If the Chrysler-powered Facel-Vega is a French Imperial, consider the L6.4 a Mopar Maserati {vsig}2008-7_2193{/vsig} The brainchild of Eugene Casaroll, the Italian-American hybrid known as the Dual-Ghia was largely based on the Ghia-designed Chrysler Firearrow, a concept car for which he acquired the production rights. Luxurious and extravagant, it had […]
American
Edsel Ford’s 1934 Model 40 Special Speedster
A determined, wealthy collector slugged it out with Ford family representatives, resulting in the $1.76 million price {vsig}2008-6_2180{/vsig} As president of Ford Motor Company from 1925 until his untimely death in 1943, from cancer and undulant fever, Edsel Bryant Ford had a considerable influence on Ford styling, first with Lincoln, […]
Who’s a Mister Softee, Then?
At first glance I’d have to say very well sold indeed, but what price can you put on fun? Maybe it’s a bargain {vsig}2008-5_2167{/vsig} This month’s “American Profile” is going to take a tiptoe amongst the automotive daisies, the puff and fluff of the market. Along with the heavy hitters […]
1941 Chrysler Town & Country Barrel Back Estate Wagon
Built for a limited time, the Town & Country remains arguably the rarest, most desirable pre-war Woody produced {vsig}2008-4_2154{/vsig} Conceived in 1939, the Town & Country Estate wagon represented Chrysler’s desire to create an entirely new car that was both luxurious and dramatic. It had to be elegant enough […]
1958 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz “The Raindrop Car”
In 1958, Cadillac produced a total of 815 Biarritz convertibles. Five were taken straight from the assembly line to GM’s super-secret Styling Center, where they were highly modified. At least one of these cars has survived, reportedly the prototype of the “Raindrop” modification, and is presented here as part of […]
1965 Pontiac GTO Convertible
I suspect the judges who previously gave this car an AACA Senior badge would not have done so on sale day {vsig}2008-2_2128{/vsig} Pontiac first offered the GTO option on the Tempest in 1964, and despite UAW strikes, which kept production down, it was a big hit. The muscle car market […]
1911 Oldsmobile Limited 7-passenger Touring
Without evidence of time, what does a real object offer the collector that a perfect replica does not as well? {vsig}2008-1_2114{/vsig} Oldsmobile made its name with the tiny single-cylinder “curve dash” buckboard in the early years of the 20th century, but went on to produce one of the most significant […]
1903 Cadillac Runabout Rear-Entrance Tonneau
Founded by Henry Leland and Robert Faulconer, the Cadillac Automobile Company of Detroit completed its first car in October 1902. The firm’s superior manufacturing technology-precise gear cutting was Leland and Faulconer’s specialty-soon established it as the foremost builder of quality cars in the United States. The company was formed using […]
1974 Pontiac Trans Am Super Duty
The Trans Am was not without options, and one in particular made this Trans Am the king of the no-horsepower kingdom {vsig}2007-10_2071{/vsig} The year 1974 was a tough time for American automakers, with many legislated changes. The results were not good. New emission regulations, which had gone into effect in […]
1970 Chevrolet Camaro Sport Coupe
It seems hard to justify the extra $75,000 to own #1, especially as there’s another #1 out there from the Norwood plant {vsig}2007-9_2056{/vsig} Introduced to the public on February 26, 1970, the 1970 Camaro series stayed in production for twelve years. This handsome design survived gas crises, “big bumper” redesigns, […]