the supercharged 2009–13 ZR1
based on the C6 platform.
Even back in ’09, due to ongoing concerns over
global warming and CAFE standards, some felt that
this 638-horsepower ZR1 would stand as the last
truly monstrous performance car. Of course, that
prediction didn’t play out, as the C7 generation’s Z06
supercharged LT4 engine makes 650 horsepower.
All of this is meant to frame that the ZR1 sold at
Mecum Indy, Lot F171, enjoys a solid position within
the upper echelons of production Corvettes. Just 1,415
ZR1s were built for 2009, along with another 3,269
built for 2010–13 — a total of 4,684. That is 68% of
the 6,922 total C4 ZR-1s built over a year-longer production
run from 1990–95. So loosely figuring, the C6
ZR1 is one-third rarer than the earlier 32-valve model.
Strength in engineering
The 2009 ZR1 was based on the aluminum-framed
C6 Corvette Z06, with an aggressive edge. The body
was festooned with scoops, vents and aero downforce
aids, and the wide carbon-fiber fenders hid huge 19inch
front and 20-inch rear multi-spoke forged wheels
— suitably chromed in this case for added bling. The
piece de resistance was a transparent polycarbonate
window in the carbon-fiber hood that showed off the
unique Eaton-supercharged LS9 engine.
And what an engine it was, belting out the most
power of any production Corvette up until that time.
Performance was a claimed 3.4 seconds to 60 mph —
nearly superbike-level ferocity — and a top speed of
Page 55
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
205 mph. Clearly, it was way more car than anyone
needed for the street, but then “nothing succeeds like
excess,” eh, Mr. Wilde?
Suspension was via GM’s brilliant Selective
Magnetic Ride Control, nicknamed “MR” for its trick
computer-controlled magnetorheological dampers,
which could adjust damping rates from zero to full in
milliseconds; quicker than you can understand road
nuances, the system would interpret and adjust for
them. This gave the ZR1 — and other GM products
with the technology — the track manners of a Le Mans
car and the ride of an Eldorado Biarritz.
Perfect presentation
As evidenced by numerous 2005–06 Ford GT
resales in recent years, the highest earners at auction
are examples with the best color combinations, the
best options, and the lowest mileage. This ZR1 ticked
all three boxes here, with the Blade Silver paint over
black interior making a strong, elegant presentation.
Furthermore, options included the 3ZR package, a
$10,000 addition to the car’s $103,300 base price that
was only available on the ZR1. However, it’s worth mentioning
that since most ZR1s were equipped with the 3ZR
group, a better way to describe the option would be to
say, “If you’re buying a ZR1, make sure it has this.” The
3ZR package has a seven-speaker Bose audio system and
navigation, along with numerous other features.
Perhaps the greatest plus for this ’09 ZR1, though,
was its 2,675 original miles. Scarcely broken in, this
registers the car as still virtually brand new in condition
but it also leaves the room open for some careful
use without hurting value. Once there are a couple
thousand miles on the clock, a few hundred more
won’t hurt, and at least the new owner can get some
enjoyment out of his investment while waiting to see
what the future holds.
638-hp ZR1 or 650-hp Z06
Back to that 2009-era debate about whether the
638-hp ZR1 would be the last unfettered, non-hybrid,
hyper-performance Corvette. Well, it only took the C7
two years to surpass it with the 650-horse 2015 Z06.
If future-generation Corvettes rely on turbocharged
V6s or electric assists to deliver the C6 ZR1 and C7
Z06’s kind of power, this could prove that they were
indeed the last of their breed. But until then, we’re left
with a question: Why has the ZR1 shown here dropped
in value?
This example lost 27% of its original price over
seven years, while Ford GTs, of which over 4,000 were
produced, have doubled or tripled in value. However,
this is not unexpected, as this car sold within the
median and high-sale range as published in the 2016
ACC Pocket Price Guide.
Here are some possible reasons. Primarily, aston-
ishing as it is, the ZR1 is among nearly 200,000 C6
Corvettes built in numerous configurations, whereas
the Ford GT was a standalone product and a terrific
legacy to FoMoCo’s 1966–69 Le Mans triumphs.
Second, with the better part of 5,000 examples built,
the ZR1 is not rare when compared with a ’63 Z06 or a
’67–69 L88. And finally, there’s the C7 Z06 itself — all
650 direct-injected horsepower of it.
While mathematically, the C6 ZR1 has not yet
proven to be a great investment, fortunately, the new
owner of this one can rest easy for two important reasons:
the primary depreciation has already occurred
on someone else’s watch; and the car has all the right
specs and desirably low mileage.
What comes next is up to the crystal ball. But I call
it cloudy with a chance of C7 Z06s. A
(Introductory description courtesy of Mecum
Auctions.)
2010 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
“Serial #00001”
Lot 949.1, VIN:
1G1YN2DTXA5800001
Condition: 2+
Sold at $203,500
Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale,
AZ, 1/15/2012
ACC# 191746
Engine # location: Right-front
cylinder-head deck
Years produced: 2009–13
Number produced: 4,684
Original list price: $103,300
Current ACC Valuation:
Median to date, $76,900;
high sale, $91,800
Tune-up cost: $250
VIN location: Plate at base of
windshield
Web: www.ncrs.org
Alternatives: 1965 Corvette
327/350 L79 coupe, 1996
Corvette Grand Sport
convertible, 2015 Corvette
Stingray coupe
ACC Investment Grade: B
Comps
2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
Hennessey
Lot S95, VIN:
1G1YR26R895800743
Condition: 1Sold
at $86,400
Mecum Auctions, Chicago, IL,
10/10/2014
ACC# 255987
2010 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
Lot S69, VIN:
1G1YM2DT5A5800328
Condition: 1Sold
at $80,560
Mecum Auctions, St. Charles,
IL, 6/22/2012
ACC# 207862
September-October 2016
57CC
57
Page 56
PROFILE GM
Ram Air Rarity
1968 PONTIAC GTO RAM AIR II
Courtesy of Barrett-Jackson
The survivor
total is less
than 25% of
production.
Ram Air
II cars
make GTO
Judges look
positively
common
VIN: 242378P347671
by Patrick Smith
This car still retains its born-with engine, transmission
and rear-axle components.
The car received a no-excuses, frame-off, three-
T
58 AmericanCarCollector.com
year restoration and was completed in 2013. The
car was completely disassembled and stripped to
bare metal by well-known Pontiac restorer Marvin
Minarich. The restoration of this GTO is 100% factory
correct, right down to the T-3 headlamps and originalstyle
Firestone red-stripe tires.
This car was sent to the GTOAA National
Convention in 2013, scoring 652 out of 700 points, and
again in 2014, where it scored 687 out of 700 points,
receiving Concours Gold top honors for the restoration
quality.
ACC Analysis This car, Lot 644, sold for
$132,000, including buyer’s pre-
mium, at Barrett-Jackson’s Northeast 2016 auction in
Uncasville, CT, on June 2016.
When you tell someone your 1968 GTO hard top
cost $132,000, they’ll likely ask if it’s gold-plated.
All the media attention in recent years has been on
Judges and Ram Air IV cars. The casual muscle car
enthusiast knows ’68 GTOs had those cool hideaway
headlamps, vent windows and maybe a Hurst Dual
Gate shifter. GTO won the Motor Trend Car of the
Year Award ostensibly for their Endura bumper and
solid design. But in hindsight it should have been
awarded for the release of the Ram Air II engine.
his 1968 GTO is the ultra-rare and desirable
Ram Air II model from the private collection
of Jim Mattison, founder of Pontiac
Historical Services (PHS). It is one of only
199 4-speed Ram Air II GTOs built in 1968.
Hopping up the GTO
1968 was an important year for GTO. The Ram Air
engine changed considerably in the space of a few
months. It went from being a 1967 carry-over D-port
400 to an all-new, savage animal capable of low
12-second ETs with proper super tuning.
Sporting option code 347, the Ram Air started out
the 1968 year as the hot mill, but on May 15, Pontiac
released a bulletin to their dealers advising them a
new 400 engine was available to replace it. The new
mill used the same 347 option code but was called
Ram Air II.
It packed forged-aluminum pistons with 10.75:1
compression, round-port cylinder heads with
oversized tuliped valves, an aggressive cam, and a distributor
with an advance curve to match. The cam was
Pontiac’s first computer-designed profile, while the
crankshaft, block, heads, harmonic balancer, intake
and carburetor were all special for this engine.
Wolf in sheep’s clothing
Without decals, wings, call-outs or special clues to
identify a Ram Air II, these cars flew under the radar.
Pontiac treated it as a running production change
rather than a new model to be hyped. Ram Air II GTOs
were built from May to July — three months’ worth of
production. Pontiac only made 246 cars: 199 4-speeds
and 47 automatics.
Was it a fast car? It devoured the smaller-cammed
Ram Air III that came later and gave a Ram Air IV a
hard time if it had too many options to weigh it down.
Only a 455 HO or Super Duty could top it.
With all the attention being piled on the mainstream
Ram Air III for 1969 and the revised Ram Air IV,
Page 57
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Detailing
Ram Air II was shuffled deep in the deck and lost.
The only ones who remembered it were the lucky few
owners and those who were burned by its scalding
performance.
The II has always been a Pontiac aficionado’s car.
Most people find it hard to distinguish between the
base engine, 400 HO, the carry-over Ram Air and
the Ram Air II. Press info was scarce on the engine.
To date, only 19 examples — including the subject
car — have been found among Pontiac fanatics. If you
want numbers matching, it falls down to six cars. The
survivor total is less than 25% of production. They
make GTO Judges look positively common.
Rare and valuable
Rarity affects auction values, of course. Very few
cars have been sold with their original engines.
Take a look at the Verdoro Green hard top from the
Thomas Stutzman Collection sold at Barrett-Jackson
in January for $110,000 (Lot 1347). It was restored to
show-standard but did not claim to have the original
numbers-matching engine.
The highest price in the ACC database is $149,600
for a convertible example at Auctions America’s Fall
Auburn venue in 2011 (ACC# 187170). There have
been two recent sales of restorable projects online, but
these were nabbed quickly. Both made the rounds on
forums and blogs when they appeared.
The automatic Ram Air II is much more rare and
should be, in theory, worth the same if not more than
a 4-speed car. But the fact is the market has always
shown a decided preference for stick-shift muscle
where offered, and it will be the same with this model.
No excuses
That brings me to our subject car. It was the recipi-
ent of a no-excuses frame-off complete restoration.
The owner started with a 52,000-mile car that had
been taken off road in 1972 and up to that point had
never left Illinois. The front clip was removed at one
point, which assured no more mileage was added on
over the years. It was verified as an original Ram Air
II prior to restoration and given the white-glove treatment.
It doesn’t get much better than that.
The first half of this year has established the floor
for show-quality NOM and numbers-matching Ram
Air II hard tops. This rarely happens in such a short
amount of time with two similarly equipped cars. But
with these two sales, we can see the outline of pricing
on a typically equipped model, and for a show-quality,
numbers-matching stick-shift car, that pricing is
$120,000 to $140,000 depending on options and paint
color.
So with that, it’s clear to me that the sale price here
was accurate for the top end of the market. It will be
awhile before another one appears with a verifiable
background, a good starting point for renovation and
an equally solid restoration. By then the market will
likely have risen. All things considered, this was fairly
sold and well bought. A
(Introductory description courtesy of Barrett-
Jackson.)
Club: GTO Association of
America
Engine # location: Beneath
passenger’s side cylinder
head between water pump
hoses
Web: www.gtoaa.org
Alternatives: 1969 Chevrolet
Chevelle SS 396 L78,
1969 Ford Mustang 428
CJ, 1969 Plymouth GTX
ACC Investment Grade: B
Comps
Years produced: 1968
Number produced: 246 (199
4-speed, 47 automatic)
Original list price: $3,374
Current ACC Valuation:
Median to date, $25,542;
high sale, $149,600
Tune up/major service: $200
Distributor cap: $12.40
VIN location: Driver’s side
door pillar, partial VIN on
engine and transmission
1968 Pontiac GTO Ram Air II
Lot 1347, VIN:
242378B136340
Condition: 1
Sold at $110,000
Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale,
AZ, 1/25/2016
ACC# 6803760
1969 Pontiac GTO Judge
Ram Air IV convertible
Lot 699, VIN: 242679R167185
Condition: 2+
Sold at $134,200
Barrett-Jackson, Las Vegas,
NV, 9/26/2015
ACC# 270203
1969 Pontiac GTO Judge
Ram Air III
Lot 669, VIN: 242379G127904
Condition: 3Sold
at $55,000
Barrett-Jackson, Palm Beach,
FL, 4/12/2014
ACC# 243202
September-October 2016 59
Page 58
PROFILE FOMOCO
Barn-Find Shelby
1966 SHELBY GT350 “CARRY-OVER”
Courtesy of Bonhams
This car was
clearly set
up to go fast
and be used
hard. It was
not some
pampered
garage queen
reserved for
ice cream
runs
VIN: SFM6S163
by Colin Comer
This 1966 Shelby GT350’s early life was spent with
Worcester, MA, dealer Harr Ford as a racer/demonstrator.
In 1967 Francis “Fran” Grayson visited Harr
to purchase a new high-performance car and opted for
this GT350.
Fran used it extensively both on the road and on the
drag strip until parking it in 1976 in a storage building.
It only recently re-emerged.
Despite being driven in New England conditions,
the Shelby has survived quite well. Some rust has
affected the car, but a sympathetic treatment should
allow some repairs. The Shelby is being offered with
no attempts having been made to recommission the
car in any way.
The Shelby includes its five original Cragar Shelby
mags as well as NOS Ford quarter panels (still in a
factory crate), NOS Ford right front fender, NOS Ford
gas tank and two good used doors.
A one-owner, totally original and unmolested
GT350 is a rare discovery today. This is a very special
opportunity to acquire one of these coveted icons.
ACC Analysis This car, Lot 95, sold at Bonhams’
Greenwich Concours d’Elegance
sale on June 5, 2016, for $159,500, including buyer’s
premium. The pre-sale estimate was $80,000–
$120,000. Such is the mystique of a “barn find” car
— especially a Shelby.
In the world of Shelby Mustangs, the original 1965
GT350 is king. With just 521 “Street” versions made,
they are not only rare but also raucous enough to
make every drive feel like you’re Ken Miles lapping
60 AmericanCarCollector.com
60 AmericanCarCollector.com
Riverside. But in period, not everybody was hip to
that, so for 1966 Shelby made a kinder, gentler version.
These were quieter, softer, cheaper to build, and
yes, even available in colors, and with back seats and
automatic transmissions optional.
Total production for 1966 was 2,367. And the first
252 of those have reached mythical status. Why? They
were built using semi-complete 1965 “knock-down”
Mustangs, just like the 1965 GT350s were. As such,
they have some unique features including 15-inch
wheels, black-painted engines (instead of the newfor-1966
Corporate Blue color), 1965 interiors, and
other 1965 bits mixed in with the new 1966 gauge
cluster, pedestal-mounted tach, full rear-exiting
exhaust, Plexiglas quarter windows and rear-brake
cooling scoops. Just like the 1965s, all were finished in
Wimbledon White.
Myths, truths and value
It didn’t take long for this first batch of 1966s to get
a name. Most call them “Carry-Over” cars. Others
refer to them as “leftovers” or “1965.5” GT350s.
Why? The oft-told story is that this was a group of
1965 GT350s that didn’t get sold and were converted
to 1966s. The truth is far more boring than that.
Ford had a scheduled plant shutdown every July
and August. So if Shelby wanted to hit the streets in
September ’65 with their new 1966 GT350 to coincide
with everybody else’s 1966 model year introductions,
they needed to order up some extra Mustangs in June.
You guessed it. 252 ended up as the number.
Without question, these Carry-Over cars are
Page 59
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Detailing
Year produced: 1966
Number produced: 2,367
(252 “Carry-Over”)
Original list price: $4,428
Current ACC Valuation:
Median to date: $179,900,
high sale, $313,500
Tune-up cost: $500
Distributor cap: $10
Chassis # location: Tag on
left inner fender apron
Club info: Shelby American
Automobile Club
unique. The 1965 chassis with 1966 updates added in
truly created a “1965.5” car. Many think they are the
best of both years, and I wouldn’t disagree. Calling
them a Carry-Over car is correct, but “left-over” or
otherwise trying to insert them into history as “extra”
1965 GT350s isn’t. But no matter what you call
them, in the market, Carry-Over cars have rightfully
established a middle ground between 1965 and 1966
values, with a bump of about 40% over a comparable
“regular” 1966 4-speed GT350.
Unmolested or used?
This brings us to our subject car, SFM6S163.
Bonhams, rather than simply marketing 163 as a
restorable 1966 GT350, created an exceptional buzz
about its “discovery.” Almost every enthusiast outlet
picked up the story, as did the mainstream media. The
story was great — a one-owner Shelby parked for 40
years.
But then there’s the actual car. Advertised as “to-
tally original and unmolested,” it certainly was anything
but, just as you’d expect any car that was raced.
The original aluminum T-10 transmission, shifter and
bellhousing were missing, and in their place were a
cast-iron Top Loader, a blow-proof bellhousing and
a Hurst shifter. The original carburetor, fuel pump,
tach, ignition, exhaust and numerous other items were
also MIA. The battery was relocated to the trunk,
and it appears that the wheelwell lips were rolled for
larger tires. A panhard bar was welded to the rear
axle. This was a car that was clearly set up to go fast
and had been used hard. It was not some pampered
garage queen reserved for ice cream runs.
None of this is a deal killer, in spite of the expense
of putting all this right, given the great history and
paperwork. And, super bonus, shortly before the sale,
SAAC verified that 163 retained its original numbersmatching
engine — internal condition unknown, of
course, because the car hasn’t run since 1976.
Tin-worm troubles
This car was on the road for just 10 years, but in
that time rust was able to do significant damage. 163
is a crusty one, with corrosion on every component
from the roof on down.
To restore it properly, somebody will use all of
that NOS metal and more as the car needs significant
repair or replacement to the floors, trunk floor, doors,
fenders, quarter panels, the hood frame and rear
frame rails — just from a cursory glance. I suspect if
and when it is acid-dipped, there will be a lot of other
areas needing repair. Even if a skilled fabricator saves
as much as possible, there is no way 163 will retain
anywhere near all of its original sheet metal when
completed — which to many is a crucial item. And we
haven’t even talked about numbers yet.
Dollars and sense
To just get 163 running and driving again, assuming
there isn’t any catastrophic failure within the engine,
the original T-10 transmission (street value $15k-plus)
was included and isn’t blown up, and the unibody is
structurally sound enough to support this effort, it
would take a minimum of $35k in the shop. And that is
just to make it functional, with no cosmetic restoration
or cost of getting correct original parts factored in.
To do a full restoration to concours level with
“real” parts? Figure $150k minimum, and probably
closer to $200k in the end, plus a couple of years of
waiting.
If 163 had been found wearing nice original paint,
with all of its original parts, running, driving, and
rust-free with all else being equal, the sales result here
would have been an absolute steal. But given 163’s
condition, if restored, the new owner will have well
over $300k in it before the dust settles. That’s a price
point the best Carry-Over cars have rarely exceeded.
Of course, you can’t put a price on history or emo-
tions. In this case, a handful of bidders clearly loved
the story of this woebegone Shelby, and the result was
it selling extremely well. That said, I can’t fault the
buyer one bit, as regardless of the circumstances, it is
becoming harder to be the second, third or even fourth
owner of a desirable Shelby by the day, and no rust
repair can change the lineage here.
One way or another, rusty and ragged or freshly
restored, I hope to see 163 again… under its own
power, with a grinning owner who made the financial
side of this mission secondary to saving a cool old
GT350 with a great story.A
(Introductory description courtesy of Bonhams.)
1966 Shelby GT350
Lot 503, S/N: SFM6S485
Condition: 2+
Sold at $129,250
Web: www.saac.com
Alternatives: 1957 Ford
Thunderbird F-code,
1963 Chevrolet Corvette
327/360 coupe, 1969
Dodge Charger Daytona
Investment Grade: A
Comps
Engine # location: Right side
of engine block
1966 Shelby GT350
Lot 817, VIN: SFM6S462
Condition: 3+
Not sold at $170,000
ACC# 6800000
Auctions America, Auburn, IN,
5/7/2016
1966 Shelby GT350
Lot 776, S/N: SFM65892
Condition: 1Sold
at $220,000
Barrett-Jackson, Las Vegas,
NV, 9/27/2014
ACC# 256083
Auctions America, Burbank,
CA, 8/3/2013
ACC# 227046
The Shelby Archive, courtesy of Bonhams
September-October 2016
61CC
61
Page 60
PROFILE MOPAR
Sleeper Deal
1966 PLYMOUTH SATELLITE HEMI
Courtesy of Auctions America
The average
collector may
think this
looks like
Grandma’s
car,
especially
next to a
’66 GTO or
Chevelle —
but twist the
key and you
immediately
feel like
Richard
Petty
62 AmericanCarCollector.com
62 AmericanCarCollector.com
VIN: RP23H67250092
by Tom Glatch
• 426-ci 425-hp Hemi V8 engine
• Hurst console shift 4-speed manual transmission
• Frame-off rotisserie restoration in 2013
• Owner states this car is one of 503 with this
engine/transmission combination
• Two 4-barrel carburetors
• Dana 60 rear end with 3:55 gears
• Radio
• Bucket seats
• Spinner hubcaps on steel wheels
• Redline tires
ACC Analysis This car, Lot 763, sold for
$63,000, including buyer’s pre-
mium, at Auctions America’s Auburn Spring Auction
and Swap Meet in Auburn, IN, on May 7, 2016.
“The mild-mannered 1966 Plymouth Satellite rolls
unobtrusively along the secondary road at 55 mph,
quiet serene and comfortable, with no more than
a suggestion of engine sound. A straight stretch is
encountered. The driver’s right foot is thrust abruptly
to the floor. Just six roaring, full-thrust seconds elapse
before 90 mph is reached. The Satellite accomplishes
this without resorting to a cloakroom quick-change, a
skin-tight red-and-blue leotard and the shouts of awed
onlookers.”
Car Life magazine had just driven the first street
Hemi — and it was one of those life-changing encounters.
And yes, this is one of those rare Clark Kent/
Superman automobiles.
Power in a plain box
The Hemi Satellite doesn’t look the part of a super-
hero. It doesn’t drive in regular traffic like a NASCAR
racer, or attract attention with fake scoops and gaudy
stripes. But when called upon, the Street Hemi does
things in a heroic way — 0–60 mph in 7.1 seconds and
1,320 feet in 14.5 seconds at 95 mph. Just remember,
Car Life conservatively tested on circa-1966 bias-ply
tires, with a driver and passenger onboard, heavy test
equipment, and street-friendly 3.23:1 gears. Car and
Driver recorded 0–60 in 5.3 seconds. Dyno tests have
shown a bone-stock 426 Street Hemi could produce
433 horses. Those are serious heroics.
Equally amazing was the drivability of the Street
Hemi. Remember, when Chrysler unleashed the 426
Hemi in 1964, the only intent was racing domination.
In their first race, Plymouths and Dodges finished
the Daytona 500 1-2-3-5. Similar results occurred
on the USAC stock-car circuit, and at the 1965
NHRA Winternationals, where all 11 cars in Top
Page 61
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
Stock Eliminator were Hemi powered. If it wasn’t for
NASCAR banning the Hemi in 1965, and allowing
the engine back in ’66 under the condition of having
availability on the street, the A102 Street Hemi project
would not have happened. You can thank NASCAR’s
founder, Bill France, that it did.
Tame the beast
Making the Hemi a fairly docile city dweller
involved slightly different cylinder heads with 10.25:1
compression (12.5:1 on the race version) and mounting
pads for the various accessories a street car has. Twin
Carter AFB 4-barrel carbs and a different intake
manifold were added, while a milder cam along with
cast-iron exhaust manifolds rounded out the changes.
That was about all it took to turn Superman into Clark
Kent. Even the giant 2.25-inch intake valves remained.
There was a tradeoff — the solid lifters needed
constant adjustment, and the twin-carb setup was often
difficult to properly tune. But when done right, the
Street Hemi was practically insurmountable, at least
until the A12 440 6-Barrel Road Runner (and Coronet
Super Bee) came along in 1969 (see ACC #8 and #20).
Big engine, big money
It’s the racing heritage of the Hemi that helps drive
its price up today. Get into a ’66 Satellite (or the more
stripped-down Belvedere II) and twist the key, and you
immediately feel like Richard Petty, or NHRA record
setter Shirley “Drag-On Lady” Shahan.
Rarity is also a factor, since Chrysler built just
10,904 street Hemis from 1966 to 1971. But 1,521 Hemi
Plymouths were ordered in 1966: 817 Satellite, 677
Belvedere II, 27 Satellite convertible. In fact, more 426
Hemi cars were built in 1966 than in any other year of
the second-generation Hemi’s existence.
Then there is the taxi-like styling of the 1966–67
Satellites. I once owned a ’67 Satellite 383 convertible,
so to me this car is a thing of beauty; to the average
collector it looks a bit too much like Grandma’s car,
especially next to a ’66 GTO or Chevelle. Some people
love the unassuming Clark Kent factor, but most prefer
the sleek look of the ’68 to ’70 Hemi Road Runner
and GTX, or the unique ’70–71 E-body Hemi ’Cuda.
There’s a reason why a 1971 Hemi ’Cuda convertible
is worth seven figures today — they are incredibly
sexy, and just seven were built. But that supply-anddemand
also makes this Satellite an absolute bargain.
We’ve seen ’66 Hemi Satellite and Belvedere II hard
tops sell for as much as $151,200 (ACC# 36960), although
$77k is the current ACC median price. Mecum
tried selling this car in 2013 (ACC# 224062), when bidding
reached $60k but did not meet reserve. Interest
in this particular Satellite hasn’t exactly skyrocketed
since then.
The ’66 Hemi Belvederes and Satellites are truly af-
fordable, but a $63,000 sale? Compared to the market
median, someone just walked away with a legendary
426 Hemi at a bargain price. I’d call this one very well
bought.A
(Introductory description courtesy of Auctions
America.)
Club: WPC Club Inc.
More: www.chryslerclub.org
Alternatives: 1966 Pontiac
GTO, 1966 Chevrolet
Chevelle SS 396, 1966
Ford Fairlane GT
ACC Investment Grade: B
Comps
Engine # location: Pad on
the right side of the block
to the rear of the engine
mount
Years produced: 1966–67
Number produced: 817
Original list price: $4,360
Current ACC Valuation:
Median to date, $77,000;
high sale, $124,200
Tune-up/major service: $300
Distributor cap: $11.95
VIN location: Plate on the
driver’s door post
1966 Plymouth Satellite
Hemi
Lot S277, VIN:
RP23H67214780
Condition: 3
Sold at $50,350
Mecum Auctions, Indianapolis,
IN, 5/15/2012
ACC# 201905
1966 Plymouth Satellite
Hemi
Lot 2478, VIN:
RP23H67308894
Condition 2
Sold at $77,000
Leake Auctions, Oklahoma
City, OK, 2/17/2012
ACC# 196859
1966 Plymouth Satellite
Hemi
Lot 5148, VIN: N/A
Condition: 2
Sold at $53,900
Auctions America by RM,
Auburn, IN, 9/1/2011
ACC# 185996
September-October 2016
May-June 2016 63
Page 62
PROFILE HOT ROD & CUSTOM
1960 MERCURY COLONY PARK “THE LIZARD KING”
Where’s the Green for “The Lizard”?
Courtesy of Barrett-Jackson
Boyd-built
“Boydster”
roadsters
and other
customs
have crossed
the auction
block, but
they have
not achieved
truly record
results — at
least not yet
64
AmericanCarCollector.com
VIN: 0J57M512567
by Ken Gross
• 533-ci big-block Ford V8, (estimated) 450 hp,
modified for E85 fuel
• FAST ECU fuel injection, Edelbrock intake
manifold
• Ford C6 3-speed automatic transmission, disc
brakes
B
• Air Ride Technologies 4-link suspension
• Built by Boyd Coddington and Hot Rods by Boyd
• Featured on “American Hot Rod” TV Series
oyd Coddington teamed up with the SoBe
(South Beach) beverage company to design
and build the first-ever E85-powered hot
rod. The project started out as a rather
clean, stock 1960 Mercury woodie wagon,
now known as “The Lizard King.” It was revealed
as part of the ESA East Coast Scholastic Surfing
Championships presented by FEW-New Zealand at
Bethune Park in New Smyrna Beach, FL. The project
aired on later episodes of “American Hot Rod” on
TLC.
Hot rod designer Todd Emmens combined a
surfing-inspired concept, with the Boyd look to give it
a hot-rod touch. Channel Island Surfboards founder Al
Merrick was a contributor.
ACC Analysis This car, Lot 630, sold for
mium, at Barrett-Jackson’s Inaugural Northeast
$90,200, including buyer’s pre-
Auction in Uncasville, CT, on June 23–25, 2016.
Big station wagons are making a comeback in the
custom-car and cruiser scene. Once the province of
suburban families, and memorialized in period-perfect
films such as “The Stepford Wives,” with dutiful
spouses awaiting their besotted husbands, pouring
into Westport in NY Central Club Cars from Grand
Page 63
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Central Station, these heavy haulers are prime fodder
for classy tow vehicles and much more. With a few
tasteful modifications, Di-Noc-trimmed old “woodie”
wagons are the perfect way to transport the entire
family to a Friday night cruise-in.
It’s easy to customize one of these “Wurlitzers
on Wheels.” Start with a big-block domestic 4-door
wagon (many of them were hard tops), don’t remove
any of the lavish trim, slam it with cut coils and flattened
springs or air suspension, add trick wheels with
blackwalls or wide whites, consider a set of Bellflower
Tips or lake pipes, trim the interior to the nines with a
tuck-and-roll leather fantasy and you’ve nailed it.
It’s not easy being green
When the SoBe Beverage Company of South Florida
wanted a primo promotional vehicle, they turned to
Boyd Coddington. Who better than the late “Wizard
of Whittier, CA” to customize a behemoth like this?
No stranger to big iron, “Hot Rods by Boyd” did the
landmark CadZZilla Cadillac coupe for Billy Gibbons
(designed by Larry Erickson), the CheZoom ’57 Chevy
hard top for “Mr. Gasket” Joe Hrudka, the luscious
red “Boyd Air” ’57 Chevy convertible (by Chip
Foose) for the Hot Rod Power Tour, and even more to
the point, a slammed ’50 Packard woodie for Larry
Donnellson.
Blessed with a talented crew and some of the best
designers in the business, not to mention off-and-on
coordination with another twisted genius, “Lil
John” Buttera, Boyd Coddington pioneered a clean,
minimalist look for rods and customs that took the
restyling genre by storm beginning in the 1970s.
In addition to many magazine cover cars, a full line
of ever-evolving, sexy and affordable billet aluminum
Boyd Wheels and other accessories, Boyd’s high-profile
hot rods — he won the Grand National Roadster
Show’s AMBR award seven times — attracted the
attention of Wall Street. The rapid-rising California
car-building company went public, only to eventually
crash and burn. Boyd’s untimely death in 2008 from
complications from surgery (he was a longtime diabetic)
ended his shop’s show-stopping creations.
Bargain billet by Boyd
From its gleaming Di-Noc-trimmed exterior to the
luscious interior, complete with console, and custom
Boyd steering wheel, this green goddess is as finely
finished as a Detroit concept car.
There are no external mirrors, making it even
cleaner looking. Lowered tastefully, subtly shaved and
oh-so-sleek, with custom five-spoke Boyd billet wheels
and a powerful engine transplant with green-hued
valve covers, this Merc must have thrilled the SoBe
marketing team that paid big money for it.
Over the past few years, Boyd-built “Boydster”
roadsters and other customs have crossed the auction
block, but they have not achieved truly record results
— at least not yet.
Roy Brizio, who builds exquisite coupes and
roadsters in South San Francisco, like many of his
fellow rodders, liked and respected Boyd. Brizio
says he thinks “not enough time has passed yet” for
Boyd-built iron to reach crazy prices. Indeed, the
more well-known creations to come out of Boyd’s
shop have brought higher prices than seen here in
the not-too-distant past, including CheZoom, which
sold for $379,500 out of the Ron Pratte Collection
at Barrett-Jackson’s 2015 Scottsdale event (ACC#
256704). I expect we’ll see prices on cars like that
grow in the future, and take the values of cars like this
lesser-known Boyd work up with them.
Not much green for a big green car
You couldn’t build this woodie for $90k, and that
doesn’t even count the Boyd imprimatur, or the fact
that it was featured on “American Hot Rod,” or that it
was likely the first show car of its type to run on E85
fuel.
A perfect stocker would be $35k to $40k. So I’d
call it a stone bargain, and I predict we’ll see a day
when the best Boyd-built customs set pricing records.
Meanwhile, the lucky new owner of this Colony Park
cruiser can simply have fun with it. A
(Introductory description courtesy of Barrett-
Jackson.)
1929 Ford Custom
“Alumatub”
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air
“CheZoom”
Lot 2514, VIN: VC57S329
Condition: 1
Sold at $379,500
Detailing
Year produced: 1960, 2007
Number produced: Mercury
built 7,411 Colony Park
Wagons. This one is
unique.
Original MSRP: $3,837 in
1960, build cost unknown
Current ACC Valuation:
$90,200 (As this car
is unique, sale price is
median price)
Tune-up, major service:
$500 (estimated)
Engine # location: Casting
number on side of block
Clubs: Goodguys, National
Street Rod Association
(NSRA)
VIN location: On data plate
riveted to firewall
Web: www.good-guys.com,
www.nsra.com
Alternatives: Any Boyd-built
car from the 1980s through
2008, including the 1963
Dodge Polara “Max Hemi,”
“Alumatub,” and Ron
Pratte’s 1954 Chevrolet
Corvette
ACC Investment Grade: C
Comps
Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale,
AZ, 1/10/2015
ACC# 256704
Lot 2516, VIN: 29A00037
Condition: 1Sold
at $187,000
Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale,
AZ, 1/10/2015
ACC# 256758
1956 Ford Ranch Wagon
Custom
Lot 186, VIN: A6RR150907
Condition: 2+
Sold at $57,750
RM Auctions, Farmers
Branch, TX, 11/15/2014
ACC# 256269
September-October 2016 65
Page 64
PROFILE AMERICANA
1932 LINCOLN KB JUDKINS COUPE
Rare and Classy Coupe
It is
uncertain
how many
were built
in 1932. One
source states
six, another
23, and yet
another less
than 30
VIN: KB1635
by Carl Bomstead
This car wears a custom body by Judkins — a firm
that was founded in 1857 as a small carriage builder.
Judkins furnished custom bodies for numerous car
builders of distinction, but Lincoln was their primary
client. Between 1921 and 1939, Judkins produced
5,904 bodies with 2,212 being offered on the 2-passenger
coupe.
T
66 AmericanCarCollector.com
66 AmericanCarCollector.com
The exact number of Judkins-bodied coupes
produced in 1932 is unknown but is thought to be less
than 30. The example offered here is believed to be the
only example with a rear-mounted spare. This design
presents a smooth-flowing fender line that enhances the
length of the car while expressing its elegance.
ACC Analysis This car, Lot 126, sold for
$198,000, including buyer’s pre-
mium, at The Finest Automobile Auctions’ sale on
June 11, 2016, in Hershey, PA.
If you wish to start a spirited discussion, simply
mention to a Cadillac guy that Henry Leland left
his 1932 Lincoln KB Judkins coupe has benefited
from a 15-year restoration completed
in 2009. Authenticity was emphasized, and a
recent inspection by a noted marque expert
confirmed its correctness.
Cadillac to form Lincoln so he could build a better
car.
Well, the statement does have a thread of truth.
Henry Leland was one of the co-founders of Cadillac,
which was started in 1902 at the site of the failed
Henry Ford Company. He managed the company,
along with his son Wilfred, after it was acquired
by General Motors in 1908. Both resigned in 1917
after an argument with Billy Durant and founded the
Lincoln Motor Company. Leland named the company
after his favorite president and quickly got to producing
Liberty engines, as he’d already received a $10
million advance from the federal government to do so.
From war to luxury
As the war ended and the government canceled their
irrevocable contract, Leland found himself looking
at an empty factory, 6,000 employees and mounting
debt due to IRS liens. He turned to what he knew best:
manufacturing luxury automobiles.
The first Lincoln was completed in September 1920.
The car was brilliantly engineered but had a lackluster
and outdated design. Because of Leland’s tending
to the most minor of details, the cars were late to
market, and after 17 months, just 3,400 had been sold.
Due to a struggling economy and additional tax
Courtesy of The Finest Automobile Auctions
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Detailing
Years produced: 1932–34
Number produced: Fewer
than 30
Original list price: $5,100
Current ACC Valuation:
Median to date, $147,125;
high sale, $198,000
Tune up-cost: $350
Distributor cap: $125
Engine/chassis # location:
Left side of crankcase
below first cylinder
Club: Horseless Carriage
Foundation
liens, the company was placed in receivership on
November 8, 1921. In February of the following year,
the Ford Motor Company purchased Lincoln from the
receiver for $8 million: the amount of their liabilities.
Henry Ford promised Leland continued control of the
company but quickly began demolishing his executive
office, and on June 22, 1922, demanded the Lelands’
resignations. By one account, Henry Leland was carried
out to the street in his office chair.
Ford’s custom-bodied era
Edsel Ford, Henry’s “forgotten son” was installed
as the new president. The senior Ford paid little
attention to Lincoln, and Edsel was able to continue
the Lelands’ exceptional engineering while acquiring
designs from the leading coachbuilders of the era.
The first Ford-engineered Lincoln, the Model
K — so named simply because that’s what Edsel
decided — appeared in 1931. Cadillac had stunned the
automotive world a year earlier when they introduced
the V16, quickly followed by the V12. At least seven
marques responded with V12 offerings, including
Lincoln.
Lincoln’s V12 was the KB, which was rated at 150
horsepower and rode on a 145-inch wheelbase. Edsel
Ford encouraged coachbuilders to work their magic,
and splendid custom and “catalog-custom” offerings
followed from Brunn, Waterhouse, Dietrich, Judkins
and others.
The J.B. Judkins Company was the most prolific
designer and featured sharper lines and a fabriccovered
roof. The cars were priced at $5,100 when
fitted with a trunk and $5,350 with a rumbleseat. It is
uncertain how many were built in 1932. One source
states six, another 23, and yet another less than 30.
Unique subject
The 1932 Lincoln KB Judkins coupe sold by The
Finest is unique in that it is the only one known with
a rear-mounted spare rather than sidemounts. It is
also unique in that it was featured in an episode of
Wayne Carini’s highly rated “Chasing Classic Cars,”
which aired in June of this year. The show documented
Carini locating the car in a collection in Illinois and
sending it to his shop in Connecticut, where his team
returned it to good running order and repainted the
fenders and moldings black.
Carini presented the Lincoln at Bonhams’
Scottsdale 2016 auction, but it failed to sell when the
final bid of $180,000 did not meet his expectations.
This attractive Lincoln was again offered at The
Finest Automobile Auctions six months later and sold
for a very similar amount when the fees are factored
in.
A couple of factors were at play here: Dealers need
to move their inventory, and closed Lincolns are a
tough sell. Few have sold for north of $200,000, so
while Carini may have done a bit better the third
time around, the car would have been “shop worn”
and overexposed to the market if it did not sell. So,
considering that, I think he made the prudent decision
here, and the new owner has a very desirable one-off
Lincoln acquired at a fair price. Well bought and sold.
(Introductory description courtesy of The Finest
Automobile Auctions.)
A
1932 Lincoln Model KB
Judkins coupe
Lot 143, VIN: KB473
Condition: 2+
Sold at $154,000
Web: www.hcfi.org
Alternatives: 1932 Packard
Twin-Six, 1932 Cadillac
320B V12, 1932 Stutz
DV-32
ACC investment Grade: B
Comps
1932 Lincoln Model KB
Judkins coupe
Lot 174, VIN: KB1644
Condition: 2
Sold at $198,000
RM Sotheby’s, Amelia Island,
FL, 3/14/2015
ACC# 264371
RM Auctions, Plymouth, MI,
7/28/2012
ACC# 209060
1932 Lincoln Model KB
Waterhouse coupe
Lot 16, VIN: KB9
Condition: 1
Sold at $203,500
Gooding & Co., Pebble Beach,
CA, 8/18/2007
ACC# 46548
September-October 2016
July-August 2016 67
67CC
Page 66
PROFILE RACE
1942 WILLYS AMERICAR GASSER
Nose-High Monster Buy
Courtesy of Mecum Auctions
I won’t deny
that $60,000
is a lot of
money to
spend on a
nightmarish,
OG hooligan
machine
that can’t be
trusted, but
it really feels
like a deal
68
AmericanCarCollector.com
VIN: 4289098
ACC Analysis This car, Lot F139, sold for
by Jay Harden
• Ford 427 SOHC side-oiler engine #G5AE6059B
• Engine purchased through Jim Aikey Ford in Des
Plaines, IL, by Richard Wolter for $3,200 in 1968
• Engine invoice specifies the 427 Cammer was
intended for a drag-racing Willys
• Accompanied with a very rare 427 SOHC engine
service manual that demonstrates how to properly
tune the engine for competition
• Steel body with fiberglass tilt front end
• Straight front axle with shock absorbers
• Roll cage, safety harness
• Two 4-barrel carburetors
• Floor-shifted automatic transmission
• Black seat upholstery
• Woodgrain dash and door panels
• Switches for water pumps, oil pump and
distributor
• Tach and auxiliary gauges
• Moon tank and battery in the trunk
• Open stainless-steel headers
• Chrome five-spoke wheels with BF Goodrich
Silvertown tires in front
• Steel wheels with slicks in back
$66,000, including buyer’s pre-
mium, at Mecum’s 29th Original Spring Classic sale in
Indianapolis, IN, on May 17–21.
This 1942 Willys Gasser may be the perfect embodi-
ment of what separates hot-rodders and drag racers
from everyone else. Appropriately enough, this beauty
is even wearing the same facial expression most
people will have when you tell them it was damn near
stolen at sixty large. Try it. Tell me their mouths don’t
go all slack-jawed as they try to determine whether or
not you’re crazy.
Just look at this thing. It is likely horrendously
loud, terrifying to drive, and an absolute bear to
keep tuned properly. But if you’re anything like me,
you’re running through a mental checklist of personal
possessions you’d be willing to liquidate to make this
monster your own.
Analog overkill
I find it difficult to look at this car without equal
parts admiration and astonishment — the former for
the purposefulness and simplicity of a time long past,
and the latter for the sobering recognition of how
absolutely bananas this car really is.
There probably weren’t many men or women who
Page 67
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could’ve raced this car safely back in the
late ’60s. I can absolutely guarantee there
are even fewer today. With big power, evil
handling and odd ergonomics, this is not a
car for rookies or Cars & Coffee burnout
wannabes. Do not tap the glass. Do not
feed the animal.
There is a lot of ink and digital blogo-
sphere space dedicated to the modern
muscle and supercars of today’s renaissance
of automotive performance. But if
I’m completely honest about it, none of
that is really all that exciting to me. Maybe
I’m growing jaded with age, or maybe I’m
just sick of everyone and everything telling
me what I can or should do — or guessing
what I intend to do. I don’t want my car to
read my emails to me. I don’t want my car
to politely remind me that I’m backing up.
Maybe that’s why I love this Willys so much.
This car will kill you if you check your email while
driving it. This car barks like a junkyard Rottweiler
at everyone within three square blocks when you’re
backing up. If ever there were a vehicle capable of
reducing a man and his ego to a smoldering pile of
rubble, this bad-boy would be damn near the top of
the list.
Chasing the speed monster
How nuts is this thing? Just look at that brake-to-
throttle-to-shifter configuration. And that steering
column. Who thought that was a good idea? I’ll tell
ya who — a mad man who made a deal with the Devil,
sucker-punched him, and then took his lunch money
for taking too long to forge the document. I imagine
the original build plan looked a little something like
this:
1. Locate throttle pedal where only acceptably
comfortable position results in immediate wide-open
condition — check.
2. Position steering column at sufficiently steep
angle as to initiate instant self-preservation instinct
upon engagement — check.
3. Consume all remaining available floor space with
brake pedal — check.
Functional, yes. But would you really want to let
that Cammer loose while pawing at that wheel to keep
the short-wheelbase chassis out of the wall? How
about while simultaneously working the brake with
your left foot and the gas with your right?
None of these items are out of the ordinary for a
legit gasser from the era. It took equal parts engineer-
Detailing
Year produced: 1942
Number produced: 3,829 (all
1942 Willys)
Original list price: $737
Current ACC Valuation:
Median to date, $62,700;
high sale, $121,500
Tune-up/major service: $500
(estimated)
ing, driving skill and fearlessness to win in those days,
and while a car like this may be too hairy for a lot of
us today, you can’t deny its cool factor.
Right money for the right stuff
I won’t deny that $60,000 is a lot of money to spend
on a nightmarish, OG hooligan machine that can’t be
trusted farther than you can throw it, but it really feels
like a deal. There’s very little in the way of industryaccepted
pricing for items like this, but there’s plenty
here to justify the expense.
First off, an original steel Willys body is easily one
of the top five most iconic body styles in the history
of hot rods and street rodding. In fact, it’s one of the
few bodies that collectors and enthusiasts have been
so smitten with that they’re readily willing to accept
fiberglass imitations as suitable replacements. With
two-thirds of the original body intact and in solid
condition and a mostly complete interior to boot, this
old girl has a leg up on 95% of the Willys I’ve seen in
the past couple of decades.
Second off, we haven’t even begun to talk about that
Cammer. I’ve been doing my best to avoid waxing poetic
about that giant lump of mechanical aphrodisiac
for fear I won’t be able to stop once I start. The 427
SOHCs are super rare, often outrageously expensive,
and are almost universally viewed as top-shelf collectibles.
I’ve heard rumors of complete, stand-alone
engines selling for more than the price paid here, so
our buyer is likely in good shape even if the rest of the
car is nothing more than a glorified engine stand.
The downside to this ride, if there is one, is that
there simply is very little in the way of authenticated
history in the sale literature. I’d love to assume that
this car is a very original snapshot of one of the most
influential periods in American automotive history
— and it certainly looks the part — but we just can’t
know for sure based on the information we’ve been
given.
For some, that’s a deal breaker. In this case — and
at this price — I think lack of pedigree is easily
compensated for by the authenticity of the presentation.
This car has the right body and the right engine
to take us back to that time when short-wheelbase
monsters roamed the Earth, and that is a feat worth
celebrating. Well bought. A
(Introductory description courtesy of Mecum
Auctions.)
September-October 2016 69
1941 Willys Custom
Lot 176, VIN: 44112372
Condition: 3+
Sold at $66,000
RM Auctions, Farmers Branch,
TX, 11/15/2014
ACC# 256093
Web: www.good-guys.com,
www.nsra.com
Alternatives: Any period-built
gasser, front-engine dragster
or altered-wheelbase
Funny Car with legitimate
history and/or legitimate
period speed parts
Engine # location: Casting
number on right-hand side
of block
ACC Investment Grade: B
Comps
Distributor cap: $20
VIN location: Frame front
crossmember, right side of
cowl under hood
1966 Ford Fairlane XL
Gasser
Lot 4056, VIN: 6K47C182142
Condition: 3
Sold at $28,600
Auctions America, Auburn, IN,
8/30/2014
ACC# 245250
1966 Mercury Comet
Funny Car
Lot 1306, VIN: N/A
Condition: 2+
Sold at $176,000
Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale,
AZ, 1/18/10
ACC# 155047
Page 68
PROFILE TRUCK
1949 DODGE B-1-B-108 ½-TON PICKUP
Picking Up Clout in the Market
While
Dodges
and the
independents
have
traditionally
lagged
in value
compared
to brands C
and F, today
everyone else
is moving
up the food
chain at a
higher rate
70 AmericanCarCollector.com
70 AmericanCarCollector.com
VIN: 9234880
by B. Mitchell Carlson
brakes, oak bed stained black, rare dual horns, original
air and oil filters, and a vintage oil bath. It has all-new
brakes, bearings in rear end, new glass and seals.
T
ACC Analysis This truck, Lot 599.2, sold for
mium, at Barrett-Jackson’s Northeast auction at
Uncasville, CT, on June 23–25, 2016.
Piloting a new era for Dodge
Dodge’s new post-war trucks were introduced in
December 1947. Updates included a revised loca$28,050,
including buyer’s pre-
his truck has only 37 miles since a complete
restoration. It features a rebuilt flathead
6-cylinder engine and 4-speed manual
freshly synchronized transmission with a
new clutch. It also has upgraded front-disc
tion of the front axle, which was farther back. The
engine was moved farther forward on the chassis as
well, which, when combined with all-new steering
geometry, resulted in the most nimble of America’s
immediate post-war trucks. On top of this was all-new
sheet metal and a new cab.
There were two variations of the cab in three
trim levels. The standard cab was taller than its
predecessor, with a larger glass area. It had dualvacuum
motor windshield wipers at the bottom of the
windshield, a cowl ventilator and a sun visor on the
driver’s side only. The Deluxe cab added door-vent
windows and rear-quarter windows, while the Custom
cab further added dual sun visors, a driver’s door
armrest, and foam-rubber seat padding.
That greater window area gave this generation of
Dodge trucks the nickname “Pilot House,” which was
used extensively by Dodge to market the new cab’s
greater visibility.
Courtesy of Barrett-Jackson
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A custom Custom
Our featured truck is a Custom Cab and then some.
It was trimmed out inside with changes that include
armrests on both doors, vinyl-covered door panels
(over the stock dyed cardboard), floor carpeting, and a
seat reupholstered in a non-stock vinyl pattern.
A Signal-Stat turn-signal control quadrant clamped
to the left of the steering column was likely added
as a Day Two modification (Day One in states that
pioneered the requirement of turn signals by 1948).
Other concessions to the 21st century include a 12-volt
electrical system and front-disc brake conversion.
This is like a lot of trucks on the market today. For
most, it’s more accurate to substitute “refurbished”
for “restoration,” as a lot more has been changed and
upgraded than returned to as it was when originally
manufactured. I’d also like to know how you “freshly
synchronize” a 4-speed transmission with straight-cut
gears — barring a different transmission.
It was repainted a not-entirely-stock yellow, as the
only yellow available beyond special-order fleet paint
was school-bus-like Armor Yellow. Pickups from the
Pilot House era also came standard from the factory
with black cargo boxes with black rear fenders.
Getting them painted to match the cab was an extracost
option, but the majority of production used black
pickup boxes. The front bumper was correctly painted,
as chrome bumpers were an extra-cost option across
the board.
The beauty of this truck is that, barring the repaint,
there’s nothing here that would stop you from taking
it back to bone stock. Even the most involved changes
are essentially bolt-ons. This gives the new owner the
option of just driving the truck as is, and when it’s
time for major maintenance or to redo it, it’s an easy
restoration.
Which part do I need?
One thing new owners of trucks like this tend to
overlook is parts supply and maintenance.
That disc-conversion kit from the mid-1980s may
be based on a vehicle that has even less parts support
than your old Dodge. Front-disc brakes on a
truck that originally had a one-inch-diameter master
cylinder for all four corners sounds like a godsend
until 30k miles down the road when it needs pads. Or
it needs front wheel bearings. Good luck figuring out
where those parts came from.
As the voice of experience here, while the original
part may sometimes be difficult to locate, more often
than not it’s still available. And more readily than
you’d have guessed.
Piloting a Pilot House
Pilot House Dodges are among the best trucks of
this era for today’s new vintage-truck enthusiast. They
steer better than their period peers, and one could
make the argument that they handle better than the
rest, too.
The standard 3-speed (a floor-shift, until the column
shift B-2-B of 1950) has syncros in second and third,
so it’s a breeze for anyone who knows what to do
with three pedals on the floor. Even the heavier-duty
4-speed in our featured truck is not too difficult to
master, despite the double-clutching required due to
the straight-cut gears.
Therein lies a certain amount of the appeal in
trucks of this era: They are a pure driving experience.
You can’t yak on the cell phone when driving one.
You need to be focused on the task of operating the
vehicle. You are mastering a vehicle that the majority
of license holders now can’t drive, let alone figure out
how to start.
Each time I do the secret handshake of pulling
the choke and kicking the starter in one of these, I’m
rewarded with the direct road feel, the now-unique
chorus of the straight-cut gear whine, and the light
burble of a flathead six that won’t beat anybody off
the line (except for longevity). These are vehicles built
to savor the Blue Roads. Put a small-block V8 with
an automatic transmission in one and you lose those
tactile feelings. Might as well buy a Chevy SSR and
save a lot of trouble.
The going rate for going slow
The selling price of our featured truck is in the
realm of today’s market reality. It probably cost at
least this to build the truck, and refreshed generally
stock pickups from the post-war era are now firmly in
the $20k to $30k region anyway. Even rough originals
and poorly modified underlyers are rising in price.
While Dodges and the independents have tradition-
ally lagged in value compared to brands C and F,
today everyone else is moving up the food chain at a
higher rate. You can make the argument either way
that there are plenty of Fords
and Chevys out there to keep
their market in check — even
approaching seven decades after
they were built — or that all the
other makers are finally getting
their due respect and now folks
who otherwise weren’t traditional
“old truck guys” are buying
them. These new buyers aren’t
as Bowtie- or Blue Oval-biased,
so they are willing to consider
a Dodge, International or
Studebaker on its own merits, and
greater numbers are doing that.
As such, call this market-
correct, if not well bought if the
courtesy of Barrett-Jackson.)
September-October 2016 71
May-June 2016
71CC
owner is in it for the long term.A
(Introductory description
Detailing
Years produced: 1948–53
Number produced: 299,900
(all B-1 production,
1948–49)
Engine # location: Stamped
on a boss on the driver’s
side front of the engine
block, just below the
cylinder head
Current ACC Valuation:
Median to date, $14,605;
high sale, $45,000
Tune-up cost: $150
Distributor cap: $12
VIN location: Tag attached to
the driver’s door frame or
stamped on the side of the
frame aft of the left front
spring hanger
Clubs: Dodge Pilothouse Era
Club of America, American
Truck Historical Society
Web: www.dodgepilothouseclub.org,
www.aths.org
Alternatives: 1950–53
International L-110 pickup,
1949–53 Studebaker 2R-5
pickup, 1946–62 Willys
Jeep pickup
ACC Investment Grade: B
Comps
1949 Dodge B-1-B-108
pickup
Lot 232, VIN: 9236644
Condition: 2Sold
at $14,630
Branson, Branson, MO,
4/15/2016
ACC# 6799511
1950 Dodge B-2-C pickup
Lot 68, VIN: 83358868
Condition: 3
Sold at $11,070
Silver Auctions, Fort McDowell,
AZ, 1/19/2013
ACC# 215050
1949 Dodge B-1-B-108
pickup
Lot 284, VIN: 82141956
Condition: 3
Sold at $8,138
ACC# 39895
McCormick’s, Palm Springs,
CA, 11/19/2005
Page 72
MARKET OVERVIEW
Following the Money in Sales from
the Midwest to the West Coast
IF A RISING TIDE LIFTS ALL BOATS, WHAT DOES IT DO FOR TRUCKS?
by Chad Tyson
TOP 10
sales this issue
1. 1965 Shelby Cobra 427
roadster, $1,210,000—
Mecum, IN, p. 80
2. 1964 Shelby Cobra 289
roadster, $1,100,000—
Mecum, IN, p. 80
3. 1965 Shelby GT350 fastback,
$550,000—Mecum,
IN, p. 80
4. 1965 Shelby GT350 fastback,
$335,500—Mecum,
Or, p. 104
5. 1970 Plymouth hemi ’Cuda
2-dr hard top, $209,000—
Mecum, Or, p. 106
6. 1967 Chevrolet Corvette
convertible, $176,000—
Mecum, Or, p. 102
7. 1968 Chevrolet Nova SS
427 COPO 2-dr hard top,
$159,500—Mecum, Or,
p. 100
8. 1968 Ford Mustang
Lightweight fastback,
$154,000—Mecum, IN,
p. 82
9. 2015 Shelby GT350 50th
Anniversary coupe,
$148,500—Mecum, IN,
p. 82
10. 1962 Chevrolet Bel Air Z11
2-dr hard top, $121,000—
Mecum, Or, p. 98
BEST BUYS
1955 Chevrolet Cameo pickup,
$22,275—Lucky, WA, p. 110
74 AmericanCarCollector.com
which ran May 17–21. Sales hit a four-year
high (and third all-time highest of the sale)
at $48,152,936. They flirted with $50m by
hitting a 70% sell-through rate on 1,562 cars
offered. Shelby Cobras claimed the top two
sales spots, with a 1965 427 reaching $1.2m
and a 1964 289 close behind at $1.1m.
A month later, Mecum set up shop in
M
ecum Auctions appears in
two feature reports for this
issue of ACC. We’ll first look
at their 29th Annual Spring
Classic in Indianapolis,
ACC’s hometown of Portland, OR, for their
June 17–18 sale. At the Expo Center, all four
halls were filled with American iron. A 1965 Shelby
GT350 found a new home at $335,500 — the highest
price achieved over that weekend sale. That, along with
296 other sold cars, brought this first-time-sale total to
$9,316,726.
Twin Cities Auctions resurfaced for their once-a-
1955 Dodge C-3 B6-106 pickup, sold for $18,150 at Mecum’s
Indy sale
That Dodge isn’t the only example we have for
year sale in St. Paul, MN. Numbers were slightly down
across the board compared with last year, but 59% isn’t a
sales rate to scoff at. All in, the total reached $1,551,544
on 95 cars sold.
In Tacoma, WA, Lucky Collector Car Auctions
hosted a Spring Classic sale of their own. Of 191 cars,
125 sold, bringing in $1,325,204. Jack Tockston tells us
the story of what went down there.
Chad’s Market Moment: Most of you just flipped the
page from the $28k 1949 Dodge B-1 pickup. Is anybody
else still gobsmacked?
It wasn’t long ago when that price was the top end
for the ultimate collectible pickups — 1967–72 Chevys.
Now, don’t read that as those are the best pickups, or
even my preferred ones; just that those are the most
desired, easiest sold and consistently expensive in the
market. The responses you gave in the Readers’ Forum
bear that out, too.
Those Chevys can handily trade for more now, but,
with that higher ceiling, more and more folks are looking
at rigs that fit their budgets, which might not have
risen as rapidly. So someone pays a bit more for that
B-1 because more people are also vying for it. A rising
tide does lift all … well, you know.
escalating truck prices, as on p. 70 you’ll read our “One
to Watch” on another rapidly rising Dodge, the Li’l Red
Express. Throughout the market reports you’ll also see
few well-bought or good-deal trucks. They mostly carry
the “market-correct” designation now. However, it may
not be long before you or I look back on these prices and
consider how many good deals we missed out on.A
Lucky
Tacoma, WA
May 14
Mecum Auctions,
Indianapolis, IN
May 17–21
Dan Kruse Classics,
Midland, TX
May 21
Twin Cities,
St. Paul, MN
June 17
Mecum,
Portland, Or
June 17–18
Silver,
Couer d’Alene, ID
June 18
$0
$1.6m
$9.3m
$393k
$10m $20m
$30m
$40m
$50m
$60m
$1.4m
Auctions in this issue
$1.3m
$48.2m
1958 Chevrolet Impala 2-dr hard
top, $28,620—Silver, ID, p. 119
1965 Ford Thunderbird convertible,
$19,440—Dan Kruse
Classics, TX, p. 126
1983 Pontiac Trans Am Daytona
500 Pace Car 25th Anniversary
coupe, $2,160—Silver, ID, p. 122
1935 Chrysler Airflow C-1 sedan,
$20,625—Lucky, WA, p. 114
Page 74
MECUM AUCTIONS // Indianapolis, IN
Mecum — 29th Annual
Spring Classic
A GOOD WEEKEND FOR HIGH-PERFORMANCE FORDS AND SHELBYS
Mecum
Auctions
Indianapolis, IN
May 12–16, 2016
Auctioneers:
Mark Delzell,
Mike Hagerman,
Bobby McGlothlen,
Matt Moravec, Jeff
Knox, Logan Schmid,
Russ Coughlin
Automotive lots sold/
offered: 1,094/1,562
Sales rate: 70%
Sales total:
$48,152,936
High sale: 1965 Shelby
Cobra 427 roadster,
sold at $1,210,000
Buyer’s premium:
10% (minimum $500),
included in sold prices
Mecum’s Indy auction top seller — 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 roadster, sold at $1,210,000
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
76 AmericanCarCollector.com
B
ack home again in Indiana, Mecum’s Spring
Classic has called the State Fairgrounds in
northwest Indianapolis home for almost a
decade. Long settled in here for their secondlargest
auction, they continued to tweak the
layout for 2016. Changes this year included moving
the main entrance to the west end of the compound,
installing temporary canopies between the buildings
for walkways, and having designated walkways in most
buildings for the major pedestrian flow. Along those
aisles were the usual vendors and major sponsors. All
the while, the flow of cars into and out of the auction hall
remained unchanged. Despite threats of rain for Friday
and Saturday, Mother Nature generally cooperated with
Mecum this year — making those covered walkways
more sunshades than rain cover.
An added bonus was an overall uptick in numbers.
With 161 more cars on offer and 173 more sold than in
2015, it helped Mecum get within spitting distance of
$50 million in overall sales, and a 4% increase in the
sell-through rate. All in all, this was the third-highest
total for Mecum at Indy, as well as their highest sales
rate ever here.
Topping all sales this year was virtually a repeat of
last year — a 427-powered Shelby Cobra. While last
year’s car brought $1,080,000, this year’s example from
the highlighted Joe McMurrey Collection surpassed
its million-dollar reserve by two bids, finding a new
home at $1,210,000. The other real-deal Shelby Cobra
here this weekend followed close behind. Originally
owned by founder of outboard boat engine manufacturer
Mercury Marine and period NASCAR team owner E.C.
Kiekhaefer, the Silver Mink-painted, 289-powered 1964
Cobra also met its million-dollar reserve, selling for $1.1
million.
While it was good weekend for sales of high-perfor-
mance Fords and Shelbys, dedicated drag racing cars
didn’t fare as well. The most famous of the bunch came
from one consignor; the 1971 Sox & Martin Hemi ’Cuda
and “Grumpy’s Toy VIII” — the 1970 Camaro built and
campaigned initially by NHRA legend Bill Jenkins.
Both cars failed to meet their reserves, with final bids of
$750k and $285k respectively. The only noteworthy drag
car that sold this weekend was the 1968 Ford Mustang
428 Cobra Jet factory-supplied lightweight campaigned
by Dave Lydall. Initially a no-sale on Friday at $150k, it
was a post-block sale for $154,000. Chalk another one up
for the Ford Performance camp.
With Mecum expanding further out towards the
coasts every year, it’s good to see that there’s still a solid
base for them here where they began, in the middle of
America.A
Page 75
M COMPANYNAME // auction_cityauction_stateauction_country
ECUM AUCTIONS // Indianapolis, IN
GM
#T219-1950 CHEVROLET STYLELINE
Deluxe Bel Air 2-dr hard top. VIN: 2HK35520.
Black/gray cloth & black vinyl. Odo:
701 miles. 216-ci I6, 1-bbl, 3-sp. Cosmetic
redo before consignor purchased it in 2005.
Decent older repaint, with a few chips and
light scratches in places. Piecemeal
brightwork, with some original stainless trim
and older bumper replating. Taillights have
blue dots added. Fitted with dealer-accessory
backup lights, stainless gravel shields
and fender pants. Period aftermarket curb
feelers, clamp-on mirrors and Impala hood
ornament. At first glance, engine looks
clean and stock, but it has a split exhaust
manifold, dumping into dual pipes and mufflers.
Very good amateur interior redo, with
some lifting of pinchweld moldings. Heavily
crazed dashboard clock crystal and horn
button. Runs out well, with that distinctivebut-muted
split-manifold exhaust rap.
Cond: 3+.
NOT SOLD AT $55,000. Back in the day,
this car was a formidable competitor in New
York state, generally running up to
11.73-second quarters. With lighter gearing
to make it a bit more manageable off track
in the 21st century, I figured that it should’ve
done a little better than what it was bid to—
obviously, so did the consignor. However, it
also seemed like there was very little interest
on the block for it, as it spent a little less
time doing the quarter mile than being up
for bids.
SOLD AT $18,700. 1950 was the first year
for a Chevy hard top, the Bel Air. In 1953,
the name went from being used only for
2-door hard tops that were part of the
Styleline series to being the highest trim
line. Offered at no reserve, it was going to
do what it was going to do, which was fall
right in line as a market-correct sale.
#F182-1966 CHEVROLET BISCAYNE 2-dr
sedan. VIN: 154166T195016. Ermine
White/blue vinyl & nylon. Odo: 7,237 miles.
427-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Specifically ordered
as a competition drag car, with a copy of
original invoice displayed with car. Options
include L72 425-hp motor, M21 4-speed,
4.56 ratio Posi diff, F41 HD suspension,
metallic brakes, heater delete and full tinted
glass. Restored in late ’90s, then earned
AACA Certified Competition Race Vehicle
accreditation and a national first place in
2010. Period racing tweaks include headers,
Hurst shifter, cable-driven tach on top
of dash and additional gauges in heaterdelete
panel. Fitted with 3.70 rear-end gear
set when restored. Engine a period-authentic
replacement block, but retains original
heads and induction. Authentic sheen to
repaint, and hand-painted lettering to replace
original. Tidy engine bay, with factorystyle
inspection markings a bit exaggerated.
Cond: 2+.
#F212.1-1970 CHEVROLET CAMARO
NHRA Pro Stock coupe. White/black vinyl.
Odo: 33,283 miles. 468-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp.
All external VINs have been removed.
Signed off by the late Bill Jenkins as being
his “Grumpy’s Toy VIII” before car was restored
in 2003, and signed by him on cowl
after completion in 2005. Highly authentic
restoration to when it first campaigned in
1970—including all graphics. Excellent repaint,
with a few chips in back from being
moved around. Not the best body fit, especially
between front clip and doors. Hood
pinned shut all week, so no inspection of
engine possible. Seats could very well be
original, as they show some light cracking
and fade. Dashboard looks like it was redyed.
Has a column-shift-automatic dashboard,
yet the car has always had a
4-speed in it. Cond: 2-.
NOT SOLD AT $285,000. As part of the
same collection as the 1971 Sox & Martin
Hemi ’Cuda offered just before this. For
those who recall the NHRA of the early
1970s, it was a treat to see both of these
drag-racing icons together. Yet, as with the
’Cuda, one quickly got the impression that
this was more for show than sale. However,
I will agree with the consignor that the final
bid seems a bit light once again for an icon
of the sport when it was new. However, I
don’t feel it’s as strong as their $400k reserve;
since, like any one-off, values are
ever so fickle.
September-October 2016 77
Page 76
MECUM AUCTIONS // Indianapolis, IN
#T175-1970 OLDSMOBILE 442 2-dr hard
top. VIN: 344870Z132789. Twilight Blue/
bright blue vinyl. Odo: 951 miles. 455-ci V8,
4-bbl, 4-sp. Well equipped with power steering,
power front-disc brakes, a/c, power windows,
tilt steering column, Rally gauge
package, speed minder, power trunk release
and AM/FM/8-track stereo. Highenough
quality frame-off restoration within
past decade to score well in Oldsmobile
Club of America concours judging. Superb
base/clear repaint. All chrome was replated
to OEM spec. Concours-quality detailing
under hood, with only some light corrosion
on brake master cylinder. While all interior
soft vinyl is authentic reproduction, the hard
vinyl is all-original and re-dyed. Cond: 1-.
Equally clean undercarriage. Reupholstered
interior, with slight soiling on door panels
and their armrests. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT
$80,300. Zone Demo cars were usually
batch-built early in production for the model
year and loaded up with options as both VIP
and customer demonstrators. In the case of
these Buicks, it’s believed that about 25
were built—all identical to this car, painted
new-for-1971 Cortez Gold. On top of that,
they constitute approximately one-third of
GS Stage 1 convertible production for ’71,
with only 81 built. Maybe not a concours
lawn ornament, but all factors combined to
make this one surpass reserve without
much difficulty.
SOLD AT $66,000. Although this wasn’t
presented with any documentation, this car
has all the trappings of a dealer demo, with
that many options on it. About the only way
to improve upon this car would be color, as
this blue isn’t everybody’s favorite—but at
least it’s not Pinehurst Green. Top-tier 442s
are finally getting some respect in the marketplace,
after decades of “too bad it ain’t
no Chevelle” mentality. With plenty of folks
bidding on it, I’ll call it market-correct.
#F148-1971 BUICK SKYLARK GS Stage 1
convertible. VIN: 434671H100563. Cortez
Gold/white vinyl/Pearl White vinyl. Odo:
42,400 miles. 455-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Early
production, batch-built Zone Demo car, originally
shipped to Florida. Reproduction Polyglas
GT tires on Buick Road Wheels.
Concours-quality, frame-off restoration completed
within past few years. Subtle updates
of an electric fan ahead of radiator, underdashboard
gauges and chambered mufflers.
Superb repaint and panel fit. Replating
a touch better than stock, but not quite
show-chrome. Some of underhood components
are a bit too glossy, and reproduction
battery is on a quick-disconnect switch, but
otherwise a concours-correct engine bay.
#F16-1974 CHEVROLET C10 Custom Deluxe
pickup. VIN: CCV1441163400. Hawaiian
Blue & white/blue vinyl & nylon. Odo:
17,697 miles. 350-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Assembled
by GM of Canada. Stated that
17,697 indicated miles are correct since
new and that it’s almost all original components
and finishes. Original, GM-applied
light orange peel paint on the cab and upper
doors. Modern replacement internal-antenna
windshield. Period-correct, slightly off
door fit. Excellent original brightwork. Good
repaint on air cleaner, but they got sloppy
on motor, with copious overspray. Mix of
original and replacement belts, hoses and
clamps. Light fading of door panels, with
yellowing of colored rubber floor mat and
driver’s side seat bolster of an otherwise
superb original interior. Cond: 3+.
wheels. Better-than-stock repaint—no sight
of even the lightest orange peel anywhere.
Good workmanship in fitting reproduction
decals. Modern, non-OEM replacement
windshield. Original engine repainted as
part of rebuild process (in a tad brighter
shade of blue than stock), with all correct
components detailed and returned under
hood. Light flash rust starting to take hold
on bare-metal fasteners, both under hood
and under car. Newer fuel tank and authentic
exhaust system. Like-new interior, as it’s
essentially all new reproduction components.
Cond: 2-.
SOLD AT $30,250. While 190 hp won’t set
the world on fire, it at least was better than
what was trickling out of Detroit at the time.
Restored to better-than-original build quality
(not that it’s all that difficult to do for a 1980
product), selling price is no worse than high
market—and a better deal than those Ponchos
that have been seeing an uptick in
prices this year. However, if “Fast Times at
Ridgemont High” gets re-released, watch
out.
CORVETTE
SOLD AT $33,000. When I first decided to
write up this truck, I was initially thinking
that it was too bad that they didn’t do a better
repaint on this otherwise-superb older
resto. Then I read the windshield description
to find that the paint is original. These
1973–80 Chevy pickups are now exploding
in value, same as the previous generation
did a decade earlier. Makes sense, as the
demographic that grew up around these
and fondly remember them can now afford
to buy the best they can find. Hitting reserve
at $23k didn’t really surprise me, but when it
continued to be strongly bid beyond, that
did. Call it well sold today, but can be the
norm in the foreseeable future.
#T69.1-1980 CHEVROLET CAMARO Z/28
coupe. VIN: 1P87LAN544861. Orange/
tinted glass/black vinyl. Odo: 2,356 miles.
350-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Recent bare-body
restoration and powertrain rebuild. Fresh
off-brand radials on stock-styled steel
78 AmericanCarCollector.com
#T231-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. VIN: 194377S110262. Goodwood
Green/Saddle vinyl. Odo: 96,248 miles.
327-ci 300-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Retains original
window sticker from A&C Chevrolet of
Fort Montgomery, NY. It—along with copy
of tank sticker—confirms that car was restored
to its original configuration. Teakwood
steering wheel added sometime later
in its existence. Excellent body prep and
base/clear paint application. Front wheelwell
lips have some heavier re-enforcing.
Generally good—yet not spot-on—door
gaps. Better prep work than original. Recent
engine bay tidying up on good work done as
part of restoration. Not tidied up on undercarriage,
but still shows that it was well restored
earlier—now that it’s seen some light
use. Cond: 2.
Page 78
MECUM AUCTIONS // Indianapolis, IN
NOT SOLD AT $57,000. The consignor
talked up the possibility that a West Point
cadet may have been original owner, as the
dealership is very close to the U.S. Military
Academy. I’d reason that an instructor or
member of staff was original owner, if it was
an Army officer. Granted, there have always
been plenty of rich kids who were at West
Point, but they were also looking at the uncertainly
of where most would end up after
graduation—such as Vietnam. Until you
knew what post you’d end up at, a somewhat
expensive car to deal with could be
quite an albatross. On Thursday (as Lot
T213), it was stated on the block that it had
a $65k reserve, so being bid to $50k on
Friday (as Lot F321) was more an act of
futility.
FOMOCO
#T101.1-1958 FORD COURIER 2-dr sedan
delivery. VIN: H8RS152838. Sun Gold/tan
vinyl & brown nylon. Odo: 623 miles. 352-ci
V8, 4-bbl, auto. Equipped with Select-Aire
a/c, power steering, power brakes, power
windows, Town & Country AM radio and
clock. Dealer-accessory spotlights on both
sides. Superb-quality frame-off restoration,
likely with odometer reset at that time. Better
quality paint application than technically
possible in 1958. Door fit at least as good
as original. Brightwork one step down from
show chrome. All-new glass—including that
rare bugger in rear liftgate. Original-style
reproduction interior soft trim. Generally
authentic under hood, aside from coil and
NAPA battery. Just as squeaky clean on
undercarriage. Cond: 2.
#T80-1963 FORD GALAXIE 500 2-dr hard
top. VIN: 3J66R165233. Orange/black vinyl.
Odo: 43,391 miles. 427-ci V8, 2x4-bbl,
4-sp. An original 427 car, but was Champagne
with black vinyl interior. Motor in car
is now a ’66 side-oiler block, with 1963
heads, intake and cast-header exhaust
manifolds. Recent better-quality, trim-off,
color-change repaint. No body tag on door,
painted-over rivets. Mostly reproduction
trim, with lettering not replaced on trunk lid.
Replated bumpers. Recent light underhood
cleanup. Aftermarket cast-aluminum valve
covers and deep-sump oil pan. Seats redone
with orange piping. Orange-painted
inserts in window cranks. Original dashboard
bezels are yellowed. Aftermarket
gauges below the dashboard, with modern
stereo displacing original radio. Cond: 3+.
427 Cobra tanked on the block. While that
hardly happened, I did figure right that it
wouldn’t disappoint. It equaled the 427’s
million-dollar reserve, but the phone bid that
did it was the last to be placed. A decent
buy, as I think we can pretty much agree
that any ’60s Cobra (regardless of what’s
powering it) that can move under its own
power is now a member of the million-dollar
club.
SOLD AT $41,800. Last seen at VanDerBrink’s
Murdo auction in May 2013 (ACC#
6392293). Back then I called the $21,630
selling price a “decent buy.” Today that really
looks like a smoking-hot deal for a bitsa
that sold well three years later.
NOT SOLD AT $39,000. It’s unusual for a
Courier to have a split-bench seat, as they
usually were fitted with buckets standard,
with only one for the driver. Then again,
there are a lot of things unusual about this,
as most sedan deliveries were working
trucks. However, a/c is feasible if this was
intended for a business that needed some
sort of climate control for their cargo
(dairy…florist…beer distributor…ambulance
service…coroner…). Without documentation
beyond reproduction body tag and real
serial number, I’m inclined to assume that a
lot of goodies were added on as part of restoration.
Can’t really blame them, as there’s
not much call for bare-bones sedan deliveries—aside
from a raw canvas for modifications.
Rare enough, but bid enough.
80 AmericanCarCollector.com
#F163-1964 SHELBY COBRA 289
roadster. VIN: CSX2271. Silver
Mink/red leather. Odo: 55,515 miles. 289-ci
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Originally sold new to Mercury
Marine founder and NASCAR team
owner E.C. Kiekhaefer of Fond du Lac, WI,
with optional Class A accessory group.
Concours-quality restoration completed in
2003, showing light use since. Superb barebody
repaint. Decent door, trunk and hood
fit. Modern replacement windshield, with
some chrome scuffing at frame base on
driver’s side. Light scratches on wind wings.
Light carpeting and seat-bottom wear.
Seats have period aircraft-style lap seat
belts. Glovebox is signed by Mr. Shelby.
Wheel chrome starting to look somewhat
dull. Very clean and tidy engine bay.
Cond: 2+.
2
SOLD AT $1,210,000. Centerpiece car from
centerpiece Joe McMurrey Collection that
focused on Shelbys. This is a Cobra that
looks almost good enough for concours
lawns, but plays and belongs on the track. It
wasn’t too surprising that it was bid to a million
bucks. Two more bids—heavily worked
by Mecum’s heir apparent Frank—got the
deal done by an on-site bidder.
SOLD AT $1,100,000. Last seen by ACC at
several venues (ACC# 1640928, 1571230).
I figured that with its provenance, it would
likely be the top sale of the weekend if the
#F125-1965 SHELBY GT350 fastback.
VIN: SFM55041. Wimbledon
White/black vinyl. Odo: 2,751 miles. 289-ci
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Early production car, with
early features such as all-fiberglass hood
with mesh over the round intake, prop-rod
hood, nine-rivet steering wheel rim and battery
relocated to trunk. Shelby five-spoke
mag wheels shod with repro Goodyear Blue
Streak tires. Restored in late 1980s to thenconcours-quality
standards, with limited
track and highway use since. Superb trimoff
repaint, with only a few light road-debris
chips since. Older replated parts now mellowed
to look like minty originals, although
front bumper is mounted pointing slightly
downward (call it a subtle aerodynamic ad-
3
#F124-1965 SHELBY COBRA 427
roadster. VIN: CSX3295. Wimbledon
White/black leather. Odo: 20,208 miles.
427-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Stated that 20,208
indicated miles are correct. Complete, documented
ownership history since sold new by
J.D. Ball Ford of Miami, FL. Black sidepipes
and roll bar, along with Halibrand wheels,
were swapped in from original components
by a previous owner. Restored by consignor
circa 2008 for authenticity and usefulness
over concours glamour. Repaint has a very
authentic period sheen to it. Generally stock
under hood—aside from a modern distributor,
ignition and remote oil-filter lines. Light
fuel staining on intake manifold, but otherwise
clean and tidy. Raised white lettering
more yellow and brown on older radial tires.
Light wrinkling on seat leather and minimal
carpet soiling. If it has a soft top, it wasn’t
available for viewing. Cond: 2-.
1
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MECUM AUCTIONS // Indianapolis, IN
justment and you’re good). Better panel and
door fit than you’ll find on a bone-stock
’Stang. Tidy and generally authentic engine
bay and undercarriage. Cond: 2.
here at the Spring Classic three years ago
(ACC# 6737929). Bid to a no-sale on the
block at $150k, post-event data supplied by
auction company now shows it sold. With
consignment fees factored in, this sale
came out as as a wash at best for the consignor.
SOLD AT $550,000. This is a very welldocumented
GT350, from the moment it
was built in the then-new Shelby American
facility at the LAX airport. These two-digitserial
number cars are among the most coveted
of the Mustang-based Shelbys, so the
only surprise about the bidding going past
the $450k reserve was why said reserve
was that low. A decent buy today, well
bought for the long term.
#F180.1-1968 FORD MUSTANG
Lightweight fastback. VIN: 8F02R135031.
Wimbledon White/black vinyl.
Odo: 944 miles. Marti Report confirms this
as one of the first 50 Cobra Jets, distributed
to teams by Ford, for use at the NHRA Winternationals.
Also stated that 944 indicated
miles are actual since new. Authentically
restored in recent years to ready-to-racefor-the-first-time
condition—if not slightly
better. Fitted with Cragar SS wheels, with
drag slicks in back. Graphics by and large
are reproduced in their original mediums—
painted by hand and decals. Painstakingly
authentic under hood, to include all smog
equipment. A modern Motorcraft battery
8
#S180-1969 FORD MUSTANG Boss 429
fastback. VIN: 9F02Z198745. Wimbledon
White/black vinyl. Odo: 18,117 miles. 429-ci
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Kar Kraft number KK1857.
Attested to, by consignor, that 18,117 miles
are actual and that car is original aside from
tires, battery, select service parts (some
belts and hoses), and fluids. Also retains
most documentation from new. Most of
paint is original. Air-cleaner assembly
seems repainted, as paint is incongruent
with any other painted surface under hood.
A few other components had some cosmetic
detailing over the years, but, by and
large, things are mostly original in there.
Radiator not touched, with flaking paint and
a few dings. Slightly wider door gaps up
front than out back—typical of original production.
Light seat-bottom and carpet wear.
Cond: 2-.
AM radio. Period-accessory trailer-brake
controller, cruise control, running boards
and topper. Stated that 45,390 indicated
miles are believed to be actual, and, apart
from a repaint in 2000, truck is essentially
original. Still retains dealer emblem on cowl
and mud flaps from when it sold new by
Christie Ford of Langdon, ND. Quality repaint,
but not so over-the-top that original
brightwork looks out of place. Indestructible
poly seat shows no appreciable wear, while
steering wheel has multiple light cracks and
fissures. Light-to-moderate carpet wear and
soiling. Repainting valve covers and cleaning
engine bay is as far as they went with
detailing under hood. Cond: 3+.
only concession to 2016. Just as clean and
authentic under car. All-reproduction interior
vinyl trim and carpet. Original seat belts
front and rear. Correct Hurst shifter, as used
in combat. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $154,000.
Last seen on our radar selling for $144,450,
“
NOT SOLD AT $260,000. Original owner
traded this in back in 1993, with 17,800
miles on it at the time, at a Ford dealer in
Florida for a new Taurus. Even back then,
boy, did he get screwed. I remember decent
Boss 9s with low miles doing no less than
$50k at that time—even a fully loaded SHO
wouldn’t set you back that far. As for what
both are worth today, the original owner
might stick his head in the oven just thinking
about it. Granted, this was one of three
Boss 429s not to sell here this weekend, but
final bid represented reality rather than a
pie-in-the-sky chandelier bid.
#T279-1974 FORD F-250 Custom Series
pickup. VIN: F25JLT50312. Hot Ginger &
Sandpiper Yellow/black nylon. Odo: 45,390
miles. 460-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Optional integral
a/c, power steering, power brakes and
Front bumper is mounted pointing
slightly downward (call it a subtle
aerodynamic adjustment and
you’re good).
82 AmericanCarCollector.com
SOLD AT $11,000. Correspondent Stu Lenzke
and I last saw this at the 2013 Motor
Magic auction in Minot, ND, then selling for
$7,800. Two years later, out in a major market,
it didn’t fare much better. This has more
to do with it being a ¾-ton, which have always
lagged in values behind the ever-popular-and-generally-better-geared-for-the-highway
half-tons. Still, this won’t take up
any more space in your garage compared
to an F-series Super Duty (actually less
than any variation beyond a single cab). So,
for what it brought, still makes an interesting
errand truck that you actually can take to
cruise night.
8JZ0F5520136. Deep Impact Blue/black
cloth. Odo: 33 miles. 5.4-L fuel-injected V8,
6-sp. Second-to-last 2015 GT350 build for
the inaugural year, optioned with Tech
Package and over-the-top stripes. Window
sticker still on passenger’s door glass, but
other stickers (such as Domestic Content
label) have been removed. Has mostly been
dealer prepped, with 33 miles on the clock,
but still has seat and steering-wheel protective
plastic in place. No discernible signs of
wear or use on whole car, aside from light
tire wear. Doesn’t even have flash corrosion
on undercarriage. Cond: 1.
9
#F200-2015 SHELBY GT350 50th
Anniversary coupe. VIN: 1FA6P-
”
SOLD AT $148,500. I asked the consignor
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Page 83
about car-cover option on other Shelby he
consigned here (as I’m on the waiting list to
order a ’17), which led to a lengthy conversation
about these cars. Needless to say,
he was very pleasantly surprised at the outcome
on his GT350—more than double
what he claims to have paid for it. He was
pleased enough just that his $100k reserve
was blown right past. Even more pleased
when that ’16 GT350 R I was inquiring
about sold a few hours later for $118,250.
While you can almost justify the 2015’s
price (as there were only 137 made in that
first year), base-model GT350 Rs are still
being made. Can’t even blame the bidder’s
bar for it, as they sold to phone bidders.
MOPAR
#T114-1965 DODGE DART GT Charger
2-dr hard top. VIN: L455151829. Light
yellow/black vinyl. Odo: 628 miles. 273-ci
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Aftermarket Cragar SS
wheels shod with modern radials. Betterquality
restoration in recent years, but not a
concours queen. Excellent body prep and
paint application, but overspray on stock
exhaust system. Rest of undercarriage
painted semi-gloss black. New windshield
and perimeter seal. Good door fit. Most
brightwork either replated or professionally
polished, but side emblems have light pitting.
Full reproduction interior kit, professionally
installed. Optional rear speaker’s
grille not well attached on rear parcel shelf.
Light pitting inside gauges. Generally clean
and well detailed under hood. Cond: 2-.
SOLD AT $24,750. Claimed to be one of
480 West-Coast-only Charger-package
GTs. It’s rare enough to see a ’65 Dart GT,
let alone one with a 273 V8 or a 4-speed.
Not that it makes it ultra desirable, as typical
Mopar fans ignore Darts before 1967 (and
essentially all Valiants). For those folks who
can think beyond the Hemi for something a
lot more practical with a V8 that likes to rev,
this was a pretty good buy. Even with reserve
met at $20,500.
#F212-1971 PLYMOUTH HEMI ’CUDA
NHRA Pro Stock 2-dr hard top. VIN:
SMPR0471. White, red & blue/black vinyl.
426-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Bill of sale only, no
title, as it originally was a Chrysler-provided
body-in-white, with acid-etched shell. Built
by Sox & Martin. Campaigned by Ronnie
Sox in 1971 in NHRA Pro Stock class, with
several victories that year. Restored circa
2003, shortly after it was found still racing in
Sportsman class. Authentically returned to
September-October 2016 85
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MECUM AUCTIONS // Indianapolis, IN
MARKETMOMENT
1983 Pontiac Trans Am
“KITT” custom coupe
SOLD at $21,450
Barrett-Jackson, Uncasville, CT, June 23–25, 2016, Lot 455
VIN: 1G2AW87HXDN236858
its 1971 configuration, with the blessing and
assistance of most of the original team. Correct
1971-style paint and graphics. Not the
best body fit, but typical for its time and purpose.
Hood left shut all week. Authentically
restored interior, including period race gear
and decal for a dashboard. Squeaky-clean
undercarriage, not even showing tire residue
from racing. Period authentic Keystone
Klassic wheels with Mickey Thompson drag
slicks. Cond: 2-.
Courtesy of Barrett-Jackson
mom sew me a jacket that looked like Michael Knight’s. But when
you’re four, you don’t tend to see plot holes, or stunt models, or bad
acting. Nope, I loved the car that talked, turbo-boosted over things, and drove itself, and I
suspect there are a lot of people my age out there today who still feel the same way. It was just
so cool.
Okay, so I know that Hasselhoff is no Steve McQueen, but bear with me here for a mo-
I loved “Knight Rider” as a kid. Four-year-old me even made my
ment. The young, impressionable kids who watched Michael Knight, the Duke boys, and B.A.
Baracus slide their rides around living rooms across America during prime-time are now in
their 30s and are serious buyers in the collector car market. TV screen dream cars from the era
are popping up at auction, which is nothing new, but they’re starting to bring bigger money as
the market changes.
This KITT replica is a good example at $21k. It had everything it needed to look the part,
even down to the bowling-ball hubcaps (known for falling off) and the apparently hard-to-find
tan cloth seats. There are several sources for all the fiberglass KITT nose and dash parts,
and this one looks to use decent quality stuff — remember how wavy ‘glass can be and how
unforgiving black paint is.
The car market is really driven by two things: nostalgia and cool factor. Whether or not
this car is cool really comes down to you, and the same can be said about nostalgia when the
timeframe in question is the most-would-rather-forget 1980s. But don’t be surprised to see
bidders of a certain age driving up prices on things like this at auction — if it can happen to a
1960s Batmobile, it can happen to a talking Trans Am. A
NOT SOLD AT $750,000. Sold to the consignor
at Mecum’s Spring Classic in 2007
($929,250; ACC# 1569809). I got the impression
that this car and Grumpy’s Toy VIII
(also owned by this consignor) were pretty
much here for eye candy, with very high
reserves just in case someone really
wanted to buy one at their price. With a reserve
in the neighborhood of one million
bucks, no one was willing to chase this
drag-racing icon that far.
#F140-1986 SHELBY GLHS hatchback.
VIN: 1B3BZ18E3GD262796. Black/gray
cloth. Odo: 21,285 miles. 2.2-L fuel-injected
I4, 5-sp. Stated that 21,285 miles are correct
since new. Better-quality, but maskedoff,
repaint and new graphics circa 2005.
Moderate rock chipping on leading edge of
hood. Door and panel fit better than expected
for era, but lack of bumper cladding
makes car come off as unfinished. 1988
and ’89 Mopar Nationals decals on windshield.
Minimal wear and soiling of original
interior. Light yellowing of gauges. Dash
plaque form Shelby Automobiles indicating
it’s the 240th of 500 built. Generally clean
under hood, but bare-metal components are
showing light corrosion. Rattle-can undercoating,
before installation of new Koni rear
struts. Newer, off-brand performance tires
on original wheels. Cond: 2-.
— Jim Pickering
86 AmericanCarCollector.com
SOLD AT $19,800. It seemed like everyone
walking by this pocket rocket had to get a
dig in against it. It’s not like it was Aunt Mildred’s
basic SE package with a slushbox
AmericanCarCollector.com
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MECUM AUCTIONS // Indianapolis, IN
transmission. Two steps above the usual
GLH, and one over the GLHT, this had an
air-to-air intercooler and induction tweaks
done by Shelby for an additional 65 hp and
29 hp respectively. What everyone seems
to forget today is that this would beat up a
VW Golf GTI and take its lunch money.
Most people didn’t get either car back then.
With the Mopar muscle-car mentality, this
was especially true for the GLHS. Still, sold
a bit well considering that it’s not a much of
a minty virgin as some would believe, but
not by much.
AMERICANA
#F56-1951 CROSLEY HOTSHOT Super
roadster. VIN: VC30127. Yellow/black
cloth/maroon vinyl. Odo: 29,847 miles. 44-ci
I4, 1-bbl, 3-sp. Optional AM radio. Older
repaint, which still presents well. Heavier
paint chipping around hood (which stayed
shut all weekend) and on dashboard. Period
aftermarket bird hood ornament, with
chrome so weak that it looks like silver
paint. Original chrome on car decent, yet
with some light pitting. Side glass seals lifting
out of windshield frame. Newer carpeting,
interior vinyl and non-stock cloth top.
Faded and pitted original gauges. Recently
restored steering wheel. Older, glossy,
black-painted undercarriage, with rusty exhaust
system. Decent older bias-ply tires.
Cond: 3.
U.S.-made car with rear-disc brakes). Actually
the most prudent printed information I
got was, “offered at no reserve,” so it did as
good as could be expected, if not a tad better
with the juice factored in.
#W157-1981 JEEP CJ-8 Scrambler
pickup. VIN: 1JCCE88E2BT057670. White/
tan fiberglass/brown vinyl. Odo: 26,443
miles. 258-ci I6, 2-bbl, auto. Optional automatic
transmission, a/c, power steering,
power brakes, tachometer, clock and AM/
FM radio. Consignor of the opinion that
26,443 miles indicated are actual since
new. Original paint over wavy rocker panels.
Mediocre passenger’s door fit, yet pretty
good on driver’s side. Good original plating.
Carpeting likely replacement, as it’s in superb
condition, but poorly fit. Aftermarket oil
pressure and voltmeter gauges cleanly integrated
into dashboard above radio. Heavier
surface rust on all bare metal under hood,
with a recent wash-off and replacement battery.
Tweaked Holley/Weber progressive
2-bbl carb, with manifold spacer, displaces
stock unit. Topped with an open-element air
cleaner. Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $19,800. The auction description
could’ve just as well been blank, as all it did
was give basics (engine size, transmission)
and a couple of not entirely accurate trivia
tidbits (the first U.S.-made “sports car”; first
SOLD AT $25,300. For inaugural-year CJ-8
Scramblers the upgraded Sport trim packages
were the SR and SL. This Scrambler
has the latter, which got you a chromed
grille, bumpers and wheels, among other
amenities. In the past decade, Scramblers
have become insanely popular, now outstripping
values of the CJ-7s they were
based upon. That, combined with low miles
and general originality, makes this marketpriced,
if not a touch cheap. A
September-October 2016 87
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TWIN CITIES AUCTIONS // St. Paul, MN
Twin Cities — Back to the Fifties
THE CONSIGNMENTS REPRESENTED A GOOD MIX OF $10K-TO-$50K
VEHICLES, WITH POST-WAR AMERICAN LUXURY AND PICKUPS LEADING
Twin Cities
Auctions
St. Paul, MN
June 17–18, 2016
Auctioneers:
Gary Dehler, Kurt
Warner
Automotive lots sold/
offered: 94/156
Sales rate: 60%
Sales total: $1,551,544
High sale: 1955
Chevrolet Bel Air convertible,
sold at $51,840
Buyer’s premium:
8%, minimum $400,
included in sold prices
Low miles and little use — 1965 Ford Mustang 2+2 fastback, sold at $24,840
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
88 AmericanCarCollector.com
in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. Since 1987, he and
business partner Sandy Doll have conducted at least
one collector car auction each year in the Twin Cities
metropolitan area.
For the last four years, their one-and-only sale has
T
been at one of the largest car events in the world — the
Minnesota Street Rod Association’s Back to the Fifties
Weekend. This year, 11,943 participating vehicles
arrived at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds north of St.
Paul, which should bring in a reasonable number of folks
looking to buy an old car. Although the auction is held in
the historic Cattle Exhibition building, it’s on the edge of
the site, so it was isolated from the rest of the event. The
made-pre-1965 requirement for the show doesn’t apply
to the auction, yet folks could easily come and go to the
auction from the show.
For 2016, the overall numbers were all lower. While
there were only 20 fewer consignments, sales were a
little softer. This is something of a microcosm of the
market right now. The sell-through rate (including
post-event sales) was 3% less and the overall take was
almost $300k less. The biggest factor for less money was
the lack of a sale over $100k. Actually, the high-sale gap
hirty years on, with two name changes, a
buyout of the company’s motorcycle division,
and refocusing on just local car auctions, Ron
Christenson’s Twin Cities Auctions is still
around putting buyers and sellers together
from 2015 to 2016 was over $100k. Last year, the top sale
was a 427-powered 1966 Ford Fairlane 500 2-door hard
top at $160,500, while this year it was a well-restored
1955 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible at $51,840. If
anything, post-block sales carried the weekend. Without
the active and fruitful post-block deals, on-the-hammer
sales were just under half.
Also like last year, the consignments represented
a good mix of $10k-to-$50k vehicles, with post-war
American luxury and pickups leading. Overall, a nice
selection was available for most everyone’s level of
interest.
If there is one thing the auction company should look
at changing, it would be the volume of automobilia sold
before the cars each day. I know that it’s a good way
to get the auction tuned up and ready to go; however,
it becomes counter-productive when there are more of
those lots than cars. Each day, the sale started like clockwork
at noon, but with all that other stuff to sell, a lot
of bidders didn’t hang around for it — leaving to come
back sometime later, sometimes not at all. On Saturday,
it took an excessively long time to go through it, so it
was pushing 2 p.m. by the time the first car hit the block
— with plenty of empty chairs to greet it.
With an agreement with MSRA for Twin Cities to
continue to be here next year and beyond, hopefully
we’ll see more higher-end consignments and fewer
reproduction signs in 2017. A
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TWIN CITIES AUCTIONS // St. Paul, MN
GM
#S126-1956 CHEVROLET BEL AIR 2-dr
sedan. VIN: C56J003227. Aqua & ivory/
white vinyl & gray nylon. Odo: 86,929 miles.
235-ci I6, 1-bbl, auto. Older topical repaint,
with less-than-careful masking of white in
door jambs. Heavier orange peel on trunk
lid. Replated bumpers, but done on the
cheap and flaking around bolt holes. Some
selective trim replacement in recent years.
Mostly original interior, with some re-dying
of door panels. Seats have some light-tomoderate
wear on driver’s side cloth inserts.
Unfortunately, it was stored damp, and has
a near-overpowering musty odor inside.
Cleaned-up original engine, with most of its
original paint. Function over form pretty
much describes most everything else under
hood. Unkempt original undercarriage.
Cond: 3.
ishing of brightwork. Stated an all-original
interior, but clock has heavier yellowing and
fading than anything else. Color shade mismatch
on several dash panels. Newer AM/
FM/cassette displaces original radio. Cond:
3+. SOLD AT $29,160. Not a horrible car as
it sits, but a little detail work and finishing
what others started would make this a far
better cruiser. Sold on lower end of market.
Even with tweaks it won’t make it worth flipping,
but said tweaks will make it a better
car to drive.
SOLD AT $15,120. I liked that it still has
Stovebolt six in it, but it really needs to sit
outside in the sun for about a month with
doors and windows open to vent out mildew
smell. Truth be told, it will more likely need
selective upholstery replacement. As much
as I wanted to like this old sedan, not
enough was still original to be a survivortype
car, but it would pain me to have to
ditch the interior to cure the smell. As such,
it’s not so much of a smokin’ hot deal, with
the reserve surpassed at $14k final bid.
#F176-1958 CHEVROLET IMPALA 2-dr
hard top. VIN: F580130446. White/multiaqua
vinyl. Odo: 80,254 miles. 283-ci V8,
4-bbl, auto. Engine code correct for a ’58
283 with 4-bbl, but now fed with a modern
Edelbrock/Carter AFB topped by a small
open-element air cleaner. Between that and
non-stock dual-exhaust system, it has a
somewhat robust exhaust note. Repainted
motor, now has some grime from use. Universal-fit,
flex upper-radiator hose, stretched
to the limit. Older topical repaint, with lots of
overspray on door seals. All four rubber
door stops missing, so while doors latch
#S118.1-1964 CHEVROLET CORVAIR
Monza coupe. VIN: 40927W165414.
Red/black vinyl. Odo: 95,707 miles. 164-ci
H6, 2x1-bbl, 4-sp. Stated it was stored for
about three decades. Low-buck repaint,
even when done decades back. Still generally
presentable, even with an almost-semigloss
finish (but at least that’s hip now).
Good door fit on passenger’s side, but driver’s
side a bit off. Heavy scratching on rear
window from an ice scraper. Headlight trim
bezels from a 1960 Corvair. Interior of car
smells like it’s been sitting for three decades,
with a musty odor. Carpet looks—
and smells—like it got damp before being
stored. Broken driver’s door armrest. Very
dirty engine bay, but easily shows work
done on motor; including a new fuel pump
and fan belt. New radial tires, one size under
closest OE fitment. Runs out well.
Cond: 3-.
and AM/FM stereo radio. Dealer-installed
a/c. Originally had eight-lug wheels, now
fitted with modern aftermarket alloys and
radials. Good base/clear repaint in original
color. Door glass seals starting to stiffen up
and crack. Mostly good original brightwork.
Good door fit. Heavier yellowing on door
pulls. Front seats re-dyed, as rear seats are
original and have yellowed piping. Nonstock,
chambered exhaust, but still has a
muted, yet serious, note to it. Cond: 3+.
NOT SOLD AT $11,500. Per PHS, one of
only 318 High Output 428s with automatic
transmissions built for the year. Not all went
into Grand Prix, as it was also an option for
Bonnevilles, Executives and Catalinas—regardless
of body style (imagine THAT in a
Safari wagon). Last seen at Mecum’s Kissimmee
auction in January 2015, a no-sale
at $15k (ACC# 6773811). Final bid then
would’ve been about right—if it had the
base-level 400 in it. Here, bidders barely
acknowledged that the car was even on the
block.
SOLD AT $2,900. Like just about anything
on a 1960 Corvair, the headlight bezels are
unique for that year. On all other years of
earlies (1961–64), the bezels were larger
facing center of car, to match the slightly
extended front panel. At least the ’60 bezels
were also used on all Forward Control
trucks. This was one of five cars from an
estate that have been sitting for decades—
this being the newest car. Stored back
when decent driver Corvairs were no more
than $500. Do the math for 30 to 35 years
of dollar valuations, and you pretty much
get to the final bid—factoring in the storage
issues.
well, they rattle. Selective replating and pol90
AmericanCarCollector.com
#S113-1968 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX 2-dr
hard top. VIN: 266578P273856. Meridian
Turquoise/Parchment vinyl. Odo: 46,158
miles. 428-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. PHS documents
confirm it was equipped with optional
428 HO motor, TH400 transmission, power
steering, power brakes, power windows, full
tinted glass, tilt steering column, rear-window
defogger, remote-control outside mirror
#S152-1978 OLDSMOBILE TORONADO
Brougham coupe. VIN: 3Z57K8M713655.
White/white vinyl/maroon velour. Odo:
87,123 miles. 403-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Oneowner
retired couple’s car until recently.
Decent original paint, but heavier edge wear
and road abrasions on front and behind
wheelwells. Rear quarter-panel end caps
broken and crudely glued back together.
Doors rattle when shut. Serviceable original
chrome and stainless trim congruent with
paint. Mylar brightwork yellowed and cracking.
Aftermarket deer whistles on front-bumper
trim panel. Landau top vinyl shrinking
and pulling up from body moldings. Heavier
wear on driver’s seat bottom, but otherwise
has a nice original interior. Used-car engine
bay. Unkempt undercarriage that spent a lot
of time on dirt roads, but shows no corrosion
thanks to the 38-year-old factory undercoating.
Cond: 3-.
NOT SOLD AT $3,500. I saw this car two
weekends earlier, when seller tried to peddle
it across the street from the VanDerBrink
auction in Hoven, SD (the photo I
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TWIN CITIES AUCTIONS // St. Paul, MN
used here). While low-mile Oldstermobiles
have seen an uptick in prices, that’s on really
low-mile, minty examples. Rougharound-the-edges
ones like this are
becoming a tougher sell as time passes.
Final bid should’ve been a gift from the
gods.
#S112-1979 PONTIAC TRANS AM coupe.
VIN: 2W87K9N179017. Gold/black velour.
Odo: 62,722 miles. 403-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto.
Optional T-tops, AM/FM cassette, WS6
Package, power windows, rear defroster
and tilt steering column. Decent repaint,
with some sloppy masking in door jambs.
Primer overspray on capacity decal on driver’s
door. Driver’s door latch stuck, so door
won’t latch. Perhaps coincidentally, doorhandle
casting is cracked. Newer door and
trunk seals. Hood sits slightly high overall.
Light warping of front fascia, ahead of
wheelwells, due more to age than sun baking.
Original interior, with more sun fade on
seat backs than wear. Seat-back seat-belt
retainers all broken. Door panel and dashboard
vacuum-plated trim heavily worn.
Light detailing under hood—actually more of
a darn good cleanup than a detail job. Recent
spray-can lightweight undercoating, but
they did miss economy dual-exhaust system.
Cond: 3.
accessory rubber floor mats up front.
Cond: 2-.
FOMOCO
SOLD AT $9,990. It’s a little unusual to see
an Oshawa, Ontario-assembled wagon
down here, as Arlington (Texas) Assembly
was still cranking out these B-body wagons
with great regularity. This square-box design
continued in production through 1990,
with minimal changes. While later 1991–96
generation saw early interest—and was
quickly saved due to being the last RWD
GM wagons—these 1977–90 square boxes
are starting to see some appreciation. Not a
bad deal all around.
CORVETTE
SOLD AT $17,820. Last seen in the ACC
Premium Auction Database selling for
$16,050 at Mecum’s Spring Classic in May
2013 (ACC# 224179). In a way, I’m hoping
that door-latch issue surfaced once it got
here (since stuff does happen, with no notice,
that will drive you bonkers when trying
to market a car), rather than the consignor
giving up and just kicking it out the door
from sheer frustration.
#F121-1985 CHEVROLET CAPRICE Classic
9-passenger wagon. VIN: 2G1BN35H6F9121283.
Brown metallic/tan cloth.
Odo: 6,035 miles. 305-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto.
Optional tilt steering column and a/c.
Dealer-accessory branded black-plastic
mud flaps on all four wheelwells. Stated that
6,035 indicated miles actual since new, and
that car is all original. Well-preserved original
paint, chrome, alloy trim and interior
fittings. Paint on front valance and some of
rocker-panel trim has some light rock chips.
Undercarriage looks like most of those limited
miles were on gravel. Generally original
under hood, and could be detailed a little
better. Heaviest interior wear is on dealer-
92 AmericanCarCollector.com
#S170-1995 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Indy Pace Car edition convertible. VIN:
1G1YY32P4S5112726. Purple metallic &
white/black cloth/black & purple leather.
Odo: 12,991 miles. 5.7-L 300-hp fuel-injected
V8, auto. Stated that 12,991 miles
are actual, and that car is untouched from
new—aside from basic maintenance. Wellcared-for
original paint. Not only has topframe
clear protection film not been
removed from roof-flipper panel, but original
sticker from factory telling owner not to remove
them is still attached. Light wrinkling
on driver’s seat bottom and hint of wear on
driver’s side outboard seat bolster. As
minted by GM under hood, to include a replacement
AC-Delco battery. Light road
spray on undercarriage, but it looks like they
tried to wash off bottom of muffler. Still shod
with original Goodyears. Cond: 2-.
#S117-1935 FORD MODEL 48 Deluxe
Trunkback sedan. VIN: 18338723. Brown
& black/tan mohair. Odo: 68,034 miles. Repowered
by a 1948 Ford 239-ci V8, but generally
looks the part, aside from distributor.
Decent older repaint, in a not-so-authentic
metallic brown. Older black repaint on fenders
doing pretty well, but original chromed
DeLuxe grille shell also painted over and
now has significant chipping. Lower radiator
support and horns painted to match red
wheels. Rear quarter windows heavily delaminating.
Good amateur interior reupholstery
work, with correct seat pleats—even if
cloth fitted a bit loose on headliner. Stated it
has a replacement speedometer/odometer.
Period-accessory heater. Unkempt undercarriage,
with a coil of wire tie wrapped to a
rear spring shackle for aftermarket electric
fuel pump—because you never know when
you’ll have to move the pump to front of the
car. Cond: 3-.
SOLD AT $9,720. 1935 Fords were different
inside, in that the end of the shift lever,
after curving gracefully up from the floor,
makes a short turn up to get top of knob
almost level with floor. Talking with consignor
before it crossed the block, he mentioned
that he was realistically hoping for
$10k, but would cut it loose at $9k. Which is
pretty much the way things played out.
#S104-1949 FORD F-1 pickup. VIN: 98RC212994.
Red/black vinyl. Odo: 33,299
miles. 239-ci V8, 2-bbl, 3-sp. Lousy repaint,
which almost looks like a rattle-can job done
over (and over again) on top of original,
dead paint. Lazy masking around dry-rotted
windshield and backlight gaskets, plus door
glass. More easily spent on new, varnished
oak box flooring, with polished skid strips.
Selective trim replacement, with earlier period
door hinge and clamp-on mirrors
NOT SOLD AT $20,000. I’m more surprised
when I see an Indy Pace Car edition (pick a
year, it doesn’t matter) that actually gets
used as a real car like my C5 coupe. Seems
like they all end up as Instant Collectibles.
Compared to all those out there still on
MSO, this is almost high miles. Stated while
rolling off the block that “$24k will do it.” I
certainly hope so. Actually, the $20k bid
really should’ve gotten the job done.
Page 92
TWIN CITIES AUCTIONS // St. Paul, MN
added. Okay door fit—for a truck. Aftermarket
diamond-tread door sills. Good seat recovering,
done in a generic pleat. Carpet
added to floor and ad-hoc headliner is more
of a synthetic trunk-liner material. Fairly
spiffy, generally stock engine bay. Routing
of ignition and electrical wiring a bit haphazard,
but generally clean. New non-stock
dual-exhaust system and modern radial
tires. Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $10,152. Second
year into the all-new post-war Ford pickups
was, for all intents and purposes, on cruise
control. Ford still sold as many as it could
get ahold of materials to build, so why mess
with success? As such, the only way to tell
the difference between a 1948 and 1949
F-1 was first digit of serial number. An odd
juxtaposition of a few things done well and a
lot of things done really badly; you can’t
even make the argument that it’s a workerbee
(especially with the new wood bed
floor). With reserve surpassed at $9k, it kept
on getting bids; I’ll just call it well sold.
#S124.4-1957 FORD THUNDERBIRD convertible.
VIN: D7FH136825. Light blue/light
blue hard top, dark blue cloth/white & blue
vinyl. Odo: 80,338 miles. 312-ci V8, 4-bbl,
3-sp. Body tag codes out as originally Thunderbird
Bronze with a Colonial White hard
top and all-white interior. Factory-optional
3-speed with overdrive. Reproduction ’62–
63 Sports Roadster Kelsey-Hayes wire
wheels on radial wide whites, modern a/c
and retro-look AM/FM/cassette stereo. Excellent
color-change body-on, trim-off repaint.
Aftermarket wing nuts on cast-alloy
valve covers, period finned aluminum voltage-regulator
cover and modern commercial
battery, but otherwise done up to
looking stock. Non-stock dark blue pad
added to top of door panels, to hide some of
the arm-out-the-window soiling and wear.
Older seat upholstery kit still presenting
well, with minimal wear. Retro-looking modern
seat belts. Cond: 2-.
with more money are less fussy, and paid
full market price for a cruiser—not a show
car.
#S98-1959 FORD GALAXIE Skyliner retractable
hard top. VIN: H9RW130512.
Black & white/red vinyl & black cloth. Odo:
82,812 miles. 352-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Dealeraccessory
Continental kit, with extended
non-stock exhaust system and modern aftermarket
outlets. Stated restored by consignor
25 years ago. Wears an AACA
National First Place badge on grille—from
1996. Repaint still good, despite some
small-brush touch-ups on various chips.
Rechromed bumpers still present well.
Gold-tone trim getting discolored. All four
headlights are halogens. Reproduction dash
pad starting to warp and lift along windshield.
Door pinchweld moldings sloppily
reglued. Good door fit, and, more importantly,
top functions well. Recent fluff-andbuff
under hood. Cond: 2-.
SOLD AT $11,070. Y-block truck engines—
from their introduction until they were put
out to pasture for light duties in 1965—had
a particularly nasty exhaust configuration.
The driver’s side manifold exited in front of
engine, where a pipe crossed over the
block, between the water pump and the upper
radiator hose, where it connected to the
front of the passenger’s side exhaust manifold
and eventually exited out the back of it
to the exhaust pipe and muffler. A surefire
way to get burned arms if you had to work
on one of these beasts; it may explain why
a lot of folks became Chevy fans. Personally,
I’m not a fan of the red accents inside
and with the wheels, but like the tweaked
suspension, it’s easily cured if stock is your
fancy. As such, it was a pretty good buy.
SOLD AT $43,200. Built in mid-January of
1959, this is actually a transitional car, when
top-line Ford went from being a Fairlane
500 to a Galaxie. Cars from this period—like
this one—will have both sets of badges on
them in various places as the year progressed.
Two decades ago, this was probably
a pretty nice car, but even then it still
wasn’t as authentic as consignor claims.
However, owner seems to still think it’s the
show queen from two-and-a-half decades
ago. Originally a no-sale at $42k on Friday
as F158, then also a no-sale when reran on
Saturday as S98. Post-event data from auction
company shows it sold—for plenty.
SOLD AT $43,200. I recall seeing this car
over 20 years ago at one of this auction
company’s events—two name changes ago
now. As the consignor here was a long-term
customer of theirs, this has to be that same
car. Back then, I didn’t pay much attention
to the color change; I liked the blue with
3-speed-overdrive combination. Today,
while I’m a little fussier on details, this is still
an appealing combination. However, others
94 AmericanCarCollector.com
#F125.1-1962 FORD F-100 Custom Cab
Unibody pickup. VIN: F10CK302754. Pagoda
Green & white/green & white vinyl.
Odo: 87,020 miles. 292-ci V8, 2-bbl, 3-sp.
Newer, good-quality repaint. All chrome
either replated or replaced. Galpin Ford of
San Fernando Valley, CA, license-plate
frame, around standard-issue MN plates.
Modern aftermarket white-vinyl tonneau
cover. Modern CD sound system mounted
in glovebox. Left door has a period dealeraccessory
zippered door pocket in red vinyl,
while right door doesn’t have one, but does
have an insert upper trim panel in red. Must
have something to do with red-painted stock
wheels. Speaking of wheels, suspension
lowered a couple of inches all around. Undercarriage
has an older undercoating job.
Recent engine detailing, generally stock to
include exhaust cross-over pipe—aside
from chrome valve covers. Cond: 3+.
#F146-1963 FORD GALAXIE 500 XL 2-dr
hard top. VIN: 3D64B113557. Black/red
vinyl. Odo: 91,271 miles. 406-ci V8, 3x2-bbl,
4-sp. When originally built at the Dallas Assembly
Plant, this 406 was topped by a
4-bbl carb; now it has a correct-style, Ford
dealer-accessory tri-power induction system.
Has some panels with original paint,
but by and large has been repainted bit by
bit. Dye splatter on door jambs and body
tag when door panels and/or dashboard
redone in car. New reproduction seats and
carpeting, with correct seat belts added
front and rear—all expertly installed. 1977
New Mexico inspection sticker on windshield.
Good door and panel fit. Engine has
most pieces from chrome dress-up kit, but
not all. Generally stock detailing, aside from
modern battery. Correct 15-inch wheels with
tri-bar spinner wheel covers and modern
radials. Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $32,940. Don’t let ’em fool you.
Even hardcore Ford fans who know these
cars will tell you that the only Ford to ever
come from the factory with tri-power attached
under hood is the M-code 1962–63
T-bird. All other setups were either shipped
Page 93
TWIN CITIES AUCTIONS // St. Paul, MN
in the trunk or (more often than not) were
sold across a parts counter. Generally leaning
towards decent original, the reserve was
lifted at $28k for a pretty good overall deal.
#F125-1965 FORD MUSTANG 2+2 fastback.
VIN: 5F09C639832. Rangoon Red/
white vinyl. Odo: 5,272 miles. 289-ci V8,
2-bbl, auto. Single-family ownership since
purchased new from Burns Motor Co. of
Hawley, MN. Generally original paint, although
front fenders are slightly off hue
from doors. Good original front bumper,
while rear bumper coated with light pitting.
Heavier wear on driver’s seat than passenger’s,
manifesting as a glossier finish. Center
console has heaviest yellowing of all
interior components. While engine bay had
been recently cleaned, it’s never been detailed.
Flaking original paint on engine, air
cleaner and radiator. Bare-metal replacement
water pump and timing-chain cover. It
must have been two-for-one day at River
Rouge when this was built, since the VIN
was stamped twice on driver’s side fender
support. Minimal surface rust on undercarriage.
Newer radial tires. Cond: 3.
still usable. Solid, bank-vault door fit. Factory-supplied,
original owner’s nameplate
affixed to trim panel over glovebox. Dealer
service tag from Ford dealer in Hibbing,
MN, when it had an oil change in 1989 at
42k miles. Generally original albeit a bit
greasy under hood, with some belt and
hose changes. Runs out just fine. Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $3,800. If this had a maroon interior
and pinstripe, it would be a dead ringer
for one that I used to own—and frequently
wish that I still had. One of the best buys in
the collector car market for several years,
I’d write these up for my “Cheap Thrills” column
except that I keep getting vetoed by
Editor Pickering. Selling prices have been
moving up on these—actually all ’70s land
yachts—although low miles is what’s been
driving that. However, with 57k on the clock
here, I’m calling this well bought. Heck, from
past experience, if it’s 157k instead, they
didn’t get screwed, since it has lots of life
left in it.
SOLD AT $24,840. By the looks of it, this
must have been someone’s summer-fun car
since new, as any use up here in the Rust
Belt during winter would’ve rotted this out.
What rust is on the car is consistent with
being parked over the winter. As a near survivor-grade
car, especially in good colors,
this was a pretty decent buy.
#F154-1978 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL
Town Car sedan. VIN: 8Y82A939072.
White/white vinyl/Jade Green velour. Odo:
57,527 miles. 460-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Period
Midland 40-channel CB radio installed under
dashboard. Seller states that 57,572
indicated are miles actual and that car is
essentially original. Good original paint,
aside from some light cracking, chipping
and flaking on plastic bumper skirting. Broken
left taillight trim, with a cracked lens, but
“
MOPAR
#S133-1969 DODGE DART Swinger 340
2-dr hard top. VIN: LM23P9B235541.
Copper/tan vinyl. Odo: 8,997 miles. 340-ci
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Retains most documentation
from when purchased new by previous
owner. Originally was stripe delete—period
photos of car show it without them—but
now is striped. Actual miles from new—
bought new to be a drag-race car. As such,
engine block is a replacement, although rest
of powertrain is put back to original. Still has
a longer-duration cam and headers, but
original bumpstick and manifolds are included.
Repainted three decades ago, but,
with several light chips and nicks, comes off
as original. Nice original interior, although
there’s some seam separations on corners
of seat back. Period Sun tach clamped to
steering column. Cond: 3+.
Hopefully, owner is selling because he
realized that he can’t do bodywork—
over actually having paid someone else
for doing an abomination like this.
SOLD AT $36,720. Period photos of car
were from 1977, when it was running at
now-former North Star Dragstrip north of
Minneapolis. It sported a hood scoop, slicks
on steelies in back, and Cragar SS wheels
a couple inches up in the air as car is
launching off the line. Unfortunately, there
are no timing slips. Interesting that original
owner chose a Dart 340 Swinger for a dedicated
drag car. Probably figuring that he’d
do better in lower classes than messing with
Hemis, Cobra Jets and Mark IV big blocks.
While it seems a little steep, it’s low miles
that make this market-correct—although
tweaks keep it from being a decent buy.
#F124-1970 PLYMOUTH ’CUDA 2-dr hard
top. VIN: BS23H0B366066. Yellow/black
vinyl. Odo: 52,542 miles. 440-cc V8, 4-bbl,
auto. Body tag gone. Originally a 340-powered
’Cuda. Now fitted with a modified 440,
with the usual goodies festooned to it: aftermarket
intake, headers, chrome valve covers,
plus a mix of dingy original and
aftermarket billet belt pulleys. Ten-footer
repaint over lousy bodywork. Top of leftfront
fender filler cracking. Excess body filler
built up along center character line of driver’s
door, and has a one-by-two-inch section
of paint chipped out and brush-filled
back in. Door fit off on both sides. Back window
in place, but most trim out, along with
rear parcel shelf. Most of original interior
otherwise there, with a couple of small tears
in seat backs. Damp, stained carpet smells
congruent to a leaky heater core. Usually
needed a jump pack to start. Cond: 4+.
”
NOT SOLD AT $18,000. Hopefully, owner
is selling because he realized that he can’t
do bodywork—over actually having paid
someone else for doing an abomination like
this. “Foaming pile of dog dung” is the one
phrase that keeps coming into my mind
about this copulation of parts. Only upside
here is to buy it cheap and hit the Reset
button. No, $18k isn’t cheap enough. Better
yet, avoid it, as there’s little worse than trying
to fix other people’s mistakes. A
September-October 2016 95
Page 94
MECUM AUCTIONS // Portland, OR
Mecum — Portland 2016
THAT REAL-DEAL FIRST-YEAR SHELBY GT350 REPRESENTED A DAMN GOOD
BUY CONSIDERING HOW ORIGINAL, IF NOT EXACTLY PERFECT, IT WAS
Mecum
Auctions
Portland, OR
June 17–18, 2016
Auctioneers:
Mark Delzell,
Jimmy Landis, Mike
Hagerman, Matt
Moravec
Automotive lots sold/
offered: 297/488
Sales rate: 61%
Sales total:
$9,316,726
High sale: 1965
Shelby GT350 fastback,
sold at $335,500
Buyer’s premium:
10% buyer’s premium,
minimum $500, included
in sold prices
Mecum brought some great American iron for their inaugural Portland sale: a 1968 Chevrolet Nova SS
427 COPO 2-door sedan, sold at $159,500, and a 1965 Shelby GT350 fastback, sold at $335,500
Report and photos by Jim Pickering,
Chad Taylor and Chad Tyson
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
96 AmericanCarCollector.com
Intro by Chad Tyson
Market opinions in italics
off the bat they pulled out a $20.7m sale. Flash forward
to 2014 in Seattle, where that first sale netted $15.3m,
with a 53% sales rate.
Obviously, the truth is the tremendous team effort
I
behind the scenes powering the company to new heights.
The efforts by Sam Murtaugh, David Morton and John
Kraman, among others, from scoping out venues to
building relationships with local pillars of the auto community,
are a huge part of the company’s growth.
It was back in March when I heard the word that
Mecum was skipping their Washington stop of the past
two years and hitting somewhere a bit farther south —
Portland.
It’s easy to forget (much as we try to remind you) that
among the bustling streets brimming with Subarus and
whatever the plural version of Prius is, there is a huge
car-collecting culture here. From the weekly thousand-
’m not sure where Dana Mecum found his divining
stick, but I want one. This man leads a company
that can seemingly pick a city (well, maybe not
any city) and start printing money. Back in 2011,
Mecum started their now-annual Dallas sale. Right
plus cruise-in that is Beaches to the Pacific Northwest’s
newest motorsports museum, World of Speed, to dozens
of forgotten-but-not-gone drag strips, we have a lot of
love for the automobile.
But all that doesn’t matter much unless the hammer
strikes “sold.” Mecum did that at a pretty good clip
(61%) here. The high sale was a 1965 Shelby GT350
that brought $335,500. That real-deal first-year Shelby
Mustang represented a damn good buy considering how
original, if not exactly perfect, it was. Runner-up high
sale was a 1969 Mustang Boss 429 at $264,000. The
rest of the top 10 sales read as a who’s who of American
muscle: COPO Nova, GT500, Z11, 427/435 and Hemi
’Cuda.
My favorite car of the auction was a custom, yellow
’72 Camaro. It didn’t meet its undisclosed reserve with
a $67,500 bid, but I never found a yellow hue that I liked
before that car. The 468-ci V8, remarkable fit and finish,
and graphite trim kept my mind on that car long after the
auction packed up shop.
I’ll be surprised if Mecum doesn’t come back to
the Rose City next year. But by now it’s pretty obvious
Mecum goes where that divining rod points. A
Page 96
MECUM AUCTIONS // Portland, OR
GM
#S132-1959 OLDSMOBILE 98 convertible.
VIN: 599C07024. Light blue/light blue
vinyl/blue & white vinyl. Odo: 34,870 miles.
394-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Frame-up rotisserie
restoration using many NOS parts. Paint
nearly perfect. Light blue top new, with back
window clear and unscratched. Brightwork
and trim showing light scratches throughout.
Wide whitewall tires finish off 1950s look.
Matching light blue and white bench seats,
with white piping, are brand new. All dash
trim bright, as are gauges and controls. Engine
compartment looks like it did when
driving off showroom floor. Extremely clean.
Cond: 2.
owner since 1992, and used in 2001’s “That
Thing You Do!” starring Tom Hanks. A
poster car for what GM’s been up to with
their LS-series conversion kits. Buy the engine,
the harness, and a fuel system, and
you’re on the go again with a modern,
clean, 430-hp monster in place of your classic
car’s old engine. It may seem wrong at
first, but in terms of actually using your car,
something like this will be a lot more friendly
in traffic—plus there are no more leaky
carbs and chokes to deal with. That rust will
need to be fixed sooner rather than later,
but otherwise I’d call this a fair deal considering
the parts installed.—J. Pickering
NOT SOLD AT $60,000. What’s not to love
here? Great color combination gives it a
fresh-and-clean ’50s look. Interior done extremely
well and keeps with upscale feeling
of this car. With a rebuilt engine, transmission
and front end, this car is cruise-in
ready. A beautiful alternative to Fords and
Chevys. High bid seemed sufficient to buy
the car, but consignor opted to hold out for
more.—C. Taylor
#F37-1961 BUICK LESABRE 2-dr hard
top. VIN: 4H2006519. White & blue/gray
vinyl. Odo: 41 miles. 6.2-L fuel-injected V8,
auto. Generally okay white paint covers up
some rust issues around rear window.
Chrome and trim look good for a driver.
Panel gaps and body lines straight and consistent.
Interior restored using some nonstock
door panels and seat covers, but it
doesn’t stand out. Original engine and
transmission yanked in favor of a GM Performance
LS3 and modern automatic transmission.
Clean installation without any
visible hack-job wiring or cobbled-up parts.
150 miles since conversion. A nice driver.
Cond: 3-.
#S111-1962 CHEVROLET BEL
AIR Z11 2-dr hard top. VIN: 21637S120438.
Roman Red/red vinyl. Odo: 806
miles. 409-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Completely
restored some time back, with some polish
scratching to otherwise smooth paint. Great
panel gaps, chrome and trim. One-piece
bumpers, Sun tach, 3.31 Posi rear end. Allbusiness
stock-style interior shows no wear.
Fitted with Z11-spec 409 built by Lamar
Walden at a cost of almost $16k in 2002.
Said to produce 540 hp on 13.5:1 compression.
Rare Z11 two-piece intake manifold
and 731 high-performance cylinder heads.
A finalist for the 2016 Goodguys Muscle Car
of the Year, with the winner to be announced
in October. Cond: 2+.
10
SOLD AT $49,500. Have you ever wanted
the luxuries and dependability of your current
car but wished it had styling from back
in the day? Here you go. Complete with
DVD player for the kids and navigation to
get you around town. All mods necessary to
complete this build done with utmost care
and highest quality. Denali kick plates and
badging might be a bit much, though. It’s
hard to know what a custom like this should
bring, but price seems high considering
what a newer Denali costs. Granted, it won’t
have the same character, but somebody in
the room needed this behemoth.—C. Taylor
SOLD AT $121,000. You gotta love
409-powered, bubble-top Chevys, and this
one had a great look. But that said, nowhere
did it say that this car came stock with the
parts now installed—and with 13.5:1 compression,
there are no simple gas station
fill-ups in new owner’s future. Hope he’s got
room in his garage for a 55-gallon drum of
110-octane Rocket racing fuel, because
that’s what this thing will guzzle—at $9 or
so per gallon. Price paid here was on high
side of market, all things considered, but I
can’t argue with the fun (and cool) factor of
a wicked W-motor that hides under stock
looks.—J. Pickering
SOLD AT $18,700. Said to have had one
98 AmericanCarCollector.com
#S112-1964 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN
Custom utility. VIN: 0R93586. Blue/black
leather. 6.2-L fuel-injected V8, auto. Vintage
1964 Suburban body on 2009 Yukon Denali
chassis. Paint a near-pristine blue, with contrasting
silver around acres of windows.
#S156-1967 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE SS
2-dr hard top. VIN: 1381775194870. Butternut
Yellow/black vinyl. Odo: 61,801 miles.
454-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Really nice paint application
in an OE color. Chrome looks like
a fresh replate. Good body panel gaps, nice
trim. Trunk seal installed backwards, mushrooming
in instead of out. Some visible rust
marks in trunk suggest it leaks slightly.
Stock interior with both aftermarket tach and
factory tach. Engine compartment spotless,
with engine dressed as a 375-hp 396. Fitted
with power steering, but no power brakes.
Said to be a factory 138-code SS, with
3.31-ratio 12-bolt rear and SS 396 trim. Sits
right on 14-inch Rally wheels and Redline
tires. Less than 20 miles on restoration.
Cond: 2+.
Chrome bumpers, mirror caps and trim also
pristine. Custom LED headlights installed.
Denali interior nicely modified to fit inside
Suburban body. Nothing from ’60s integrated
into this interior. Heated leather
buckets, wood trim dash and steering
wheel, and even a sunroof have all been
borrowed. Engine clean and fits nicely under
large hood. Has all the electronics—including
rain-sensing wipers and stability
control. Cond: 2.
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SOLD AT $93,500. A factory SS 396
Chevelle sells for a median price of about
$39,600. So how did we get to $93,500
here? This car was done well throughout,
but was it really nice enough to set a new
auction record for the model, especially
considering it wasn’t a 396 car anymore? I
can’t argue with the quality of presentation
here, but I’d still call this well sold compared
to zero-needs cars that would sell for the
same money or less.—J. Pickering
114278W 369657. Tripoli Turquoise/black
vinyl. Odo: 69,204 miles. 427-ci V8, 4-bbl,
auto. Claimed to be #4 of 50 COPO 9738
Nova Super Sports ordered by Fred Gibb
Chevrolet, and fitted with a massive L72
427 big-block engine by Dick Harrell. Restoration
by Ed Cunneen. Paint flawless, some
minor surface scratching to chrome—consistent
with a lot of polishing. Excellent
panel gaps, super straight body. Fiberglass
stinger hood autographed underneath by
Elaine Harrell and Harrell crew members.
Engine compartment spotless and correct
aside from yellowed paper air filter element
and coated tubular headers. Clean interior
in black vinyl, with sweeper tach mounted to
steering column and two Stewart-Warner
gauges under dash. Cond: 1-.
7
#S116-1968 CHEVROLET NOVA
SS 427 COPO 2-dr sedan. VIN:
Interior clean and spartan, engine compartment
all business, with proper hose clamps
and finishes. Space-saver spare in trunk.
Fitted with 427, M22 Rock Crusher Muncie,
12-bolt rear with 4.10 gears, and radio-delete
plate. Clearly restored, and done pretty
well to look like a COPO. Owned by WWE
superstar John Cena and said to be still
titled in his name. Cond: 2-.
last statement on car card. GM X-body cars,
like the Nova, don’t have a complete frame.
Like a Camaro, there’s a front subframe and
a rear axle—so what exactly is a rebodied
Nova? Was this a 6-cyl Nova built up
around a VIN, engine, subframe, and axle?
Hard to say, but there were enough questions
here to stop bidding at this market
level.—J. Pickering
SOLD AT $68,750. John Cena apparently
bought this car for $175,000 in 2007, according
to the board leaning on the front
bumper. More pertinent than that fact was
the careful mention that the car’s “believed
to be” an early Los Angeles COPO, but
there’s no evidence to support it. With cars
as special as COPO 427s, you need proof
to bring big money, and regardless of what
Cena thought about this car when he
bought it, this price was pretty much topped
out without more proof of car’s origin and a
little more time spent adjusting the details.—
J. Pickering
SOLD AT $159,500. If you’re looking for a
top-dog Nova, you’ve found it. These cars
aren’t especially heavy, and the addition of
the L72 427—an engine initially rated by the
factory at 450 hp—makes this a true
screamer. 1968 Novas are special cars already,
as they have unique trim and interior
parts different from 1969 and later versions.
Not much to gripe about here, as this car
had everything going for it: history, documentation,
restoration quality and straightup
grunt. Big money for a Nova, to be sure,
but then again, this isn’t your everyday
Chevy II.—J. Pickering
#S166-1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO
coupe. VIN: 124379L511422. Garnet Red/
red vinyl. Odo: 31,881 miles. 427-ci V8,
4-bbl, 4-sp. Red repaint done with car assembled—jambs
are same color, but not as
shiny or bright. Door fit inconsistent, with
both sitting up away from quarter panels
when shut. Chrome and trim okay, but
showing some wear consistent with use.
100AmericanCarCollector.com
#S150-1970 CHEVROLET NOVA Yenko
Deuce 2-dr sedan. VIN: 114270W352754.
Cortez Silver & black/black vinyl. Odo:
20,806 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Great
paint shows only light orange peel. Fantastic
chrome and trim, good panel gaps, sits
on the right Torq Thrust wheels and Firestone
Wide Oval tires. M21 4-speed, 12-bolt
rear with 4.10 gears, hood-mounted tach.
Black stripes well executed. Engine compartment
features correct components, including
dual-snorkel air cleaner and
deep-groove pullies. Fitted with A.I.R. system.
Claimed to be one of 175 Yenko
Deuce Novas built, and one of 12 in Cortez
Silver. Car card says “rebodied restoration.”
Cond: 1-. NOT SOLD AT $80,000. Last
seen at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale in January
2015, where it sold for $82,500 (ACC#
6779595). This shiny thing had my attention
right up to the record scratch that was the
#S138.1-1970 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE
SS 454 replica 2-dr hard top. VIN: 136370L165708.
Black & white/black vinyl.
Odo: 11 miles. 454-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Decent
paint without issue other than some
polishing scratches and slightly too-wide
SS stripes. Panel gaps not consistent. Rear
bumper twisted—high on one side and low
on other. Front bumper mounted crooked
and appears to be wrong one for the car,
with too-big turn-signal-light cutouts. Fenders
fixed to car with incorrect bolts in some
places and no bolts in others. Grille wrong
color for an SS car. Engine compartment
looks generally stock other than a polished
intake and a lot of shiny prep spray. Odd
routing of power-steering hose. Clean stock
interior with SS gauges and 7,000-rpm tach.
C-pillar panels warped, twisted and showing
through rear window. Cond: 3-.
SOLD AT $39,600. Your average person on
the street isn’t going to notice all the little
things that were wrong with this Chevelle.
But to purists, or even just die-hard Chevy
people, the issues here stood out about as
blatantly as the wheels. Almost $40k was
big money for a street machine that had
needs, but once some of those issues are
straightened out (like that twisted rear bumper,
for example), this may not look too expensive—especially
if the new owner finds
some evidence that a Rat was under that
hood from new. Well sold otherwise.—J.
Pickering
#S81.1-1970 CHEVROLET NOVA 2-dr
sedan. VIN: 114270W393037. Cranberry
Red/black vinyl. Odo: 31,982 miles. 396-ci
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Original, numbers-matching
396/375 L78, with under 32k miles and original
Cranberry Red paint. Correct SS
wheels and Polyglas tires. Straight body,
but paint shows its age. Scratched all over,
with some bubbling by driver’s side window.
Chrome and trim also quite scratched, but
looks fairly straight and, most importantly,
all there. I couldn’t get a complete look at
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interior, as the car was locked, with the windows
up, but appears decent. There is,
however, a tear on driver’s seat bottom.
Underhood keeps with rest of car—mostly
original and maintained, but not show quality
by any means. Cond: 3.
Jeff Richards of Super Camaros in nearby
Vancouver, WA. Attention to detail on a remarkable
level. Not repeatable at high bid,
as these builds seldom are, but it wasn’t a
lowball offer. Still, we, as a market, use reserves
for a reason, and since that mark
wasn’t hit, the seller took it home.—C. Tyson
SOLD AT $64,900. A real-deal, untouched,
big-block Nova. Conditional shortcomings
could easily be overlooked because of the
originality, which does seem to be a musthave
for many collectors right now. Sold
price seems rather high compared to the
price guide median for this car. Apparently,
the right person was in the room. Well
sold.—C. Taylor
#S117-1972 CHEVROLET CAMARO RS
custom coupe. VIN: 1Q87K2N136071.
Yellow Goldmine Pearl/black leather. 468-ci
V8, 4-bbl, 5-sp. Impressive and expressive
paint. All formerly chrome trim pieces now a
dark graphite. Lots of fun, Pro Touring
goodies: 4-link rear suspension, 13-inch
disc brakes, Pro-G Advanced Geometry
front suspension, 4.11 Posi diff (but in a
10-bolt), and rack-and-pinion steering. Custom
body touches include 19-inch wheels,
front splitter, rear diffuser, three-piece
spoiler, hand-formed body extensions and
painted undercarriage. Mirrors line the floor
to show off underside. Big engine still swimming
in bay, with smoothed firewall and billet
everywhere. Interior as splendid as
exterior, with black-face designer gauges
and custom leather-and-suede seats.
Cond: 2.
#F218-1995 CADILLAC FLEETWOOD
custom sedan. VIN: 1G6DW52P6SR713140.
Kandy Tangerine/orange velour/
orange cloth & yellow leather. 5.7-L fuelinjected
V8, auto. “LA” script as hood mascot
and repeated in graphics around car—
stands for Liquid Assets. Band of graphics
on both sides of car feature seductively
posed fantasy women. Done in relative
good taste, as no nipples were evident. Embossed
paisley pattern on many triple-plated
chrome surfaces: spare cover, air-suspension
compressor (which negates trunk
space), and grille surround (rest of grille had
“jewels” glued to grille bars). Paisley pattern
continues to orange cloth seat inserts. Not
sure where airbags are anymore. Presented
with rear suspension pumped up and front
at normal height. Cond: 2.
CORVETTE
6
S115681. Marlboro Maroon & black/black
vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 50,218 miles. 427-ci
435-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Nice repaint in
original color, with hood-stinger stripe application
centered better than would have
been done at the factory. No seam broadcasting
through paint in what appears to be
a no-hit body, no clearance cuts in rear
wheelwells for wider tires. Nice interior, with
very clean and correct engine compartment.
Options include M21 4-speed, 3.70 Posi,
transistorized ignition, power steering and
brakes, telescopic column, and AM/FM radio.
Comes with original tank sticker, NCRS
shipping data report, owner history, restoration
receipts and more. Oregon car since
new. Cond: 1-.
#S122-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. VIN: 194677-
NOT SOLD AT $67,500. A custom build by
“
NOT SOLD AT $20,000. Easy to spot from
five miles. In the dark. During a rainstorm.
Except it doesn’t rain much in Southern California
(and I question how dark it gets in
L.A. even at 3 a.m.), and that’s where I’d
expect to find this car. There’s no reason
the seller should have accepted this $20k
high bid, but I really want to know what it
takes to get it sold. Reminded me of a Buick
from Silver’s spring Portland sale in 2011,
with a custom (also nippleless) mural on the
decklid. That Buick was in the county-impound
row. Back to this car, with three-year
build costing a reported $155k, $20k won’t
be enough to pry this creamcicle loose. Yet,
at least. We’ll just have to see where it pops
up again.—C. Tyson
GM X-body cars, like the Nova, don’t
have a complete frame. There’s a front
subframe and a rear axle—so what,
exactly, is a rebodied Nova?
102AmericanCarCollector.com
SOLD AT $176,000. The advertising with
this car said that it had correct drivetrain
components and “born-with” options. If
we’re being picky, that doesn’t exactly explicitly
say that the car has its original engine.
Still, this L71 Corvette had all the right
stuff for Corvette collectors, and it really
was in top-notch condition throughout. A
slightly high price to pay for a nice 435, but I
think condition and options justified it
here.—J. Pickering
”
#S69-1995 CHEVROLET CORVETTE ZR-1
coupe. VIN: 1G1YZ22J0S5800340. Bright
Aqua/gray leather. Odo: 10,814 miles. 5.7-L
405-hp fuel-injected V8, 6-sp. Low-mileage,
top-of-the-line Corvette. No chrome to speak
of on this beauty. Aqua paint clean, with
slight scratches from polishing and some typical
flaws associated with factory paint from
the era. Gray interior in excellent condition.
Very clean, especially considering light color,
but then again, not much time was spent in
the seat given the low miles. Engine clean
and original. No hard-water spots on black
surrounding surfaces, which almost never
look good. Comes with two tops and original
window sticker. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $33,550.
I’ve found it hard to climb into these C4 Corvettes.
That giant door sill with a low seat
and tiny footwell don’t make it easy. Especially
when trying to keep a light-colored
interior clean. Perhaps that’s what kept the
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MARKETMOMENT
1942 Ford GPA Amphibious
owner out of this car and it in the garage,
keeping miles down. No matter. Someone
wanted this well-kept ’Vette and, hopefully,
they will put some miles on it. Strong bid
slightly over ACC median price, but this was
an above-average car.—C. Taylor
FOMOCO
#S148-1930 FORD MODEL A custom
pickup. VIN: A3328568. Black/black vinyl/
black vinyl. Odo: 3,181 miles. 427-ci supercharged
V8, auto. Decent black paint, good
panel fit, little body chrome and trim all
showing well. Massive small-block engine
done up with a lot of shine and a huge
Roots-style blower. Fitted with nitrous injection
under dual Quick Fuel 4-bbl blower
carbs. Said to be dynoed at 823 horsepower.
Engine has nice custom headers
exiting through front fenders. All red-andblue
AN fittings fading from sun exposure.
Huge wheelie bars in back, sitting on rear
slicks, but has street tires on other rims
tossed in bed. Simple starting instructions
spelled out inside; has no ignition key—
starts on a switch. No reserve. Cond: 3.
SOLD at $125,000
Bonhams Greenwich, Greenwich, CT, June 5, 2016, Lot 62
VIN: 3936
Courtesy of Bonhams
Holy Grails of military vehicle collecting. While not as successful in military
operations as the core G503 Ford GPW jeep it’s based on, or the later GMC DUKW 2 ½-ton
amphibious truck, it nonetheless served enough of a purpose that after the war,
the Soviets copied the Lend-Lease examples they received from us.
Since GPAs have all the pitfalls of a boat and an old truck combined into one,
The Ford GPA (affectionately known as the “Seep”) is one of the
there is no such thing as a cheap date when it comes to a GPA. They are more
difficult to maintain and far more needy than the core jeep, and a restoration is
not for the novice. Subsequently, selling prices even for tidy-but-needy examples
tend to be high.
Since only 12,778 GPAs were built from 1942 to 1943, and anything for the
war effort until the spring of 1945 was a rush to get to the troops — or in the
case of the GPA, Lend-Lease — I’d like to see proof that supports the “never saw
active duty” statement made by the auction company about this example. Most
GPAs that exist today were used at stateside training bases, since the vast majority
of regular production never returned from overseas. More likely, our example was originally
deployed in that manner — with a serial number in the first third of production — and when
our use of them was curtailed, it was parked on base for the duration.
The high-water mark for a public sale of a GPA in recent years was the freshly restored ex-
SOLD AT $37,400. Holy overkill. How much
can this thing actually weigh? 2,500
pounds? And that huffed 427 small block
probably accounts for about 600 pounds of
that. So take 2,500 pounds and add in 823
horsepower and you can see why it needed
two sets of rear tires and a stout wheelie
bar. This thing looked to have been built
well (aside from not having an ignition key),
and I’m sure it’s a handful to drive. Think
the new owner will try out that nitrous system?
Bought for under what it would cost to
build something similar, so I’d call it a good
deal on that metric.—J. Pickering
ample sold from the late Chet Krause’s collection in 2010 for $160k (ACC# 165643). Since our
featured example was restored eight years ago and has seen use both on land and in fresh water
— evident in images from the auction company — the selling price is right in the ballpark of
where you can expect to pay for one that should both drive and swim but not sink.
If anything, since it has proved that it works both ways, I’ll call this a good deal for someone
who is interested in using this in re-enactments — or just impressing the neighbors out at the
lake cabin.A
— B. Mitchell Carlson
September-October 2016 103
September-October 2016
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MECUM AUCTIONS // Portland, OR
#F49-1947 FORD SUPER DELUXE convertible.
VIN: 799A1540F04. Blue/white
vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 99,453 miles. 239-ci
V8, 2-bbl, 3-sp. Great patina to old blue
paint. No major dents or dings, but lots of
fading throughout. Chrome and trim dinged,
scratched, but all there. Windshield shows
deep wiper scratches; top looks like newest
thing on car. Fitted with driver’s side spotlight
and yellow running lights on front bumper.
Dash and gauges also show some
wear, but it’s even with exterior of car. Seats
in good shape—probably done at same
time as convertible top. Chrome dual exhaust.
Washington state plates from 1947,
with no modern tags. Cond: 4+.
der. Even hose clamps are placed identically.
Cond: 2. SOLD AT $63,250. I’m not a
fan of customs, but this one was done very
well. Modifications chosen keep this car
from looking overdone. With a fuel-injected
V8, four-wheel disc brakes and a C6 transmission,
this should be a comfortable driver,
too. Plus seats seem extremely comfortable.
Sold price seems high even for a custom
of this caliber, but no matter. The
generous owner donated this car—and it
was sold with no reserve—all proceeds going
to the Parkinson’s Resources of Oregon.
So the more money, the better.—C. Taylor
SOLD AT $20,900. This Ford would make a
great driver as-is, with an even wear that it
wore proudly. With the patina movement
still in full swing, I’m not surprised this broke
$20k here. After all, where will you find another
that’s been more or less left alone like
this? Well bought and sold.—J. Pickering
#S77.1-1950 FORD CUSTOM DELUXE
2-dr sedan. VIN: B0LB131871. Blue/gray
leather. 351-ci fuel-injected V8, auto. Featured
in Street & Custom Rodding Illustrated
and a multiple award winner. Top chopped
two inches, Frenched headlights and taillights,
trunk and hood shaved, and doors
fitted with flush-mount handles. Paint incredibly
clean, only showing a few light
scratches from detailing. Perfect chrome.
No scratches, pitting or bubbling here, there
or anywhere. Custom gray interior impeccable.
Plush leather seats all clean and reveal
no signs of wear. Door panels not
dinged up and carpet unstained. Under
hood everything done looks remarkable.
#S86-1965 SHELBY GT350 fastback.
VIN: SFM5S377. White &
blue/black vinyl. Odo: 37,435 miles. 289-ci
V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Genuine 1965 GT350
with matching-numbers engine. Same
owner for past 38 years. Claimed rebuilt
undercarriage, refinished original Koni
shocks, original shifter and horn switch,
original package shelf and more. Number of
spare parts includes two carbs, intake, air
cleaner, steering wheel, radiator and dashgauge
pod. Paint shows its age, with subsurface
bubbling on all flat surfaces—yet it
shines up quite well. Hood looks better.
Nice chrome, clean interior and engine
compartment. Looks the part of an original
that’s spent a lifetime being used and maintained
as intended. Cond: 2-.
4
NOT SOLD AT $20,000. Anything marked
SVT I’m interested in. As I pored over this
truck, I looked further and deeper for faults,
but there was little to complain about. I’ve
long been baffled by people touting any
tires over five years old on a rig they’re trying
to sell—strikes me as the first thing I’d
replace after purchase. Speaking of purchasing—no
dice here on a reasonable bid.
ACC median value is $17,400, but this one
is notably better than middle of the market.
Seller was fair to hold out for more, but I just
don’t know when or where that’ll happen.—
C. Tyson
MOPAR
SOLD AT $335,500. Shelby guys go nuts
over the 1965 model, and for good reason.
It’s not just the first example of Shelby’s
raced-up “secretary’s car,” it’s also the most
pure to concept—without a lot of comfort
add-ons and with a crisp, barking side-exit
exhaust system. This rare, real-deal car
wasn’t perfect, but would you really want it
to be?—J. Pickering
Engine bay painted blue, matching exterior,
and so are valve covers and master cylin-
104AmericanCarCollector.com
#F214-2003 FORD F-150 SVT Lightning
pickup. VIN: 2FTRF07323CA64477. Bright
red/gray leather. Odo: 13,000 miles. 5.4-L
supercharged V8, auto. Appears pretty
much as it left Ontario Truck Plant. Light,
occasional swirls in otherwise gleaming
paint. No fading of black plastic body cladding.
Logos and decals clean and markfree.
Same with all the light lenses. No
evidence of rips or holes in seats. Doors
locked and hood pinned shut, so no inspection
of engine bay from above, but no leaks
or stains underneath. Original 13-year-old
tires in remarkable shape. Cond: 1-.
#S85-1947 DODGE pickup. VIN: D242000B.
Red & black/black vinyl. An unmodified
classic pickup. This one has been prettied
up. Painted wheels with chrome center caps
and rings wrapped in wide whitewalls look
good. The paint is decent. Showing some
scratches from polishing, especially the
black fenders and accents. Although the
main surfaces are smooth, the finer accents
like the window trim, hinges and running
boards were not prepped well before painting.
The brightwork on the nose and front
and rear bumper show nicely. Light colored
wood adorns the pickup bed, with red
painted strips securing the boards; matching
wood bed rails look nice. Interior is very
clean and stock with the seats showing minimal
wear and door panels looking freshly
covered, although they don’t have the
straightest stitching. Gauges look original
and are cracked. The inline six looks mostly
stock and fairly clean. Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $26,400. My favorite kinds of
trucks are the ones restored back to stock
specification. Yes, you can make them shinier
and faster, but that is not what they were
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meant for when they were built. They are
simple and utilitarian. That is exactly what
this truck is. The attention to detail is not
great and it does look to have been driven
some, keeping it from looking perfect, but
let’s face it, these trucks rolled out of the
factory with imperfections. The bidders in
the room must have appreciated the overall
look of this pickup, however, as it sold for a
lot more than I would have expected given
its condition. Well sold.—C. Taylor
#F143-1969 DODGE CORONET R/T 2-dr
hard top. VIN: WS23L9G163114. B5 Blue/
blue vinyl. Odo: 5,541 miles. 440-ci V8,
4-bbl, 4-sp. A real Coronet R/T with correct
Dana 60, Trak Pack, 3.54 gears and R/T
gauge pack. Paint slightly dull from years of
shining. Could use a good polish, but still
presentable. Chrome and trim reveal some
pitting and scratches. Blue interior looks
good, shows no real signs of wear. Engine
compartment showing its age, however,
with corrosion on alternator and master cylinder
reservoir. Some bubbling and discoloration
on Ramcharger unit attached to
hood. Cond: 3.
what they think they’re getting. This one
brought just a bit more than current median
pricing for the model, and I’d call that right
on the money considering how nice it
was.—J. Pickering
#F192-1971 DODGE CHARGER R/T 2-dr
hard top. VIN: WS23U1A171232. Orange/
black vinyl. Odo: 47,665 miles. 440-ci V8,
4-bbl, auto. Appears to be a fairly original
Charger. Stated factory R/T 440. Paint looks
good at few feet, but up close appears
scratched from washing and a few deeper
marks from road use. No glaring flaws in
chrome or trim. Sitting on factory wheels.
Interior looks complete and tidy, with some
signs of wear on driver’s seat and steering
wheel. Engine compartment well used, with
aftermarket radiator and cooling lines.
Cond: 3.
Farm-O-Road. In total, about 200 were built,
so they’re rare. The biggest surprise, however,
wasn’t this one’s rarity, condition, or
“hope they see me” color. It was the fact
that someone out there drove it almost
20,000 very slow miles. Was it used on a
ranch or in a fruit orchard? Can’t imagine it
was a commuter, but I suppose anything is
possible. Regardless, it was done up to a
very high level you don’t often see with
these little things, and for that, the price was
worth it.—J. Pickering
SOLD AT $40,700. Manual steering and
manual drum brakes really give a workout
when handling this monster. A solid, driverquality
car with a lot of eye appeal. No-frills
kind of Mopar with a big, American V8 and
manual transmission. Does it get much better?
Bought well below ACC median price.
Good buy.—C. Taylor
RR0B234614. Blue/ black leather. 426-ci
V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. Fresh restoration of a
legit Hemi ’Cuda. Claimed matching-numbers
engine, original 727 transmission, and
driven less than 600 miles since restoration.
Nice paint shows some polish scratching.
Great chrome and trim, sits on correct Polyglas
tires. Engine compartment clean and
correct, with interior spotless. Decoded and
verified by David Wise. Cond: 2. SOLD AT
$209,000. I overheard the seller tell someone,
“If it was a 4-speed, I wouldn’t be selling
it.” Half the fun of a legit muscle car is
rowing your own gears, so I can’t blame the
seller for that sentiment. This car’s two-year
restoration job really looked great, and having
the Wise blessing and original fender
tag really makes a difference in making buyers
comfortable that they’re really getting
5
#S95-1970 PLYMOUTH HEMI
‘CUDA 2-dr hard top. VIN: BS23-
106AmericanCarCollector.com
SOLD AT $33,000. A solid Mopar with
driver-quality paint and engine compartment.
If you’re looking for a weekend cruiser
and some vintage muscle to show off to
your friends, this is for you. A winning show
car this is not. Probably kept most hardcore
enthusiasts away. Although it did sell with
original Dictaphone installed. Fair price considering
lack of history and less-than-perfect
condition.—C. Taylor
AMERICANA
#F16-1960 CROFTON BUG roadster. VIN:
1042. Green/brown vinyl. Odo: 19,600
miles. 44-ci I4, 1-bbl, manual. Looks like an
airport luggage tug escapee. Good green
paint, straight rust-free panels. Complete
restoration from top to bottom. Assembled
using fresh new hardware. Three-gauge
dash very clean, with all switches present
and in good shape. LED taillights. Looks as
good or better than it would have new.
Cond: 2. SOLD AT $15,400. W.B. Crofton
bought the rights to Crosley in 1952 and
SOLD AT $17,050. So many of these utilitarian
vehicles were used and abused in the
day. Some say that’s what they were meant
to do. Although this is no show car, it has
been fairly well cared for. Drive it around
town for some errands or down some dusty,
dirty back roads without worrying about
hurting your show rig. Price was on higher
side for a Scout II, but someone liked what
they saw. Well sold.—C. Taylor A
#F64-1976 INTERNATIONAL SCOUT II
SUV. VIN: F0062FGD39628. Yellow/tan
vinyl. Odo: 25,688 miles. 304-ci V8, 2-bbl,
auto. Nicely kept Scout. Looks to have been
driven regularly, as paint a little dull and
front end dirty. Free of any major dents or
scrapes. Front bumper chrome looks decent,
as do metal hubcaps. Rear bumper
painted. Interior looks excellent. Bench
seats hardly worn, plastic not faded, and all
gauges clear and bright. Engine compartment
dirty and shows signs of use—could
use a good detail. Cond: 3.
produced his engines for stationary use. He
also started building these, which were
slightly revised versions of the Crosley
TOP 10
Page 106
LUCKY COLLECTOR CAR AUCTIONS // Tacoma, WA
Lucky — Spring Classic 2016
FROM SHOW-READY TO PROJECTS — IT’S ALL AVAILABLE
AT REASONABLE PRICES
Lucky
Collector Car
Auctions
Tacoma, WA
May 14–15, 2016
Auctioneers:
Jeff Stokes, Marty Hill,
Dan Kruse
Automotive lots sold/
offered: 125/187
Sales rate: 67%
Sales total:
$1,231,585
High sale: 1935
Auburn 851 Speedster,
sold at $73,450
Buyer’s premium:
10%; 13% with credit
card; included in sold
prices
44-pound COpper BrAzed (CoBra) sheet-metal-construction OhV engine intact, this 1947 Crosley CC
pickup sold at $4,675
Report and photos by Jack Tockston
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
108AmericanCarCollector.com
Collection. From common to rare, bare chassis to
concours-ready, the selection is always varied, interesting
and quite entertaining.
The venue was the Marymount Event Center in
O
Tacoma, WA, where the LeMay Family Collection of
over 500 vintage vehicles is on display, with hundreds
more within the LeMay—America’s Car Museum
downtown. Combined, the collection of vehicles, memorabilia
and artifacts is recognized as the largest in the
world. Patron of the collection and “Tacoma’s favorite
son” was Harold “Lucky” LeMay, known for his rags-toriches
story, affinity for all things automotive, and once
recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records for
owning the largest car collection. The name of this auction
company acknowledges his enduring legacy.
One principal of Lucky Auctions is Doug LeMay,
son of Harold, representing the LeMay Family
Collection and an avid car collector in his own right. I
run into him at almost every auction I cover. Here, Doug
is often found wearing blue coveralls, getting vehicles
to start or towing them across the block with a tractor.
Evan McMullen, the other principal, owns Cosmopolitan
ver a weekend in the middle of May,
Lucky Collector Car Auctions auctioned
off another interesting mix of 187
vehicles culled from Pacific Northwest
garages and the famous LeMay Family
Motors LLC in Seattle, serving as chief promoter and
administrator to ensure every facet of their sales runs
smoothly.
The list of sold offerings is typical of what you’ll find
here. The oldest was a running and clean 1923 T-bucket
hot rod roadster; the newest, a clean 2003 PT Cruiser.
High sale was a 1935 Auburn 851 Speedster that sold for
$73,450, and cheapest was a 1949 Chevy flatbed truck
at $250.
There were two star cars, a pink 1956 Cadillac
DeVille, allegedly once owned by Elvis Presley,
sans verified authentication, that sold for $22k; and a
Chrysler-powered 1960 Facel Vega — little more than
a lumpy shell once abandoned in an alley — which
brought a surprising $49,500. There were 42 vehicles
sold at no reserve, including a rare and complete
one-year-only 1955 Studebaker President Speedster at
$17,875 from the LeMay Family Collection, and a nice
1928 Willys Knight obtained for just $12,100.
For my fantasy garage, I would have taken home
the aforementioned Willys Knight, the Studebaker
Speedster, plus a 1967 Dodge Coronet R/T show car
with 440-ci engine, 4-speed manual, and no needs that
sold way under build cost for $25,370.
You can find more opportunities like these when
Lucky Collector Car Auctions has their next sale in
August. Northwest cars are famously rust-free, so it’s
worth a look. A
Page 108
LUCKY COLLECTOR CAR AUCTIONS // Tacoma, WA
GM
#242-1953 CADILLAC SERIES 62 sedan.
VIN: 538219. Green/green cloth. Odo:
74,652 miles. 331-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Remarkable
overall condition, with zero rust
and dings. Respray in original hues. Excellent
chrome and stainless. Glass clear.
Steel wheels, full caps wrapped by fresh
wide whites. Minty interior, all-original-looking,
with nice dash, factory clock and inop
radio. Engine bay has light dust, but all
stock including 6-volt battery—except hidden
electronics in distributor for enhanced
reliability. Rebuilt transmission. Clean and
tidy, with too many doors for some. Cond: 2.
alternative to spending big bucks on a depreciating
new one. Too nice for trips to the
dump; I wouldn’t be surprised if a dressed
SBC might replace the I6 some day. As expected,
interest on the block was lively, and
it found a new owner for a price that
seemed fair for a rust-free driver. Well
bought and sold, with nod to buyer.
& white vinyl. Odo: 411 miles. 327-ci V8,
4-bbl, auto. Lowered over rally wheels.
Quality red paint over well-prepared panels
and jambs. Gaps even. Chrome good, clean
and clear glass. New wood floor in dentless
bed, dual Flowmasters below. New black
and white vinyl bench seat interior, with
Hurst shifter for auto trans. Engine compartment
detailed. Chevelle front clip and 3.08
rear end, 327-ci Chevy (350 hp), 4-bbl carb
on Weiand intake, cooled by aluminum fan.
Trans cooler, power steering and brakes,
with dual-circuit master cylinder. Meticulous
preparation plus presentation equals showworthy
truck. Cond: 2.
#255-1955 CHEVROLET CAMEO
pickup. VIN: WA98244431. Red/black
SOLD AT $17,600. This was a wonderful
sedan; ideal for taking kids for ice cream on
hot Sunday afternoons or on leisurely country
drives. Although there was no indication
miles were claimed as original, I’d believe it
since it looked two years old at the most.
Price paid seems right for condition and
eligible for the well-bought column.
#131-1954 CHEVROLET 3100 pickup.
VIN: H540003110. Metallic blue/gray cloth.
Odo: 60,776 miles. 235-ci I6, 1-bbl, 3-sp.
Nice quality blue metallic paint on well-prepared
panels—no rust or damage repair
found. Excellent brightwork, chrome rallies,
narrow whitewalls on new tires. Exterior
paint continues on interior metal panels,
dash and cracked steering wheel. Bench
seat and side panels in gray cloth. Cargo
box in excellent condition, with new wood
floor. Clean engine bay, 235-ci (108-hp)
straight six stands proud in stock configuration.
3-speed manual rowed from column.
Better than average examples seen at auctions.
Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $22,275. A lot of pickups have
gone through auctions in recent years, and
this resto-mod hauler would do well at the
national level. This was so exceptional, I
wouldn’t be surprised to see it flipped very
soon. Obtained well below envisioned build
cost; an astute bidder took possession at a
reasonable investment, with potential upside.
Well sold, and very well bought.
#133-1958 OLDSMOBILE 88 2-dr hard
top. VIN: 8363700253. Bronze & ivory/
green & beige vinyl. Odo: 37,066 miles.
371-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Minor scratches and
scrapes in older bronze repaint punctuate
driving pleasure. Yards of chrome mostly in
good order, with very good stainless. Leftrear
taillight housing cracked. Pot metal
getting zits. Dual fender-mounted rear-view
mirrors. Steel wheels with full caps and
wide whitewalls (needing bleach). Rust-free
and straight panels, while variable gaps are
factory-correct. Stock interior in very good
condition. Lightly crazed steering wheel.
Underhood clean, 371-ci V8 painted gold.
Tri-carb manifold has single 2-bbl in center,
with fore and aft holes blanked off. In clean
trunk, a second, complete J-2 tri-carb setup
conveys with sale. Pleasing, correct and
ready for the next conservator. Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $21,188. GM used a gaudy
amount of chrome trim in 1958, causing this
example to be referred to in period as a
“Chromesmobile.” A two-owner car, both of
whom apparently owned garages since this
ride was nearly pristine despite qualifying
for AARP membership three years ago.
Miles shown probably indicate it’s on lap
two, proving it was well loved and no garage
queen. Bidders “of a certain age” (as is
my territory) expressed their enthusiasm
with rapid-fire bids. Last man standing became
the third conservator for a fair price to
both parties involved.
#118-1966 CHEVROLET CORVAIR 500
coupe. VIN: 101376W165058. Marina
Blue/bright blue vinyl. Odo: 19,584 miles.
164-ci H6, 2x1-bbl, 4-sp. Quality respray in
Corvette Marina Blue on straight and tidy
steel. Minimal brightwork and glass as-new.
New BSW radials on steel wheels and full
caps. Black Monza air dam. New bright blue
interior where Monza buckets replace factory
bench. Three gauges neatly inserted in
dash above radio for vacuum, oil temp and
pressure. Steering wheel finish worn. New
matching headliner, visors, carpet, and
weather seals throughout. Stock engine (95
hp) dusty, with dual 1-bbl carbs. Many
checks written to Clark’s Corvair for parts,
now 99% done. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $15,400. Pickups continue to be
popular at such events, and a worthwhile
110AmericanCarCollector.com
SOLD AT $7,975. I loved to watch these
converted into Yenko Stingers and fly with
Porsche 911s back in my SCCA days. (If
you lived in sleepy Canonsburg, PA, and
owned a small Chevy store, you’d understand
Don Yenko’s need for speed and
travel.) This 500 model had 95 hp and was
owner-restored by Jim Simpson, Ferrari
enthusiast, concours judge, and known to
Publisher Martin. Presentation showed
good attention to detail, with Monza upgrades
to serve personal taste and diminish
the size of his parts stash. On the block,
interest soared to an acceptable number for
a well-bought-and-sold result.
BEST
BUY
Page 110
LUCKY COLLECTOR CAR AUCTIONS // Tacoma, WA
#224-1967 PONTIAC FIREBIRD convertible.
VIN: 223677U123087. Red/black vinyl/
black vinyl. Odo: 40,074 miles. 350-ci V8,
4-bbl, 4-sp. Above-average red paint. Rustand
ding-free panels including trunk. Wellfitted
black convertible top has clear
window. Body-color rear spoiler. Rallies with
trim rings and white-letter BFG radials. Excellent
chrome and stainless. Clean interior
redone in black vinyl, with cloth inserts. New
Hurst floor shifter rows 4-speed manual.
Kenwood CD and anscillary three-gauge
panel added under dash. Engine bay clean,
previous owner installed Chevy 350, with
chrome valve covers. Red radiator hoses
detract. Detailed top to bottom and sounds
ready for the road. Cond: 2.
Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $19,525. Always an
Oregon-Washington car, with two lady owners
from new, and stored for a decade; all
this helps explain the solid nature of this
ride. It would be interesting to show it to
them now and see their reactions. GM
made 167,251 Camaro V8 coupes in 1968,
and price guide lists a median value of
$32k, high sale at $121k, and investment
grade C—and 2% appreciation. This one
sold for $19,525, which seems about right
considering the engine swap. Let’s call this
well bought and sold, with a nod to buyer.
CORVETTE
SOLD AT $17,325. Firebirds lag behind
their sister Chevys, but this one had both
worlds covered, with Pontiac on the outside
and Bowtie power within. I asked the owner
why he was selling his beautiful ragtop, and
the answer was, “I want the money to buy a
Tesla.” Nice as they are, his Tesla won’t
turn heads like the drop-top he sold. Bidding
was lively, reserve was dropped at $15k,
and another $750 sealed the deal. I know
the seller was satisfied, but the new owner
was the one grinning after this well-bought
result.
#239-1968 CHEVROLET CAMARO coupe.
VIN: 124378L348347. Black/black vinyl.
Odo: 88,736 miles. 350-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto.
Decent respray, with odd white tape stripes
on nose and sides. SS and 350 badging.
Rot-free panels, with factory gaps. Original
black vinyl interior shows minor wear commensurate
with claimed original miles. Dead
foam in driver’s seat. SS steering wheel.
Sony head in dash. Side panels mint. Original
327-ci V8 replaced with 350 (and 2-bbl
carb) of unstated origin and specs. Engine
rattle-canned Chevy orange. Mix of black
#261-1978 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. VIN: 1Z87L8S41475. Black/black
leather. Odo: 14,738 miles. 350-ci 180-hp
V8, 4-bbl, auto. Quality black respray over
original panels, with new weather seals.
Painted T-tops. Fresh Hankook radials on
factory alloys. Flaccid rubber antenna.
Doors rattle on closing. Black leather interior
worn in, not out. Thick wood steering
wheel. Minor console scratches and remotemirror
knob missing. Aftermarket tunes, tilt
column. Engine compartment dirty, with
headers. Auto transmission claimed as rebuilt.
Note says speedo and a/c inop. Wellcared-for
daily driver with semi-sinister
presence. Cond: 3.
FOMOCO
#269-1935 FORD street rod coupe. VIN:
DMV25354CA. Metallic green/gray cloth.
Odo: 1,249 miles. Older build starting to
unwind, with paint cracks around trunk lid
corners, front bumper chrome starting to
peel and door glass welts missing. Rightrear
window and right door glass cracked.
Shaved handles. Both doors slightly wavy.
Subtle pinstripe along beltline. American
mags with spinners wrapped by radials.
Tidy custom gray-cloth interior. Tilt, five
Stewart-Warner gauges and floor gear selector
for auto trans. Underhood clean, with
Chevy V8 that looks to be 350 ci (no specs
provided), Torker intake, 4-bbl carb, a/c,
chrome alternator. Has needs for show,
ready for cruising as-is. California-assigned
VIN. Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $39,600. I saw this ride in I5 gridlock
a couple of times. Then flathead powered,
so odometer may reflect miles on
replacement drivetrain. Despite its needs,
this was one of the high-end sales, but you
couldn’t duplicate it at price paid. Previously
bid to $36k at Mecum’s Seattle auction in
2014 (ACC# 6712266). So let’s call this one
well bought and sold, with a nod to the auctioneer.
SOLD AT $9,625. Odometer was into lap
two, but overall condition implied respectful
use, evidenced by lack of parking-lot dings
and uncurbed alloys. Non-working speedometer
and a/c were faults passed on to
next owner—probably after getting repair
estimates. Price guide shows 24,991 of
these were built, now with median value of
$13,700, high sale at $16,500, and investment
grade C. With needs revealed and
known, result is well bought and sold, with a
nod to podium.
and red heater hoses. Alternator has surface
corrosion. Straight, clean and neat.
112AmericanCarCollector.com
“
#126-1971 FORD MUSTANG Mach 1 fastback.
VIN: 1F05M131386. Red/red & black
vinyl. Odo: 47,533 miles. 351-ci V8, 4-bbl,
auto. Very good red finish, with no ripples in
panels and factory gaps. Chrome rallys hold
recent white-letter BFGs. Contrasting black
rear-window louvers, spoiler, air dam, side
stripes, lettering, plus shiny black paint trim
on Ram Air hood. Inside smells new and
looks it from headliner to thresholds. B&M
automatic selector on floor. Custom black
and red vinyl and cloth seating. Immaculate
Non-working speedometer and
a/c were faults passed on to next
owner—probably after getting
repair estimates.
”
Page 112
LUCKY COLLECTOR CAR AUCTIONS // Tacoma, WA
and stock-looking underhood, 351-ci V8
with 4-bbl for motivation. Nice presentation.
Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $18,975. This Mach 1
had lots of eyeball, and lively bidding was
anticipated from this muscle-car crowd. A
couple pieces of original chrome could have
used a refresh. The attractive but non-stock
seat upholstery is a subjective matter and
easily changed to stock. Either way, it would
be an impressive and welcome addition to
any marque showfield. Bidding reflected
interest, and last man standing took it home
for what seemed a satisfactory result for
buyer and seller.
MOPAR
Tan/brown cloth. Odo: 75,986 miles. One
repaint in original gray/tan, with chips on
edge of driver’s door, straight rust-free panels
and good gaps. Excellent brightwork.
Dark red steel wheels, with nice small caps.
Driver’s running board cover has light wear.
Quality wool upholstery. Two cranks on
dash open split windshield for period a/c.
Instruments bright and clear. Nice woodgraining,
mint steering wheel, Arvin electric
heater and aftermarket turn signals. Working
overdrive. Straight eight and whole compartment
clean. Museum quality, just needs
minor paint touch-up. Cond: 2.
#263-1935 CHRYSLER AIRFLOW C-1
sedan. VIN: 6604426. Eng. # C14287.
#257-1953 PLYMOUTH CRANBROOK
sedan. VIN: 15575567. Light green/gray
cloth. Odo: 48,789 miles. 218-ci I6, 1-bbl,
3-sp. Old repaint in original color. Surface
rust on all chrome. Stainless and aluminum
door handles good. Steel wheels, with full
caps and whitewall rubber. Panels straight,
with factory gaps. No rust or trace of bodywork
evident. Original interior, but driver’s
seat has two holes worn to burlap and surface
rust on sills. Uncracked steering wheel.
Underhood driver quality and original.
Flathead (218 ci, 100 hp) I6, with evidence
of maintenance confined to missing oil cap.
Ideal commuter or first car for teenager with
low expectations. Cond: 4+.
market electric fans cool radiator, with all
else stock. Wonderful presentation marred
only by sitting in the rain. Cond: 2-. SOLD
AT $28,600. In period, this Imperial was
competing for buyers also considering the
Continental, Cadillac and Mercedes. I
looked long and hard to find demerits for
something to say here, and came up with
just nits—plus a fading, gold-plated accent
on chrome hood ornament, and driver’s window
needing adjustment upwards. This
would be a star at any Mopar meet and
make Don Garlits smile to hear an original
392 Hemi still purring. One of the Mopar
fans took it home for a price both fair and
appropriate for condition. Seller didn’t do
too bad, either.
AMERICANA
SOLD AT $3,540. I haven’t seen a Cranbrook
this straight since high school, and
my piano teacher had one, too. These provided
economical and reliable transportation,
with conservative styling as an
understatement. Envision this example lowered
over nice alloys, with rechromed bumpers,
updated interior, and Maaco paint to
produce a cost-effective ride that turns
heads. Final bidder came away with a wellbought
runner, and I hope he does something
fun with it.
SOLD AT $20,625. A fine specimen of
once-controversial styling, but I don’t know
what happened here. Price guide lists
19,685 built, with median value of $32,500,
high sale at $385,000, and B investment
grade. Yet this beauty fell through the
cracks, being hammered for just $18,750
(before buyer’s premium). Coffee was available,
no one seemed asleep, or was it because
you couldn’t stuff a Hemi in it? Result
was extremely well bought for value and
condition.
114AmericanCarCollector.com
#135-1956 IMPERIAL NEWPORT 2-dr
hard top. VIN: C561699. Black & white/
pearl white & green vinyl. Odo: 98,199
miles. 392-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Excellent black
body paint. No rust or dings found. Clean,
wide whitewalls on chrome wire wheels.
Bright work nearly show-quality. Glass unblemished.
Interior as-original, with chrome
window garnishes, push-button trans selector,
JVC CD under dash and equalizer
mounted in glovebox. Light mildew on tops
of visors and slight soiling on driver’s seat.
Power everything. Minty under hood, with
light rust on a/c bracket the only flaw. Power
steering and brakes. 392 Hemi (325 hp) has
light fuel staining on intake. Dual after-
#295-1947 CROSLEY CC pickup. VIN:
CC32373. Yellow/black vinyl. Odo: 44,142
miles. 44-ci I4, 1-bbl, 3-sp. Fresh bright yellow
paint on lilliputian sheet metal. Original
red steel wheels refer to red commercial
lettering broadcasting MAC Truck Roadside
Service. Windshield and front bumper
chrome excellent (no bumper on back).
Stock, sheet-metal four-banger (26.5 hp)
neat and tidy; and yes, you read “sheet
metal” correctly. There’s not much truck to
describe beyond: Cute, cute, cute! Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $4,675. This tiny pickup reminded
me of a 1946 Piper Cub: school-bus yellow
with rudimentary controls, instruments on
metal panel, stamped door handles and a
light 4-banger in the nose. Its CoBra OHV
engine referenced COpper BRAzed sheet
metal construction that weighed just 44
pounds. Imagine this midget rig providing
road assistance to MAC trucks outside
Maltby, WA. Unsold on Saturday as Lot
172, but found a buyer on Sunday.
#178-1950 HUDSON COMMODORE sedan.
VIN: 50268963. Black/gray cloth. Odo:
61,721 miles. 262-ci I6, 2-bbl, 3-sp. Offered
at no reserve. Old respray in original black
looks good in rain. Brightwork very good.
Washington Collector plate. All panels
straight, with even gaps. Doors work
smoothly and click shut. Minor surface rust
in door jambs. Driver’s seat has big hole to
springs. Door cards moldy. One crack in
steering wheel. Original spare and jack in
trunk. Dash has clear instruments, gloveboxes
at both ends and aftermarket gauges
for oil pressure and water temp underneath.
BEST
BUY
Page 114
LUCKY COLLECTOR CAR AUCTIONS // Tacoma, WA
ONETO WATCH
A focus on cars that are showing some financial upside
Under long, heavy hood sits a single-carb I6
flathead—stock and complete in driver-quality
condition. Visually, it wouldn’t take much
to make this rust-free sedan a fun daily
driver. Cond: 4. SOLD AT $4,130. When
new, Hudsons were the hot setup in NASCAR,
with optional Twin H carburetors, perimeter
frames offering low center of gravity,
and wind-cheating aerodynamics. Kind of
campy today, it could be selected as Robin’s
ride in the next Batman movie, or used
again in “Cars.” (Of course, you’d have to
do something about that stinky interior.) It
started, ran and stopped well enough for
buyer and seller to consummate a mutually
satisfactory outcome.
1978–79 Dodge D150
Li’l Red Express pickup
B
y 1978, the muscle car was dead. Its closest living relative was the Trans Am,
which had become more of a swingin’ visual statement than a true performer.
Even the Corvette — arguably the benchmark of American car performance for
pretty much any year since its inception — pumped out just 220 horses. And that
was the faster L82 version.
But Dodge had one last trick up its sleeve. Those EPA regulations that helped nail the
muscle car coffin shut? They applied to cars. Not trucks.
With that realization, the Li’l Red Express was born. It didn’t need catalytic converters,
thanks to that EPA loophole, featured the parts-bin police-spec 360 with a few go-fast
goodies, and had iconic stack exhaust exiting
up the back of the cab. All were red with gold
lettering, and all featured the stepside short bed
with wood floor.
Period magazine tests proved the concept:
This truck, or at least a pre-production version
of it, ran a 14.7 quarter mile and was the fastest
production American car of the year up to 100
mph. Production versions were slower but kept
up with the L82 ’Vette on the strip. Not bad.
With truck prices
Detailing
Years built: 1978–79
Number produced:
2,188 (1978), 5,118
(1979)
Average price of
those trucks:
$20,325
Number sold at auction
in the past 12
months: 2
Current Median ACC
Valuation: $28,00
116AmericanCarCollector.com
climbing in the market
more or less across
the board, some of the
rarer items, like the
Li’l Red Express, are
prime targets for buyers.
We’ve seen these
trucks’ median prices
at auction climb 72%
in 2015 and 26% in 2016, now topping out at $28,000. I’d suggest
there’s room for more growth here, as these things are quick,
relatively rare, and have an iconic look. A
AmericanCarCollector.com
— Jim Pickering
SOLD AT $17,875. This was one of several
vehicles offered at no reserve by the LeMay
Family Collection Foundation, with proceeds
to the Lemay—America’s Car Museum. A
one-year model with 2,215 made, this was
Studebaker’s attempt at a luxury sports
coupe. In ’55, many designers thought tricolor
paint, ashtrays in doors, and lots of
chrome were hallmarks of luxury. Price paid
seemed fair to both buyer and seller, with
nod to the former. A
#215-1955 STUDEBAKER PRESIDENT
Speedster 2-dr hard top. VIN: 7807487.
White, gray & pink/brown & white vinyl &
leather. Odo: 64,425 miles. 259-ci V8, 4-bbl,
auto. Original tricolor paint (white, gray and
pink) on straight and rust-free factory steel.
Extensive chrome and stainless excellent.
Older wide whites on steel wheels, with wire
hubcaps. Glass and weatherseals excellent.
Light dust on mint white-leather seating,
French-stitched leather headliner, carpet,
vinyl side panels and chrome window surrounds.
Classic engine-turned insert in
dash. Instruments clear. Engine dusty, but
factory stock, with no leaks, stains, battery
or brakes per note. Easy recommissioning.
Believable original miles. Cond: 4.
Page 116
GLOBAL
ROUNDUP
Selected Sales Combined in One Comprehensive Report
American Highlights
at Two Auctions
GM
#5-1955 CADILLAC SERIES 75 funeral
conversion coach. VIN: 5575865254.
Black & red/burgundy velour. Odo: 69,580
miles. 427-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. With a few
ghoulish overtones, this well-presented limousine
conversion of a once-stately, threeway
side-loader coach was done with some
restrained taste. Lounge-like seating for four
with bar and an updated LS7 V8 to haul
around this nearly three-ton limousine.
Paint-work fairly good, with hand-applied
flames. Most chrome appears original and
well maintained. Upgraded radial tires on
original wheels. If desired, this coach could
probably be returned to its original configuration.
Cond: 3+.
A working-class rig — 1981 Chevrolet C10 Silverado pickup, sold at $7,560 during
Dan Kruse Classics Midland, TX, auction
Dan Kruse Classics
Midland, TX — May 21, 2016
Auctioneers: Matthew Kruse, Marty Hill
Automotive lots sold/offered: 76/145
Sales rate: 52%
Sales total: $1,403,320
High sale: 1965 Shelby Cobra replica roadster,
sold at $50,490
Buyer’s premium: 8%, included in sold prices
Report and photographs by Phil Skinner
Silver
Coeur d’Alene, ID — June 18, 2016
Auctioneers: Mitch Silver, Matt Backs
Automotive lots sold/offered: 32/78
Sales rate: 41%
Sales total: $393,120
High sale: 1937 Chevrolet street rod convertible,
sold at $46,440
Buyer’s premium: 8% included in sale prices
Report and photos by John Boyle
SOLD AT $21,600. Funeral coaches rarely
do anything near what this example brought
on the block. Upgraded engine, modern
electrics, a/c and professional workmanship
all combined to appeal to the right bidders.
Reserve lifted at $15k, and bids kept on
coming. Call this one both well bought and
well sold. Dan Kruse Classics, Midland,
TX, 05/16.
#25-1955 PONTIAC CHIEFTAIN 2-dr hard
top. VIN: K755H10917. Tan & white/red
vinyl. Odo: 6,559 miles. 287-ci V8, 2-bbl,
auto. Older paint has chips on edges of
doors and hood. Casual masking for twotone
in door openings. Bumpers scratched
and worn. Side trim could use a buffing.
Paint trim flaking on hood streaks. Hood
ornament crazed. Red interior a bit jarring
compared to subtle exterior. Interior seems
to be holding up better than the exterior,
with exception of large burn on driver’s seat
cushion. Dash chrome better than often
seen. Auxiliary gauges added under dash.
Underhood stock, but worn and dusty.
Cond: 3-.
Only 818 produced — 1969 Plymouth Satellite Sport convertible, sold at $24,840,
Silver in Coeur d’Alene, ID
118AmericanCarCollector.com
NOT SOLD AT $15,000. Trivia: Hard-top
Pontiacs of this period were officially known
as Catalinas. This was one tired Indian.
Nice enough for Sunday drives and ice
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cream runs, but in real need of some attention.
Bid was respectable for condition, and
seller could have taken it without regrets.
Not sure why he didn’t. Silver Auctions,
Coeur d’Alene, ID, 06/16.
#43-1956 OLDSMOBILE 88 2-dr sedan.
VIN: 567C7080. Canary Yellow & white/
white & yellow vinyl. Odo: 82,343 miles.
324-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Mild custom, with
chrome reverse wheels, Moon hubcaps,
tufted and luxurious interior, stock radio in
dash and hidden modern unit in glovebox.
Decent paint, but not trophy winning. Interior
chrome sports some minor pitting; exterior
much better and bumpers look new.
Clear taillight lenses. Panel alignment also
done well. Underhood better than expected,
but still needs some help. Solid, presentable
and ready to cruise. Cond: 2-.
SOLD AT $28,620. Originally a 3-speed
column-shift car. Front discs and Tri-Power
setup give it a custom vibe, with very stock
looks. Obviously a labor of love by its longterm
owner. I liked this car. It avoided some
of the ’50s clichés (no dual spotlights, Continental
kit or lake pipes), but was upgraded
enough to be fun. I can’t believe the seller
took the high bid, proving again that there
are still bargains to be found. Silver Auctions,
Coeur d’Alene, ID, 06/16.
#33-1965 OLDSMOBILE 442 2-dr sedan.
VIN: 338275Z120231. Butternut Yellow/
black vinyl. Odo: 16,063 miles. 400-ci V8,
4-bbl, 4-sp. Older restoration on straight
body. Body seam above trunk lid missing on
one side. Door, hood, trunk panel fit could
be improved. Bumper and side trim is acceptable,
grille and hood trim pitted. Very
nice seats, carpet and dash. Console is
nicer than most you see from this era. Factory
a/c and 4-speed options fitted. Underhood
restored and correct but dusty.
Cond: 3.
SOLD AT $17,280. These were glorious
cars when new and could come from factory
with big blocks, 4-speeds and other performance
equipment. Had this been a numbers-matching
restoration to stock
configuration, the value of this car would
have been 30%–40% more. It might have
also brought more had seller put a fully
charged battery under hood, so those interested
could have seen how well it started
up, you know, without a jump. A well-bought
car, all things considered. Dan Kruse Classics,
Midland, TX, 05/16.
#114-1967 BUICK SKYLARK 2-dr hard
top. VIN: 444177Z119971. Dark blue/dark
blue vinyl. Odo: 36,103 miles. 340-ci V8,
2-bbl, auto. Respray in a color close to original.
Presented itself as a good potential
driver that would be fun to take to a show as
long as trophies were not the main goal.
Fitted with power steering, brakes and driver’s
seat, factory a/c, AM radio and even a
clock (not working, of course). Mileage most
likely on second go-around. Wearing American
Racing Torq Thrusts, but originals were
in trunk. Sheet metal showed minor dings.
Glass in need of cleaning and had faint
wiper marks on windshield. Cond: 3.
SOLD AT $10,800. Offered at no reserve,
this car had a lot of interest when it hit the
block, but only for those who wanted to see
if they could flip it—which someone might
be able to do in the right setting. As much
as the market loves stock vehicles, pure
stock in this condition would have been
hard-pressed to bring this money. With exception
of soft trim, it could be returned to
stock configuration. Call this one very well
bought—almost cheap. Dan Kruse Classics,
Midland, TX, 05/16.
#36-1958 CHEVROLET IMPALA 2-dr
hard top. VIN: F58J211609. Green/
green & silver vinyl. Odo: 3,600 miles. 348ci
V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Nice older paint with
the usual rock chips and polishing swirls.
Huge bumpers are very nice; unfortunately,
that only highlights the unpolished side trim.
Older bias-ply tires with wide whites. Dual
antennas. Interior looks unused; excellent
dash and typical aftermarket gauges are
hung beneath. Huge 4-speed gearshift lever
sticking out of floor topped by an eight-ball.
Engine bay is clean, but worn and undetailed.
Cond: 3.
SOLD AT $24,300. A real-deal ’65 442.
Introduced late in the 1964 model year, the
$156 442 option was Olds’ answer to Pontiac’s
GTO. This banker’s hot rod sold for a
bit under market, leaving the buyer some
room to address the panel fit and trim issues.
Fair deal for all. Silver Auctions,
Coeur d’Alene, ID, 06/16.
#37-1966 CHEVROLET IMPALA SS 2-dr
hard top. VIN: 168376C142014. Ermine
White/white vinyl. Odo: 57,660 miles. 350-ci
V8, 4-bbl, auto. A well-executed resto-mod.
From outside the only modification was
post-1967-style Rally wheels with hubcaps.
Under hood the crate 350 V8 was dressed
up with chrome valve covers and air
cleaner, aluminum intake, Holley carb, electronic
ignition and more. Interior retained
stock seats, but with updated stereo system
and custom steering wheel. Workmanship
well done, although I spotted some debris in
paint finish. Soft trim looked new, fresh and
inviting. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $11,880. For the condition, this
sale was right in the market. With a lot of
detailing—and maybe a replate on bumpers—it
could bring a little more money.
While it shared the body of a Gran Sport, it
didn’t share the soul. A family-friendly hard
top ready for the road, which is nothing to
be ashamed of, and for the seller, very well
sold. Dan Kruse Classics, Midland, TX,
05/16.
#60-1967 CHEVROLET CAMARO coupe.
VIN: 124377N218887. Pewter/black vinyl.
Odo: 67,549 miles. 396-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp.
Beautiful presentation, and it attracted
plenty of attention before sale. Body panels
smooth and very well aligned. Interior
looked factory-fresh. Non-original engine
and transmission, but they looked right at
home and detailed for show or sale. Upgraded
Edelbrock intake and carb. Factorystyle
transmission. Hard to believe this work
was done more than 10 years ago. Rally
wheels with Redline tires complemented
exterior view. Sat level and started easy.
Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $39,960. Seller had
$35k reserve but lifted it when bidding hit
$30k. At least three interested bidders
stayed in until $34k, while final two battled it
out in good old-fashioned auction style,
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Speakers cut into doors and armrests
cracked. Note says it came with factory a/c,
but underhood components now missing.
Engine bay not open for inspection.
Cond: 3.
no cracks in fascia or body. Top of dash
showed some fading. Light wiper marks on
windshield. Complete gauge package,
power windows and a/c—of unknown working
condition. Underhood sports original
engine and looks to have been left in stock
format. Clean but not show-car ready.
Snowflake wheels added to impression of
speed. Sat level and ran out well. Cond: 3.
with no TV cameras around to capture the
drama. A nicely done, no-stories car that
found a good home and was well bought.
Dan Kruse Classics, Midland, TX, 05/16.
#53-1971 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE Malibu
convertible. VIN: 136671B238207.
Lime Mist/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo:
77,584 miles. 396-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Restored
to replicate a Super Sport, but not
presented as an original. Done a few years
ago, as top bore some wear and staining.
Engine sourced from 1966 model. Repro
SS-style wheels and badges along with
hood stripes. Body looked smooth and
even, with doors easily opening and closing.
Seller presents car as a nicely done example
and nothing more, which attracted the
right people. Fitted with power steering,
front-disc brakes, windows and top. Newer
stereo in dash, along with proper tach and
speedometer. Cond: 2-.
NOT SOLD AT $13,500. Seemingly restored
to owner’s taste, and more tasteful
than many trucks or SUVs you’ll see. Much
nicer than a winter beater, but not quite a
showpiece. In other words, just what one
needs here in Northern Idaho. Prices for
these are all over the map, but considering
its condition and the fact it’s from the popular
’67–72 generation of GM trucks, I can
see why the owner thought it’s worth more
than the high bid. Silver Auctions, Coeur
d’Alene, ID, 06/16.
#42-1978 PONTIAC TRANS AM coupe.
VIN: 2W87Z8L187771. Gold metallic/tan
cloth. Odo: 74,575 miles. 400-ci V8, 4-bbl,
auto. Looks to be original paint due to fading
and a bit of wear on decals. Interior
shows some fading and wear issues, but
fitted with full instruments including tach.
Power windows, factory AM/FM, power
steering, front-disc brakes, as well as original
a/c. Underhood unmodified. Snowflake
wheels in black, undersides in need of attention.
Cond: 3.
SOLD AT $28,080. One of the most popular
of American muscle cars, these Chevelles
were good looking when new, and, when
properly restored, look great today. It might
have brought about same money had it
been done stock, but it wouldn’t have been
as exciting. A new top would do wonders for
this car and could boost values far above
cost of replacement. Been shopped around
a bit, with no sales from Mecum’s Dallas
2013 auction (ACC# 6729622, $25,000)
and Leake’s fall 2013 Dallas sale (ACC#
6730320, $31,250). Fair deal today. Dan
Kruse Classics, Midland, TX, 05/16.
#32-1971 CHEVROLET BLAZER SUV.
VIN: KE1818650586. Blue/white fiberglass/
blue cloth. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. A wellcared-for
older restoration. Paint has minor
chips and straight body. Excellent grille and
bumpers. All four side-marker lights
cracked. Very nice wheels. Good glass.
Interior a mix of old and new. Nice seats
and carpets. Dash plastics show wear.
120AmericanCarCollector.com
SOLD AT $10,260. California-built and sold
new. No signs of rust, so new owner got a
very solid car for the money. Condition was
similar to the gold T/A (Lot 42), so this is a
good comparison model-to-model and also
engine-to-engine. Seller didn’t paint any
misleading pictures, but bidders took a
while to warm to this car. Hammer came
down when there wasn’t any more money in
room. Seller made a wise decision. Dan
Kruse Classics, Midland, TX, 05/16.
#121-1981 CHEVROLET C10 Silverado
pickup. VIN: 1GCDC14D3BB139896.
Black/black vinyl. Odo: 60,467 miles. 4.1-L
fuel-injected I6, auto. 22-inch wheels. Paint
tired and had seen a lot of nights out under
open Texas skies. Buffed out quite a bit and
looked decent, but it wasn’t always this
pretty. Wheels distracted from overall appearance
as a working truck, and didn’t lend
any appeal as a show truck. Interior appointed
with aftermarket audio system.
Gauges kind of cloudy and not that easy to
read. Not sure if they’re even working.
Cond: 3.
SOLD AT $24,840. Seller lifted reserve before
hitting the $20k mark. Bids were quickpaced
and the crowd paid attention. Interest
in this particular year of Firebird has been
dramatic since January; a year ago, this
would have been a $15k car—tops. Seller
was delighted and new owner seemed
pleased. Now everyone is going to try and
bring a ’79 T/A to market. Dan Kruse Classics,
Midland, TX, 05/16.
#29-1979 PONTIAC FIREBIRD Formula
coupe. VIN: 2U87K9L195446. White/ red
vinyl. Odo: 92,926 miles. 403-ci V8, 4-bbl,
auto. At first glance car looks a bit worn, but
further inspection shows it’s complete, with
SOLD AT $7,560. For the truck presented,
this was a very generous offer and the
seller did right by letting it go. New owner
should be able to get money’s worth out of it
as long as mechanics were as presented. A
solid vehicle, and in this part of the world a
good truck is as important as a good horse.
What I term a fourth-gen C10, it has possibilities,
but still in the working class for now.
Dan Kruse Classics, Midland, TX, 05/16.
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coupe. VIN: 1G2AW87H6DN215859.
White/gray leather. Odo: 73,991 miles.
5.0-L V8, 4-bbl, 5-sp. One of 2,500 Firebird
25th Anniversary Daytona 500 Pace Car
editions. Seller states that exterior all original.
If accurate, paint has held up better
than rest of car. Special fender badges
present, but devoid of pace-car decals.
T-tops look good and seem watertight. Special
factory turbine wheels MIA, replaced
with modern units. Special-edition leather/
suede Recaros need re-covering; back seat
looks fine. Expected wear to console, with
dash top cracked. Hood not open for inspection.
Cond: 3-.
#13-1983 PONTIAC TRANS AM Daytona
500 Pace Car 25th Anniversary
#52-1984 CHEVROLET BLAZER SUV.
VIN: 1GCK18HXEF138109. White & red/
white fiberglass/red vinyl & cloth. Odo:
37,277 miles. 305-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Newer
paint in factory color and scheme was well
applied. Minor chips around doors. Slight
overspray on grille and firewall. Bumpers
and stainless very good. High-end interior
said to be original and like-new. OEM GM
rubber floormats and newer radio. Engine
compartment looks stock and, while not
detailed, it’s very clean. Cond: 2-.
and body nice, but some cracking noticeable
in door opening. Chrome and stainless
fine. Turbine-style knockoff wheels look
new. Headlights fit better than many you
see. Driver’s door hard to shut, passenger’s
door sits high at rear. Seats show signs of
wear, along with major fit issue to console
armrest. Good dash. Interior not vacuumed
before sale. Hood not open for inspection,
no mention of matching numbers. Cond: 3.
SOLD AT $2,160. In 1983, the third generation
F-bodies were still new and popular,
and, per GM habit, Pontiac produced this
limited edition which had some nice upgrades.
Recaros were de rigueur for upscale,
sporty cars and added a nice touch to
otherwise stark factory interiors of period.
This car looked like what it is, a 30-plusyear-old
pony car. With the miles covered, it
hasn’t held up too badly. The price this car
brought today was about a third of what it
normally brings. If it’s mechanically sound, it
was well bought, with plenty of room to take
care of some of its needs. Silver Auctions,
Coeur d’Alene, ID, 06/16.
SOLD AT $9,450. Older SUVs are gaining in
the market, and these stylish second-generation
Blazers have always been popular, but
you see few this nice. The crowd didn’t seem
to like it as much as I did. Maybe Northwest
SUV buyers prefer their rides a bit less shiny.
I wish I had a bidder’s pass for this one. This
very clean 4x4 was bought for average-condition
money. Well bought. Silver Auctions,
Coeur d’Alene, ID, 06/16.
CORVETTE
#67-1964 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible.
VIN: 40867S104517. Ermine
White/white vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 19,070
miles. 327-ci 250-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Seller
states recent ground-up restoration. Paint
NOT SOLD AT $41,000. Window sheet
provided many details on car, but unattended-to
details—like the door-fit issues—
gave one pause. The ACC Pocket Price
Guide indicates that the ’64 C2s, are the
lowest-price C2s, lacking the cachet of the
first-year ’63s, and the standard four-wheel
disc brakes of the ’65s. High bid nearly
matched the price guide median, but seller
was looking for more. If he attends to some
of the issues, he might get it. Silver Auctions,
Coeur d’Alene, ID, 06/16.
#18-1971 CHEVROLET CORVETTE convertible.
VIN: 194671S113138. Green/black
vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 59,459 miles. 350-ci
270-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Six-year-old restoration
holding up very well. Paint unmarked
except for crack developing atop rear
spoiler. Chrome bumpers and stainless trim
excellent. Good panel gaps, headlights fit
well. Nice wheels and tires. Soft top soiled,
with usual scratches to plastic window. Interior
very good, with seat covers well-fitted,
expected wear to dash and somewhat more
wear to steering wheel. Cond: 2-.
NOT SOLD AT $26,000. In 1971, Stingray
coupes outsold convertibles by more than
two to one. While a base-engine/automatic
car, this drop top had a fairly recent restoration,
a good look, factory a/c and a great
color (in ’71, Brands Hatch Green was second
only to War Bonnet Yellow as the most
popular Corvette hue). Nonetheless, bidding
fell just short of the price guide median.
Seller was right in taking it home. Silver
Auctions, Coeur d’Alene, ID, 06/16.
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#105-1972 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. VIN: 1Z37W2S518360. Classic
White/black vinyl. Odo: 48,708 miles. 454-ci
360-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Presented as numbers-matching
drivetrain and with documentation
from new. Last of an era with chrome
bumpers, big-block engine and styling. Well
appointed with original gauges all working,
AM/FM radio, Rally wheels fitted with BF
Goodrich T/A radials and chrome bumpers
front and rear. Also a luggage rack on rear
deck. Panels straight and with proper gaps.
Mechanics in good shape. A little minor detailing
under hood would have been appreciated.
Cond: 2.
mance, construction and rarity. As more
mid-years start moving towards six figures,
some of these examples are sure to follow
that trend. But not yet, not today. Dan
Kruse Classics, Midland, TX, 05/16.
FOMOCO
#30-1955 MERCURY MONTEREY 2-dr
hard top. VIN: 55LA12079M. Red & white/
white vinyl & red cloth. Odo: 94,757 miles.
292-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Well-applied and
very shiny paint. Body straight, with excellent
shutlines. Bumpers, door handles and
hood ornament badly scratched and worn.
Side and window trim a bit better. Aftermarket
Continental kit, with patio-size bumper
extension. Dash stainless good, but rest of
interior weak, with worn gauges and
chipped steering wheel. Sill plates badly
dented. Cloth and vinyl seats dirty and
SOLD AT $24,840. Seller had been hoping
to net closer to $30k, which was a long way
off from the final bid of $21,000. But postsale
negotiations got final bidder and seller
to reach an agreeable price. Despite being
numbers-matching big-block, these early C3
Corvettes are still undervalued for perfor-
NOT SOLD AT $17,000. This metal-roof
hard top was among the most popular cars
from Mercury in 1955, but it’s usually overshadowed
by the plastic-top Sun Valley
variant. It’s a red ’50s cruiser, but this one
isn’t ready for any close-ups. Considering
the car’s expensive needs (chrome, interior),
high bid was a bit generous and could
have been taken without regret. Silver Auctions,
Coeur d’Alene, ID, 06/16.
#8-1959 EDSEL RANGER sedan. VIN:
C9UF711997. Black/blue cloth & vinyl. Odo:
91,314 miles. 292-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Seller
states it’s all original except for older paint.
Looks good from a distance but has wear,
chips and a large crack upon closer inspection.
Straight body with good shutlines.
Bumpers worn and scratched. Side trim has
minor pitting. Interior looks original, but well
cared for. Driver’s door windlace frayed and
drooping. Rear armrests faded. Driver’s
window glass delaminating. Underhood
stock-looking and dusty. Cond: 3.
appear to be in incorrect material. Underhood
not open for inspection. Cond: 3-.
NOT SOLD AT $7,000. The Ranger remained
the base Edsel for ’59, when models
were cut from four to two. Oddly, the ’59
4-door Ranger had the highest production
of any Edsel over the marque’s three-year
history...but it only came to 12,814 units.
The handwriting was on the wall. Seller
stated this was a two-owner car, and it
wasn’t bad, although the funeral-black color
didn’t do it any favors. High bid today was
$560 less than it brought in January at Silver’s
Fort McDowell sale (ACC# 6798604).
Silver Auctions, Coeur d’Alene, ID, 06/16.
#117-1960 FORD THUNDERBIRD 2-dr
hard top. VIN: 0Y71Y181534. Maroon &
white/black vinyl. Odo: 21,483 miles. 352-ci
V8, 4-bbl, auto. Given a quickie cosmetic
re-do, with color change from pure white.
Didn’t look that bad for central Texas.
Cheap wire wheels didn’t add to this car’s
character, but the body was solid. Interior
done on a budget, and nothing had been
damaged to the point that it couldn’t be
taken back to stock. Still has complete factory
a/c, but unknown working condition—
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same for clock. Power steering operating
without leaks. Aftermarket recent radio.
Doors open and close. Tinted glass with
banded windshield all in order. Cond: 3-.
SOLD AT $10,260. With restored examples
hitting the $50k–$60k range, this car
needed a lot and will probably never be
taken to that degree. Engine in good running
order, so with an engine-out detailing
and repaint, this car could bring a bit more
money than the investment. If purchased by
a private party, they can have fun with the
car, but working a/c is a must, and that will
be another chunk of change. I liked the car
and think that final price was well within the
value limits of this ride. Well bought. Dan
Kruse Classics, Midland, TX, 05/16.
Blue/dark blue vinyl/dark blue vinyl. Odo:
63,458 miles. 390-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Pretty
car with straight body. Well presented, with
older quality respray in original color. Some
minor dings in left quarter panel and hood.
Interior pure stock, with AM radio, clock,
plus Swing-Away steering wheel. Under
hood all in order, but needs some detailing.
Top works a little sluggishly, but came up
and went down. Factory stock wheels and
covers. Engine starts easily and runs
quiet—no blue or black smoke. Transmission
shifts well. Chrome with some minor
pitting on trim bits. Bumpers have a little bit
of scuffing and wear. Cond: 3+.
#22-1965 FORD THUNDERBIRD convertible.
VIN: 5Y85Z166287. Diamond
MOPAR
#22-1969 PLYMOUTH SATELLITE Sport
convertible. VIN: RP27H9G146823. Beige/
black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 24,891 miles.
383-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Better-than-average
paint on a very straight (and unforgivingly
slab) body. Only flaws noted were cracks
near door and trunk. Stainless trim could
use a buff. Rear panel between taillights
dull and pitted. Wheels could use a cleaning,
with dirty, no-name tires fitted. Interior
very nice, with clean seats and carpet.
Less-than-usual wear to plastic chrome on
typically cheap-looking Mopar dash of the
period. Cond: 2-.
wheels sporting original tires—I would be
concerned about them before going on a
road trip. Fully equipped with proper stereo,
a/c and basic amenities. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $24,840. The Sport Satellite was
the more family-friendly (5 to 45 fewer
horses when comparing 383 V8s) stablemate
of the Road Runner. With just 818
produced, the Sport Satellite convertible
had the second-lowest production numbers
of any ’69 Plymouth—even the rarely-seen
Road Runner convertible (with 2,128 produced)
outsold it. If this had been a Road
Runner, the price could be easily double
what it brought here. A no-sale at $25,000
at Silver Portland in April 2016 (ACC#
6799715). Seller took the hint and let it go
for slightly less today. This near top-of-themarket
price was fair to both parties. Silver
Auctions, Coeur d’Alene, ID, 06/16.
SOLD AT $19,440. For car’s condition, and
being a fully functional convertible, this was
a fair price. For the quick flip, there is some
room for profit. For the private party, lots of
room for enjoyment. Well presented by sellers,
well received by bidders—call this one
well bought. Dan Kruse Classics, Midland,
TX, 05/16.
#94-1999 PLYMOUTH PROWLER convertible.
VIN: 1P3EW65G1XV505040.
Prowler Red/black cloth/black leather. Odo:
2,504 miles. 3.5-L fuel-injected V6, auto.
Very well maintained by original owners. In
care of a dealer for past six months or so.
Clean body with no damage. Interior near
perfection, with only minor wear on driver’s
seat. Engine bay and undercarriage both
clean and ready for show or go. Original
SOLD AT $29,700. While a number of lowmile
Prowlers fetch well over $35k, this was
auction time and a chance to catch a bargain,
which the new owner got at this price.
Prowlers have a lot of interest from collections,
but also issues that are common to
17-year-old cars. Even long-term stored
cars need love, occasional exercise and
cosmetic attention. This example still looks
great; hope new owner gets to enjoy it
soon. Dan Kruse Classics, Midland, TX,
05/16.
AMERICANA
#1-1960 WILLYS JEEP Gala Surrey utility.
VIN: 5633718385. Cerulean Blue & Glacier
White/Cerulean Blue & Glacier White
canvas/Cerulean Blue & Glacier White vinyl.
Odo: 22 miles. 134-ci I4, 1-bbl, 3-sp. Professional
restoration and done in splendid
colors. Authenticity was the goal—reportedly
as much was spent on finding original
soft trim as was invested in bodywork and
mechanics. Done several years ago, it still
looks very clean. Starts up and drives like a
dream. Basic motoring with only fuel and
temperature gauges, plus speedometer.
Underhood spotless. Only minor detailing
needed to the chassis. Cond: 1-.
126AmericanCarCollector.com
SOLD AT $31,320. Seller had high hopes
for somewhere north of $40k, and, even
with this being the first automotive lot across
the block (and Dan Kruse lets the first five
cars rerun later in the day at no charge), the
consignor seemed happy with the real
money and lifted his reserve. New owner
needs to exhibit this Jeep for a couple of
shows, then take it out and drive it sparingly.
A fun car for the right amount of
money—well sold and well bought. Dan
Kruse Classics, Midland, TX, 05/16. A
BEST
BUY
Page 126
The Parts Hunter
Patrick Smith
Thousand-Dollar Cocktail Shakers
PARTS ONCE TOSSED IN THE NAME OF SPEED ARE AMONG THE MOST
EXPENSIVE THINGS TO HUNT DOWN FOR YOUR OTHERWISE-CORRECT CAR
seeming to serve no useful purpose, many lead-footed drivers yanked them out, thinking they were clever to remove so much dead weight.
Of course, you had to put up with cowl shake on the road, but it was a small price to pay for that extra tenth off the ET. These were overpriced
considering they’re reproduced, but not wildly so. Shipping will be expensive no matter where you get them.
#172261509058 1966 Chevelle
“Knee-Knocker” Tachometer
8 photos. Item condition: Used. eBay.
Spencerport, NY. 8/9/16.
“You are bidding on a used original 1966
Chevelle knee-knocker tachometer. This has
a 5,000 rpm redline. This is in good shape.
The orange is slightly faded. The case has
very light pitting, hardly noticeable. Arm
moves freely. Please look at all the photos
and do your research prior to bidding.”
Sold at: $185.
With reproductions available now in every
engine rpm style, why bother with an original 50-year-old unit? For a street-driven cruise night
or grudge-match toy, a reproduction makes sense. But if you’re restoring a car to compete
in judged events, you’re pretty well forced to go original, especially if it’s a top-tier concours
event. Used to be the item not only had to be original, it also had to be like brand new. Thanks
to the rise of MCACN and “patina” cars, a piece like this with very minor wear isn’t an issue.
Price paid was about right for an L35 tachometer.
to be completely redone, but everything is available. A nice feature is the seat-belt-warning
wire leads are still attached. This makes it a 1972-and-later-style seat, but they could be
redone as an earlier style. The price paid is good. I’ve sold sets in worse shape for more
money.
128 AmericanCarCollector.com
#291807652915 1970–74 Challenger Seats
2 photos. Item condition: Used. eBay. Maple
Heights, OH. 7/7/16.
“’70–74 ’Cuda and Challenger bucket seats
with tracks as shown. Great cores in solid,
usable shape. Local pickup only.”
Sold at: $250.
When it comes to buying used seats, the devil
is in the details. One common mistake people
make is to buy seats without the tracks, which
are expensive by themselves. You don’t want
to make that mistake on Mopars, because a
pair of good B-body tracks are a third of the
seat’s value. This pair of E-body buckets need
#331897973194 1969 Camaro Convertible “Cocktail Shaker” Counterweights
2 photos. Item condition: Used. eBay. East Aurora, NY. 8/7/16.
“Set of all four 1969 Camaro convertible Cocktail Shakers or counterweights originally installed
in every 1969 Camaro convertible. They were very commonly removed to save weight or when
the car was disassembled for repair. This is a nice original set with all mounting tabs intact. If
you are restoring a convertible, RS, SS, or Pace Car that is missing these weights and you want
to restore it correctly, you may want to consider this.”
Sold at: $995.
Commonly called “cocktail shakers,” these devices are actually vibration isolators designed
to cancel shaking in sheet-metal panels by setting up an exact counter-vibration. Heavy and
#291805048886 1976 Trans Am, Formula,
Firebird Header Panel
6 photos. Item condition: Used. eBay.
Elmira, NY. 7/7/16.
“1976 Trans Am, Formula, Firebird grille.
Will fit 1974, 1975, 1976, not sure about
1973. Has the honeycomb grille, one has
a crack that is shown in the pic. Also they
were drilled for fog lamps at some time.
One headlamp trim ring fastener hole in
the headlight bracket is rusted and missing.
Missing the headlamp trim ring on the passenger
side. The driver’s side was painted
black at some time and the chrome is pitted.
Both sealed beams work. Comes with
mounting brackets in the pic. Has a small
crack at left of nose, maybe two inches.”
Sold at $299.
I have to give the seller marks for honesty
in describing the shortcomings of this
part. One-year-only cars are difficult and
expensive to restore if they’re basket cases.
Every time you wonder how a restoration
could possibly hit six figures, return to this
listing. Even if you paid less, you still need to
restore and add missing pieces, which fortunately
are available. This is why a parts car
can save you so much money in the end.
Price paid is going to be full market and
then some when the new owner is finished
restoring this panel.A
Page 128
JUNKYARDTREASURES
P.G. Larsson is aided by his daughter Anne-Louise in providing parts and supplies to owners of American cars in Sweden
Swedes’ Smell of Success
P.G. Larsson Bildelar brings vintage American parts to Sweden — and beyond
Story and photos by Phil Skinner
S
wedes really love old American cars, especially from the
1950s to the 1970s.
Recognizing a growing interest in the mid-1980s, P.G.
Larsson of Tibro, Sweden, came up with an idea. As he
traveled to the U.S. regularly for business, he started buying
up cars that might have been a bit too far gone to be saved. He then
salvaged anything useful and loaded up a container to be shipped
back home.
Starting first from his house, he
Detailing
What: P.G. Larsson
Bildelar
Where: Rydsgatan 12,
543 51 Tibro, Sweden
Phone: 044-0504-125 75
Web: www.pgbildelar.se
has been at his present location since
1989, and his fame has spread around
the world. The majority of his customers
come from Sweden and other
Scandinavian countries, but he regularly
gets requests for parts from all over
Western Europe, as well as New Zealand
and Australia.
There are no complete cars available at P.G. Larsson’s business,
but he did say that he keeps an inventory of complete cars at his
Colorado facility, and these are available to interested buyers. All
nuts, screws and other hardware is saved. When a body or chassis
has been stripped of all usable parts, they are stored and saved at the
Colorado facility just in case a need should arise in the future. A
130 AmericanCarCollector.com
Parts hunters have a fairly easy job of finding what they
need at the well-organized Larsson Parts Yard in Sweden
Page 130
Showcase Gallery
Sell Your Car Here! Includes ACC website listing.
Showcase Gallery color photo ad just $66/month
($88 non-subscribers)
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($25 non-subscribers)
Three ways to submit your ad:
Web: Visit americancarcollector.com/classifieds/place-ad to upload your photo
(300 dpi jpg) and text, or text only. Secure online VISA/MC payments.
Email: Send photo (300 dpi jpg) and text, or text only, to classifieds@
americancarcollector.com. We will contact you for payment information.
Snail mail: ACC Showcase, PO Box 4797, Portland, OR 97208-4797,
with VISA/MC or check.
25 words max, subject to editing. Deadline: 1st of each month, one month
prior to publication.
Advertisers assume all liability for the content of their advertisements. The publisher of
American Car Collector Magazine is not responsible for any omissions, erroneous, false
and/or misleading statements of its advertisers.
GM
1969 Chevrolet Chevelle SS
396 2-door hard top
1955 Chevrolet Corvette
265/195 roadster
S/N 5T07C195598.
Yellow/black. V8, 3-spd automatic.
Newly restored to nearperfect
condition. Show-ready
and a trophy winner. This car
still has its original 289 V8 motor,
which has been newly re-
S/N 136379A341714. Carolina
Blue/blue. 86,928 miles. V8,
3-spd automatic. Very nice
example of pure American
muscle. This special order color
Carolina Blue SS was originally
delivered to Wannamaker Motor
Company in Broughton, SC.
Date-code-correct 396-ci 325hp
engine. $39,500. Contact
Tom, Legendary Motors, LLC,
978.852.3988, Email: tom@
legendarymotorsllc.com (MA)
CORVETTE
1972 Chevrolet Corvette
LT-1 coupe
S/N 1Z37L2S520239. Ontario
Orange/Saddle. 11,340 miles.
V8, 4-spd manual. Actual low
miles, PB, PS, Tilt-Telescope,
AM/FM, Protect-O-Plate and
manuals, all original (even
tires), except battery and stainless
exhaust. Second owner
(since 1979). Condition -1,
perfect chrome and interior,
no dings or stress marks, very
close to like-new. Contact
Dick, 320.333.1508, Email: falcor88@charter.net
(MN)
132 AmericanCarCollector.com
327/360hp, 4-Speed. Duntov
Mark of Excellence Award
·Roman Red lacquer paint, white
soft top and black interior
·Extensive photo catalog documenting
frame-off restoration
·ALL JUDGING SHEETS and
invoices, Corvette constructors’
manual, and award data. A finer
restoration will not be found
·Level One investment grade
·Performance Verification Award:
Passed 145 functions tested
without a failure ·Winter Regional
Top Flight Score: 99.288
S/N VE55S001661. Gypsy
Red/light beige. V8, 3-spd manual.
V8 (265/195), rare 3-speed
transmission, NCRS Top Flight,
1,100 Miles since complete
frame-off restoration. Excellent
interior and top. Fun to drive.
Contact Rodger, 971.227.1753,
Email: dwights@cbbmail.com
(OR)
1962 Chevrolet Corvette
Fuelie 327/360 convertible
·Duntov Mark of Excellence
Award, Charlotte National
Convention Score: 99.6
Arguably the highest-scoring
1962 Corvette Fuelie in NCRS
history, resurrected to nearnew
delivery condition. Owner/
restorer purchased in 1985,
spending 25 years and 3,000
labor man-hours restoring
to original delivery condition.
$147,500. Contact Don,
520.349.0940, Email: dmack@
donmackey.com (AZ)
FOMOCO
1965 Ford Mustang coupe
built and so has the automatic
transmission. New rear gears,
new suspension and front-disc
conversion. $22,900. Contact
Andy, Modern Muscle Cars,
352.789.3364, Email: andya@
natda.org (FL)
f1967 Shelby GT500
astback
S/N 67400F7A02869. Lime
Gold Green/black. V8, 4-spd
manual. Highly-detailed twoyear
documented professional
restoration. Verified by deluxe
Marti Report, SAAC report,
build-sheet copies and production
order. First model year for
GT500 and last for Shelby’s
Los Angeles production. With
jack, spare and accessories.
$162,500 OBO. Contact Jose,
DriverSource, 281.497.1000,
Email: sales@driversource.com
(TX) A
Page 131
Showcase Gallery
September-October 2016 133
Page 132
RESOURCE DIRECTORY
Put your company in the ACC Resource Directory. Call 877.219.2605 Ext. 218,
or email advert@americancarcollector.com
Auction Companies
Chasers” on CNBC Prime.
www.leakecar.com. (OK)
Auctions America. 877-906-2437.
Auctions America specializes in
the sale of American Classics,
European sports cars, Detroit
muscle, hot rods, customs and
automobilia. Headquartered at the
historic Auburn Auction Park in
Indiana, Auctions America boasts
an expert team of full-time specialists
who offer 190 years’ combined
experience, making them uniquely
qualified to advise on all aspects
of the hobby.
www.auctionsamerica.com. (IN)
Barrett-Jackson Auction. 480421-6694.
480-421-6697. For over
four decades, the Barrett-Jackson
Auction Company has been
recognized throughout the world
for offering only the finest selection
of quality collector vehicles, outstanding
professional service and
an unrivaled sales success. From
classic and one-of-a-kind cars to
exotics and muscle cars, BarrettJackson
attracts only the best. Our
auctions have captured the true
essence of a passionate obsession
with cars that extends to collectors
and enthusiasts throughout
the world. A television audience
of millions watches unique and
select vehicles while attendees
enjoy a lifestyle experience featuring
fine art, fashion and gourmet
cuisine. In every way, the legend
is unsurpassed. N. Scottsdale Rd,
Scottsdale, AZ 85251.
info@barrett-jackson.com.
www.barrett-jackson.com. (AZ)
unsurpassed level of service to the
global collector car market.
www.RMSothebys.com. (CAN)
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)
Russo and Steele Collector
Automobiles. 602-252-2697.
602-252-6260. 5230 South 39th
St., Phoenix, AZ 85040.
info@russoandsteele.com;
www.russoandsteele.com. (AZ)
Silver Auctions. 800-255-4485.
2020 N. Monroe, Spokane, WA
99205. silver@silverauctions.com.
www.silverauctions.com. (WA)
Palm Springs Auctions Inc.
Keith McCormick. 760-320-3290.
Family owned and operated for
28 years. Producing two large
classic car auctions per year in
Palm Springs, CA. Each auction
features over 500 cars. Held in
November and February every
year. www.classic-carauction.com
Worldwide Auctioneers. 866273-6394.
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)
Buy/Sell/General
Motorcar Portfolio LLC. 330-4538900.
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 website
www.motorcarportfolio.com
Park Place LTD. 425-562-1000.
Founded in 1987 in Bellevue, WA,
our dealership is locally owned and
independently operated. The fouracre
Park Place Center features
an Aston Martin sales and service
center, a Lotus dealership, and we
have one of the largest selections
of collector & exotic cars available
in the Northwest. We consign, buy
and sell all types of vehicles. We
also have an in-house service center
and high-end Auto Salon.
www.ParkPlaceLtd.com
Classic Car Transport
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 County 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
134 AmericanCarCollector.com
RM Sotheby’s, Inc. 800-2114371.
RM Sotheby’s is the world’s
largest collector car auction house
for investment-quality 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
21 South Auto Gallery.
480.986.6460. Located in Mesa,
AZ, 21 South Auto Gallery
specializes in the sale of highquality
European sports cars and
American muscle. Whether you
are looking for an investmentgrade
collector car or a fun
weekend cruiser, we would love
to make your dreams a reality.
We also buy classic cars in any
condition. (AZ)
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 pickup 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
Allard Motor Works LLC. BThe
Allard Motor Works J2X is a handcrafted
version of the famed British
competition roadster that stirred
the crowds in Europe and the
Americas in the early 1950s. Our
modern J2X MkIII, recognized by
the Allard Register, integrates the
latest technology into the original
design, to provide a safe, comfort-
able and reliable vehicle without
compromising performance.
www.allardj2x.com • info@
allardj2x.com • 877-J2X-1953 •
facebook.com/allardj2x.com
Intercity Lines Inc. 800-221-3936.
Gripping the wheel of your dream
car and starting the engine for the
first time is a high point for any
enthusiast. We are the premier
Page 133
AMERICAN CAR COLLECTOR
“THE AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE
FIND OF THE YEAR”
— Mark D. on Facebook
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FOR ONLY $29.95!
AmericanCarCollector.com/subscribe
or call 503-261-0555 Ext. 1
Advertisers Index
Auctions America .......................... 11, 13
Autosport Groups ................................ 84
Barrett-Jackson ................................... 21
Bellflower Art ..................................... 135
Blue Bars ........................................... 135
Branson Collector Car Auction ............ 51
Camaro Central ................................. 113
Car Art by David Snyder .................... 121
CarCapsule USA ................................. 81
Chevs of the 40’s ................................ 77
Chubb Personal Insurance .................. 17
Classic Car Collection ....................... 127
Corvette America ................................. 19
Corvette Specialties .......................... 122
County Corvette .................................... 2
Dr. ColorChip Corporation .................. 85
Evans Cooling Systems Inc. ................ 15
Evapo-Rust .......................................... 41
Gano Filter Company ........................ 129
Genuine Hot Rod Hardware ................ 31
Greensboro Auto Auction .................. 123
Grundy Insurance ................................ 23
Hagerty Insurance Agency, Inc. .......... 43
Hahn-Vorbach & Associates LLC ........ 91
Heggen Law Office, P.C. ..................... 87
JC Taylor ........................................... 109
Jim Meyer Racing Products Inc. ....... 126
JJ Best Banc & Co .............................. 72
Leake Auction Company ....................... 3
Liquid Performance ............................. 49
Lory Lockwood .................................... 97
Lutty’s Chevy Warehouse ................. 125
McCollister’s Auto Transport............. 140
Michael Irvine Studios ....................... 139
Mid America Motorworks .................... 25
Motorcar Portfolio ............................. 101
Moultrie Swap Meet ............................ 50
National Corvette Museum ................ 129
National Corvette Restorers Society . 133
National Parts Depot ......................... 105
Obsolete & Classic Auto Parts, Inc. .. 127
Original Parts Group ............................ 73
Out of Sight Audio ............................... 47
Palm Springs Exotic Car Auctions ...... 35
Paramount Classic Cars .................... 107
Park Place LTD .................................... 89
Passport Transport ........................ 20, 75
Performance Racing Oils ..................... 87
Petersen Collector Car Auction ......... 132
POR-15 ................................................ 37
Rick Cole Auctions .............................6-7
Ronald McDonald House .................. 115
RPUI - The Right Stuff ........................... 4
RPUI - Trim Parts Group ....................... 5
Russo & Steele LLC............................. 33
SEMA ................................................... 32
Silver Collector Car Auctions .............. 53
Speed Digital ....................................... 79
Steve’s Auto Restorations Inc. ............ 27
Summit Racing Equipment ................ 131
Superformance .................................... 29
Swisstrax Corporation ......................... 99
The Chevy Store Inc .......................... 125
Thomas C Sunday Inc ....................... 135
TYCTA ............................................... 133
VanDerBrink Auctions ......................... 83
Veterans Fire Protection ...................... 85
Volunteer Vette Products .................... 93
WeatherTech ..................................... 124
Wildwood NJ Auction ........................ 117
Woodside Credit................................ 111
Zip Products, Inc. ................................ 55
zMax .................................................. 129
September-October 2016 135
Page 134
RESOURCE DIRECTORY
Put your company in the ACC Resource Directory. Call 877.219.2605 Ext. 218,
or email advert@americancarcollector.com
enclosed auto transport company
that will ensure your car arrives
safely for that experience. For over
35 years our standards for excellence
have clients returning time
and time again. Trust the Best.
Trust Intercity Lines.
www.Intercitylines.com.
McCollister’s Auto Transport.
800-748-3160.
We have transported thousands of
collector vehicles over the past 35
years all across the United States,
whether they are moving an
exotic, street rod, vintage racer or
muscle car. With our experienced
drivers trained to ensure the finest
protection and our customized,
lift-gated, air-ride trailers, we make
sure your vehicle safely arrives
on time. www.McCollisters.com/
AutoTransport
Thomas C. Sunday Inc. 800541-6601.
Established in 1970,
Thomas C. Sunday Inc. provides
clients with fully enclosed, crosscountry,
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
County Corvette. 610-696-7888.
Sales, service, parts and restoration.
When it must be right.
www.countycorvette.com. (PA)
Passport Transport. 800-7360575.
Since our founding in 1970,
we have shipped thousands of
treasured vehicles door-to-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.
Mid America Motorworks.
800-500-1500. America’s leader
in 1953–2016 Corvette parts
and accessories. Request a free
catalog at www.mamotorworks.
com. (IL)
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! 503256-5384
(p), 503-256-4767 (f)
www.thechevystore.com. (OR)
Volunteer Vette Products. 865521-9100.
1963–2004 Corvette
Parts and Accessories. Supplying
Corvette restoration parts and
accessories for 30 years. Visit our
website at
Grundy Worldwide. 888-6478639.
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)
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,
give us a call. (TN)
Insurance
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)
Reliable Carriers Inc. 877-7447889.
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
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)
Corvettes for Sale
County Corvette. 610-696-7888.
The most modern and bestequipped
Corvette-only facility in
the nation.
www.countycorvette.com. (PA)
136 AmericanCarCollector.com
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
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. 800-3458290.
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-Finance
J.J. BEST BANC & CO. provides
financing on classic cars ranging
from 1900 to today. Visit our website
at www.jjbest.com or call
1-800-USA-1965 and get a loan
approval in as little as five minutes!
Page 135
Premier Financial Services. 877973-7700.
Since 1997, renowned
customer service and honest leasing
practices have made Premier
the nation’s leading lessor of luxury
and performance motorcars.
We are small enough to ensure
your business gets the attention it
deserves, and large enough to
finance any new, used, or vintage
car over $50,000. Contact Premier
at 877-973-7700 or info@pfsllc.
com. www.premierfinancialservices.com
(CT)
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
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
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.
Evans Waterless Coolant is the
solution to running too hot. With a
boiling point of 375°F, our revolutionary
liquid formulation is a superior
alternative to water-based
coolants. Evans eliminates water
vapor, hotspots and boil-over,
resulting in a less pressurized,
more efficient cooling system and
preventing corrosion, electrolysis
and pump cavitation. Evans also
protects down to -40°F and lasts
the lifetime of the engine.
See how it works at
www.evanscoolant.com.
the best prices anywhere. The largest
selection of Chevelle, El Camino,
Monte Carlo, GTO, Le Mans,
Tempest, Gran Prix, Bonneville,
Catalina, Cutlass, 442, Skylark, GS,
Riviera and Cadillac classic parts
anywhere. Visit www.OPGI.com or
call 800-243-8355.
Restoration—General
Evapo-Rust® 888-329-9877.
Evapo-Rust® rust remover is safe
on skin and all materials except
rust! It’s also biodegradable and
earth-friendly. Water soluble and
pH-neutral, Evapo-Rust® is nontoxic,
non-corrosive, non-flammable,
and contains no acids, bases
or solvents. Evapo-Rust® is simply
the safest rust remover.
www.evapo-rust.com
info@evapo-rust.com
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.
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, swapmeets,
conventions, auctions. The
facility can likely exceed your expectations.
Visit during the 37th
annual open house along with
13,000 other enthusiasts. 253-2722336
www.lemaymarymount.org.
Corvette America. 800-458-3475.
The No. 1 manufacturer and supplier
of interiors, parts and wheels
for all generations of Corvettes.
Our Pennsylvania manufacturing
facility produces the finest quality
Corvette interiors and our distribution
center is stocked with thousands
of additional Corvetterelated
products. Corvette America
is a member of the RPUI family of
companies. Visit
www.CorvetteAmerica.com (PA)
National Parts Depot. 800-8747595.
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
Cosmopolitan Motors LLC. 206467-6531.
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.cosmopolitanmotors.com
(WA)
Park Place LTD. 425-562-1000.
Founded in 1987 in Bellevue, WA,
our dealership is locally owned and
independently operated. Our restoration
department works full time to
restore vehicles of every year,
make and model to provide an
award-winning finish. We consign,
buy and sell all types of vehicles.
We also have an in-house service
center and high-end Auto Salon.
www.ParkPlaceLtd.com A
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
September-October 2016 137
Page 136
Surfing Around
Carl Bomstead
Automobilia
from eBay and Beyond
Carl’s thought: It’s difficult to imagine selling an $860,000 doorstop, but Hansons Auctions U.K., at their July 24
Derbyshire auction, did just that. Actually, the doorstop was a blue and white Chinese vase with the stamp from the era of
the Qianlong Emperor, who ruled from 1711 to 1799. It had been handed down through the seller’s family, one of whom had
been an antique dealer, but obviously they had no idea of the value of the vase they had been using as a doorstop.
Here are a few other items I found while surfing around.
MORFORD AUCTIONS LOT
142—INDIAN MOTOCYCLE ONEGALLON
OIL CAN. SOLD AT:
$4,485 including 15% buyer’s
premium. Date sold: 6/24/2016.
This early tin one-gallon lithographed
can had been made by
the Valvoline Oil Company for the
Indian Motorcycle Company and
featured the company’s early-style
logo on both sides. It was an attractive
can but had a few issues
with rubs and light scratches and
fading. These have been hard to find of late and the price just keeps
going up.
EBAY #222087284536—
1930s HUBLEY CAST-IRON
HILL-CLIMBER MOTORCYCLE
TOY. Number of Bids:
15. SOLD AT: $6,000. Date
sold: 4/24/2016. This very
desirable Hubley motorcycle
toy was a touch over eight
inches in length and was the
largest cast-iron toy they made. It was in very nice condition. with a
few minor areas of paint loss. It even had the original pull string. A
cool toy, but at a price!
EBAY #371601713146—1960s
VINTAGE HURST 4-SPEED
“T” SHIFTER. Number of Bids:
4. SOLD AT: $110.49. Date sold
4/22/2016. This Hurst “T” shifter
was compatible with several
hundred Chevrolet 283/327/350
engines from the ’60s and ’70s. It was slightly soiled and discolored
but was certainly the finishing touch to a period hot rod. Cheap at
twice the price!
EBAY #212275479072—1965
CORVETTE DEALER SHOWROOM
POSTER. Number of
Bids: 8. SOLD AT: $565.77. Date
sold: 6/22/2016. This cardboard
poster featured the ’65 Corvette
Sting Ray coupe and convertible. It measured 18 by 32 inches and
was in acceptable condition with minor corner wear. A must-have if
a Sting Ray is in the car barn. Sold for a very reasonable amount.
138 AmericanCarCollector.com
HERITAGE AUCTIONS
LOT 80015—1934 DAVID
FRANK GILMORE OIL
COMPANY SIGNED LETTER.
SOLD AT: $95.60
including 15% buyer’s
premium. Date sold:
6/30/2016. David Frank was
the mechanic for the famed
Gilmore Oil Company racing
team, and this letter to
the Automotive Gear Works
discussed gear ratios he was
requesting. The bold Gilmore
letterhead was attractive and
Frank’s signature was rated
10/10. This letter was part of
the Dr. Harlan Hunter Collection that included all sorts of early racing
memorabilia. This letter would have sold for a touch more, but I
neglected to increase my bid!
EBAY #252375186007—
1927 CHEVROLET QUOTAMAKER
AIRPLANE
MASCOT. Number of Bids:
14. SOLD AT: $600. Date
sold: 5/11/2016. This mascot
was awarded to Chevrolet
salespeople in 1927 who
made their sales quotas for
the year. I have no idea how
many sales people won the
mascot, but today they are fairly common. It features the Spirit of St.
Louis airplane supported by the Goddess of Victory. This example,
in decent condition, was a relative bargain as these usually sell for
close to two grand or so.
EBAY #201569878—PAIR
OF 1914 MONTANA LICENSE
PLATES. Number
of Bids: Buy-It-Now. SOLD
AT: $15,000. Date sold:
4/27/2016. Montana first issued
license plates in 1914,
and the front plate had perforations
for air flow. This was
the only year for the perforations
and just the M for the state identification. Rare as heck, and
even more so in this condition, as illustrated by the price paid. A