Nov
19
We have a thing for K-Code Mustangs but this isn’t one of them. This is very cool indeed without being a solid-lifter V8. It is however, a powerful 289ci C-code V8 with a 4-barrel carb added. The carburetor does not turn a C into an A code but it is an improvement. Read More
Oct
31
This isn’t just any old drag racer, it is The Termite. Now if that doesn’t strike fear in the hearts of those or us who live in wood houses, we don’t know what will. This is a racer that qualifies for any historic racing events but it is best suited for events that go in a straight line and don’t last too long. Read More
Oct
29
Vintage pickup trucks are on a roll right now with no let up in sight. They are neat to look at and some of them are actually quite useable. These older trucks typically find themselves in the country for weekenders to shuffle around doing errands or going to the garden center. Then there is another category of older pickup – the very useable one that is so very cool. These are the trucks with patina and power, usually from a small V8. Our friend Matt deGarmo sent us this one that is fresh in his inventory. Read More
Oct
21
We are confident that there are some big fans for Ford’s mid-sized “personal” car – the Gran Torino. Okay so we would prefer a different color like Highland Green but this one is just in spectacular original condition. It has 75,000 miles and only 2 owners since new. The interior is immaculate too. The Torino is equipped with Air Conditioning making it an ideal vintage daily driver or comfortable cruiser on a hot summer night. Read More
Oct
10
Before there were muscle cars, there were cars with muscle; big bruisers with lots of horsepower and lots of sheetmetal. Today’s featured car is one of those big bruisers. In 1960, Ford, trying to catch Chevy in the sales race, introduced an all-new car. The Galaxie versions were the top of the line, and for 1960, it was a model series instead of a sub-series of the Fairlane 500. Ford was responding to Chevy’s Super Sports and supported the big Galaxie with an ad campaign called “the lively ones”. Despite being an all-new car, Ford’s rival still outsold them by 215,000 cars. The 1961 Galaxie was reskinned from the glass house down and lost the distinct look of the 1960 cars. Read More
Oct
4
Let’s get right to explaining the title. The same designer, Frank Hershey, who created the tailfin for the ’48 Cadillac Series 62, was on the team that designed the original Ford Thunderbird. So we took the liberty to assigning the “cousin” status to the Thunderbird. Of course that is where the similarity ends. This Thunderbird, the first personal luxury car, was quite different than the Cadillac. The Thunderbird was a direct response to Chevy’s Corvette and when it was introduced in ’55 it clobbered the ‘Vette in sales. Our featured ’57 Thunderbird is said to be unrestored and in original condition. And of course, it is pink. Read More
Sep
18
We are big fans of any vehicles that have an interesting history. And when it comes to pickup trucks at the Bonneville Salt Flats, how can we resist. This is not some product of the shop truck craze. All they are doing (and we like that) is make an old truck look cool. 
This old truck IS cool. It was used as a push truck to get record racers going or help them return after a run on the Flats. A unique feature is a chromed front bumper & custom 50’s Crash Guard (seller still has original push bar that came with the truck) by Custom Chrome in Long Beach. The windshield has a real 1961 Bonneville Participant decal still on it. It also has an original 50’s style dice shift knob. All the history aside this is one cool truck. It’s yours for $16,500. Click here for the eBay auction.
Sep
13
Ford unveiled three new Mustang models in 1969: the Mach 1, Boss 302 and Boss 429. Various competition-style appearance items and the GT-handling suspension were standard for the Mach 1, with engine options including the 351-cid small-block, 390 big-block or 428 Cobra Jet. We were watching Mecum Auctions in Dallas and couldn’t believe the numbers Boss Mustangs and Mach 1 Mustangs command. Read More
Sep
12
We love the look of a good ’57 Ford particularly the station wagon. Okay, it isn’t anywhere near as iconic as a ’57 Chevy Bel Air or a Nomad for that matter. But the Ford does have a look that is perhaps a little more Ward Cleaver than the Chevy. This one is pretty stock and survived because it came from California originally until 2008. Read More
Aug
29
We might be missing something here or this could be a bargain, early pre-muscle car. Back in the day when NASCAR actually ran stock cars, the factories built special models to help cheat the wind. In Ford’s case, in 1963, they introduced the Sports Roof as a mid-year body style. Then they offered a series of killer engines like the scary-fast R-Code. Read More
Aug
27
We are guessing it is a Country Squire because it is adorned with so much termite proof wood. Now normally, we wouldn’t think this Mintworthy except if we were pairing it up with a vintage camper trailer. Read More
Aug
23
These later 1st generation Broncos are our favorite. That’s probably why we feature them from time to time. This one is a first generation Bronco known in the Bronco world as an Early Bronco. Earlies were built until 1977 when the Big Bronco took its place. These early cars were pretty spartan and all were built with 4-wheel drive. Read More
Aug
22
Like the rest of the collector car hobby, we are nuts about vintage pickup trucks. Today’s find could be one of the nicest pickups ever. The seller started out with a rust-free 51,000 mile truck and then treated to a restoration worthy of a much more important car. But this is sort of important because it has a rare 5-Star Extra interior package. Read More
Aug
18
Some great and some not so great cars sold yesterday. Prices are all over the map probably for reasons unknown to us here but evident to those who inspected the car before bidding. For example, we featured 2 almost identical Mercedes-Benz 190Sls. One sold at $90,000 with what is said to be original interior that is clearly not. Another not so great example sold at a more appropriate $61,000. Then there is a magnificent Mercedes-Benz 600 Short Wheelbase that was a No Sale at $55,000. An MGA that looked to be tidy was a No Sale at $19,000 and a Mercedes 280SL that was just okay sold for $60,000. Go figure. But that is what an auction is about. All you need are 2 bidders wanting the same car on the same day and silly things can happen. On the other hand, timing might be bad for some cars resulting in low prices or no sales. Not rocket science. Click on each for a full size image:
1957 MGA Roadster No sale at $19000
1969 Mercedes-Benz 600 SWB No sale at $55,000
Aug
17
Every year, those who are truly passionate about the collector car hobby either descend on the Monterey Peninsula or are glued to the computer monitor or TV to watch the action at the auctions live. All of the best auction houses are represented and the competition for top offerings in keen. You’ll see great cars at Goodings, RM Auctions, Mecum, and Christies. I am sure I left out a few. 
There are plenty of cars in all price brackets so don’t think this is just for the Gulfstream IV set. We decided to take a break at offering you new featured cars with so many available in California. What we will do is try as best we can to report on sales. We’ll be a bit specific, and show you auction results on cars that we would typically feature on Mint. So there will be that eclectic mix that our readers like so much.
Let’s start with a look at the RM Auction Catalog (click on the cover). There is an enormous amount of information on the 500+ offerings at RM. Each description has an auction estimate and hopefully we can fill in with the final hammer price as the week progresses. Now on to some auction results from Mecum…
Mecum always has a good mix of affordable and outragious cars at any of their auctions. But at Monterey, we think they do search out a fair amount of imported and sports cars. So their tagline “Muscle Cars and More…” is true here. Click on each image for a larger size.
1969 Jaguar SOLD at $39,000
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