Issue 4 - Trucks N' SUVs: Dakota Shelby, Scout 80, Saleen Explorer, D100, Suburban

This week's blog is brought to you by all the things you can't do in a classy sports or muscle car. Go ahead, take it to the grocery store. But you'll realize how much better it'd be if you accidentally left that bag of meat in a pickup bed rather than in an upholstered trunk. Get her dirty! Oh, but you'd better wash her off at the slightest sprinkle of rain. Need a 30 gallon fish tank? Have fun sliding your seats as far forward as they'll go and hug the steering wheel all the way home.

There are a lot of great reasons to look into purchasing a truck as a collectible, especially if you live in the city or suburbs, where you might not want to drive a truck all the time or during the commute, but you could use one on weekends. As well, maybe you can only afford one extra vehicle, or one vehicle period. If you want a practical utility vehicle, but still want a collectible, this is a great way to do it.

Top 5 Of The Week

1957 Dodge D100 Stepside

I have a fond place in my heart for these late 50's D100 trucks, probably because I have one. Well, most of the parts to one anyway. If you were to say that the styling of these beasts wasn't all that different from Chevy or Ford at the time, you'd probably be right. But in actuality, the big Dodge trucks speak similar design language to the other vehicles in Dodge's stable. What you don't really see a lot is many of these on the road, let alone in this condition. Dodge did some interesting marketing during this time, and gave the trucks the 'forward' look, and named the 331 Hemi powered trucks the 'Power Giant' - does it get more late 50's than that? What would one pay for a concourse ready and restored to numbers D100? About $39,000, and for that it can still haul sheets of drywall.

View On Hemmings

1968 Chevrolet Suburban

There are a lot of 1968 Chevrolet C10 pickups for sale on every classic car board you look. However, the long Suburban wagons are much less common. I've always been a bit curious as to why this is. Maybe many rusted away in the back half; not as easy to restore as swapping out an entire bed. Maybe it's because it's harder to restore that much extra sheet metal and glass. Or maybe it's just that there weren't as many sold and thus not as many can be found period. Either way, at just under $15,000 this thing offers everything you could want in a classic vehicle. The 283 V8, while not the biggest in the GM stable, still will give you a V8 rumble, although this one's more of a cruiser than a bruiser. You'll have room for 6 people, and everyone on the sidewalk will still turn and stare. Along with all that, you can return your empties with this thing. Try saying that about your MG or Triumph. 

View On Hemmings

1989 Dodge Dakota Shelby

I had to include this truck, even though it's a horrid ad (it's nitrous not nitros) and I'm not crazy about the engine swap, although the owner did keep the original engine, which is kind of a smart idea. These things were rare to begin with, and Shelby American does consider them as a real Shelby. In fact, the truck was modified by the company, and only just over 1400 were produced, all with the 5.2L V8. Special body cladding and stripes also adorned the truck. At the time, they sold for $15,000 and change, which equates to over $29,000 today. At this time it made sense for Chrysler to go in this direction; they didn't have a V8 vehicle to go up against the Camaro or Mustang models. The Dakota was light weight, and could be seen as sporty as well. The main issue with these trucks is that a lot of people who ended up with them probably didn't really consider them much of a collector's item, or really know what they had. So many got abused into oblivion, and there are probably still a few out there being treated as a simple beater used truck. This one, however, is in great condition at 80,000 miles, and wears it's original one-of-996 red paint. And, for the budget conscious person, this truck can be had with all of its heritage, utility, and performance, for only $8500.

View On Hemmings

1998 Ford Explorer Saleen XP8

How can one talk about collectible trucks without talking about a Ford F150? Easy, you find a Ford much more interesting than that. In 1997 Steve Saleen thought he'd bolster his Mustang modification business by offering something radical, but still appealing to the tastes of the moderate minded consumer. Perhaps a Supercharged Mustang wasn't appropriate for a family that had two kids, and liked to go on long road trips, or had hockey practice and ballet in the same night. But there were those who still wanted the performance and prestige of a Saleen vehicle. Enter the XP8; a four door version of the S302 and S351 models. The XP8 could be had in AWD or 2WD (this one is an AWD version) with the same body kit and wheels as the Mustang to give it a racy look. The engines available were a 302 V8, or a supercharged version of that same V8, which put out a lot more power and torque than the standard 4.0L V6 that typically came in an Explorer. Inside, this one is equipped with leather seats, and a DVD/NAV system. This XP8 wears '347' badges which indicates that the 5.0L on this particular model might be a stroked version. Even if it's not the good ol' 5.0L that it left Saleen's headquarters with, this SUV is still a steal at $10,000. You'll also be the talk of the PTA parking lot.

View On Hemmings

1962 International Scout 80

I snagged two Scout 80s in the Pinterest Board this week, this one being the more interesting of the two. The reason being is that this truck had a cameo in American Hustle - I can't exactly say where, because I don't remember it being in the film, and maybe it was just in a side shot. Aside from that and its other awards for being assembled and restored fairly close to perfect condition, this is just an all around great vehicle. There was a time when a few other companies offered something to compete with the formidable Jeep, and the Scout 80 would be one of them. This truck features a 2.5L I4, and a 3 speed manual, along with locking hubs and 4.27:1 final drive. That would make this thing great off road. Also, like a Jeep, the hard top is fully removable, along with the doors, just in case you want some open air driving. I can see this thing perfect for finding your favorite campsite, with all your gear and some firewood in the back. All this for about the same price as a slightly used Wrangler. 

View On Hemmings

Honorable Mentions

There were a few more trucks that also fit our 'utility meets collectibility' theme this week.

This Land Rover Defender 90 was painted in the Camel Trophy colors. While LR continues to manufacture the 110 in the UK, the smaller 90 was discontinued in 2012 (in the US in 1997). This truck was not only a formidable off-roader, it was also quite popular among the Newport Beach crowd, and can be seen as Freddy Prinze's ride in 10 Things I Hate About You. As if a high school student could afford one of these. After 20 years, this thing is still 30k.

In 1963, Studebaker was facing extinction, as its South Bend, IN plant was about to close. Along with it, Champ production would come to an end. The Champ was an odd duck, but with a lot of revolutionary ideas. First of all, the Champ is actually piece of a Lark sedan on a truck chassis. While the Lark must have been quite an ugly car, it made the Champ a good looking truck with car-like attributes. The truck also sported a sliding rear window; almost a standard in today's trucks. The Champ was also smaller than many full sized trucks, a mid-size if you will, which became popular with the Dakota and Ranger in the 1980's. How much for this thing? Well, I don't know. I just took a look back, and it already sold. Within a week! That's how popular these babies are.

The F-150 has been one of the most popular selling vehicles in history, anywhere, ever. The seventh generation truck had a ton of options. As usual, the most sought after versions, presently, remain the flare-side optioned trucks. These probably weren't too popular at the time, because they didn't offer very much utility. This would be similar to the short-box-regular-cab trucks presently sold, which offer no advantages of 4x4, cargo space, towing capacity or interior spaciousness. These trucks are more of a 'muscle car' to enthusiasts, having very few properties that make an actual truck...well...a truck. This one can be had for under 10k, and features flawless paint, a ton of chrome, and that sweet flare-side rear. 

Thanks for checking out the blog this week, and remember to share it with your automotive-minded friends, and don't forget to visit (and subscribe) to our Pinterest Board which is updated daily.

Issue 3 - One Off Pantera, Holman Moody Falcon, BMW M6, Nova SS 396, Camaro RS

Earlier this week I was passing the neighborhood of Forest Heights, and I saw both a '66 Beetle and a '67 Plymouth Fury convertible. While that's not out of the ordinary, both appeared to be good conditioned survivor cars, and both were in an area that has a lot of seniors, leaving me to wonder if both vehicles had been owned since new.

It was cool to see a snapshot of what the neighborhood probably looked like at that time, but it made me wonder what kind of cars people would want to keep out of current vehicles until they become classic. While to be considered a vintage automobile, a car only has to be 25 years old, it seems that classic or collectible cars need to be at least 35 years old. Only very recently have cars from the mid 70's become more desirable, whereas, by the time my car reaches 25 years old, it would be equivalent to a person now owning a 1989 Mustang GT 5.0L.

Okay, so this 1989 Mustang heading to auction was indeed on Hemmings, proving that you can own a car since new and have it collectible even after 25 years, but that's a Mustang, and vehicles like Mustangs, Camaros and Corvettes will always be desirable, won't they? I'll say they will be, but more importantly, what vehicles in 25 years will still be desirable if owned since new, with all paperwork, today? If we really think about it, it's probably not going to be the millions-built Camry, Accord, or anything like that. It may simply follow current trends, that Mustangs, Camaros, Challengers, and Corvettes will still be popular, along with higher end performance cars like Porsches. Japanese luxury brands that target performance, like Lexus 'F' badged cars, and Infiniti G37 coupes. We'll likely see a few Japanese sports cars, like the BRZ/GT-82, and Nissan Z car rank up there. But what about the oddballs? What might you find in the future that suddenly and oddly becomes collectible, and what is worth keeping?

I searched 'original owner' on Hemmings and came up with a few things.

This 1985 Regal has an original owner and only 22,000 miles in its life. 

This 1976 Cutlass Supreme is a good time capsule. The one owner, 21,000 mile car even has hubcaps rather than rallye wheels, likely more of an indication of how more of these cars were actually sold, and probably more likely disposed of then their higher-optioned brethren.

More and more special edition trucks will likely become collectible as more special edition types of trucks hit the market. SVT Lightning and Raptor trucks, and Viper Rams might become collectible in the future. How about SUVs as well? This 1993 GMC Typhoon was also one kept since new.

Low mileage, original owner cars will always find a home, but the $20,000 Typhoon versus the $5000 regal shows that a certain desirability still apply. Regardless, I believe that the time capsule property of these cars, as well as the fact that they're usually accompanied by full documentation and history, will keep these types of cars valuable no matter what the model.

Top 5 Of The Week

1969 Chevrolet Nova SS396

The Nova, for the most part, was kind of an economy car, like the Dart or Falcon. Most left the factory with four doors and six cylinder engines, but a few were total all out high performance machines worthy of actually playing movie-villain cars a la Death Proof. I feel like the SS badge holds a little more water when backed by a big block like a 396. This car has everything you could ever want in your Nova, huge motor, four speed, 12 bolt rear end, cowl induction hood, restored nicely. At $29,900 it's really hard to say this is a number matching unit, but I wouldn't care, it's at least 'date code' appropriate, like a 440 in a formerly 318 Charger. Oh, and good news, they sell those double-bolt skull and crossbone decals on line now, just in case you're practicing your Kurt Russel Captain Ron voice.

View On Hemmings

BMW 635CSi 'M6'

I posted two of these this week as it's simply rare to see that many great examples all at once. I've always had a soft spot for these beautiful coupes; in my opinion this is the ultimate of the ultimate driving machines. Styling was initially borne from Bob Lutz's influence on the 'new' 3 series cars in the late 70's. These are also touted as the first 'M' model, as they were indeed the first roadgoing cars to bear M sport badges. It should be noted that 'M6' wasn't a model name, but a high performance option package. The converse was a luxury package. Regardless, there's a lot of history and performance in these cars. I feel like the German cars have become more technically absorbed with doo-hickeys and less pure if that's a thing. I feel like these cars describe what made BMW a performance/luxury car brand. This beautiful all original model is $36,000, and has had only two owners and 52,000 miles since new.

View On Hemmings

1974 DeTomaso Pantera

One of two unique and unusual cars in the blog this week. The Pantera has become synonymous with Ford performance like the Shelby Cobra; a car not built by Ford, but Ford powered. While the Pantera never really competed, it was an interesting vehicle, powered by the 351 Cleveland 4V V8, and styled by Ghia, it looked like a Lancia and a Berlinetta could both have had roots here. I find most Panteras, do I dare say, a little gaudy? This model is different, because it physically looks different. This particular Pantera was built especially for Don Delarossa, former Lincoln president of design, former Ghia president and president of Ford Advanced design at the time. He requested certain changes, like different treatments to the rear deck panel, and the deletion of the targa top. The car is badged only as a 'Ghia' a nod to the styling house where Delarossa once chaired. The car is impeccable and the paint evoques a 512 BB line to the car. At $125,000 you can own a piece of rare Ford performance, and Ghia styling, with all the history contained just in the line of ownership. And of course, it's a one of one.

View On Hemmings

1960 Ford Falcon sedan by Holman Moody

I'm not sure where to start with this thing, actually. Holman and Moody were known for preparing all sorts of amazing racecars. The two would form their partnership only 3 years before the age of this Falcon, beginning in NASCAR and then entering cars in road races, like the Mexican road race, or Sebring. Falcons were their car of choice for road racing until the Mustang debuted. It should be noted that this isn't originally an H&M car. Interesting story here, this car was an all original Falcon only recently converted to an original type H&M car in the H&M race shop by their mechanics, so technically it is a Holman Moody Falcon, original car, even if the conversion was done now instead of then. Features include a triple carbed 200 straight six, with cam, head, and exhaust work. The price for this oddball? $125,000.

View On Hemmings

1967 Chevrolet Camaro RS

I'm not a huge Camaro guy, but this one caught my eye. This RS version has got that 'time capsule' property I mentioned in the opening vignette. This car is an unassuming bronze, wears hubcaps, and has a relatively pedestrian 327 V8, the base V8 option for that time. The RS package did get some extras, but this is a fairly basic model. While it's still a desirable car, it's more mundane compared to some of the glowing-coloured, striped, big blocked beasts that most collectors desire. Likely, most Camaros then, like today, were sold with 'lesser' options, the smaller engine, the more plain colour and features. That's why I like this great, 60,000 mile example.

View On Hemmings

As always, check out our board on Pinterest and subscribe. Like and comment on one of our cars, and I'll discuss it in this section!

Issue 2 - Four Venturi, Le Mans Camaro, Valiant Barracuda, Toyota T, Shelby Convertible

I recently rewatched the 1978 film Driver, just to compare how close Winding-Refn's Drive was to it, and they're pretty damn close. Although Drive has more dialogue, and there's some semblance of reason as to why the main character does what he does, some key elements persist. One are the types of cars used; mainly 'muscle' cars. Let me explain.

In 1978 the 'muscle car era' was supposed to be over, but if you look at the cars used in the film, I'd have to say they have a pretty decent selection of classic muscle. There are at least two Firebirds, one appears to be new, and the other appears to be a few years old. Then there's what I would consider to be the iconic car of the film, the Chevrolet C10 pickup driven by Ryan O'Neal towards the end of the film. Fast forward and the cars in Drive may not be traditional muscle cars, but they certainly bring excitement to the film. There's Ryan Gosling's main ride, a Chevy Laguna. I've heard this car called one of the classics of the future in recent discussions, especially related to the Hagerty forum on the future of the car-collecting hobby. As current collectibles become out of reach of normal collectors and hobbyists, cars like these will take their place. This phenomenon is actually explained really well in a documentary called Red Obsession, in this case it's about Red Wine becoming collectible by Chinese collectors who have put prices simply out of reach, sort of like the craze for original numbers-matching Hemi cars, to the point where the prices become obscene. Moving on, we also see Gosling use a slim-jim on an '11 Coyote Mustang (I hope that doesn't actually work for my sake) and the baddies attempt to chase him down in a 300C Hemi car, which in real life would never get close to the Mustang, let's admit it.

What can one take from this comparison? Mainly, that the muscle car era is never over. There may be shifts, some not always necessarily for the better, sure. Ultimately, though, the original muscle car era may have passed, but it's been reincarnated in several lifetimes since.

Top 5 of the Week

1966 Shelby GT350 Convertible

This car is rumored to be...okay that's not true, there's no such thing as 'rumored' when it comes to Shelby cars. The registry takes all the guess work out of it. This car is one of eight available to the public, all other convertibles went to Shelby family members. Okay, the story is a little weirder than that though. Supposedly in 1966, only 4 convertibles were built, and sold. This car, along with the other eight and family member cars, were actually built in the 1980's (by Shelby at Shelby American) using NOS parts. That definitely make them a rare bird indeed, as typically the only cars available out of Shelby American were late model vehicles, and CSX Cobras. The car is a 289 V8, same as other GT350s of the era, with an auto transmission. Apparently, at $179,000, this is the best example of one of these, restored to concourse craftsmanship.

View On Hemmings

1973 Ford Mustang Mach 1

This is a great example of "The last of the Mustangs" to quote the original Gone In 60 Seconds. Why this one? Partially because of the price, at under $20,000, and partially because of the motor. The 351 Cleveland 4V was one of the most amazing small block engines (or any engine) in its time. I seem to remember Hot Rod Magazine dubbing it one of the most potent and powerful small blocks ever, and I think with a few minor bolt-ons and a cam change, it made something like over 500hp on an engine dyno. First of all, why not a little info on the motor? The 351 4V didn't just stand for 'four barrels' as some people thought. Actually, it stood for 'Four Venturi' which sounded Italian and probably evoked ideas of the race track. In actuality the engine had different heads with huge valves and massive ports, differently shaped combustion chambers for a start. Think of it as the 2V and 4V as the modern equivalent of the 302 Coyote and the 302 Boss. The 302 Coyote and Boss are essentially the same motors, but even though the 302 Coyote is described as having heads with larger intake ports than a Roush-Yates NASCAR motor, the Boss outdoes it with even better flowing heads, and different cams, etc. I certainly wouldn't scoff at a 351 2V (some people claim they are easier to drive on the street) but the 4V is where it's at for me.

View On Hemmings

1982 Chevrolet Camaro IMSA GTO

I'm sure you're wondering what the hell an '82 tube chassis Camaro is doing on here. Well, it has a little bit of an interesting story. In North America, IMSA was where it was at in '82 so to speak, and the GTO category - which I hate to say - were sort of equal part stock car and road racer at the time, were the formidable GT cars of the time. Based on production cars, naturally, the Camaro was a good choice for Chevrolet. This particular IMSA GTO car competed in all the major IMSA events like Daytona and Sebring, but also got to go overseas to race in the 24 Hours in 1982, where it finished second in its class. Not bad!

View On Hemmings

1966 Plymouth Barracuda

I've always had sort of a soft spot for the Valiant-Barracuda. I don't think it really gets the respect that it deserves. First, this car. It's a great example for under 30k, with a four speed and the 273 V8 still intact. Now, the Barracuda in general: why isn't it more famous? The Barracuda never got the fanatic longevity that the Camaro and Mustang enjoy, even though it draws several comparisons to the Mustang. First of all, the Mustang was derived on the Falcon, and the Barracuda on the Valiant, both compact sedans that came with six cylinder or small-block V8 engines. Both offered performance models and economy models, were roughly the same size, same price, similar displacements, and both were sort of a fast-back style. So why, was the Barracuda not more popular, even though it was released in 1964 as well? I can't answer that, but I think 'Valiant' had sort of a bad reputation. The Mustang also proved popular in racing, while the Barracuda didn't enjoy the same track use, Plymouth not having a racing program in those few years. Petty had a Hemi version in the mid-60's which he crashed into a bunch of spectators, and that probably didn't help the image much either. The 'Cuda that debuted along-side the E body Challenger enjoyed more popularity, but still never quite as much as the Mustang or Camaro. Speaking of which, a new Barracuda hits the scene in 2015. I'm curious to see how it turns out.

View On Hemmings

1923 Ford Track T

I love, more than anything, when someone gets a hold of a fantastic engine and builds a cool custom out of it. In this case, I have to give a pass to the sacrilege of using a Toyota engine in a Ford. This particular Toyota mill is the 4.0L V8 1UZ-FE, with 32 valves and twin cams. These engines were mainly found in large Lexus models, and were a direct derivation from the CART/IRL engines. The roadster itself is probably a little more than just a conversation piece, and looks to be well built, and likely performs and drives just as well.

Passers-By

1992 Volvo 740

Someone actually had the balls to put this in an auction, as if it's an antique. I personally don't get the Volvo wagon hype. Sure I love seeing an old P1800 as much as the next guy, but the 240 and 740 estates just wreak of hipster-ism. Let me explain how this happened. Yuppies had Volvo wagons, and because hipsters love bygone era irony, suddenly their parents' old cars became popular. By the way, I'm pretty sure Subaru is the new Volvo for new young yuppie families. Anyway, I'm sure this car is collectible to someone, but to put it on Hemmings and throw it in an auction...well...beats me.

1956 Velorex Oskar

"Put it in H!" It looks like an unhappy turtle. 

1973 Pontiac Grand Am

I have to admit, I'm partial to all of these (Cutlass, Laguna, Grand Am), especially the Oldsmobile Cutlass. I just think 25k is too much for one, and the Pontiac  has sort of a boat-tail snout going on. Nice car, otherwise.

1973 Pontiac Trans Am

In line with the 1973 Pontiac models is this '73 Trans Am 455 Super-duty. It's a nice example of a 455 car, well restored and is one of two or three in this color/interior combination. Because of the rarity of it being a one of "two or three" car, it commands a price of $205,000. I would maybe expect that sort of price for Jerry Titus' Trans Am, or the actual Smokey and the Bandit car, but not a one of two-or-three anything.

1990 Chevrolet Silverado 454 SS

There's nothing wrong with this truck per se, and the price seems fair for it. The 454 SS is cool, for sure. And like I started this blog with, it was a muscle car for a very malaised musclecar era. This one isn't far, far, far away from the list, in fact, every time I see one of these I almost hit the little Pinterest button, but something is holding me back, I think part of it is some of the hideous exterior and interior treatments that were so common in the early 90's and a lot of what I remember from my parents' cars. There is a nostalgia there but also a flashback of really pedestrian and merely average vehicles lacking artfulness in design. It was also a point where efficiency and emissions did not mix with power and torque. The giant big block could only manage 230hp, although torque was decent at 385lb-ft. I like the 454SS, but...it just needs something more. It's just not as cool as the 1978 C10 Stepside from Driver...the hero truck.

Up Votes

1970 Ford Mustang Mach 1

I received some positive feedback from a reader about this beautiful Mustang in Medium Gold. Unless you wanted to somehow try to get your hands on one of the Boss 9's, in 1970 there were two ways you could go with your Mustang, either the bred-on-the-road-course Boss 302, or the bred-on-the-drag-strip big block cars. This Mach 1 comes with the 428 Super Cobra Jet and Drag Pack. Someone checked all the boxes on this car, including the Detroit Locker rear. It's also all numbers matching with full documentation, including the original window sticker. It's headed to auction, and I personally would bid quite a pretty penny on this baby.

As always, don't forget to subscribe, and of course, visit our Pinterest Board to check out all the updates throughout the week. I post new cars every day.

Found On Hemmings - Issue 1 - Introduction

So what do we have here?

For a long time I've been looking through Hemmings ads, and for the last two months or so, I've been posting all of the ads I like to Pinterest, a sort of digital garage of all the cars I love. I like to share, I enjoy writing, and therefore, the blog seemed like the next logical step. I find myself more and more reading discussions, and sometimes to the point where I wish the ads had discussions, so that people could provide their expert analysis and opinion.

Each week I will post my favorites, and a little bit about why I chose them. I'll also talk about ones I didn't like so much. Thank you for coming along for the ride.

Top 5 of the Week

1959 Chevrolet Yeomen Wagon

So what's so great about a a car named after Yeomen of all places? Well really let's start off by calling this car what it is, it's a version of the Impala. I first fell in love with this style of Impala after seeing American Grafitti, in which Ron Howard drives a '58 with reverse chrome wheels; the one that gets stolen. I also have a thing for wagons, for whatever reason. This specific wagon does not sport the original inline 6 it came with, but does come with a period correct 283 V8. What makes the Yeomen rare is that it was a one year only style. What makes it slightly less desirable is that the Yeomen was the entry level trim, the Brookwood and the Nomad had upscale interior trim and exterior chrome. What makes the Yeomen work as a mild hot rod is indeed that 50's flair with the touch of minimalism at this trim level. This mild custom is one you won't come across too often.
View on Hemmings

1971 Porsche 911S Targa

If I had the money, which I would if I sold my Mustang and took out a mortgage (but I'm not going to do that) I might seriously consider slapping it down on this car. Porsche 911 models around this era are notorious for giving McQueen fans a wet dream due to the 911 S coupe cameo in Le Mans. I also can't figure out why anyone would want a new Porsche compared to a technical and artful masterpiece like this example here. Then again, most of the people I find that drive new Porsches are dickholes. Anyway, for $148,000 and change, you can purchase this one owner, 2.2L turbocharged all original car. Here's what I don't like about this car: it's too perfect. There's something about driving the snot out of a 911 like this, maybe taking it on a weekend trip to the mountains or something, that a pure collector's original would not lend itself to. That being said, you won't find a better example of a car like this.
View on Hemmings

2011 Ford/Shelby Mustang GT350 Prototype #3

I'm not a huge fan of collector cars for the sake of collecting, I like to drive my cars, and the dent in the rear 1/4 panel of my Mustang shows that. Having one of the GT350 prototypes of the now infamous Coyote powered line of Shelby specials, one from when Mr. Shelby was still alive for that matter, makes for some serious collector weight. But there's more to it than that. When the 2011 Mustang dropped it was an unbelievable car, and I know, I have one in the garage. But, as with all things, cars can always be more powerful, and Mustangs can always be better handling. Shelby and his team prepared these cars with a supercharger and a handling pack that the magazines just went nuts over. Moreso, Shelby's Bespoke components are typically only available in packages. Someone had one of their GT350s freshened recently at Shelby American in Las Vegas, and I tried to purchase their used valve covers for use on my own Coyote. Alas, someone else won the auction. Part of it was because of the prestige of Shelby. Nowhere is the prestige of Shelby more recognized then on an amazingly built Mustang. This car is headed to Mecum's auction in Dallas.
View on Hemmings

1953 Willys Utility Wagon

When I look at this thing, I see the original version of the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. Believe it or not, this was one of the most successful post war Jeep vehicles until modern day. It's powered by a 'Hurricane' flat 6 engine. The original design dates back to 1939, but it's definitely timeless, even in this 1953 iteration, with traces that still exist on the current Wrangler. This specific one has been restored with all period correct parts and can be had for a hair under 30k. That might seem like a lot for an early 50's wagon, but Jeep people will just get why this is cool, and why it's worth that much.
View on Hemmings

1969 Chevrolet Corvette (L71)

I find the C3 Corvettes to be quite the lookers, but not everyone would agree. True, in the mid 70's the watered down 350 and enduro nose brought the design right down into the malaise era. However, there are some of these beasts, like the late 60's model years, where the deeply arched fenders and fluid lines work. This is one of these examples. The 427 tri-power engine puts out (probably north of) 435hp, and the silver paint just works well here. Bonus on these babies (and most 'vettes) are their removable tops. This version has a 4.11 rear and 4-speed M21 transmission. Even driving a 205hp crossfire C4, riding in a Corvette is an experience: you're buckled in to this tight interior, with these huge fenders rising above you, and you're basically sitting on the road, and it's loud. It's the funnest go-kart ever built. This one would be even more fun.

View on Hemmings

Passers-By

There are some cars I'd normally freak out about, but I passed by. Here's a few.

This 1966 Impala was going for 11 grand. Okay, so yes, it's a collectible SS 396 model, but the ad also indicates there's a hole in the trunk, the quarters and fenders are rusting it out, and it was pumping oil in '88 and then was parked. So basically you need a full restoration and an engine. Really, however 'collectible' a car may be, it's still a car, and there's something to be said for paying a ridiculous price.

This car isn't that bad, actually, and the price is just listed as Inquire, so it may be completely reasonable. I liked the C3s again when they went to the euro nose. What I realized before I posted this car is that I was going to post it just because it had fat tires and matching wheels. But, it is a nice example of a 350/350 car.

I have a soft spot for 635csi models, the original 'M6' as it were. If you've ever driven one of the fantastic straight-6 normally aspirated BMW cars, you have to admit the way they sound and shift is pretty sublime. This one, however, didn't make my list because of the automatic transmission.

This is a beautiful '67 Impala convertible. But like a lot of car guys, my tastes can sometimes run very particular. First of all, it's a 454 car, and most Chevy guys will recognize that it can't possibly be the original motor. Now, sure, it needed a new motor, and a 427 may not have been available or economical. But that begs the question of what else might also be on the car just because it was available or economical. Right down to the wheels here, I'm not sure Rally wheels were available until '68, so it's another one of those things that actually make this car a resto-mod, not an actual restoration. Wheels are one, minor thing, but an entire engine might be a little hard to forgive. Apparently it is a true SS car (but was it a 427 or a 396 - and what happened to the original motor if so), but too many things were changed to make it valuable for me.

This car is sketchy as f**k mainly due to the price. It should probably be about 5k more than what they're asking at least. This is a 360/727 car, and so we know it's already not the original motor, which is fine, same with the hood, and the wheels and the paint, and a bunch of other stuff probably, which again, is fine. So my question naturally becomes what's wrong with it? Is it just a ton of bondo under that paint?

Join us again, and for all the cars, each week follow us on pinterest:

http://www.pinterest.com/hearse83/found-on-hemmings/