Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2019 i Hemmings Classic Car

Urban Legend A’s AFTER A RECENT DISCUSSION ON THE HEMMINGS DAILY ABOUT OLD CARS THAT went down with shipwrecks, Bradley Laing asked us if we’d heard the urban legend about a boxcar Model A’s abandoned in the desert somewhere. “A book about urban legends claimed that a rumor that has lasted for decades is, on a desert siding someplace in the U.S. is a forgotten boxcar full of intact Model A Fords,” he wrote. However, as he pointed out, urban legends about buried Spanish gold in the American southwest abound. We’ve yet to hear the legend, but it’s intriguing nonetheless. Could there exist such a place, Laing wondered, where the desert dry air would keep the Fords intact but also where nobody—particularly Model A collectors—would think to look? Checker Rabbit…

Hold That Tiger 877-343-2276 • WWW.AUTOMODELLO.COM  • $129.95 While the Cobra is arguably the most famous Ford V-8-powered racer of the Sixties, it wasn’t the only one to compete at the highest levels of motorsports; Sunbeam’s Alpine-based, 260-cu.in. Tiger proved exceedingly capable. A winning example was the “Monster” campaigned by the prominent privateer Scottish team, Alan Fraser Racing; this car was based on the 24 Hours of Le Mans-competing Lister Tiger Le Mans coupes run in 1964. Its lightweight alloy body was painted in team livery with the Saltire on the hardtop, while the twin two-barrel Weber carb’d V-8 made more than 300 hp. This Monster nearly won the 1966 Autosport Championship, and is campaigned today in vintage racing. Scale replica specialist Automodello has created a 1:43-scale tribute to this car…

ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA, customers were brand loyal, and they could go to their favorite, family-owned dealership and buy an entry-level car. Of course, entry-level didn’t mean the same thing to all people. After all, a Cadillac Calais is a far cry from a Chevrolet Chevette, but each was a response to customer loyalty in its own special way. While Buick and Oldsmobile dealers offered Apollos/Skylarks and Omegas, and later, Skyhawks and Starfires, respectively, Pontiac had already answered the call with Venturas and later matched them with Sunbirds. And if you want to get everyone’s attention at your next “Cars and Coffee,” pull up in any of these gems. Pontiac, being one rung above Chevrolet, offered even smaller excitement for its customers when the automaker introduced the Astre…

When my Firebird turned 25 back in the early 1990s, I started showing it, but it didn’t win much because everyone wanted to see restored cars that looked brand new. That seemed to change about 10 years ago when people started to appreciate original cars. Now many people come by at the shows and take photos of how this Firebird was put together by the factory to help them with their restorations. I still enjoy driving it as well. We had the opportunity to run it on the Texas Motor Speedway at the 2017 POCI Convention. I was a little uneasy with the bias-ply tires, but it was a lot of fun.…

With General Motors long being America’s largest and most diverse manufacturer of automotive makes and models, it was no surprise to have received so much mail from Buick, Oldsmobile, and Pontiac owners. From across the country and throughout Canada, the photographs and stories came pouring in. While there were many more that didn’t make the cut due to a variety of reasons, what follows is a good cross-section of what our readers have in their garages. The majority own Buicks — and in many cases more than one — followed in number by those who have Pontiacs. And, as expected, the lion’s share of models were from the ’60s, with early-to-mid-’70s cars close behind. Our readers’ short stories, which we hope you’ll find interesting and entertaining, will reveal just how…

Custom coachwork on both domestic and European car chassis was part of the automobile industry since its inception in the latter part of the 19th century. Manufacturers of horse-drawn carriages then made a relatively smooth transition to a chassis powered by an engine, not a four-legged equine with hooves. Thomas L. Hibbard (1898-1982) had an amazing career as a designer of motor car coachwork, both in the USA and Europe. He was born in New York, just south of the Brooklyn Bridge in the Brooklyn Heights section of the city. He eventually went west after school for some early experience at the premises of coachbuilder Leon Rubay in Ohio, as well as C.P. Kimball & Company in Chicago. Both Rubay and Kimball had their work mounted on high-class luxury chassis…

There’s nothing unusual about an International Scout outfitted for firefighting. Many fire departments across the U.S. called on the Scout’s excellent off-road capability and small footprint when they needed a brush truck or first-response rig. International foresaw this demand and even offered a firefighting package for the early Scout that included a pump driven by a small engine, a water tank, a ladder rack, hose reel, and more. But the Scout 80 featured here is different… unusual for a number of reasons. For one, it was built with workaday sliding windows, which had fallen out of favor with buyers once roll-ups were offered for the 1963 model year, and infrequently ordered by 1965. As a service truck, you’d expect the cab floor to be covered with a rubber mat, but…

THE LUCK OF THE IRISH PLAYED OUT for good more than half a century ago on St. Patrick’s Day, 1966, when Studebaker of Canada automobile production ceased. A final 11 minutes that day was spent completing the very last Studebaker, and a press release, noting the end of an era, made it official. One day earlier, the clatter and chatter of the assembly line fell silent forevermore when a magnificent “orchestra” played its last note in perfect harmony. When every car had been finished, save the last, the assembly-line workers sounded their horns in unison to mark the end of 114 years of Studebaker vehicle manufacture. There to witness that poignant moment that Wednesday in Hamilton, Ontario, was a young and relatively new employee, Keith Baker. Although those days are…

NCM Scholarships THE NATIONAL CORVETTE MUSEUM ANNOUNCED A NEW ANNUAL STUDENT scholarship of $2,500, for those who wish to pursue a degree related to automotive, museum, or nonprofit industry, or any field that works within those industries. The scholarship is part of the NCM’s ongoing efforts to promote education and preserve future interest in automotive-related industries. Applicants must be NCM members, or children or grandchildren of NCM members. Applications are available online in January/February each year, and payments are made to the winner in September. Visit www.corvettemuseum.org/explore/educational-programs for all of the details. AACA Early Bird Calendar THE ANTIQUE AUTOMOBILE CLUB OF AMERICA ANNOUNCES ITS 2020 SCHEDULE of national events that will take place throughout the country. It’s never too early to start putting plans together to attend one of these…

Hemmings Auctions Are Here! HEMMINGS AUCTIONS ARE NOW LIVE ON OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.HEMMINGS.COM/AUCTIONS. Sellers can submit their vehicles free of charge, which will then be reviewed for listing. We’re looking for auction-ready cars, trucks, and motorcycles. When a vehicle is selected and verified, our Listing Specialists will guide sellers through the process. Bidders are welcome to register free of charge, knowing that they are in a secure marketplace with like-minded hobbyists. Read our entire Q&A section at www.hemmings.com/auctions/frequently-asked-questions for all of the details about the auctions. Gooding Results GOODING & COMPANY HAD ANOTHER successful event, pulling in more than $76.8 million in sales and achieving a 77-percent sell-through rate during its 16th-annual Pebble Beach auction. Among the sales were these three 1949 Cadillac Series 62s, collected by a Swiss…

Socket Storage CAY INDUSTRIES • 818-308-5339 • WWW.SOCKETROLL.COM  • $69.95 This tool organizer offers a clearly labeled and easily portable carrying solution for sockets, wrenches, and drives. The Socket Roll Pro unfurls to hold 66 of the most common standard and metric sockets and drives (¼-, 3/8-, and ½-inch), in addition to the universal joint, extension, and ratchet for each drive and a standard 5/8-inch spark plug socket (tools not included). When the case is rolled up, each socket is firmly locked in its spot. The back of the organizer has space for six wrenches. The Socket Roll Pro measures 20 x 4 inches when loaded and rolled up, and features a handle for easy carrying. Parking Lenses CLASSIC INDUSTRIES PARTS & ACCESSORIES 800-854-1280 • WWW.CLASSICINDUSTRIES.COM$12.99-$29.99 Parking lamp lenses for the 1959-’67…

Compared to today’s extremely limited style offerings, it’s astounding how many different variations auto manufacturers presented back in the day, especially during the 1930s, when this stunningly beautiful 1934 Buick Model 98 was built. Imagine carmakers today producing similar-looking models with four different wheelbases. And in 24 different-size body styles, no less! Yet, that’s exactly what Buick did, as did nearly all the other major car companies. For the 1934 model year, Buick offered four different lines — Series 40, with a 117-inch wheelbase; Series 50, with a 119-inch wheelbase; Series 60, with a 128-inch wheelbase; and the Series 90, with a lengthy 136-inch wheelbase. The Series 40 and 50 had five different body styles each, the Series 60 had six, and the high-end Series 90 had eight. If that…

If you grew up in a General Motors household, it was probably ingrained in you early on that the only automobiles worth owning are those built by GM. Like many of us, if your father was a dyed-in-the-wool GM man, never would he ever consider buying a Chrysler or a Ford, and certainly never an American Motors product — no way. But that’s the way it was years ago. Families were committed to a particular brand of car and never did they waver. That was unheard of and considered to be disloyal. Boy how times have changed. In my case, growing up in a General Motors-only household, the only cars I ever knew when I was young were Oldsmobiles. Then, just as Alfred Sloan predicted, my father climbed the GM…

Model year 1960 was the year of the American compact, when Chevrolet, Plymouth, and Ford launched their three-quarter-scale “compact” cars for the new suburban generation. They made the big splash, and they paved the way. For 1961, Buick, Oldsmobile, and Pontiac stepped up with three versions of what was essentially the same car — the unitized construction Y-bodied compact, which shared rough dimensions with the Chevrolet Corvair, but replaced the rear-mounted air-cooled flat-six with more or less conventional powertrains that varied wildly between divisions. But General Motors’ marketing plans for the compact trio put these cars in such different places, well in line with each division’s purview, that you could be forgiven for not realizing they were basically the same car underneath. Initially, Pontiac’s ads for its four-cylinder Tempest focused…

A popular mantra in the United States these days is “Bring back shop class.” Thanks to near-universal experience with automobile maintenance in the U.S. during World War II, America was a nation of mechanics. That gave the Greatest Generation the can-do attitude and the hands-on experience to keep U.S. forces rolling, flying, sailing, and fighting in that mechanized conflict. But as technology has gotten increasingly sophisticated, proprietary, and cheap, the idea of fixing things has largely fallen by the wayside in this country. Those who don’t want it to be that way are heartened by the revival of interest in craftsmanship that seems to be slowly but steadily gaining traction. Old vehicles, as readers of this magazine well know, are an excellent introduction into working with one’s hands. Restoring the…

According to Tom Zitkus, proprietor of TZ Restorations in New Ringgold, Pennsylvania, “Every restoration will throw a challenge at you. It’s inevitable, and some will be easier to overcome than others. The first time I was asked to look over this 1956 Chrysler New Yorker convertible, I knew it was going to be difficult right from the start. Eleven of the 14 body mounts were completely shot. So was the floor. The whole underside was riddled with corrosion.” Finished in Desert Rose, the Chrysler, which had earlier caught the attention of Pennsylvania native Bob Green, was one of just 921 built during the 1956 season. One could assume its appeal had a lot to do with rarity, but, truth be told, the purchase — and ultimate decision to proceed with…

CAR 1933 Stutz DV-32 dual-cowl phaeton AUCTIONEER Mecum Auctions LOCATION Monterey, California DATE August 17, 2019 LOT NUMBER S126 RESERVE None AVERAGE SELLING PRICE N/A SELLING PRICE $495,000 BY THE 1932 INTRODUCTION OF THE DV-32 — named for the four valves per cylinder of its DOHC straight-eight engine — automaker Stutz had enjoyed a prestige reputation for more than 20 years. This 1933 example is one of an estimated 200 DV-32s produced from 1932 to 1935, and it’s thought to be the only dual-cowl phaeton in existence. This CCCA Full Classic is powered by a 322-cu.in. engine with a cast-iron cylinder head and aluminum cam covers that produces 156 horsepower and is mated to a three-speed manual transmission. While an older restoration, its tri-tone red, maroon, and black finishes still…

Arriving nearly three years after the Barracuda and Mustang, and about five months after the Cougar and Camaro, the Firebird was a late entry into the pony car menagerie. Its 11th-hour addition to GM’s F-body program, as well as cost considerations, locked it into sharing its chassis, inner structure, and most of its body with its Chevrolet counterpart. Nevertheless, once Pontiac was in, it was all in, so every effort was made to differentiate the Firebird from the Camaro and to cultivate its upmarket status. The prominent front bumper, recessed split grilles, quad headlamps, “ironing board”-styled hood, simulated louvers on the quarter panels, slotted taillamps, and revised fuel door and rear bumper, etc., all infused Pontiac DNA. Engine autonomy wasn’t an issue, as each division already had its own. Variances…

In 2017, the annual Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance made the move north from Saratoga Springs, New York, to the resort town of Lake George, nestled in the state’s Adirondack Mountains. The event — now in its 13th year — had been plagued with unseasonably hot weather over the past two years, but the 2019 show, held on Sunday, September 15, was blessed by chamber of commerce weather, helping to deliver an enthusiastic crowd of attendees. There were other valid reasons for the crowd draw, too: In addition to our traditional classes, such as CCCA Full Classics, American Pre- and Postwar Cars, American Muscle Cars, Trucks, Preservation, and European Cars, the 2019 Hemmings Concours d’Elegance honored Chevrolet W-Engine Passenger Cars, the Class of 1949, Early SUVs, and the 50th Anniversary…

By the early 1970s, Buick, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, and Cadillac had been enticing upscale patrons in the personal luxury car field with smartly fashioned offerings for years. The E-body Toronado, Riviera, and Eldorado were the beneficiaries of extensive redesigns for the 1971 model year, and the Grand Prix — reinvented two model years prior as a G-body — received significant styling updates. (Since this article is for this B-O-P special section, the Eldorado isn’t included.) Each example is powered by a large displacement V-8 with a reduced compression ratio for lower-octane low-lead or no-lead fuel. Also standard was a Rochester Quadrajet, dual exhaust, three-speed automatic, power steering, power front disc brakes with rear drums, windshield radio antenna, bright exterior moldings, and wheel covers. A clock and remote-control outside mirror were optional…

Wash it every Sunday, and treat it with care: That was the example that Bruce Smaldone set for his family, regarding his beloved Oldsmobile. “Grump,” as Bruce was called by his granddaughter, knew how she, too, shared his affection for the big, blue convertible, which had remained in his garage for decades as many other cars came and went. This car would become part of his legacy — a treasured, four-wheeled heirloom that will remain in the family for years to come. “My grandfather bought it new in 1967,” Danna Clear explains; this South Glens Falls, New York, native has owned the Ninety-Eight Oldsmobile since the summer of 2012. “I remember he and my grandmother had driven separately to my high school graduation party, which, at the time, I thought…

This arrangement of having the chauffeur sit out in the weather while the rich folks lounged, snugly tucked away in the little house at the back, used to be an instantly recognizable piece of status architecture in automobile body design. The idea actually began with carriage design as it evolved from more than 200 years ago. At that time, private transportation was the privilege of the wealthy. From the simple point of function, the passengers were carried in an enclosure while a coachman and footman worked the horses from a box over the front wheels. Here they had fine visibility and plenty of elbow room. When the automobile finally became accepted as more than an entertainment, its chassis was combined with qualified coachwork for dignified conveying. Many carriage builders made…

Wondering how Japanese cars got to be so popular in the States? The Toyota Corona is Exhibit A. It used to be that Japanese products got slapped with the same bad rap that Chinese goods often get today: built to a price, of dubious quality, and shoved out the door and onto ships by the pallet load. Over time, however, the tide turned: It started with 35mm cameras that won consumers over, and, starting in the late ’50s, Honda motorcycles helped to upgrade Japan’s image in the motorized Western world. In the realm of cars, it was the Corona that alerted users that Japanese products could be simultaneously inexpensive, useful, efficient, and durable. Today, Toyotas are some of the most-respected, fastest-selling, and most-ubiquitous cars on the road. This wasn’t always…