Hemmings Classic Car April 2017

“All too often, some people think that age, pedigree and value determine a car’s desirability and whether or not it should be considered a ‘classic’...” In light of all the comments of late regarding whether or not cars like the Mercury Bobcat that was profiled in issue #147 should be featured in a magazine about classic cars, I’m proud to let it be known that I would welcome that compact Mercury in my garage any day. And why not? It’s loaded with personality and charm, it’s easy to maintain, affordable to buy and will attract so much attention wherever it’s driven and shown that you will have a perpetual smile on your face talking to people about it. Is that Bobcat on my list of must-have automobiles alongside…

Studebaker Sit-Down THE STUDEBAKER DRIVERS CLUB has announced the date for its International Meet. South Bend, Indiana, will host this year’s event, which will occur May 3-6. A swap meet and car corral will take place each day starting at 8 a.m. at the St. Joseph County Fairgrounds. There will also be a concours occurring during the four-day event and Saturday, the final day, will feature an open judged car show with an awards ceremony. The full itinerary also includes a parade, tours, luncheons and chapter meetings to discuss future Studebaker gatherings and events. For a full list of events, fees, registration and hotel information, visit www.sdcmeet.com/Home/Agenda. Pierce-Arrow Gathering THE PIERCE-ARROW SOCIETY is celebrating its 60th year and announced The Great River Meet to take place near the Illinois, Mississippi…

Fast Little Back BOB ENG OF SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA, was only able to get three rear photos of this fastbacked sports car back in the days of film cameras and only so many photos per roll (that is, about 20 years ago), but even with a photo of the front of the car, we’d still be as puzzled about it. At first glance, it appears to be based on a Cobra or Cobra replica, with a circa 1949-’51 Chevrolet Fleetline four-door fastback body chopped to bits and reassembled around the back half of the Cobra. How the driver saw out the back window — which almost became a moonroof — we’re not sure, but it must have been a somewhat comfortable ride, judging from the hitch being put into…

Kansas City Mecum MECUM FINISHED ITS 2016 CALENDAR with a big auction in Kansas City, which saw over 650 vehicles up for sale. When the smoke cleared, over 54 percent of the cars found a new home, totaling over $8 million in sales, which also included a 95 percent sell-through of automobilia and road art. Among the American collector cars was this 1950 Buick woodie wagon finished in dark green. A limited number of wagons were made, with only 2,480 leaving the factory, making this a somewhat rare find. This fine example needed some work, but sold for a reasonable $19,500. Full results are now available on Mecum’s site at www.mecum.com. April in Big-D LEAKE FEATURES TWO AUCTIONS A YEAR in Dallas, and its spring sale will take place April…

Check the Oil WWW.CALCARCOVER.COM  800-423-5525 • $16.99 If your garage or den wall is crying out for a piece of petroliana decor, the California Car Cover Co. has a great solution in the form of its new Texaco Oil Can sign (item 90156257), which is crafted from embossed metal and sized a reasonable 8.75 x 16 inches. It is a stylized interpretation of the classic flexible-spout oil container that used to be found in every corner garage, and proudly bears Texaco’s iconic red star and green “T.” Li’l Red Corvette 800-230-3030 • WWW.SUMMITRACING.COM  • $249.97, PLUS $55 OVERSIZED SHIPPING If you coveted a “mid-year” Corvette when you were younger — or perhaps still do today — you know what powerful excitement the beautiful 1963-1967 Sting Ray can inspire. You can spark the…

Tire Thoughts If your car is subject to long-term storage, it’s important to prepare everything for its hibernation. One area that can sometimes be forgotten is the tires. Low-profile tires or tires with an aspect ratio of 50 or less are liable to form flat spots. Vehicles with tires above an aspect ratio of 60 can also form flat spots if they exceed 3,800 pounds. TireCradles are designed to combat flat spotting. They are made of a patented blown polymer and are insulated with air cells, creating a product that perfectly conforms to the shape of your tire and supports it. TireCradles also insulate tires from temperature variances that contribute to deflation, especially in winter. Cost: $349/set of four. TIRECRADLE 866-740-0193 WWW.TIRECRADLE.COM Pontiac Bolts Inline Tube has a…