Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2018 i Hemmings Classic Car

Charles Nash was the quintessential self-made man, going from abandoned child to indentured servant to millionaire in his first 50 years. His eponymous automobile company, however, predated his association with it, when it was called the Thomas B. Jeffrey Company, founded in 1902, and ran as Rambler until the death of the founder in 1910. Nash was President of General Motors in the tumultuous years between Billy Durant’s first ouster and his triumphant return. Durant, who had first hired Nash as an upholstery stuffer at the Durant-Dort Carriage Company in the 1890s at $1 per day, attempted to entice him to stay with an offer of a $1-million annual salary. Nash declined, preferring to be his own boss. As it happened, in the years just before American entry into the…

If I hadn’t gotten the kind of service and longevity out of my Oldsmobile that I did, I likely would have traded it in. I did briefly consider it years ago, but I couldn’t find a new car with a four-speed. Even the salesman said the four-speed in mine would hurt the trade-in value. Soon, 10 years became 20 and then 30. Now I’ve owned the Cutlass S for 46 years, and it’s in a lot better shape than I am. I used to show it regularly but later got bored, as I always had the same car and many other people would compete with a different restored car each time. Then there seemed to be a shift in mindset and barn finds and survivors became popular, so I figured…

THE SIDEBAR IN THE ARTICLE ON the 1939 Fords in HCC #167 illustrates exactly why I no longer enter judged events. I grew exceedingly tired of men with clipboards agonizing over which alloy had been used to manufacture my lug nuts. The atmosphere among the entrants was often one of stress and barely suppressed hostility — the very things we wished to escape when building our car. We are now excited to participate in local show-and-shines. The atmosphere is one of camaraderie and mutual admiration. We get a genuine kick out of talking to the people at the show, and my particular delight is taking a keen observer for a whip around the block. Do his kids have sticky fingers? I no longer care. My car may never again be…

It’s late August, you’ve made it to the beautiful Monterey Peninsula on the central California coast, and you’re ready to get your old-car appreciation on. Lucky for you, you’re in the best place to do that, as you’ll find this area has a vast array of automotive-centric things happening in the 10 days that lead up to the crowning event that is the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The city of Monterey kicks it off, figuratively speaking, on August 17, with its Monterey Classic Car Week Kick-Off, happening on Alvarado Street, from 5 to 7 pm. There’s plenty of octane, rubber, and thrills to entertain yourself through that weekend (August 17-19), as the Monterey Pre-Reunion Races will take place at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. And that’s just the tip of the…

West Newton, Massachusetts, just two miles west of Boston, has been home to Andy Bernbaum Auto Parts since its founding in 1977, yet the company’s history started nearly a decade earlier. At the time, Andy Bernbaum — a native of West Newton and passionate Mopar enthusiast since his youth — was often seen driving a 1948 Plymouth throughout the region. “He loved that car, and to keep it running on the road regularly, like most of us old car nuts, he was always seeking parts,” remembers Chris Paquin, who purchased the business in 2011. “Over time, Andy had amassed a small collection of Mopar parts and, having realized he had an overstock, he attended a swap meet and sold some of his excess inventory to other Mopar enthusiasts.” That was…

Eight Cylinder 6 Super-Charged Models In one of these New Auburn Super-Charged Models you enjoy that complete assurance which comes only when you know you are driving the King of the Highway. Its 150 H.P. Engine is merely loafing at “60.” A vast reserve of power, priceless in emergencies. Four-Door Sedan Unusually roomy 4-Door Sedan that comfortably seats six. The Super-Charger adds to its performance, efficiency and dependability. Coupe Smart Coupe Model for personal, or business and professional use; baggage compartment or comfortable rumble seat. Two-Door Brougham ...with exceptionally wide doors for easy entrance. Plenty of leg room and head room. Driver’s seat, adjustable. Unit-weld all steel body; individually controlled ventilation. Convertible ...a chummy all-weather car for people who are “going places.” May be completely open or completely closed. Room…

Corvair Museum Home THE CORVAIR MUSEUM HAS FOUND A NEW HOME WITH HELP FROM THE CHEVROLET Hall of Fame Museum. As of its May Grand Opening, the 9,000-square-foot museum is now located at its new facility in Decatur, Illinois. Everything you could imagine from Chevrolet’s famous air-cooled car is on display and guaranteed to hit home with Corvair owners and fans. The museum is now able to exhibit its entire collection for the first time. A selection of cars covering almost every model year is shown alongside engines, literature, and artwork. The museum is maintained by the Corvair Preservation Foundation. Visit their website at www.corvair.org and click on the “Preservation Foundation” link for operating hours and donation information. AAA Glidden Tour THE BONNEVILLE REGION OF THE VINTAGE MOTOR Car Club…

Mecum Spring Results MECUM HAS FINISHED ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL AUCTION IN INDIANA THIS PAST MAY WITH A 24-percent increase in sales from its 2017 event, making this year’s the highest selling auction in its Spring Classic history. The six-day event raked in $69.4 million in total sales, with over 1,400 cars changing hands for a sell-through rate of 76 percent. There were some fine cars available for every kind of budget, and there was a nice selection of classics that didn’t break the bank. This nice 1958 Lincoln Continental Mark III featured a 430/375-hp V-8 with automatic, and had a straight and clean body, floors, and trunk. The car was believed to have only 29,000 miles and had a new top. When it was all finished, the high bid rang home…

Stunning. That’s the one word that immediately came to mind when I first saw this Nash. It is pure understated elegance at its finest, and a true representative of the distinctive styling and designs that came out of Detroit during the 1930s and ’40s. No wonder it’s called “Ambassador.” With its spectacular and highly intricate grille that comprises numerous carefully shaped individual pieces of cast metal, and the rising form of its tall hood that imparts a commanding presence, this Nash Ambassador Eight is the archetypal symbol of independent thinking and progressive engineering intellect. It may not have flashy flowing curves or a sporty demeanor, but underneath its sturdy body structure lies an innovative powertrain that was superior to every other American engine at the time. No question, this Nash…

Nineteen-Fifty was a landmark for the collector-car hobby. This was the year when the first Pebble Beach Road Race took place, and along with it, a concours. Within four years, the show field increased from an initial gathering of about two dozen cars to over 100. Since those early days, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance has grown not only in size but, more importantly, in stature, thus becoming the world’s most prestigious concours. This is one of those automotive events that should be atop every car enthusiast’s bucket list — yes, it’s that extraordinary. Like being at the Indianapolis 500, Fall Hershey, Le Mans, or Goodwood, you feel special being there. I know I did back in 1984 when I first attended the Pebble Beach Concours. I’ve since gone back…

It fought them at first. When the dusty, cobweb-covered 1928 Model L refused to squeeze into their trailer until its 7.00 x 20 tires were deflated — so tall was this upright sedan, its height further increased by a rooftop air-extractor vent for rear-seat passengers — the Kehrleys might have second-guessed their decision to purchase the formal four-door. They were taken, though, by the incredible quality of its factory materials and construction, by how advanced its engineering was for the era, and what quiet confidence this fine automobile projected. They persevered, and while the unrestored Lincoln would take a year of effort to make roadworthy, its owners happily demonstrate their reward is in the driving. “The last registration sticker was from 1984, and that’s right around the last time it…

Body and paintwork is not rocket science, but it’s hardly learned in a day, with great results almost always requiring extensive experience. Having worked in the automotive business for more than a decade and a half, first with a NASCAR team and now as part of a multi-state dealer group, Brian DePouli has spent plenty of time around cars, just not a whole lot of time in a paint booth. Still, that didn’t deter him from tackling much of the body and finish work during the restoration of his 1938 Buick Roadmaster 80-C Convertible, a process that we initially covered last month. When we left off, the chassis had been completed, as had been the rebuild of the Buick 320-cu.in. straight-eight engine, and the body had been removed. But plenty…

CAR: 1957 Buick Century 2-Door Riviera AUCTIONEER: RM Sotheby’s LOCATION: Auburn, Indiana DATE: May 12, 2018 LOT NUMBER: 5014 CONDITION: #3 RESERVE: None AVERAGE SELLING PRICE: $30,000 SELLING PRICE: $26,400 THE BUICK CENTURY WAS BROUGHT BACK in 1954 for the first time in the postwar era. Buick combined its small-bodied Special with its powerful 322-cu.in. V-8 engine in hopes of making an attractive performance-oriented car. By 1957, Buick had increased the engine to 364 cubic inches, which allowed it to produce 300 horsepower. It was very similar to the Special, but adorned with an extra VentiPort, different trim, and a nicer interior that included nylon/Cordaveen combinations and Cordaveen with leather. This second-generation Century had the correct 300-hp engine and dual exhaust with an automatic transmission. It was finished in two-tone…

Bowtie Truck Grilles CLASSIC INDUSTRIES • 855-357-2787 • WWW.CLASSICINDUSTRIES.COM A new selection of grilles for the 1969-’70 Chevrolet line of trucks have now been reproduced by Classic Industries. Each grille is stamped aluminum and made to factory specifications for an original look and correct fit. They’re available with a stamped “Chevrolet” logo or without the logo for a smooth look. The inner grille is made from molded plastic to complement the complete assembly. Mounting hardware is not included. Cost: $479.99 (with logo); $344.99 (without logo); $89.99 (inner grille). All-in-One Harness CLASSIC INSTRUMENTS • 800-575-0461 • WWW.CLASSICINSTRUMENTS.COM Classic Instruments along with Bowler Performance Transmissions offers a new Tremec T-56 Transmission All-in-One harness that is a perfect complement to any Classic Instrument electronic speedometer when using a T-56 Magnum transmission. The easy-to-install harness provides…

Oldsmobile’s A-body Cutlass arrived in showrooms for 1972 with just a few subtle visual updates to differentiate it from the 1970 and 1971 models. Since General Motors had to delay the Colonnade A-body introduction until the 1973 model year, its existing intermediates returned to serve a third year in the same styling cycle. This was uncommon for GM in that market segment, as multiple preceding cycles had been two years. Competing against heavily revised midsize Dodges and Plymouths for the 1971 model year, and then newly designed Fords and Mercurys for 1972, should have been a recipe for buyer apathy toward GM’s more aged offerings. In Oldsmobile’s case, however, consumers instead responded by purchasing Cutlasses in even larger numbers, which contributed to the division’s ascent to third place in U.S.…

Bringing together three different car clubs to hold their annual national meets on the same day, on the same show field, was a clever idea. As standalone meets, attendance totals at each would have been less than ideal, but together made for a far more interesting experience and a larger assemblage of Full Classics all in one place. In this case, it was historic Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, that played host for this special gathering from May 2 through May 6. Unfortunately, a rainy forecast kept many owners and their cars from attending; however, the rain never came. The overcast skies throughout the day were actually welcomed as it made for a far more enjoyable climate to admire all the great cars on display. Although there were only about 50 cars in…

The annual pilgrimage to California’s Central Coast each August offers an amazing array of things to do for collector-car fans, but the world pays attention to what happens when the hammers start dropping at the auctions. No fewer than six major auctions are planned for the week by internationally renowned auction houses. Records are regularly broken on the Monterey Peninsula each August, which has seen approximately a third-of-a-billion dollars in sales each of the past few years. WORLDWIDE AUCTIONEERS Thursday, August 23 Pacific Golf Municipal Golf Links 77 Asilomar Avenue Pacific Grove www.worldwide-auctioneers.com A relative newcomer to Monterey, Worldwide has been in the auction game for roughly two decades. Though not a particularly big auction (the company offered 70 vehicles in Monterey in 2017), the quality of the lots often…

The Hupp Motor Car Company was an admirable company, and Hupmobiles were good cars. Popular in their time, more than half a million Americans purchased one. Yet, though admirable and popular, Hupmobile eventually faded out of existence. It seems unfair. The initial driving force behind Hupmobile was Michigan native Robert C. Hupp, who entered the automobile industry in 1902 with the Olds Motor Works, later moving to the Ford and Regal Motor companies. In 1908 he decided to go into business building his own car; with several earlier stints in manufacturing, he felt he had enough experience. He soon found investors willing to back him in the new enterprise. Though capitalized at $25,000, actual working capital was less than $4,000. Wisely, Hupp decided the first car he would produce would…

THE NEW CORVETTE WILL BE AVAILABLE LATE THIS YEAR AFTER ITS HEAD-TURNING DISPLAY at January’s GM Motorama show in New York City. Each will feature a fiberglass body finished in Polo White. You will marvel at the Corvette’s low center of gravity, smooth performance, and responsive acceleration. Look for information at your nearest Chevrolet dealer, where pricing begins at $3,498. WILLYS REMAINS AN AFFORDABLE option with the base-level Aero-Lark, and now features a new four-door sedan to go along with the two-door. With a superior suspension and low center of gravity, the Aero-Lark is among the best-handling cars available today. It’s powered by a quiet yet reliable straight-six that provides 75 hp and comfortable high-speed driving. It’s available at your local dealer for as low as $1,500. DEPENDABLE DODGE RETURNS…