Tri-Power Catalina Convertible

Posted on February 14, 2013 by classiccarweekly

1959 Pontiac Catalina Tri-Power Convertible

Offered by Mecum | Boynton Beach, Florida | February 23, 2013

For 1959, Pontiac dropped the Chieftain name and started using “Catalina” instead, which sounds 1. more politically correct (in today’s insane terms) and 2. way cooler – especially for a convertible as the word “Catalina” has a two semi-exotic connotations in my mind (a flying boat and an island). Although, if your first thought when you hear “Catalina” is salad dressing, you have my deepest sympathy (and absolute understanding).

This bodystyle for the first generation of the Catalina was available for 1959 and 1960 only. This particular car is gorgeous. I’ve never looked at late-1950s Pontiacs in the same light as I do Chryslers (300 Letter Series) and Cadillacs. But I do now. Part of it is the whitewalls and chrome wire wheels. The engine is a 6.4-liter V8 (the only option available, although varying compression ratios and carburetor setups allowed for different power outputs). This is a Tri-Power car, using three Rochester 2-barrel carbs making 318 horsepower.

You don’t see many of these – especially in this condition with “all the goodies.” It comes from Fran & Ron Green’s Verde Classics Museum in Boynton Beach, Florida. The whole museum is going under the hammer. I don’t see why this isn’t a $100,000 car. Click here for more info and here for the rest of the collection on offer.

Update: Sold $58,000.

December Auction Roundup

Posted on December 15, 2012 by classiccarweekly

All of December’s big auctions happened early in the month. The very first one occurred on December 1st in North Palm Beach, Florida. It was the sale of John Staluppi’s “Cars of Dreams” Museum. Every car sold at no reserve and the top sale was actually a giant carousel – but the top selling car was this 1956 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible.

1956 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible

Our featured cars were the entire Chrysler 300 Letter Series. Their sales breakdown is as follows:

1955 Chrysler C-300 – $88,000
1956 Chrysler 300B – $115,500
1957 Chrysler 300C Convertible – $154,000
1958 Chrysler 300D Convertible – $198,000
1959 Chrysler 300E Convertible – $176,000
1960 Chrysler 300F Convertible – $170,500
1961 Chrysler 300G Convertible – $137,500
1962 Chrysler 300H Convertible – $74,250
1963 Chrysler 300 Sport Series Convertible – $71,500

For complete results, click here. Next up was Bonhams sale at Mercedes-Benz World Brooklands in Weybridge. The top sale was this 1931 Invicta 4.25-litre S-Type Low-Chassis Tourer for $750,000.

$1931 Invicta 4½-Litre S-Type Low-Chassis Tourer$

Our featured Pagani Zonda failed to sell. Our featured SS 100 was the fourth highest-selling car at $402,800. The Fiat 1500 with beautiful cabriolet Ghia coachwork sold for $128,600. And our final feature car, the 1904 Winton, sold for $218,800. Other interesting cars included an early 1913 Austin 10hp Coquette for $44,444.

1913 Austin 10hp Coquette

There was also this 1924 Frazer-Nash 1.5-Litre Super Sports Roadster for $107,000.

$1924 Frazer Nash 1½-Litre Super Sports$

And finally, one for the weird, this 1963 Hillman Imp “Flatmobile.” It is the World’s Lowest Car. It was one of a handful of weird one-offs in this sale. It’s only 19 inches high… and would be one of the last vehicles I would ever want to ride in. It sold for $15,700. For complete results, click here.

1963 Hillman Imp 'The Flatmobile'

H&H’s December 5th sale at Newbury Racecourse had this 1965 Aston Martin DB5 as its top sale. It went for $431,000. Our featured Allard P2 Safari failed to sell.

1965 Aston Martin DB5

The second-highest selling car was this 1925 Vauxhall 30/98 OE-Type Tourer. It sold for $287,000.

1925 Vauxhall 30/98 OE-Type Tourer

Then there was this 1980 MG B Roadster that was styled by Aston Martin. It’s one-of-a-kind and was sold for $17,900. For complete results, click here.

1980 MG B by Aston Martin

Mecum’s December Kansas City auction had quite a number of cars cross the block. The only one we featured, a Mark II Sunbeam Tiger failed to sell. A car we featured from when it was for sale in St. Louis, a Vespa 400, sold at this sale for $22,500, $9,000 less than the asking price at the dealership. Top sale was a 2012 Chevrolet Camaro COPO factory drag car for $140,000.

2012 Chevrolet COPO Camaro

Actually, it was co-top sale. The other $140,000 sale was this pretty awesome 1970 Ford Mustang Mach I Twister Edition. It is one of only 48 made.

1970 Ford Mustang Mach I Twister Edition

Another cool muscle car was this awesome-in-green 1971 Pontiac GTO “Judge” that sold for $92,500.

The other two “interesting” cars were a pair of Buicks. First this 1928 Master Six Opera Coupe that I’ve had my eye on for quite some time at the same dealership that the Vespa came from. It also sold for $22,500. Mmmm, wood-rimmed wheels.

1928 Buick Master Six Opera Coupe

Then there was this 1985 Century Convertible. It’s a V6 car – and Buick never built a Century convertible in this bodystyle, so it’s an aftermarket job. Maybe it’s just because I owned a ’92 Century that I was drawn to this thing, but it was also the cheapest car in the sale and it looks like it’s in really good shape. It sold for $1,250. Complete results can be found here.

1985 Buick Century Convertible

The coolest auction of the month was Auctions America’s sale of some WWII vehicles from (what was) Dean Kruse’s National Military History Center in Auburn, Indiana. There were some seriously cool trucks on offer. The top sale went to one of our featured half-tracks. They sold as follows:

1945 Daimler-Benz DB10 Sd.Kfz. 8 – $200,000
1940 Hanomag S.P.W. Ausf. C Sd.Kfz. 251/1 – $160,000
1942 Borgward H kl 6 – $145,000
1944 White M16 – $95,000
1944 Auto Union Hl kl 6p – $75,000
1943 Opel Maultier – $65,000
1943 Opel Maultier Panzer-Werfer 42 Rocket Launcher – $60,000
1943 Ford Maultier – $42,500
1941 Autocar M3 – $38,000
1939 Unic Kegresse P107/U304(f) – $20,000

Then we featured five cool trucks available at this sale, they sold as follows:

1942 GMC DUKW-353 – $97,000
1940 Humber Hexonaut GS 6×6 Amphibious Prototype – $47,500
1940 Breda 40 4×4 Artillery Tractor – $37,000
1942 Mercedes-Benz L3000S – $32,000
1939 Latil M2TL6 4×4 Tractor – $10,000

Other interesting vehicles included this 1944 Phanomen-Granit 1500A 4×4 Kfz. 70 personnel car for $72,500.

1944 Phanomen Granit 1500A 4x4 Kfz 70 Personnel Car

Next up, a 1944 Steyr 1500A/01 4×4 Kfz. command car that was hammered away for $130,000.

And the final” thing” (some of these looked like cars built on truck chassis and some of them didn’t have wheels at all… these aren’t typical vehicles) from this sale, an awesome 1940 Horch Type EFm 4×4 cross-country personnel car that sold for $150,000. Complete results can be found here.

And, finally, Osenat’s December 9th sale was the latest held in the month. Top sale was a 1957 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster for $117,000.

1957 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster

The most interesting vehicle, by a landslide, was our featured 1908 Doriot-Flandrin Type E, but it failed to meet it’s reserve and did not sell. The most interesting car that did sell was this 1929 Chenard & Walcker 1550 Grand Sport Torpedo that brought $108,000. For complete results, click here.

1929 Chenard & Walcker 1500 Grand Sport Torpedo

Auctions America Auburn Spring Sale Highlights

Posted on June 10, 2012 by classiccarweekly

Auctions America’s three-day spring sale in Auburn, Indiana, (held last weekend) saw more than 170 cars sell for a wide variety of prices. Top sale was a 1930 Duesenberg Model J Boattail Speedster. The car is a re-creation, but uses an original engine (J-249). I’m not sure of the car’s history, but it sounds like the original car is no longer extant and this one was built around the original mechanicals to take the place of the lost car. It sold for $484,000, which is a lot less than it would have cost were it the real deal. Still looks amazing, though.

Both of our feature cars sold. The awesome Mercury Marauder Concept Convertible brought $51,700 and the De Tomaso Mangusta sold for $75,900. We also featured an Avelate Corvette, which either didn’t sell or was withdrawn as I couldn’t find it in the results.

Another big sale was a 1969 Hemi Dodge Charger, one of only 119 built in 1969 with that monster engine. It’s white and entirely unassuming – perfect for a car that will take just about anything at the stoplight. It sold for $130,000.

Other interesting sales included this 1995 Lola T9500-HU24 Cosworth XB Indy car. It was driven by Scott Sharp to 10th place in the 1996 Indy 500 for A.J. Foyt Racing and by Eddie Cheever in 1995. It is a complete, running Indy car with Indy 500 history. It sold for $62,700.

Finally, from the bargain bin (sort of), is this 1956 Pontiac Star Chief Catalina Custom. The second-generation Star Chief is one of my favorite Pontiacs and it’s such a great-looking car with those two chrome strips running the length of the hood. This one has a 5.2-liter V8 and appears to be in great shape. It sold for $14,300. For complete results (and to see what cars are still available), click here.

Mecum Houston Highlights

Posted on April 21, 2012 by classiccarweekly

Mecum’s Houston, Texas sale occurred last weekend and the only car we featured, the very rare electric Henney Kilowatt, sold for $35,000. Here are some of the other highlights.

Top sale went to a 2010 Ferrari California, a car that, whenever I see it, I begin to hear Freddie Mercury singing about how “fat bottomed girls make the rockin’ world go round.” It sold for $177,500.

The second-highest selling car was an actual classic, not a brand-new Italian grand tourer. It was a 1931 Cadillac V-12 Roadster and it brought $165,000.

As far as interesting or unusual cars at this sale, well, the Henney Kilowatt takes the cake there. But there were a few other cars I deemed worthy of highlight, including this 1969 Beaumont Custom. Beaumont was a marque produced in Canada by General Motors from 1966-1969 (it replaced the also short-lived Acadian marque and was replaced by Pontiac after 1969). Beaumont’s were also sold in Chile and Africa. It was essentially a re-badged Chevelle with Pontiac trim. This is the “Custom” model and it is one of 568 built in 1969. Unfortunately, at some point, this car had it’s motor swapped for that of a Chevy Astro. However, it is still interesting and sold for only $10,250.

Another car… or SUV… or wagon, that you just don’t see everyday is the 1962 Dodge Town Wagon. The Town Wagon was the more suburban version of the Town Panel, which was primarily intended for commercial purposes. It sold for $18,000.

Here’s one I particularly enjoyed seeing: a 1977 Pontiac Can Am. The Can Am was a one-year only option package on the Pontiac Le Mans and it was intended to be the “muscle car” package. This car has the 200 horsepower 6.6-liter V8 and is one of less than 1,400 built. This low-milage example brought $19,500.

And finally, the steals of the auction go to a pair of Cadillac Town Sedans. There was a 1925 model (pictured) that sold for only $20,000. A similar 1923 model brought $19,000. Sure, neither are in concours-level condition but they appear to be drivers with fantastic looking paint and bodywork. Good luck finding something as desirable as a driveable and decent-condition 1920s Cadillac for less than $20,000.