Hemmings Classic Car May 2023

Write to our Editor at mlitwin@hemmings.com and follow him on Instagram @matt.litwin.hemmings. “Headlines that cause a stir in the hobby—good or bad—are the same ones that draw in curious new minds to the hobby.” I’VE JUST returned from a familiar January trek to Scottsdale, Arizona, though it would have been nice if it started in Kissimmee, Florida, and then headed west. Preferably in an old phaeton instead of a delay-plagued jetliner. Escaping winter’s icy grip—as wonderful as that sounds—had nothing to do with the venture. If you’ve not connected the dots pinned on opposite sides of the continent, visits to both locales are rooted in the fact that January has become “Auction Month” to countless car owners around the world. The first 31 days of the year also serve as…

I PICKED THIS 1962 Chevrolet Corvair Monza Club Coupe—one of 151,738 built that model year and 1962’s most popular Corvair—as a daily driver for a variety of reasons. One was traction: The rear-engine, rear-drive configuration will go anywhere I ask it to, regardless of road conditions. With its horizontally opposed engine and willingness to perform inVermont winters, the Corvair seemed the perfect vintage equivalent to the ubiquitous Subarus found here in the Green Mountain State. It’s an ironic home for an Oakland, California-built car, but the paperwork I found in the glovebox implies it moved to Michigan when it was only six years old and spent the next 30 years there as a daily driver. “Monza” trim and “high-performance” 102-hp engine notwithstanding, the little coupe is at its best as…

“After a section of new highway was completed—but before it was opened to traffic—he would test it’ and I was invited along on two of these drives.” ‘ MY SUMMER with two Fords started during the Christmas season in 1965. I was a third-year mechanical engineering student at Michigan Tech. Home was the Chicago suburbs and I had driven down in my 1957 Chrysler beater. It was two-tone gold with one black door and plywood covered the holes in the floor, but it had a 331 Hemi, a three-on-the-tree manual, and the heater worked. My aunt from Spokane, Washington, was visiting; after meeting my then-girlfriend (who my aunt immediately disliked) she invited me to stay with her and my uncle during the coming summer if I could find a job…

EMAIL YOUR THOUGHTS AND COMMENTS TO: mlitwin@hemmings.com I JUST HAD TO EXPRESS how pleased I was to read the article on the 1978 Ford Thunderbird in the January issue. Being a large-car enthusiast, I totally appreciate the bigger American cars. The ’50s-’70s witnessed some beautiful automobiles manufactured from the big three. Ford always hit the target with the Thunderbird. The 1955-’57 models are the first choice of many. I tend to put the ’58-’79 Thunderbirds first—personal luxury, comfort, and style all its own. The feature car’s coloring, jet black with a red interior, is a real showstopper! Keep writing about the big cars. I’d like to see more recognition of the orphans like Mercury; I’ve owned my 1962 Monterey for more than a decade now. I just love to drive…

IMAGES COURTESY OF HEMMINGSAUCTIONS.COM A lesser seen but important member of the early SUV fraternity is International’s Travelall, a genuine competitor to Chevy’s Suburban and its ilk. This sub-50,000-mile example appeared to be largely untouched over the past 50 years, retaining its factory-applied paint and woodgrain; the cloth-upholstered interior also looked fully intact and very tidy. Minor condition issues included a nonfunctioning fuel gauge and A/C, undercarriage surface corrosion, and 16-year-old tires. The 392-cu.in. V-8 and three-speed automatic promised proper functionality, and original documentation added appeal. It wasn’t surprising to watch this rare survivor blow past both its reserve and the top market value. Reserve: $10,000 Selling Price: $19,950 Recent Market Range: $8,230-$15,350…

While factory-authorized Baur Top Cabriolet versions of BMW’s 3 Series weren’t sold here, some European-market cars have been privately imported through the years, including this 323i. It sported some federalization modifications and was well equipped with desirable M-Technic goodies like a body kit and sport seats. The odometer’s 121,214 miles were corroborated with a Carfax, and the 2.3-liter straight-six and Z4-sourced 5-speed manual were said to work as designed with no flaws. The cosmetics appeared good and the two-piece top operated fine; the interior presented well. Minor issues with warning lamps and the stereo were noted. Two time extensions led to a reasonably healthy sale. Reserve: $7,500 Selling Price: $9,750 Recent Market Range: $6,150-$10,530…