Hemmings Classic Car May 2020

“If you’re looking for a collector car that doesn’t wear a nameplate from one of the Big Three, there are plenty of alternatives to consider.” Independent car manufacturers rarely get the credit they deserve, which is why we are devoting this month’s Special Section to the Independents. If it weren’t for their existence, and their out-of-the-box way of thinking, it’s a sure bet that automobiles and trucks today wouldn’t be as advanced as they are today. The Big Three were always being pushed by the Independent car companies with their innovative ways, which the public clearly benefited from. If you’re looking for a collector car that doesn’t wear a nameplate from one of the Big Three, there are plenty of alternatives to consider. These orphans are fun to drive, distinctly…

Packards by the Bay THE 55TH NATIONAL MEET OF THE PACKARD AUTOMOBILE CLASSICS CLUB WILL TAKE place in Rohnert Park, California, June 28-July 4. The week’s activities will feature all things Packard, including a judged car show and daily swap meet. Cars can be brought for display only or judged, but postmarked entries from PAC members must be received before June 1 to be eligible for awards. Other activities will include driving tours of Napa Valley, Sonoma Valley, the Russian River, the Pacific Coast, and a bus tour of San Francisco. A full schedule and registration are available at www.packardclub.org. Buick Bash THE BUICK CLUB OF AMERICA National Meet will take place July 15-18 in Strongsville, Ohio. The show welcomes the dependable “Tri-Shields” from all over the country to congregate…

1-3 • Greenbrier Concours d’Elegance White Sulfur Springs, West Virginia 877-935-0426 • www.greenbrierconcours.com 1-3 • Lawrence Swap Meet • Lawrence, Kansas 785-843-2222 • www.lawrenceregionaaca.com 1-3 • Rhinebeck Swap Meet & Car Show Rhinebeck, New York • 845-758-3357 www.rhinebeckcarshow.com 2-3 • Keels & Wheels Concours d’Elegance Seabrook, Texas • 713-521-0105 www.keels-wheels.com 3 • Classic Chevys of Southern California Car Show • Chatsworth, California 818-360-9025 • www.classicchevysofsocal.com 3 • Sumter Swap Meet • Bushnell, Florida 727-848-7171 • www.floridaswapmeets.com 7-9 • AACA Central Spring National Meet Auburn, Indiana • 717-534-1910 • www.aaca.org 7-9 • Chickasha Spring Swap Meet Chickasha, Oklahoma • 405-224-6552 www.chickashaautoswapmeet.com 14 • Hemmings Cruise-In Bennington, Vermont • 800-227-4373 www.hemmings.com 15-17 • Import & Performance Nationals Carlisle, Pennsylvania • 717-243-7855 www.carlisleevents.com 16-17 • The Chrysler Power Classic Columbus, Ohio • 614-268-1181 www.chryslerpowerclassic.com 17 • North Jersey Auto Show Paramus, New Jersey • 201-384-7661…

Big Bumper Car FROM READER SCOTT GARASCIA CAME THESE PHOTOS OF A CUSTOM AMERICAN car, completely void of context. Other than the 1950 Illinois plates, we have only the bits that went into building the car to identify it. We’ll start with the grille, which looks like it could be an upside-down and smooshed-together 1949 Buick’s. The hood ornament and at least the idea behind the side trim appear to have been liberated from a 1950 Oldsmobile, the taillamps from a 1948 Cadillac, and various bits from multiple other cars. Either an eight-cylinder engine resides under the hood or the builder wanted to convey that notion. It’s interesting not only for the fact that it uses a lot of nearly new parts, but also because it uses a bathtub shape…

Florida Finds MECUM’S ANNUAL KISSIMMEE, FLORIDA, AUCTION, JANUARY 2-12, MOVED OVER 2,000 CARS TO new owners, resulting in sales that exceeded $95 million. Among the prewar cars, there was a healthy 64.5-percent sell-through, with total sales over $4.8 million. This highly original 1940 Chevrolet Master Deluxe, finished in maroon with a tan interior, was one such offering. The solid driveable dream was powered by a straight-six with a three-speed transmission, and the car’s interior featured fully functioning gauges on its 6-volt system. It sold for a fee-inclusive price of $11,550. We also spotted a 1941 Packard 110 Deluxe, complete with recent maintenance receipts and newly chromed bumpers, which went home with a buyer for $13,750. Full results are available at www.mecum.com. RM Sotheby’s Phoenix RM SOTHEBY’S 21ST ARIZONA AUCTION IN…

TRUCK 1955 Chevrolet Cameo AUCTIONEER Gooding & Company LOCATION Scottsdale, Arizona DATE January 17, 2020 LOT NUMBER 68 PRE-AUCTION EST. $50,000-$70,000 AVERAGE SELLING PRICE $55,000 SELLING PRICE $64,400 THE 1955 CHEVROLET CAMEO WAS A NEW truck that was part of Chevrolet’s “Task Force” series. The light-duty pickup was quite distinctive, with its fiberglass quarters giving a slab-sided appearance. Part of the 3100 series, it had the same frontal styling as the other half-ton pickups, but its interior was similar to the 1954 Bel Air. This Cameo was powered by a 265-cu.in. V-8, mated to a three-speed manual transmission with overdrive. The paint was correct, as the only color available for first-year Cameo production was Bombay Ivory with Commercial Red accents. The recipient of a full restoration within the last 200…