Hemmings Classic Car April 2019

“There are many noteworthy reasons why compact cars make ideal collector cars.” Some of the most affordable and fun to drive collector cars are compacts. When those smaller-sized darlings of the late 1950s and early ’60s went on sale they created quite a stir. Their impact was huge and helped usher in a change in America’s car-buying habits as the pubic sought smaller and less thirsty automobiles. There are many noteworthy reasons why compact cars make ideal collector cars. Most are still affordable to buy; their smaller size makes them straightforward to work on and cheaper to restore; parts can be more affordable and easier to find; and, most important, they are way more exciting and enjoyable to drive due to their better road manners, quicker steering, and overall improved…

Buick Bash THE BUICK CLUB OF AMERICA IS preparing for its 2019 National Meet in Midwest City, Oklahoma. The event is slated to take place June 12-15 and will revolve around the Sheraton Midwest City Hotel at the Reed Conference Center. Registration for vendor spaces, the car corral, and the car show are now available, as well as for a number of activities and tours. This year’s tours will include a 166-mile trip on Route 66, bus tours to the National Memorial & Museum and Auto Valley Historic District with lunch at the Buick building, and a driving tour to Guthrie and the Old State Capitol. The final event will be the judged car show that will feature Buicks from all eras and types ranging from unrestored to modified. Registration…

4-6 • Greenville Swap Meet & Car Show Greenville, Texas • 903-454-8575 www.greenvilleswapmeet.com 4-7 • AACA Charlotte AutoFair Concord, North Carolina • 704-841-1990 www.charlotte-autofair.com 7 • 43rd Illinois Region AACA Swap Meet St. Charles, Illinois • 815-344-3775 www.illinoisregion.aaca.com 12-14 • La Jolla Concours d’Elegance La Jolla, California • 619-233-5008 www.lajollaconcours.com 24-28 • Spring Carlisle • Carlisle, Pennsylvania 717-243-7855 • www.carlisleevents.com 25-27 • Pate Swap Meet • Fort Worth, Texas 713-649-0922 • www.pateswapmeet.com 26-28 • Spring Jefferson: Auto Swap Meet & Car Show • Jefferson, Wisconsin • 608-244-8416 www.madisonclassics.com 28 • Pacific Coast Dream Machines Show Half Moon Bay, California • 650-726-2328 www.dreammachines.miramarevents.com 29-5/1 • AACA Southeastern Divisional Tour Cape Fear, North Carolina • 717-534-1910 www.aaca.org…

Fast Cash ALUMINUM SEEMS AN UNUSUAL CHOICE OF MATERIAL FOR BUILDING AN ARMORED truck, but in 1944 the folks at Brink’s apparently thought otherwise given that they chose to build this one-off “money car of the future” out of the stuff. Granted, the closing days of World War II was a time when Americans could finally start looking to the future again, which is probably why Brink’s — assisted by Platt Incorporated of Chicago — even considered the soft metal. Either that or they figured the firearms inside it would be enough to dissuade anybody from punching through the metal skin of the truck. We recently came across these photos on the Facebook page of Nevada Armored Transport, which noted that the truck debuted at the 1945 National Armored Car…

Fort Lauderdale Collectibles RM SOTHEBY’S WILL HOST ITS ANNUAL AUCTION AT THE BROWARD COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER this March 29-30 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Around 350 collector cars covering all eras are expected to cross the block. Last year’s auction raked in $19.1 million, with 76 percent of all lots finding a new owner. RM is lowering the number of available lots from last year’s count of more than 400 to allow for higher-quality offerings. They will include a 1953 Hudson Hornet sedan, a coachbuilt 1937 Packard Six cabriolet by Graber, 1956 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz convertible, and a 1936 Dodge “humpback” delivery truck. Visit www.rmsothebys.com for an up-to-date list of consignments. Kansas City Roundup MECUM’S KANSAS CITY AUCTION BROUGHT in more than $8.7 million in sales last December, with a sell-through…

CAR: 1959 PONTIAC CATALINA SAFARI PICKUP PROTOTYPE AUCTIONEER: MECUM LOCATION: KISSIMMEE, FLORIDA DATE: JANUARY 12, 2019 LOT NUMBER: S159 CONDITION: #1- AVERAGE SELLING PRICE: N/A HIGH BID: $240,000 (NOT SOLD) PONTIAC’S EL CAMINO-BASED PROTOTYPE, “El Catalina,” was the division’s attempt to wade into the newly reinvigorated car/pickup hybrid market that was dominated by the Ford Ranchero and Chevrolet El Camino. It was created by removing a 1959 Catalina Safari wagon body from the frame and refitting an El Camino cab and bed. Catalina quarters, doors, seats, bumpers, and tailgates were modified from existing models as needed, and the prototype was presented to Bunkie Knudsen and John DeLorean. Ultimately, Knudsen nixed the concept due to questionable demand and a limited market that saw only modest success for the Ranchero and El…