Tag Archives: classic cars

A Studebaker Truck That Couldn’t Save The Company

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1961 Studebaker Champ

Offered by Barrett-Jackson | Reno, Nevada | August, 8, 2013

1961 Studebaker Champ

By the mid-1950s, Studebaker’s outlook was dim. Ford and GM were pulling away fast and labor costs and quality issues were dragging Studebaker toward the grave. They merged with Packard (technically, Packard acquired Studebaker) but all that did was kill Packard off.

Cash-strapped but pushing forward, Studebaker invested what it could into redesigning their light truck line (which had gone unchanged for more than 10 years). Working within limits, they took their compact car, the Lark, cut it in half and designed a truck bed behind the passenger compartment and mounted it on a truck chassis. You can tell that’s what happened, because the truck bed doesn’t really flow into the body at all. Regardless, it’s not a bad truck.

A 2.8-liter straight-six was the base engine. It made 90 horsepower. Even though this particular truck is a “Champ Deluxe”, it carries the base engine. It’s described as a “rust-fee Arizona truck” (rust-free and post-war Studebakers being a rare combo) but it has to have been restored. The Champ was the first truck with a sliding rear window – but this novel new idea would not save Studebaker. In December of 1963, their South Bend, Indiana plant was closed and the Champ was no more. Studebaker soldiered on until the end of 1966, but it was all over after that. This is a $15,000-$30,000 truck. Click here for more and here for the rest of the inaugural lineup of Barrett-Jackson’s Reno sale.

Update: Sold $30,800.

Puritan Steam Car

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1902 Puritan Runabout

For Sale by H&H Auctions | Appleton, England

1902 Puritan Runabout

When Albert Locke took control of his father and uncle’s company in Salem, Massachusetts, around the turn of the century, he decided he wanted to do more than just build parts for steam engines. The Locke Regulator Company was getting into the car business.

In 1902, they launched their little runabout (designed in-house by Albert himself) that uses a straight-twin steam engine making six horsepower. Most Puritans were known to be ahead of their time (the cars, not the people) by featuring two things that would become standard on automobiles: a steering wheel and a foot throttle. However, this car has tiller steering. It could go 100 miles on one tank of water and could reach 20 mph.

Unfortunately, the company didn’t last in the car business for long, with production ceasing the following year in 1903. As rare as that makes it, surprisingly, there is at least one other Puritan steam car in England. This one isn’t exactly in concours-level shape, but it is usable – which is the most important thing. Price is not listed but you can check out more here.

Update: Not sold, H&H Auctions Duxford, Fall 2014.

Jensen CV8

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1966 Jensen CV8 Mk III

Offered by H&H Auctions | Buxton, U.K. | July 24, 2013

1966 Jensen CV8 Mk III

The Jensen CV8 was a four-seat sports car – or Grand Tourer – introduced in 1962. I’m not 100% sure what the CV8 name stands for, but the car did use a Chrysler V-8 (Chrysler V–8 – maybe?). Namely, this car uses a 6.3-liter V-8 (known as a 383 in the States). It makes 330 horsepower – which makes this car pretty powerful if you think about it.

The styling, love it or hate it, has a distinct look with the four headlights that can be viewed as either looking at you or giving you a really weird stare. Even if it’s slightly odd looking, I really like it. And it was one of the fastest GT cars of the period, with a top speed of around 136 mph and a big V8 (most British cars of the era used itty-bitty four-cylinder engines or straight-sixes).

Only 500 CV8s were built in total. This one was in storage from 1988 until last year when it was freshened and put into running condition. It is also one of the last 10 examples of the model built making it a very late car. And it’s rather pleasant looking in California Sage paint. It is expected to sell for between $42,000-$48,500. Click here for more info and here for the rest of H&H’s Pavilion Gardens auction lineup.

Update: Not Sold.

Ex-Mansell John Player Special

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1984 Lotus Type 95T

Offered by Mecum | Monterey, California | August 17, 2013

1984 Lotus Type 95T

There are a few racing liveries that really stand out above others. Among them: Gulf, Martini and – of course – John Player Special. The tobacco company started sponsoring Lotus Formula One cars in 1968. This black and gold paint scheme would be a part of F1 through the 1986 season and the current Lotus F1 team uses the colors – albeit with different sponsors.

The Lotus 94T was raced at the end of the 1983 Formula One season without much success (a lone podium and many retirements). It was competitive, but not great. For 1984, Lotus introduced the 95T. It was powered by a Renault-Gordini 1.5-liter twin-turbocharged V-6. In race trim it made about 700 horsepower. For qualifying, that number was bumped up over 1,100! Four cars were built for that season to share between Lotus drivers Nigel Mansell and Elio de Angelis.

This car was driven by Mansell and includes the following race results (I can’t find if Mansell drove this particular car at more races than this or not):

  • 1984 Monaco Grand Prix – 13th (with Nigel Mansell)
  • 1984 Dallas Grand Prix – 6th, from first career pole (with Mansell)

It has since been retrofitted to accept computer input, making it easy to start and drive today (for historic events and parade laps). This is a Turbo Era F1 car that was raced by an F1 Champion. It’s also from one of the racing’s most storied manufacturers and carries one of racing’s most emblematic paint schemes. It can be yours for a price they won’t estimate. Click here for more info and here for more from Mecum in California.

Update: Failed to sell (high bid of $450,000)

Lincoln Model K Sport Phaeton

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1931 Lincoln Model K Sport Phaeton

Offered by RM Auctions | Plymouth, Michigan | July 27, 2013

1931 Lincoln Model K Sport Phaeton

This beautiful Lincoln Model K is from the first year of K-Series production, 1931. The cars would be made through 1939 and offered for the beginning of the 1940 model year. All cars built in the first year were offered with the 145 inch long wheelbase.

The engine was an improved version of Henry Leland’s original 6.3-liter V8 that was introduced 10 years prior. It made 120 horsepower and would be replaced for 1932. The body on this thing is gorgeous though. It’s a dual-cowl phaeton built and designed by Lincoln and it very much rivals some of the great coachbuilt bodies of the era.

This car was restored for the first time in 1975 and again in 2005. It was acquired by the current owners shortly thereafter and expertly maintained since. It has been shown at numerous shows and has only covered 23 miles since its restoration (!). I understand show cars and why they are so babied, but this thing begs to be driven. It’s amazing sitting still and cars always look (and sound and smell) better in motion. It is expected to sell for between $125,000-$175,000. Click here for more info and here for more from RM at St. John’s.

Update: Sold $165,000.

June Auction Roundup

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Okay, so June was a busy auction month and this is our final rundown of sales for it. First up was Osenat’s Fontainebleau sale where the highest amount paid for any vehicle (there were some pricey boats) was this 1928 Bugatti Type 37 for $720,500.

1928 Bugatti Type 37

Of our feature cars, the Deutsch-Bonnet race car failed to sell. So did the Fournier-Marcadier Barzoi 2. But the Fournier-Marcadier Barquette did sell – for $32,750. And the B.N.C. Type 53 sold for $104,800. The two most interesting cars also sold were a pair of prototypes. First, this 1986 Citroen Triaxe Prototype sold for $12,445.

1986 Citroen Triaxe Prototype

The other prototype was this 1951 Renault 4CV “Pie” Prototype. It sold for $13,100.

1951 Renault 4CV Pie Prototype

And finally, this attractive 1965 Panhard CT 24 Convertible brought $14,410. Check out full results here.

1965 Panhard CT 24 Convertible

Next up was Russo & Steele’s Newport Beach, California sale. Top sale honors there went to this 2008 Bugatti Veyron for $1,078,000.

2008 Bugatti Veyron

Our featured Tojeiro Barchetta sold for $159,500. Other cool rides that sold included this 1958 Chevrolet Cameo NAPCO 4×4 pickup. It sold for $67,100. Check here for full results.

1958 Chevrolet Cameo NAPCO 4x4

And finally, Mecum’s annual Bloomington Gold sale. It was a small-ish sale this year and the top sale went to this 1967 Chevrolet Corvette 327/350 Coupe for $100,000.

1967 Chevrolet Corvette 327-350 Coupe

Interesting sale were topped by this 1996 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Convertible – one of 190 built. It sold for $23,500. Our “Entombed Corvette” failed to sell. Check out full results here.

1996 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Convertible

The 6th Austin-Healey Built

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1953 Austin-Healey 100 Special Test Car

Offered by Bonhams | Goodwood, U.K. | July 12, 2013

1953 Austin-Healey 100 Special Test Car

You’re looking at one of the first Austin-Healeys built. It was the sixth Austin-Healey built and it was one of several pre-production cars that were to be used “testing” on famous race tracks all over Europe. They are referred to as Special Test Cars and, while they look nearly identical to production cars, they were lighter (thanks to a lot of aluminium) and faster on the track. Only four Special Test Cars were built. The first three were eventually road-registered. This car has always remained in race/testing guise.

The engine began life in Austin’s “experimental shop.” The 2.7-liter straight-four received a special camshaft, a lighter flywheel and spruced up carburetors. Power was more than the production car’s 90 horses – it was rated at 103 for Le Mans. This car also has a significant competition history:

  • 1953 Mille Miglia – 417th (seriously), DNF (with Bert Hadley and Bertie Mercer – yes, two people named Bert shared this car. The 1950s were a different time)
  • 1953 24 Hours of Le Mans – 12th overall, 2nd in class (with Maurice Gatsonides and Johnny Lockett)

After Le Mans, the car had its appearance changed to that of a road car and was used in testing for the media (although they didn’t know they were testing a lightweight racing special all gussied up to look like a road car). Later, it was used to test new braking systems for future Healey models and it was also used as a personal car by the Healey family. The first private owner acquired the car in 1962.

It passed through many owners before it was restored in the mid-1990s in Australia. That restoration was “refreshed” in 2009 and was painted to look like it did at Le Mans in 1953 – and it’s a wonderful color. This is the only Special Test Car that looks anything like it did in 1953 – it has almost all of its original bodywork and parts. It has never been molested, wrecked or altered. It is super rare and very important in the world of Healeys and it should command it in price with an estimate between $780,000-$1,100,000. Click here for more info and here for the rest of Bonhams’ Goodwood sale lineup.

Update: Sold $1,186,763.

Duesenberg J-183

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1929 Duesenberg Model J Dual-Cowl Phaeton

Offered by RM Auctions | Plymouth, Michigan | July 27, 2013

1929 Duesenberg Model J 183

This Model J is an actual Model J but it doesn’t have an original body on it. The original body, which was a Derham Town Car, burned to the ground. At some point more recently, the car was restored and given a Dual-Cowl Phaeton body in the style of Murphy. But between that time is where this car’s interesting history lies.

James Hoe was a mechanic who is more or less responsible for keeping many of the Duesenbergs still around alive and well. He worked on them back in the day, servicing, repairing, etc. Whatever kept them around. Well in 1950, he bought this car for $150 – basically salvaging it. The body was a loss, so he turned it into a custom speedster. Many of the original Duesenberg parts were still on it, engine included (although the transmission was from a White truck).

He raced the car at some SCCA events and hillclimbs. It would do 140 mph. After he sold it, the car was restored to how you see it. A different engine was put in the car, but the bell housing from J-183 was retained and that is the number the engine carries today. It should sell for between $725,000-$900,000. Click here for more info and here for more from RM at St. John’s.

Update: Sold $682,000.

Glasspar G2

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1951 Glasspar G2 Roadster

Offered by Auctions America | Burbank, California | August 1-3, 2013

1951 Glasspar G2

1950s low-production fiberglass sports cars are a really interesting sector of collector cars. There were quite a few of these little cars that came out in the early 50s and the Glasspar G2 is one of the more well-known.

Bill Tritt founded Glasspar in 1949 as a fiberglass manufacturer. He built boats and in 1949 he built a sporty body for a friend’s hot rod. Two years later, the Glasspar G2 made its debut. It was available as a coupe or roadster and as a kit or as a complete car. Very few complete cars were sold – most of them were kits. And you see roadsters now and then but rarely ever see a coupe.

The G2 was the first all-fiberglass production car to come to market. It’s an attractive car, really. The rear-3/4 view is a bit Jaguar XK120-ish. The engines available at the time were Ford or Mercury flathead V-8s. This one has a Mercury unit – a 3.7-liter V-8 with Offenhauser aluminium heads. The G2 was made through 1953. This is about a $35,000-$45,000 car. Click here for more info and here for the rest of Auctions America’s Burbank lineup.

Update: Sold $52,800.

Mercedes-Benz 630K Tourer

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1928 Mercedes-Benz 630K Tourer by Erdmann & Rossi

Offered by Bonhams | Goodwood, U.K. | July 12, 2013

1928 Mercedes-Benz 630K Tourer by Erdmann & Rossi

Mercedes became Mercedes-Benz in 1926 when Daimler and Benz merged. What is interesting about the 630K (okay, so there are many things) is that it was originally introduced in 1924 when Mercedes was just Mercedes. The model line was known as the 24/100/140 PS. When the companies merged, the name was changed to Type 630 (although 24/110/160 PS was still used on occasion). 1929 was the final year regardless of whatever you called it.

The model was more or less designed by Dr. Ferdinand Porsche when he arrived at Mercedes to replace the departing Paul Daimler. This model was a follow-up to the 6/25/40 PS model that Mercedes introduced in 1921 as the world’s first supercharged production car. Also: the slashes in the name denote the following: rated (or taxable) horsepower/horsepower without the supercharger/horsepower with the supercharger engaged. You can see that power in the new model was greatly improved. The engine in the 630K is a supercharged 6.3-liter straight-six making 138 horsepower with the supercharger active (and it was activated by flooring the gas pedal).

The “K” variant of the Type 630 was new for 1926 and it stands for “Kurz” and not “Kompressor” as one might think. “Kurz” translates to “short” – as in wheelbase. The K variant was available on other Mercedes-Benz models from 1926 through 1932. They had a 90 mph top speed and only 267 were built. Some had factory Sindelfingen coachwork while this one sports a Tourer body from Erdmann & Rossi. Other coachbuilders were involved as well.

This car was delivered new to Los Angeles with this body on it. It is presented in all-original condition and the color is apparently maroon (I guess). I personally find this car incredible and would love to own it, if I had the means. And means I would need: the pre-sale estimate is $280,000-$390,000. Click here for more info and here for more from Bonhams at Goodwood.

Update: Sold $1,220,606.