Tag Archives: classic cars

EMF Touring

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1910 EMF Model 30 Touring

Offered by Mecum | Kissimmee, Florida | January 2024

Photo – Mecum

Everitt-Metzger-Flanders was relatively short lived – around from just 1908 to 1912. But those three names were all over the place in the early days. Everitt built bodies, Metzger helped get Cadillac off the ground, and Flanders was Ford’s production manager.

The Model 30 was their only product, and in 1910, it was only offered as a five-passenger touring car. The 3.7-liter inline-four engine made… 30 horsepower. It’s obviously been restored, and is said to have spent its recent life as a parade car.

E-M-F built ~15,000 cars in 1910. They don’t come up for sale all that often, but this EMF is… unbelievable. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $27,500.

XK120 Roadster

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1953 Jaguar XK120 Roadster

Offered by Bring a Trailer | Online | December 2024

Photo – Bring a Trailer Auctions

When Jaguar decided to re-enter the sports car market after WWII, they did so with this, the XK120. Which was quite a departure from its predecessor, the pre-war SS100. The XK120 debuted at the 1948 London Motor Show in Roadster form. Later, there would be fixed-head and drophead coupe variants (the DHC had roll-up windows, while the Roadster did not).

Between 1948 and 1954, there were 12,055 XK120s built across all styles. This one is powered by the stock 3.4-liter inline-six, though it has been fitted with an SE cylinder head. The base car was rated at 160 horsepower, while full SE cars made 180. SE cars also had other performance add-ons.

This U.S.-spec car has had two owners since new and was originally finished in gray. Its auction ends tomorrow, and you can find out more about it here.

Update: Sold $50,000.

Split-Window Corvette

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1963 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe

Offered by Mecum | Kissimmee, Florida | January 2024

Photo – Mecum

Ah, the split-window ‘Vette. The C2 was the second generation of the Corvette and was produced from 1963 through 1967, a relatively brief time, especially considering how long the C3 lasted. The “Sting Ray” launched in ’63 in coupe and convertible forms, but it’s the coupe from this year that is a standout, styling-wise, amongst all Corvettes.

The split rear window was only available on 1963 coupes, as Zora Arkus-Duntov disliked the design (and it really was bad for rearward visibility). A 327ci (5.4-liter) V8 was the only powertrain option in the first year, though it could be had in four states of tune.

This car has the top engine option: the “fuelie” – meaning it had Rochester mechanical fuel injection for an output of 360 horsepower. This is a restored car and is finished in Silver Blue. Split windows command a premium, as do Fuelies. So this is a double premium: an estimate of $350,000-$400,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $412,500.

Fiat 850 Beach Car

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1969 Fiat 850 Spiaggetta by Michelotti

Offered by RM Sotheby’s | Coral Gables, Florida | March 2024

Photo Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The Italians would’ve built a beach car out of anything in the 1960s. What started out as 500/600-based Jollys evolved into all manner of open cars based on the 600 and, apparently, its successor, the Fiat 850.

Rear-engined, the 850 was available as a two-door coupe and, perhaps more famously, the Spider. The 850 was offered with three different inline-fours ranging from 817 to 903cc. It is unclear what this one has.

But what it does have is looks. Styled by Giovanni Michelotti, the Spiaggetta, which was also known as the Shellette, was a limited-run beach car. It was a step up from a Jolly in that it doesn’t have a wicker interior. Just 80 were built, and RM says it’s good for use as yacht tender. They also say it’s worth $50,000-$60,000. More info can be found here.

Update: Sold $53,200.

GT500KR Convertible

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1968 Shelby GT500KR Convertible

Offered by Bring a Trailer Auction | December 2023

Photo – Bring a Trailer Auctions

Of all of the true Shelby Mustangs (those produced in the ’60s, not the modern mass-produced Fords with Shelby badging), this is the best. The GT500 was the GT350‘s big brother, and in “King of the Road” spec, it was one step beyond that.

The GT500 debuted in 1967, and the KR came a year later. Just 518 of them were convertibles. Power is from a 428 Cobra Jet (7.0-liter) V8 that was rated at 335 horsepower. Shelby-specific stuff included a fiberglass hood, a spoiler, Thunderbird taillights, a heavy-duty suspension, and a few more tweaks. The KR convertible got that distinctive roll bar.

This car was restored before being relocated to Canada in 2021. GT500KRs seem to change hands with some regularity. But that doesn’t make them any less awesome. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $265,000.

Manta Mirage

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1976 Manta Mirage

Offered by Mecum | Kissimmee, Florida | January 2024

Photo – Mecum

The Manta Mirage is one of the coolest kit cars ever produced. Manta Cars existed from 1974 through 1986 in Costa Mesa, California. The Mirage was their attempt at a do-it-yourself supercar (for the day). The design is like two steps removed from a McLaren Can-Am car, but it is road legal.

Chevy small-blocks were the main engine option, and his one has a 5.7-liter V8. The body is fiberglass, and the whole thing weighs less than 2,000 pounds. It also has detachable gullwing doors that transform the car into a targa-like thing.

About 1,000 examples were produced in kit and turn-key form. This one looks pretty nice for a 1970s fiberglass special.

Update: Sold $15,500.

Mass Torpedo

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1909 Mass Model B Torpedo Tourer

Offered by Gooding & Company | Online | December 2023

Photo – Gooding & Company

Automobiles Mass is a mostly unremembered French automaker that existed from 1907 until 1923. Based near Paris, the company was founded by a Mr. Masser-Horniman, who was apparently English. The chassis/engines were assembled at the French factory, but the cars were then bodied in England. Very economical.

This car is powered by a 3.3-liter inline-four rated at 30 horsepower. It has a three-speed gearbox and rear drum brakes. The body was constructed by Shaw Brothers in the U.K. It has known ownership back to the 1950s and spent years in a Colorado museum.

The catalog notes that it has received “improvements” over the last few years to get it into the condition it is today. This is not a well-known or common car (in fact, I can’t remember another one coming up for public sale in the last ~15 years). It has an estimate of $40,000-$55,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $33,000.

Buick Century

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1991 Buick Century Sedan

Offered by Mecum | Kansas City, Missouri | November 30, 2023

Photo – Mecum

“Well hang on a minute,” you’re saying, “this is no collector car. Nor is it interesting.” Well, depends who you ask. This car, despite being old model-year older and sans chrome rear luggage rack, is a dead ringer for my first car. And I never thought I’d see the day where it rolled across a collector car auction block.

Buick launched the Century name in 1936 on their Series 60, as it was capable of 100 mph. Sadly, the speedometer on this bad boy only goes to 85. How times change. This is a Century Custom, which was the middle trim, and a sedan from this range would’ve had a base price of $13,685 in 1991. Power is provided by a 3.3-liter V6, which was optional, and made 160 horsepower.

Somehow this car only has 346 miles on it. I kind of want it. Buick built 102,435 Century sedans in 1991, with 1,600 coupes and 6,500 wagons also made. I wonder if this car, like mine, pulls the right-rear suspension down when you slam the brakes, among other odd behavior it exhibited. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $9,350.

Grifo Targa

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1970 Iso Grifo Series I Targa

Offered by Bring a Trailer | December 2024

Photo – Bring a Trailer

The Iso Grifo is perhaps the most muscular of all of the Italian/American hybrid muscle cars. Sure, it’s a two-door coupe and a sports car. But it has angry lines and big American V8s. That’s a muscle car.

The Grifo has an interesting history, as discussed here, and went on sale in 1965. This is one of 330 Series I cars built, just 14 of which were targas. Power is from a 5.7-liter Chevrolet V8 rated at 300 horsepower.

It was cosmetically overhauled in Europe in the early 2000s and received mechanic work in the years following its importation to the U.S. These are very rare big-dollar cars. You can read more about it here.

Update: Sold $550,000.

Duesenberg J-121

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1929 Duesenberg Model J Dual-Cowl Phaeton by LeBaron

Offered by RM Sotheby’s | Miami, Florida | March 2, 2024

Photo Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

There are not many cars better than a sweep-panel dual-cowl phaeton. This one carries a relatively low engine number and was delivered new to Philip K. Wrigley, he of gum fame. It was originally delivered with Murphy convertible coupe coachwork, to which Mr. Wrigley added over 10,000 miles before deciding he wanted a dual-cowl phaeton.

But not just any such phaeton, he wanted the specific body on a family friend’s Duesenberg. But he didn’t want their car. So a body swap was arranged. Oh to be rich during the Great Depression. This chassis retains its original 265-horsepower, 6.9-liter inline-eight.

The Wrigleys sold it back to Duesenberg in 1936. The current restoration was completed in 2004, and it’s finished in all black, which is an interesting choice (but apparently the original look). It has an estimate of $2,650,000-$2,850,000. More info can be found here.

Update: Not sold.