Hemmings Classic Car March 2018

“Do you realize that you are one of a few humans to ever ride in a Tucker?” Whenever I get the opportunity to photograph a special automobile, it makes the time spent peering through the lens immensely rewarding. Over the years, I have been fortunate to have photographed literally a thousand or so cars; some were ordinary while others were exceptional, yet I always enjoyed my time with each of them. Regardless of whether the car was a perfectly restored show car or a disheveled-looking driveable dream, a valuable model of incredible rarity or a mass-produced stripped-down four-door sedan, each was a memorable experience. But, the most historically significant car of them all was this issue’s main feature, the Tucker. Last October, I traveled down to Long Island to…

Tuckered In THE PEBBLE BEACH CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE HAS ANNOUNCED THE CLASS LISTINGS for the 2018 event, and they are proud to include Tucker as part of the festivities to celebrate the car’s 70th anniversary. The rise and fall of the Tucker is perhaps one of the better-known stories of independent automobile production that captured the headlines back in the day. It will be a rare occasion to see some of the world’s best Tuckers all together in one place. It’s never too early to plan for Pebble Beach; this year’s Concours will take place August 26. Visit www.pebblebeachconcours.net for more information. Sooner Swap Meet MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR MARCH 16-17 for the Chickasha Pre-War Swap Meet. Located near Oklahoma City, this event has become a must-attend for locating hard-to-find parts…

Winged One-Off REAR GULLWING DOORS? TESLA’S MAKING WAVES WITH THE FEATURE ON ITS Model X SUV, but it’s not an entirely novel idea, as we can see from this photo that dream-car collector Joe Bortz sent us. According to Joe, he spotted the prototype in a Chrysler facility while buying the AMVan concept car from the company, and was even offered the SUV, but declined it. “To me, it was just a showoff item,” he said. Joe didn’t have any more details on the SUV — not even a name — and said he didn’t believe it was ever shown to the general public. We’re just as curious about the doors as we are about the existence of a four-door Blazer/Explorer-size SUV skulking around Chrysler design study halls during the…

Palm Springs Results MCCORMICK’S PALM SPRINGS NOVEMBER AUCTION CAME TO A CLOSE TOTALING MORE THAN $6.1 million in sales with a sell-through rate of 64 percent. The three-day auction featured an unusual car that once belonged to Charlie Chaplin: This 1936 Packard V-12 LeBaron All Weather Cabriolet was just one of 622 produced and is believed to have only 11,057 original miles. It had recently been repainted, but needed a little restoration as evidenced by some dents in the right rear fender and running board. When the smoke cleared, the old Packard saw a final bid of $89,250. McCormick has an auction every February and November at the same location in Palm Springs, California, so be sure to visit www.classic-carauction.com for more information. Amelia’s March Madness AS THE NCAA WHITTLES…

Dependable Dodges 800-230-3030 • WWW.SUMMITRACING.COM  • $24.99 You don’t have to be a “Mopar-or-no-car” enthusiast to appreciate the retro-themed beauty of this new, authentic-looking LED marquee sign. Sized 16 x 10 inches, the lightweight, easy-to-hang unit (item 158872) offers the appearance of an original Dodge dealer service sign, but takes less energy to power, thanks to its modern LED rope lighting. Indeed, it can run off four AA batteries (not included), or through an 18-inch-long mini-USB cord with an on/off switch. You can order this sign for home delivery, or pick it up in a Summit Racing store in Ohio, Nevada, Georgia, or Texas. Streamline Aluminum Trailers: Restoration & Modification 800-551-4754 • WWW.CARTECHBOOKS.COM  • $29.95 In recent years, interest in vintage trailers, especially the sleek aluminum models, has gathered steam as a…

Power Pack Optima Batteries offers the Digital 1200 12-V Charger and Battery Maintainer, specifically designed to charge and condition your battery. The 1200 charges faster than most chargers with up to twice the output, yet it won’t overcharge. In addition to topping off your battery, the 1200 is capable of recovering a deeply discharged battery. Each charger includes an easy-to-read electronic gauge that displays battery charging and fill rate with charger mode and fault messages. Also comes with LED work light and USB-charging ports. Cost: $199.99. CONTACT: OPTIMA BATTERIES, 888-867-8462, WWW.OPTIMABATTERIES.COM De Ville Fillers Filler pieces for Cadillac bumpers are often damaged or weakened over the decades and can be hard to find, but Honest John’s has them for most Cadillacs including the 1974-’76 De Ville. This rear…