Tag Archives: classic cars

Swallow Doretti

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1954 Swallow Doretti

For Sale at Fantasy Junction | Emeryville, California via Gstaad, Switzerland

1954 Swallow Doretti

So what’s with the location above, you ask? The car is located in Switzerland, currently, but is being sold by Fantasy Junction in California. So if you swing by the dealership in Emeryville wanting to check this car out, they will just send you down the street… to Switzerland. No big deal.

The Doretti was the only model manufactured by Swallow – a subsidiary of Tube Investments Group. The name Swallow came from Swallow Coachbuilding Co Ltd – which is the same company that spawned off Jaguar. Jaguar sold off the coachbuilding aspect of their business in 1945. When Tube Investments took over, they put the Doretti into production.

Based on the Triumph TR2, the car uses the same 2.0-liter straight-four making 90 horsepower. The body is unmistakably 1950s-vintage British. Performance was good, the car capable of 100 mph and a 0-60 time of 12.3 seconds. It cost about £200 more than a TR2. Only 276 were built before Jaguar, who was a significantly larger player in the British auto industry at that time, complained that the car’s production was driving the cost of materials up, and Tube Investments being an automotive supplier, shut it down before their customers got mad (more or less). In a way Jaguar was responsible for this car’s birth and death. This one has been in the same ownership for over 30 years. It is for sale for $62,500. Click here for more info.

’62 Big Brake Fuelie Tanker Vette

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1962 Chevrolet Corvette Big Brake Fuelie Tanker

Offered by Mecum Auctions | Kissimmee, Florida | January 25, 2013

1962 Chevrolet Corvette Big Brake Fuelie Tanker

1962 was the final year for the C1 Corvette, even though it really doesn’t resemble the 1953 launch model. The design had changed, but the underlying bits were all the same (solid axle and 102″ wheelbase). For 1962 there were four all-new engine combinations. This one has the top-of-the-line fuel-injected 5.4-liter V8 (327) making 360 horsepower. It was the only “Fuelie” Corvette engine available in 1962.

But that’s just where this special car starts – as you could probably tell from all of the superlatives attached to the name above. This car also received special order large wheels and heavy duty brakes and suspension. Furthermore, it has the very rare 24-gallon fuel tank. Only 65 cars were ordered with the fuel tank option in total, much less everything else it has on it. Tuxedo black with a red interior, this car might not be one-of-a-kind, but its darned close.

It’s a multiple award winner. Only 1,918 of 14,531 1962 Corvettes had fuel-injection. Only 561 had the 15×5.5-inch wheels. Just 246 are big brake cars. It’s a rare car and an excellent example at that. It isn’t going to be cheap. Check out more about it here and more from Mecum in Florida here.

Update: Sold $242,000.

Ford Model R

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1907 Ford Model R

For Sale at Hyman Ltd | St. Louis, Missouri

1907 Ford Model R

Boy am I a sucker for white tires. They are so cool. Anyway, last week we featured a Ford Model S, and when I saw that this was for sale at the same place, I figured I ought to feature it as well, just to round out the entire Ford Model N range, which included Models N, R and S.

The Model N came in 1906 and the R followed in 1907 – being in production only from April through October of that year – so it’s very rare. The difference between the two cars is little. Both used a 15 horsepower 2.4-liter straight-four. The Model R was basically just a trim package: the body was a little bigger, it had fuller fenders, running boards and an oil lamp. The price was $750, as opposed to $600 for the N. Originally, all were red, but this one has been repainted in a pleasing combination of green and cream when it was restored.

Only 2,500 Model Rs were built in the one year they were in production (and it wasn’t even a full year at that). It’s a rare example of the pre-Model T affordable Ford (see what I did there?). It can be yours for $64,500. Check out more here.

Bond Minicar Mk B

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1951 Bond Minicar Mk B

Offered by RM Auctions | Madison, Georgia | February 15-16, 2013

1951 Bond Minicar Mk B

Photo – RM Auctions

The Bond Minicar went through various re-designs during its production run from 1949 through 1966. The Mk B was the second such iteration, made in 1951 and 1952 only. This three-wheeler uses a 197cc Villiers single-cylinder. Of this type, 1,414 were built before Bond moved on to the Mk C. Of all the Bond Minicars offered during this sale, this one has the highest pre-sale estimate of $15,000-$25,000. For more info click here. And to check out more from this sale click here.

Update: Sold $19,550.

FMR Tiger

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1958 F.M.R. Tg 500

Offered by RM Auctions | Madison, Georgia | February 15-16, 2013

1958 F.M.R. Tg 500

Photo – RM Auctions

Known as the “Tiger,” this Messerschmitt-based car differs from its base car in that it has wheels at all four corners, as the Messerschmitt was only a three-wheeler. FMR stood for “Fahrzeug- und Maschinenbau GmbH Regensburg.” So yeah, “FMR” is way easier to say and fit on the fender. Built from 1958 through 1961, the Tg 500 (Tg stood for “Tiger” but Tiger was trademarked by someone else) used a 494cc two-cylinder making 19.5 horsepower. Top speed was 78 mph and – and this is the first car I’ve come across from this sale that is capable of such a statistic – a 0-60 mph time of 27.8 seconds. Yes, that might seem like an eternity, but hey, it can actually do it. Only 320 were built and apparently they are highly desirable today, as this one has a pre-sale estimate of $125,000-$150,000. Check out more here.

Update: Sold $322,000.

SMZ S-3A

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1970 SMZ S-3A

Offered by RM Auctions | Madison, Georgia | February 15-16, 2013

1970 SMZ S-3A

Photo – RM Auctions

Don’t those little go-kart sized tires look a little chunky for a small car like this? Like it’s intended for light off-roading, which it isn’t, as this was a car designed for invalids. The benefits of communism were at play here – the Soviet Union distributed these small cars for free (or at least at a hefty discount) to disabled people through their social welfare system. I would really like to make a political joke here at America’s expense, but I won’t. SMZ is now know as SeAZ and this model was made from 1957-1970. It uses a 10 horsepower 346cc single-cylinder. It should sell for between $15,000-$20,000. For more information, click here.

Update: Sold $12,650.

Julien MM5

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1947 Julien MM5

Offered by RM Auctions | Madison, Georgia | February 15-16, 2013

1947 Julien MM5

Photo – RM Auctions

Automobiles Julien was founded in 1946 in Paris. Car building materials were scarce in postwar France – especially for an upstart manufacturer hoping to put a tiny little convertible into production. The French government had to approve it and free up the necessary materials – not many were made, so it didn’t hurt France too much to do so. The car was produced from 1947 to 1949. Different engines were used, but at its peak, the car had a 10 horsepower 325cc single-cylinder. I’ve seen performance described as “acceptable.” This one should bring between $45,000-$55,000. For more information, click here.

Update: Sold $54,625.

Maico 500

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1958 Maico 500

Offered by RM Auctions | Madison, Georgia | February 15-16, 2013

1958 Maico 500

Photo – RM Auctions

Champion was an automobile manufacturer in Germany that made tiny little cars that looked exactly like this from 1952 to 1955. When they went out of business, a small company called Maico bought their assets for pennies on the dollar, er… pennies on the Deutsche Mark. The Maico 500 went on sale in 1955. It used a 452cc two-cylinder making just under 18 horsepower (17.75 to be exact). Maico built a few thousand cars between 1955 and 1958 (both the 500 and 400 model series). They lost money on every one and only quit making them to avoid bankruptcy. Solid business plan. This one will cost you between $30,000-$40,000 when it crosses the block. Check out more on it here.

Update: Sold $29,900.

Gutbrod Superior

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1951 Gutbrod Superior 600

Offered by RM Auctions | Madison, Georgia | February 15-16, 2013

1951 Gutbrod Superior 600

Photo – RM Auctions

Let’s face it: Gutbrod might not be the sexiest name ever slapped on a car. Superiors were manufactured from 1950 through 1954 and they featured a rollback convertible roof (those b-pillars don’t go anywhere). The cloth roof just kind of unfurls backward and voila! a convertible. The engine was a front-mounted 593cc twin making 20 horsepower. They were known as good handlers but they were also loud. There was a “700” model as well, with an extra 6 horsepower and 70 more cubic centimeters in displacement. Of both models, 7,726 were made. This one will go for between $15,000-$25,000 and you can read more here.

Update: Sold $16,100

Scootacar

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1959 Scootacar Mk I

Offered by RM Auctions | Madison, Georgia | February 15-16, 2013

1959 Scootacar Mk I
Photo – RM Auctions

This is a two-seat automobile, if you can believe it. The Scootacar exists because the wife of one of the heads of a railway locomotive manufacturer wanted “something easier to park than her Jaguar.” Rough life. So Scootacars Ltd was set up as a subsidiary of that locomotive company to produce, well, something much easier to park than a Jaguar. The Mk I was a fiberglass bubble that is taller than it is wide and just barely longer than it is tall. It’s a single-cylinder engine of 197cc that pushes this thing to 50 mph. And you steered with handlebars. There were other models as well, but production on this one started in 1957. Only 130 Scootacars of all types were produced by the time the company closed in 1964. This one should sell for between $20,000-$25,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $39,100.