Racers a m a z I n g
PRSRT STD u.s. Postage PAID Milwaukee, WI Permit #4523 FUEL FOR T HE MOTORING LIFESTYLE P.O. Box 87 | Traverse City, MI | 49685 VOLUME 4, ISSUE 1 | SPRING 2009 Racers a m a zing Inside DR. SIMEONE’S TROVE OF ENDURANCE WINNERS McKeel Hagerty’s Top Scottsdale Buys | Our Third Annual State of the Hobby Report PUBLISHER’S LETTER editorial staff Executive Publisher McKeel Hagerty Associate Publisher Jonathan A. Stein Executive Editor Jerry Burton Managing Editor lori bremerkamp Art Director Todd Kraemer Designer MOLLY JEAN Copy Editor SHEILA WALSH DETTLOFF Art Production Manager JOE Ferraro Creative Director Laura Rogers Editorial Director Dan Grantham Opportune Times? McKeel Hagerty (left) and Hagerty’s contributor Ken Gross commenting on the surprises and deals at RM’s 2009 Automobiles of Arizona sale. Contributors Carl Bomstead, Bob Butz, Ken Gross, Dave Kinney, Harold Pace, Rob Sass, Don Sherman, Rich taylor advertising staff National Sales Manager Tom Krempel, 586-558-4502 [email protected] East Coast Sales Office Tom Krempel, 586-558-4502 [email protected] Central Sales Office Lisa Kollander, 952-974-3880 [email protected] West Coast Sales Office Melissa Austin, 818-225-0466 [email protected] Questions about the magazine? Call 866-922-9401 or e-mail us at [email protected]. © The Klemantaski Collection FedEx, for Your Fast Cars, Not Just Your Freight. FedEx® Auto Transport is the choice for car people. We think about overhead cams more than overnight packages. Our specialized equipment includes air-ride suspension and lift gates for safe, horizontal loading. From moving vintage racers to caring for classic collectibles, we’re the leaders of fully enclosed transport for fine vehicles, with the reliability you expect from FedEx. customcritical.fedex.com/auto 1.800.325.4267 FedEx® Auto Transport © 2009 FedEx © 2009 HAGERTY. All rights reserved. Printed in USA. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without permission. All unsolicited submissions, including manuscripts, photographs and queries, must be accompanied by adequate return postage and an addressed return envelope. Submission implies right to edit and publish. Editorial correspondence: Hagerty’s magazine, P.O. Box 2120, Warren, MI 48090-2120. Publisher’s correspondence: [email protected]. Products and services advertised in this issue are not necessarily endorsed by Hager ty or affiliates. Complaints or inquiries should be forwarded directly to the advertiser. All purchases are at the complete discretion of the consumer. Blair Bunting Publishing staff Managing Director Jeremy Morris Director of Publishing Angelo Acord Publication Manager Danielle Poissant Project Manager Scott Stanislav Account Coordinator NIK ARINI Production Manager KATHY COSGRO The Global economy is probably the one thing on all of our minds as we look back on the year just past. After the tribulations and uncertainty with gas prices, Wall Street and the auto industry, we hope for smoother sailing in 2009. In our annual State of the Hobby report (page 32), veteran car hobby analyst and collector Rob Sass looks at the challenges facing the hobby in light of the uncertain economy and the opportunities rising from it, especially for first-time buyers. He points out that while there has been a long-expected reckoning in terms of muscle car and clone prices, many other categories have held their own. And while world-record sales have fueled the collector car market over the last five years or so, the flip side isn’t falling prices, it’s great deals to be had, such as those mentioned in my list of top buys at Scottsdale on page 7. The bottom line is that market cycles will continue to affect the hobby, and the smart buyer will take advantage of the opportunities. One collector sure to be on the lookout is Dr. Frederick Simeone, a nationally known neurosurgeon who, through passion, research and hard work, has assembled an incredible collection of endurance racing winners from Le Mans, Sebring and the Targa Florio, among others. I’ve seen a lot of car collections, but very few surpass the majesty of Simeone’s — and we‘re happy to have an inside look at it (page 22). His collection is housed in a magnificent facility in Philadelphia, with many of his cars staged in recreations of their winning venues. You may also notice that we’ve expanded our news section up front and added a new automotive lifestyle department to give you more on what’s happening in the hobby. Our Experience section debuts with Rich Taylor offering insight into storage collectives that often double as workshops and social clubs (page 38). And Carl Bomstead authors a piece on custom-fitted Grand Touring luggage (page 40). Enjoy! Change of address? Incorrect address? Receiving duplicate copies? We want you, as a member, to continue receiving Hagerty’s magazine. Please send all address changes and duplicate copy information to Hagerty’s Reader Services, P.O. Box 87, Traverse City, MI 49685. HGMEM Hagerty’s Magazine | hagerty.com 3 CONTENTS FEATURES 22 Enduring Vision A look at how Dr. Frederick A. Simeone‘s love for sports racers has translated into one of today‘s most impressive automotive museums (above). 28 Mr. Insider Keith Martin discusses his transformation from ballet dancer to one of the hobby‘s most respected authorities on collector cars and auctions. DEPARTMENTS 6Short Shifts 13 Car Counselor 14 Market Watch 16Essential Collector 18Your Turn 20Automobilia 38Experience 42 42 Gear Guide 44Great Resources 46Rearview Mirror 32 State of the Hobby Our annual report examines how last year‘s uncertain economy impacted the collector car market and what this year could bring. 36 The Ethanol Debate Preliminary results are in from a recent study conducted by Hagerty and Kettering University, and caution is still the watchword. FREE Call 24 Hours 44 Color Catalog 352-387-0021 OR SHOP ON-LINE Checkout our New interactive catalog www.nationalpartsdepot.com 18 National Parts Depot is proud to be a major sponsor of The Iacocca Foundation and The Lee Iacocca Award, “Given for Dedication to excellence in perpetuating an American Automotive Tradition.” www.iacoccafoundation.org 46 20 FLORIDA CALIFORNIA MICHIGAN Ocala Ventura 800-874-7595 800-235-3445 800-521-6104 Canton Local 352-861-8700 - 900 SW 38th Ave. Local 805-654-0468 - 1376 Walter St. #1 Local 734-397-4569 - 2435 S. Haggerty Rd. Copyright © 2008 by National Parts Depot. All Rights Reserved. 4 Hagerty’s Magazine | hagerty.com N. CAROLINA Charlotte 800-368-6451 Local 704-331-0900 - 7000 MacFarlane Blvd. 1 3 5 short shifts auctions 2 4| | |R| | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | our Picks M c Keel Hagert y’s Top 10 Scot tsdale Buys Over the last five years or so, we’ve grown used to climbing record prices for collector cars. These days there are fewer records, and most car prices are holding their own considering the state of the economy. However, if you were in the right place at the right time at the recent Arizona auctions, it was possible to find some seriously good cars at some very good prices. Here are my top 10 deals of the week: 1. 1972 Mercedes-Benz 350SL, $4,752 (Silver) 2. 1995 Chevrolet Corvette, $8,100 (Silver) 3. 1963 Studebaker Avanti, $12,420 (Silver) 4. 1977 Pontiac Trans Am, $14,850 (Russo and Steele) 5. 1964 Chevrolet Corvette coupe, $24,000 (Silver) 6. 1973 DeTomaso Pantera, $35,750 (RM Auctions) 7. 1 957 Ford Thunderbird “E-Bird,” $55,000 (Russo and Steele) 8. 1 954 Chevrolet Corvette, $60,500 (Gooding & Company) 9. 1 955 Packard Caribbean convertible, $82,500 (Barrett-Jackson) 10. Jaguar XK120SE roadster, $84,700 (RM Auctions) Clockwise from top left: RM’s 1939 Lincoln Zephyr Convertible Coupe, Russo and Steele’s 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing, Silver’s 1970 Dodge Challenger, Gooding & Company’s 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider and Barrett-Jackson‘s 1929 Ford 4-AT-E Tri-Motor airplane. Arizona auction week The days of rampant speculation, easy-profit car flipping and buyer appetite for everything are clearly on hold. 6 Hagerty’s Magazine | hagerty.com Scottsdale, Arizona — It’s safe to say the collector car community breathed a collective sigh of relief after the final gavel dropped on this year’s Arizona auctions. On the whole, sales were down, but not as much as the overall economy, proving the market is reasonably solid. Gooding & Company (goodingco.com) had a remarkably strong showing, netting $32.4 million, up from $21 million in 2008. The sales spike was helped, in part, by the $4.95-million purchase of an extremely rare 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider — the top sale of the week. Despite the highly anticipated 1963 Corvette Grand Sport 002 roadster failing to change hands, RM (rmauctions.com) also enjoyed a solid event, bringing in more than $18 million. For the educated buyer, there were several deals to be had at this sale, including a 1939 LincolnZephyr Convertible Coupe that went for $56,100 — quite the bargain for a drop-top full classic. Barrett-Jackson’s (barrett-jackson.com) $63 million total included an assortment of GM Heritage fleet vehicles and a 1929 Ford 4-AT-E Tri-Motor airplane that went for $1.21 million. Sales exceeded $17.1 million at Russo and Steele (russoandsteele.com), which converted to an all-reserve platform this year. Silver Auctions (silverauctions.com) enjoyed more than $3.56 million in sales, with its top sale, a 1970 Dodge Challenger, bringing $70,200. Relive the Arizona action with exclusive photos, interviews and more at hagerty.com/scottsdale. Despite the instability of the current economic climate, this 1965 Ferrari 250 LM Berlinetta brought $3.74 million at RM’s London sale. Bonhams’ record-setting 1955 4.4-liter Ferrari 121 LM Spyder Corsa brought $3.49 million post sale. record ferrari 121 in Gstaad GSTAAD, Switzerland — A 1955 4.4-liter Ferrari 121 LM Spyder Corsa racing two-seater made the top price at Bonhams’ Gstaad auction in Switzerland December 20 — going for $3.49 million post sale and setting a new auction record for this model. Overall, collectors saw a lower than average sell-through rate, despite the saleroom being at full occupancy. However, the vehicles that sold still brought healthy prices, with a 1933 Alfa Romeo 6C-1750 Cabriolet by Castagna at $358,467, a 1965 Ferrari 275GTS Convertible at $561,184 and a 1961 Maserati 3500GT Vignale Convertible at $314,437 being notable highlights. What’s more, original documents relating to the Le Mans GT–winning Ferrari 250GTO went for $10,355. Visit bonhams.com for complete results. prancing ponies Fetch $3.74M London, England — Classic car fever hit Central London in late October when RM Auctions assembled 100 fine automobiles for a sale that lasted seven hours in front of a standing-room-only crowd. A series of intense bidding contests developed throughout the evening, which saw a 1965 Ferrari 250 LM Berlinetta and the 1959 Ferrari 250 GT Tour de France each fetch $3.74 million, indicating the continued strength of the sports and racing car segment of the market. Another notable lot was a 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Atalante — formerly owned by a member of New York’s Strauss family and recently discovered after 45 years in storage — that brought $1.09 million. Get complete details of the London sale at rmauctions.com. Hagerty’s Magazine | hagerty.com 7 1 3 5 short shifts events 2 4| | |R| | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Spring Carlisle Enjoy the annual wake-up call for hibernating car nuts. Spring Carlisle’s Car Corral (shown here) will offer buyers the chance to shop, compare and make deals directly with owners. Carlisle, Pennsylvania — Just as Hershey signals the end of the old-car season on the East Coast, Spring Carlisle lures many enthusiasts out of winter hibernation. More than 100,000 car nuts will converge on Carlisle, Pennsylvania, April 22–26 for an annual rite of spring that’s grown into far more than a simple swap meet. Like the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance or the Eastern Division AACA National Fall Meet at Hershey, Spring Carlisle has become one of those international automotive icons that every enthusiast needs to attend at least once. In addition to 100 acres of automotive merchandise offered by thousands of vendors, there will be at least 2,000 vehicles for sale in the Car Corral. There will also be a collector car auction one block from the fairgrounds at the new Carlisle Expo Center Thursday and Friday evenings, April 23–24. What’s more, Spring Carlisle will host its first-ever Cruise-In April 26. Complete details on this event, as well as the nine others held throughout the summer at the Carlisle Fairgrounds, are available at carlisleevents.com or by calling 717-243-7855. — Rich Taylor All that glitterS Turn-of-the-century motoring on display at Saratoga. Saratoga Springs, New York — Before World War I, more than 1,000 makes of cars were built in the United States. Automotive brightwork consisted of brass, which required constant upkeep. The “Age of Brass” ran from 1890 to 1918, after which brass plating evolved through a nickel period into chromium. Brass-era cars — which range from petite, curved-dash Oldsmobile Runabouts to luxurious Rolls-Royce Silver Ghosts — were primitive. Some had steam or electric propulsion power, demanding an engineer’s ability to operate the vehicle. Conventional cars with gas engines had to be started manually via a dangerous-to-use hand crank. Tires were fragile, necessitating frequent changes. A sampling of the brass-era vehicles on display at the Saratoga Automobile Museum. Most automobiles were open, with folding canvas tops. The lighting systems used acetylene gas, and each lamp required individual manual operation. Instrumentation was sparse, ride and handling were rudimentary, and cars frequently broke down. From now to May 10, Saratoga Auto mobile Museum in Saratoga Springs, New We will deliver York, presents “All that Glitters,” a collection of brass-era antique automobiles. The display includes New York State–based nameplates, such as Pierce and Franklin, along with rare birds, such as E-M-F, Jewel and Brush. Adult admission is $8. Seniors, students and children are less. For more, check out saratogaautomuseum.org. — Ken Gross ASK ABOUT OUR LIFETIME WARRANTY ANYWHERE! Amelia Island Celebrates Coachbuilder and Races Amelia Island, Florida — Bill Warner always puts on a good show, and he’s expected to do so again at this year’s Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance March 13–15. Featured will be the elegant creations of noted Southern California coachbuilder Bohman & Schwartz. Possibly their most famous creation was the “Phantom Corsair,” which will be making a rare trip out of the National Automobile Museum 8 Hagerty’s Magazine | hagerty.com (The Harrah Collection) in Reno, Nevada. Its futuristic, shark-like body was mated to a Cord 810 chassis and appeared in The Young in Heart as the mysterious Flying Wombat. Fifty years of the only Indy car race at Daytona also will be remembered with a special seminar. “The race may be only a footnote to some, but it is an important part of auto racing’s overall history,” says Warner, founder and co-chair of the concours. Visit ameliaconcours.org for complete details. H ag e r t y on t h e roa d ENCLOSED LOWPROFILE CAR HAULER 12FT-40FT CAR HAULER Catch the Hagerty team at the Charlotte AutoFair Spring Meet April 2–5 in Charlotte, North Carolina; the BarrettJackson Collector Car Event April 9–11 in Palm Beach, Florida; and the Keels & Wheels Concours d’Elegance May 2–3 in Seabrook, Texas. SAME OWNERS, SAME QUALITY TRAILERS, SAME SERVICE & LOCATION, BUY & ORDER MANUFACTURER DIRECT FORMERLY KNOWN AS 40’ LOW PROFILE X-TREME TRAILERS SPORTS CAR TRAILER WWW.MONTROSETRAILER.COM 180 Ruth St, Montrose, MI 48457 877-639-0377 Hagerty’s Magazine | hagerty.com 9 1 3 5 short shifts news 2 4| | |R| | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| the stats mini at a gl ance Built by BMC, British Leyland, MG Rover, Innocenti and Authi Designed by Sir Alex Issigonis Built: 1959–2000 (original version) Quantity Produced: r e va m pe d H ag e r t y W eb site Watch for changes to hagerty.com in the coming weeks, including a new search capability for both our event calendar and resource directory, an expanded Hagerty Plus members’ section, and more. 5,387,862 The No. 37 Mini Cooper S making history for the brand at the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally. $1,295–$1,691 Current Price: $8,950–$22,900 Pro g r a m s k e e pi ng K i d s i n volv e d Mini Turns 50 Loyalists prepare to celebrate the tiny car that could — and did. If you don’t have a passport, now is a great time to get one: Loyalists worldwide will converge on England’s legendary Silverstone Circuit May 22–24 for the Mini United Festival 2009 (miniunited.com) to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the original Mini’s launch. Expect a full weekend of Minis on display and motorsports action, including the third and fourth heats of the international MINI Challenge race series. Additionally, the Mini 7 Racing Club will present a race with 50 classic Mini race cars. Be sure to watch for appearances by Mini legends, such as famed racer Paddy Hopkirk, who made Mini history by clinching overall victory in the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally. “The 1960s was definitely the decade of the Mini, far beyond official races and competitive events McKeel Hagerty Visits Jay Leno’s Garage alone, for there was no other car in the market able to offer the same kind of sporting performance for so little money,” says former British Motors Corporation competitions manager Stuart Turner. “But the real reason Mini struck such a chord with the public was because it was just so unusual and cheeky looking.” And the same features that made Mini an icon of the ’60s — including its transverse engine, frontwheel-drive layout and wide stance — remain the basic ingredients of the MINI Cooper today. In addition to the official celebration, consider checking out the Can-Am Mini Challenge June 27– 28 in Brainerd, Minnesota (canam50minirace.com/ index.html), or Mini-Meet 2009 June 29–July 2 in Winona, Minnesota (minimeet09.org), both of which will commemorate the Mini milestone. Insurance is, arguably, the most misunderstood part of the collector car hobby. McKeel Hagerty breaks down the benefits of an Agreed Value policy with Jay Leno. See the video at jaylenosgarage.com. Click on Video, select Extras from the menu to the left and then click Hagerty Classic Car Insurance. Be sure to check out Leno’s Duesenberg collection in the background. 10 Hagerty’s Magazine | hagerty.com Joe Vaughn Original Price: They may not have their driver’s licenses but that hasn’t stopped nearly 2,000 kids from participating in the collector car hobby through Hagerty’s youth initiatives, which for 2009 will include: The Hagerty Model Building Contest, featuring a trip to Monterey, California, for final judging by a celebrity panel. A new “Designer Class” especially for teens. Contact Rory Carroll at [email protected] or 231-922-8805 for details. The PhantomPark provides all design and safety features as required by ANSI MH29.1 for Industrial Scissor Lifts and other design and manufacturing codes that may be applicable to this type equipment. AMERICAN MADE x Double your space by parking two vehicles in the footprint of one parking stall x Unobtrusive and secure – the lift and lower vehicle concealed. x Aesthetically pleasing – surface can be tiled or covered with other material to match surroundings. x Multiple units can be installed side by side. x Ideal for low-ceiling applications – use as “vertical tandem parking” to save space. x Ideal for transporting vehicles from one level to another level. x Increase property value. AVAILABLE OPTIONS x Adjustable ultrasonic vehicle sensor to indicate proper car positioning x Emergency stop “Panic” button station x Vehicle-present sensor at upper-level to prevent lift from raising top vehicle in low applications x Gate or door status sensors to shut off the lift if opened during lift operation x Photo-eye sensors to shut off the lift if motion is detected during lift operation x 5HP 230V 1 Phase power unit, draws approximately 27 amps. Raising time approximately 60 seconds x Reset switch constant monitoring system to help protect the lift from being lowered if either of the lower level x photo eyes x are tripped x Hetronic radio control system x Access control keypad has security code option x Wireless camera system x Flashing operational warning light x Call/Send capability push button operates with push of the control button x ZRC finish (cold galvanizing) Hob b y S u pp or t continues Last year, Collectors Foundation provided $100,920 in scholarships and $182,948 in grants for programs providing hands-on education for young people interested in classic car and classic boat restoration. Park-King Maximum-One Four Post Residential Lift Single Post Parking Lift – The only American Made Single post lift design. Capacity 4,500 Lbs. and 4,600Lbs Call For Additional Options 888 711-5438 Fax: 760 745-6200 | Local: 760 745-5438 | [email protected] 1 3 5 short shifts CAR COUNSELOR media 2 4| | |R| | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Speed Reads 1915–2008 The “Ask Hagerty” Concierge Service answers your toughest questions. My husband misplaced the key to our 1969 Corvette. Where can I get another one made for him? A We suggest contacting Jesser’s Classic Keys (jessersclassickeys.com) in Akron, Ohio. If they can’t help, they probably can advise you of someone who can. As an alter native, both Mid America Motor works (mamotorworks.com) and Eckler’s Corvette (ecklers.com) offer replacement ignition and door lock kits, which you can have installed. Q Where can I find 1966 North Carolina tags for my Mustang? A There are many options for finding antique license plates. For starters, search “antique license plates” online to find dealers, clubs and personal sites. You may also want to attend swap meets, look in local antique shops, search through the classifieds in Hemmings Motor News and check ebaymotors.com. You may be able to order a “reproduc tion” with the lettering of your choice from licenseplates.tv. Also, contact the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Division of Motor Vehicles (ncdot. org/dmv) to determine regula tions for using period license plates and to find out if you’ll need both front and rear tags. Q I converted my 1955 Austin-Healey 100/4 from positive to negative ground. Since then, I’ve had electrical gremlins and a fried voltage regulator. I also have a reading on my tester — Elfi Arkus-Duntov, the widow of Corvette patron saint Zora Arkus-Duntov, died October 23 following complications from a leg infection. She was 93. Although Elfi had her own claim to fame as a professional model and dancer, together, she and Zora became an endearing fixture in the Corvette community and were VIPs at the grand opening of the National Corvette Museum (NCM) in 1994. She continued to promote Zora’s legacy after his death in 1996. A memorial service was held in December at the NCM, where her ashes were interred with Zora’s. Pat Moss Carlsson 1934–2008 even though the fuses are pulled. What I should do next? A It’s possible there is some unfused wiring in the car, most likely caused by modification when the vehicle was converted from positive to negative ground. Have it checked out at a shop that specializes in the repair and service of British sports cars. We found a shop in your area that likely will be able to diagnose and fix the prob lem: Autosport Inc. (autosportinc. com) in Bloomington, Indiana. The ”Ask Hagerty” Concierge Service is available free at 888-310-8020, option 3. GOOD NEWS! SAVING IS FASHIONABLE AGAIN. Getty Thanks to Hagerty adopting publication of the Bolaffi auction catalogue (right), the signature classic car ”bible” lives on. Elfi ArkusDuntov Service calls instruction on engine removal, installation and break-in, among other things. Art of the Hot Rod ($40, motorbooks.com) by Ken Gross is nothing less than a gallery of the best. The book profiles top builders and features studio portraits of their most outstanding customer creations. But as the hobby market continuously changes, it’s hard to weed out pricing facts from fiction. Hagerty’s Cars That Matter ($20, carsthatmatter.com) by Dave Kinney takes the guesswork out of buying and selling by providing accurate, up-to-date and unbiased pricing obtained through a network of professionals. And Hagerty’s Classic Car Auction 2006–2008 Yearbook ($60, shop. hagerty.com) — previously published by Bolaffi — contains the results of the most important international auctions of the last two seasons, documenting the sale price of more than 5,200 classic cars. Joe Vaughn (2) Collector cars untouched by time or restorers are quite rare — not to mention immensely valuable. Richard Lentinello’s It’s Only Original Once: Unrestored Classic Cars ($35, motorbooks.com) chronicles the most important, from early models like a 1930 Oakland Roadster to later favorites like a 1972 GTO. No matter whether your vehicle is original or restored, if you‘re like most collectors, you want to spend little time in the garage and lots of time on the road enjoying your ride. How to Keep Your Collector Car Alive ($25.99, motorbooks. com) by Josh Malks helps you do just that, with practical instructions and handy tips for the daily challenges of owning a classic in the modern-car world. Barry Kluczyk’s How to Rebuild Any Automotive Engine ($24.95, cartechbooks.com) covers engine rebuild essentials with more than 400 color photos of step-by-step Six books worth checking out. Pat Moss Carlsson, a pioneer of women in motorsport and one of the most successful woman rally drivers of all time, died October 14 after a long battle with leukemia. She was 73. Moss, who began her rally career in 1953, was the sister of Formula One and sports car great Sir Stirling Moss and the wife of legendary Swedish rally driver Erik Carlsson. She scored three outright wins and seven podium finishes in international rallies, and was crowned European Ladies’ Rally Champion five times. 4"7& When you use your Hagerty Plus membership discount program you can save on the products and services that serious collectors need and want the most. 8*5))"(&35:1-64 .&.#&3%*4$06/54 U Car Guy Gift Ideas U Magazines U Performance & Appearance Products U Protection & Security U Products For The Garage U Tools U Vehicle Transporters U Services Visit www.hagerty.com/discounts to save with your Hagerty Plus membership. 888-310-8020 | WWW.HAGERTY.COM 12 Hagerty’s Magazine | hagerty.com Hagerty’s Magazine | hagerty.com 13 MARKET WATCH Hot rods — along with jazz music — are However, build quality and the equipDawn, modified by Detroit Coach LLC, used a a quintessential American art form. These ment can make a huge difference in the Chevrolet 383 small block and rode on huge modified production cars generally pack sale prices of hot rods. The market cur22-inch front and 24-inch rear custom wheels. bigger engines than originally installed, and rently places the biggest premium on Its body modifications were subtly changed extensive body and trim customizations. customs and rods in as-built condition. As from the original design, while the custom Model T Fords or 1957 Chevrolets can be an example, an unmolested Boyd Codtouches inside made for a Silver Dawn unlike the starting point for hot rods, as well as cars dington–built, steel-bodied Deuce roadany other. Selling for $225,500, this most built before and after. Resto-rods are a relaster with a 350ci Chevy engine mated to a definitely was not your rich uncle’s Roller. tively new phenomenon, as are their brother turbo 350 automatic transmission sold for A more conventional resto-mod was a cars, resto-mods. Resto-rods appear stock $132,000 in October at Barrett-Jackson’s 1955 Chevrolet 210 two-door “post” car but have an updated drivetrain, while restoinaugural Las Vegas event. mods are extensively modified throughout That same event is where one of the and often feature modern creature comforts. more interesting resto-mod sales of 2008 Hot rods really took flight after soldiers also occurred. A 1954 Rolls-Royce Silver returning from World War II discovered that finding cars and parts was not easy. Most of the cars surviving were just begging to be modified for a new generation. Many early customs were the result of a single person’s idea — a dropped roofline, chrome trim removed and an eggcrate grille substituted for the stock unit. It didn’t take long before entrepreneurs began to offer customs and hot rods to those with more money than time. Brothers Sam and George Barris were among the pioneers. From the same California car culture came other greats, such as Worldwide Auctioneers‘ 1950s-built Ford Hi-Boy Roadster. Ed “Big Daddy” Roth and Von Dutch. The tradition of ”branded” hot rods has continued into modern times with practitioners like Chip Foose and the late Boyd Coddington. As postwar production of new cars heated up, used cars became less expensive, providing more automotive canvases for budding rodders. Early hot rods — just like today’s rods — came in The original Boyd Coddington–built Deuce roadster. many forms. Among the more recognizable shapes are the ’32 Ford roadsters (the basis for Hi-Boys) and coupes (better known as “Deuce Coupes”). The recent sales of two 1932 Ford Hi-Boy Roadsters tell the story in a nutshell. In May, a 1950s-built Hi-Boy sold at Worldwide AucThis street-modded 1954 tioneers’ Houston Classic Auction for $93,500, Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn uses a while a more contemporary build on another Chevrolet 383 small block and Hi-Boy brought only $23,100 at RM’s Collector rides on 22-inch front and 24-inch Cars of Fort Lauderdale event in February. rear custom wheels. The hard and fast rule of hot rod collecting is that There are few hard and fast rules. 14 Hagerty’s Magazine | hagerty.com equipped with a 468ci Chevy big block mated to a 700R4 transmission. Featuring full power — including front and rear disc brakes — this highly modified ’55 brought $67,100. Not bad for a car that likely started life with a six-cylinder motor and few options. The hard and fast rule of hot rod collecting is that there are few hard and fast rules. Today’s collector will generally pay more for a steel-bodied example than a fiberglass one. Cars with all original sheet metal will bring more still. There are literally thousands of parts suppliers for hot rods, resto-rods and resto-mods. Quality is the key you’re looking for. Some suppliers build only to order while others have warehouses brimming with goodies. & Dave Kinney is the publisher of Hagerty’s Cars That Matter. RODS The 1955 Chevrolet 210 resto-mod. MODS If you’re looking to make an investment in hot rods, look for unmodified ones with a designer label. by Dave Kinney ESSENTIAL COLLECTOR Consider selling at an auction, PKLT?FOA+ QERKABO?FOA+ but only list your car with an auction company that sells similar cars. Avoid no-reserve sales. They’re too risky, even if you’re desperate. Unless a dealer already has a buyer in mind for your vehicle, he or she will only offer a wholesale price that’s bound to be well under your expectations. List your car online where you have access to a worldwide, very knowledgeable audience. In November 2007, a nondescript- The long goodbye Buying and selling cars in a down market. As this is written, Wall Street is in freefall, automakers are reporting record losses and employers are handing out pink slips like there’s no tomorrow. Is this any time to buy or sell a collector car? The answer depends on your perspective, your personal situation and, mostly, what you want to buy or sell. You can’t possibly predict a market’s peak or its lowest point, so the decision is entirely up to you. However, even in a down market, top-ranked ’30s-era classic cars, desirable postwar sports models, race cars with documented competition history, and rare, one-of-a-kind and low-mileage models hold their values better than average examples produced in large volumes. Sale records are being set today for the right cars. Savvy buyers know this and will pay accordingly. by ken gross •• Illustration by charles wilkin Grim economic situations also create opportunities, as some people must sell their cars (and motorcycles) to get by. Values will recover over time. So if you’re a potential buyer, this could be your moment. But what if you’re one of those distressed folk who must sell? Contact the people who have told you, “If you ever want to sell, call me first” — and be prepared to deal. Focus on enthusiasts. Advertise with a make-specific club or take your car to a gathering of like-minded enthusiasts and let them know it’s available. Set a realistic price, but be prepared to come down a bit. No one wants to pay retail — especially now. looking, engineless Pontiac Tempest Le Mans — that just happened to be one of six special Super Duty factory drag racers — sold online for $226,521. The seller didn’t know what it was, but the market did — and reacted accordingly. If you have a car in mind, but hadn’t planned to buy just now because cash is tight, consider borrowing the money or financing the sale with the seller. New model car loans might be limited today, but if you have good credit, make a case with your banker or a specialized source, such as Hagerty Finance. Consider spreading the risk by partnering with a close friend for a car you both want. However, be careful: Draw up a contract to clearly specify mutual rules for its use, maintenance, storage and eventual sale. Be ready when opportunities arise. At RM’s 2008 Vintage Motor Cars of Hershey auction, a friend bought a Lincoln-Zephyr V-12 coupe for $62,700. He attended the sale simply as a spectator, but jumped right in when he saw what cars were going for, saving thousands. Chances are, the seller wasn’t as pleased with my friend’s bargain. Despite the world economic malaise, last fall’s auction results showed that selling prices on the best cars were flat or just slightly inflated, while average cars and mediocre lots took a hit. So take the long view and be ready to buy, even if the economic situation is grim. PRMBO?FOA+ It’s more than a name; it’s a promise. A commitment to deliver your vehicle to its destination using all the resources that almost 50 years in the automotive transportation business can provide. It’s an assurance that we will take the greatest of care with your car, truck, or motorcycle whether it’s a well-traveled daily driver or a legend sculpted in steel. It’s the peace of mind that comes with entrusting America’s largest fleet of specialty transporters with the care of your vehicle and the comfort of knowing that our GPS tracking knows where our carriers are at all times. This is more than a name. This is Reliable. Sbef`ibpq^hbkpboflrpiv+ www.reliable-carriers.com East – Canton, MI West – Chandler, AZ 800-521-6393 800-528-5709 South – Orlando, FL 800-833-7411 California – Sun Valley 888-252-1177 For your auction needs please contact: Norm Elliot - 847-682-8414 - [email protected] 16 Hagerty’s Magazine | hagerty.com YOUR TURN > > 1963 AC BRISTOL True Originals > > > While restoration can bring a classic back to showroom condition, the original paint, trim and interior have a way of keeping a vehicle’s moment in time. The Hagerty’s readers’ cars featured here are not restorations, but preservations. Hours of cleaning and detail work make them look as if they’ve visited the fountain of youth. This AC Bristol was Harry Ward’s first car back in 1963. He wanted it for travel to work and weekends on the track. The track part never came about, but what happened instead is an extraordinary story of automotive care and preservation spanning nearly five decades. This car‘s original paint, engine, clutch, exhaust, interior, wheels and tires are the subject of minor wear, fastidious care and 49,000 miles of joyous use. It was recently passed along to Mark Gessler of Potomac, Maryland, who is delighted to take over its stewardship. The car not only looks great, it runs well, too, and is probably the best unrestored example in existence. > > 1960 SEBRING MGA TWIN CAM For years, MG enthusiast John Wright had his eye on one of three 1960 works Sebring MGA Twin Cams. Several times he’d asked the longtime owner to give him a call when the time came to sell. That call came in 2002. Before long, Wright took custody of the completely unrestored car that had finished fourth in class driven by Jim Parkinson and Jack Flaherty. Since acquiring the car, Wright has cleaned and detailed it to keep it in excellent mechanical condition. The car retains virtually all of its original paint, its original interior and all of the mechanical components with which it left the BMC Competition Department. > > 1964 CHEVROLET CORVAIR SPYDER >>1 966 Chevrolet IMPALA 427 SUPER SPORT CONvertible Some cars are rare finds, and Michael Chance’s ’66 Impala 427 SS convertible is one of them. This car was his Holy Grail of collector cars, made even more significant by the fact that it was the company car of a General Motors executive. After it was sold at a Chevy dealer, the car never changed hands again, so it was officially a one-owner vehicle. Except for some paintwork after an altercation with a Clydesdale at a local parade, it left the factory as you see it. Chance has all the original documentation and has even videotaped an interview with its first owner. 18 Hagerty’s Magazine | hagerty.com Only the tires, battery and top have been replaced on this Corvair Spyder, a duplicate of the one Duke Millington purchased new. Millington spent three months taking apart, cleaning and reassembling every piece — including the nuts and bolts. The trunk, underbody, underside of the hood and doorjambs have been touched up with new paint, but all exterior paint is original. Hours of buffing and waxing brought it back to life. “The car looks, runs and smells factory new,” Millington says. “Upon close inspection, only a few dents on the wire wheels and a couple of paint chip touch-up spots indicate this car has been used.” > > 1967 Ford Galaxie 500 Convertible Tom McILwee’s Brittany Blue Galaxie 500 is as original as it gets. With the exception of tires, shocks and dual exhaust, this low-mileage original is just as it left the factory. McILwee often saw this oneowner Galaxie getting its summer service at the same dealer where it was bought new. Many years passed before the owner responded to his letters of interest. It won an Award of Excellence at the 2008 Shelby American Automobile Club meet. Send your best ”before and after” photos, along with a short description of the project, to [email protected] and you might see it featured on these pages. Haven’t seen your submission in the magazine? Check the Hagerty Web site. Log on to hagerty.com, click on Hobby Information Center and select Project Profiles from under the Restoration Station link on the left. AUTOMOBILIA World’s Largest Truck & SUV Parts Source Request Your FREE Parts Catalog Over 30,000 Parts & Accessories ... In Stock by Bob Butz •• photography by James Haefner Fordite jewelry examples from wellknown maker James Blanchard. Bottom: Hunks of the coveted “Motown swirl.” 2IGHT0ART2IGHT0RICE2IGHT.OW™ Classic Rocks Fordite, once an accident in Detroit automotive history, is now a coveted treasure. As tales of lost treasure go, the story of Fordite has it all. In the late ’60s and ’70s, enamel-based automobile paint was applied by handheld spray guns. Car parts rode on a conveyer belt and the accumulation of layers and layers of paint overspray — hardened during the drying process — eventually had to be broken off the tracks with a brick hammer. The pieces, which came to be known as Fordite, were then sent to the landfill. When cracked open and polished, the stone-like hunks of slag — also called Detroit agate, Motown swirl and paint rock — produced cabochons with swirling psychedelic color. 20 Hagerty’s Magazine | hagerty.com Some assembly-line employees who knew the properties of this strange material had the foresight to save a few pieces — and it may be paying off. About five years ago, Fordite suddenly became coveted by rock collectors, artists and jewelry designers. Today, a ring or small pendant with a piece of Fordite as big as your thumbnail averages $135 to $165, according to Christie Minervini, owner of Gallery Fifty (galleryfifty.com), a fine crafts and studio jewelry store in Traverse City, Michigan. James Blanchard, a wellknown Fordite jewelry maker, notes that even those who don’t care about cars will buy Fordite because of its story. ”Plus, it was made to take dinks from the road, so it actually holds up better than the metal setting over time,“ Blanchard says. Unfortunately, real Motor City Fordite is increasingly rare. So much so that, according to Blanchard, rough hunks of it simply don’t exist anymore and people who do have stashes are tightlipped about how much they have. What little Fordite exists nowadays is bought and sold mostly via the Internet, namely at fordite.com or through online auctions, where jewelry and polished cabochons don’t last long. But, in the case of online auctions, beware of imposters. “A lot of the jewelry sold as Fordite today is actually from Great Britain,” says Gallery Fifty’s Minervini, adding that the color quality is also noticeably different and not as good as the genuine article, which originated in Ford’s River Rouge factory in Detroit. “The British stuff is newer, from the ’80s, when they used what I call ‘Superman colors’ — bright reds, blues, yellows and white.” Blanchard adds that while he can tell old from new when cutting it, a layperson probably wouldn’t notice the difference. “Real Fordite has an older, ‘fishy’ smell,” he adds. “The new stuff just smells toxic and acrid — like spray paint.” There’s definitely a finite amount of these pieces of history available today. But somewhere in a landfill in southeast Michigan there’s probably tons of the stuff. “And I wish I knew where,” Minervini says. Chevrolet & GMC Trucks & SUVs 1947-2006 Ford Trucks & SUVs 1948-2008 Dodge Trucks & SUVs 1994-2008 Most Orders Ship Complete Same Day www.LMCTRUCK.com 1-800-LMC-TRUCK /RDERSs#ATALOG2EQUESTSs3TATUS 3HOP/NLINE&AST3IMPLE3AFE 1-800-562-8782 Box 14991 Lenexa, KS 66285-4991 Request Your FREE Parts Catalog s1UALITY0ARTS !CCESSORIES •'REAT0RICES •%ASY/RDERING $AYS!7EEK www.VictoriaBritish.com “Keep’em on the Road”™ /RDERSs#ATALOG2EQUESTSs3TATUS 3HOP/NLINE&AST3IMPLE3AFE 1-800-255-0088 Box 14991 Lenexa, KS 66285-4991 ENDURING VISION The Simeone Foundation Museum in Philadelphia is what happens when you mix one man’s knowledge with a passion for sports racers. by Jonathan A. Stein •• photography by Kevin Netz D r. Frederick A. Simeone doesn’t just love sports cars. He venerates them. The Philadelphia neurosurgeon has not only assembled one of the finest collections of historically significant sports racing cars in the world, but he has recreated their victorious venues — with replications of the Le Mans pit row, the Mille Miglia course through Brescia, and parts of Nürburgring, Watkins Glen and Targa Florio, among others — within the confines of the Simeone Foundation Museum in Philadelphia. Educator, collector Born, raised and educated in Philadelphia, Simeone has been a researcher, educator and leading neurosurgeon for more than 40 years. However, he’s collected automobiles and their ephemera even longer. Simeone inherited his interest in both medicine and cars from his general practitioner father. “By the time I was 10, he and I were chasing cars together,” he recalls. When he wasn’t looking in garages and barns with his father, Simeone was gathering every bit of auto literature he could find. Over the years, he’s amassed a huge library of sales literature, ads, photographs and books that ranks among the finest private collections — and is every bit equal to his automobile collection. In the 1960s, when he was launching his career at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, Simeone couldn’t devote as much time to his avocation as he would have liked. But he continuously worked on his library, made connections and learned about all kinds of wonderful cars. The collection truly gathered steam in 1969 after he returned to his native Philadelphia. Being a single parent and the head of neurosurgery at Pennsylvania Hospital with a full surgical schedule kept Simeone busy, yet he gradually found time to build his nascent collection by learning everything he could about the cars he was pursuing and buying at the right time. THEME PARK Many collections often appear random and haphazard. Not Simeone’s. Since the beginning, his primary theme has been racing sports cars from 1909 to the 1970s. Why “sports cars?” He believes that high-powered sports racing cars propelled the evolution of the automobile — sports racers had to be fast and strong enough to survive as much as 24 hours of abuse during a race. The most evolved of their era were the cars that won major events like Le Mans, Sebring and Spa. “My goal is to tell a story about how the automobile changed society,” he explains. “But to tell the whole story of the automobile is huge. I think you can only tell one story without overloading the average visitor. We are telling a very specific story, which is how competition leads to evolution. And that evolution — spurred by the need to win — resulted in the many truly fine examples of sports cars and sports racers.” 22 Hagerty’s Magazine | hagerty.com Hagerty’s Magazine | hagerty.com 23 Simeone’s collection of “big” cars means he’s housing a who’s who of overall winners as well as cars that finished near the top. Top: A Hudson Hornet stock car in the shop area. Left: An 8C 2300 Alfa Romeo in front of a diorama representing part of the famed Brooklands racetrack. Below: A backdrop of the Bonneville Salt Flats tells the story of the Cobra Daytona Coupe, Austin-Healey 100-4 and Cord 812. While endurance racing boasts many different classes, Simeone’s interest is in the cars that contested for the overall wins. “It’s why I’ve limited my collection to cars two liters or over,” he says. “If they are supercharged, they can be under two liters.” The result is a collection of “big” cars, including a who’s who of overall winners and cars — or similar examples — that finished near the top. To tell the story of these legendary cars, Simeone wanted to put them in context. That’s why the majority of the cars on display are set in appropriate backdrops. The Shelby Daytona Cobra coupe is properly positioned on the Bonneville Salt Flats where it set 23 records, while the pair of BMW 328s is at home on the Nürburgring course in Germany. And there’s a period setting for the Alfa Romeo and Bugatti that ran in Sicily’s famed Targa Florio road race. Yet another scene depicts the pits at Le Mans, where so very many of Simeone’s cars raced with distinction. The collection houses some of the most coveted of all European racing cars, with magical names such as Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Ferrari, Jaguar and Maserati. Yet, Simeone holds a special place for the American cars that vied for the top spots in competition. As a result, Cunningham, du Pont, Ford GT40, Mercer and Stutz are represented as well. There’s even a diorama with the famed Dunlop Bridge that provides the context for the grouping of American cars that competed at Le Mans. NOT JUST RACERS At any given time, upwards of 60 to 70 cars fill the cavernous Simeone Museum building, housed in a former engine factory in metropolitan Philadelphia. Not all the cars are dedicated racers, however. Many of them are production cars with sporting looks or performance. The American sports cars include early machines, such as an American Underslung, Stutz Bearcat and Mercer 35J Raceabout, as well as later vehicles, such as a trio of Auburn speedsters and a big block Corvette. Many of these are located in the “Sporty Car Annex,” which also houses European road cars, including the very first of Adrian Squire’s magnificent supercharged sports cars, the 1949 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 that was Simeone’s first car and a Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing coupe once owned by Simeone’s father. There’s also a small chronological selection of NASCAR racers, including a famous Hudson Hornet and the ex–David Pearson 1986 Buick. DIRECTIVES FROM THE DIRECTOR Simeone knows he’s very fortunate to have the kind of collection that’s beyond the dreams of virtually all collectors. But it certainly didn’t come together quickly, easily or recently. It took years of research and networking to find out about the cars and to build relationships with owners, historians and others who could help him in his quest. 24 Hagerty’s Magazine | hagerty.com Top: Simeone‘s crown jewels are part of the ”Winner‘s Circle” display. Bottom: A diorama of the famed Dunlop Bridge showcases American cars at Le Mans. at Nürburgring in 1927. Next to the big Mercedes is the only surviving Bugatti to ever finish first at Le Mans — the 1937 Bugatti Type 57G Tank that won every race it ever contested. However, the true prize of the collection sits higher on a turntable: the Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B with which Clemente Biondetti won the 1938 Mille Miglia. There are still a few cars that Simeone would like to add to the museum, including a Mercedes-Benz SSK with racing history, a racing Ferrari 166 or 212 Barchetta, and a Ferrari 250 LM. However, with a new museum to fund and the need to create a strong donor community, it looks like Dr. Simeone’s wish list will remain just that for now as he focuses on the museum’s future. Plans include increasing the endowment (it’s a fully approved charity), installing a library that’s accessible to researchers, increasing tours and hosting special events. Before long, Simeone also hopes to add automobile simulators through which students can study traffic accident avoidance. He may eventually build a driving instruction course on three acres outside the museum where he currently exercises the cars in his collection. So if you visit the museum and hear the scream of a supercharged engine, there’s a chance that the good doctor or one of his guests is out back playing with an old Alfa or the Blower Bentley. Consider it an appropriate sound effect for one of the most amazing personal collections of race cars ever assembled. For more information about visiting the Simeone Foundation Museum or making a donation, go to simeonemuseum.org. A recreation of the Sebring pits house the silver C- and D-Type Jaguars, while a pair of Rally cars and a grouping of Le Mans cars stretch off into the background. Most were acquired long before they had multimillion-dollar price tags. Others were available at reasonable prices because only Simeone truly understood their value. Although he admits to having a successful practice, there is no way he could have collected the racers on display had he not paid “used car” prices for some before their true worth was known. To Simeone, the story behind the car is just as important as the car itself. “Sometimes, the hunt for a given car is the best part,” he says. And often the search for a car involves his library. After reading an article in a 1950 copy of Road & Track, Simeone was intrigued by the story of an ex–Mille Miglia Alfa Romeo that was raced at La Plata in Argentina. Continuing his research, he was able to track down the family of the owner of what he asserts is “the only 8C 2900A to retain its original engine and body.” In this case it was a factory rebody completed following its second-place finish in the 1937 Mille Miglia. “Because the car might be considered a national treasure, we had to take it apart to get it into America,” he says. “It was all very complicated, but it turned out OK. That was the great hunt.” Sometimes it’s taken years to find a car on his list. Other times, he’ll have a car for years before its true history is revealed. Until recently, the Duesenberg open-wheel race car (the only Grand Prix car in the collection) that Simeone’s father acquired in the 1950s was believed to be a “junk formula” Indy car. Only in the last decade — through consultations with Duesenberg historians Randy Ema, Joseph Freeman and Fred Roe — did he discover that the car was really one of the factory Duesenberg race cars that won the French Grand Prix in 1921. Now reunited with a correct engine and tail, it sits at the end of the large diorama that recalls the row of pits at the 24 Hours of Le Mans 26 Hagerty’s Magazine | hagerty.com Sometimes it’s taken years to find a car on his list. Other times, he’ll have a car for Years before its true history is revealed. endurance race. Populated by a Delahaye 135 racer, a two-liter Aston Martin LM, an MG K3, several racing Ferraris, a Maserati 300S and a fearsome 917 Porsche, the lineup represents the fastest and most reliable machines of their period. It’s no wonder that Simeone’s Le Mans cars make up the largest single category of the museum, and his five eight-cylinder Alfas the largest single make. THE CROWN JEWELS The cars are magical and their histories storied, but still the museum saves its very best for last. Sitting in front of a checkered “Winner’s Circle” backdrop are the jewels of the collection, cars that won outright in the most important races anywhere. The sleek, pale green Aston Martin DBR1 raced at Sebring, Le Mans and other major endurance races in 1958, but it won at Nürburgring driven by Stirling Moss and Jack Brabham. Next to it is the brutal-looking white and blue Cunningham C4R that raced at Le Mans and finished first at Sebring in 1953 driven by John Fitch and Phil Walters. At the far end is the factory Mercedes-Benz S-Type that won the first German Grand Prix Right: The American Underslung was one of America‘s early sports cars. Below: In England, hill climbs were very popular with owners of sports cars, such as this unrestored Vauxhall 30/98. Keith Martin covers the auction scene from Mr. Insider the best seat in the house. by Ken Gross •• photography by Derek Blagg Keith Martin is one of the most respected authorities on vintage cars and auctions. His magazines, Sports Car Market and Corvette Market, are revered for their concise, objective, informative and always entertaining insights. The reason is clear once you know Martin: His magazines reflect his personality to a T. Martin’s latest venture, Collector Car Price Tracker, an online showpiece with eBay Motors, is the first real-time, real-sales price guide for collector vehicles and has solidified his impact on the hobby. We recently caught up with him to discuss his unlikely path into the hobby, his favorite auction moment and where he thinks car collecting is headed. You were a ballet dancer. Isn’t that an unusual background for a car guy? I’ve got gasoline in my blood, although it took me a while to realize it. After college, I diverted into the arts, dance and ballet for about 15 years, studying modern dance at the Juilliard School in the early ’70s and then founding the first statewide Oregon ballet company. Why did you decide to trade dancing for cars? It became clear to me that if a ballet company was going to survive, it had to have the warhorses like “Nutcracker” and “Sleeping Beauty.” I had no interest in producing those. If you’re doing original work, you can excel to your own standards. So I went to work for Ron Tonkin, the Ferrari and exotic car dealer, in Portland, Oregon. At that time (1988–89) there were lots of market letters, including Ferrari and Porsche, but there was nothing for Alfa Romeos. Being an Alfisti, I thought there should be an Alfa Romeo market letter. I put an ad in Hemmings Motor News, got a few subscriptions and off we went. Mary Ann Liebert (who publishes medical newsletters and had a publication called Automotive Investor) heard about me, and that became my first job editing an entire magazine. I ended up buying Automotive Investor. Our corporate name is Automotive Investor Media Group. How did Sports Car Market evolve out of that? With the Alfa market letter, when we got to about 400 subscribers, we probably had everyone in the entire world who cared about Alfa Romeos. Then we started the English car market letter. Producing two market letters was killing me, so I thought I’d add German cars and call it Sports Car Market. It was sheer desperation and it turned out to be OK. Sports Car Market has become the mainstay of auction coverage. Was that your intent? Auctions have always interested me because of my theatrical background. Hagerty’s Magazine | hagerty.com 29 They are pure improvisational theater at its highest level. You never really know what’s going to happen. You put all these ingredients in — high drama, high-priced cars, the market, bidders, big catalogs, lots of publicity — and then you get to sit and watch. How do you see the market evolving? My relationship with old cars has changed over the years. I had a Giulietta Spyder Veloce that I was driving back and forth to Reed College from San Francisco — all the work I had to do, changing head gaskets and stuff. I wasn’t doing it because it was a classic car. I was doing it because it was the coolest car I could own at that period. As we get older, we’re looking at the same cars. We’re fixed in time with our passions. But what we want from those cars is changing. We want these cars to provide an exhilarating escape from everyday life. We don’t want to go out in the garage and gap valves, balance tires and change tranny fluid. We’re in it now for the absolute pure joy of motoring — with a car that speaks a language to you. I think the next 20 years will be very interesting because you’ll have a generation of people who have no firsthand experience with the cars of the ’50s and ’60s — a period I believe will be regarded as the golden age of the collectible car. It was a time when there were no federal regulations to inhibit performance or styling. A late ’50s/early ’60s sports car can go 100 mph. It can cruise at 70 mph all day long. They have tops that work, heaters that work and they really hit their stride, like the Healey BJ8, for instance. I grew up around these cars, reading Road & Track, lusting after them. Most of today’s teens have no recollection of adjusting SU carburetors or of timing cars. The question is, when you plug in the OBD-2 sensor, what does it tell you? And that’s OK, but I believe in the “toaster philosophy of mechanical evolution.” The first toasters were very complicated. You had to flip the bread down, and flip it back up, and you burnt the bread. Now, toasters are vastly more competent, and you’ll never open one in your lifetime. You’ll have it for 20 years. It’ll break and you’ll replace it. And that’s the way all things tend. I can’t imagine working on my new Boxster. I just take it in to Al every 5,000 miles and he fixes whatever’s wrong with it. 30 Hagerty’s Magazine | hagerty.com “Don’t scratch your ear at an auction.” A funny thing happened to me at the inaugural Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas auction in October. There was a vintage dragster for sale with a fiberglass dragon body on it that shot fire out of its mouth about 30 feet and blew smoke. They thought it would bring about $40,000. My wife’s father has always been an engine builder and a drag racer. We were about ready to leave when the dragon car comes on. My wife, Wendie, says how cool it would be for her dad to have. So I said I’d make only one bid. The first bid was $5,000, and then I bid $7,000. Cars never sell in that range, right? There was dead silence, and the guy looked at me and said, “Sold!” I turned to Wendie and said, “We just bought a dragon race car that blows fire.” It’s got an alcohol-based Chrysler 440 with nitrous. Her dad figured it’s worth $15,000 to part it out, but I don’t want to do that. Now I’ve paid $2,000 more to get it to Portland, Oregon. You know, you always have to be prepared when you go to an auction — you could own something. How will collectors’ expectations change in the future? People will have very different demands of their collector cars. They’ll want cars to work. That’s the reason resto-mods are so popular. You’re getting a car that looks like an old car, but it has air conditioning that works, power steering, power disc brakes and a great sound system. And I get that. A resto-mod is probably the perfect entry-level collector car. Then if the person likes that car, they can move on to a more robust experience. It’s like moving from a simple table wine to a Brunello. But you don’t want to start with a heavy deal, because you have too many experiences to sort out. The whole notion of why we have these cars is going to change because we’re going to want to use them more. I also believe that a lot of project cars won’t be brought back because there won’t be a market to support them — TR6s, MGBs, the little cars. Any of the Grand Classics that have stodgy coachwork are at risk. Because why would you go to the trouble to restore a four-door car when you could restore a convertible? What’s in your collection now? What would you like to have? If I could have one big old car right now, it would be a two-headlight 330 GT 2+2 Ferrari. I had a 330 America. Those cars are prettier, but they’re harder to live with. So this car would have a five-speed and air conditioning and power steering. I’m also up for a really good ’67 Alfa GTV. I’ve got a ’65 Giulia Spyder Veloce now, and an ’02 Porsche Boxster S. My daughter, Alex, drives a ’95 BMW 318i, and we’ve got a ’65 Volvo PV544, a nice two-owner car. As a writer, publisher, television commentator and enthusiast, Martin is constantly on the go, meeting collectors and getting involved in their activities throughout the world. does anything keep you up at night? I sleep pretty well. The magazines are doing well. I like the cars I have and I understand exactly why I have them. I don’t think much about the current economic situation because I believe there will always be people who are buying and selling collector cars. We’re Still the One For For 25 25 years years we we have have set set the the standard standard for for auto auto transport, transport, and and we’re we’re still still the the one... one...raising raising the the bar. bar. Fully enclosed transporters, liftgate loading, sophisticated QUALCOMM satellite tracking, insurance coverage, and doorto-door service. We deliver anywhere in the continental United States. 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Visit your local retailer or call 877-456-7901www.batterytender.com stat e o f th e h o b b y 2008 Goes Steady As She While the collector car hobby Witnessed its own reckoning in 2008, many Aspects of the hobby are solid. by Rob Sass •• photography by Blair Bunting In hindsight, 2008 may eventually be looked upon as a page-turning year for the collector car hobby. But not simply because the news on the value front was no longer the “onward and upward” that the market has come to expect over the last six or seven years. While there was a fair amount of hand-wringing over values — especially in the latter half of the year — there were other subtle changes in the hobby that may indicate a maturing process. Economic impact The summer of 2006 saw the first drop in housing prices in 11 years. However, there was far worse to come, as the subprime mortgage market began to collapse, followed by the stock market in October 2008. Those who had prospered building mortgage, plumbing, electrical contracting and landscaping businesses during the housing boom were suddenly far more concerned with the survival of their companies than battling for the right to take home a pristine AAR ’Cuda. For those who saw a correction in the muscle-car market as inevitable, the downturn in the housing market provided a reason for one. The first cars to really take it on the chin were the clones and the undocumented or non-original muscle cars, which almost immediately lost as much as one-third their value. According to the Hagerty’s Cars That Matter price guide, for most of 2007, the blue-chip muscle cars held their own, but by early 2008, when the full extent of the subprime mortgage meltdown became clear, even excellent examples of iconic muscle cars, such as the Shelby GT500 and Chevelle SS LS6, were down measurably in value. The long-talked-about correction had come to this sector of the market. According to Colin Comer, author of Million Dollar Muscle Cars, the biggest losers were anything with a Hemi in it. “With up to 500-percent appreciation in four or five years, these cars had been whipped into a frenzy that just couldn’t be sustained,” he says. “They’re down to around 2003–2004 prices.” But excluding Hemi Mopars, muscle cars with production numbers less than 1,000 weren’t really hurt. “Overall, prices are down to perhaps 2005 or mid-boom levels,” Comer says. So this was nothing like the crash seen by the Ferrari market in 1991. Other sectors of the market — such as brass-era cars, European sports cars and prewar classics — have been less affected by the economic downturn. For most of 2008, a strong pound and euro ensured more of a soft landing for cars with worldwide appeal. Muscle cars, which lack an international following, simply weren’t as lucky. David Gooding, founder and CEO of Gooding & Company, noted that more than 25 percent of the bidders at his Pebble Beach sale in August 2008 were European. In any event, the dollar’s strengthening against the euro at the end of 2008 makes it an open question as to how many Europeans will make the trip back to Pebble Beach in 2009. Auction houses also noted a trend toward increasingly discriminate buyers. According to Ian Kelleher, RM Auctions president and COO, buyers in 2008 Hagerty’s Magazine | hagerty.com 33 be the company’s ancestral home — Las Vegas. The results in attendance were impressive and, for the most part, the prices realized were marketcorrect despite concerns over the economy. 2008 hagerty hobby Survey You probably already know most collectors own their current vehicles for personal nostalgia. But you might find it surprising that the same four cars — Chevy Corvette, Ford Mustang, Chevy Camaro and Chevy Chevelle — top the most recently purchased vehicle list of both hobby newcomers and veterans, according to our seventh annual Hobby Survey. The polling of more than 10,000 current collector vehicle owners also reveals that hobbyists are buying fewer cars overall, with 63 percent purchasing a collector car in the last five years, down from 69 percent in 2005. And motivators, such as historical importance and mastering hands-on skills, are affecting the way collector car owners participate in the hobby, the types of vehicles they own and vehicle usage. Below are a few other notable facts that came out in the survey. were playing it safe and paying much more attention to quality. True No. 1 and No. 2 examples of rare and significant cars generally had little trouble finding takers at strong prices, but more common cars, those with stories or those in lesser condition were tougher sales. “One thing hasn’t changed — the auction business is still about timing, venue, cars and clients,” Kelleher says. In the latter half of 2008, many potential buyers also seemed to be sitting on their hands waiting to see how bad things were actually going to get with the economy and the outcome of the presidential election. The concern with the latter was that the new Obama administration would quickly raise the rate on capital gains taxes — a real concern for long-term owners of valuable cars. Expanding areas Unlike the U.S. economy, which officially entered a recession in 2008, there were some notable expansions in the collector car hobby: August Monterey sales were stronger last year than in 2007, with Gooding, RM, Bonhams and Russo and Steele all doing quite well. Not surprisingly, Gooding — whose star has been steadily on the rise since its formation in 2004 — entered the Arizona market in January with a one-day sale held at an upscale Scottsdale shopping mall. The location was quite good — with the excellent access and ample parking one would expect of a retail center — and the Gooding team pulled off the first-year sale with characteristic aplomb. Concurrent with the venerable Labor Day Kruse Auburn sale, the Worldwide Group held a new catalog sale just down the road. Rod Egan and John Kruse ably filled the demand for some higherend cars and more attentive service. In October, Barrett-Jackson brought its brand of flamboyant sales to what seemed like it should 34 Hagerty’s Magazine | hagerty.com 2008 by the numbers 82 join a car club to share info about their vehicle. 54 primarily use Web sites to find parts and supplies. 43 have delayed planned purchases, major restorations/ renovations or travel plans because of an uncertain U.S. economy. percent percent percent Safe bets 39 percent More Than 4K $ researched online listings before purchasing. One significant trend that continued to gather momentum in 2008 was the rise of the unrestored car. It is well known that altering or refinishing a well-preserved object is avoided in most other collecting pursuits. But until recently, in the old car world, it was common practice to restore the patina, originality and, some say, the charm out of well-preserved, but less-than-perfect, original cars. Tom Cotter, co-chair of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance and author of the books The Cobra in the Barn and The Hemi in the Barn, says, “It’s sad how many cars with original finishes and bolts tightened by workers at the factory have been lost in pursuit of shiny and fresh. Honestly, my favorite car is my unrestored 1938 Ford Woodie. It’s reliable and has a cohesive feel that restored cars just can’t match. It’s not just a disparate collection of new parts.” Signs of an increasing appreciation for origi nality are all over the old-car hobby: Last year, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance added a postwar preservation class, and the Bloomington Gold organization of Corvette Survivor® fame held what was likely the first all-makes car show open only to unrestored cars. The market has shown some of the same reverence. Last year’s sale by RM of a completely original 1911 Oldsmobile seven-passenger touring car for $1.65 million was followed up by the February 2008 Paris sale of a 1961 Aston Martin DB4 — utterly original and with every document since new. The Aston sold for more than $450,000, again almost twice the low estimate. Aston Martin expert and dealer Steve Serio sums it up best: “A car is only original once, and this is proof positive that a really savvy collector will pay much more for that than he or she would for a restored car. Anyone can own a restored trailer queen, but the very few great original cars that still exist are being coveted by educated buyers.” things stabilize in the near term, and credit eases up, we could see the same phenomenon again as people turn from a lethargic stock market. On a demographic level, one simply has to look at auction and concours crowds to be concerned about the obvious graying of the hobby. Will anyone care about cars of the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s when this generation passes from the scene? Comer (himself a Generation Xer) says, if history is any indication, yes. 40 percent is spent on average for restoration and maintenance. completely agree that they are concerned about the effects of changes to emissions laws. The future This year is shaping up to be volatile. All bets are off if the already teetering economy is further gut-punched by massive defaults on consumer credit or commercial real estate loans. Following the stock market collapse of 1987, more money flowed into tangibles, such as collector cars. If Source: 2008 Hagerty Hobby Survey “Gen Xers and beyond will likely look to cars from the 1950s and ’60s the same way that baby boomers have started to collect brass-era and prewar classics that they have no recollection of from their youth,” he says. With prices of dorm room poster icons like the Lamborghini Countach and Porsche 930 Turbo on the rise, it seems apparent that even though generational shifts occur, car collecting is a permanent part of the American psyche. Parts / Interiors / Accessories / Fiberglass / Gifts & Apparel Corvette America is the manufacturer of the world’s finest Corvette interiors. At our manufacturing facility in Reedsville, Pennsylvania we’ve blended high-tech processes with hand-crafted quality so you can have the finest Corvette interior at the best prices. Call or go online for your FREE Catalog! Dealer inquiries welcome! 800-458-3475 www.CorvetteAmerica.com Manufact at CA HalfpgV.indd 1 1/14/09 9:42:48 Hagerty’s Magazine | hagerty.com 35 AM E t h a nol : Demonic or Devine? Is E10 an enemy of your collector car fuel system? A study by Kettering University attempts to find out. by Jonathan A. Stein & Craig Hoff, PH.D. •• photography by A.J. Mueller In folklore, whenever something mysterious happens it’s blamed on a witch, fairy, or even Bigfoot. In the collector car world, ethanol is often the accused — being denounced for everything from poor drivability to corroding fuel tanks, blocked fuel lines and leaking carburetors. In 2007, Hagerty decided to see if ethanol was truly the arch villain that rendered old cars fuel-leaking garage ornaments. The company partnered with Kettering University’s Advanced Engine Research Laboratory to develop the first test that closely duplicated a collector vehicle’s use cycle, with the goal of finding out exactly how these fuel systems were affected by long-term exposure to low ethanol–blended gasoline. The initial findings might surprise you. Today’s Fuels: Modern gasoline blends are far removed from those for which most collector vehicles were designed. Since 1992, oxygenates — additives to complete combustion — have been required in gasoline as part of a pollution control strategy. Ethanol is a favored oxygenate because it is less toxic than others (such as MTBE) and is a renewable energy source. However, many of the rubber seals, gaskets, diaphragms and fuel lines used in cars built before the 1980s are known to be incompatible with pure ethanol. What wasn’t known was whether lower concentrations of ethanol would degrade these components and corrode the zinc, brass, lead and aluminum of hard fuel lines, tanks and carburetors. Many studies have been conducted in the past decade to determine the effects of ethanol-blended fuels on modern automobiles. A 2007 Australian study found numerous examples of material incompatibility in new car components immersed in E5 (gasoline mixed with 5 percent ethanol) and E10 (gasoline mixed with 10 percent ethanol). Not surprisingly, a 2008 study funded by the corn- and ethanol-producing state of Minnesota found no ill effects in components exposed to E20 (gasoline mixed with 20 percent ethanol). Neither study addressed the issue of older vehicles and E10, which is the most commonly available fuel today. preliminary results: After several months and a full 3,000 hours of testing, the Hagerty study found that there was no difference between the performance of the SU carburetors (from a 1962 MGA) running E10 and the ones flowing E0 (gasoline without ethanol). The carburetor jets were unobstructed, the needle valves and floats were functioning properly and 36 Hagerty’s Magazine | hagerty.com the throttle shafts were moving freely. Both fuel pumps continued to put out more than 3psi and were flowing fuel at an acceptable rate — regardless of the fuel. Short-term performance on E10 was unaffected, but there were indications that operating an SU-equipped vehicle over a long period of time may require more frequent fuel system maintenance to replace seals and remove varnishes and particulate buildup on components, such as the dashpot damper, the inside of the dashpot and on the throttle shaft. Softening or cracked seals and gaskets could allow leakage, and the varnish could impede throttle shaft operation. The only other noticeable concern was corrosion inside the steel drum used as a fuel tank, suggesting that it may be prudent to coat or seal steel fuel tanks. According to a publication of the Renewable Fuels Association, “… regardless of the materials selected, fuel system components do not last forever and will eventually deteriorate to the point where replacement is required.” This thought is echoed by the Environmental Protection Agency, which suggests upgrading the fuel system of cars built before 1986 with “modern replacement parts.” In other words, both organizations (which promote ethanol) acknowledge that using gasoline containing ethanol in older vehicles requires additional — and sometimes costly — measures. The Study: Most ethanol tests, including the above-mentioned Australia and Minnesota studies, are built around long-term immersion of components in various concentrations of ethanol-blended fuels. The Kettering team, led by mechanical engineering professors Dr. Greg Davis and Dr. Craig Hoff, ran a test that more closely simulated the duty cycle seen by most occasional-use vehicles. Exposure to the fuel was followed by a resting period during which parts were exposed to air. Given such exposure, soft parts swelled in use and shrank as they dried, while metallic parts exposed to air were subject to corrosion. Knowing that the vast majority of collector vehicles are from the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s, six sample fuel systems were selected: 1948 Flathead Ford, 1958 Volkswagen Beetle, 1962 MGA, 1963 Ford Falcon, 1969 Chevrolet A special rig was fabricated to run the mechanical fuel pumps to provide fuel pressure to the carburetor test rigs (shown here). testing shows ethanol may not be quite as villainous as once thought. Bel Air and 1970 Chrysler New Yorker. These fuel pump and carburetor combinations represented hundreds of thousands of collector vehicles. The test was limited to just the fuel system, which meant sourcing carburetors and their corresponding fuel pumps, as well as fuel lines. One set was needed for flow testing with E0, while another was employed for flow testing with E10. A third set was used for splash testing. When the actual testing was complete, metallurgical engineer Dr. Chuck White dissected and examined the parts. In theory, the flow tests were simple. A test rig design was developed that contained a steel barrel that served as a fuel tank, a fuel pump and its matching carburetor, and a fan and all necessary plumbing. A dozen test rigs were needed because there were six different fuel systems to test with both E0 and E10. Due to the differences in the carburetors, custom mounts were required, which made fabrication a lengthy process. Another essential study element included drip testing, during which sectioned components were repeatedly sprayed with fuel (both E0 and E10) for five minutes before drying for 55 minutes. It sounds simple, but it was challenging setting up a safe system through which fuel would be constantly sprinkled onto components and recycled without risking fire or explosion. A 1,500- to 3,000-hour target was set to ensure the validity of the program, which continued as of late December 2008. Although the SU carburetors and fuel pumps from the 1962 MGA had successfully completed the 3,000 hours of cycling on and off, test results of the other fuel systems will be reported on in future issues of Hagerty’s. So what can we conclude thus far? The results from the tests with the SU carburetors and fuel pumps suggest that E10 can be used in older vehicles, although the owner is likely to be faced with the additional costs associated with sealing fuel tanks and cleaning and rebuilding fuel systems more frequently than in the past. However, it’s best to be cautious about reading into these preliminary results until the tests of the five other fuel systems are complete. Until then, it’s safe to assume that you can continue to drive your collector vehicle using E10; it may just cost you more in the long run. Hagerty’s Magazine | hagerty.com 37 Experience places to park it AutoBarn Classic Cars Consignment Sales & Storage Concord, North Carolina 800-650-1055 autobarnclassiccars.com Bridgehampton Motoring Club Bridgehampton, New York 631-537-5001 bridgehamptonmotoringclub.com the Club Carrera Bend, Oregon 541-382-1711 carreramotors.com Boarding stables There was a time when just about every family had a horse that spent most of its day dozing in a backyard stable, waiting to be called upon to transport its owners. But as the automobile shouldered aside the buggy, the garage replaced the stable. Vehicles soon stretched garages to their limits, forcing enthusiasts to seek new places for their collector Like-minded collectors create items to call home. Storage co-ops the ideal mix of a storage facility, were the answer. workshop and social club. Today’s typical club offers indoor vehicle storage, a detailing by Rich Taylor and service area, and a members’ lounge for relaxing and swapping tall tales. One of my favorites is Fox Cities British Car Club, 38 Hagerty’s Magazine | hagerty.com located outside Oshkosh, Wisconsin. MG collector Jim Marks started the club seven years ago. A few years later, he and a couple of friends bought a defunct motorcycle dealership to use as its headquarters. They now have 131 families and 190 British cars in the group. The clubhouse currently has 55 cars in heated storage and a shop with lifts that allow up to seven cars to be worked on at once. It also has a lounge with a full kitchen, which, among other things, stocks 15 brands of imported beer and is where the club frequently hosts events, including its annual winter festival. Unbelievable as it may seem, members pay only $650 per year to store a car. The shop, pub and car guy camaraderie come free. At the opposite end of the scale are forprofit storage facility/social clubs on the East and West Coasts. Collectors Car Garage in Bedford Hills, New York, charges $400 a month for a membership, while The Stables in Scottsdale, Arizona, tops out at $500 a month. Collectors Car Garage Bedford Hills, New York 877-824-2724 collectorscargarage.com Sausalito Classic Car Storage Sausalito, California 415-331-1024 sausalitoclassiccarstorage.com Storage co-ops, such as Arizona’s The Stables (shown here), offer collectors more than just a place to keep their cars. The formula is similar for virtually every facility across the country. Most are in a defunct car dealership or a discrete, fireresistant building in an industrial park. Typically, there’s climate-controlled storage, a shop for detailing and minor repairs, and a lounge with a high-definition, bigscreen TV usually tuned to SPEED. There’s always a mammoth insurance policy and often a live feed of every precious car that members can access online 24 hours a day. Beyond that, amenities range from free beer and wine to bottled nitrogen for inflating tires. Valet and concierge services, club events at the local track, and all-inclusive The Auto Treasury Orlando area, Florida 866-571-3240 theautotreasury.com “vehicle management” programs seem to be the latest offerings. According to the December 2008 issue of Forbes, half the people in the world will soon live in urban areas with more than 1 million inhabitants. That’s another way of saying that neighborhoods where you can afford to house an extensive car collection are going to be increasingly rare. Storage co-ops are the answer. Best of all, since you’ll never bring it home, your wife doesn’t even have to know you’re keeping a collector car on the side. The Stables Scottsdale, Arizona 480-699-3095 thestablesaz.com Hagerty’s Magazine | hagerty.com 39 Experience From the earliest days, automotive travel has required creative luggage solutions. Many early cars had luggage racks mounted on the rear to carry trunks with fitted luggage. There were other ingenious solutions to the luggage issue, such as the Samson Wardrobe Suitcase, which fit in a rack mounted to the running board. Today, companies like Varco Inc. (varcoinc.com) make reproduction trunks and racks for early Chevrolets and Fords that provide a vintage look at a reasonable price. Grand Touring luggage is as collectible as the cars for which it was custom designed. by carl Bomstead Fitted luggage was a desirable option for many Mercedes-Benz models of the ’50s. Baisch made the early 300SL sets. Some were leather and others were vinyl with pigskin leather corners. Today, original 300SL luggage sets command from $15,000 to $18,000, but several firms make excellent reproductions, matching any interior color scheme, for around $6,000. Elegant fitted luggage sets are available for many of today’s high-end cars, and companies like Trunks of Haslemere (tofh.com) make custom sets for Aston Martin and Bentley, among others. They also make distinctive luggage sets for earlier Ferraris, Jaguar XKs and Porsche 911s. Alfred Dunhill designed a luggage set for Bentley (bentleycollection. com) that echoes the fluted Bentley interior, and Ferragamo created a luxurious, albeit expensive, five-piece luggage set for the Maserati Gran Turismo. 40 Hagerty’s Magazine | hagerty.com Porsche Design Group (Porsche-Design. com), a subsidiary of Porsche AG, offers vehicle-related products for Porsche drivers and fans through their numerous Porsche Design stores. Their Carfit Luggage series is specifically designed for their current automotive offerings, although additional pieces are available for older models. Koffer24.de (Koffer24.com), a German firm, also offers luggage sets for the Porsche Boxster and 911 Carrera, along with sets designed for several other sports cars. The Commemorative Motorsport Collection by Caracalla Bagaglio (cbfil.co.uk) includes Italian leather holdalls that are replicas of those used by Ferrari drivers to carry their helmets and other racing equipment. The dark blue leather Seven is a replica of the one used by Sir Stirling Moss when he drove Rob Walker’s Ferrari 250/SWB to victory at the 1961 Tourist Trophy race. Other drivers are represented, and they are expanding their offerings beyond the Ferrari marque. Elegant and stylish luggage is available from numerous sources for both your collector car and modern transportation. For a quick overnight trip or an extended tour, there are offerings that allow you to maximize your vehicle’s available space and make your arrival a statement. Caracalla Bagaglio commemorates racer Niki Lauda‘s No. 12 Ferrari 312T with this leather holdall. Above: Trunks of Haslemere offers fitted luggage for many vehicles. Look as good out of your Corvette as you do in it. the Corvette ® Ring Collection Order yours today jostens.com/corvette or 1-800-839-7125 99-4808-55684 bags designer Chevrolet, Corvette, all related Emblems and the related vehicle body designs are General Motors Trademarks used under license to Jostens, Inc. Gear guide r e Ca Coutur Complement your vintage vehicle from head to toe with this motoring apparel. photography by Joe Vaughn Irish Flat Cap Top off your look with handcrafted traditional Irish headwear from Hanna Hats of Donegal. This Irish tweed cap is made from 100-percent wool woven in a time-honored method resulting in a hardy fabric that is durable, weatherresistant and loaded with character. Its viscose taffeta lining is windproof, breathable and provides added resistance to rain penetration. $56; 877-943-4287 or noggintops.com Driving Shoes With their supple, perforated leather upper and full pigskin lining, Piloti’s Sebring shoes recall the drivers of another era who were virtuosos behind the wheel. Patented Roll Control™ heel technology modernizes this classic design, making the Sebring as functional in the car as they are strolling the concours lawn. $150; 805-494-0756 or piloti.com #6:*/( 4&--*/( %0/µ5#&.*4(6*%&% Whether you're buying, selling or just keeping an eye on the market, Hagerty’s CARS THAT MATTER is the premier price guide for collector vehicles. Covering over 160 makes of Post War cars, it is the most unbiased, accurate and up-to-date value guide in the hobby. Get yours today – as a pocket-size book, online or through your mobile phone – at www.carsthatmatter.com. Hagerty Plus members receive four books for the price of three! BEFORE YOU GET INTO A BIDDING WAR AMMO BETTER HAVE PLENTY OF Arm yourself with a loan from Hagerty Finance – a program designed especially for collectors, with the lowest monthly payments. War can be hell. Especially for the other guy. 800-922-4050 | WWW.CARSTHATMATTER.COM INSURANCE 42 Hagerty’s Magazine | hagerty.com WWW . HAGERTY . COM U FINANCE U ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE U HOBBY RESOURCES Men’s Leather Driving Gloves Driving gloves aren’t just for professional racers. This classic driver-style leather glove from Isotoner has a comfortable fit that allows for easy gripping — perfect for driving during cooler months or if your collector vehicle has a plastic wheel. A snap wrist and open back complete the look. Available in black or brown. $50; 800-762-8712 ext. 8519 or totes-isotoner.com Barbour International trials Jacket short Dare to drop your convertible top in cooler temps when donning this jacket. Its mediumweight wax cotton and pure cotton lining offer weather-beating versatility. Plus, a corduroy storm collar features an adjustable neck strap and buckle to customize its fit. Map, breast and two side pockets provide room for your essentials. $379; 800-227-2687 or bestgear.com Truly Unique Michael Furman (2) GREAT RESOURCES Bob’s Speedometer Service 800-592-9673 bobsspeedometer.com Burton L. Norton Company 616-677-1208 [email protected] James Haefner A re-done dial looks great, but be advised that picky judges probably will notice your second hand now moves in a steady sweep and may deduct points for modernizing. Dial Red Plot a plan of attack before ripping apart your classic car‘s instrument panel. by Don Sherman If your classic car’s instrument panel could speak it would say: Don’t scrimp on me because I’m the first line of defense against engine meltdown, a flat battery and speeding tickets. My insides are delicate. Improper disassembly can result in a terminal loss of magnetism! A gauge cluster that shines factory fresh will impress admirers. Luckily, there’s a network of experts who can restore your instruments while you focus on other aspects of your revival 44 Hagerty’s Magazine | hagerty.com project. To find one, start by asking fellow car club members for their recommendations. If you don’t belong to a club, shop the same catalogs you depend on for replacement parts. Some supply houses offer reproduction gauges that will suit your needs. You also can try an instrument-repair specialist. I’ve had excellent results with Bob’s Speedometer Service in Howell, Michigan, and paid them a visit to bone up for this report. General manager Dennis Resources Classic Instruments 800-575-0461 classicinstruments.com Brock explained the process of refurbishing speedometers, tachs, gauges and clocks. With clocks, the usual routine is to replace the fragile spring-powered mechanism with more reliable quartz internals at a $125 to $175 cost. Cable-driven speedos and tachs originally used their die-cast housing to support spinning parts. To eradicate wear that results in needle wobble, the housing is bored out to accept brass bushings at cable-entry and needlepivot points. After reassembly, a visit to the calibration bench and some fine-tuning verify that speed and rpm readings are accurate. To refurbish faceplates, Bob’s and other instrument specialists use silk-screen painting processes when possible or transfer Instrument Services Inc. 800-558-2674 clocksandgauges.com Nisonger Instruments 914-381-1952 nisonger.com Palmetto Restorations 864-277-8768 palmettorestorations.com (stick-on) numerals and markings in special cases, such as irregular (usually concave) surfaces. The typical cost of refurbishing a tach or speedo starts at $200 and will zoom higher if a new silkscreen or custom-made part is required. But there are minor repairs you can do at home. To check a temperature gauge, dip the sending unit in boiling water. When your fuel gauge acts up, use an ohmmeter to check the level sensor. Corvette Central (corvettecentral.com) sells a $5.50 bottle of fluorescent orange paint perfect for touching up needles and redlines. As with other areas of the car, the patience you invest in instrument restoration will be well rewarded. Time travel at the speed of a 1935 Speedster? The 1930s brought unprecedented innovation in machine-age technology and materials. Industrial designers from the auto industry translated the principles of aerodynamics and streamlining into everyday objects like radios and toasters. It was also a decade when an unequaled variety of watch cases and movements came into being. In lieu of hands to tell time, one such complication, called a jumping mechanism, utilized numerals on a disc viewed through a window. With its striking resemblance to the dashboard gauges and radio dials of the decade, the jump hour watch was indeed “in tune” with the times! The Stauer 1930s Dashtronic deftly blends the modern functionality of a 21jewel automatic movement and 3-ATM water resistance with the distinctive, retro look of a jumping display (not an for a full refund of the purchase price. If you have an appreciation for classic design with precision accuracy, the 1930s Dashtronic Watch is built for you. This watch is a limited edition, so please act quickly. Our last two limited edition watches are totally sold out! True to Machine Art esthetics, the sleek brushed stainless steel case is clear on the back, allowing a peek at the inner workings. Not Available in Stores actual jumping complication). The stainless steel 1 1/2" case is complemented with a black alligator-embossed leather band. The band is 9 1/2" long and will fit a 7–8 1/2" wrist. Call now to take advantage of this limited offer. Try the Stauer 1930s Dashtronic Watch for 30 days and if you are not receiving compliments, please return the watch Stauer 1930s Dashtronic Watch $99 +S&H or 3 easy credit card payments of $33 +S&H 1-800-859-1602 Promotional Code DRW209-02 Please mention this code when you call. 14101 Southcross Drive W., Dept. DRW209-02 Burnsville, Minnesota 55337 www.stauer.com REARVIEW MIRROR the road to par adise the stats Bricklin SV-1 at a gl ance Built by Bricklin Motors Designed by Herb Grasse Built: 1974–1976 Quantity Produced: 2,889 Original Price: $9,775 The Bricklin‘s most radical styling feature was its dramatic gull-wing doors. Current Price: $8,100–$28,200 A safe bet The mid-1970s weren’t kind to performance cars. An increased emphasis on safety, coupled with rising gas prices and primitive emissions control equipment, took most of the fun out of driving. But maverick entrepreneur Malcolm Bricklin, who formed Subaru of America and Yugo America, spied an opportunity to build the sports car of his dreams — one that would combine safety and fun in an affordable, dependable and stylish package. Bricklin had made millions in the hardware industry as one of the pioneers of the large home improvement store concept. However, he was also determined to make his mark on the auto industry. He sought to emphasize safety, hence the Safety Vehicle 1 (SV-1) name. An inner crash-resistant metal cockpit framework was the Bricklin’s most prominent feature. The chassis was simple, and AMC Hornet brakes and suspension were used along with an AMC 360 V-8. Designer Herb Grasse gave it a “wedge” shape with a minimum of fussy trim. The fiberglass body was laminated to an acrylic outer layer molded in body color. The most radical The Canadian Bricklin tried to marry sports cars and safety. by Harold Pace styling feature was its dramatic gull-wing doors. Word of the exciting newcomer spread like wildfire through the automotive press, with the first production models appearing in 1974. Unfortunately, the company quickly stumbled when build costs at its Canadian plant proved higher than expected and build quality suffered. The doors leaked and took too long to open. Body panels seldom fit correctly. In 1975, a Ford 351 replaced the AMC 360 and sales went up. But financial problems remained and investors bailed, making the 1976 model the last. Liquidator Consolidated Motors completed some unfinished cars, but fewer than 3,000 Bricklins were built. Dr. Sandy Bigman has one of the nicest SV-1s in the country, which he bought new in 1977. It was his second Bricklin, having purchased one of the first models in 1974. “It wasn’t well built,” he recalls, “but this second one was much better. It’s fabulous. It was a demonstrator at a Bricklin dealer and I got it for $9,100.” Bigman has kept his car pristine and had the doors upgraded to a faster-opening system. “They now open and close in two seconds,” he beams. His SV-1 took Best of Show honors at the 2007 National Bricklin Meet, and he has no plans to part with it. “The Bricklin was a victim of circumstance that deserved a better fate,” Bigman says. Dr. Sandy Bigman says Bricklins, like his shown at left, feature styling as modern today as it was in 1975. 7th annual auction palm beach, fl april 9-11 s 2009 americraft expo center at the south florida fairgrounds 1968 CHEVROLET CORVETTE CONVERTIBLE Sold for a record $167,200 in Palm Beach 2008. CONSIGN TODAY! To consign, register to bid or for event information & reservations visit: www.Barrett-Jackson.com or call 480.663.6255 46 Hagerty’s Magazine | hagerty.com
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