Tag Archives: classic cars

’68 Hemi Charger

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1968 Dodge Charger R/T Hemi

Offered by Russo & Steele | Scottsdale, Arizona | January 27-31, 2016

Photo - Russo & Steele

Photo – Russo & Steele

There’s three generations of classic Hemi Dodge Chargers that are really collectible. First is the 1966-1967 model. Then came this one. And finally, the 1971-1974 model. This is the most famous body style of the original Dodge Chargers. It is the one that Bo and Luke Duke tore around in.

This is a Hemi, meaning it is powered by a 7.0-liter V-8 rated at 425 horsepower. This is also an R/T car, meaning is has the “road and track package” which adds dual exhaust and heavy duty brakes, among other things (including the standard 440 engine or the optional Hemi).

This car has a rare 4-speed transmission and is the only such example with this color paint, which is actually quite nice. It’s been exceptionally restored. Only 467 1968 Chargers were equipped with the 426 Hemi and this is one of the nicest. Click here for more info and here for more from Russo & Steele.

Update: Sold $242,000.

Cadillac Town Car

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1942 Cadillac Series 60 Special Town Car by Derham

Offered by RM Sotheby’s | Phoenix, Arizona | January 28-29, 2016

Photo - RM Sotheby's

Photo – RM Sotheby’s

At first glance, this car screams “owned by the head of a movie studio but never actually driven by that person.” Taking a step back and thinking about the larger story of the time, we see that America had just been attacked and that this was one of the final new cars built by Detroit prior to the war.

In fact, this car is one of just two Derham-bodied Town Cars on Cadillac’s Series 60 Special chassis for 1942. The engine is a 150 horsepower 5.7-liter V-8. The car started life as a Series 60 Special Imperial Sedan (which was a mid-range Caddy for ’42) and then it was shipped to Derham in Pennsylvania to be converted to this chauffeur’s machine you see here.

It was delivered new to someone in New York and the present owner acquired it in 1974 and restored it. It’s a fairly unique machine in that most Cadillacs were bodied in-house by this point – and most Post-War Cadillacs were too, making this the last of its kind. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $79,750.

’70 Hemi Cuda Convertible

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1970 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda Convertible

Offered by Mecum | Kissimmee, Florida | January 15-24, 2016

Photo - Mecum

Photo – Mecum

The 1970-1971 Plymouth ‘Cudas are the best muscle cars. Yeah, that’s sort of a sweeping statement (and entirely opinion)… but it’s true. We’ve featured a 1970 Hemi ‘Cuda and a ’71 Hemi ‘Cuda Convertible (and a ’70 ‘Cuda Convertible that is supposed to look like a Hemi), but never a ’70 Hemi ‘Cuda Convertible. Which is what this car is.

Hemi ‘Cuda Convertibles are among the rarest of muscle cars: only 11 were built in 1971 and only 14 were built in 1970. That Hemi is a 7.0-liter V-8 rated at 425 horsepower. This car is one of five (of the 14) equipped with a four-speed manual transmission. On top of that, this car is loaded with options and was sold new in British Columbia.

It came back to the U.S. in 1999 and was restored. It’s covered a little over 27,000 miles in its life. Offered in factory-correct Lemon Twist paint, this car will easily break the million dollar mark. Click here for more info and here for more from Mecum in Florida.

Update: Sold $2,675,000.

Talbot-Lago Worblaufen Cabriolet

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1947 Talbot-Lago T-26 Cabriolet by Worblaufen

Offered by Barrett-Jackson | Scottsdale, Arizona |  January 23-31, 2016

Photo - Barrett-Jackson

Photo – Barrett-Jackson

Talbot-Lago, which came into existence in 1935 when the French Talbot was reorganized by Tony Lago, became of of the biggest French names in pre-and-post-war luxury automobiles. Also, most of their cars are gorgeous – including this one. Don’t you think?

The T-26 (which is also referred to as the Record Type 26) is powered by a 4.5-liter straight-six making 170 horsepower. Most of these cars were sedans, but a few were sent out to coachbuilders.

Only three T-26s were bodied by Carrosserie Worblaufen of Bern, Switzerland. This one has been completely restored is being offered for sale for the first time in almost a quarter century. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $715,000.

Siata 208S

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1954 Siata 208S Spider by Motto

Offered by RM Sotheby’s | New York, New York | December 10, 2015

Photo - RM Sotheby's

Photo – RM Sotheby’s

Siata began life in Turn in 1926 when Giorgio Ambrosini began selling aftermarket performance bits for Fiats (so yes, there was a tuner scene in the 1920s). The company’s first original model was introduced in 1948 and they continued to build cars up through 1970. This is their finest work.

Sure, it may look a little AC Ace-ish but they were contemporaries from different parts of Europe. The 208S was produced in 1953 and 1954 only. It is powered by a 125 horsepower 2.0-liter alloy V-8 engine from Fiat (the famous “8V’ engine).

Only 56 examples of the 208S were built and this is the final of 33 Motto Spiders. This car has known ownership since 1956 and has been the recipient of two restorations, the most recent of which occurred in 2011. Since then it has appeared at some major Concours shows around the world (Pebble Beach, Kuwait, Villa d’Este), taking awards home in the process. It could be the nicest example anywhere. And it can be yours for between $1,500,000-$1,900,000. Click here for more info and here for the rest of RM’s New York lineup.

Update: Sold $1,650,000.

The Corphibian

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1961 Chevrolet Corphibian Prototype

Offered by Mecum | Kissimmee, Florida | January 15-24, 2016

Photo - Mecum

Photo – Mecum

The Chevrolet Corvair was a revolutionary rear-engined, rear-wheel drive car introduced by General Motors for the 1960 model year. It was available as a convertible, coupe, sedan, wagon… and van and pickup truck. Called the Greenbriar, the van was built between 1961 and 1965. The Rampside was the very non-traditional pickup that one loaded from the side.

This thing is based on the Rampside pickup. It is powered by a 2.4-liter flat-six making 80 horsepower. The engine is located under the bed in the back. But what is unusual about this Corvair is that it is amphibious. That’s right, it is for both land and sea.

While I’m not really sure why, Chevrolet enlisted the help of the Hulten-Holm Company of Pontiac, Michigan, to assist them in building this fully-functional amphibious prototype truck-boat. The hull is fiberglass and it has only covered 157 miles (presumably on land). But it has been in the water, as photos exist of it there. The paint is fresh but the wheels and tires are original. It’s pretty incredible and extremely rare (obviously, there was only ever one built). Your guess on price is as good as mine. Click here for more info and here for more from Mecum.

Update: Sold $70,000.

Lagonda Rapide

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1963 Lagonda Rapide

Offered by Bonhams | London, U.K. | December 6, 2015

Photo - Bonhams

Photo – Bonhams

Lagonda was an automobile marque that was founded in 1906 by Wilbur Gunn and acquired by Aston Martin in 1947. It disappeared after 1958 and then re-appeared in 1961 for this four-door sedan called the Rapide. The model lasted through 1964 and the marque disappeared again. The name was then used on a few Aston Martin models up through the the 1980s. It appeared as a marque again in 2014.

This very British-looking sedan is powered by a 4.2-liter straight-six while the original engine was a 4.0-liter straight-six making 236 horsepower. This one was enlarged during restoration. The chassis is a stretched version of the one used under the Aston DB4. The body is aluminium and was designed by Touring.

These cars cost 25% more than a contemporary Aston Martin DB4. Perhaps this incredible price is why a mere 55 of these were built. Aston Martin bought this example at a Bonhams auction in 2010 and restored it themselves – so you really aren’t going to find one in better shape. It should bring between $530,000-$610,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Not sold.

Maserati Mistral Spyder

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1966 Maserati Mistral Spyder by Frua

Offered by Bonhams | London, U.K. | December 6, 2015

Photo - Bonhams

Photo – Bonhams

The Mistral was a grand tourer built by Maserati between 1963 and 1970. It was Maserati’s true two-seater for the period. The convertible Spyder model was introduced in 1964 (and also lasted through 1970).

Three different engines were offered in this car. This car has the smallest, a 3.5-liter straight-six making 235 horsepower (only 20 less than the largest, 4.0-liter engine). This car is thought to be one of the cars shown at the 1966 Turin Motor Show.

The restoration on this car dates back to the mid-1990s with significant work having been completed in 2012. It has covered 88,000 miles in its life. This car has a removable hardtop and is one of 125 Spyders built. Only 12 Spyders were fitted with the 3.5-liter engine and only 20 Spyders were right hand drive, like this car. It should sell for between $610,000-$760,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold for an undisclosed amount.

APAL-Porsche

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1962 APAL-Porsche 1600 GT Coupe

Offered by RM Sotheby’s | Phoenix, Arizona | January 28-29, 2016

Photo - RM Sotheby's

Photo – RM Sotheby’s

APAL, or Application Polyester Armé de Liège, was an automobile company that operated in Liege, Belgium from 1961 through 1998, when they relocated to Germany. Most of the cars produced by the company over the years are either kits or replicas.

Edmond Pery, founder of APAL, was a fiberglass specialist. So his cars were all constructed of that material. The 1600 GT was based on the Porsche 356. The body is fiberglass and the chassis is Volkswagen, the wheelbase of which is a foot longer than a 356. The engine is a rear-mounted 1.6-liter flat-four making 60 horsepower.

Only about 150 of these coupes were built between 1961 and 1965 and only about 30 of those have an engine from a 356. This car is one of very few in the U.S. and has been here for quite some time. It has recently been restored and is now offered for sale. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $88,000.

Aston Martin Lagonda

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1974 Aston Martin Lagonda 7.0-Litre

Offered by Bonhams | London, U.K. | December 6, 2015

Photo - Bonhams

Photo – Bonhams

This is one of the rarest Aston Martins ever built. It’s rarer than the it-won’t-be-sold-to-the-public Bond-only special DB10 that the company built for the new Spectre film. They built 10 of those. They only built eight of these (including the 1969 Prototype that features different styling).

And the styling here is very 1970s Aston. It looks just like a stretched Aston Martin V8, which is essentially what it is. Riding on a longer wheelbase, the Lagonda used the same 5.3-liter V-8 making 320 horsepower. Except for two of them. This and one other car were upgraded to a 7.0-liter V-8 making 480 horsepower. It was tested up to 145 mph before they ran out of room on the test track.

Aston revived the Lagonda name in 1974 for their luxury sport sedan. The model was around for two years before being replaced by the long-running and very boxy Lagonda sedan that people are more familiar with. This car was extremely expensive when it went on sale – perhaps why so few were built.

This car was acquired by Aston Martin 2010 for use on their display stand when they launched a new car (a project which was later cancelled, sending this car to sit in storage since). Interestingly, it was also used on their show stand at the 1974 Earls Court Motor Show. It is being offered from the factory (for the second time) with an estimate of $610,000-$760,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $636,100.