Hemmings Classic Car April 2020

“In fact, some of these changes are downright good for our beloved hobby…” Nothing in life remains the same. No matter how hard we try to preserve the things we love most and keep them as an intrinsic part of our life, it’s inevitable that Father Time and people new to the scene will make changes that old-timers don’t agree with, or like. The collector-car hobby is no different. During 2019, I attended more than 20 different car shows and national conventions, was a judge at five major concours, and went to five key auctions, plus several cruise nights. I spoke to literally hundreds of enthusiasts along the way, and with my “I spy with my little eye” view during these events, the impending changes I see are quite interesting.…

A’s National Convention THIS YEAR’S MODEL A FORD CLUB OF AMERICA NATIONAL CONVENTION WILL take place in Kerrville, Texas, from June 21 to 26. The regional “Alamo A’s” will take the reigns and host the convention at the Y.O. Ranch Resort Hotel. The show will include a huge swap meet that will be perfect for locating hard-to-find parts and items for your Model A. Touring trips to explore the heart of the Texas Hill Country, and a judged Model A concours, are also part of the festivities. Applications are now available, so be sure to visit www.alamomodela.com for more information about the event. Texas Packards PACKARDS WILL CONVERGE for the 43rd Annual Texas Packard Meet in Salado, about 50 miles north of Austin. It will take place April 3-5 and…

2-4 • Greenville Swap Meet & Car Show Greenville, Texas • 903-454-8575 www.greenvilleswapmeet.com 2-5 • AACA Charlotte AutoFair Concord, North Carolina • 704-841-1990 www.charlotte-autofair.com 17-19 • Gasparilla Concours d’Elegance Tampa, Florida • 813-714-1019 www.gasparillaconcours.com 17-19 • La Jolla Concours d’Elegance La Jolla, California • 619-233-5008 www.lajollaconcours.com 18 • Cars on Kiawah Kiawah, South Carolina • 843-284-8138 www.carsonkiawah.com 22-26 • Spring Carlisle Carlisle, Pennsylvania • 717-243-7855 www.carlisleevents.com 23-25 • AACA Western Spring National Show Low, Arizona • 717-534-1910 www.aaca.org 24-26 • Malaise Daze Car Show Palm Springs, California • 559-347-8153 www.malaisemotors.com 24-26 • Spring Jefferson Swap Meet Jefferson, Wisconsin • 608-244-8416 www.madisonclassics.com 30-May 2 • Pate Swap Meet Fort Worth, Texas • 713-649-0922 www.pateswapmeet.com…

Ply-Wood WHILE TAKING IN A RECENT CAR SHOW IN TEMPE, ARIZONA, READER JIM CONNAUGHTON came across an apparently unique woodie postwar Plymouth sedan. “This car was in unrestored condition, some wear and tear, but in good presentable condition,” Jim wrote. He wasn’t able to track down the owner while at the show, so is left wondering what we know about it. The answer: Not much. Plymouth did offer wood-bodied station wagons after World War II — along with its first metal-bodied station wagons — and Chrysler did famously offer its Town & Country wood-bodied sedans, but we don’t see any wood-bodied Plymouth sedans in our reference books. Without seeing the car in person, it’s hard to say whether the wood here is an aftermarket applique, like what was available for…

Kansas City Dealings MECUM WRAPPED UP ITS ANNUAL DECEMBER AUCTION AT THE KANSAS CITY Convention center with an impressive $9 million in overall sales and a sell-through rate of 70 percent. Among the many eclectic cars to change hands in the “City of Fountains” was this 1939 “shark nose” Graham Series 97, one of only 3,600 produced. Finished in Egyptian Ivory with a new saddle leather interior, the prewar rarity sold for $22,500. Other highlights included two 1950s Corvettes: a ’57 model, which sold for $94,600, and a ’54, sold at $78,100. Two solid 1947 trucks also changed hands: a Dodge Power Wagon with a period-correct winch and dump bed went for $14,850, and a dependable Studebaker M5 sold for $17,050. Full results are now available at www.mecum.com. Palm Beach…

CAR 1936 Cadillac Series 70 Fleetwood convertible coupe AUCTIONEER Mecum Auctions LOCATION Kissimmee, Florida DATE January 11, 2020 LOT NUMBER S121 PREAUCTION ESTIMATE $125,000–$150,000 AVERAGE SELLING PRICE $75,000 SELLING PRICE $126,500 CADILLAC’S V-8 MODELS WERE REDESIGNED for the 1936 model year and offered in two displacements, both with engine block and crankcase cast enbloc. Cadillac’s top V-8, an alternative to pricier V-12s, would become a measuring stick for the brand’s technology for years to come. This Series 70 Fleetwood convertible coupe is a well-preserved restoration that was completed in 2015. The correct engine bay carries the larger 346-cu.in. V-8, fed by a Stromberg carburetor, capable of producing 135 hp at 3,600 rpm. It is mated to a three-speed manual transmission with “triple-silent Helical-cut” gears for all forward speeds. The restoration…