Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2019 i Hemmings Classic Car

One-Off Fox WHILE BUYING ANOTHER CAR,VANYO MOODY OF NORTH MANKATO, MINNESOTA, came across this factory-built 1979 Ford Mustang Cabriolet, a car that most Fox-body Mustang fans will claim should not be. Indeed, Ford didn’t restart convertible Mustang production until 1983, and even then it turned to an outside company to convert the convertibles. However, as the documentation that came with the 1979 Cabriolet shows, Ford code-named the V-6-powered car “Project K326” and designated it for the 1980 show circuit. In addition to the droptop, Project K326 also got a custom interior, wider taillamps, and Lincoln paint. Once Ford retired it from the shows in late 1980, an executive secretary at Ford bought it and held onto it until 2015, only putting about 45,000 miles on it. According to a Ford…

Contemporary perception of Detroit’s immediate postwar era paints a rosy picture. Following the end of hostilities on August 14, 1945, the industry instantly pulled its 1942 tooling from mothballs and bolted it back into assembly line form, and began stamping millions of tons of metal into transportation for a car-starved nation full of returning GIs, all before the calendar flipped to 1946. Reality was quite different for many. Plymouth, for one, first had to fulfill its remaining military obligations. As auto production was readied, labor disputes — brought on in part by the elimination of wartime strike restrictions — arose from a swelling “dual-income” work force. These factors impacted Plymouth’s production when it officially began in October 1945, but material shortages compounded matters further, even while the “new” cars were…

From changing tastes to poor management to economic forces far beyond their control, many automakers have seen the lights turned out, gone forever except in the classics that remain and the memories we keep. Amazingly, as a lot of these companies were up against the ropes, they did their finest work. From the supercharged Duesenberg SJ to the Marmon Sixteen to the Hudson Hornet with Twin H-Power, we’ve seen famed car companies save the best for last. Studebaker managed the same feat with the Avanti. Founded in the 1850s as a carriage maker that soon grew to the largest company of its kind in the world before turning to automobiles at the beginning of the 20th century, Studebaker was a resilient company. Despite its reputation for solid engineering and top-notch…

Every automotive enthusiast has fond memories of his or her first car. After all, who among us hasn’t sentimentally pondered, however briefly, what it would be like to once again experience the vehicle of our formative years? While we can never truly go back, those with vision and perseverance will work hard to make that dream come true. They’re the lucky ones for whom the stars align, and who get the opportunity to relive their youth behind the wheel of a now-classic automobile. It was 1956 when Harry “Butch” Von Haggin became the proud possessor of a freshly minted driver’s license. The 16-year-old Hoosick Falls, New York, native had passed his driver’s test behind the wheel of his father’s 1940 Ford coupe, a car that he would drive for about…

Following World War II, BMW faced an uphill battle. During wartime, this firm was a major producer of radial, jet, and even rocket engines. Much of its factory capacity had been destroyed, the Soviets had seized its properties in the eastern parts of Germany, and the Allied forces in charge put such a strict prohibition in place to prevent the company from making anything that could be used as war materiel that they ordered the disassembly and shipping of factory machines and machine tools to other countries as war reparations. Instead of making cars, motorcycles, or any engine of any kind, BMW made do by producing household implements and bicycles, and repairing American military trucks. In the latter task, at least, BMW established some renown as American troops came to…

CHALMERS IS BACK WITH ITS HIGH-QUALITY MODEL THIRTY AND MODEL FORTY CARS, available in many body styles. The “30” is large, luxurious, and roomy, has made long-distance trips at speeds of 55.5 mph, and is economical with 25.7 miles traveled on 1 gallon of gas. The “40” will give you all of the room and luxury you will need on a 122-inch wheelbase, with ample room for seven passengers. Hugh Chalmers has also announced that a new Thirty will be given to the baseball player with the highest batting average. Ty Cobb is the defending champion and odds-on favorite, but don’t count out Honus Wagner and former triple-crown winner Nap Lajoie. FORD BRINGS BACK THE MODEL T WITH very few changes from its inaugural offering. The Landaulet and Coupe have…

Hemmings Concours Weekend THE 13TH-ANNUAL HEMMINGS MOTOR NEWS CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE WILL TAKE place September 13-15 at the Festival Commons Charles R. Wood Park in Lake George, New York. The three-day event has something for everyone and welcomes attendees at the gateway to the Adirondacks as summer comes to an end. Friday will feature a rally that will make its way up to Fort Ticonderoga at the southern end of Lake Champlain, followed by a dinner cruise in the evening. Saturday is the Cruise-In Spectacular, open to all makes and collector cars, and the annual banquet that night will feature keynote speaker Bill Warner. The festivities wrap up on Sunday after the Concours d’Elegance, which opens for spectators at 9 a.m. Special classes include the Class of 1949, Early SUVs through…

Guyton Goes Big  RM SOTHEBY’S PRESIDED OVER THE GUYTON COLLECTION IN MAY AND SAW MORE THAN $11.6 million in total sales. The two-day event was comprised of cars owned by the late Fred Guyton, who was a well-known architect and pillar of the St. Louis community. The collection spanned more than 40 years and saw 73 automobiles cross the block. Among them was a large array of American Classics that included a 1930 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Sedan, which sold for $1,105,000. This was the highest-selling American car of the auction, and the Duesenberg began its life as a “loaner” to Indianapolis 500 driver Leon Duray. Guyton’s collection was very impressive in regards to prewar inventory that consisted of many Packards, Cadillacs, and Fords, with the occasional Independents like the…

Rambler Rebel Redux 203-877-6717 • WWW.OLDEMILFORDPRESS.COM  • $34.95 It’s been a decade since we examined the first edition of William H. Lenharth’s tribute to American Motors’ sporty, low-production Rambler Rebel, written as it was with assistance from former AMC designer William “Bill” Reddig. This title has been updated and expanded substantially in its second edition, going from 92 pages to a generous 154 and adding restoration material, a chapter on period racing of this sport sedan, and appendices that include reproductions of AMC internal documents. Since a mere 1,500 examples of the innovative flagship V-8 car were built, the Rebel is not well known, but the book does a nice job of explaining what made it unique, including the proposed Bendix Electrojector fuel-injection system and its special silver/copper livery. If you’re a…

IN THE EVENINGS, I TEACH ENGLISH as a second language to adults. During one class, I asked my class, “What was your first car, and what did you like or not like about it?” There were a few with Peugeots, Renaults, and Audis, the requisite Chevrolets and Fords, and one woman had a big smile on her face when she told me about her car. This woman, who’s my age and a happily married mother of three adults, is really into motorcycles, and because she was an only child, her father taught her how to work on motorcycles and cars. Her dream was to become an auto mechanic, but she never pursued it because, in her day, it was considered an inappropriate vocation for a woman. Tell that to Queen…

Leader in the low-priced field and perennial dominant force in U.S. auto industry sales, Chevrolet was endeavoring to outpace its competition in the early 1950s by dedicating its resources to developing the styling, engineering, promotion, pricing, and all required to sell cars at volumes that would increase the divison’s marketshare. Following a significant redesign for the 1953 model year, the styling updates for 1954 Chevrolets were more subtle. The automaker described its new models as having a “lower, longer, and fleeter appearance.” A few features that contributed to that narrative included the wider and more heavily decorated grille with five chromed vertical elements in place of the 1953-model’s three, reshaped parking lamps that were also moved outward, and a front bumper that extended further from the body and jutted forward…

From the earliest days of America’s automotive industries, smaller Independent automakers had to make the most of their typically limited resources. Styling was one aspect in which Independent firms could assert their creativity and foster the unique qualities of their brands. Some of the most brilliant and talented designers, stylists, and body engineers spent time working at — or tangentially for, in the case of contracted coachbuilders and body firms — those smaller car companies. We’ve put together a who’s who list of the designers and stylists who contributed mightily to the successes of the Independent automakers, and helped create some of the most influential and iconic vehicles of the 20th century. ROBERT “BOB” BOURKE 1916-1996 After a start designing products for Sears Roebuck, Bourke was hired by Virgil Exner…

On pricey Nantucket Island, you can’t swing a $300 designer beach tote without hitting a Jeep of some sort. There are ferry loads of Wranglers, for sure, but Toledo’s Grand Dame, the Grand Wagoneer, has long been a staple of this well-to-do retreat off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Of course, it’s not just there. Jeep’s top-of-the-line SUV was made for any place where wood-sided vehicles are a popular fashion accessory, people have a lot of disposable income, and there are occasional opportunities to engage four-wheel drive. You really have to hand it to the Grand Wagoneer (and earlier versions) for its amazing staying power. These trucks were popular among the well-heeled when new and, years after production ceased, achieved a cult-like popularity that drove up the values of…

HAVING GROWN UP TINKERING and taking everything apart that I could get my hands on in my youth, and not knowing how to put it all back together, my natural curiosity led me to cars. So in 1978, I went to work at General Motors in Framingham, Massachusetts, as a welder in the body shop. The inside of the plant covered in excess of 40 acres of production assembly lines, equipment, material storage, and all of the associated support required for an operation of this size. Multiple workshops covered toolmaking, pipe fitters, and electricians, and there was a hand-tool repair area and an office space. I thought this was my big break. I recall being shocked at the money I was making. Not only did I enjoy cars, I now…

CAR 1930 Cord L-29 Convertible Phaeton Sedan AUCTIONEER RM Sotheby’s LOCATION Auburn, Indiana DATE June 1, 2019 LOT NUMBER 6088 RESERVE None AVERAGE SELLING PRICE $170,000 SELLING PRICE $157,300 THE STYLISH CORD L-29 WAS THE FIRST mass-produced front-wheel-drive car available to the public in the United States, beating out the Ruxton, but its timing was about as bad as it could be, coming out around the same time as the Stock Market Crash of 1929. Falling between the Auburn and Duesenberg on the pricing scale, few L-29s were made before production ended in 1932. This Full Classic Cord received a complete restoration and has been certified as a Category One Original Car by the ACD Club. Recent two-tone paint and a tan leather interior were said to be in excellent…

Strapped MAC’S CUSTOM TIE-DOWNS • 800 - 666 -1586 WWW.MACSCUSTOMTIEDOWNS.COM  • STARTING AT $249.95 Tie-down straps are essential when transporting your car, so it’s important you use straps that won’t do any damage. This new Pro Pack kit from Mac’s comes with straps, ratchet assemblies, wraps, and sleeves. Each of these straps will protect your vehicle’s finish, yet can handle 10,000 pounds. These straps feature an easy-release handle that you can position as far away from your car as possible, and they promise to easily secure and release. Sleeve protectors are provided, giving each strap extended life, and the straps themselves are said to be made of the highest stitch count available, double that of some of the other competitors on the market. They’re available in 6- or 8-foot lengths, in 24-…

One of my favorite memories with my Bel Air was driving it to a car show for the first time and coming home with an award from the AACA. It has also earned several People’s Choice, Judges’ Choice, and Best of Show awards. I plan to keep this convertible as long as I am physically able to drive it safely with no danger to myself or other drivers. This Bel Air and my 1951 Chevrolet Styleline Deluxe two-door sedan will likely remain in my family with my three sons after I’m gone.…

What makes a benchmark car? For the purposes of this story, it should be the car that you think of when you hear the name of a particular marque. It isn’t necessarily the bestselling, the prettiest, or the most valuable in today’s old-car market. It should be a car that embodies the values of the company that built it. It should be a car that either no other company could have done, or would dared to have built — something that the Independent marques, daring to be different to stand out in a crowded field, excelled at. Many of our Independents only made one or two models in their lifetimes, and so the choice reveals itself easily. For longer-lived Independents (AMC, Studebaker, Packard) our suggestions may prove more controversial. Because…

If you want to go back in time and experience what it must have been like to attend a European-style concours between the late 1920s and the 1950s, all you have to do is travel to Hershey, Pennsylvania, the first weekend in June.There, at the posh Hershey Hotel, you’ll feel as if you have been transported back in time. On the well-manicured lawns on the spacious grounds of this hilltop landmark hotel, The Elegance at Hershey Concours will forever change your view of just how inviting a small concours can be. Each and every one of the 75 cars on display were magnificent examples of specific eras and categories, the likes of which have rarely ever been assembled before. The Elegance at Hershey has just concluded its ninth year and…

Like heroes who die young, automobile brands with mixed fortunes have always fascinated. In Pegaso’s hall of fame, the Z-102 Thrill, with 1953 coachwork by Touring, became a legend. In February 1953, in New York, Fred Pittera launched his first World Motor Sports Show at Madison Square Garden, and it was an event certainly not to be missed. Somewhat like the luxury trade shows that flourish today where money flows, this exhibition of sports cars focused on exotic imports, and attracted many European manufacturers represented by their local agents. Even the modest Gordini workshop, on Boulevard Victor in Paris, made the journey. The Pegaso brand — Pegasus, in English, representing the mythical flying horse — had a strong presence with, among others, its famous bright yellow 1952 Z-102 Cùpula, together…

In March 2013, Ward Gappa, proprietor of Quality Muscle Car Restorations in Scottsdale, Arizona, welcomed a visit from Matt Good, a Pennsylvania native who had earlier relocated to the region. With Matt was a 1968 Pontiac Le Mans convertible wearing well-weathered Verdoro green paint and a tortured white top. Below the hood was Pontiac’s 175-hp, 250-cu.in. overhead-cam straight-six engine — commonly referred to as a “cammer” among gearheads — backed by a Super Turbine 200 two-speed automatic transmission. The two-tone green Morrokide interior, optioned with the Décor group, fared better; however, it still oozed a tired vibe. “I grew up in a snowbelt region, so one glance at the Pontiac and it was obvious that Mother Nature had not been kind,” Ward recalled. “Matt prefaced his story a little slow…