Tag Archives: cars

A Pair of Mercury Cyclone Spoiler IIs

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1969 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler II Yarborough Special

Offered by Mecum | Houston, Texas | April 4-6, 2013

1969 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler Yarborough Special

Ford – make that, Mercury – was involved in NASCAR racing in the late 1960s. For 1969, their NASCAR model was the Cyclone. And NASCAR demanded that any car a manufacturer raced needed to be produced for the street – or homologated. So Mercury took their Cyclone and made it more aerodynamic to make it more competitive on the circuit.

So they built a few road models – “few” being the operative word. NASCAR mandated that about 500 be built. Mercury was feeling generous in 1969 and built 503. They built them all in the first few weeks of 1969 only. It was essentially the same car as the Ford Torino Talladega.

The body was a Cyclone fastback (or “Sportsroof”) with a nose extension. The engine was  a 5.8-liter Ford V-8 (the race car got a 7.0-liter). Horsepower was about 290. Two models were offered, this one being a “Yarborough Special” named for NASCAR superstar and legend Cale Yarborough. Only 285 of this version was built and the red trim sets it apart from its sister car (you can read more here).

Update: Sold $26,000.

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1969 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler II Gurney Special

Offered by Mecum | Houston, Texas | April 4-6, 2013

1969 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler II Gurney Special

This is the other version of the Mercury Cyclone Spoiler II (if you’re linking here from somewhere on the site, you can read more about these cars above). It’s interesting that Ford would name a car after Dan Gurney – he wasn’t a NASCAR regular (even though he has one of the highest winning percentages in NASCAR history at 31.25% – the highest among drivers who started more than 3 races). He ran races between 1962 and 1968 – just 16 races. And he won 5 of them (and he did drive Mercurys for owner Bud Moore). Pretty incredible.

Dan Gurney is, hands down, one of the best race car drivers that America has ever produced. Mercury built 218 Gurney Specials for 1969 in honor of him. The blue trim on this one sets it apart from the Yarborough Special. Both of these cars look incredible and are likely coming from the same home. You can read more about this one here and see what else Mecum has to offer here.

Update: Sold $22,000

A Chinese Classic

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1974 Hongqi CA770

For Sale at The Auto Collections | Las Vegas, Nevada

1974 Hongqi CA770

Say what? This is actually a really exciting car to see for sale in the United States. The Chinese automobile industry is just starting to take off (I could throw some numbers at you but I won’t. I wrote a thesis-ish paper in college about two years ago regarding it but I don’t want to bore you). But the industry has actually been around longer than 10 years.

Hongqi (which means Red Flag, the name by which the cars are sometimes referred to in Western media) is owned by FAW (First Automobile Works). The cars were the first domestically produced passenger automobiles in China. They were introduced in 1958, essentially as a copy of a 1950s Chrysler. An update came in 1963 and it was known as the CA770, the car you see here.

They were built for elite members of the Communist Party. It used the same engine as its predecessor, a 197 horsepower 5.6-liter V-8 (also a Chrysler design). This model was produced until 1980. Only about 1,600 of these cars (and the earlier model) were made in total. So they are very rare to begin with.

Then you throw the curveball: this car is in the U.S. It is one of very few (it could be the only one) Chinese cars (and not those little electric things) in this country. It is almost certainly the only “classic” Chinese car to have reached these shores. No one’s really collecting them because most people don’t know they are out there. Russian cars have a little bit of a following, but this is a whole new ballgame. The Auto Collections bill it as “the very first collector car to ever be exchanged in the USA with China.” It’s interesting. It’s for sale. I want it, and any collector of interesting cars should too. Click here for more.

Ron Fellows Edition Z06

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2007 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Ron Fellows Special Edition

Offered by Auctions America | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | March 22-24, 2013

2007 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Ron Fellows Special Edition

The C6 Corvette just went out of production and along the way there were a number of special editions and different models. This particular one celebrates the career of Canadian race car driver Ron Fellows.

Fellows joined the Pratt & Miller Corvette race team at its inception in 1998/9. He won the 24 Hours of Daytona in a C5-R in 2001. He has two class victories and seven podiums in C5-Rs and C6.Rs at the 24 Hours of Le Mans between 2000 and 2008. He was the most solid, reliable, and winning Corvette team driver of all time. He was also (perhaps never officially), the team leader. In 2007, he stepped into a supporting role at team Corvette, retiring for good in 2009. He still competes in the occasional NASCAR road-course race.

So Chevrolet honored his loyalty and passion with a limited-edition run of 399 Corvette Z06s. All came in Arctic White with a red fender stripe and Fellows’ autograph. This one, car #399 of 399, is actually signed by Ron inside. It uses the same 505 horsepower 7.0-liter V-8 as every other Z06. This one has less than 150 miles on it. It’s a $60,000-$75,000 car. Click here for more info and here for the rest of Auctions America’s Ft. Lauderdale auction lineup.

Update: Sold $52,800.

Panther DeVille

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1977 Panther DeVille

Offered by Auctions America | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | March 22-24, 2013

1977 Panther DeVille

Panther Westwinds build some outrageous cars in their history. This neo-classic is actually pretty tame compared to some of their cars (it only has four wheels, is what I mean). When it was introduced in 1974, there were already a few neo-classics on the market, but so many more were yet to come.

The body was meant to evoke the Bugatti Royale. The engines were Jaguar-sourced – either a straight six or an optional V-12. The original owner of this car opted for the latter and it made about 282 horsepower. The car was named De Ville and, as you would expect from a car that looks like this and has that name, one was used (not this one) in the 1996 live-action version of 101 Dalmatians (the one with Glenn Close playing Cruella De Vil). I think that one was a coupe or convertible – I haven’t seen the movie in a while.

Only 60 DeVilles were built in total, with the sedan being the most popular bodystyle with 48 built. This one is original with original paint. It has new tires and has had mechanical freshening and is ready to go. I’ll call it a $35,000-$45,000 car. Click here for more and here for more from Auctions America.

Update: Did not sell.

Voisin Flatbed Truck Prototype

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1957 Voisin Camionnette Prototype

Offered by Osenat | Fontainebleau, France | March 17, 2013

1957 Voisin Camionnette Prototype

We featured a pair of post-war Voisin prototypes during our coverage of the Bruce Weiner Microcar Collection. As wide and as complete as that collection was, it didn’t have one of these. This trucklet is a testament to the changes in France between the 1930s and 1950s. Pre-war Voisins were extravagant as can be. This is about as utilitarian and as basic as can be.

Voisin exhibited this very vehicle, the prototype, at an auto show in France in 1957. As you may know from the other Voisin prototypes, no one wanted them and they weren’t put into production (at least not in France, anyway). This car uses a 200cc single-cylinder engine, weighs in at 400kg and can carry 500kg. It is also front-wheel drive.

A man who knew Gabriel Voisin and who saw this car on the auto show stand in 1957, contacted SNECMA, the company that Voisin worked for and owned his post-war prototypes, and asked if there was anything he could get. They told him “come take this little truck that’s taking up space in our warehouse.” Well, sort of. He was able to save this truck though, which is nice because it is likely the only one like it. It should sell for between $13,000-$19,500. Click here for more info and here for the rest of Osenat’s auction lineup.

Update: Sold $23,220.

An Italian Darracq

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1907 Darracq-Italiana

Offered by Osenat | Fontainebleau, France | March 17, 2013

1907 Darracq-Italiana

We’ve broken down the somewhat convoluted history of Alexandre Darracq’s early automotive mini-empire. We wrote mainly about the differences and lineage of the French and English Darracqs. But we never mentioned the Italians.

Internal combustion Darracqs first appeared in the year 1900. By 1903 the company was doing well and Darracq decided to expand his business into other countries (he already had Germany covered because of a deal with Opel). The U.K. followed in 1905 and Italy in 1906. The company was established in a suburb of Milan. The cars (this one included) were built in France and assembled in Italy. Darracq closed the Italian branch in 1910 and it became A.L.F.A. – which would become Alfa Romeo (just another piece of automobile history that Darracq had its hand in).

The engine is a 1.5-liter straight-two making between eight and 10 horsepower. This car is all original and is believed to be one of two in existence. It is expected to sell for between $26,000-$39,000. Click here for more info and here for more from Osenat.

Update: Sold $32,895.

Baldwin Motion Phase III Corvette

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1969 Chevrolet Corvette Baldwin Motion Phase III Coupe

Offered by Auctions America | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | March 22-24, 2013

1969 Chevrolet Corvette Baldwin Motion Phase III Coupe

Baldwin, Long Island-located Baldwin Chevrolet and Motion Performance joined forces in 1967 to build serious street machines. Baldwin Chevrolet sold the cars that they, and their partners, modified. All kind of Chevrolets could be had: Novas, Camaros, Chevelles and Corvettes.

They called their Phase III cars “supercars” and the term is apt. They guaranteed both an 11.5 second quarter mile time and a cruising speed of 120 mph. That’s some gearing! But then again, such gearing is made easy when the engine makes 600 horsepower. This car has a 7.9-liter (482-cid) V-8 “Elephant” motor making just such a number. It is the only engine like it known to exist.

This car is a 15,000 mile car from new and is well optioned. It is all original and is the only one like it. Rare, period one-off muscle cars like this used to bring ridiculous money about 10 years ago. The market has softened but this is still a very valuable car. Click here to read more and here for more from Auctions America in Ft. Lauderdale.

Update: Sold $136,400.

Lavie Runabout

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1904 Lavie Runabout

Offered by Coys | London, U.K. | March 12, 2013

1904 Lavie Runabout

So many different marques built cars in the early 1900s. Lavie was one of many and it didn’t last long – the company (which was actually registered in its owner’s name) only built cars for one year – 1904.

Needless to say, it is an incredible stroke of luck that this lone example survives. Especially considering he only built two cars – total – in his Parisian workshop. Both cars were originally owned by the Lavie family – one by him and one by his brother. This car was owned by Mr. Lavie and the second owner is known as well. But then the car disappeared until 1968, when it went on display at the Le Mans Museum.

The engine in this car is a Delahaye straight-two and the chassis is low-slung with a convertible top. It’s almost sporty – which is perhaps why the man who purchased it from the museum in 1978 used it in almost every veteran car event in France up until 2002. It has received a mechanical overhaul recently and is London-to-Brighton eligible. It is expected to sell for between $98,500-$106,000. Click here for more info and here for the rest of Coys’ lineup.

Austin (the American one) Touring Car

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1909 Austin Model 60 Touring

Offered by RM Auctions | Amelia Island, Florida | March 9, 2013

1909 Austin Model 60 Touring

There are a couple of old automobile manufacturers that went by the name “Austin.” There is the well-known British Austin – the one who built the Seven and the Mini and died slowly during the decades-long BMC/Leyland “let’s ruin the British auto industry” debacle. Then there was “American Austin” which became American Bantam in the 1930s. But before these, there was the Austin Automobile Company of Grand Rapids, Michigan. It was founded in 1901 – five years before Austin of England.

The Model 60 was the flagship Austin model when it was introduced. It’s a very large, imposing car and the competitive set in the day included Packard and Pierce-Arrow. They were well-engineered and basically overbuilt. The engine is a massive 12.8-liter straight-six making a then very impressive 90 horsepower. This particular car was featured on the Austin stand at the 1909 Chicago Auto Show.

The first owner bought it off the auto show stand for $5,000 and kept it for 38 years. It was then sold to Barney Pollard who maintained the car throughout his ownership. It spent 30 years in a museum during this time before the current owner bought it in 1983. The car has been restored, but because it was cared for its entire life, it has many (if not most) of its original parts. This is the only Model 60 in existence and the finest Austin there is. It is expected to sell for between $500,000-$750,000. Click here for more info and here for the rest of RM’s lineup at Amelia Island.

Update: Sold $379,500.

Duesenberg JN-500

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1935 Duesenberg Model JN LWB Berline by Rollston (and Bohman & Schwartz)

Offered by Gooding & Company | Amelia Island, Florida | March 8, 2013

1935 Duesenberg Model JN (500) LWB Berline by Rollston (and Bohman & Schwartz)

This Duesenberg is a Model JN – that is, it is one of 10 Rollston-bodied cars produced in 1935 with modern updates to the front of the car along with smaller wheels. They were among the last Duesenberg’s built at a time when the company was desperately trying to stay afloat and keep its aging flagship car relevant.

As was the case with JNs, this one came equipped with Rollston bodywork. This chassis and body originally had engine J-559 underhood, but that was replaced in the 1950s when its owner consolidated two different Duesenbergs. This car also received the larger Model J wheels at that time. The engine was unchanged – a 6.9-liter straight eight making 265 horsepower.

This car was delivered new to Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, the famous Hollywood tap-dancer who appeared alongside Will Rogers and Shirley Temple onscreen. When he took the car to California, he sent it to Bohman & Schwartz for some updates (only a year after purchase). When he passed, the car bounced between owners – its engine being swapped out along the way. It was restored in 1970 and has been maintained since, which is kind of remarkable considering its fairly nice condition and the fact it has covered more than 100,000 miles in its well-used life. It should sell for between $500,000-$700,000. You can read more about it here and check out the rest of Gooding’s auction lineup here.

Update: Sold $594,000.