Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2021 i Hemmings Classic Car

THE PETERSEN AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM HAS ANNOUNCED THE OPENING OF ITS NEW ADV: Overland exhibit, which will highlight motoring adventures on Earth and beyond. The unique exhibit consists of 23 vehicles, including touring motorcycles, race vehicles from 1930 to the present, as well as sci-fi and NASA off-world exploration vehicles. “We are proud to partner with Motorcycle Arts Foundation to gather this impressive display of vehicles in the spirit of adventure,” said Petersen Executive Director Terry L. Karges. “ADV:Overland is an important retrospective of the freedom of exploration, to go where no one has ever gone and accomplish things that no one has ever accomplished.” Among the motorcycles and off-road vehicles on display are a 1903 California, the first motorized vehicle to travel coast to coast; a 1912 Henderson Four, used…

WHILE THE SAGA OF THE DALE AUTOMOBILE and its promoter, Liz Carmichael, has received renewed attention thanks to the HBO documentary miniseries The Lady and The Dale, until recently few people knew whether Dale Clifft’s original three-wheeler that started the whole episode still existed. But now the hand-built, Honda-based, Naugahyde-covered reverse trike that Clifft called the Commutercycle has emerged from hiding for its first-ever public display. Starting with a 1963 Honda CB77 Super Hawk, Clifft removed the front fork, seat, and rear fender, and then welded to its frame a birdcage structure made out of ½-inch electrical conduit, according to an interview with Clifft’s coworker and biographer, Richard Smith. The windshield came from a Volkswagen, and Clifft built the cabin around the shape of the windshield. When a $2,000 check…

EMAIL YOUR THOUGHTS AND COMMENTS TO: tmcgean@hemmings.com MATTHEW LITWIN WROTE IN ISSUE #202 about his experience with the Chevrolet Citation. I’d like to add my story. In 1981, I had cash and knew what I wanted. After being ignored at four local Chevy dealerships, I found a young woman, both salesperson and undergrad, who listened to my desires: a Cream-colored X-11 with four-speed and no other options. It took her two days to find one in Reno. She got my price approved and said she would go there to pick it up. After the drive downhill on U.S. 80, the excitement in her voice was astounding. “How did you know about this car? What a blast to drive—this is a muscle car! No one here at the dealership had any…

LS V-8 SWAPS ARE COMMONPLACE TODAY, BUT THEY WERE STILL unusual in the late 1990s. Undaunted, Dennis McNamee attempted to shoehorn a Gen III Chevrolet small-block into his Chevelle and discovered, among other things, that job would’ve been a lot easier in a dedicated shop. “I decided I needed a garage after I tried to put an LS in a 1967 Chevelle back in late 1998,” he said. “What I thought would take a couple of weekends took six months because everyone was telling me it couldn’t be done. No parts for this. No parts for that. After two weeks, my wife wanted her side of the garage back and the front clip out of her garden.” With no space for an expansion or another building on his property, Dennis…

A next-level aspiration for any home garage owner is an automotive lift: double your floor space by suspending one classic over the other, and that means more space for another! Not only will a 4-post lift maximize the unused vertical space it occupies, but it allows ease of access to the undercarriage of your cars, too. Backyard Buddy has been designing and selling American-made lifts for every type of collector for decades. From standard-size, 4-post units to taller and wider lifts that accommodate the oversized footprint of trucks, exotics and even trailers, the Backyard Buddy line is built by enthusiasts who understand your unique needs and know how to create the safest, most reliable home garage lift on the market. There are three decisions to make when you’re ready to…

“Being able to stand up under a vehicle and use the full motion of my arms to reach up and take care of the task at hand was a marvel.” As I rolled around on the hot asphalt, stretching my left arm to try and reach a bolt under my wife’s car, I was reminded—painfully—of the part of working on cars I really did not enjoy. This time out, I was just trying to secure a buzzing heat shield that had worked loose on the late-model family truckster. I thought it would be a quick and easy fix and expected to spend just a few minutes under there. There was no need to move the car into the garage, nor to bring it over to the shop to get it…

9/29-10/3 • Fall Carlisle Carlisle, Pennsylvania • 717-243-7855 carlisleevents.com 3 • All Ohio Parts Spectacular Randolph, Ohio • 800-553-8745 allohioparts.com 9-10 • Michigan Antique Festivals Davisburg, Michigan • 989-687-9001 miantiquefestival.com 6-9 • AACA Eastern Regional Fall Meet Hershey, Pennsylvania • 717-566-7720 hershey.aaca.com 14-16 • Chickasha Fall Swap Meet Chickasha, Oklahoma • 405-224-6552 chickashaautoswapmeet.com 21-23 • Norman Swap Meet Norman, Oklahoma • 405-651-7927 normanswapmeet.com 21-24 • Las Vegas Concours d’Elegance Las Vegas, Nevada • 702-992-0512 lasvegasconcours.com Please note that these events are active as of press time despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We recommend you verify the status before making plans to attend.…

“…when I get tired of tripping over extension cords, I go through fits of reorganizing to create a vibe that matches that of my family.” My brother and I learned early on that the garage was a dynamic space attached to the family abode. It was a hybrid zone that combined odd elements of the seldom-used, never-mess-with-it dining room, the family room, a new-car showroom, and a storage shed. Early on, Dad had added a half loft, which immediately became the catch-all for old family heirlooms, too-good-to-get-rid-of furniture, and boxes of trinkets, all destined to be yard-sale fodder. The exposed wall studs and a handful of nails transformed the dead space into yard equipment and tool storage, the latter aided by a massive pegboard. The bays, obviously, were considered red-carpet…

SPECIFICATIONS WHAT TO PAY LOW $8,000 - $11,000 AVERAGE $14,000 - $17,000 HIGH $25,000 - $28,000 PRICE BASE PRICE $5,245 OPTIONS Whitewall tires; air conditioning ENGINE TYPE Buick “big-block” OHV V-8; cast-iron block and cylinder heads DISPLACEMENT 430-cu.in. BORE X STROKE 4.1875 x 3.9 inches COMPRESSION RATIO 10.25:1 HORSEPOWER @ RPM 360 @ 5,000 TORQUE @ RPM 475 lb-ft @ 3,200 VALVETRAIN Hydraulic lifters MAIN BEARINGS Five FUEL SYSTEM Rochester Quadrajet four-barrel carburetor LUBRICATION SYSTEM Full pressure; gear-type pump ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 12-volt; breaker-point ignition system, alternator TRANSMISSION TYPE Super Turbine 400 three-speed automatic RATIOS 1st/2.48:1 2nd/1.48:1 3rd/1.00:1 Reverse/2.07:1 DIFFERENTIAL TYPE Semi-floating; hypoid drive gears GEAR RATIO 3.07:1 standard STEERING TYPE Saginaw recirculating ball with power assist RATIO OVERALL 19.4:1 overall TURNING CIRCLE 46.6 feet BRAKES TYPE Hydraulic, self-energizing, power assist…

YOU MIGHT’VE SEEN DAN AND PAT SHIELDS’ HOMEBUILT FORD Model T and Model TT featured in the pages of this magazine. The Shields own four Tin Lizzies in total, as well as some other cars. What might surprise you is that Dan is a retired builder, but didn’t have a garage where he could store and work on all of his vehicles under one roof. The pandemic changed that. “My vintage sanctuary—the home of my four Model Ts, other collector cars, automobile memorabilia, and work area in one location—became a reality with the COVID-19 lockdown,” Dan said. “With car shows and swap meets a thing of the past, being in zero contact with people, with extra time on our hands, a vision began to appear in my head. I chose…

When it’s finally time to turn your garage into the ultimate home shop for you and your classics, it’s also time to right some wrongs you’ve been living with for a long time. New tools, floors, workbench, electric service and machinery are all worthwhile considerations, but don’t forget the new car covers. Covercraft has not only been making the best car covers in the industry, but we’re classic car nuts, too. Which means we understand the unique needs and demands collectors put on their covers. We understand why a custom paint job costs so much. We know that classics can be wider, longer or even much smaller than modern cars. And we know our covers protect some rare vehicles that aren’t easy to replace. As you start thinking about your…

Through years of covering the classic car world, we’ve seen a lot of restoration shops, and it’s remarkable how many of these professional facilities—be they machine shops or all-out restoration/body shops—fail to keep an organized and safe environment. Often these places are a disorganized mess, which can also make them unsafe as a result. Beyond safety is the issue of efficiency—in a business where work is measured in terms of hours spent, technicians shouldn’t have to struggle to find what they’re looking for. The first order of business in any shop, be it home or a business, is organization and neatness: A place for everything and everything in its place. This, in turn, improves safety. Parts left on the floor can be a cause of falls and other personal injuries,…

People really respond to this car, they’re really interested in it. And to bring more attention to it when we show it, we’ve made a customer for the back seat. “Nigel” is a mannequin that we dress in the leather pants Bill wore when he was in a rock-n-roll band in the 1980s. He wears a shirt from an old Halloween costume, along with a wig, some funky sneakers, and we set him up with a bottle of Jack Daniels–filled with iced tea–and an electronic cigarette for his finger. Nigel has helped Hack win a prize every time we’ve entered it in a show.…

AT THE START OF THE CALENDAR YEAR, IT LOOKED AS THOUGH THE COVID-19 pandemic was going to continue to dictate much of the vintage vehicle auction schedule, though to a somewhat lesser extent than 2020. While some “regular” events remain on hold for the time being, others have been added. A perfect example of the latter was Mecum Auctions’ inaugural sale at the River Spirit Expo at Expo Square in Tulsa, Oklahoma, held on June 11-12. The Wisconsin-based auction house put together a catalog of 660 vehicles for Midwesterners eager for gavel action. Not unexpectedly, a trio of late-model Ford GTs topped the sales chart, led by a 2006 edition that had been driven just 7,000 miles and sold for $330,000 including fees. Coming home fourth overall was a far…

1 • Bonhams Newport, Rhode Island • 212-644-9001 • bonhams.com 3-4 • Morphy Auctions Denver, Pennsylvania • 877-968-8880 • morphyauctions.com 6-9 • Vicari Auction Biloxi, Mississippi • 504-264-2277 • vicariauction.com 7-8 • RM Sotheby’s Hershey, Pennsylvania • 519-352-4575 • rmsothebys.com 7-9 • Mecum Auctions Las Vegas, Nevada • 262-275-5050 • mecum.com 15-16 • Mecum Auctions Chattanooga, Tennessee • 262-275-5050 • mecum.com 15-16 • The Branson Auction Branson, Missouri • 800-335-3063 • bransonauction.com 21-23 • Mecum Auctions Chicago, Illinois • 262-275-5050 • mecum.com Please note that these events are active as of press time despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We recommend you verify the status before making plans to attend.…

HEMMINGS AUCTIONS IS OUR LIVE, ONLINE AUCTION SITE STAFFED BY customer service professionals ready to help bidders and sellers with any questions. A wide variety of classic and specialty vehicles from all eras are up for bid. Auctions run for two weeks, and qualified bidders place their bids electronically. Once a vehicle is accepted into the auction, the seller pays only a $99.95 listing fee. The winning bidder is responsible for a 5-percent fee on all completed auctions. The following are examples of auctions that transpired during the month leading up to press time. If you have questions, comments, or suggestions, email Director of Auction Operations Terry Shea: terryshea@hemmings.com 1949 PACKARD SUPER DELUXE EIGHT Reserve: $56,000 Selling Price: $133,350 Recent Market Range: $51,440-$77,640 While Packard’s 1949 brochure promised the company’s…

THE LAS VEGAS CONCOURS d’Elegance returns for its second year, with more than 100 collector cars planned for display at the Las Vegas Ballpark in Summerlin. “We initially set out to ensure that our inaugural event would earn its rightful place among the famed concours showings and competitions from around the world,” notes founder, Stuart Sobek. “Now we are focused on elevating our second year to even greater heights.” The show will mix concours celebrations with upscale special events. Expect to see more than 15 classes of cars, dating from 1903 to the modern day The recently completed, $150 million ballpark boasts nearly 4,000 ft2 of visual display space, perfect for close-up coverage of rare and beautiful cars from exclusive private collections and automotive museums. The show will benefit Miracle…

ONE YEAR AFTER ITS FIRST-EVER CANCELLATION, THE AACA Fall Eastern Meet at Hershey will return with a full half-week of activities. The vaunted swap meet, car corral, flea market, show, and auction will all take place October 6-9 at Hershey Park. Also happening on October 6 will be the annual “Night at the Museum” at the AACA Museum. The fundraising event will feature country music, while honoring National Depot Parts founder Jim Schmidt with the AACA Museum Automotive Heritage Award. The associated RM Sotheby’s auction will run at the Hershey Lodge on October 7-8. This is a great chance to bid on cars and classics that go back as far as the brass era. For those who are still lingering in the area, the 10th edition of the Hershey Hangover…

Store More, Move More HARBOR FREIGHT • 800-444-3353 • HARBORFREIGHT.COM • $699.99 These new 34-inch, six-drawer, full-bank service carts provide 18,700 cubic inches of space, more than most comparable products, and they will keep all of your most frequently used tools within arm’s reach. Each cart has gas struts that open the top to a 90-degree angle, giving you ample access to storage, while the cart is sized to hold pry bars, extensions, and screwdrivers up to 31 inches long. The pass-through port allows for an optional power strip, and the six full-width drawers have ball bearing slides and full-length latches, ensuring easy opening and closing. The top five drawers are 3¾ inches tall, with a 100-pound capacity, while the bottom drawer is 6¾ inches tall and can handle up…

“…REO’s run—from 1905 to 1975—made it one of the longest-lasting independents.” I think a lot of old-car people are like me: We have a handful of car brands that really fascinate us, a larger group we’re sort of interested in, and a whole bunch of cars we almost never think about. The Big Three makes and the larger independents have many strong advocates, but unfortunately a lot of lesser brands have become an afterthought, at least in my humble opinion. Among these latter brands, REO comes to mind, because I recently saw a photograph of a good-looking, obviously mid-1930s American car and I couldn’t figure out what it was. It was a REO, of course—a 1936 Flying Cloud to be exact. When I discovered its year, I was surprised. I…

Ever wonder what’s going on inside other enthusiasts’ shops? Recently we put out a call to HCC readers and asked for a look behind the overhead doors. What we discovered was an eclectic blend of style and function, creative use of space, and ambitious builds that combined comfort, convenience and creativity. These readers inspired us to want to get going on building or finishing our own home garages and we hope they inspire you, too. Don Dear, New York AFTER SELLING HIS AUTO PARTS BUSINESS IN 2005, DON DEAR DECIDED he needed to build a place to store his boat and—at the time—his one collector car. “I found a vacant lot near my home, not far from my old business, and had a good friend help me plan out the…

When people boasted of the performance of Chrysler-branded automobiles during the postwar years, it was usually in reference to the cars’ mechanical prowess: smooth and reliable, just like a luxury vehicle should be. Naturally, powerful acceleration was a key element, but it was intended to make premium models more capable on the road, and not meant for speed contests. The corporation’s other divisions were better equipped to manage a young buyer’s stoplight-sprint antics. Part of that perspective changed when the division released the C-300 in 1955. Fitted with the 300-hp, 331-cu.in. “FirePower” V-8 capable of pushing it to a top speed of 130 mph, the specially trimmed hardtop coupe broke the mold while redefining the parameters of a luxury coupe. Adventurous CEOs could feel the excitement of raw power while…

LAKE VILLA, ILLINOIS I WAS EIGHT YEARS OLD OR SO when I first began thinking about cars. As I recall, it was while riding in my family’s light blue 1941 Ford two-door sedan. When nestled in the front seat between Mom and Dad, I would watch my father operate the column-mounted shifter (three on the tree, as it’s known now). I watched him shift from gear to gear using his feet to work the clutch and gas pedals. There was virtually no speed change as the manual transmission went from first, to second, and then into third. After studying my dad awhile, I told him that when I grew up, I was going to invent a car that you did not have to shift. He chuckled and explained that there…

RM SOTHEBY’S JUNE ONLINE-ONLY AUCTION SAW a 79-percent sell-through with total sales hitting more than $3.4 million. The auction company’s “Open Roads” sale was the fifth it hosted in 2021. Among the cars to sell was a 1962 Lincoln Continental convertible. The car hailed from the Pacific Northwest and was complete down to the suicide doors. The platinum white over light blue metallic car was powered by a 7-liter V-8 mated to a three-speed automatic. The power-operated soft top and rear decklid were recently serviced, and the Lincoln received a new exhaust system. It was stored in climate-controlled conditions by the seller, who’d owned the car since 1986, and it came with a spare, the factory manual, and service invoices dating to the consignor’s purchase. When the bidding ended, the…

THE WEST HALL OF THE LAS VEGAS CONVENTION CENTER IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, hosted Barrett-Jackson’s auction in mid-June. When the final lot was sold, the no-reserve event brought in $48 million while more than 700 vehicles changed hands along with 284 pieces of automobilia. Among the top sales was a 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster, which spent two decades as a part of a long-term collection in California and still had its original numbers-matching chassis, body, and engine. The powerplant was a 3-liter inline-six, mated to a four-speed manual transmission, and the car had undergone a recent service with new anti-sway bar bushings, motor mounts, and serviced brakes. The build sheet also showed that the SL came with sealed beam headlamps, a Becker radio, column-mounted turn signal indicator, and dual…

“…new cars require so little of the driver that you almost don’t need to be there at all.” I climb into the front cockpit of the prewar de Havilland Tiger Moth biplane, put on my leather cap, roll up my collar and snap it, and pull my goggles into place. My friend Brian steps in front of the plane and flips the prop. After a couple of turns, the air-cooled, inline-four-cylinder 145-horsepower engine catches and coughs to life. Following the warm up, we take off, and as we gain altitude I am ecstatic, with the wind in my face and an incredible God’s-eye view of the surrounding hills. At our cruising altitude of a couple thousand feet I can see people on the ground, and even wave to them. The…